Chapter 294: Brought Back Again

In the early morning, the clatter of pots, bowls and ladles rang through Hu Tong Li.

The neighbors greeted each other and always asked: "Is the food at your house enough? If not, we have some; you can take some first."

Or they'd say: "The market on Xidan has pork today; shall I bring some to your house? You can repay it later with a Meat Ticket."

A disaster made the people of Hu Tong Li realize the importance of unity, and also the impermanence of the world and the unpredictability of wind and rain, urging them to cherish those around them.

Early in the morning, Lu Feng and Lu Beitang got up, intending to set up a small shelter for their own house, since staying cramped in the Earthquake Shelter forever wasn't ideal, and judging by the situation these past days, there should be no aftershocks.

But for safety, they still couldn't sleep inside the house; having a small shelter at home would make living a bit more convenient.

Lu Ying finished washing up, walked into the Earthquake Shelter and said, "Mom, make more porridge and also boil an egg."

At the start of spring, Chen Xianglan got three chicks from the hatchery; under careful feeding they have grown into big hens that can now start laying eggs.

Whenever she sees two or three eggs in the Chicken Coop, Chen Xianglan becomes extremely delighted.

"Alright, I've seen you haven't been eating properly these past two days; you must be hungry, right? Mom will soon give you a fried egg." Chen Xianglan hurried to fetch an egg.

"Ah, these few hens are finally well raised; it's not in vain that I tend to them daily. Now they repay me. Later I'll have your big brother take some back for Qing'er to eat…"

Lu Ying stepped forward and said, "Mom, I want to go to the Welfare Institute, not to eat for myself."

Chen Xianglan paused and asked, "Go to the Welfare Institute? What for?"

These past two days, Lu Ying kept recalling that little girl who lost her home; she was so pitiful.

She told her mother about the girl's situation, and after Chen Xianglan heard it, her heart instantly ached terribly.

"The whole family… all died?"

"Yes. If the girl's mother hadn't shielded her at that moment, she probably wouldn't have survived. So it's a very pitiful child. I thought I'd go to the Welfare Institute to see her, to counsel her, because a child that young can easily develop psychological trauma otherwise."

Chen Xianglan sighed, nodded and said, "Alright, go take a look. The Welfare Institute has so many children that they surely can't look after everyone. I'll boil another egg; you can bring it with you later."

Half an hour later, after greeting her big brother, Lu Ying hopped on her bicycle and headed to the Welfare Institute.

Just an hour later, she returned.

She came back carrying that little girl, and Chen Xianglan was surprised when she saw them.

"Ying Ying, who is this?" Chen Xianglan stepped forward, looking at the grimy little girl.

"Mom, this is the child I told you about."

"Ah, you're so cute, just your face is too dirty, all covered in dust. How can the Welfare Institute not take care of this? Come down quickly, Grandma will wash you…"

Chen Xianglan reached out to lift the girl from the bicycle seat, but as soon as she set foot on the ground, the child, frightened, darted straight under the bed in the Earthquake Shelter.

"Hey, where did the child go? How did she crawl under the bed? It's so dirty down there."

Chen Xianglan was momentarily stunned; Lu Ying sighed and explained, "It's not that the Welfare Institute neglects her. That's how it is there; the child crawls under the bed and won't come out, no matter how you coax, as if she hasn't eaten all day.

When I went there, the Welfare Institute couldn't help either, so I thought I'd bring her home first and coax her to eat a bit."

Chen Xianglan spread her hands and said, "Oh dear, what should we do? It's surely because everyone at home is gone; she's scared."

After all, the child is so young and saw her mother die right before her eyes, so it's inevitable she's traumatized.

Chen Xianglan could only patiently coax, crouching at the foot of the bed and whispering, "Come, let Grandma hold you, come out, don't be afraid, Grandma's not a bad person… Are you hungry? Grandma will make you something tasty, okay? Come on, out now…"

While speaking, Chen Xianglan reached out, but the little girl stayed tightly curled in the deepest corner, refusing to come out no matter how she was coaxed.

"Little friend, what's your name? How old are you this year? Come out, okay? The space under the bed is dark and dirty… Come on, quickly, Grandma has fun things here… We have many other kids, Da Hu, Da Hu…"

Seeing that calling didn't work, Chen Xianglan simply summoned Da Hu, thinking children talk better with each other.

Da Hu was running around Hu Tong with other kids, and when he learned a new companion had arrived, he gathered the others and they all ran over.

"Come out, you, quickly, we'll take you to play…"

Da Hu lay on the ground shouting, and seeing the girl still wouldn't emerge, he also squeezed inside, ready to forcefully pull her out.

His bottom managed to get in, but a pair of feet stuck out; Chen Xianglan suddenly heard the little girl wailing.

"Da Hu, don't yank her hard…"

"Ah!"

"What's wrong, Da Hu, what's this?"

Da Hu quickly used both hands and feet to pull out, huffing, "She must be a dog, biting my hand."

"Ah, did it break the skin? Let me see." Chen Xianglan hurried to look.

Da Hu nonchalantly said, "It's fine, I punched her."

Chen Xianglan was both amused and exasperated, but seeing the girl still not coming out, her heart raced with anxiety.

"Ying Ying, what should we do? Hiding under the bed forever isn't a solution; she needs to eat something, otherwise she'll starve to death."

Lu Ying tried shouting a few times, but it had no effect.

Children are usually most afraid of darkness, yet this little girl stayed hidden; perhaps she thinks she can see her mother in the dark.

After all, before being pulled out, she was also hiding in the darkness like this.

Hearing the commotion, Lu Beitang and Lu Feng dropped what they were doing and came over.

"What's going on?"

Chen Xianglan explained the girl's situation, and Lu Beitang frowned, "Since we took her in for a few days, we must take good care of her; she can't keep hiding under the bed. Fengzi, let's set up the bed frame together."

Chen Xianglan said anxiously, "Will it work? Don't scare the child."

Lu Beitang was unperturbed, "Everyone in her family is gone; what could be scarier? Besides, how can you coax her out? You can't let her sleep under the bed at night, can you?"

Chen Xianglan thought that made sense; after the two set up the wooden bed frame, she was about to fetch something when the little girl, still frightened, sprang up and tried to run away.

"Quick, catch her."

Fortunately, Lu Ying's eyes were sharp and her hands quick; she grabbed the girl in one go, and the little girl immediately began wailing loudly.

"Don't cry, don't cry, don't be afraid…" Lu Ying cradled the girl in her arms, soothing her softly.

Lu Beitang shook his head, "Ah, let her cry. She'll get tired of it and be fine; otherwise, holding it in isn't good either."

The girl was too dirty, so Chen Xianglan went to tend the coal stove, "I'll heat some water to wash her, but we don't have any children's clothes to change into."

Lu Beitang set the bed down, brushed the dust off his body, and said, "I'll go to someone's house and see if I can borrow a set."

At that moment Da Hu suddenly raised his hand: "Grandpa Lu, don't go borrowing; let her wear mine first."

This child is about the same age as Da Hu, the clothes will definitely fit; they're just boys' clothes, but nowadays there aren't that many strict rules.

It was only that Da Hu voluntarily offered to lend his clothes that surprised Chen Xianglan a bit.

"Da Hu, she was just biting you earlier; you really are giving her your clothes to wear."

Da Hu patted his chest, unbothered: "It's fine; she has no family, I have no father either, I can understand her. Besides, I'm a man, I wouldn't get angry with a little girl."

Lu Beitang smiled and patted Da Hu's head: "You're quite sensible. Then go get the clothes, and remember to tell your mother."