The next morning, Su Man got up early.
She hadn’t expected He Jinxiu to be up even earlier. She was already cooking porridge in the kitchen. Seeing Su Man’s rosy little face, she looked at her affectionately.
“You must be exhausted after such a long train ride! Why didn’t you sleep a little longer? Did you get a good night’s rest?”
Su Man smiled shyly.
“I’ve gotten used to getting up early at home. Auntie He, let me help you!”
He Jinxiu had originally planned to stop her, but then she thought that the girl had just arrived in a new environment and that doing a few things within her ability might help her settle in more quickly. So she didn’t stop her, only asking her to help set out the bowls and chopsticks.
After breakfast, the two of them sat in the courtyard chatting. When He Jinxiu noticed that Su Man hadn’t brought many clothes with her, she got up and said she wanted to take her measurements and have some new clothes made for her.
Su Man was far too embarrassed to accept. She hurriedly tried to refuse, and the two of them were still going back and forth when someone knocked on the courtyard gate.
He Jinxiu could only go open the door first.
It turned out to be Li Yumei.
He Jinxiu had assumed that she had come to see her about something, but to her surprise, Li Yumei looked extremely excited and immediately asked,
“Sister He, is Miss Su Man here?”
Su Man hadn’t yet told He Jinxiu about meeting Sun Qinqin on the journey, so He Jinxiu was puzzled. They didn’t know each other, so why had Yumei immediately asked about Su Man?
She looked at her in confusion.
“Manman is inside. What’s going on?”
Li Yumei was far too excited to bother answering. She went straight inside. After a few steps, she saw a young girl standing in the courtyard in a blue floral dress.
She had a delicate figure, lovely features, and a pair of large, limpid eyes that made her exceptionally pretty.
Li Yumei rushed forward in excitement, grabbed her hand, and choked out,
“Comrade Su Man, you saved my whole family’s life!”
He Jinxiu followed her inside, staring at the scene before her in utter astonishment.
The night before, Li Yumei had been having dinner at home with Sun Jianlin when they heard someone knocking at the door.
When they opened it, they were stunned and overjoyed to see their daughter standing there.
They hurriedly welcomed her inside. Sun Qinqin was already hungry, and when she saw the familiar food on the table, she didn’t even have time to explain anything. She ate two big bowls of rice before finally letting out a satisfied burp.
Li Yumei looked at her daughter with heartache. She felt that the girl had lost quite a bit of weight, though she couldn’t resist complaining.
“You little brat. You were gone for months, and you finally remembered to come home? Why didn’t you even tell me? I could have gone to meet you!”
It was only an affectionate little complaint, but no one could have expected Sun Qinqin’s eyes to turn red instantly.
Tears welled up in her eyes. Her lips trembled, and then she burst into loud sobs.
Li Yumei was terrified.
Her daughter had never been much of a crier. How could one joking remark after being away for only a few months have triggered such a huge reaction?
But she was her own flesh and blood. Hearing her daughter cry so desperately made Li Yumei’s heart ache as though it were being cut with a knife.
She quickly comforted her.
“It was Mom’s fault. I shouldn’t have said that. Mom just missed you too much and was afraid something might have happened to you out there! How could I really blame you?”
Seeing the guilt in her mother’s eyes and the loving concern in her father’s, all the fear Sun Qinqin had been suppressing came rushing back.
Her voice was hoarse, and tears continued to fall as she sobbed,
“Mom, Dad, I really almost didn’t make it home this time!”
Li Yumei and Sun Jianlin were both stunned.
Their hearts clenched.
Unable to hold herself back, Li Yumei tightly grabbed her daughter’s hand and asked in a trembling voice,
“Qinqin, what happened? You…”
After crying and finally returning home, Sun Qinqin quickly composed herself and told her mother everything that had happened along the way.
How she had met the human traffickers, been drugged unconscious, been rescued, and eventually made her way back with her benefactor.
Li Yumei’s face went pale as she listened, her heart lodged in her throat. She looked her daughter up and down again and again, as if she needed to make absolutely certain that her daughter was still standing safely in front of her.
Sun Jianlin appeared relatively calm, but both his hands were clenched tightly into fists, and he couldn’t take his eyes off his daughter for even a moment.
“Mom, it’s a good thing Manman was there. Otherwise, those bad people really would have taken me away. But don’t worry too much. Look, your daughter came home safe and sound!”
Li Yumei suddenly reacted, and tears immediately spilled down her cheeks.
“You little brat! And you still say it’s nothing? You nearly got taken away! Are you trying to scare your father and me to death?”
Seeing her mother crying so hard, Sun Qinqin felt terrible too. All she could do was quickly reassure her with whatever comforting words came to mind.
After crying for a while, Li Yumei pulled Sun Qinqin tightly into her arms and cursed,
“Those heartless human traffickers! I hope Heaven strikes them dead with lightning! And when they die, I hope they go straight to the eighteenth level of hell! Why didn’t you tell Mom sooner? I would’ve clawed those bastards to pieces myself!”
Sun Qinqin had been afraid that if she tried to explain everything on the road, her parents would only be frightened even more, so she had waited until she got home.
She hadn’t expected her mother to be this terrified anyway.
Lying in Li Yumei’s warm, soft embrace, Sun Qinqin’s heart felt warm.
Having parents like these was the greatest blessing in her life.
Li Yumei and Sun Jianlin didn’t sleep at all that night.
Both of them were still shaken by what had happened. Every so often, they would even go to their daughter’s room just to make sure she was there before they could relax a little.
By the next morning, Sun Jianlin had no choice but to go to work.
After Li Yumei waited for her daughter to wake up and eat breakfast, she went to the supply cooperative, bought some things, and brought them over.
After Li Yumei finished explaining everything, He Jinxiu looked at Su Man with even greater admiration.
She hadn’t expected this girl to be not only beautiful, hardworking, and modest, but also so kindhearted.
Even though she was alone in a strange place, when she saw someone in need and witnessed an injustice, she had still been willing to step forward and help.
The two women took turns praising Su Man until they had practically exhausted every compliment imaginable, leaving Su Man blushing with embarrassment.
Li Yumei spoke sincerely.
“Miss Su Man, you saved our Qinqin. From now on, you’re a benefactor to our whole family. If you ever need anything, just say the word. I, Li Yumei, will never hesitate to help!”
Seeing the determination in her eyes, Su Man hurriedly said,
“Auntie Li, please don’t say that. Just call me Manman, like Auntie He does. What I did was only a small favor, so you don’t need to take it so seriously. Besides, Qinqin and I hit it off. I’ve gained a good friend out of this too!”
Li Yumei was deeply moved by her words.
What a wonderful girl.
Regardless of what Su Man said, the Sun family would remember this debt of gratitude in their hearts. If there was ever anything they could do to help her, Li Yumei would certainly take the initiative.
Seeing that Sun Qinqin had come, He Jinxiu sent the two young girls off to chat together.
She had heard that Sun Jianlin would also come over after work that day to thank Su Man, and Liao Wenchang should be back that evening as well.
The two women quickly came to an agreement.
They would prepare dinner here.
Li Yumei would go out to buy some good ingredients, while He Jinxiu would stay home and make the other preparations.
For a while, the little courtyard was filled with warmth and laughter.