Suddenly, a heavy rain started in the night, and the raindrops pattered against the window, waking Yang Cui.
The two guard dogs that Xiaohe and Xiaohu brought over were barking outside. Amidst the barking, Yang Cui seemed to hear someone calling "Mother," adding an eerie touch to the darkness.
But when the barking stopped, the voice calling for its mother became even clearer!
Judging from the voice, it sounds like a child's voice. In the middle of the night, whose child is calling for their mother at their own doorstep?
The Lin Fengtian family next door? But it doesn't seem like it.
Yang Cui was worried that it was a trick by the Lin family to lure her out, so she didn't rush to open the door but listened carefully to the sounds outside.
After a while, when she stopped hearing any sound, Yang Cui assumed the person had left and felt much relieved.
The next morning, when Yang Cui got up, she opened the door and saw a little boy, about five or six years old, sitting at her door. Yang Cui had inherited the original owner's memories, so she knew very well that they did not know each other.
"Sister, who is this? Why is he sitting here so early in the morning?" An Xiaohe got up and asked.
"I don't know either." After saying that, Yang Cui gently nudged the child. "Hey! Hey! Little devil."
But the child didn't react.
Yang Cui sensed something was wrong. The child was dressed in rags, was emaciated, and had many bruises on his body, clearly indicating that he had been abused. When she touched his forehead, it was frighteningly hot.
"He has a fever." Yang Cui picked him up and headed straight for Doctor Qi's house.
After examining the child, Doctor Qi immediately prepared the medicine and asked Yang Cui to decoct it, while he used acupressure to reduce the child's fever.
More than half an hour after the medicine was brewed, Yang Cui let it cool slightly before feeding it to the child.
The Chinese medicine tasted bitter, and fearing he wouldn't drink it, Yang Cui coaxed him gently, "Be a good boy and drink your medicine. If you drink it, I'll give you candy. It won't taste bitter if you eat candy."
The child, half-asleep, heard a gentle voice, tears streaming down his face, and murmured, "Mother, Mother."
That voice... could it be that he made that voice last night?
"Take your medicine, get well soon, and you'll be able to see your mother."
Er Ya and San Ya were already jealous seeing Yang Cui being so kind to a child from who-knows-where, and now this person was actually trying to steal their mother! So infuriating!!!
The little boy listened to Yang Cui's words and was not afraid of bitterness. He drank the bowl of medicine, which even an adult would have to hold their nose and swallow in one gulp, mouthful by mouthful.
"After taking the medicine, he will sleep for a while. If nothing unexpected happens, his fever will subside in about two incense sticks' time. However, he must finish the medicine I gave him. If there are any problems, bring him back," said Doctor Qi.
"Thank you, Doctor Qi. How much?"
Give me two hundred coins.
"I left in a hurry and didn't bring any money. I'll bring you some in a bit."
Qi Langzhong nodded, indicating that there was no problem.
Yang Cui took the child back to her home and put him on the bed to rest. She had originally planned to go to Anjia Village early this morning to tidy up the house, but seeing the situation, she had to postpone it. She couldn't leave the child alone at her home.
After Yang Cui's family had breakfast, around 8:30, the little boy woke up and found himself lying in bed.
A short while later, Yang Cui came in: "You're awake. Are you hungry? Get up and have breakfast."
The little boy was a bit confused. He stared blankly at Yang Cui, standing still without moving.
Yang Cui thought he was embarrassed, so she reached out and pulled him outside, washed his face and hands, and the child felt a lump in his throat as he felt her tenderness.
A bowl of porridge and an egg were left for him on the table.
"Eat up, I saved this for you."
The little boy swallowed hard: "Really...really for me?"
"Yes! This was saved for you."
The little boy immediately began to wolf down his food, which made Yang Cui feel sorry for him. How long had it been since he had eaten?
"Eat slowly, don't choke."
He finished the porridge in a few gulps, but refused the egg, saying, "I don't want this."
"Why don't you want it? Don't you like it?"
The little boy shook his head, and after a long pause, uttered a few words: "This is expensive."
Yang Cui felt a pang of sadness. How old was this child? Yet he was so sensible.
"This is specially saved for you by your aunt. I have plenty of eggs at home, so please eat it." Yang Cui peeled the egg for him and handed it to him personally.
"Waaah..." The little boy suddenly burst into tears.
Yang Cui was somewhat puzzled.
"Okay, stop crying. Tell Auntie, what's your name?"
"My name is Qiuqiu, and no one has ever given me eggs to eat, boohoo..." Qiuqiu cried as she spoke, "Auntie, can you help me find my uncle? Please help me, okay? My second aunt is going to sell me, and I finally managed to escape, please help me, okay?"
After saying that, Qiuqiu knelt down on the ground with a thud.
"What are you doing? Get up quickly." Yang Cui hurriedly helped Qiuqiu up.
"What's your uncle's name? Where does he live?"
"My uncle's name is Cen Daniu..."
Yang Cui finally learned about the child's background. His name was Yuan Qiu, he was seven years old, from Yuanjialing, and his parents had both died. He used to live with his grandmother, but she also died two years ago. For the past two years, he had been living with his uncle and aunt. He was usually abused by his second aunt, who gave him the least food and did the most work. Now, she even wanted to sell him.
He could only seek refuge with the uncle he mentioned, whose name was Cen Daniu and who was from Shengli Village. Knowing his name and address would make it easy to find him. Yang Cui agreed to help him find his uncle and let him stay at her home during this period.
After lunch, Yang Cui led them to clean up the house in Anjia Village, throwing away any unwanted items.
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