Time passed by bit by bit, and Sun Shi didn't know when she curled up in the warm tub and fell asleep.

But Dan continued to sit there, sipping his tea and staring out at the night sky.

>As soon as the hour of child-time passed, footsteps could be heard in the courtyard outside.

Dagan had just gotten up when he saw that Mrs. Sun had already woken up. Her bloodshot eyes flashed with a moment of confusion before returning to clarity.

"Are they back?" Mrs. Sun asked.

This is a simple text snippet.

"That's probably it. Let me go take a look."

Three or five people came into the courtyard.

The one in the lead was Luò Tiějiàng, who held a pine-oil torch in his hand. In this darkness, it was particularly eye-catching. Please note that the context you provided is empty. If you have text you'd like translated, please provide it within the <<<>>>tags and I'll be happy to help!

Da An's gaze swept across the people behind Luo Tiejiang, and his eyes immediately fell upon Luo Baobei.

“Lao Da Bo, how was your night? Did you have any harvest?” Dayan hurried out to meet him and asked.

Luo the blacksmith said, "We still haven't found the man, but we haven't come up empty-handed either. Let's go inside and talk."

Let me know if you'd like me to translate anything else! ?

He extinguished the torch, and everyone went into the house.

"Grandma," Luo Baobei rushed into Sun Shi's arms.

"Frozen, huh?" Sun Shi touched Luò Bǎobǎo's slightly cold hand and pulled her directly towards the warm tub.

Luò Bǎobǎo giggled and said, "My face was just blown by the wind. In fact, I'm not cold at all!"

"Even if it's not cold, it's best to warm up in the hot tub for a while and drive away the chill." said Mrs. Sun.

Lo Bao-bao was helpless and had to take off his shoes and sit in the warm tub. Sun Shi then covered Lo Bao-bao's legs tightly with a thick cloak.

At this moment, Dayan asked Luoti the blacksmith, "Luofu Big Bro, why are only you guys back? Where's my father and grandfather?"

>

Only then did Mrs. Sun realize that besides the grandfather and grandson of Luo, the blacksmith, there were Yang Yongjin and Xiao An in the main hall.

While Yang Huazhong and Lao Yangtou were nowhere to be seen, Sun couldn't help but look curiously at Luo Tiejiang.

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

Before Lu Tiejiang could respond, Warm Tub's Lu baby snatched the conversation: "Teddy found a piece of oiled paper near a temple behind a tree. It was the kind Big White Uncle used to wrap snacks in. We guessed he might have snuck into the temple, so we went looking there, but we didn't find him. However, Zhao Jiejie said that yesterday she saw a kid around his size peeking in and out of the temple entrance, seemingly looking for our Fourth Grandpa."

“I, my grandfather, and five other grandfathers hurried to the south end of the village to find Fourth Grandfather and ask him questions. He told us to go back first.”

Now Sun and Dasan understand.

Da An pondered for a moment, then said: “In that case, Dabai might be at Fourth Uncle’s place?”

The blacksmith Luo said, "I don't know if he's here or not. Anyway, when we were racking our brains yesterday, Da Bai went to find your uncle and it worked out."

Sun said, "The fourth child hasn't been around since my father-in-law kicked him out of Lao Yang's family. When Duoer got married, my father-in-law clearly said that people from the fourth house weren't allowed to come. As a result, only the three girls and Kang brought by the fourth house had a meal, but they avoided my father-in-law."

“Ju'er also sent Chen Biao over to deliver a gift. He didn't even eat at the banquet before leaving.”

"The Third Brother went to find the Fourth Brother privately, wanting him to come over for a meal. The Fourth Brother said that he'd pass and didn't want to put everyone in an awkward position. The Third Brother respected his decision, so these past two days, we’ve all been busy with Dòu’er's wedding preparations and haven't paid attention to what's going on with the Fourth Brother." Sun Shi said.

Actually, when Duo'er got married, Lao Si also had Xiao Juan secretly send over some dowry.

