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Join the ServerAfter scaring away the ill-intentioned person with a replica toy gun, Xu Hengzhou immediately rushed to another location Jiang Lei had told him about.
This place couldn’t truly be considered a black market, as it housed only a single shop for both receiving and selling goods.
Jiang Lei had mentioned that the shop owner was well-connected, offering a variety of excellent items for sale.
Xu Hengzhou decided to inspect it first.
If he found anything truly desirable, he would make a purchase; otherwise, he saw no reason to engage with such a person.
Upon locating the place, he approached the owner using the method Jiang Lei had described.
Only then was he led into a small courtyard where the goods were genuinely displayed.
After examining the wares, Xu Hengzhou felt a pang of disappointment.
Indeed, they were ‘good’ things—rice, flour, eggs, and meat—precisely what people coveted at this time. However, these were precisely the items he had no need for.
Since he had already come all this way, Xu Hengzhou politely purchased some cornmeal.
The owner accepted the transaction without further comment, settling his bill. As he saw Xu Hengzhou out, he suddenly smiled and remarked,
“Little brother, if you happen to acquire any good items, feel free to bring them to me. I’ll surely offer you a fair price.”
Xu Hengzhou’s expression remained neutral.
He smiled, nodded, and offered no reply.
***
The afternoon’s efforts yielded satisfactory results, and with Jiang Lei’s tips saving him time, Xu Hengzhou returned directly to the Jiang family residence.
That evening, the other Jiang family members learned of his impending departure. Naturally, they attempted to persuade him to stay.
However, his decision was firm, and his train ticket already purchased. The Jiang family could only offer polite words, urging him to visit often.
Early the next morning, Madame Jiang rose to prepare breakfast for everyone, specifically boiling an extra bowl of sugar-water eggs for him.
Unable to refuse, Xu Hengzhou poured half a bowl of the sweet broth for the young baby, then shared the eggs with Jiang Lei and Jiang Miao, before quickly drinking the remaining half bowl himself.
Madame Jiang chided him gently, not truly angry, then turned to boil two plain eggs for him to take on his journey.
That morning, Jiang Sen once again accompanied him to the station.
Bureau Chief Jiang, having already departed for his office, first called Song Wenbin’s office to inform him of Xu Hengzhou’s return today.
Song Wenbin was overjoyed. If his eldest nephew didn’t come back soon, his own little one would surely start crying.
Song Wenbin thanked Bureau Chief Jiang, expressing gratitude for their care of Xu Hengzhou over the past few days.
Bureau Chief Jiang immediately lavished praise on Xu Hengzhou.
He already held a favorable impression of the boy due to his role in catching human traffickers; now, after interacting with him, he found the child even more intelligent, courageous, and capable—truly a good boy.
Ever since Song Wenbin’s enthusiastic praise of Xiang Chen that one time, it seemed he had unlocked a remarkable new trait.
He now particularly enjoyed talking about his two children. He didn’t need others to praise them; he could sing their praises himself, making them sound like blooming flowers.
This time was no different. Had it not been for other colleagues entering the office, Song Wenbin might have continued talking for the entire morning.
Song Wenbin remained in his office all morning, calculating that his eldest nephew should arrive in the afternoon.
He planned to pick up Xiang Chen at noon and deliver the news, knowing the child would be ecstatic.
At lunchtime, Song Wenbin took the afternoon off, heading to the school to collect his child.
From a distance, he spotted his little one squatting alone by the classroom door, resembling a tiny mushroom.
He lifted Xiang Chen into his arms, smiling as he shared the news of Xu Hengzhou’s return.
Xiang Chen’s eyes instantly brightened, and he excitedly asked repeatedly, “Really? Is Gege really coming back?”
Seeing the little fellow, who had been downcast for days, now smiling with his eyes curved, Song Wenbin’s heart melted.
Throughout the entire afternoon, Xiang Chen’s mouth didn’t close once, grinning so wide his eyes disappeared.
After lunch, he even ran to rewash his brother’s cup, ensuring it would be ready for him to use upon his return.
Song Wenbin watched, a mix of amusement and exasperation on his face, before sending him off for his nap.
Xiang Chen lay on the bed, recounting the candies Xu Hengzhou had given him before leaving.
He only ate one a day, and there were still so many left. ‘Gege will surely praise me for being so good,’ he thought.
After counting, Xiang Chen hid the candies again, then lay down to sleep.
His mood was so wonderful today that even his dreams were sweet. Gege smiled as he embraced him, promising never to leave him alone again…
He called Xiang Chen awake, and after they tidied up, it was time to head to the station to pick up the arrival.
***
Provincial City, time rewound to the morning.
Before leaving, Xu Hengzhou seemed to glance at Jiang Lei almost inadvertently.
Jiang Lei secretly winked back, then patted his own chest.
Xu Hengzhou and Jiang Sen took the bus to the station, while Jiang Lei headed to school.
As soon as he parted ways with Jiang Miao, he immediately dashed towards the post office.
Yesterday, Xu Hengzhou had secretly asked him for a favor.
Jiang Lei, holding a certain admiration for him, readily agreed. Thus, this morning, as Xu Hengzhou requested, he was to go to the post office to send a telegram after Xu Hengzhou had left.
Xu Hengzhou had already written the telegram’s content in advance and given Jiang Lei the money.
He had considered calling back himself to explain clearly, but telephones were not yet widespread. The only place he could likely borrow a phone was Bureau Chief Jiang’s office, and they wouldn’t let a child make a call alone.
If he waited until he reached Haishi to call, it would be too late, and his family would be frantic.
He had told Xiang Chen he was going to a slightly more distant place, but Xiang Chen was already very resistant to him going to the provincial city alone.
