Chapter 138

Meng Jingmo didn't want to go back.

He wasn't a child who remembered the eating but forgot the beating.

"Not going back. That's not our home anymore!" The child didn't know how he said this sentence; he only knew that when he said it, his throat felt torn and painful.

"Xiaobai, Mom values Grandma and Uncle more than us; she can't protect us. If we stay in that home, we'll be beaten to death sooner or later; we can't go back."

He could endure hardship himself and wasn't afraid of being beaten, but he was afraid of his uncle and Yuan Jin Bao beating his younger brother; he was afraid he couldn't protect Xiaobai.

Meng Xiaobai didn't want his brother to be beaten and said in a childish voice: "Then we won't go back; I'll be with brother, and I'm not afraid of anything."

A child over four years old liked to rely on his brother the most.

Meng Jingmo hugged his brother, the little man with thorns becoming soft, "Brother isn't afraid either."

He had promised his father he would definitely protect his brother well.

Yuan Qin returned to the family quarters, but no one paid attention to her; everyone knew the two Meng children had been forced away by the Yuan family, and the looks they gave her were full of contempt.

—That was the look one gave a mentally disabled person.

Yuan Qin wasn't a block of wood and could naturally feel it; she didn't know where to put her hands and feet, buried her head in embarrassment, and quickly went upstairs to go home.

"It's pitiful for the two children of Dr. Meng's family."

"Who says it isn't? I saw Jingmo's face full of injuries this morning. Yuan Qin doesn't know how to be a mother, letting her own son be trampled by her maiden family; she, on the other hand, still cooks and washes clothes for that family. Has she lost her mind!"

"If you ask me, it's better that Jingmo and Xiaobai don't come back; who knows how they'd be bullied if they returned to that home."

Another person held the opposite attitude, "How can they not come back? They aren't even twenty years old combined; they have no jobs, no money, and no grain. What will they eat outside? What will they drink? It's fine when it's hot, but what will they do when it gets cold? Just suffer from the cold? Besides, that's the Meng family; why should outsiders benefit?"

She was someone who hated evil and wanted to send a report letter, though she didn't know if it would be useful or not.

Yuan Qin was unaware of the neighbors' discussion; she returned home, and just as she pushed open the door, Wang Wang Pozi Yuan's sinister voice sounded, "Where are those two little beasts?"

Not seeing the Meng brothers behind Yuan Qin, she curled her lips unkindly, like the wicked witch in a fairy tale, "Know they caused trouble and don't dare to come back?"

"I'm telling you, Yuan Qin, if they don't kneel down and apologize, this matter won't pass!"

Daring to overturn the table at such a young age, they really have guts; do they really think it's still the same as before!

Yuan Qin frowned and explained for her son, "Mom, it was Jin Bao who went too far this morning; how could he throw the steamed bun on the ground and order Jingmo and Guangbai to pick it up and eat it..."

"Enough!" Wang Wang Pozi Yuan was too lazy to listen and scolded angrily: "Jin Bao is your own nephew; he was beaten by your family's little rabbits last night, why didn't I see you feeling sorry? Are you still a member of the Yuan family?! If you don't want to be my daughter, let's go to the newspaper office and sever the mother-daughter bond with a statement!"

She had always known how to manipulate this daughter.

Old Man Yuan was silent, his eyes full of disappointment as he looked at Yuan Qin, as if she had said something rebellious.

Yuan Qin's face turned pale, "Mom, I don't want to! Dad, you persuade Mom; I don't want to sever ties with you."

Her maiden family was her home; she couldn't sever ties.

A flash of triumph crossed Wang Wang Pozi Yuan's eyes, and her expression softened slightly.

"You are my daughter, and I can't bear to either. If you are obedient, we will always be a loving family." She paused, and while Yuan Qin was moved beyond words, she continued: "Jin Bao is the only seedling of the Yuan family, and you are his aunt; you must pay attention to him. If your nephew is raised well, he can also support you and provide for your old age."

