Chapter 58

Chapter 58

Shen Banyue had to go back and forth a bit to convince the two kids that she wasn’t upset at all about being sold.

Pretty soon, Little Sun came back with the egg cakes smelling all nice. Shen Banyue said she wanted to look at the other counters since they were in town, hoping to pick up some hair ties, ink, notebooks, and stuff.

Little Sun didn’t expect that after he brought back the egg cakes, none of the three kids were clamoring to eat them, instead wanting to buy ink and notebooks. Any other bratty kids wouldn’t have been able to resist.

He followed behind the three kids and noticed they were talking things over. The younger ones would ask the older ones if they could buy something, and the older ones would agree, but the younger ones didn’t keep asking for more just because they got something. They weren’t greedy at all.

Plus, even though they were just kids, everything they bought was practical. And because they were so sweet-talking, a sales clerk even sold them a piece of flawed fabric without needing a ration ticket, which made Little Sun jealous.

Finally, the three kids said they were done shopping, lugging two full mesh bags of stuff. But just as they were leaving, they overheard the clerk at the pastry counter telling some lady that a box of loose biscuits had arrived all crushed, and the boss said no ration ticket needed. Little Sun watched as Shen Banyue immediately dashed over and, with a big show, bought three jin.

Little Sun got spurred into action and bought two jin himself. After buying, he felt a twinge of regret, but then he thought about how it didn’t need a ticket and was five cents cheaper per jin than usual, and he felt like he’d made out like a bandit.

“These just came out. You’re lucky to get so many; they’ll be gone soon,” the clerk said.

Little Sun let out a big sigh, thinking he’d really scored.

Leaving the supply cooperative, they were supposed to head to the state-run restaurant, but the three kids stopped at an intersection, seemed to get their bearings, and then walked off confidently in the opposite direction.

Little Sun quickly stepped in front to block them: “Wrong, it’s not this way. The state-run restaurant is over there.” He pointed the other way.

Shen Banyue smiled and said, “Uncle Sun, we know the state-run restaurant is over there, but Uncle Dai probably won’t be back that fast. We want to go to the County Machinery Factory first to see our little uncle.”

“The County Machinery Factory?” Little Sun thought about it and realized it was indeed that way. He asked in surprise, “You know how to get to the County Machinery Factory?”

Shen Banyue nodded: “We’ve been here before.”

Her navigation skills were maxed out, and besides, the County Machinery Factory wasn’t too far from here.

Little Sun thought about it and figured Dai Xianghua wouldn’t be back that quick, so he said, “Alright, let’s go to the County Machinery Factory to see your uncle first. But we can’t take the bus there from here. Can you walk it? Xiao Dizi, you want Uncle Sun to carry you?”

Shen Banyue handed the stuff they’d bought to Little Sun: “Uncle, just carry these for us.”

As soon as Little Sun took the stuff, he saw Shen Banyue reach out, lift Xiao Dizi, and hold her.

Over the past six months, Xiao Dizi had clearly put on some weight, but Shen Banyue had also grown taller, so carrying Xiao Dizi was even easier than before.

“Xiao Yue, let me take her. It’s hard enough for you to walk yourself, let alone carrying someone. You…” Little Sun stopped mid-sentence because he realized the kid, carrying another kid, was walking faster than him.

He quickly caught up and asked Lin Mian: “Xiao Mian, you doing okay? Want me to carry you?”

Lin Mian glanced at him and said coolly, “Uncle Sun, are your things heavy? Want me to help carry some?”

Little Sun: “…”

Was this kid looking down on him?

By the time they reached the County Machinery Factory, Little Sun realized why that kid had said that. They walked the whole way easily, showing no signs of struggling, and weren’t much worse off than him, a guy used to walking around villages all day.

“You kids are something else!”

Shen Banyue smiled: “Just average, third in the brigade.”

Xiao Dizi raised her little fist: “Big sister is the best, Brother Mian is second, Xiao Dizi is third!” Under Lin Mian’s relentless supervision, the little one could now count to a hundred, even if it was haltingly.

