Without money for transportation, I have to walk back to the overpass. I can only rent a place after I get paid. I have to stay here for the next few days.

——

Chen Jianing was so hungry that she went to the beggar's den on the other side of the bridge to look for food. She actually found some leftover steamed buns. She broke them in half with both hands, ate one piece for herself, and gave the other piece to her daughter.

The little girl ate heartily, and in just half a month, she went from a chubby little girl to a dirty, homeless child.

"What are you doing?" the beggar shouted. He had just returned from outside and had been lucky today, getting more than a dollar.

So he bought a fish to treat himself, but when he saw the mother and daughter's miserable state, he thought, "Oh well, they're both poor," and waved his hand.

"Get out of here and never come back to my place!"

Chen Jianing didn't leave, but stared intently at the fish the beggar had brought back. It weighed about three or four pounds, and it would smell delicious stewed in a pot.

"Why aren't you leaving, you old hag!" the beggar said disdainfully. "Go back to your husband! Let him feed you!"

"Can we eat this fish?" Chen Jianing asked.

"Want some fish?" The beggar stroked his chin, his lecherous eyes sizing up the woman. "It's not impossible. Although you're a mess right now, you're not bad-looking. If you're willing—"

"No way!" Chen Jianing couldn't accept this request, and turned to leave with her daughter in her arms.

The beggar laughed from behind and said, "You'll come back to find me! But whether you'll have fish to eat like today, that's another story!"

Chen Jianing carried the child back to her place. She had eaten some steamed buns and had some strength, but now she had no energy left.

Sitting on the tattered bedding, I realized that a lot of things had been stolen last night. Without a doubt, it must have been those beggars who took them.

This is not a place for humans to live; her body was leaning against the wall.

There was a time when she would look down on all the people under such an overpass, because she was dressed so well that the beggars wouldn't dare to mess with her and would only whistle at her in a vulgar way.

Now that she's fallen on hard times, even beggars want to bully her!

How did she end up in such a state?

Why?

Su Wan lost her balance, fell, and hit her head on the wall, bursting into tears.

She felt no pity when she saw her daughter crying.

Suddenly she thought of Guo Chen, so she went over and picked up the child. Luckily, she still had some change in her pocket, which she could use for the bus fare.

So she stumbled and walked outside, but when she was halfway there, she saw Song Weidong coming back from outside, which startled her so much that she quickly turned around and walked back.

Song Weidong saw the person come out, and then he was so frightened that he turned back. He was quite satisfied with this.

The strange thing is, wasn't her son watching her?

So he could only walk back quickly. He knew he looked slovenly without even looking in a mirror; he hadn't shaved for days.

His hair was terribly overgrown, and his clothes hadn't been washed for over half a month and smelled strongly of rancidity.

Back at his lodgings, he saw Chen Jianing sitting on the tattered quilt, as if nothing had happened.

What were you doing outside just now?

“I was hungry, so I wanted to go out and look for you. When I saw you came back, I turned around and came back.” Chen Jianing’s heart was pounding. Her previous experience had frightened her.

Fortunately, the person didn't come over, but sat down on a pile of broken stones to the side.

Song Weidong took out the stolen cigarettes from his pocket, lit one, took a deep drag, and then asked her...

Where is Yaozu?

Chen Jianing said irritably, "He left after you left. How was I supposed to know where he went? He's a grown man, I can't keep an eye on him!"

"That brat is getting more and more disobedient." Song Weidong said, but in his heart he was wondering where his son had gone.

Just then, they heard a whistle coming from outside, and then saw Song Yaozu return in a nonchalant manner.

He had a cigarette in his mouth, wore ill-fitting clothes, and was carrying a bag.

"How can you smoke at such a young age!" Song Weidong immediately scolded.

Song Yaozu retorted sarcastically, "You're no different, what right do you have to tell me what to do?"

Song Weidong walked over and raised his hand to hit him, but his son pressed down on his wrist.

"If you lay a hand on me again, even if you're my father, I'll still get someone to beat you up!" Song Yaozu mimicked a thug, throwing his cigarette on the ground and stomping it out.

Stop treating me like a three-year-old!

"You brat, how did you become like this!" Song Yaozu stared at his son in disbelief.

Song Lingling walked over and coldly called out,

"elder brother!"