Chapter 222: Huo Yuhao Searches for Someone in the City

The boy asked, “Do you have that much grain with you now?”

Luo Qiao pointed to the large basket on her back and said softly, “I’ll take you to a place near your home. This way, you’ll be safe, and it’ll be easier for you to carry things home.”

The boy said, “Big sister, my name is Huo Yuhao.”

Luo Qiao was startled for a moment, then smiled faintly and said, “In the future, never tell strangers your name in the black market. It’s very dangerous.”

Huo Yuhao looked at Luo Qiao and said, “I told you because you’re a good person.”

As they walked, Luo Qiao said, “Bad people don’t have ‘I’m bad’ written on their faces. You can’t judge by appearances. In the future, it’s best to visit the black market less or not at all. You’re still too young.”

She thought to herself, ‘I’m calling him young, but I’m not much older myself. I just happen to be tall, haha!’

They stopped when they reached a residential area for workers. Huo Yuhao said, “Big sister, my home is just ahead.”

Luo Qiao looked around and said quietly, “I’ll give you twenty pounds of flour first. Take it home and come back. Any more would be too heavy for you to carry and might attract attention.”

Huo Yuhao nodded. They found a secluded spot, and Luo Qiao took out twenty pounds of flour from her basket. She took two of Huo Yuhao’s books and said, “No need to change bags. Just give me your bag.” But then both of them were surprised.

Their bags were exactly the same. Luo Qiao suddenly thought of something. What a coincidence! Huo Yuhao looked at Luo Qiao, feeling extremely excited inside, but wisely said nothing.

He turned and left with the twenty pounds of flour on his back. Luo Qiao thought to herself that he had only traded grain with one old lady in the black market, and this bag was clearly the one she had provided that day.

She hadn’t expected to meet her relative again in the black market today. This fate was truly good.

Luo Qiao didn’t wait long before Huo Yuhao came running back. He handed over the three books to Luo Qiao along with a bag. Luo Qiao said, “Give me the one in your hand too.”

She then took out two bags from her basket and said, “Go home quickly, and remember to hide the grain well.”

Luo Qiao put the returned cloth bags into her basket and was about to turn and leave when she saw Huo Yuhao bow to her and say, “Thank you.”

After saying this, he picked up the two bags from the ground and left. He could feel that the contents of these bags were certainly more than what was initially promised. Tears started flowing down his cheeks uncontrollably.

Ever since his father’s incident, their relatives had been avoiding them like the plague. His second uncle and aunt would occasionally come to raid their home. Although the neighbors sympathized, their own lives were difficult, so their help was limited.

This big sister was the one his grandmother had mentioned last time. His grandmother had talked about her for several days. He hadn’t expected to run into her today. Although he didn’t know who this big sister was, Huo Yuhao would remember this kindness.

In Ji City, at the steel factory’s main gate, Zhang Dezhen and his eldest son Zhang Dongze were at the factory entrance asking the security office about Luo Tianming. However, Zhang Dezhen couldn’t specify which workshop Luo Tianming worked in, so they had to wait at the factory gate.

He had seen Luo Tianming before when he went back to pick up Zhao Guibao (Luo Bin) and had intervened. So if he saw him, he would definitely recognize him. He and his son had missed the shuttle bus and had cycled here. It was almost noon now, and they were tired and hungry.

Finally, when it was time for workers to leave, they stood at the factory gate, watching the workers coming out without blinking, afraid they might miss Luo Tianming.

Zhang Dezhen finally spotted Luo Tianming in the crowd and quickly squeezed through to grab him.

Luo Tianming had been in a bad mood lately because of his son’s situation. He looked up at the person who had stopped him and was momentarily stunned.

Zhang Dezhen asked, “Guibao’s father, do you still remember me?”

When Luo Tianming heard the name Guibao, he frowned and thought for a moment before saying, “Are you Secretary Zhang from Qingshan Village?”

Zhang Dezhen quickly replied, “Yes, it’s me. Brother Luo, you have a good memory.”

The two moved to an empty space nearby to talk. Luo Tianming asked, “Secretary Zhang, did you come to find me?”

Zhang Dezhen said, “Yes, mainly to find Luo Qiao. We didn’t know where your family lives, so we went to the steel factory.”