Lin Mian’s lips curled slightly as he took the lead to find someone, heading to the guardhouse to explain the situation.

The guardhouse at the County Machinery Factory was run by the security department. The man on duty, in his thirties, smiled when he heard the kids were looking for Shen Guoqing: “I’ll call him over the loudspeaker. He should be off work soon, so he’ll be out in a bit.”

Lin Mian thanked him and came out to wait by the gate with Shen Banyue and the others.

After about ten minutes, Shen Guoqing hurried out of the factory, greeted the security guard, and ran outside: “Xiao Yue, Xiao Mian, what are you doing here?!”

Shen Banyue smiled: “Surprise?”

Shen Guoqing laughed heartily: “You betcha!”

Xiao Dizi immediately flashed her eight baby teeth at him: “Uncle, we bought egg cakes and biscuits at the supply cooperative! We’ll share some with you!”

Shen Guoqing’s heart felt like it was melting: “You went to the supply cooperative and still thought of your uncle? I’m so happy! I won’t eat them; you kids have them.” He checked the time: “Come on, let me treat you to something good at the state-run restaurant.”

Shen Banyue shook her head and handed him a separate brown paper bag: “Uncle Dai will treat us to dinner. You should get back to work! Grandma Wang said we have to work steady and not slack off. After eating and resting, you’ll be more energized for the afternoon.”

Shen Guoqing helplessly tugged at Shen Banyue’s messy little bun: “You little smart aleck, lecturing me now.”

“I only gave you one piece of egg cake. The rest we’ll take back to the brigade to share with Grandma Wang, Grandpa Shen, Shen Wendong, Zhao Xuehai, and the others. The crushed biscuits didn’t need a ticket, and I bought a lot. I’m leaving you a jin for when you’re hungry. I also gave you a pancake Grandma Wang made this morning; you can heat it up and eat it.”

Shen Banyue waved: “Go earn money now. Treat us to something good when we’re back at the commune. Today, Uncle Dai is the ‘big spender,’ so save your turn for later.”

Shen Guoqing laughed and cried: “Alright, I’ll be the ‘big spender’ another day.”

After seeing him and handing over the things, Shen Banyue and the others prepared to head back.

Shen Guoqing told Little Sun to keep an eye on them, and Little Sun joked, “These kids don’t need me to watch them; they’re more likely watching me.”

He couldn’t help but marvel again at how sensible these kids were—traveling so far just to see Shen Guoqing and bring him food. They were three little warm-hearted darlings. No wonder the Shen family doted on them so much.

Little Sun even wondered if he should send his own bratty kids to some distant relatives in the mountains for a while to toughen them up, hoping they’d turn into kids like these.

Shen Guoqing stood at the factory gate, watching the three kids disappear into the distance, then turned back with a grin.

The security guard asked curiously, “Who are those kids? They brought you stuff?”

Shen Guoqing laughed: “My nephew and nieces. They came all the way, bought egg cakes and biscuits, and brought them to me, worried I’d go hungry at work, haha.”

He was practically showing off.

The security guard, who was on good terms with him, waved dismissively: “Oh, worried you’d go hungry at work? What a big man, so delicate! Get going, look at you showing off.”

On the other side, Shen Banyue and the others were heading back the same way. As they passed an alley, a kid suddenly darted out, nearly crashing into them. Shen Banyue, holding Xiao Dizi, dodged quickly while pulling Lin Mian aside, just barely avoiding the collision.

The kid who darted out couldn’t stop and fell on his bottom. Looking up at Shen Banyue and the others, he opened his mouth and burst into tears.

An old woman with a kind face came out of the alley, hurried over to the kid, and helped him up: “Baoshun, what’s wrong? Don’t cry. Granny Zhang will take you home.”

The kid, Baoshun, was about four or five years old. Seeing an adult, he pointed at Shen Banyue and the others and tattled: “They bullied me! They hit me!”

Shen Banyue: “…”

So this was what it felt like to be outdone at your own game!

She was usually the one putting on acts and setting people up, but today, this kid had set her up.

The old woman, calling herself Granny Zhang, looked at Shen Banyue and the others with a smile: “Oh, they’re just passing kids. How could they bully you?”