Her gaze flickered, and a sharp light flashed in her murky eyes as she coaxed: "Those two little rabbits of yours have been spoiled by that father of theirs; haven't you noticed they don't put you in their eyes? They aren't close to you! What else can you count on them for?

Don't think Mom is mean to them; isn't Mom doing this for you? If it weren't for you, why would I bear this bad reputation?"

Yuan Qin was soft-hearted; as soon as she heard her mother speak softly, her brain ran away from home, "I know, Mom, I've made you worry."

"But Jingmo and Guangbai are my children; it hurts my heart to see them suffer. Teaching is one thing, but can you not beat them? The children are still young."

Wang Wang Pozi Yuan was displeased and perfunctory in her speech: "If they weren't disrespectful to me, why would I beat them."

After speaking, she even got angry and glared at her fiercely, "It's all because you and that stinking old intellectual Meng Jiusi spoiled them!"

Because of her husband's incident, Yuan Qin was worried and fearful; the matter hadn't passed long ago, and she was still trembling, lowering her head without daring to make a sound.

She was someone without the ability to judge; she couldn't even judge right from wrong. When others scolded her husband, she didn't even have the consciousness to refute, only blindly feeling she couldn't hold her head up.

Wang Wang Pozi Yuan ignored Yuan Qin and gritted her teeth when she thought of Meng Jingmo who had overturned the table.

Let the little rabbits go hungry for a few meals; once they are hungry and have no strength, let's see them be arrogant again!

Having decided to loosen the bones of the Meng brothers, the old woman didn't intend to let Yuan Qin go find them, thinking to let them wander for a few more days and suffer some hardship.

That way they'll be obedient!

Yuan Qin didn't know this for the time being; when she proposed to find the two children after dinner that night, Wang Wang Pozi Yuan sank her face and stopped her from going out with dissatisfied words.

She didn't withstand the pressure exerted by her old mother, the cold violence of her father, and the yin-yang sarcasm of her brother and sister-in-law, eventually giving up on searching for the children, which made Meng Jingmo completely cold toward her, causing her to lose the last chance to win back her sons, and she never saw her two sons again for many years.

She tossed and turned in tears, unable to sleep, but in the end, she didn't dare to go against the will of her maiden family.

That night.

Meng Jingmo looked at the starry night sky, expressionlessly slapped a mosquito that had sucked its fill of blood, his expression ugly.

That person didn't look for him and Xiaobai.

Didn't even ask a single word.

He had guessed it, but there was still a lingering thread of expectation in his heart.

Didn't expect...

She still disappointed him.

Meng Guangbai felt uneasy, "Brother?"

His brother came back to his senses, dispelling the coldness in his eyes, touched his brother's head, and said firmly, "Brother, brother will definitely take you to find Dad!"

As the words left his mouth, what Yunjian had said popped into his head, and he began to think of countermeasures.

If he didn't go home, he had to support his brother.

He had a lot of money in his hands, enough for him and his brother to eat.

But.

Dad said money moves people's hearts.

A child holding gold is a very dangerous thing.

He couldn't spend money openly.

After his grandfather's incident, someone used candy to lure him, wanting to trick him out of the Meng family's ancestral silver needles and prescriptions; that person thought he was young and easy to trick, but unfortunately, he wasn't easy to trick, and that person returned empty-handed several times.

Meng Jingmo didn't think that person would let him go easily; he had to be careful.

Also, he didn't have coupons and had to find someone to exchange them, and he had to find someone he trusted.

Thinking of a child he had saved before, whose brother was in the black market, he could find him to exchange...

In a short time, he thought of a lot.

Meng Guangbai said: "Brother, can we really find Dad?"

"Yes, brother will inquire, don't worry." Meng Jingmo hugged his brother, holding a prickly wooden chip in his hand to fan away the buzzing mosquitoes, his tone solemn and serious, "Don't be afraid, I will definitely find a way."

