Chapter 197 A Dramatic Change

"I searched for her for a full ten years."

Zhou Yufan's voice trembled.

"I asked so many favors, asked so many people, wore out so many pairs of shoes, but there was still no news of her. Everywhere I went, I asked, I searched, but in the end, it was like grasping at empty air. I... I don't even dare to think... Is she already gone? Is she lying under some bridge one day, with no one knowing who she is, and no one to collect her body..."

"Don't talk nonsense!"

Zhou Shufen frowned.

"Sister Hua Chen may look gentle and speak softly, but she's more resilient than anyone else. She's not the kind of person who's easily defeated. Back then, she dared to give birth to her child alone, face the gossip alone, and grit her teeth to survive, managing to get through these ten years. Believe me, she's tough; she won't just disappear like this!"

She took a neatly folded light blue handkerchief from her bag and handed it to him.

"Wipe your eyes clean, crying too much will hurt them."

He looked down and rummaged through his bag again, pulling out an oil paper package.

"Eat something first. Thinking wildly on an empty stomach will only lead you further into a dead end."

She stuffed the steamed bun into his hand.

“You can’t find her now, we’ve found her address, she’s in Guixi City, alive and well! We really feel indebted to her, we should make it up to her when we meet, an apology, ten years of compensation, do everything we should. What’s the use of just shedding tears here? Can tears undo the suffering she’s endured?”

Zhou Yufan took the handkerchief, his fingers trembling slightly.

“Little sister… do you think the child… is still in this world? If so, he must be fifteen or sixteen by now… Does he look like her? Or… like me? Will he recognize me? I don’t even know what he looks like, whether he’s tall or short, whether he’s cheerful or prone to crying, I don’t know anything…”

"I only realized it after meeting you."

Zhou Shufen took a bite of the steamed bun.

"But don't get your hopes up too high. Hua Chen has been raising the child all these years by herself, through wind and rain, enduring hardship and toil. She must be resentful. The fact that she doesn't hate you is a testament to her kind heart. If she scolds you, hits you, or points her finger at you and calls you a heartless man, you'll have to put up with it and not say a word in your defense, understand?"

Zhou Yufan nodded emphatically, his eyes reddening again.

“I know. Forget about beatings and scoldings, I’d be willing to kneel down and serve her tea, sweep her yard, or be her slave. As long as she lets me see the children, lets me know they’re alive, healthy, and safe, I have nothing more to ask for in this life.”

The old man sitting opposite me had somehow gotten closer.

"Comrades, you don't seem to be on a business trip. You don't have much luggage, and you speak with an accent from Yuxin. Are you here in Guixi City to look for someone?"

Zhou Shufen slowly finished chewing the steaming hot bun in her mouth.

"Yes, it's to find a relative."

"Guizhou West has really changed a lot in the past few years."

The old man sitting opposite me picked up his enamel mug and gently blew on it to cool it down.

“Before, the streets were full of low, dilapidated houses, dusty and littered with garbage. Now it’s all different. Wide roads have been built, and a row of brand-new factories have sprung up, with white smoke billowing from their chimneys and machines running day and night. Life has finally given us hope, and the people have something to look forward to.”

He paused, then turned his gaze to the two of them.

"Which area in western Guizhou is the person you're looking for located in? I might be able to give you directions."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yufan quickly pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper from his pocket, unfolded it, and read it aloud.

"Li Huachen lives on Sanhe Street, in the alley behind the Heping Textile Factory."

The old man's eyes lit up immediately upon hearing this.

"Oh! What a coincidence! I live in that area!"

He put down his teacup and his tone became warmer.

"That street was just paved with asphalt last year. It's flat and clean, and there are rows of sycamore trees on both sides. They are tall and lush, providing a shady canopy. In the summer, when the wind blows, the leaves rustle and it's incredibly cool. In the evenings, people even set up small tables to eat under the trees."

He smacked his lips and added.

"However, most of the people living there now are migrant workers from other places; the number of long-time local residents is decreasing. What does this person you're looking for do? Does he work in a factory or run a business?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yufan frowned slightly.

"Actually... we lost contact many years ago. I only know that she is in Guixi City, but I don't know anything else."

Whether the name has been changed, where they live now, and what they do for a living are all unknown.

Upon seeing this, Zhou Shufen quickly rummaged through her canvas bag and pulled out a black hardcover notebook.

"Sir, take a look at this address. Do you recognize it?"

The old man took the notebook, adjusted his reading glasses with both hands, and squinted to look at it carefully.

“I know this alley. It’s right outside the back wall of the Heping Textile Factory, diagonally opposite a small shop. It’s just a few steps away from my house.”

He looked up at the two of them.

"That alley is quite deep and winding, with about a dozen houses on both sides, mostly retired factory workers and their families. They are all old and they come and go on weekdays, looking out for each other."

He paused, his gaze falling again on the house number, squinting as he tried to make out the details.

"This number... I remember it. It seems to belong to a family surnamed Li. The lady of the house was a widow who raised a boy by herself. The boy looked to be about sixteen or seventeen years old. She worked the day shift at the textile factory, where she was responsible for sorting cotton threads. She was very quick and efficient. But I can't be 100% sure, since there are quite a few people with the surname Li in this area, and there are many people with the same name."

When Zhou Yufan heard the words "widow," "taking care of children," and "working in a textile factory," his heart clenched.

Do you know her name? Or how old is she? Do you remember her?

The old man shook his head.

"He looks to be around forty years old. His hair is already a bit gray, and his back is slightly hunched, but he walks quite briskly."

“I really don’t know her name. When we meet, everyone calls her ‘Sister Li’ and no one asks. You know, people in the old factory area are used to calling people that.”

After saying that, the old man gently handed the notebook back.

“If you really want to find her, just ask when you get there. The alley is tiny, with only about ten households. Everyone knows each other very well. Everyone knows who lives where and what happens to each other.”

Zhou Shufen took the notebook and carefully stuffed it into her bag.

"Thank you so much, sir. You've been a great help. If it weren't for you, we would have been completely lost and wandering around for days."

"Don't be so polite. When you're traveling, everyone needs someone to look out for them."

The old man smiled and waved his hand.

“After you exit the station, walk 50 meters east to a bus stop. Take bus number 3 for six stops and get off at the ‘Textile Factory’ stop. After getting off, walk south. You’ll see a repair shop and a small shop selling cigarettes and alcohol. The narrow alley in the middle is the bus stop. Walk 200 meters into the alley, and you’ll see an old sign at the entrance. It’s easy to find.”

The two thanked the old man deeply.

Zhou Yufan leaned against the window, his eyes looking outside, but his mind had already wandered out of the carriage.