Her gaze lingered on Xiao Dizi’s face for a few seconds, and her smile seemed to grow even warmer. Then, in an instant, as if remembering something, her smile faltered slightly, but she quickly masked it.

If Shen Banyue hadn't been watching her closely, she never would have caught that tiny shift in her expression.

The only reason Shen Banyue noticed her was that she looked kinda familiar, so she kept looking at her.

It was that quick, weird look on the old woman's face that made Shen Banyue remember where she'd seen her.

Last year, when Liao Chengze gave his job slot to Shen Guoqing, Shen Guoqing took her and Xiao Dizi to the county seat. That was the first time she'd been to Shanxi County since she got to this world, and this old lady was sitting right next to them on the bus.

Shen Banyue remembered the old lady had a bundle with her and said her youngest daughter lived in the county after getting married and just had a baby, so she was going to help with the postpartum recovery and baby care.

A few months went by—so did helping with the postpartum turn into just babysitting?

This old lady had a round face that, by Chinese standards, meant good luck, with soft features and a friendly vibe that made people like her right away. But for some reason, from the first time Shen Banyue saw her on that bus, she felt something was off.

Maybe it was her eyes—they were too deep, and it didn't match her sweet, friendly face.

Granny Zhang didn't seem to recognize them at all. She smiled and said a few words to coax the kid named Baoshun, said sorry to Shen Banyue and the others, and then took the kid into the alley.

"Your mom went to the veggie stand to get you some fish; she'll be back soon. Baoshun, come play at Granny Zhang's for a bit. I've got some fresh calcium milk biscuits and I'll make you a cup of malted milk—it's so good."

As they walked off, the old lady's sweet talk drifted into Shen Banyue's ears.

Shen Banyue felt something was weird but couldn't put her finger on it.

The kid, Baoshun, was clearly comfortable with the old lady, so they were probably close neighbors who knew each other well.

Xiao Dizi didn't remember the old lady anymore. Seeing Shen Banyue just standing there, she hugged her sister's neck and whined, "Sister, Xiao Dizi is hungry. I gotta eat a ton, like a tiger, right now."

Shen Banyue laughed. "Okay, let's hurry to the state-run restaurant and let the little tiger loose."

Little Sun laughed. "Good thing that old lady was reasonable, or that kid would've scammed us today. That kid lied without even batting an eye, seriously."

Shen Banyue, who lied without batting an eye even more, said nothing.

When they got to the state-run restaurant, Dai Xianghua was already there, sitting by the window and looking out nervously. When he saw them, he let out a visible sigh of relief. "You're finally here. I thought you were just grabbing some snacks at the supply co-op—what took you so long? I was afraid you'd actually lose the kids," he said, the last part directed at Little Sun.

Little Sun smiled. "No way. I had both eyes on them the whole time, didn't dare slack off for a second. We went to the supply co-op, then to the County Machinery Factory."

After he told him everything, Dai Xianghua joked, "You went all that way just to bring your little uncle food? So, do I, as an uncle, get a cut?"

Shen Banyue pulled two egg cakes out of the bag. "One for you and one for Uncle Sun. But since we're about to eat, we can have 'em after the meal," she said, treating them as dessert.

Little Sun didn't expect to get one. "Oh, I get one too?"

Shen Banyue grinned. "Everyone gets one. What's mine is yours."

Little Sun was too embarrassed to take something so precious. But Dai Xianghua told him to take it. He knew this kid wasn't like other kids—if she offered, she meant it, and nobody could get anything out of her if she didn't want to give it.

Dai Xianghua ordered four bowls of noodles and a plate of stir-fried pork liver with garlic shoots.

The three kids didn't eat much, so splitting two bowls between them was perfect. The chef at this state-run restaurant was great at stir-frying, so the pork liver was tender and tasty. Even the garlic shoots, coated in rich, dark sauce, were eaten down to the last strand.

After eating their fill, they strolled leisurely to the bus station. On the way, Dai Xianghua told Little Sun that he would be temporarily seconded to the County Public Security Bureau for a while, and the commune's affairs would likely be handed over to the Security Director and the militia.

