Jill Evans Is Missing

When Lily Evans returned to Clearwater Village, it was just in time for dinner. Her family was waiting for her.

Uncle Arthur asked Lily how her talk with Leonard Li went. Hearing that Leonard wasn't angry, but instead offered advice and suggested she buy land, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

You have to know, these nobles from the capital are not easy to deal with. Although Arthur Evans is a wealthy businessman, merchants rank low in status. Only someone like Leonard Li, who doesn't care much about status, is easy to befriend.

"Let's eat. Lily's been busy all day, she must be tired." Mrs. Charlotte Evans said with a smile, leading Jack Evans out.

Jack giggled and threw himself into Lily's arms. "Sister Lily, I want to eat the peanut cake you make!"

"Alright, I'll make it for you tomorrow!" Lily replied, pinching Jack's cheek with a smile.

Margaret Evans called Jill over. "Jack, come sit with your second mom."

Jack had been especially clingy with Margaret Evans these days, circling around her with a big smile, making her laugh heartily.

But Lily noticed Jill wasn't there and asked, "Jack, where's your sister?"

Jack scratched his head. "My sister went to play with Hannah Lee and the other kids from the village."

Mrs. Charlotte Evans laughed, "You siblings are getting naughtier by the day. Everyone eat first, I'll go find Jill."

"No, let me go. I ate a lot of snacks at Mr. Leonard Li's house, I'm really full right now." Lily smiled and gently pushed Mrs. Charlotte Evans back into her seat.

Lily searched around the house but didn't see Jill, so she headed toward the village, thinking Jill must be having so much fun with Hannah Lee and the other girls that she forgot to come home for dinner.

Lily first walked to Hannah Lee's house. Standing at the gate, she called out, "Hannah, are you there? Jill, come home for dinner!"

From inside, Mrs. Wang, Hannah Lee's mother, came out with her sleeves rolled up and a stern look. "What are you yelling for? That crazy girl isn't here! Don't let your Jack keep looking for my Hannah, she has chores to do!"

Lily glanced at Mrs. Wang's harsh expression and didn't bother to respond. She kept walking through the village looking for Jill, but after a long search, she still couldn't find Jill or Hannah.

Lily grew anxious. Haizi Village was remote, and usually no outsiders came, so the village children played freely without fear of kidnappers. But she'd searched all the places Jill usually went and still couldn't find her.

Just as Lily was getting worried, she suddenly heard Hannah Lee's voice from a nearby yard: "Jill, I've finished chopping my firewood, let me help you with yours!"

Jill's childish voice replied, "Hannah, take a break, I can chop it myself."

Then came Hannah Lee's footsteps: "Jill, let's chop together."

Lily realized they were at Mrs. Tang's house! Why were these two kids chopping wood here?

Lily lifted her skirt, used a broken stump as a step, and climbed up Mrs. Tang's low wall. She peeked over and saw the two girls covered in dirt and sweat, each struggling to chop wood with an axe.

"Jill, Hannah, what are you two doing!?" Lily asked in surprise, looking at the pair of little "mud cats."

Jill was startled to see Lily, looking guilty as if she'd been caught.

Hannah Lee was also stunned, exchanging glances with Jill.

"Jill, why didn't you come home for dinner? Your parents are really worried." Lily said, "Come on, let's go home with your sister."

Jill bit her lip, looking at the unchopped wood, and shook her head. "Sister Lily, I'll go home after I finish. Please tell my parents not to worry."

"What?" Lily looked at little Jill gripping the axe, feeling distressed. This was the cherished young lady of a wealthy family, who was usually pampered at home and never asked to do chores—how did she end up doing such dangerous, rough work at Mrs. Tang's?

Jill looked up at Lily and said, "Hannah's parents always hit her and call her a burden. We wanted to earn some money so they wouldn't hit her anymore. Sister Lily, Aunt Tang said if we chopped wood for her, she'd give us five taels of silver, but told us not to tell anyone. Sister Lily, you have to keep it secret—if you say anything, Aunt Tang won't give us the money."