Chapter 07

Looking down, Shu Yuan finally noticed that the cuffs and collar of Xiao Man’s short, thin cotton-padded jacket were covered in grime, slick with a greasy shine. The fabric was coated with a thick, stiff layer of blackened filth. Judging by the look of it, he hadn’t changed clothes—probably hadn’t washed this jacket for one or even two winters.

He wore this thin jacket even in winter? Wouldn’t that freeze a child to death?

They always said kids ran hot and could withstand the cold, but Xiao Man was so thin.

Xiao Man nestled obediently in Shu Yuan’s arms. It was warm and comfortable. Being held in his mother’s embrace was something that only happened in dreams. He didn’t dare move a muscle, afraid that if he did, the illusion would disappear and he’d be back at Old Zhang’s house or snatched away by traffickers.

Sensing Shu Yuan looking at him, Xiao Man nervously asked, “Mom, are we really going to the hospital?”

Shu Yuan nodded. “Of course we’re going to get your leg checked. The sooner, the better. When you’re sick, it’s best not to delay.”

Xiao Man nervously clenched his little hands. He was afraid of doctors and didn’t want to see one, terrified that the doctor would declare him disabled. He worried that no one would want a disabled child and that his mother would abandon him.

“If you’re sick, you can just tough it out. Maybe it’ll get better in a few days,” Xiao Man tried to negotiate with Shu Yuan.

But Shu Yuan had no idea what the child was thinking. She patted her satchel and said, “Are you worried I don’t have money? I can definitely come up with the money to treat an illness.”

Xiao Man’s anxiety deepened. He felt that his mother probably didn’t have much money.

A mother with no money who still had to scrimp and save to pay for his treatment—he added another mark in her favor.

The tractor rumbled straight to the hospital entrance. There hadn’t been room for discussion on the road, and there was even less of it now. As soon as they arrived, Shu Yuan lifted Xiao Man down from the truck bed, ready to walk through the hospital gates.

“The hospital entrance doesn’t allow parking. I’ll pull over and park by the roadside up ahead. You two can come find me once you’re done,” the driver said.

Shu Yuan quickly thanked him. “Thank you so much for the trouble.”

Xiao Man’s fists were tightly clenched. He was a nervous wreck. The scent of disinfectant hit the tip of his nose—a sharp, uneasy smell that made people anxious.

Shu Yuan felt the small, soft body in her arms tense up and smiled as she asked, “Xiao Man, are you scared of coming to the hospital?”

Xiao Man’s expression was so serious it looked like he was about to take the college entrance exam. Not wanting his mother to think he was weak, he forced himself to act tough. “I’m not scared.”

He wasn’t afraid of shots or medicine. He was afraid of becoming a cripple.

As Shu Yuan carried him up the steps, the child could no longer hold back his nervousness. His heart pounded chaotically, and panic surged through him. Clutching Shu Yuan’s sleeve, he asked, “Mom, what if I really become a cripple?”

Shu Yuan could feel the child’s heart racing. She turned her head to look at his tense, handsome little face and said with a smile in her voice, “What else can we do? If you’re sick, we’ll treat it. Even if you really end up with a limp, you’re still Mom’s baby.”

Her lighthearted tone successfully soothed Xiao Man’s frantic nerves. It felt as if the gray world around him suddenly brightened.

So Mom wouldn’t be disgusted with him? She wouldn’t abandon him?

Shu Yuan looked relaxed on the outside, but in truth, she was very anxious. She had no experience raising children at all, and Xiao Man’s leg felt like a part that had gone completely out of control. It wouldn’t respond at all, making her think his condition might be serious.

His illness was one thing, but what worried her even more was that she only had sixty yuan—not nearly enough for treatment.

Without money, every step was difficult. Once they got back to the city, her top priority would be finding a job and earning more money.

At three in the afternoon, there weren’t many patients in the orthopedics department. There was only one person ahead of them, and soon it was Xiao Man’s turn. Both mother and son walked into the consultation room with uneasy hearts.

The small county hospital didn’t have the capability to take X-rays, but the doctor was experienced. After asking a few questions, he was able to diagnose Xiao Man’s condition as synovitis just by observing the way he walked.

Synovitis? What kind of illness was that?