Being seconded by the county was a good opportunity for Dai Xianghua.

It meant a chance to work on bigger cases, improve his investigative skills, and build a solid resume. Practically speaking, it also gave him more opportunities to prove himself and catch the attention of higher-ups.

Previously, when the "kidnapper den" was discovered in Yunling Commune, he had only assisted in the investigation. Now, being directly seconded clearly indicated that the information provided by Bald that morning was very important.

Little Sun was happy for Dai Xianghua. "Brother Dai, with your skills, you might end up staying in the county permanently."

It was possible, but not certain. Dai Xianghua shook his head with a smile. "It's not that easy."

They waited a while at the station before boarding the bus. The ride was bumpy, and by the time they reached Yunling Commune, it was already afternoon.

Wang Guizhi and Shen Dechang were already waiting at the drop-off point. When they saw all three kids return safe and sound, the old couple's anxious hearts finally settled.

Xiao Dizi had fallen asleep on the bus and hadn't woken up yet. Wang Guizhi quickly carried her onto the oxcart and wrapped her in a cotton-padded coat they had brought. After settling the child, Wang Guizhi pulled Dai Xianghua aside and asked, "How did it go?"

Dai Xianghua shook his head helplessly. "No new leads."

He glanced at Shen Banyue and Lin Mian, who had already climbed onto the oxcart, and lowered his voice. "You know Lin Mian's situation. We actually have enough clues, probably more than the traffickers do. The problem is that his father's whereabouts are unknown. Xiao Dizi was indeed sent here with Lin Mian, but it's hard to say—too many places in between, and the traffickers can't clarify."

He paused and continued, "As for Xiao Yue, well, there's some progress. The trafficker said she was sold by her uncle, and her parents have likely passed away."

Wang Guizhi's eyes widened, and her nose tingled. "That damned, thunder-struck bastard!" she muttered.

Dai Xianghua pretended not to hear the old woman's "superstitious" outburst. "Of course, we can't fully trust the trafficker's words. But if what they said is true, it's unlikely anyone will come looking for Xiao Yue. As for her uncle, even if we could track him down—and that's not guaranteed—privately speaking, living with someone like that would only make her suffer."

Wang Guizhi wiped the corner of her eye and nodded. "You're right."

Dai Xianghua turned to look at Shen Banyue and the others again. "The county has a new lead that will take some time to investigate. Until then, the kids should stay with your family. After this investigation, if we still can't find their families, Auntie, you'll need to give me an answer on what we discussed before."

Wang Guizhi nodded. "Don't worry, we've already thought it through."

Dai Xianghua was a bit surprised but didn't ask what they had decided. There was still time, and it wasn't appropriate to press now. He had to report to the county tomorrow and had a lot of commune affairs to handle and arrange, so he bid Wang Guizhi farewell.

On the oxcart, Shen Banyue appeared to be idly staring into space, chin in hand, but she had clearly heard every word of Dai Xianghua and Wang Guizhi's conversation.

Still, she could roughly guess what they would say even without hearing it. As she half-listened, she felt something nagging at her mind. Letting her thoughts wander, she recalled the old woman she had met that day and suddenly froze, realizing what had seemed off.

She called out to Dai Xianghua. "Uncle Dai!"

Dai Xianghua was about to leave but stopped and turned. "What is it, Xiao Yue?"

Frowning, Shen Banyue said, "We met a strange old woman today."

This was completely unexpected for Dai Xianghua. He walked back a few steps to the oxcart and asked, "Strange how?" Perhaps because this child had played such a big role in cracking the trafficking ring, he instinctively took her information seriously.

Little Sun interjected, "You mean Granny Zhang from the alley? She seemed pretty friendly. Nothing strange about her!"

Shen Banyue shook her head. "I can't quite explain it, but I think she's odd. Uncle Dai, do you remember? Last year, when Uncle Liao, you, and my uncle took me and Xiao Dizi to the county, the bus was packed, and you were all up front. That old woman sat next to me and Xiao Dizi. She said her youngest daughter was married in the county, and she was going to help with postpartum care and babysitting."