"Go to sleep, there's still work tomorrow."

Starting tomorrow, he had to find a way to support himself and his brother.

The little boy's expression was solemn.

Meng Guangbai nodded his head, his eyes shining brightly in the dark night, "I'll think of a way with brother."

His brother smiled, "Good, let's think together, go to sleep, do you want a story?"

Meng Guangbai was full of joy, "Can I?"

It was pitch black all around, and there was the miserable sound of cats meowing; he was a little scared.

"Yes." Meng Jingmo began to tell his brother a story, one his father had told him.

Accompanied by his brother's voice, Xiaobai wasn't as scared anymore, and before long, he was fast asleep.

His brother's embrace was Xiaobai's safest and warmest harbor.

The next morning, the little brothers saw the red mosquito bites on each other's faces and burst into laughter, their laughter crisp and carrying far, full of happiness, as if they had returned to the past.

Meng Jingmo looked at his brother's smiling face and realized that his brother hadn't laughed for a long time since Dad left.

His brother, who used to be like a little sun, had become this timid appearance.

The Yuan family really deserves to die!

On the other side.

Time returns to the day before.

At three in the afternoon, Song Yunjin sent Lin Zhao to the ox cart on time.

"Grandpa, what time are we leaving?"

The old man with white hair and a white beard, missing a few teeth, looked at him and said: "Four o'clock."

"So late!" Song Yunjin blurted out.

In that case, his sister would have to wait for nearly an hour.

The old man said: "It's not late; my precious ox rarely comes out once, so it must earn enough to cover the cost, otherwise it's a loss."

Seeing that Song Yunjin, a respectable city dweller, was still polite, he said a few more words, "People from the brigade haven't come to the city for a long time, so they have to buy enough of what's missing at home all at once and have to run to several places; it's only right to wait a while longer."

Song Yunjin expressed understanding, "Is that so? Then it is worth waiting a while longer."

Seeing someone selling ice cream nearby, he ran over and bought three.

He gave one to Lin Zhao first.

"Sister, eat an ice cream to cool off."

Lin Zhao took it and started eating; it was creamy, slightly sweet, and very cold.

Song Yunjin gave one to the old man too, his face beaming with a smile, "Grandpa, you cool off too. My sister and I are going to the recycling station; we will try our best to come back on time, but if we are late, please wait a little, okay?"

"Done!" The old man agreed immediately.

Even if he didn't give him a popsicle, he would wait as long as he said he would, not to mention that this young man was so polite.

"Thank you."

Didn't expect that at his age he would get to eat a popsicle! It's a pity it can't be stored; if it could be stored, he would take it home to his little grandson, who would be so happy.

The old man felt reluctant, and it showed on his face.

He tentatively licked it, hissed from the cold, and smiled awkwardly, "Really cool!"

"That's why it's so good for cooling off," Song Yunjin laughed.

"Grandpa, we're leaving now; you must wait for my sister!" he emphasized again.

The old man shook the popsicle in his hand, "Won't forget; if I forget, you make me pay for the popsicle!"

Song Yunjin was amused, "How could that be."

Just as he was about to leave, the old man saw they had a lot of things and offered voluntarily: "If you trust me, you can put your things on the ox cart, and I'll watch them for you."

Song Yunjin looked at Lin Zhao.

Lin Zhao was eating the ice cream and gave Yunjin a look, "Grandpa has offered to help voluntarily, so put them there, and by the way, save a spot."

The old man's expression was appreciative.

This girl doesn't look like a country person, but she has experience and even knows how to save a spot.

Song Yunjin looked at his sister and, without wasting words, obediently put the things on it.

The old man said: "Don't worry, with me here, I guarantee your things won't be missing even a hemp rope."

