"There should be a limit to bullshit. Xiao Hua, Xiao Dong and Xiao Ping are three siblings. They have no parents and make a living by selling flowers. When you say that, it's as if Xiao Dong is the leader of a human trafficker. Isn't this ruining his reputation?" Before Lin Shuyue could say anything, the woman selling sugar-roasted chestnuts next to her couldn't stand it anymore and said.
Lin Shuyue let out a cry of surprise, and the face of the proprietress selling sizzling tofu darkened. She hadn't expected the woman selling sugar-roasted chestnuts to expose her directly. "How did I say something wrong? If Xiaohua doesn't sell all the flowers, she'll be beaten. If she does, she'll still be beaten and won't have anything to eat. Was I right?"
"Come on, why did Xiao Hua get beaten after selling flowers? Wasn't it because Xiao Hua was ignorant and was touched by a man. Xiao Dong said she wouldn't resist, but you were so angry that you wanted to beat her? Besides, did Xiao Dong really beat her? Why don't you say that before beating Xiao Hua, Xiao Dong had a fight with the man who touched Xiao Hua?" After refuting her, the big sister who bought sugar-roasted chestnuts turned to Lin Shuyue and said.
"Pretty girl, you rarely come here. Don't listen to her nonsense. She wanted Xiao Hua to be a child bride for her son from her family, but Xiao Dong didn't want to. So she's been saying bad things about Xiao Hua to anyone who buy flowers from her."
"Xiao Hua didn't get beaten until she finished selling all her flowers, but it's true she didn't have enough to eat. During that time, Xiao Ping didn't get anything to beg for, and the boss didn't pay for his handicrafts. Xiao Dong got into a fight and couldn't get out of bed. What did he eat?"
After hearing this, Lin Shuyue turned on the good and evil identification system. Wow, it was really good. The sin value of the boss lady selling iron plate tofu was 13%, and the sin value of the boss lady selling sugar-roasted chestnuts was 5%. Both the good value and the gray area were much better than that of the boss lady selling iron plate tofu.
When she said this, the young man selling blended milk tea next to her also agreed with her.
"That's right, Sister Hu, it's really meaningless for you to slander a few children like this. If someone doesn't know, after listening to what you said, they would think they are some kind of human traffickers. Aren't you a bad person?" The young man was more outspoken and looked down on the owner of the Teppanyaki Tofu restaurant.
Lin Shuyue felt like she was being played for a fool: "Sister, why are you still treating me like a fool? We just met by chance, and the chances of seeing each other again will be pitifully rare. It's not nice of you to belittle a young lady like this, is it?"
Lin Shuyue's words made the owner of the Teppanyaki Tofu restaurant turn pale and blue. It was very embarrassing to have her nonsense exposed.
Hang Jiabai came over after paying the bill at this time. He looked deeply at the owner of the Teppanyaki Tofu Restaurant. The owner of the Teppanyaki Tofu Restaurant felt very uncomfortable after seeing the look from Hang Jiabai.
"Let's go." Hang Jiabai said to Lin Shuyue.
Lin Shuyue nodded and thanked the woman selling sugar-roasted chestnuts and the young man: "Both of you, thank you."
The young man touched his hair, feeling very embarrassed.
The lady boss of Sugar Roasted Chestnuts said you're welcome: "It's okay, I just happened to hear it and I don't like it." After saying that, she rolled her eyes at the lady boss of Teppanyaki Tofu.
The two walked towards the mall, and Hang Jiabai said to Lin Shuyue: "We know about the three siblings in Wuxin Mall."
Lin Shuyue was very surprised: "Do you know them?"
"I know them. The little flower they just sold us was picked up by Xiao Dong and Xiao Ping."
That was six years ago. At that time, Hang Jiabai had just graduated from the police academy and he was also involved in the investigation of Xiao Hua and the others missing case.
"When we found Xiao Hua, Xiao Dong was only fourteen and Xiao Ping was twelve. They had run away from an orphanage and were trapped in an underpass. They usually made money by picking up trash."
"Officials have been trying to persuade them to return to the orphanage, but neither of them wants to. Xiao Ping is disabled and often gets bullied, while Xiao Dong is a close friend of Xiao Ping. Plus, these two kids are incredibly slippery. If you force them to do anything, they'll disappear in a flash."
"There's nothing we can do. We just have to follow them. We'll arrange for people to visit them from time to time."
"After they found Xiao Hua, they loved her very much. No matter what time it was, they would take turns holding her in their arms. If anyone wanted to embarrass her, they would fight to the death."
"They had no choice but to compromise. The neighborhood office registered the three siblings and provided them with a place to live. They also secured Xiao Hua's milk powder, diapers, and other supplies."
