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Li Xing’an was determined to get something out of his older sister today. Li Fenglan looked troubled. “Little brother, the house is rented out to the armed forces as a dormitory. It’s those military members; the contract is already signed!”
“Big sister! How can you do this! I’m not refusing to pay rent. Are you looking down on me, afraid I can’t afford it?” Li Xing’an’s face reddened; he was about to lose his temper.
“Uncle, the house is already rented out. Even if you pressure my mom, it won’t help!” Manman was unhappy with her third uncle’s attitude towards her mother.
“Big sister, you still say you don’t have money. Isn’t the rent money? Are you afraid I can’t pay you back? Are you looking down on me?!” Li Xing’an yelled.
“The rent isn’t given to me directly. They opened a savings account for Manman, and the annual rent is deposited into it!” This was Wu Zhiqiu’s suggestion. Li Fenglan now had a job, enough for her and Manman to live on, so the rent would be saved for Manman for university or studying abroad. As a mother, of course, she will naturally agree. She was also afraid that she wouldn’t be able to manage the money, and then Manman wouldn’t have money for university.
“Uncle, that’s my money; don’t even think about it!” The moment the third son’s gaze fell on Manman, her cold words came out.
Li Xing’an was furious. “Big sister, is this how you teach your children?”
“My mom taught me well. At least I wouldn’t lose my temper when I can’t borrow money from others! I still have some shame!” Manman’s face was pulled down; she wasn’t going to indulge her third uncle.
“Good! Good! A little girl dares to look down on me! Big sister, from now on, just pretend you don’t have a brother like me!” Li Xing’an, having gained nothing, left in a huff.
Tears welled up in Li Fenglan’s eyes. “Manman, how can you talk to your uncle like that!” “How should I talk? How should I talk to make him happy? You give him the money and the house, will he be happy? You give it to him!” Manman glared at her mother, thankful that Grandma was wise; otherwise, her father’s compensation would have been given away by her mother.
“He’s your uncle! He’s your family!” Li Fenglan yelled at her daughter. “Family? Where was he when we were kicked out of the house? Where was he when we were bullied? Where was he when we stood at the armed forces’ gate before dawn? Where was he when Dad’s funeral was held? He’s family when there’s something to gain, but he turns his back when there’s nothing to gain. He has no shame; I don’t want such family! I can’t afford such family!” Tears streamed down Manman’s face. She would never forget the dark, cold night they were kicked out, that feeling of helplessness.
They walked with difficulty in the dark, slippery road; they fell countless times before they reached Grandma’s house. With so much commotion, only her Grandma and Grandpa, and Uncle and Aunt came out to help them. Her other uncle and aunt didn’t even bother to come out.
It was her Grandma and Grandpa and uncle who helped them get the house back and bury Dad! Her Grandma was also afraid that her mother wouldn’t be able to keep the money, so she quickly bought them a house and rented one out.
She would never forget Grandma and Grandpa’s and Uncle’s kindness. As for others, maintaining a superficial relationship is enough! She can’t afford such family! Li Fenglan was so angry at her daughter’s words. No matter what, he was her uncle, she shouldn’t talk like that.
In a fit of anger, she slapped her daughter. Manman couldn’t believe it; her mother actually hit her for such an unreasonable uncle! Manman turned and ran.
Li Fenglan looked at her hand, feeling regret. She wanted to chase after her, but she felt it was her fault for spoiling the child, making Manman so impolite! So she didn’t chase after her, tidied up, and went to work!
Manman ran out, not knowing where to go. Her uncle’s family was sent to labor camp in the northwest. Her father had no relatives. Her Grandma and Grandpa were at work. Besides, Grandma’s house was the home of the uncle who caused her to be slapped; she didn’t want to go there. For a while, Manman didn’t know where to go!
In the evening, Wu Zhiqiu just got off work and reached the front door. Li Fenglan rushed over, “Mom, have you seen Manman?” Wu Zhiqiu was taken aback. “No! I just got off work. What happened? Manman is missing?”
Li Fenglan covered her face and sobbed. Just then, Li Mancang entered the courtyard. “Stop crying, what’s going on? Where’s Manman?”
“Mom and Dad, Manman is missing! I don’t want to live anymore!” Li Fenglan said while crying. “Think about dying later; first, tell me what happened!” Wu Zhiqiu scolded, annoyed that her daughter only cried when faced with problems.
The others in the courtyard heard the commotion and gathered around. “Yes! Fenglan, just tell us what’s going on! You crying won’t help find the child!” Hu Dala said bluntly, but he was right.
“Little brother came to borrow money from our family.” Li Fenglan wept as she recounted the morning’s events. Wu Zhiqiu trembled with anger; she had known it!
“What did Manman say wrong? Why did you hit her? You can’t keep your own thoughts straight and want the child to be the same? Acting like a fool!” Wu Zhiqiu was furious and slapped her eldest daughter hard.
Li Mancang’s face also turned pale with anger. “Zhiqiu, stop blaming her. The priority is to find the child! It will be dark soon; it’s dangerous for a young girl to be outside!” Grandpa Ge hurriedly advised.
“Yes, hurry up and look!” Hu Dala urged his husband, Zeng Laoxi, as they headed outside.
“I’ll look to the south!” Zeng called out as he walked.
“I’ll go north!” Grandpa Ge also headed out.
“We’ll go with Grandpa Ge,” Zhang Fugui from the front yard followed him out.
“Will the child go to the new house? Did you look there?” Liu Dajie asked Li Fenglan. Li Fenglan quickly shook her head. She had already looked for Manman at her school nearby; she hadn’t found her, which was why she had come home to check.
She hadn’t looked at the new house yet. Wu Zhiqiu and Li Mancang quickly rode their bicycles to the new house. The new house was locked, and there was no sign of Manman inside. Li Fenglan’s tears wouldn’t stop!
Wu Zhiqiu pushed her useless daughter aside. “Liu Dajie, you help me look to the south; I’ll head west.” “Okay! I’ll go home and call my husband to join you. You go with Mancang!” Liu Dajie immediately replied.
Neighbors who had just finished work heard about it and voluntarily went out to help search. Li Xing’an and Li Feng Chun returned from work and heard the news. Li Xing’an was drenched in cold sweat. What if Manman was lost? Would the military let her go? Wouldn’t he get shot?
He quickly rode his bike out to search. Li Feng Chun initially didn’t want to go; she wanted to read more. But with so many people outside looking, if she didn’t join in, her mother might just throw her out! With a sigh, she reluctantly left, grumbling about her sister and Manman.
Everyone searched until around eight o’clock, but there was still no sign of the child. Li Mancang and Wu Zhiqiu returned to the courtyard, where the neighbors were speculating about where the child could have gone!
“Xiao Li, have you found any relatives on the child’s father’s side?” Grandpa Ge asked, his nose running from the cold.
“There are no relatives on the child’s father’s side!”
“Could the child have gone to her father’s grave?”
Hu Dala suddenly had a flash of inspiration. She remembered how her mother died early, and her father remarried. The stepmother brought two children with her and treated her poorly. She was made to do all the housework and was never fed well, while the stepmother’s children got all the good food. She felt like a servant, always getting the least and doing the most.