Every shout outside the door was like a knife, cutting Zhang Xiaomei's fragile nerves.
Xu Mengyao immediately locked the door to block out the heart-pounding screams. She turned around and hugged the trembling Xiaomei, saying softly, "Don't be afraid. He won't find this place."
After the person in her arms gradually calmed down, Xu Mengyao signaled her to rest and quietly went out to arrange the next matters. She knew that time was running out and she had to get Zhang Xiaomei out of this troubled place as soon as possible.
As night falls, the warm yellow lights in the family compound light up one by one, and each household is immersed in warmth, with only the occasional barking of dogs and the sound of adults scolding their children.
Xu Mengyao stood by the window, gazing at the night sky, thinking silently in her heart. At this moment, there was a slight knock on the door. She opened the door and saw Hu Zi and Shao Zi standing outside with nervous expressions.
"Sister, when are we leaving?" Hu Zi asked in a low voice, with a hint of anxiety in his eyes.
She looked at the wall clock, thought for a moment, and then said, "We need to avoid people working the night and morning shifts. Now is not the time yet. You can rest on the sofa for a while. I'll call you when it's time."
Time ticked by, the lights in the family compound gradually dimmed, and the entire neighborhood fell into a deep sleep. Finally, at two in the morning, Xu Mengyao gently woke Hu Zi and Shao Zi. The four of them tiptoed out of the house, trying not to make any noise.
Whistle walked to the outside of the gate first and observed the situation around him vigilantly. After confirming that everything was correct, he waved the flashlight in the direction of the few people as a signal to set off.
Xu Mengyao, Zhang Xiaomei, and Hu Zi, upon receiving the signal, hurried forward to reunite with Shao Zi. Hu Zi mounted his bicycle, Zhang Xiaomei hugged him tightly from the back seat, and Shao Zi rode Xu Mengyao. The four of them rode towards the city under cover of darkness.
The night was dark and starlit, and the four of them were speeding along the silent road. The wind whistled past their ears.
The whistle sang first
"He said this little pain in the wind and rain is nothing
Wipe away your tears and don't be afraid
At least we still have dreams."
"He said this little pain in the wind and rain is nothing
Wipe away your tears and don't ask
Why"
Hu Zi sang along, and the song took away his fatigue and sleepiness, leaving only hope and determination for the future. After several hours of riding, the sky gradually turned pale, and at around five o'clock, they finally arrived in the city.
The four of them stopped at a steaming breakfast stall. They ordered a few steamed buns and bowls of hot soup, devouring them with hearty mouthfuls, relieving their fatigue and hunger from the night before. Before leaving, they packed a few portions for Grandma Qi and the others, saving them the trouble of preparing breakfast.
When they arrived at the Qi family's house, only Grandma Qi was awake in the yard. Seeing them return, she asked in surprise, "Why are you here so early?"
Xu Mengyao smiled as she handed over breakfast, then pulled Zhang Xiaomei into her room and told her to catch up on some sleep. After settling her down, she told Grandma Qi everything that had happened the previous night.
After hearing this, Grandma Qi sighed and said with emotion: "How can there be parents like this in the world? It's really a sin! Let the child live here in peace. I will take good care of her."
Huzi and Shaozi were so sleepy they could barely keep their eyes open. They'd ridden all night and had just finished their meal, so sleep was setting in. Seeing this, Grandma Qi hurried inside to wake Guizi and Badan, who were sound asleep, and told them to make room for Huzi and Shaozi to rest. The two, bewildered, didn't understand why, but they still obeyed and ate their earliest breakfast, then went out to set up their first stall.
When Xu Mengyao woke up from her nap, the sun was shining brightly outside, and she could hear hushed voices in the yard. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and walked out the door. She saw Zhang Xiaomei hunched over in the yard, busy with Grandma Qi, the washboard making a rhythmic sound. Her movements were gentle yet eager, as if she were expressing both gratitude and uneasiness.
"Are you awake?" Grandma Qi looked up and saw Xu Mengyao, and said with a smile, "Xiaomei is a very sensible child. She didn't even rest for long, and she spent the whole morning washing the sheets with me. If I hadn't stopped her, I think she would have even taken off the quilt cover."
Xu Mengyao walked up to her and patted her shoulder gently: "Xiaomei, take it easy. Your injuries haven't healed yet. When you get better, I won't stop you from doing as much work as you want."
Zhang Xiaomei paused her movements when she heard that, then revealed a sincere smile. It was the first smile from her heart in the past few days, as if she had let go of all her defenses and burdens.
"Thank you, Wenjuan. I just want to do more so that I can feel at ease." Zhang Xiaomei said softly.
Grandma Qi shook her head helplessly and pulled Xu Mengyao aside, saying, "Look at this child, she's so sensible that it makes you feel distressed. But in my family, there are only these trivial matters every day, and she takes care of them all, leaving me as a idler."
Xu Mengyao pondered this. She understood Zhang Xiaomei's feelings and knew that directly stopping her from working would only make her more uneasy. So, she decided to take another approach.
"Xiaomei, I have an idea." Xu Mengyao looked at Zhang Xiaomei seriously. "I know you feel bad living here and want to help out. But there's really limited work around the house. Why don't you go out and set up a stall with Brother Gui and the others? I'll pay you a daily wage, so you can help out and still have some income of your own."
Zhang Xiaomei quickly shook her head when she heard this: "How can I ask for your salary? You've helped me so much, I'm already very grateful."
"Silly boy, I have to pay anyone who helps me." Xu Mengyao explained with a smile.
"I'm willing to help you. But you can't deny your own value because of this. You go out to set up a stall and earn money through your own labor. Besides, you can live a better life if you have money. The most important thing for you now is to take good care of your health and study hard. My eldest sister said that you have good grades, so you must not give up. Studying is the fastest way to change your destiny."
Zhang Xiaomei's eyes reddened at Xu Mengyao's words. She nodded vigorously, held Xu Mengyao's hand tightly, and choked up, saying, "Thank you. I will definitely work hard and will not give up studying."
From then on, Zhang Xiaomei settled down in Grandma Qi's house. Every morning, she and Gui Ge and the others would go out to set up their stalls, and when they returned in the evening, they would always bring some fresh fruits, vegetables, or snacks.
She bought it with her own money and wanted to give back to the big family that helped her and gave her warmth and hope.
Although everyone always advised her not to spend so much money, Zhang Xiaomei always smiled and shook her head, insisting on expressing her gratitude in her own way.