At last, Xia Chuyi got news of Wang Xiaofang and her eyes lit up. She hastily asked the vendor, "Is that true? Comrade, do you remember which day it was?"
"That, I can’t quite recall clearly..." the vendor selling roasted sweet potatoes replied.
"Other than buying sweet potatoes, did anything unusual happen when she came to your stall?" After thinking for a moment, Xia Chuyi asked again.
"Something unusual?" The vendor reminisced for a bit before saying, "Oh, it seems there was something. She seemed to have argued a few words with a companion she was with."
"Companion?" Xia Chuyi’s expression was one of shock.
"Yes!" said the vendor. "That person kept saying the comrade buying sweet potatoes was out of her league or something, and mentioned she wasn’t a match for someone, anyway, it wasn’t my place to keep watching the lady’s argument. There also seemed to be a guy there, too, but he was standing far away and I’m not quite certain."
"Right, that woman also said that sweet potatoes are only fit for inferior people to eat."
"It was precisely because that person spoke of my sweet potatoes in such a way that I remembered it very clearly."
Companions, arguments... The letter left by Wang Xiaofang didn’t mention any "companion." Moreover, it seemed like the Wang Family had gone through all of Wang Xiaofang’s social relations without getting any effective information.
Xia Chuyi thought deeply, speculating: Could it be that Wang Xiaofang encountered something while preparing to go to Ling County, leading to her not going?
Could that male companion be Song Yingjie?
Pursing her lips, she silently hoped in her heart: Sister Fang, please don’t let anything have happened to you.
Otherwise, she would feel an immense guilt.
At the beginning, she should have written more letters, until she was certain Wang Xiaofang had received the message. Alas, regretting past actions now was useless. She could only make an effort to find her, and bring her back.
So, who exactly was this so-called companion?
That was the first problem she needed to solve.
Saying Wang Xiaofang wasn’t worthy of someone (most likely referring to Song Yingjie), saying sweet potatoes are food for the lower class... hearing this tone, this content, Xia Chuyi did think of someone—"Meng Zhaodi."
It was "Meng Zhaodi" who had a direct conflict with Wang Xiaofang, who could say such sarcastic words.
Realizing this point, she went straight to the Wang Family.
Upon arrival, she saw Mrs. Wang, who had just returned, crying.
"Those damn people of the Song Family have gone too far! Because of their son’s disappearance, they actually accused our Xiao Fang of being indecent, running around, and doing things that a respectable family’s child wouldn’t do!"
Mrs. Wang was particularly upset as she wiped her tears and cursed, "I was blind to introduce their son to our Xiao Fang!"
"Alright, alright, what use is there in getting angry with their family?" Father Wang intervened. "The most urgent task is to find Xiao Fang."
As the words were uttered, Father Wang saw Xia Chuyi standing at the doorstep.
"Xia, have you come back?" Father Wang said.
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Wang suddenly lifted her head and rushed towards Xia Chuyi, grabbing her hands and asking eagerly, "Child, child, are you Xia Chuyi?"
"Did Xiao Fang really not go to see you?"
Even though she knew the answer, Mrs. Wang still asked Xia Chuyi in an uncontrollable and immensely agitated manner.
Mrs. Wang’s grip on her hands was so tight that it caused Xia Chuyi a slight pain.
She could understand the pain Mrs. Wang was feeling.