Chapter 80 It’s too late! (Updated)

“The old lady came today by chance, and there is some left. How much do you want? I’ll cut it for you.” Zhuang Qingning said with a smile.

"Amitabha, I finally got to buy it this time." The frail old woman pulled the corner of her mouth, revealing her only remaining front tooth: "It's fine if I have it, I'll just take a pound of tofu, I'm the only one left at home, and I can't eat much..."

"Come to think of it, my uncle next door gave me a handful of spinach when I woke up in the morning. I went home and stewed some spinach, tofu and vermicelli. I think it will be enough for me until the evening, not to mention lunch."

"I'm getting old, so I eat less. If I eat more, my stomach will swell easily, and it will be very uncomfortable..."

The old woman continued to chatter away as before, saying some incoherent things.

In her previous life, Zhuang Qingning worked as a volunteer in a nursing home in modern times. She could understand why lonely old people couldn't wait to talk when they saw people. She didn't interrupt the old woman but just listened quietly, smiling and nodding from time to time, acting like a very qualified listener.

As the old woman spoke, she began to laugh and patted her forehead with her hand: "Look at me, I forget everything when I start talking. Can you cut me a pound of tofu?"

Zhuang Qingning cut the tofu quickly, picked up the beam scale, and after weighing it, he said, "It's one and a half pounds, so I'll charge you one cent. There's not much tofu left. The sooner you sell it, the sooner I can close my stall."

"Then I, an old woman, thank you." The old woman grinned, took the tofu and put it in the bamboo basket, then tremblingly took out a neatly folded towel from her bosom, opened it layer by layer, took out a penny from it, and handed it to Zhuang Qingning: "Here you go."

"Okay, I'll give you a penny. Take your time."

"Don't worry, girl. My home is not far away. I'll walk slowly. It's okay." The old woman picked up the bamboo basket under her feet and walked forward.

He had just taken two steps when he cried "Ouch" and fell to the ground. The bamboo basket in his hand also fell to the ground. Two potatoes rolled out of the basket and stopped at Zhuang Qingning's feet.

"Are you okay?" Zhuang Qingning and Zhuang Qingsui hurried to help the old woman up.

"It's okay, it's okay, I think I sprained my ankle." The old woman patted the dirt off her body, stood up, and reached out to pick up the bamboo basket.

She said it was nothing serious, but looking at her frown and the way she was afraid to use her left foot, it didn't look like anything was wrong.

Zhuang Qingsui picked up the potatoes and put them back into the bamboo basket: "Are you serious? Are you okay?"

"It's okay, it's okay..." The old woman limped and took two steps: "Look, it's fine, you guys just do your thing, my home is not far away in the alley, just a few steps away."

"Just hurry up and do your thing..."

"How about this." Zhuang Qingning said, "Since you said your home is not far away, I will help you carry the bamboo basket and take you back."

"This..." The old woman hesitated for a moment and said, "Okay, then I'll trouble you, little girl."

"You're welcome." Zhuang Qingning smiled and replied, and told Zhuang Qingsui: "You stay here and watch the stall for a while. I'll be back later. If you've sold all the tofu and I'm not back yet, wait for me for a while. If there's anything, go to Fushunlou to find Uncle Zhang or Brother Rong."

"Okay, don't worry, sister." Zhuang Qingsui nodded vigorously.

She couldn't help her sister in any other way, but she thought she was good at this kind of thing.

Zhuang Qingsui was very experienced in selling tofu. Her stall was just across from Fushun Building. It was broad daylight and people were coming and going on the street. She would go and come back soon, so there should be no problem with the tofu stall.

Zhuang Qingning said "hmm", picked up the bamboo basket, and supported the old woman: "I'll take you back."

"Good boy, thank you so much." The old woman smiled and was supported by Zhuang Qingning as she walked into the alley.

"My home is just ahead." The old woman walked tremblingly and pointed ahead: "Just walk through this alley, turn forward, turn inward, and turn another turn, and you will arrive..."

It turns out that there are so many turns to make the old woman's description of "not far" not as far as she thought.

But since we have decided to send someone back, why should we care whether the journey is far or not?

Just send the old lady home safely.

Zhuang Qingning was lost in thought, and just supported the old woman and walked slowly.

The alley ended, turned a corner, and walked a long way inside, getting farther and farther away from the bustling main street. The hawking and shouting at the street corner could no longer be heard.

The alleys gradually became deserted, and the majestic blue brick and tile houses gradually became some old houses that looked somewhat dilapidated.

So this is what the alley looks like.

I used to set up a stall in the town. After selling tofu, I usually bought some things and went home. I seldom came here. It turned out that this place was no different from an ordinary village. It didn't have the prosperity and bustle of the street.

After turning two more corners, Zhuang Qingning asked, "Old lady, are we there yet?"

"We're here, almost there. Just go forward and turn two more corners and you'll be there," the old woman replied.

Two more turns? Zhuang Qingning was stunned.

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Which alley did she come from just now? After all these twists and turns, if she turns twice more as she said, she will be at the end of the town. If that's the case, why not just walk directly on the street? The road on the street is smoother than here, and there is no need to go around so many houses and walk so much more.

"Hurry up, we're almost there..." the old woman urged, raising her hand and pointing: "It's right in front, not far away."

I seem to have heard the word "not far" many times.

This journey really can’t be described as not far, but should be described as far, but the old woman kept saying it was not far, as if...

It was as if it was constantly tempting her to move forward.

Could it be that...

Zhuang Qingning let go of the old woman's arm, put down the bamboo basket, and said, "Since it's not far, you can go home by yourself, old lady. I'm worried about my younger sister, so I'll leave first..."

"You want to leave now?" The old lady who had a kind face just now suddenly frowned, and her originally kind eyes were full of fierceness. She shouted, "I'm afraid it's too late!"

As soon as she finished speaking, the old woman suddenly straightened up, and her hands, which had originally looked trembling and weak, grabbed Zhuang Qingning's wrist like iron clamps.

It is true.

Zhuang Qingning's heart suddenly sank.

As I guessed just now, this man should be a kidnapper who abducted girls of marriageable age and sold them for money.

First, he pretended to be a poor old woman, often appearing in front of her to create a sense of familiarity and leave her with the impression that her home was not far away, so as to make her relax her guard and feel pity.

(End of this chapter)