“What’s going on? Who’s beating the gongs and drums? Why does it sound like it’s getting closer?”
Duan Pengwei stood up and curiously looked out the window.
“Let’s go out and see what’s happening.”
Wu Yafang walked straight over and pushed the door open, only to see a group of people heading their way. The person leading the group was holding a silk banner, on which were written the four large characters: “Heroes Against Human Trafficking.”
Heroes Against Human Trafficking?
Could this be for Second Brother’s wife??
Seeing this scene, Duan Pengwei, as a journalist, immediately went back to her room to grab her camera and take pictures—another piece of material.
She just didn’t know who these heroes against human trafficking were.
Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law are also heroes against human trafficking, so why hasn’t anyone come to deliver a banner?
As Duan Pengwei was thinking this, the people holding the banner and beating the gongs and drums stopped right in front of her house.
“Hello, I’d like to ask if Li Qinkuai and Duan Pengyue live here?” Wu Sheng asked Wu Yafang and Duan Pengwei with a smile.
Duan Pengwei was stunned for a moment—they really were here for her Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law!
Wu Yafang had only been guessing earlier, but she hadn’t expected to be right. She was a bit slow to react.
It was Duan Wu, who had come out after hearing the commotion, who responded: “Yes, they are my son and daughter-in-law.”
Wu Yafang snapped back to reality and quickly said, “Yes, yes, yes. Are you here for my son and daughter-in-law?”
Wu Sheng nodded, raising the banner slightly. Next to the words “Heroes Against Human Trafficking” were the names Li Qinkuai and Duan Pengyue.
“Yes, they are heroes against human trafficking. If it weren’t for the two of them exposing the traffickers, my grandson would likely have been sold to some remote corner by now. We came today to thank them and present them with this banner.”
Beside him, Wu Yin held her child, a smile on her face. “We searched for a long time before finding out that our saviors live here. Thank you for saving my child!”
Wu Yafang quickly invited them inside: “Please, come in for some tea. I’ll call them down.”
Confirming that the banner was indeed for her Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law, Duan Pengwei kept taking photos, regretting in her heart that she had published her article too quickly the other day. Otherwise, she could have included these photos now.
Seeing her like this, Wu Yafang felt a surge of irritation: “Go and call your Second Sister-in-law down!”
Duan Pengwei put away her camera, said “Oh,” and went upstairs to call them.
Wu Yafang poured tea for the guests and brought out some snacks to serve them, her gaze fixed on the child Wu Yin was holding.
Perhaps her gaze was too intense, as Wu Yin extended the child toward her: “Auntie, would you like to hold the baby?”
“Yes!” Wu Yafang took the baby so quickly, her heart filled with delight.
It had been many years since she had held such a small child—so pink and tender, just looking at it made her happy.
Meanwhile, Wu Yin walked to the door and said to the drummers they had hired: “Master, keep playing, as loudly as possible. Set off the firecrackers we bought too.”
She wanted everyone in the neighborhood to know who the heroes against human trafficking were.
“Second Sister-in-law, someone is here to see you, downstairs,” Duan Pengwei called out while knocking on the door.
Li Qinkuai had just finished writing a letter. Hearing that someone was looking for her, she opened the door and asked, “Who’s looking for me?”
“You’ll know when you go downstairs,” Duan Pengwei said mysteriously.
Li Qinkuai went downstairs and immediately recognized Wu Sheng and Wu Yin.
Seeing her come down, Wu Yin rushed over excitedly, about to kneel and kowtow, but Li Qinkuai stopped her.
“That day I was too worried about the child and spoke harshly to you. It wasn’t intentional. Now I’ve finally found you. Thank you for saving my child. If it weren’t for you and your husband, my child might have been sold.”
Wu Yin spoke and then burst into tears, overwhelmed by lingering fear.
“Yes, we are truly grateful to you. If it weren’t for you, our whole family wouldn’t be able to go on living,” Wu Sheng added.
They had waited several years for this child. The whole family treasured him like a precious gem and had even specially hired someone to care for him. No one expected they would invite a wolf into their home, nearly leading to the child being kidnapped.
Li Qinkuai comforted the father and daughter: “Now that the child has been found, just be more careful in the future. Don’t let strangers care for the child, especially before he turns five.”
“Alright, I’ll take care of the child myself from now on. I won’t let strangers look after him again,” Wu Yin said without hesitation. Even if Li Qinkuai hadn’t mentioned it, she wouldn’t have hired anyone else to care for the child.
