The older girl looked easy to fool at first glance, while the younger one was short and small, like a thermos flask—someone could just pick her up, tuck her under their arm, and run off without anyone being able to catch up.
After turning it over in his mind, he still felt uneasy. As a people’s police officer, it was his duty to protect the safety of the masses.
So he caught up with them, wanting to escort them to the station.
Seeing the mother and her two daughters looking at him with confusion, Shen Jinsong scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
“Comrade, I’m a police officer. I heard you’re going to the station to catch a bus. This time of day, the station is crowded and a bit chaotic, so I thought I’d see you there.”
Wang Lihua suddenly understood—no wonder she had always felt Shen Jinsong exuded an air of righteousness. So he was a police officer.
She had initially wanted to refuse, but meeting Shen Jinsong’s sincere gaze, she swallowed her words of refusal.
He was only concerned because he saw a female comrade traveling alone with two children, worried they might encounter danger. It was a kind gesture.
“Then thank you, Officer,” Wang Lihua said softly, tightening her grip on her daughters’ hands.
Shen Jinsong scooped Su Erbao up in one swift motion. “No need to thank me. Protecting the safety of the masses is my duty.”
Su Erbao rolled her eyes. She couldn’t even be bothered to expose him.
“Protecting the safety of the masses is my duty”—he knew perfectly well what he was really thinking.
Sure enough, before they had walked even ten meters, Shen Jinsong spoke up, pretending to make casual conversation. “Comrade, on such a cold day, why are you out alone with two children? There have been many kidnappers lately. Your husband should have accompanied you.”
Wang Lihua didn’t overthink it and told the truth. “My husband is dead.”
Su Dabao immediately added, “After my dad died, my grandma and uncle’s family took the compensation money, seized our house, and kicked us out. We came to the city to see a doctor.”
She said this thinking that since Shen Jinsong was a police officer, he might be able to help them. If the complaint letter didn’t work, perhaps they could turn to the police.
Her teacher had said in class: when in trouble, seek help from the police.
Hearing Su Dabao’s words, Shen Jinsong felt an inexplicable pang in his heart. He hadn’t expected things to be like this.
Looking at the patches on the collars of the mother and her daughters and Wang Lihua’s sickly pale face, he took a deep breath, barely restraining himself from cursing aloud. Fortunately, mindful of Su Erbao in his arms, he swallowed the curse and replaced it with something more refined. “This should be reported to the police! Those villains should be punished!”
Wang Lihua gave a bitter smile. “Officer, that matter is already in the past.”
“Now, I just want to close my door and live my own life, raise Dabao and Erbao well, and have nothing more to do with them.”
Shen Jinsong moved his lips, wanting to say something, but no words came out. He only felt a heavy weight in his chest.
For the rest of the journey, they didn’t bring up anything else, only exchanged names. Shen Jinsong also gave Wang Lihua his home address, urging her to seek him out immediately if she ever encountered difficulties.
When they reached the station, Shen Jinsong put Su Erbao down, patted the two little buns on top of her head, and crouched to straighten her wrinkled padded jacket. “Go home and listen to your mother, okay?”
Su Erbao shot him a sidelong glance. Did he think she hadn’t noticed him slipping money and ration tickets into her pocket?
“Uncle, you talk too much.”
Seeing Su Erbao’s stern, little-adult expression, Shen Jinsong found it amusing and gently tapped her nose.
Whenever he returned home and ran into those noisy boys in the courtyard, he found them annoying and loud. But this little girl in front of him inexplicably made him like her immensely, always tempting him to tease her.
If possible, he’d want a little “leaky cotton-padded jacket” like her in the future.
After thanking Shen Jinsong, Wang Lihua took her two daughters onto the bus. Just as she was about to buy tickets, she saw Shen Jinsong follow them aboard and pay for their fares.
“Oh, this is too much, Comrade Shen. I’ll pay for myself,” Wang Lihua said, genuinely embarrassed. He had already pitied them as a widow with orphans and brought them here—how could she let him pay for their tickets?
Shen Jinsong grinned, revealing a set of bright white teeth. “I still have work to do. Take care on the road,” he said before stepping off the bus with his long legs.
Su Dabao tugged at Wang Lihua’s sleeve. “Mom, let’s find seats first. We have Uncle Shen’s address anyway—we can return the money next time we come.”
Wang Lihua nodded, found a window seat, and sat Su Erbao on her lap.
Su Erbao watched Shen Jinsong, who remained standing outside, until he suddenly made a funny face at her.
Su Erbao: …
This guy is seriously childish.
Too bad he’ll be killed in three years.
She should probably warn him when the time comes. After all, he’s a good person and a good police officer—he shouldn’t die like that.
But even though he’s a good person and a good police officer, that didn’t stop her from rolling her eyes right now.
As soon as she finished rolling her eyes, she saw Shen Jinsong burst into laughter.
What a weirdo!
By the time they reached home, dusk had fallen. Su Erbao took out the remaining quilts from her Storage Space and handed them to Wang Lihua. She decided not to sell them—they’d keep them for their own use. This money-losing business was something she absolutely refused to repeat!
While Wang Lihua made the beds, Su Dabao and Su Erbao went to the kitchen.
Now that they were far from the village, they didn’t have to worry about anyone smelling whatever they cooked.
Su Erbao bought a small coal stove from the System Mall, along with honeycomb briquettes, pots, pans, bowls, utensils, and various seasonings and vegetables.
Following Su Erbao’s instructions, Su Dabao stir-fried shredded pork with cabbage. Together with the leftover pig trotter soup and rice from before, the three of them had a simple dinner before washing up and going to bed.
Su Erbao had bought a large water bucket for her Storage Space, specifically for storing hot water for washing, so they wouldn’t have to boil water every day.
The mother and her two daughters huddled on the bed as Wang Lihua took out the money from selling the quilts and cotton—94 yuan in total.
Su Erbao silently pulled out a roll of money and ration tickets and added it to the pile.
Su Dabao was stunned for a moment before her eyes lit up. “Little sister, you can get money and tickets whenever you want them!”
Su Erbao tilted her head and expressionlessly shattered her unrealistic fantasy.
“Uncle Shen secretly stuffed them into my pocket.”
Su Dabao scratched her head awkwardly. “Well, we’ll return everything to him together next time we go into the city.”
Shen Jinsong had given them 10 yuan, along with several grain ration tickets, two sugar ration tickets, and one cloth ration ticket.
Wang Lihua set aside what Shen Jinsong had given them, planning to return it to him later, and pushed the 94 yuan toward Su Erbao.
Su Erbao looked puzzled. “Mom, why are you giving this to me?”
Wang Lihua composed her expression and lowered her voice, saying, “I don’t know if that… is good for you, but having the things is enough for us. We don’t need the money.”
Upon hearing this, Su Erbao understood—she was still worried about Pin-Xi-Xi, which had allowed her to produce the items.
After some thought, Erbao realized she did need to keep some money on hand, and to reassure Wang Lihua, she counted out 50 from the pile of cash.
“Mom, this much is enough.”