Although compared to other houses' offerings, Si Fang's dowry was the most meager.

But now that the Fourth House is in this state of having nothing but their clothes, no matter how much dowry they receive, it's a blessing just to have someone who cares.

Luò Bǎobǎo wanted to stay here and sleep. It happened that Xiǎodǒu was getting married today, and Sūn Shì also felt lonely, so she happily took her granddaughter back to the backyard to wash up and go to sleep.

Meanwhile, in the front courtyard, Lu Tiejiang and the others had also dispersed, leaving Da'an by himself in the main hall tending to the fire, waiting for Yang Huazhong's return.

At the entrance of an unassuming farm house on the south side of the village, Lao Yang's three generations, along with Wang Hongquan, were talking.

“Father, it’s too cold here. The north wind is howling. Can’t you come inside to talk?”

Yang Huaming was just pulled out of bed, wrapped in a blanket, standing in the cold wind, his voice trembling.

The darkness was too thick, obscuring Old Yang's black face. The old man said angrily: "Don't call me father, I don't have a son like you. I won't come into this house of yours. I'll leave after asking my questions!"

Yang Huaming rolled his eyes and gave up.

Even those who had been driven out of their homes didn't say anything, but this old man actually argued back.

"Third Brother, what do you want to ask?" Yang Huaming turned his gaze to Yang Huzhong.

Yang Huazhong said, "Has Dàbai been looking for you these past two days?"

Yang Huaming was stunned for a moment, then nodded: "Yes, yesterday evening, when it was almost dark, I finished my work and was about to leave the Taoist temple when he came. What's up?"

Yang Huazhong hadn't asked again, Wang Hongquan squeezed over from behind Yang Huazhong and grabbed the quilt wrapped around Yang Humin, urgently asking: "Fourth brother, where is Dabai now?"

Yang Huaming blinked and smiled, "Father-in-law, you're putting me on the spot. Dabai is your grandson, you should know where he is."

Yang Huazhong said, "Lao Si, here's the thing. Dabai left home because he had a fight with Meier. After noon yesterday, we haven't found him yet. Everyone is frantic. Earlier, we went to the Taoist temple and heard Yongzhi's uncle say that he saw Dabai go to the temple yesterday and stay there. So, we came here to ask you."

Wang Hongquan nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes!"

Now, it was Yang Huaming's turn to be surprised.

“This kid came to see me yesterday evening, asking me for hot water. I told him it would be more comfortable to go home and have some hot tea and dinner since it was dark outside. He said he was out having fun and passed by here when he got thirsty.”

>

"He was still carrying a water bag, so I filled it up with hot water and sent him out of the Taoist temple. Originally, we were going to return to the village together, but Master Yuan had something urgent to attend to, so I turned back. When I got back last night, it was already very late. Xiao Juan can testify to this."

Wang Hongquan said, “So you don't know where he went either?”

Yang Huaming shook his head.

This is where the trail ends.

Wang Hongquan looked dejected.

Old Yang also sighed and stood aside.

Yang Huazhong refused to give up and said, "Fourth brother, you have to think carefully again. What else did that boy say at the time? Was there anything suspicious about it?"

Yang Huaming tilted his head, recalling and pondering...

Suddenly, he snapped his fingers. “I remember now, he said this!”

What did he say?

Wang Hongquan and Lao Yangtou almost spoke in unison.

Yang Huaming said: "After filling it with water, he and I left the Taoist temple together. He suddenly asked me if we could reach Leigang Town in Jiangning County by crossing over from that mountain ridge."

“I said yes, the cattle dealers from Xiangjiazhuang go to neighboring counties to sell cattle. Many times they go over the mountains. There is indeed a shortcut there, but that mountain pass is difficult to cross. There's a large patch of fir forest inside, and there are wild boars in the forest. I even asked him why he was asking about this, and he said it wasn't anything, just that he had heard from classmates before that Leigang Town wasn't bad, richer than our Qingshui Town, so I didn't think much of it.”

(Editor in charge：novels)