Qin Yanzhou was too far away and only saw the two figures running off, unable to make out who they were.
With his long legs, he quickly ran up to Mianbao.
“Little radish, you ran out by yourself again. Were you secretly following me again, huh?” Qin Yanzhou lifted Mianbao, about to lecture her.
“Qin Yanzhou!” Xie Yulan rushed over through gritted teeth.
Following directions from passersby, she had found this place. Seeing Qin Yanzhou, she instinctively thought he had taken Mianbao.
“You took Mianbao away again without a word.”
She gave Qin Yanzhou a round of “loving” slaps.
“Mom, Mom, it wasn’t me, I didn’t!” Qin Yanzhou dodged while explaining.
“Give Mianbao to me.” Xie Yulan was panting, too tired to keep hitting.
Qin Yanzhou tossed Mianbao into Xie Yulan’s arms and jumped back several steps, afraid his mother would slap him again.
As soon as Mianbao was in Xie Yulan’s arms, she hugged her tightly, her little body trembling.
The bad people were too scary!
She missed Grandma.
“Mianbao, don’t be afraid. Be good. Grandma already helped you beat up Dad.”
Qin Yanzhou muttered, “I’m not her dad.”
Xie Yulan shot him a fierce glare, and Qin Yanzhou instinctively stepped back again in defense.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Mianbao’s reddened eyes, like a frightened little kitten.
Xie Yulan instructed, “Go buy a chicken. Tonight we’ll stew chicken to calm Mianbao down.”
“Got it.” Qin Yanzhou turned and left the alley.
Leaning in Xie Yulan’s arms, Mianbao had calmed down. Her soft voice spoke, “Grandma, Uncle didn’t take me. I went by myself.”
Xie Yulan was surprised and gently asked, “Why did Mianbao go off by herself?”
Mianbao thought Grandma would scold her, but she was still so gentle.
She rubbed against her, about to speak, but Tao Xiaohong’s vicious warning echoed in her mind. The little girl trembled and lowered her head.
“Because… Mianbao saw something fun.”
Xie Yulan frowned slightly, sensing something was off, yet unable to pinpoint it.
At this hour, no chickens were being sold anymore, so Qin Yanzhou went to find his buddy Guangzi. Guangzi pestered his relatives in the countryside and managed to get a chicken.
By the time Qin Yanzhou returned with the chicken, it was already completely dark.
That afternoon, he had been searching everywhere for Li Minghui. After hearing someone saw Li Minghui near the billiard hall, he went there—only to run into the little radish who had snuck into the alley.
Xie Yulan skillfully slaughtered and plucked the chicken, using half to make soup and saving the other half for stir-frying the next day.
At dinner, she placed a chicken drumstick into Mianbao’s bowl.
Mianbao seemed a bit listless but still obediently pushed the drumstick back to Xie Yulan.
“Grandma, you eat.”
Xie Yulan felt warmth in her heart. “Mianbao eat. From now on, all the good food at home will be for Mianbao.”
Mianbao glanced at the dark sky outside. She missed her mother. Why hadn’t her mother come out yet? Not even a single star could be seen.
In the middle of the night, Mianbao had a nightmare, waving her small hands.
“No… don’t sell Mianbao…”
Click—the light was turned on. Qin Shanhai threw on his work jacket, and Xie Yulan sat up. Both looked at Mianbao with concern.
“Mianbao? Wake up.”
“Don’t sell Mianbao to traffickers… sob…” Mianbao cried out with her eyes closed. “Mom…”
Xie Yulan’s heart ached terribly.
“Mianbao must have been frightened during the day.”
Ever since Mianbao came to the Qin family, she had adapted well. This was her first nightmare.
“Wake her up first,” Qin Shanhai said.
The commotion woke Qin Yanzhou. Too lazy to get dressed, he wrapped himself in a quilt and came over.
“Dad, Mom, why are you making such a fuss in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?”
“Mianbao is having a nightmare. We can’t wake her up,” Xie Yulan said anxiously.
Qin Yanzhou walked in. On the wooden bed, Mianbao, sleeping on the innermost side, had a pale face covered in sweat.
“Don’t sell Mianbao to traffickers…”
Qin Yanzhou stepped closer and heard the words “traffickers.”
He suddenly recalled that when he first saw the little radish, there had clearly been two adults in front of her.
Could it be that two traffickers were trying to abduct her at that time?
And he had just happened to arrive and scared them away?
Qin Yanzhou’s expression grew serious.
At that moment, Xie Yulan finally woke Mianbao. Seeing familiar faces, Mianbao threw herself into her arms.
“Waaah… Mianbao doesn’t want to leave Grandpa and Grandma. Don’t sell Mianbao…”
Xie Yulan gently patted her back. “Don’t be afraid. Mianbao will never leave Grandpa and Grandma. Don’t be afraid.”
“With Grandpa here, no one dares to sell Mianbao!” Qin Shanhai said.
Mianbao clutched Xie Yulan’s hand. “I… I want Mom…”
Her mother used to comfort her. She really missed her.
Xie Yulan’s heart hurt even more.
But they couldn’t magically give Mianbao a mother.
Qin Shanhai paced anxiously around the room. Seeing his son standing there wrapped in a quilt, he slapped him.
Qin Yanzhou widened his eyes. “She didn’t cry because of me—why are you hitting me?”
“If you could bring a mother back for Mianbao, would she be crying for one now?”
Qin Yanzhou: …
Xie Yulan glared at him. “Starting tomorrow, you’re going out to find a wife for me!”
Qin Yanzhou: …
After more than ten minutes, Mianbao fell asleep again. Worried she might have another nightmare, Xie Yulan and Qin Shanhai didn’t dare sleep deeply.
The next morning, Qin Yanzhou went out early.
He went to Guangzi’s house and banged on the door.
Half-awake, Guangzi came out in a patched cotton coat, looking annoyed—until he saw Qin Yanzhou.
“Brother Zhou, why are you here so early?”
Qin Yanzhou looked serious.
“I suspect there are traffickers near the billiard hall. Get some of the guys and keep an eye on that area.”
Huh? Since when was Brother Zhou so righteous? Even telling them to watch for traffickers?
Guangzi wanted to ask more, but Qin Yanzhou had already turned and left.
It had rained a bit overnight, and the cold was heavier today. Aside from people heading to work, even children didn’t want to go outside.
Qin Shanhai arrived at the Tao family home.
“I happen to be free today. Xiaohong, come with me to the police station. We’ll report it.”
The Tao family’s expressions immediately changed.
Especially Tao Xiaohong—she lowered her head, biting her lip, secretly signaling Li Juhua.
“We can’t report it. Absolutely not!” Li Juhua said.
Qin Shanhai frowned. “Reporting it is the best choice. The police will definitely stand up for Xiaohong and arrest Li Minghui.”
Li Juhua protested, “We have our reputation to protect! Xiaohong’s name will be ruined!”
Qin Shanhai stood up angrily. “So you’ll just let her be wronged for nothing? What about the child in her belly?”
Tao Dazhuang took a few puffs of his pipe and sighed. “What else can we do? We have no choice.”
Li Juhua’s eyes lit up. Shamelessly, she said, “How about… Director Qin, let Yanzhou marry Xiaohong. The child in her belly will then belong to the Qin family.”