Don't overthink it!
Su Jianguo interrupted sharply.
"No one is allowed to tell anyone about this! Especially you, Yuzhen, that girl has a big mouth, you absolutely can't let her know!"
Wang Xiulan wiped away her tears.
"Then...then what do we do now..."
"Just do what you're supposed to do."
Su Jianguo stood up, his voice low.
"Just pretend nothing happened. Remember, no matter who asks, say we severed ties with Mingde a long time ago."
In the courtyard, a few withered leaves were swept up by the cold wind.
The second day of the Lunar New Year, which should have been a joyous occasion, was instead shrouded in gloom.
Su Jianguo looked at the gray sky, his heart heavy.
What even more foolish things will his good-for-nothing second son do?
...
at the same time.
On the other side.
A cold wind blew by.
Su Mingde hunched his shoulders and turned up the collar of his tattered cotton-padded coat, but it couldn't keep out the biting cold.
Six hours had passed since he escaped from prison; his hands and feet were numb with cold, and his stomach was growling with hunger.
On the streets in the early morning, an occasional early riser hurried by, each scanning their surroundings with wary eyes.
The announcement of martial law throughout the city had clearly spread to every corner.
Su Mingde hid behind an abandoned brick wall and rested for a while.
His eyes were bloodshot as he stared intently at the familiar tenement building not far away.
Liu Meijuan's home is here, the place that once haunted his dreams.
The thought of seeing her soon made Su Mingde's heart pound, and his chapped lips trembled involuntarily.
"Wait a little longer."
He said to himself.
"It'll be easier to sneak in once there are enough people."
Just then, the sound of orderly footsteps came from afar.
Su Mingde froze, then slowly peered over the shoulder.
A group of militiamen were patrolling the street.
"Hold!"
Su Mingde cursed under his breath and immediately shrank back.
His mind raced as he scanned his surroundings for a hiding place.
There was a manhole cover about 20 meters away, with some garbage piled up next to it, which barely blocked the view.
The footsteps of the militiamen grew closer, mingled with the sounds of their conversation.
"I heard those three are all hardened criminals. What bad luck, especially during the New Year. If I find them, I'll skin them alive..."
Su Mingde's blood instantly froze.
They're talking about him!
There was no time to hesitate. He crouched down and moved toward the manhole cover as fast as he could.
With each step, my frozen feet felt like they were stepping on needles.
Ten meters, five meters, three meters...
Just as he was about to arrive, a militiaman suddenly shouted.
"There's movement over there!"
Su Mingde's heart was about to leap out of his chest.
He lunged at the manhole cover, his fingers digging into the cold iron ring, and pulled with all his might.
The manhole cover remained completely still.
Fear overwhelmed him like a tidal wave, and he could already hear the footsteps of the militia running towards him.
Hurry up!
He roared inwardly and exerted his strength once more.
This time, the manhole cover emitted a harsh metallic scraping sound and slowly opened a crack.
Without thinking twice, Su Mingde slid in and barely managed to grab the edge of the manhole cover before landing, pulling it back into place.
Dark. Damp. Foul-smelling.
Although it was winter, the sewage system in Beijing did not freeze.
Su Mingde slumped into the knee-deep sewage, the biting cold almost making him cry out.
He bit his hand hard, forcing back the cry of pain.
The sound of militiamen's footsteps stopped near the manhole cover overhead.
"Strange, I clearly saw a figure."
"Could it be a stray cat?"
"Keep searching, don't overlook any suspicious items..."
Su Mingde held his breath; the sewage had soaked through his trousers and was icy cold.
A mouse scurried past his feet, squeaking.
After an unknown amount of time, the footsteps above finally faded into the distance.
He let out a long breath before taking in his surroundings.
The sewer was pitch black, with only a few gaps letting in a faint light.
The sewage emitted a nauseating stench, a mixture of feces and garbage.
Su Mingde's stomach spasmed, and he almost vomited.
"Hang in there."
He said to himself.
"We can go out when it gets dark."
Time seemed to slow down remarkably slowly in the sewers.
Su Mingde found a slightly dry spot on the pipe protrusion and sat down, curling his legs up in front of his chest.
The cold felt like countless tiny needles, piercing his very bones.
His teeth were chattering uncontrollably.
To distract himself, he began to recall what Liu Meijuan looked like.
The fine lines around her eyes when she smiles, the slight upward inflection at the end of her voice, and the wonderful life we shared living together...
"Meijuan!"
Su Mingde murmured.
"I know you'll want to come with me, you're all I have left!"
Nostalgia gave him a brief moment of warmth, but it was quickly replaced by coldness.
Su Mingde began to move his hands and feet constantly to prevent them from freezing.
The hunger grew stronger and stronger, and it felt like there was a fire burning in my stomach.
He recalled the cornbread he could barely swallow in prison, which was now a luxury.
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