Chapter 2 Roasted Sweet Potatoes
The sun was chased by the sunset and gradually set on the top of the mountain. The last rays of light shone on people, bringing warmth and comfort to the tired body.
Qin Zhilin did not feel relieved at all. He held his wife tightly, and his two half-grown sons followed closely behind, each carrying a package on his back.
After they lost their little daughter Qingqing three days ago, his wife's mental state became worse and worse.
With the two naughty monkeys brought along, Qingqing's arrival made the whole family very happy. Their daughter had been sensible and obedient since she was young. Even when they were fleeing from famine and following the adults through meals, she never made a fuss.
The cat-like little girl always ate a tiny handful of food each time, saying she was not hungry and leaving the food for the adults. Her frail body could not withstand the occasional cold. When he thought of it, he felt a dull pain in his heart and his eyes became hot. How could his wife, who had loved their daughter since childhood, accept this?
"Grandpa, Lihua, stop and rest for a while." The old woman behind her called out loudly.
Upon hearing this, Qin Zhilin asked his wife to sit on a smooth stone nearby. The two children put down their bags and ran to him in a hurry. Their hair was wet with sweat and their faces were flushed, but they could not hide the longing in their eyes.
"Dad..." The eldest brother was braver after all. Although he didn't say some words out loud, Qin Zhilin understood what he meant.
"Go ahead and see if there's anything edible nearby." He used to be too proud to do anything like digging for food from Guanyin soil. However, as the road became longer, he kept breaking his own bottom line.
"Don't run too far..." He hesitated to speak. Two days ago, the Shi family's grandson went out to pick wild vegetables and never came back. The old lady of the Shi family cried her heart out, but the child didn't remember the way, so if he got lost, he was lost.
The wife was still in a daze, silent.
The Qin family's mother came up behind Qin Zhilin and twisted his arm. He met her eyes, took two steps back and asked, "What's wrong, Mom?"
"Are you still sad?"
"Lihua is upset and can't let go of Qingqing." If he hadn't buried his daughter while his wife was sleeping, she would have stink.
As a result, my wife hasn't slept a wink for a whole day and night.
"You're just a little girl, yet you're stuck in such a dead end." The old woman with flowery hair was in high spirits. Although she was on the road to escape famine, she had three sons with her, so she was much better off than others, and her scolding was powerful and forceful.
"It has always been the case that people die while fleeing famine. Fortunately, your mother and I are lucky. Not only did we go with your dead father early, but now we have enough to eat and no one in the family will go hungry. But I didn't know that your child has such a miserable life..." The old woman kept complaining.
Qin Zhilin was speechless and could only blame himself for not being careful enough.
After listening to all the complaints from my mother, it was nothing more than that the Qin family's roots were still there, and taking care of the two brothers Goudan was the serious matter, and they could have children later.
But look at his wife, how can he say this?
“Dad!!!! Dad!!!” The eldest brother is just fourteen years old this year. He is a teenager and can help them with many things. He has a calm personality like him, but at this moment he is running towards them with a panic-stricken look on his face.
"Dad! There's a little sister here!!!"
Countless people who were startled sat down slowly again. These days, picking up a chicken, duck, or cow's egg is exciting, but if you say you picked up a child, wouldn't that be asking for trouble?
Qin Zhilin didn't bother to talk to his mother and ran towards Goudan. His legs were a little stiff as he hadn't run for a long time, but Lihua had already rushed over before him. He had to go over and take a look, and nothing could happen.
After crossing the slope, two children stood helplessly in the shade. The eldest child was holding a few gray vegetables in his hand. His wife Lihua was holding a girl tightly in her arms. Judging from her size, she was about the same age as his daughter.
"Lihua..." he spoke hesitantly.
Zhu Lihua raised her eyes with tear-stained face and looked at him. She hugged the little girl in her arms, touched her skinny little hand, held her forehead and kissed her again and again, ecstatic. "Zhilin, you're back. Nannan is back."
Seeing the light in his wife's eyes, he didn't know how to respond.
After all, their beloved daughter had passed away long ago. Looking at the skinny and frail appearance of this child, she must have been abandoned here by her cruel mother.
If they don't care, the child might not survive.
Forget it, since the eldest brother found her, it was fate. Moreover, seeing his wife's nervous look, abandoning the child would undoubtedly be rubbing salt into her wounds. Zhu Lihua would never do such a cruel thing.
His two sons stared at him with puzzled eyes. After what seemed like an eternity, he finally heard his own voice, "Hold our daughter, let's go home."
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