Yang Jian didn't hear a word of his father's nagging. He went into his room and locked the door.
He then slept for three days, ignoring everyone except for meals and bathroom breaks. He even refused an invitation to eat from Peng Chaoyang.
Jiang Bin came twice to discuss company development but was met with a closed door.
Ma Lan also visited twice, but Yang Jian wouldn't even show his face.
Seeing their son unshaven and looking dejected, Yang Shuanglin and his wife grew worried that he was having a mental breakdown. They tried to talk to him, but he still ignored them.
Yang Shuanglin suspected that the news of Lu Yao's marriage had affected his son. He called Yang Hui to ask if Lu Yao was really getting married, thinking Yang Hui had lied to support his plan of introducing Ma Lan.
Upon learning of her brother's condition, Yang Hui became anxious and immediately drove over.
"Er Jian, open the door. I have something important to tell you about Lu Yao."
After knocking for a long time without an answer, Yang Hui finally used Lu Yao's name.
Yang Jian opened the door and sat blankly in the main hall.
"Er Jian, regarding the news of Lu Yao's marriage, I only heard it from Chief Engineer Lu. I don't know if the news is true."
Before Yang Hui could finish, Yang Jian's spirits lifted slightly. "Sister, then the child you mentioned was also a lie?"
"The child is real, and the child also admitted that his mother is Lu Yao."
"Is that the news you wanted to tell me?"
Yang Jian slumped again.
"Listen to me, this child is already three years old, and his features are very much like yours."
Yang Hui's statement left Yang Jian stunned, and Yang Shuanglin and his wife were equally shocked.
"Sister, are you saying that child is mine?"
Yang Jian suddenly became excited. The news was too shocking and unexpected.
Yang Shuanglin asked confusedly, "Hui, why didn't you say so earlier?"
"I didn't say anything because I wanted Er Jian to find someone to marry quickly and start a new life. Since Lu Yao has left, there's no need to contact her anymore. But seeing Er Jian like this, I couldn't bear it."
Yang Jian became anxious. "Sister, hurry up and tell me, is that child mine or not?"
"I'm not entirely sure. I only met Chief Engineer Lu briefly at the hospital, and Yangyang was being fussy, so I didn't get a good look at the child's features. I just thought his eyes resembled yours when you were little. By the time I wanted to confirm, Chief Engineer Lu had already taken the child away.
However, based on the child's age, I can infer that Lu Yao must have been pregnant before your accident. The child she had after marrying someone else couldn't be that old, so there's a high probability that this child is yours."
"Sister, let's go. Take me to the county town. I need to find Wei Xia at the hospital. She must know where Yao Yao is!"
Yang Jian grabbed his sister and headed for the door.
"Go wash up, change your clothes, and shave. What kind of state are you in to go out like this?"
"Then wait for me."
Yang Jian then realized he was still in his pajamas and looked like a beggar with his unshaven face.
"Hui, if that child of Lu Yao's is really my grandson, you must find a way to get him back."
While her brother was washing up, Yang Shuanglin gave his elder daughter a stern command. He was overjoyed at the sudden prospect of having a grandson.
"Dad, let Er Jian handle this himself. We can't help much."
Yang Hui knew that the person who tied the knot must be the one to untie it. She understood that in such matters, the individuals involved had to make their own decisions, and family could only offer advice.
Yang Jian finished washing up with extreme speed and threw on some old clothes. He hadn't brought back any of his clothes from Dongjiang and had to buy new ones.
"Er Jian, are you going out?"
Just as Yang Jian and his sister were about to leave, San Pang's father, Li Mantang, entered the courtyard.
Yang Jian was in a much better mood now and smiled at him. "Uncle Li, I'm heading to the county town. Is there something you need?"
"Er Jian, spare me a few minutes. I want to talk to you about San Pang and get your advice."
"What happened to San Pang?"
"San Pang is in northern Myanmar and can't come back. His mother and I are going crazy, we don't know what to do. You've been out in the world, you're more experienced than us, think of a way to bring him back."
Yang Jian didn't understand. "Uncle Li, are you joking? Isn't San Pang working for Maozi in the county town?"
"It was Maozi who tricked him into going to northern Myanmar."
Li Mantang, with a tearful voice, recounted San Pang's journey to northern Myanmar. Before leaving, San Pang had informed his family of his travel plans.
"Didn't you ask Maozi to hand him over?"
Yang Jian felt the situation was serious. San Pang had been working for him, and he couldn't stand by if something happened to him.
"We did. Maozi denies it, saying he didn't ask San Pang to go to northern Myanmar and knows nothing about it. But before San Pang left, he clearly told me that Maozi had asked him to help with the rosewood business."
"Has San Pang contacted you since then?"
"Yes, he's being held captive now. Besides asking for money from home, he says nothing. If they don't get the money, they'll beat him and even sell his organs."
"How much money have you given?"
"We gave two hundred thousand the first time, then sent the company's dividends of two hundred and eighty thousand last year. Now, the trade company's monthly salary of five thousand yuan also needs to be paid to him on time."
"How long has he been gone?"
"Over four months, just over ten days before you surrendered."
Yang Jian pondered. The source of this matter was still Brother Mao. As long as he could find him, he would know where San Pang was.
"Uncle Li, come with me to the county town. We'll demand San Pang from Brother Mao. If he denies it, we'll call the police."
"It's useless. Not only did I go to Maozi, but several parents from Xinqiao Town also reported it to the police. Without evidence, they can't prove they were tricked by Maozi."
"Are people from Xinqiao also tricked?"
"They were tricked along with San Pang. Maozi said he needed more people for the rosewood business and asked San Pang to help find them. San Pang then brought some of his close friends, and they all ended up staying there.
Furthermore, these few tricked five or six more relatives and friends. Now the entire Xinqiao Town knows San Pang is a swindler, and their families are coming to my house demanding him. I feel like dying."
"Do you know Maozi's home? I'll go find him."
Yang Jian was completely enraged. This Brother Mao was too wicked. Many things related to him were orchestrated behind the scenes. He should have let Ah Long take care of Brother Mao last time.
Li Mantang shook his head. "I went to his house yesterday. His wife said he went out of town on business for a long time and wouldn't be back. His wife wouldn't say where he went. He's definitely hiding on purpose."
This was a very serious matter, concerning over a dozen lives. Yang Jian felt it was all his fault and that he had to save them all. "Uncle Li, you go back first. I'll handle this. No matter the cost, I will bring San Pang back."
"How will you save him? That's abroad."
"Don't worry about it, I have a way."
Since San Pang was in northern Myanmar, Yang Jian felt there was still hope. Yang Fan had some influence there, and he should be able to help.