Experiencing something like this once was enough—she couldn’t risk a second time.
The child was born after Wu Yin endured countless hardships. In her eyes, the child’s life was more important than her own.
“This is a commendation banner we made for you. You must accept it! It’s a pity Duan Pengyue isn’t here, so we can’t see him. We should have come earlier.” Wu Sheng held the banner with both hands, waiting for Li Qinkuai to take it, also regretting that Duan Pengyue had joined the army.
Li Qinkuai happily accepted the banner.
It was the honor and testament to her and Duan Pengyue’s act of saving someone, as well as the greatest expression of gratitude from Wu Sheng and Wu Yin.
“By the way, we have another request today, and we hope you’ll agree,” Wu Sheng said, then turned to pick up the child.
“What request?”
Wu Yin spoke up: “My father and I both want you to be the child’s godmother.”
“Godmother?” Li Qinkuai had never been a godmother before and felt somewhat at a loss.
Wu Sheng: “Yes, you gave the child a second chance at life, so we want you to be his godmother.”
Li Qinkuai paused for a few seconds, then reached out to take the child. The child had been sleeping but, as if sensing something the moment she held him, opened his eyes and smiled at her.
“He’s smiling! He must want to recognize you as his mother too!” Wu Yafang chimed in.
Duan Pengwei’s heart melted: “What an adorable child.”
Duan Wu watched eagerly, thinking to himself that he should have made sure Second Brother had a child before joining the army. Now he could only look at other people’s children!
“Alright, from now on, I’ll be the child’s godmother!” Li Qinkuai was utterly charmed by the child’s smile.
Wu Yin said with a smile: “Our baby now has two mothers!”
At noon, Wu Sheng suggested treating everyone to a meal at the state-run restaurant. Wu Yafang quickly said: “Don’t waste money and ration coupons on that. I’ll cook at home. We’re family now.”
“How could we trouble you like that, sister-in-law?” Wu Sheng protested, growing a bit anxious.
Over the course of the morning, Wu Sheng and Duan Wu had become like brothers, chatting happily together.
“It’s no trouble. Besides, you brought chicken and meat. I’ll cook them for everyone to share. Otherwise, if you take them back, we won’t accept them.” Wu Yafang waved her hand. Cooking was a simple task for her, especially on such a happy occasion.
Duan Wu pulled Wu Sheng to sit down: “Your sister-in-law is right, let’s eat at home. Don’t go out and spend money, otherwise you really have to take the chicken and meat back with you.”
The chicken and meat were brought for Li Qinkuai and Duan Pengyue, so taking them back now would be awkward. They had no choice but to agree, thinking they could bring some good things next time when they were free.
“Qinkuai, where are you working now? How about we go out together when you have time off?” Wu Yin asked happily.
Li Qinkuai felt a little embarrassed: “I just married into this area and haven’t found work yet.”
Upon hearing she had no job, Wu Sheng immediately asked: “Is it because your household registration hasn’t been transferred here yet, so work hasn’t been assigned?”
Li Qinkuai quickly explained: “No, it’s because I have a rural household registration, so I can’t be assigned a job. I can only look for temporary work, but recently a group of educated youth have returned to the city, and many of them haven’t been assigned jobs yet, so temporary positions are also hard to find.”
“Then come work as a temporary worker at our factory. We happen to have two temporary positions available recently.”
“Your factory??”
Wu Yin: “Yes, my dad is the director of the machinery factory. If he says it’s okay, then it’s okay. It’s just that the benefits and treatment for temporary workers aren’t great—you’d get about twenty yuan a month. I’m just worried you might not be willing.”
“Of course I’m willing. Having a job is enough.”
Li Qinkuai agreed with a smile. She had originally thought that if she couldn’t find a job after a while longer, she would return to Li Family Village. After all, Duan Pengyue was in the military and couldn’t leave, so going back to Li Family Village would give her more freedom.
She never expected that Wu Sheng was actually the director of the machinery factory. It seems doing good deeds really pays off—look, the reward has come!
Wu Sheng: “Good, then come to the machinery factory to find me the day after tomorrow. I’ll notify personnel to get you onboarded.”
“That’s great! Once you start working at the machinery factory, we can see each other often from now on.” Wu Yin said happily. Since childhood, her temper hadn’t been great, so she had few friends and few people to talk to.
With Li Qinkuai around, she wouldn’t have to worry about having no one to talk to in the future. Moreover, Li Qinkuai was her son’s lifesaver and godmother—no matter what, she had to look out for her.