This news also reached Gabriel's ears. At this moment, he had already arrived at the village at the foot of the northern mountain and was preparing to search for people from house to house.

"Tell Bradley that we'll take action in three days, and I'll lead the team personally!"

Three days was about the right time. He could definitely wait until he found Lan Xiaoling and the child, settle them down, and then set off.

However, he wasn't sure if Lan Xiaoling was in any of these villages.

After hanging up the phone, he parked the car by the roadside and entered the nearest village.

This place was incredibly remote. From a distance, there were only a few scattered households in the village.

The houses were still tile-roofed, and some looked dilapidated, as if they could collapse at any moment.

After Gabriel entered, he didn't see anyone. Just as he thought he had come to the wrong place and was about to turn back the way he came, suddenly, a burst of laughter and noise came from ahead.

He looked up and saw a few children rushing out of a room. Following them was a man wearing a dark gray suit.

"Children, the teacher is going to distribute stationery to you. Line up, come one by one, and don't push."

As the gentle male voice sounded, more and more children rushed out from inside.

Seeing someone ahead, Gabriel, as if driven by some unknown force, quickened his pace.

...

Here, Mu Ye led the children to line up. When the children heard that new stationery was going to be distributed, they were all so excited that they kept jumping up and down.

"Teacher Mu, is there a pencil case?"

"Teacher Mu, I want a pencil. Mine is used up!"

"Teacher Mu, I want a writing book!"

Listening to the children's requests, Mu Ye always had a smile on his lips. "Yes, yes, Teacher Lan has prepared everything for you. Everyone, be patient. Teacher Lan is already getting things ready and will come over soon to distribute them to you."

Mu Ye soothed the children's emotions and said patiently.

These children were very obedient and all lined up neatly.

The leading children were Yuanman and Yuanbao. There was also anticipation in their eyes. After all, they had been here for so long, and the stationery they used every day was old. They also wanted new writing books and stationery.

Mu Ye saw Yuanman craning his neck and went up to pat his head. He smiled and said, "Your mommy has gone with Grandpa Zhou to distribute supplies. After she finishes her work, she will come over to arrange the stationery for everyone. Later, you two little guys must help your mommy with something."

Yuanman nodded sensibly. "I promise to complete the task!"

Yuanbao also slapped his chest and said, "Don't worry, Uncle Mu. We are little men and can't let girls get too tired."

Hearing this, Mu Ye smiled affectionately.

Soon, the sound of a car came from ahead, and then Uncle Zhou's truck drove towards them.

After returning to the village, Uncle Zhou and Lan Xiaoling first went to the village chief's house to hand over the supplies. Since the village chief was old, Lan Xiaoling and Uncle Zhou helped carry the supplies and then distributed them from house to house.

They had been busy until now.

Seeing the expectant eyes of the children from a distance, Lan Xiaoling also showed a gentle smile on her lips. She waved to the children from the car.

"Teacher Lan!"

The children shouted in unison.

Lan Xiaoling had been on the go all the way and was very tired. But when she heard the children call her "Teacher Lan," she suddenly felt that all her efforts were worth it.

Soon, the car arrived. Lan Xiaoling jumped out of the car, and the next second, Yuanbao and Yuanman rushed over.

The obedient Yuanbao first gave his mommy a bottle of water, and Yuanman stepped forward to wipe the sweat off her face.

Looking at her two obedient treasures, Lan Xiaoling hugged them with a smile.

"Did you listen to Uncle Mu and have a good meal at noon?"

Yuanman shook his head. "Mommy wasn't here, and I was worried!"

Seeing the warm scene of the family of three, Mu Ye also came forward.

He looked at Lan Xiaoling with adoring eyes and said, "When you weren't here, the children didn't listen to me. They insisted on waiting for you to come back for lunch at noon, so they only ate a little."

Hearing this, Lan Xiaoling shook her head helplessly. "Mommy said she would be back soon. You really don't make people worry less."

"Alright, after Mommy distributes the stationery, I'll go home and cook something delicious for you!"

"Yay!"

Yuanman and Yuanbao jumped up and down happily.

Lan Xiaoling pinched their little faces affectionately, then turned her head to look at Mu Ye. "Go and help Uncle Zhou unload the goods. Come to my house for dinner tonight."

Hearing this, Mu Ye smiled like a big boy.

He said "Yes, ma'am" and then went to help carry boxes of stationery down.

Uncle Zhou had already completed his task and had to rush back to work in the fields. He didn't stay long and left.

Lan Xiaoling and Mu Ye sorted out the things and then distributed them one by one.

However, when the name "Jiang Xiaoyou" was called, there was no response for a long time.

Lan Xiaoling looked around but didn't see the child's figure. She then asked Mu Ye, "Is Jiang Xiaoyou absent again today?"

Mu Ye said, "He came in the morning, but not long after he arrived, his father came and took him away."

Hearing this, Lan Xiaoling furrowed her brows.

Then she picked up Jiang Xiaoyou's share and turned to leave, but was suddenly grabbed by the hand by Mu Ye. He lowered his voice and said, "Don't go. Have you forgotten the lesson from that night? What if Jiang Datian has improper intentions towards you again?"

Speaking of that night, Lan Xiaoling still felt a lingering fear.

Jiang Datian was a farmer in the village. When Lan Xiaoling first came here, Jiang Datian had come to help her repair the house.

Whenever the mother and her two children were in trouble, the village chief would always ask Jiang Datian to come and help, all because Jiang Datian was tall and strong, and more importantly, he seemed honest and hardworking.

However, Lan Xiaoling never expected that these were just Jiang Datian's outward appearances. That night, he actually sneaked into her house and tried to violate her.

If it hadn't been for Yuanbao's quick wit in calling Mu Ye, I'm afraid her innocence would have been lost.

That night, Mu Ye gave Jiang Datian a good beating. In order to protect Lan Xiaoling's reputation, he ultimately didn't expose Jiang Datian's scandal.

But Jiang Datian lost face. Recently, he deliberately avoided Lan Xiaoling, and he even didn't let Jiang Xiaoyou come to school.

Although Lan Xiaoling was afraid that Jiang Datian would retaliate, she also didn't want Jiang Xiaoyou to lose the opportunity to study.

"Mu Ye, I believe that Jiang Datian was just muddle-headed at that time. After that night, he has learned his lesson and definitely won't dare to do such a thing again!"