"However, Xiao Dong and Xiao Ping withdrew those living allowances when Xiao Hua was three years old. They said they had grown up and would soon become adults, and it would be inappropriate to keep taking advantage of others. It would be detrimental to Xiao Hua's growth."
"Xiao Dong must have seen me coming just now, so he mentioned Xiao Hua."
Lin Shuyue didn't expect Xiao Hua's life experience to be like this. Just now, the moment she saw Xiao Hua, she even thought Xiao Hua was a kidnapped person.
"Many adults don't have the same idea as Xiao Dong and Xiao Ping." Lin Shuyue has seen many people who get something for nothing. It is rare to see someone with such background as Xiao Dong and Xiao Ping that has such awareness.
"Yes." Hang Jiabai sighed with emotion: "It is precisely because of this that everyone loves them even more. Just like the person selling sizzling tofu who wanted Xiao Hua to marry her silly nephew from her mother's family, many leaders have talked to her about it."
"I didn't expect her to slander Xiao Hua and the others in private. I'll report this to the local neighborhood office."
"This person is so bad." Those who don't know the truth will be misled by her, right?
"Yes. There are always some people who are bad by nature." Hang Jiabai was angry in his heart.
"Don't be angry, I just saw that there are still people protecting them."
"Yes, there are still many good people in the world."
"Do you know where they live?"
"I know. The house the Women's Federation arranged for them is not far from here."
Speaking of the Women's Federation, Hang Jiabai had a few more things to say: "Xiao Hua's flowers were also given to them by the Women's Federation. They're not particularly good flowers, but they're cheap, so they don't feel bad about throwing them away if they break."
"Xiao Dong is shining shoes over there. Xiao Ping was not doing nothing when he was begging. He was also doing handicrafts." The case of Xiao Hua and her two siblings was handled by Hang Jiabai, who had just graduated from the police academy and followed his master. He has never diminished his concern for the three siblings.
Xiao Hua also knew him, otherwise she wouldn't dare to take the fifty yuan.
After listening to what Hang Jiabai said, Lin Shuyue's favorability towards the three siblings soared to the extreme.
"Wait a minute, shall we go and see them?"
"Okay, I just saw that Xiao Hua's clothes are too short and torn. Let's buy them two sets later. Xiao Dong has a stubborn temper. I guess they won't accept clothes from anyone other than me and my master."
"It's already five o'clock and it's almost dark outside. How about we watch movie next time?" Lin Shuyue looked at Hang Jiabai with a smile.
On winter nights, it's already pitch black by six o'clock, and things are starting to get busy outside. But at the same time, it's also getting cold.
"Okay." Although Hang Jiabai regretted not going to the movies with Lin Shuyue, compared to the movie, Hang Jiabai felt that it was more important to buy winter clothes for Xiao Hua and his two siblings as soon as possible.
The two walked out of the mall. Xiao Dong and Xiao Hua were helping Xiaoping pack his things. The three of them supported each other and walked quickly.
Xiao Dong and the other two stopped when they saw Hang Jiabai: "Brother Hang."
Hang Jiabai nodded: "Didn't I tell you to stay home during the winter and not go out? What if you catch a cold?"
Xiao Hua smiled and said, "I wanted to come out. My second brother wanted to set up a small stall selling toys."
Xiao Hua and her two siblings are arranged according to their age. Xiao Dong and Xiao Ping love Xiao Hua, who they raised, very much. Whatever Xiao Hua wants to do, Xiao Dong and Xiao Ping will do their best to satisfy her.
Lin Shuyue touched her head. Xiao Hua tilted her head back and smiled happily at Lin Shuyue.
"My name is Lin Shuyue. You can call me Sister Yue. Can I call you Xiao Hua?" Lin Shuyue's voice softened unconsciously.
"Sure, Sister Yue, my name is Hong Xiao Hua, my eldest brother is Hong Xiao Dong, and my second brother is Hong Xiao Ping. Aren't our names really great? People will know we're brother and sister as soon as they hear them."
"Yes, your names are really nice." Lin Shuyue held Xiao Hua's hand.
Xiao Hua smiled particularly brightly. She glanced at her eldest and second brothers and Hang Jiabai who were lagging behind, then walked forward with Lin Shuyue: "I have the same last name as my eldest brother."
Xiao Hua is an outgoing girl, and she wasn't embarrassed by her shabby, short clothes. She felt incredibly fulfilled by the undivided love of her older brothers.
She followed Lin Shuyue walking in front, and the words of Hang Jiabai and the other two floated into their ears.
Hang Jiabai started to ask them about all aspects of life. Xiao Dong and Xiao Ping answered very seriously. Lin Shuyue looked at them several times. They were very respectful to Hang Jiabai.