He could manage on his own, but if he couldn’t, saying so would only upset him. However, this was a good opportunity, and he didn’t want to miss it.
With this one trip, he could later borrow Xu Youliang’s connections.
Upon arriving at the post office, Jiang Lei collected a telegram form and filled it out exactly as Xu Hengzhou had written: ‘Not returning today, traveling far, safe, do not worry. Zhou.’
It wasn’t that Xu Hengzhou was being stingy; telegrams at this time were charged by the word, and writing too much would only be seen as wasteful. He wrote it himself, but was afraid others might change it.
After completing the telegram, Jiang Lei selected the urgent delivery option, as Xu Hengzhou had instructed.
Then, with the remaining money, he happily bought a bowl of lamb offal soup, feeling entirely justified, for it was earned through his own labor.
***
Meanwhile, Xu Hengzhou had left, yet unbeknownst to Jiang Lei, he immediately disembarked from the vehicle and purchased the next available ticket to Haishi.
As luck would have it, half an hour later, Xu Hengzhou was seated on the train bound for Haishi.
The distance from the provincial city to Haishi was greater than to Qingjiang City.
When Song Wenbin brought Xiang Chen to the station to pick up Xu Hengzhou, Xu Hengzhou was still on the train, though not far from Haishi.
After the train from the provincial city arrived at Qingjiang City, Song Wenbin, holding Xiang Chen, searched everywhere for his eldest nephew.
Xiang Chen also stretched his neck, looking around. However, even after all the passengers had disembarked, Xu Hengzhou was nowhere to be found.
Qingjiang was not the final destination, and the train had already departed.
Xiang Chen’s small face turned pale with fright. He was terrified by his own imaginings: ‘Could Gege have encountered bad people?’
Song Wenbin forced a smile to comfort his young nephew, “Perhaps Uncle got it wrong. We’ll call back and ask.”
He took Xiang Chen back to the machinery factory, heading directly to his office.
Just as he was about to make a call, he heard Director Feng, from the same office, exclaim, “Hey, Old Song, you’re back! An urgent telegram just came for you. I was planning to send it to you tonight.”
Upon hearing this, Song Wenbin’s heart stirred.
He took the telegram, opened it, and with those few words, understood everything instantly.
Song Wenbin immediately felt a lump of frustration in his chest.
He had always known his eldest nephew was strong-willed, but he never imagined he was *this* strong-willed—running off secretly all by himself!
Xiang Chen, unaware that the telegram was from his brother, was extremely anxious.
He tugged at Song Wenbin’s clothes, urging him to make the call.
Song Wenbin glanced at the child’s pale, anxious face, cursed silently, then picked up Xiang Chen.
He told Director Feng he was taking the child home first, then left.
Xiang Chen was still bewildered. ‘Weren’t they here to call about Gege? Why are we leaving?’ he wondered.
Song Wenbin showed him the telegram.
Xiang Chen recognized every word, and after reading it, the child fell silent.
“Don’t cry!” Song Wenbin quickly coaxed, fearing he would burst into tears. “When he comes back, we’ll give him a good talking-to and make him apologize to our Chenchen, alright?”
Xiang Chen remained quiet.
He felt an intense sadness, all his joyful emotions instantly vanishing, leaving him bewildered and unsure what to say.
After a long while, even Song Wenbin began to grow anxious.
Xiang Chen finally spoke, as if just snapping back to reality, “Gege… isn’t coming back?”
Song Wenbin quickly reassured him, “He’ll be back in a few days. This is his home; where else would he go? You’re his only younger brother; he wouldn’t abandon you.”
Xiang Chen lowered his head, saying nothing.
Song Wenbin didn’t know, but he himself understood the true nature of his relationship with Xu Hengzhou. He truly considered Xu Hengzhou his older brother, but what if Xu Hengzhou didn’t feel the same way?
***
Haishi, the train arrived at the station.
The supplies in his bag were well-prepared: half rice, various canned goods, including meat and fruit.
Carrying this large bag, Xu Hengzhou followed the address Xu Youliang had given him.
***
Qingjiang City.
That afternoon, Song Wenbin obtained some pork ribs from Master Zhu and returned home, attempting to cook sweet and sour pork ribs for Xiang Chen using Xu Hengzhou’s method.
Since returning, Xiang Chen had barely spoken.
He would only reply when asked, otherwise remaining silent, appearing even more downcast than the previous two days.
The usually cheerful and boisterous child no longer smiled.
Song Wenbin found it heartbreaking and simply wanted to cheer him up.
However, that evening, the ribs ended up burnt.
Song Wenbin fumbled to scoop the meat onto a plate, looking at the blackened dish, feeling a pang of frustration.
Burnt meat was unappetizing, but wasting food was unthinkable at this time.
Song Wenbin tasted it and decided he would eat it all himself.
Yet, Xiang Chen silently ate nearly half the plate. It wasn’t delicious, but it was his uncle’s heartfelt effort.
That night, after washing up, Song Wenbin asked Xiang Chen if he wanted to sleep with him.
Xiang Chen shook his head, refusing. Song Wenbin didn’t press him, simply telling him to come find him if he didn’t want to sleep alone.
Lying in bed, Xiang Chen closed his eyes but found it hard to sleep.
After tossing and turning for a while, he got up and retrieved the candies he had hidden away.
He looked at the candies he had been reluctant to eat, suddenly feeling utterly ridiculous.
Xiang Chen sat on the bed, expressionless, peeling open the wrappers and popping the candies into his mouth one by one.
Before he even finished the one in his mouth, he shoved another in. The candies were too large, making his cheeks ache and his eyes sting with tears.
Xiang Chen wiped away a tear, crumpling the candy wrappers in his hand.
‘They’re not delicious at all. The candies must have gone bad,’ he thought.
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