Volume One, Chapter Nine: She Would Never Abandon Either

In the bitter cold of the snowy night, the chill was already unbearable, but walking on the road in the dead of night made the cold indescribable.

After walking through the whole night,

just as dawn broke, frost had formed on every strand of Liu Qiaohui’s hair and even her eyebrows. Her whole body was numb from the cold. Yet, nestled in her arms, Ye Ling felt no chill at all; on the contrary, she was warm and cozy, so much so that she had fallen asleep throughout the journey, unable to control it.

“Phew! Sister, sister… we’ve arrived! We’re here!”

Liu Qiaohui opened her eyes and took in the unfamiliar surroundings.

“You’ve never been here before, right?”

“Hmm.”

The farthest Liu Qiaohui had ever traveled was probably to a neighboring village. Her husband had once promised to take her to the county town, but who would have thought she would never have that chance.

“Let’s find something to eat first. I’ll find a place to light a fire. It should be some time before the county office opens. Let’s rest a bit and feed the child.”

“Okay.”

Her husband had always been Liu Qiaohui’s pillar of strength.

Although Xu Gouzi was not her husband, every word he spoke resonated deeply with her.

Xu Gouzi chose a dilapidated house with some walls that could shield them from the wind. It was also close to the county government office. He gathered some firewood and started a fire. Both remained silent as they warmed their hard rations.

The dry food crackled and hissed, sending up wisps of steam that melted the frost.

“Sister, there’s something I probably shouldn’t say, but you need to be prepared mentally for it.”

Liu Qiaohui looked up, puzzled.

“What is it?”

Xu Gouzi tossed a piece of wood into the fire.

“The village head has three sons, right?”

“Yes.”

“I heard that the eldest son has a sworn brother working at the county government. You need to be ready for that.”

Liu Qiaohui knew how difficult it was to petition the county head.

But now, there was yet another obstacle.

Xu Gouzi threw another log onto the fire, the flames flaring up.

“Sister, I might not say things you want to hear, but please listen carefully and think it through.”

“Alright, Brother Xu, I know you mean well. You and sister-in-law are good people.”

Xu Gouzi didn’t claim to be a saint, but he couldn’t bear to see others suffer.

“Honestly, I think you don’t need to go to such lengths for a child who isn’t even related to you. If you’re worried about the child suffering, I can find someone to take her in somewhere remote. No one would know her story.”

Liu Qiaohui understood.

Maybe Xu Gouzi’s suggestion was the best option for now.

But… she couldn’t bear it.

She didn’t know why, but this child gave her an unshakable conviction.

She couldn’t abandon her.

She wouldn’t.

“I know, Brother Xu. I know you mean well, but I just want to raise this child well.”

With that, Xu Gouzi said no more.

They ate some hard biscuits, and Liu Qiaohui fed Ye Ling a bottle of milk. The three waited silently for the county government to open.

At eight o’clock sharp, Xu Gouzi led Liu Qiaohui to stand before the county government gates.

An old man who looked like a gatekeeper came out, calling at them several times.

“Hey, hey! Who are you? What unit are you from? What are you doing here?”

Xu Gouzi, being tactful, said nothing at first but rolled a cigarette for the old man. “Sir, this is my sister. We have some business and hope to see the county head. Could you please help us?”

Before the cigarette reached the old man’s hand, he was surprised. “What? See the county head? No, you think anyone can just see the county head whenever they want?”

“Yes, yes! We’re just asking for a little help!”

He pushed the cigarette away. “Young one, you really overestimate me. I have no such power. If this is what you came for, just go. The county head isn’t someone anyone can meet at will.”

“Sir, could you please think of a way?”

“I really can’t!”

Liu Qiaohui, clutching Ye Ling, stood silently, but she heard every word clearly. Panic welled up inside her. Without thinking, she dropped to her knees before the old man.

This startled him.

“What are you doing? Get up! You’re making me lose my job! Get up… get up!”

“Sir, please let me see the county head. I’m truly at my wit’s end!”

“Get up first, get up!”

After half an hour, Xu Gouzi finally explained everything to the old man, word by word.

The old man understood but, after all, he was just a gatekeeper. Nothing was within his authority.

In these times, having a job—even as a gatekeeper at a government office—was a blessing. He wouldn’t risk losing it over this.

“Sir, is there really no way?”

“Young one, like I said, you really think highly of me, but I have no way.”

“Not even a little?”

Xu Gouzi was reluctant to leave empty-handed after coming all this way.

The old man shook his head but then suddenly noticed some letters on the gatehouse desk. Slapping his thigh, he hurriedly said, “Wait! I just remembered something!”

“What is it?”

Though Xu Gouzi spoke, all eyes were fixed on the old man.

“If you have something to say, you can write a letter. Listen, I can’t promise anything else, but I guarantee your letter will reach the county head’s desk. When the county head reads it, or whether he will help, I can’t say. If you want, write it now. I have everything you need here!”

The old man pulled out a pen and placed it before Liu Qiaohui.

But she… she couldn’t write!

Xu Gouzi could write a bit, but would the county head be able to read his handwriting?

“What? You can’t write?”

“Mm,” Liu Qiaohui blushed.

“Forget it, forget it. I’ll help you write it. If you’re helping someone, you must help wholeheartedly. I’ll write the letter for you!”

Grateful beyond words.

Even Xu Gouzi kept rolling cigarettes for the old man.

An hour later, after countless drafts and revisions, the letter was finally completed and approved by both Liu Qiaohui and Xu Gouzi. The old man sealed it in an envelope and told them to wait right there while he placed the letter on the county head’s desk.

Everything went smoothly. The letter was placed carefully on the most prominent spot on the desk.

The old man was confident that the county head would see the letter as soon as he entered his office.