Wang Xueyong nodded toward Wang Yuncai, "You’re really thinking ahead."
Wang Yuncai gave Wang Xueyong a sideways glance, "Anyway, she’s certainly better than that Liu Haihua."
Wang Xueyong coughed lightly, "She may not fancy me, though."
Wang Yuncai laughed, "So you’re agreeing, then? Don’t worry, I’ll speak for you. Just wait to get married."
The matter with the Red Star Production Team had seen Wang Xueyong visit twice, and he couldn’t completely resolve it, leaving Liu Haiguo’s heart cold.
As for the family that had lost their son, Mrs. Liu took her son and daughter-in-law to their home to kneel and beg for forgiveness, apologizing and admitting fault. For the sake of her son, Mrs. Liu was indeed very pitiable. Formerly a respected team leader’s wife, she had almost become an object of everyone’s annoyance.
Liu Haiguo endured any beating or scolding, maintaining a very good attitude in admitting faults and apologizing, and he even offered to become godson to these five families.
Some families disgusted with him, beat him brutally and threw him out, but some others, after being persuaded, surprisingly accepted Liu Haiguo as their godson.
Feng Ying felt incredibly wronged inside. Originally married into the Red Star Production Team, she aspired to be the captain’s wife, to be respected even if not commanding. However, since coming here, she hadn’t experienced anything good, and now she had to kneel and beg people for the sake of Liu Haiguo, her knees swollen and nearly ruined.
As if this wasn’t enough of a blow, while kneeling at the last family’s home, Feng Ying began bleeding from her lower body.
Someone cried out in alarm, "Why is there so much blood?"
Feng Ying had already been feeling uncomfortable but had been enduring it all this time. For the sake of Liu Haiguo’s position as team leader, she had to keep kneeling and apologizing, humbling herself greatly.
Feng Ying, exhausted, collapsed upon seeing so much of her own blood, fainting right then and there.
Just like that, Feng Ying had a miscarriage, losing a child but securing an opportunity for Liu Haiguo.
In the end, officials came, and with Wang Xueyong mediating, everyone made concessions to give Liu Haiguo a chance, with the understanding that he’d be replaced if there were no results within a year.
Although it was just a year’s time, Liu Haiguo breathed a sigh of relief knowing that as long as he remained team leader, he had a chance of holding onto his position.
Mrs. Liu was particularly heartbroken over the loss of Feng Ying’s child, but there was nothing to be done, nor could she blame Feng Ying for being careless. After all, what had happened with Liu Haiguo had already caused the family much distress.
And while everyone’s focus was on Liu Haiguo, before dawn one day, Liu Haihua stealthily left the house with Ge Liang.
At that moment, no one would notice their departure. It wasn’t until daylight when Liu Haihua returned and Ge Liang was nowhere to be seen.
By the evening, when Hong Xing realized Ge Liang was missing, he had already searched Liu Haiguo’s house, Liu Haihua’s house, and the entire production team without a trace of Ge Liang.
"Haihua, where did you take Ge Lai?" Hong Xing shouted at Liu Haihua at the doorstep of the Lius.
Liu Haihua yelled back at Hong Xing irritably, "How would I know where he went?"
"He’s gone missing, and you, as his mother, aren’t even looking for him?" Hong Xing said.
"Do you really think I should go look for him? It’s a good thing I didn’t kill him," Liu Haihua said impatiently.
Witnessing Liu Haihua’s attitude, Hong Xing felt an urge to beat her to death. Liu Haiguo hurriedly came out and said, "Hong Xing, Ge Lai isn’t with you?"
"He’s not, I’ve searched the whole production team and haven’t seen him," Hong Xing shook his head.
"Who knows where he’s run off to," Liu Haihua snorted dismissively, then blurted out, "Best if he dies out there and doesn’t come back." She turned to go inside.
Hong Xing grabbed her, glaring, "What do you mean by that? Did you secretly take him away and leave him somewhere?"
"He’s only a four-year-old child..." Hong Xing’s eyes were red with rage. He couldn’t believe Liu Haihua could be so indifferent, not only failing to search for him but also saying it was best if he died and never returned.
Liu Haiguo said, "He should be in the production team, I’ll come and help you search."
Liu Haiguo’s own troubles had just settled down, but the situation was still not completely stable, and with Feng Ying having miscarried, Mrs. Liu was taking care of her. Liu Haiguo did not want to cause more trouble because of Ge Lai’s situation—as he was on the verge of breaking down himself.
So Liu Haiguo accompanied Hong Xing to search. Inside the house, when Mrs. Liu heard that Ge Lai was missing, she was shocked and slapped Liu Haihua, "Get out and search now, and if you can’t find Ge Lai, don’t bother coming back."
"Mom, if he’s gone, he’s gone. Isn’t it better that way?" Liu Haihua replied reluctantly.
Mrs. Liu glared, "That’s your own son. How can you speak like that? And with your brother’s incident just over, if anything else happens, don’t call me mother again." Mrs. Liu, saying this, hurriedly dragged Liu Haihua out to search.
But night fell, and no trace of him was found, even with the whole production team’s help.
In the dead of night, Hong Xing even ran to the Guangming Production Team. Gao Jiaxing and Xia Xiao had long been sitting on a train, and the Gao family, hearing that Ge Lai was missing, were also worried.
Gao Jiazhi joined Hong Xing, leading people with torches to search everywhere. They shouted in the mountains and searched all over, but found no sign of the boy.
They checked the cemetery as well, to no avail.
For a moment, Hong Xing was chilled to the bone, never imagining he could fail to protect Ge Lai’s son.
Blood filled Hong Xing’s eyes, and Gao Jiazhi sighed and comforted him, "The boy could have gone anywhere, we’ve searched all nearby areas without success, and now you don’t know where else to look. Plus, it’s the middle of the night, go back, get some rest. If the child is blessed and destined to survive, he surely won’t come to harm."