“It’s not serious. Just take some medicine and it should clear up in a few days,” the doctor said while writing the prescription.

Shu Yuan was both surprised and delighted. A condition she thought was very serious was being brushed off by the doctor as nothing major?

“It’s really not serious? Just a few days to recover?” Shu Yuan asked, as if she hadn’t quite heard him clearly.

“A minor illness,” the doctor replied as he finished the prescription and handed it over. “Go get the medicine, and make sure he doesn’t walk too much these next few days.”

Shu Yuan said joyfully, “Xiao Man, did you hear that? The doctor said it’s a minor illness. It’s not serious, and you’ll get better very soon.”

Xiao Man’s tense body and nerves finally relaxed. So it was just a minor illness. He wasn’t going to end up with a limp.

The overwhelming joy brought a flush of tears to his eyes.

His emotions had been on a wild rollercoaster.

He wanted to cry, wanted to shout—he wouldn’t become a cripple.

It truly felt like a string of blessings. First, his mother had come to get him. Second, his leg was fine. No—there was a third: the traffickers and Old Zhang had been caught.

Shu Yuan took the prescription, thanked the doctor, and carried Xiao Man out of the room.

The doctor, infected by the joyful emotions of the mother and son, couldn’t help feeling cheerful himself.

In many families with multiple children, parents often overlook minor illnesses, which leads to delays in treatment. A mother like this one, who pays close attention to her child, was truly rare. This child was lucky to have such a good mother.

From the medication prescribed, it was clear it was only a minor illness. It cost just over two yuan. Shu Yuan put all the pills into her satchel, planning to give them to Xiao Man after dinner.

With light steps, Shu Yuan carried Xiao Man out of the hospital gates and walked along the road until she found the driver waiting for them. She told him they had finished seeing the doctor, and she also wanted to buy a cotton-padded jacket for Xiao Man.

All of Xiao Man’s clothes were small, dirty, and worn out. They all needed replacing, but there wasn’t time to buy a full set. For now, a warm jacket would have to do to keep out the cold.

“The supply and marketing cooperative might not carry thick jackets. You’d better go to the department store,” the driver suggested.

There wasn’t time to browse, nor were there many styles to choose from. Shu Yuan bought Xiao Man a winter coat and put it directly over his filthy, old cotton jacket.

After spending eight yuan, Shu Yuan finally understood why so many parents bought clothes that were a size too big for their children. It was already spring, and soon the winter coat wouldn’t be needed anymore. Of course she had to buy a larger size, so he could wear it again next winter.

She was so poor now that she couldn’t afford even a little waste.

Xiao Man was completely overwhelmed by the attention. Mom had actually spent so much money to buy him clothes. The new winter coat was warm and soft, instantly shielding him from the cold wind once he put it on.

It was the best piece of clothing he had ever worn—and it was something Mom had spent a lot of money to buy for him.

But Mom’s own clothes were old. Her plaid cotton jacket had been washed so many times it had faded white. She must not have much money, yet she still generously paid for his treatment and bought him clothes.

Looking at the high, beaming curve of Xiao Man’s lips, Shu Yuan silently wished she could earn money, so they would no longer have to worry about basic needs like food and clothing.

The effect of putting on a thick coat was immediate. Xiao Man’s little hands were no longer icy cold—they quickly became warm.

“Mom, I won’t be a freeloader. I can do all kinds of work. When I grow up, I’ll earn money to buy you clothes,” Xiao Man promised earnestly.

A child who had never smiled once at Old Zhang’s house was finally showing a genuine smile. He wanted Mom to know that raising him was worth it.

Shu Yuan was amused by his words and replied gently, “Alright, I’ll wait for Xiao Man to grow up and buy me clothes. I don’t want something that costs eight yuan—I want something that costs eight hundred.”

Xiao Man’s lips curved into a beautiful arc. “Okay, I’ll buy it for Mom.”

As they walked along the road, Shu Yuan asked, “So, Xiao Man, how do you feel about Mom as a means of transportation?”

Xiao Man’s little heart was full of emotion. Mom was cheerful, optimistic, and strong. He wanted to learn all these admirable qualities from her.

His tender, childlike voice rang clear: “I’m too heavy. I need to get better soon so Mom won’t have to carry me anymore.”

