Chapter 182: Portrait
The backyard of the security bureau was very spacious. To accommodate the escorts and clients, a multi-story building was constructed in the backyard, providing lodging for the escorts. Additionally, there were five separate courtyards for clients with families or female clients.
For a security bureau to achieve such a large scale was no easy feat.
However, if outsiders knew that this bureau not only provided escort services for external clients but also mainly served its own trading caravans, they wouldn’t be surprised.
Shen Xingnong and Shen Xingqing were arranged in the largest and best courtyard. This courtyard was practically reserved for Chu Tiankuo; no one else could stay there, though Chu Tiankuo had never actually stayed there himself.
The backyard of the security bureau was managed by senior female servants and maids.
The woman and her family were assigned a small courtyard by the escort in charge.
After a long day’s journey in the carriage, Shen Xingnong and Shen Xingqing were tired. They took turns freshening up, and then food was served.
Not long after they finished eating, Songbai came to report: “Miss, I’ve inquired about them. The family is from the capital city. The woman’s husband is named Yang Wan, and she is Qian Shi. Both are forty years old. Their son, Yang Fan, is thirteen. Yang Wan used to be an accountant at a restaurant. The family only has four members and had a decent living. Two years ago, in the autumn, the family went to Qian County to see the tide. On their way there, their daughter went missing. They’ve been searching everywhere for almost two years. This is a portrait drawn by a painter from the yamen based on the descriptions of Yang Wan and his wife. This one is a portrait of a missing girl from Tian’an City six months ago. The painter said their eyes are very similar.”
Shen Xingnong didn’t understand why Songbai brought back the portrait of the missing girl from Tian’an City for her to see. She wasn’t investigating a case.
Nevertheless, she glanced at it. Looking at the portrait drawn by the painter, Shen Xingnong felt that it would be quite difficult to find someone based on this image, wouldn’t it?
Or maybe she couldn’t understand the portraits drawn by the government for finding people.
Songbai then said, “The eyes of these two girls are very similar, and also resemble Miss Xingqing’s.”
Shen Xingqing took a look and nodded, “Yes! Their eyes are really alike!”
Shen Xingnong: “. . .”
She tried hard to discern for a long while. It seemed like the portraits were indeed quite similar, just different in size. She nodded emphatically, “It seems so.”
However, many people have almond-shaped eyes. It’s just that Shen Xingqing’s eyes are bigger, with a beautiful curve, and her long eyelashes are like small fans. Her eyes, like black gemstones, are lively and bright, carrying a pure and agile charm as they move, making them exceptionally captivating.
Songbai frowned, “Could it be that the human traffickers specifically target people with this kind of almond-shaped eyes?”
He then shook his head, “But that’s not necessarily the case. Every year, in every place, at least ten to eight families report to the authorities about their children being abducted. The ages vary, but most of them are boys under three years old. If it’s a girl, they’re usually older, most likely sold to be…”
Songbai paused at this point.
But both Shen Xingnong and Shen Xingqing understood. In any case, the places where girls are sold to are not good places.
As for boys, most of them are probably bought by people to be raised as their sons.
Songbai paused for a moment and continued, “Therefore, most of the abducted girls are pretty.”
Shen Xingqing nodded, “That’s true. There was a girl in a nearby village who was abducted before, and she was also very pretty! Everyone in the surrounding villages said she was beautiful.”
Shen Xingqing thought, she should go out less in the future, after all, she is so pretty!
Despite saying that, Shen Xingnong thought since they all believed the eyes of the two missing girls were similar, and Tian’an City was not far from the capital, they couldn’t miss this lead. Even if the possibility was small, she said, “Perhaps we can see if there are other people with this kind of eyes who have been abducted in other places. Following this line, maybe we can find clues about the human traffickers.”
Songbai nodded, “Xingnong is really smart!”
Although the matter was troublesome, it had to be done no matter how difficult it was!
Shen Xingnong looked at the two portraits, still unable to imagine their appearances, so she gave up and asked, “That Madam, are they willing to come with the security bureau?”
Songbai nodded, “They were originally begging while searching for their daughter, so of course they are willing. However, the bureau only accepts men. Yang Wan and Yang Fan are both willing to travel with us on this escort mission. Qian Shi said she wants to follow you, Miss.”
Shen Xingnong was taken aback, “She’s not willing to stay in the backyard of the bureau and help?”
Songbai: “Perhaps she’s afraid. I guess after traveling with us on this escort mission, she’ll get familiar and feel more comfortable.” Yang Wan said, “If Miss is willing to take Qian Shi in, our family is willing to sign a deed of sale.”
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Shen Xingnong understood. Having just met, it was understandable that a woman like her would be afraid to be left behind!
Shen Xingnong thought for a moment, “Then let her follow! We’ll talk about it later.”
Once Qian Shi got to know the security bureau, she would probably feel comfortable staying at the bureau in the capital.
Shen Xingnong knew that the women and maids in the backyard were all family members of the local escorts.
If their family wanted to continue following her in the future, as long as their character was good, it wasn’t impossible. After all, she was going back to build workshops immediately and did need manpower.
Let’s wait and see!
~
That evening, there happened to be a night market in Tian’an City. It was held twice a month, on the first and fifteenth.
Because they were traveling with the caravan, they had to hurry during the day. It was impossible for them to stroll around and buy local specialties whenever they reached a new place. They couldn’t delay everyone’s journey for such personal matters.
Therefore, both Shen Xingqing and Shen Xingnong didn’t want to miss the night market. So they went for a stroll and bought many things.
Tian’an City was rich in mineral resources, so Shen Xingnong bought some of each type to take back.
Shen Xingqing felt that the things her sister bought were both miscellaneous and strange, but her sister was capable. The things she bought must have a purpose, so she didn’t interfere.
Shen Xingnong also took the opportunity to withdraw five hundred taels of silver from the Qian Family Bank before returning to the security bureau.
The next day, before the group departed, they went to the Qian Family Bank and withdrew one hundred thousand taels of silver.
After that, every time their group passed through a city, they would go to the Qian Family Bank to withdraw money.
The manager of the Qian Family Bank couldn’t help but mutter, “Why are there so many people withdrawing silver recently?”
After daily calculations, the amount of silver withdrawn in a single day ranged from tens of thousands to over one hundred thousand taels!
The bank’s silver reserves were almost depleted, and they had to transfer more from other locations.
Days passed quietly amidst the gathering and scattering of clouds.
Because they traveled entirely by land, the caravan journeyed for a total of twelve days before finally returning to Futai County.
During the journey, they usually traveled during the day and reached the next town or city before evening to rest. Whenever Shen Xingnong encountered a Welcome Guest Restaurant, she would seize the opportunity to teach the head chef one or two dishes.
At the Wu’an Security Bureau in Futai County, Shen Xingnong called Qian Shi over, “Madam Qian, the caravan will continue south. Will you stay at the Wu’an Security Bureau in Futai County or return to the village with me?”
Qian Shi had already discussed it with her husband. Along the way, they learned that the Wu’an Security Bureau had branches in every city, and the women, elderly, and children in the backyards of the bureaus were all family members of the escorts.
