In the evening, the sky gradually darkened, enveloped in a thin layer of twilight.
The surroundings were quiet, only the rustling sound of the wind blowing through the leaves could be heard in the distance.
Li Jun and Granny Yang hurried to a small town and then walked down a narrow alley.
The alley was dim and damp, filled with the stale smell of mildew, and occasionally a few stray cats darted past the garbage piles, flashing into the night like shadows.
Li Jun followed closely behind Granny Yang, feeling uneasy.
Deep in the alley, a dilapidated courtyard appeared. Two black-faced big men stood at the entrance, with thick arms and sharp eyes.
Granny Yang glanced at them and nodded coldly.
Without a word, the two black-faced big men slowly pushed open the courtyard gate, and a creaking sound seemed particularly harsh in the silence.
Li Jun felt a chill down his spine. He looked back at the alley behind him, as if it were the last thread connecting him to freedom.
“Go in,” Granny Yang said lightly, her voice carrying an undeniable coldness.
Li Jun lowered his head and followed her into the courtyard with heavy steps.
The courtyard was not large, surrounded by broken wooden planks that seemed ready to collapse with every gust of wind.
Several children, about Li Jun’s age, were already gathered in the courtyard. Many were emaciated and ragged, their eyes showing a mixture of anticipation and anxiety.
Many children sat in the corner, heads down, not daring to make a sound.
Granny Yang brought Li Jun to the center of the courtyard and said in a flat tone, “This is where you will stay from now on. Don’t run around; meals will be delivered three times a day. There are beds inside; rest well. Remember to be obedient, or you will regret it.”
“Granny Yang, when will you take us to find jobs to earn a living?” Li Jun asked, gathering his courage.
“Wait…” After speaking, she turned and left, completely disregarding Li Jun’s complicated feelings.
Li Jun stood still, feeling that everything around him was so unfamiliar, while quite a few children were sizing him up.
The black-faced big men outside had already closed the gate with a dull ‘thud.’ Li Jun silently watched the gate, a wordless fear rising in his heart.
“What is your name?” Suddenly, a clear voice broke Li Jun’s thoughts.
Li Jun looked up and saw a small, delicate-looking girl standing in front of him, sizing him up with curiosity.
“My name is Sun Xiuer,” the girl blinked her big eyes and smiled. “What is yours?”
“I—I am Li Jun,” Li Jun replied nervously, his voice trembling slightly.
“Were you also sent out by your family to work?” Sun Xiuer continued to ask, her eyes full of curiosity.
Li Jun lowered his head and shook it. “No, I came out on my own; I want to learn a trade.”
Sun Xiuer nodded, then pointed to a chubby boy behind her. “This is Shan Hetian; he also just arrived today.”
Shan Hetian stood behind Sun Xiuer, scratching his head sheepishly, seeming a bit shy. “My family sent me here to be an apprentice.”
“Heh, they all say you boys should stay home and manage the family business, yet you run out to learn skills.” Sun Xiuer pouted, revealing a hint of self-mockery. “I’m a girl; if I hadn’t left, my stepmother would have sent me off to be a concubine.”
“To be a concubine? What does that mean?” Li Jun asked in confusion, clearly not understanding the meaning of the phrase.
Sun Xiuer glanced at Li Jun and said with some disdain, “It means becoming someone’s young wife.” She said it lightly, as if this concept was no longer unfamiliar to her.
“How much introduction fee did your families give when you came in? I bet Granny Yang has quite a bit of money,” Sun Xiuer suddenly changed the subject, looking at Li Jun and Shan Hetian with envy.
Li Jun shook his head and scratched his head. “I don’t know either. I just came with my mother.”
At this moment, Li Jun noticed other children in the corners of the courtyard; some were lying in the corner sleeping, while others sat there blankly, looking lost.
Especially some of the younger children, their eyes were moist, clearly having just cried.
“Were those people also here today?” Li Jun pointed to those children and asked curiously.
As soon as the words fell, a thin little boy walked over and replied shyly, “I’ve been here for three days.”
Li Jun nodded and tentatively asked, “What is your name?”
“My name is Huang Zhongxin,” the boy said softly, his gaze timid, seemingly afraid to meet Li Jun’s eyes.
Thus, Li Jun chatted with Huang Zhongxin, Shan Hetian, and Sun Xiuer for a while. Li Jun gradually learned that most of the children in the courtyard were forced to come here as apprentices because their families were poor. Although they were young, children from poor families had to start making a living early.
Li Jun felt a bit hesitant, vaguely sensing an indescribable oppressive atmosphere in this place. He wanted to go back, to tell Xu Hua that he would rather continue studying, even if it meant being scolded or beaten by Tutor Ding.
But when he thought about how his older brother, Li Zehua, had also gone through this, Li Jun silently encouraged himself, telling himself he couldn't cry or be afraid.
The next morning, just as dawn broke, the courtyard gate was suddenly opened. Granny Yang brought back two new children, gave a few instructions expressionlessly, and the black-faced big men at the door quickly nodded before leading two carriages forward.
“Get on the carriages,” Granny Yang said coldly, pointing to the carriages.
The children in the courtyard were led onto the carriages one by one. Li Jun watched everything nervously, unsure of what would happen next.
The carriage wheels began to turn, making a ‘creak-creak’ sound.
Granny Yang stood in place, watching the carriages move further away, a meaningful smile playing on her lips.
The carriage bumped along, and the dozen or so children inside were tossed about, the atmosphere heavy and oppressive. Li Jun huddled in a corner, looking at the tired and bewildered little faces around him, feeling a mix of emotions.
Along the way, they were already exhausted, but the anxiety and confusion in their hearts lingered. The scenery outside the carriage gradually became desolate, moving far away from villages and the marketplace.
At nightfall, the carriage was still moving forward.
It was pitch black outside, nothing could be seen. Li Jun and the other children exchanged glances. Some tried to peek out through the gaps in the carriage, but only saw darkness.
The black-faced man driving the carriage, possessing some unknown skill, drove clearly through the dark night.
The jolting carriage arrived at a stone formation. With a puff of black smoke, the two carriages and their occupants vanished from the spot.
When the carriages and people reappeared, they were in an unfamiliar, desolate place, covered entirely in piles of rubble, with no sign of human habitation, only the cold wind whistling among the stones.
This place seemed like a corner forgotten by the world. A few crows flew overhead, letting out harsh ‘caw-caw’ calls, adding to the eeriness and terror.
“Now… where are we?” a child mumbled softly, shivering at the sound of the crows.
Li Jun’s heart tightened; this was definitely not the city.
He looked into the distance, and through the haze, a dilapidated thatched hut stood alone by the mountain. Only one dim candle lamp was lit beside the hut, its faint light flickering in the night, appearing as the only spark of vitality, yet seeming so pale and powerless.
The two black-faced big men dragged the children off the carriages. Li Jun and the others had weak legs and stumbled onto the ground, the loose stones beneath their feet making them even more uneasy.
It was a desolate wilderness all around, the night as black as ink, the silence chilling to the bone.
“Quick, get inside!” one of the big men roared roughly, urging the children toward the thatched hut.
“Where is Granny Yang? Where did Granny Yang go?”
“This isn’t the city…”
A few of the bolder children muttered, and some even started crying.