In truth, he really did want Mom to carry him. It felt so safe in her arms—he couldn’t even suppress the smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

When they returned to the tractor, the driver noticed the expensive new coat Xiao Man was wearing and couldn’t help but think to himself how vile those traffickers were. How could anyone say the mother didn’t want her child, when she clearly treated him so well?

The journey back was just as bumpy as before, the roar of the tractor engine accompanying them all the way to the Dongfeng Township Public Security Bureau.

Compared to when they had left, the place was now packed with people. It hadn’t been this lively in decades.

The suspects were already in public security custody. Some villagers had been called in for questioning and were gathered in the courtyard. Outside the gate, quite a few commune members had come to watch the commotion.

Shu Yuan immediately went to ask Xu Dashu if there had been any children in the cellar. His voice was especially excited and stirred. “Yes, there were—four of them. Thanks to your report. When we went to check the first time, it was too early, the children hadn’t been hidden in the cellar yet. We really have to thank you both. This arrest operation succeeded because of your tip-off.”

Excellent. The traffickers’ crimes were confirmed, and those unfortunate children had been rescued.

Both Shu Yuan and Xiao Man felt a wave of relief.

Back in the courtyard, a timid little voice called out, “Xiao Man.”

Mother and son turned their heads at the same time. It was a little girl about the same age as Xiao Man, greeting them.

Xiao Man immediately introduced her to Shu Yuan. “Mom, this is Die Lai. She’s from Xiaohe Village too. Old Zhang sold her to Liu Erleng’s family.”

Die Lai was probably the little companion Xiao Man had huddled together with for warmth. According to the storyline, once Xiao Man became capable, he would go back and rescue the friends who had once shared his hardship.

Die Lai looked at the mother and son with bright, sparkling eyes, full of envy for Xiao Man. He had found his mother—maybe she could find hers too.

A sudden sense of hope bloomed in her heart.

Xiao Man’s mother was so kind to him. She held him in her arms, and the way she looked at him was so gentle. How lucky it was to have one’s real mother.

Xiao Man was even wearing a beautiful new coat.

“It’s really nice that you found your real Mom, Xiao Man,” Die Lai said, her eyes slightly red, a misty sheen forming in them.

Hearing such words come from a child not even a meter tall made it all the more heartbreaking.

Xiao Man encouraged her, “Die Lai, you’ll definitely find your real Mom too.”

Die Lai pressed her lips together and nodded firmly. “Mm.”

Liu Erleng’s wife was the type to act arrogantly no matter the situation. When she saw Die Lai exchanging looks with an unfamiliar woman, she immediately reached out and yanked her, then smacked her hard on the back of the head, shouting, “You little brat, don’t go running your mouth! Watch it, or I’ll beat you to death!”

Die Lai was a clever child. She knew that once she got to the Public Security Bureau, she had a chance to go home. So she immediately burst into loud, earth-shattering sobs.

“Uncle Public Security, please take me to find my real parents! After they had a baby brother, they decided to sell me to that old bachelor at the end of the village to be his wife. Uncle Public Security, I don’t want to stay at Liu Erleng’s house, I don’t want to be sold to that old bachelor!”

The little girl’s thinking was simple—only if the public security officers knew she wanted to find her birth parents could she avoid the fate of being sold to that old man.

So Liu Erleng’s family hadn’t had any children. After buying Die Lai, they must have believed she brought them luck, and soon they had a son. Once that happened, Die Lai was of no use to them anymore. An old bachelor wanted to buy a bride? Then they’d just sell her.

Xiao Man grew anxious. Die Lai was only five years old—she couldn’t be sold to an old bachelor.

Shu Yuan was furious. Selling a five-year-old girl to an old man? These people who trafficked children were no better than beasts.

She clenched her fists, itching to move. Yes, she was skilled in sanda, but before she had time-traveled, she had never actually hit anyone. Now she had to restrain herself to keep from rushing over and beating up Liu Erleng and his wife.

But she didn’t need to take action. The public security officers stepped in and took Die Lai away, preventing her from having any further contact with those two scumbags.

Just as her gaze shifted away from Die Lai, a warm yet anxious female voice called out to them, “Xiao Man, Sister Shu Yuan.”