Lin Zhao laughed lightly, her expression one of admiration and respect, "You are an old hero who fought the Japanese invaders with a slingshot, and your reputation for being upright and unyielding has spread to every brigade; I naturally trust you."

The old man was surprised.

Didn't expect a younger generation to remember what he did when he was young; that's rare.

He licked off the melted ice water, his movements devout and serious.

The four words "cherish food" were carved into his bones.

"That's nothing; back then, there were countless people like me; I don't count for much."

Lin Zhao thought to herself, with the country full of such people who contribute silently, why worry about it not being strong.

The original book says that in forty or fifty years, the Huaxia country will grow to an unimaginable extent.

No longer will the moon abroad be rounder.

At that time, the country will be prosperous and the people will be wealthy.

The old will have support, and the young will have care.

The broken spines of the people will grow back and stand up, iron-boned and unyielding, eternal and immortal.

She really wants to see this scene soon.

She also hopes...

That those who have contributed to the country can also see it.

Song Yunjin noticed that his sister's mouth had been curled up the whole way, and that smile contained excitement, as if, as if she had been ignited by something, her whole face was glowing, so he asked curiously: "Sister, what are you smiling at?"

"I said that once the four cubs start working, our country will become one of the strongest in the world; do you believe it?" Lin Zhao's pitch-black eyelashes trembled slightly, her eyes filled with smiles, and her lips curled up.

"..." Song Yunjin's mouth twitched, wanting to touch his sister's forehead.

Is she not awake yet?

How is that possible!

He thought, laughing and crying.

"Sister, I know you love this land deeply, but we can't be blindly confident."

Lin Zhao got serious, "How about a bet?"

"Bet on what?" Song Yunjin was very cooperative; if his sister said paper money falling on the ground sounded louder than coins, he would react.

"Bet on whatever you say." Lin Zhao shrugged, not caring much; she would take whatever.

Song Yunjin thought for a moment, "If what you say comes true, I'll give you the 'three rounds and one sound'; if it doesn't come true, you give me the 'three rounds and one sound'."

Looking at Lin Zhao, he found his sister's expression somewhat indescribable, so he added: "Of course, if the 'three rounds and one sound' are outdated by then, we'll give each other things of equal value, how about that?"

Lin Zhao laughed to death.

In the future, no one will use radios; people will use mobile phones, palm-sized, very convenient, and can do anything, with everyone having one.

Even fewer people will use sewing machines.

Not many people will use watches either.

Bicycles will become things for the poor, and the rich will drive cars that leaders sit in.

"... Fine."

Song Yunjin felt his sister's smile was strange, but he didn't delve into it because they had arrived at the recycling station.

He went forward, stuffed a few candies to the staff, and took his sister inside.

"Sister, what do you want to find? I'll help you."

Lin Zhao came to find medical books for her fourth brother, so how could she let him find them? She said casually: "No need, I'll just look around; you help the four cubs find some. I plan to have a bookshelf custom-made for them once the new house is built, and there are still many books missing. You look and find some; storybooks, magazines, picture books, and reference books are all fine."

Song Yunjin believed it to be true, answered, and happily went to find books.

Finding them for the four cubs, he was full of strength.

Lin Zhao went to another shelf to flip through; she didn't want to mess up what people had painstakingly organized, so she flipped very carefully, putting aside the ones that were suitable.

She really did find a leak.

There was a medical book, covered with a magazine cover, and inside were all kinds of medical prescriptions, clinical medical cases, and medication experience.

It seemed to be from some famous doctor, very old and very precious.

Lin Zhao quietly put it into her storage ring.

This gave her great encouragement.

She was extremely excited and continued to flip through.

In the subsequent search, she found two more useful ones, and Lin Zhao was very satisfied.

Three books, enough for the fourth brother to read for a long time, right?

Thinking of the fourth brother, she inevitably thought of her two nephews, Jingmo and Guangbai; I wonder how the inquiry by Gu Chenghuai's comrade went?!