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  “Let’s go! It’s getting late; we must return for dinner!”


  “Yes.”


  He could not help being wistful that the slow-ticking time would pass faster. He wanted tomorrow to come earlier so he could contact his men and hurry home!

  If only he had wings, then he could fly back to his mother’s side!

  As his mind was adrift, both reached the Zhao’s home.

  The boy took a peek at the dinner already prepared on the table. It was a simple meal, though definitely fresh from the farm, with the vegetables and grains a hundred-percent home-grown.

  There were days when he was envious of such a peaceful and simple life.

  He turned pensive again. He started to eat after thanking his hosts, astonishing them with his elegant table manners.

  Li Ru could not help praising him. “A-Jun, look at him; children from the city are indeed different! His table manners are graceful and polite, just like a true gentleman!”


  With that, she turned to her two kids and lectured them. “You two must learn from him!”


  Lingling stuck her tongue out defiantly and buried her face with food.

  After dinner, Youyou put down the utensils and expressed his gratitude again. “Thank you, uncle and auntie, for such a delicious meal! I’ll keep your kindness in mind when I return home.”


  “Ay, boy, you are too polite!”


  His words delighted the woman and her face beamed.

  The boy meant his words from the bottom of his heart, though.

  His mother had taught him the importance of gratitude since he was much younger. When he returned home, safe and sound, he would find a way to repay their kindness!

  In the darkness of the night.

  There were only a few small rooms in the Zhao family’s house, and usually, Doudou and Lingling shared a bed. With his arrival, the three had to bear with cramped bed for the time being.

  Youyou had a hard time falling asleep on the hard bed, which he found uncomfortable. After tossing and turning, he only managed to doze off around midnight.

  Just as he was half-asleep at this time, he heard a commotion outside the door suddenly.

  He was jolted by the noise and saw Li Ru dashing into the room with a scattered look. Without a second’s delay, she carried a child in each arm, woke her daughter from sleep, and whispered, “Lingling, wake up and follow ah ma!”


  The little girl looked at her groggily but managed to follow her unconsciously behind her.

  With Youyou and Doudou in each of her arms, and her daughter in tow, she hurried up the mountain.

  “Ah ma, what happened?”


  The girl ran after her mother, out of breath and looking puzzled as she rubbed her eyes hazily.

  “Shh! Don’t talk!” The woman looked frantic.

  Earlier, she heard the gate being kicked open at midnight without warning.

  She immediately jumped out of bed and dashed to the door with Zhao Xiangjun. A few men in black attires had walked in.

  The first question they spoke was: “Where’s the kid?!”


  “Kid?!”


  She was lost. “What kid? Who are you?”


  “Don’t act stupid! Bring out the child whom you saved this morning!”


  They had followed the trail to this place, and upon entering the village, they were told that this family had saved a child, about seven or eight years old, covered in blood from the mountain today. They were certain that this child was the one they were looking for!

  The man quickly realized their ill intentions and instructed his wife to escape with the children from the back door. He would try to stall them in the meantime.

  Panicking, the woman hurriedly followed what he had told her to do.