Seeing them chatting casually, Wei Cheng couldn’t take it anymore. “Qin Shi, I’m not here to beg for food. I’m here for the silver lock my father made for me when I was born. You said you’d keep it for me, now give it back.”

Qin Shi said calmly, “What silver lock? Your father was a hunter, how could he afford a silver lock for you? You’re dreaming.”

“I wore it until I was four! I remember!”

Wei Cheng said angrily, “It had auspicious clouds on the front, a small silver dragon on the back, and four small bells with different flower carvings: lotus, plum blossom, bamboo, and orchid, symbolizing success and virtue. My father told me that! Give it back!”

“I think that’s right,” Qin Shi said thoughtfully. “But I think the Wei family stole it. I didn’t see it after I brought you back. Ask them, they’re good at stealing.”

Song Tian sneered, “Look at your mother’s clothes and jewelry, they’re worth more than your lock. My family wouldn’t steal your cheap thing!”

“I remember clearly, you took it off my neck when we arrived at your house!”

Wei Cheng looked at Qin Shi, angry and disappointed. “You gave my things to the Song family, but the lock was a gift from my father, symbolizing a long and healthy life. Am I not your child?”

He’d been there a long time, his head bandaged, and Qin Shi hadn’t even asked about his injuries.

Qin Shi looked at Wei Cheng coldly. “I don’t know where the lock is. Leave!”

Wei Cheng stepped forward. “Give me the lock! Or I’ll report you!”

“Hahahaha,” Song Tian laughed, holding his son. “He wants me to suffer? He should know his place!”

Song Bao’er laughed, waving his chubby hands. Wei Cheng saw what he was wearing.

“He’s wearing my lock!”

Wei Cheng’s face flushed red. “You’re not admitting it! My lock is on his neck!”

Wei Cheng tried to grab it, but a servant pushed him.

“Get him!”

Song Tian’s face turned fierce. “He dares to hit my Bao’er! Ma Pozi, beat him!”

As Ma Pozi approached, Guan Guan stepped in front of Wei Cheng. “Don’t hit my brother!”

“Bad people, you’re all bad people!”

Guan Guan’s eyes were red. He was afraid his brother would be beaten and bleed again. He said, trembling, “Don’t hit my brother!”

Ma Pozi was stunned.

Wei Cheng, calming down, pulled Guan Guan behind him, looking coldly at Qin Shi. He said firmly twice, “long-life lock,” then said, “Keep it. I’ll give it to your Bao’er.”

Qin Shi sneered, “It’s my Bao’er’s lock!”

Wei Cheng didn’t argue. He picked up Guan Guan and left.

Long-life lock, death lock.

Let others bear his misfortunes.

The moon was bright, the sky dark. Two small figures walked away in the snow.

Song Tian watched them leave, slamming the door. “Damn kid, he came here to beg!”

He patted his stomach. “Damn it, I lost all my money tonight, probably because of them!”

“If they come again, send them away! What kind of beggars are they?!” He glared at the worker.

The worker didn’t dare to speak.

Song Tian returned to the hall to see Qin Shi comforting Bao’er, who was crying uncontrollably.

“You only know how to hold him, is he hungry or thirsty? Just holding him won’t help! Take him to the room!”

Song Tian sat on his chair, his face red with anger. His fatherly love only existed when his son was obedient.

Qin Shi didn’t dare to argue with Song Tian, taking Bao’er to the room with Ma Pozi.

The crying continued…

On the way back to Maoxi Village, Wei Cheng carried Guan Guan in his arms, a large backpack on his back.

He walked in the snow, the wind and snow blowing on his face. His eyes, which had held expectation before seeing Qin Shi, were now firm and stubborn.

Guan Guan was sleepy, having been through so much. He was very tired.

But he didn’t want to sleep. He rubbed his face against Wei Cheng’s jaw, feeling the wetness and coldness.

“Brother.” Guan Guan called like a kitten.

“Don’t cry.”

He imitated Wei Cheng, “Guan Guan, with Brother.”

“Not crying.”

The snow blocked the mountains, the beasts hibernated. Poor people’s lives seemed lifeless, but Wei Cheng hugged Guan Guan tighter.

He said, “Brother will protect Guan Guan, Brother won’t cry.”

“Brother, don’t be afraid, Guan Guan will protect you, Guan Guan is a good child.” Guan Guan said, his eyes heavy.

Wei Cheng smiled, humming.

He stood at the foot of the mountain, looking at Maoxi Mountain, whispering, “I’m not afraid, this winter will pass quickly.”

They passed the herbalist’s house, then saw a birch forest covered in snow. Next to it was Old Wang’s hut.

From afar, Wei Cheng saw light in the hut. He hurried over, carrying the sleeping Guan Guan. The small door opened.

“Cheng, you’re back!”

“We were about to go to Jianghe Village to find you!”

Wei Cheng was surprised to see Li Dalang and Li Sablang, the village head’s sons. He remembered the village head saying he would send someone with rice and flour.

“Dalang, Sablang, how did you know I went to Jianghe Village?” Wei Cheng asked.

“It’s cold outside, come in.” Li Sablang pushed Wei Cheng inside, taking his backpack.

Li Dalang looked at Guan Guan. “The child’s asleep.”

Wei Cheng’s eyes widened. There were torches in the center of the room, illuminating the hut.

He thought he’d need to clean up, but Li Dalang and Sablang had already tidied the place.

The hut was small. There was a kang with a clean mat; a sealed window; a stove with small bags, cabbage, and a radish; a clay pot; and two brooms. The floor was clean, seemingly swept with snow.

“Someone saw you leaving the village, Father guessed you went to Jianghe Village,” Li Sablang said, smiling. “Heard your mother married a wealthy man, did she give you any money?”

Wei Cheng put Guan Guan on the kang. “No.”

“What?” Li Sablang stared at his brother.

Li Dalang shook his head, patting Wei Cheng’s shoulder. “Your mother might have her reasons. She’s still your mother, she must be worried about you.”

“The mat is from our house, and the pot is from Mother. After Old Wang died, things were stolen from his house. This hut had a pot and tools, but they’re gone.” Li Dalang pointed to the food. “It’s the twelfth month, Sablang is getting married, so we don’t have much. Don’t mind.”

Wei Cheng congratulated Li Sablang. Marriages in the twelfth month were auspicious, symbolizing a happy life together.

Li Sablang smiled shyly.