Dai Xianghua did remember—that was when Liao Chengze took Shen Guoqing to the county for the job transfer, and he was picking up Xiao Zhuzi and Xiao Wei's parents.

But after thinking back, he couldn't recall who had been sitting next to the two girls.

Little Sun was astonished. "Xiao Yue, you've seen that old woman before?!"

Then why had both sides acted like it was their first meeting?

Shen Banyue smiled sheepishly. "I didn't remember at the time. I just felt like I'd seen her somewhere. It only came to me on the bus just now."

Little Sun scratched his head, puzzled. "Even if you'd met, you didn't recognize her, and she might not have recognized you—that's not strange, since it was last year. Oh, are you thinking it's odd that she stayed in the county after the postpartum care? She's her daughter, so staying to help with the baby is possible."

Shen Banyue said, "But when she took that neighbor boy home, she said she had freshly bought calcium milk biscuits and malted milk, and that making malted milk with biscuits for kids was delicious."

Little Sun replied, "That doesn't seem strange either?"

Dai Xianghua frowned and suddenly said, "That's a bit strange."

Since she was helping her daughter with postpartum care, she should be staying at her son-in-law's place these days. In this era, malted milk and biscuits were precious stuff that even her own kids had to eat sparingly. As a mother-in-law, no matter how much face she had, would she really just help herself to her son-in-law's expensive stuff to feed a neighbor's child?

Furthermore, if they had kept her in the city to take care of the child, then her daughter and son-in-law must have jobs. Logically, she'd be home alone with the baby during the day. With a child just a few months old, washing and cleaning alone would keep her plenty busy—how would she have the energy to mess with other kids?

And normally, even if she happened to run into a neighbor's child on the road, at most she would send them home. Why would she bring them to her own place and treat them to good food and drink? That's just being bored.

It's not totally impossible, but it doesn't really make sense. Yet if you think there must be something wrong with it, that seems a bit far-fetched too.

Dai Xianghua thought for a moment and said, "Tomorrow, after I report in at the county, I'll go check things out and see what's up with that family."

He remembered Little Sun was there too, so he decided to have Little Sun go with him to the county tomorrow to point out the people in person.

Having voiced his suspicions, Shen Banyue figured that was that, as far as she was concerned. She was just a child, after all, and couldn't do much beyond providing information.

The ride back to the brigade was bumpy. That evening, Wang Guizhi indeed made dough drop soup, which all three children loved, and they all ate until they were stuffed.

After dinner, Shen Banyue brought out the egg cakes to share. She also left a pound of biscuits with Wang Guizhi, keeping the remaining pound to take to Shen Wendong and Zhao Xuehai the next day.

When Shen Dechang learned that they had gone out of their way to deliver things to Shen Guoqing, he was already stunned. And when he found out that he himself had a share of the egg cakes, his expression went blank. In the end, he carefully put the egg cakes away, wiping the corners of his eyes.

Shen Banyue had originally planned to bring the egg cakes back to eat together with them, but since dinner had been too filling, she had to adjust her "plan" and change the next day's breakfast to egg cakes with malted milk—

The malted milk was almost gone too. If it weren't for pairing it with the egg cakes, she wouldn't have been willing to drink it.

The main issue was that this stuff required ration coupons to buy. She had money, but she couldn't get the coupons.

After that, life seemed to return to calm. Shen Banyue and the others went back to their daily routine of going back and forth between home and school.

And the work in the fields picked up too—planting corn, planting vegetables, turning the soil, irrigating. The adults were busy every day.

The children, meanwhile, seized every opportunity when school was out to run up the mountains. Spring bamboo shoots, wild vegetables, mushrooms—this season, the fields were practically full of "treasures."

The wild vegetables were so tender they practically oozed water. Scoop out a piece of rice cake that had been soaking in water for months, stir-fry it with a bit of lard and some bamboo shoot shreds—it was a unique delicacy of the season.

Almost in the blink of an eye, the wild loquats and wild cherries on the mountain were ripe too.