Chapter 239: Not Easy to Find

Chapter 239: Not Easy to Find
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
It was really difficult to find Zhang Ling’s house. The staff searched the mountain for an entire day before they found the place.
Jiang Chuan and the others often climbed the eastern side of the mountain. Her house was on the western side of the mountain. They couldn’t go from the east side, they had to go around to the west side to go up.
There were only two or three families scattered on the mountain. Moreover, the mountain road was winding from east to west. Even with a map, one might not be able to find the place. Zhang Ling only gave a rough location and did not draw a map.
By the time the staff found the Zhang family, they were already out of breath. Even in the deep autumn season, their clothes were soaked in sweat.
Given the pretext of a population census, the staff didn’t ask too many questions. After getting a basic understanding, they left and informed Chen Xing of the situation over the phone.
Chen Xing rushed to Jiang Chuan’s house that night after receiving the news.
Jiang Chuan’s family had just finished preparing dinner. When they saw Chen Xing’s family, they hurriedly welcomed him in.
From the two bottles of Five Grain liquor they bought last time, Jiang Chuan had kept one for Xiao Wu and brought the other home. With Chen Xing’s arrival, it was the perfect time to share it.
Jiang Xia went to fetch the alcohol, filling glasses for Jiang Chuan and Chen Xing.
Seeing the liquor, Chen Xing’s eyes lit up, and the fatigue from running around the village all day seemed to vanish.
The matter could be explained quickly, so he took a seat at the table, clinked glasses with Jiang Chuan, and downed the drink in one gulp.
After drinking the good wine, Chen Xing felt much better.
The two or three villages nearby were under the management of the production team. Jiang Chuan’s village was assigned to Chen Xing this time. The census required detailed investigation of every family. He was exhausted after two days of work. Now with a drink in hand, he was very satisfied.
As Chen Xing was engrossed in his drink, Zhou Lan grew impatient. She handed him a wild vegetable pancake, “Captain Chen, what about my eldest daughter’s situation?”
Chen Xing accepted the pancake and replied courteously, “Mrs. Zhou, you don’t have to be so formal. Just call me Chen Xing.”
Since Chen Xing was two years younger than Jiang Chuan, addressing Zhou Lan as “Mrs.” was appropriate.
“We found her. She’s on the western side of the mountain. The reason you couldn’t gather any information from the nearby villages is that they aren’t living in a village. They’ve built a wooden house on the mountain; it’s remote and hard to locate.”
Jiang Chuan expressed his gratitude, “Thank you so much.”
Chen Xing waved his hand and continued, “I heard that their old man passed away two days ago. Now, there’s only an old madam left in the family. The eldest son and his wife, Jiang Qing, and two sons who are single and have reached the age to get married.”
Jiang Chuan nodded. Zhou Lan, more concerned about her daughter’s wellbeing, leaned in and quickly asked, “How is Xiao Qing doing? Does their eldest son treat my daughter well? Do they… do they have children?”
Scratching his head in embarrassment, Chen Xing replied, “I’m not sure.”
They were only conducting a census, so it felt intrusive to ask such detailed questions. Besides, the staff mentioned that this family didn’t seem to like extended conversations. After giving minimal responses, they’d close their door.
Zhou Lan slumped in disappointment, eating her meal in silence.
Jiang Xia, aware of her mother’s worries, patted her hand and gave a comforting look.
Seeing Jiang Chuan’s silence after listening, Chen Xing remained quiet, enjoying the meal before him.
Zhou Lan’s cooking skills were better than the chefs in the restaurants in the county town. It was the perfect pairing with alcohol.
The table fell silent for a moment, each person lost in their thoughts.
Jiang Gu, being young and straightforward, lacked the tendency to overthink common in adults. Upon hearing about their eldest sister’s location, he exclaimed, “Now that we know where big sister is, let’s go get her!”
Jiang Chuan’s family had always shared a strong bond. Even in the old Jiang family, which typically valued sons over daughters, this particular family stood out for its warmth and affection.
As the eldest, Jiang Qing was both mature and sensible. On regular days, she assisted her parents with chores, working both efficiently and diligently. She always treated her younger sisters with great care and affection..