There is a night market on the side of the mall. Although it is not yet night, the stalls have already been set up, mostly selling clothes and toys.
Lin Shuyue took Xiao Hua to a stall selling children's clothing and picked out two sets for Xiao Hua, covering everything from innerwear to outerwear.
Clothes sold on the street these days are not expensive; two sets of clothes together cost less than two hundred yuan.
Lin Shuyue asked Xiao Hua to change into new clothes. Xiao Hua did not refuse and walked into the fitting area openly. When she came out, she looked completely different.
Lin Shuyue looked at her dry yellow hair and her face that was blown away by the wind, pulled her to the nearby pharmacy, and bought her a bottle of Vaseline.
"Xiao Hua, this medicine, before you go to bed at night and when you get up in the morning, scoop a little bit into your hands and rub it evenly. Apply it on your face and lips, and your face will stop hurting."
It is true that Xiao Hua's two brothers love Xiao Hua very much, but they are just children themselves and don't even understand how to live. They don't even think of buying skin care products for Xiao Hua.
Xiao Hua held Vaseline in her arms and smiled brightly, "Okay, thank you, sister."
Lin Shuyue touched her head and said, "Let's go. I'll buy you another pair of shoes. We girls must wear good shoes, otherwise it's not good for our health."
"Okay. Thank you, Sister Yue." There was a shoe stall at the night market. Lin Shuyue picked out several pairs of shoes of different styles for her. Xiao Hua looked for a long time and chose the cheapest one.
Lin Shuyue didn't try to persuade her. She just paid for whatever she liked.
Hang Jiabai brought Xiao Dong and Xiao Ping brothers here, and they also changed their clothes. Only then did Lin Shuyue see Xiao Dong's appearance clearly, and he was very handsome.
Compared with him, Xiao Ping was more ordinary. His right foot was amputated and he walked with a cane.
Both of them had smiles on their faces and were obviously very happy to have new clothes to wear.
It was already dark, and Lin Shuyue and the other person followed the three siblings to where they lived.
It was a bungalow with a courtyard area of less than 67 square meters. The two main rooms together were very small.
There are many vegetables planted in the yard, which is also kept very clean. Cooking is done in a shed built next to the gate.
Lin Shuyue was invited by Xiao Hua to their house. There were two rooms in total. Xiao Hua lived alone in the inner room, which was not big, only about ten square meters. But it was clean and there were books on the table.
In the innermost part of the outer room was a bed made of bricks and wooden planks. On the table beside the bed were many unfinished handicrafts. Near the door was a tattered sofa. The table in front of the sofa had a leg missing and was propped up with something.
This house is shabby and small, but it is clean. There are two certificates on the wall, which were given to Xiao Hua by the public kindergarten next door.
After sending the three people home, Lin Shuyue and the other two planned to leave. Xiao Dong and the other two kept asking them to stay for dinner, but the two did not stay.
Lin Shuyue just checked and found that there was not much rice left in their rice jar.
Before leaving, Lin Shuyue wrote her phone number to Xiao Hua, and Xiao Hua carefully put the note in the book.
On the way back, Lin Shuyue asked Hang Jiabai: "Why do the three of them like you so much?"
"Xiao Hua was five or six months old when she had a fever at night. Xiao Dong was still young at the time and didn't have much money. He took Xiao Hua to the hospital, but when he ran out of options, he called me."
"I was already asleep at that time. After I answered the phone, I got out of bed and took them to the hospital, busy all night."
"After Xiao Hua recovered from her illness, they were very grateful to me. They generally never refused anything I asked of them. They also accepted any things I bought for them."
"During the Chinese New Year and other festivals, I still receive gifts from them. Sometimes they are handmade items, sometimes they are vegetables they grow themselves or fruits they buy. Every time I receive something from them, I feel very warm."
"They are all good kids. If my mother knew them, she would definitely like them very much." Lou Fengqin likes children, and she likes children with good character even more.
Hang Jiabai thought of Lou Fengqin and smiled: "My mother likes mushrooms too. She sends them mushrooms every autumn."
The two of them walked hand in hand on the road, and the street lights stretched their shadows very long.
"Ah Yue, do you still remember my senior brother Zuo Xiangfeng?"
Zuo Xiangfeng, Hang Jiabai's senior, is also the boyfriend of Shi Muyuan, the victim in the sculpture case. He is a man who graduated from the police academy but did not become a policeman but became a writer.
"How can you say that? I don't have Alzheimer's, so how could I not remember him? What happened to him? Has he been feeling better recently?"
"He recovered quite quickly. My teacher said that after he finished the book he was working on, he applied to return to the police force and became a narcotics officer."
"When I came back, I couldn't contact him even when I wanted to have dinner with him." Hang Jiabai's melancholy towards his senior brother was blown away by the wind.