Chapter 129: Chapter 129: A Little Girl Named Yuran Fell from Upstairs

As they chatted, the two of them soon arrived at Xin Street.

The houses on this street weren’t anything special—nothing compared to the little Western-style villas on the other side—but they were all standalone buildings, much better than the cramped communal apartments.

He Qiang escorted her to the door of No. 15 and was about to leave when Gu Qinghuan quickly pulled some money from her bag and handed it to him. “Your fare, you almost forgot.”

He Qiang waved it off casually. “No need, ma’am. I already made five yuan from you last time. Let’s just call it even.”

What a principled young man.

Gu Qinghuan shoved the money into his hand anyway. “Take it. I’m not short on cash.”

The kid looked young, with a baby face, and it couldn’t be easy making a living out here. He was dressed lightly for such cold weather, but at least he was clean, and the holes in his clothes were patched with all sorts of colorful fabrics.

Seeing that she insisted, He Qiang scratched his head and finally accepted the money.

But in the next second, something seemed to catch his eye. His face turned to shock, and before he could even pocket the money, it slipped from his hand and fell to the ground. He jumped off his tricycle and sprinted forward like a hundred-meter dash.

Gu Qinghuan looked in the direction he was running, confused—and instantly broke out in a cold sweat. A child was falling from the upper floor.

The building was No. 15 Xin Street—Sister Luo Ning’s place.

It was obvious that the child must be Luo Ning’s daughter, Xu Yuran.

Everything happened in a split second. Gu Qinghuan had no time to react; she could only watch helplessly as the child plummeted, her heart nearly stopping.

Luckily, the worst didn’t happen. In the next moment, He Qiang caught the child.

To be precise, the child crashed hard into him, nearly knocking him flat. Fortunately, years of pedaling his tricycle had given him a steady stance and strong arms. He held onto the child tightly, preventing a tragedy.

He Qiang carefully set the child down.

Gu Qinghuan didn’t have time to check on him; she hurriedly examined the child first. She found that the girl was just badly frightened, staring blankly and not even crying.

There were no obvious injuries, though her body felt a bit hot to the touch, and her hands were scraped and swollen for some reason.

That little face… looked exactly like the photo Sister Luo Ning had sent a couple of years ago. It had to be Yuran.

How did she fall from upstairs? Wasn’t anyone home? Where was Sister Luo Ning?

A thousand questions raced through Gu Qinghuan’s mind, but Xu Yuran was in no state to answer any of them.

Seeing how anxious she was, He Qiang asked cautiously, “Is this your relative’s child?”

Gu Qinghuan nodded. “Thank you so much for today. I’ll definitely repay you for your kindness. Could you watch her for a moment while I check on the situation inside?”

In her haste, Gu Qinghuan couldn’t think of anyone else to trust, so she handed Xu Yuran to He Qiang and rushed to knock on the door.

The incident had happened so suddenly that many neighbors had witnessed it. Soon, a crowd gathered, chattering away.

“That was terrifying! What’s wrong with this family, letting a child fall from upstairs? That’s high enough to kill someone!”

“This young man did a wonderful thing—saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda. He’ll be blessed in the next life for sure.”

“Isn’t this the Xu family? Isn’t Mrs. Xu home?”

“I heard their granddaughter isn’t quite right in the head, hardly ever comes out or talks to anyone. Probably a simpleton…”

“A simpleton? Could it be the Xu family can’t stand her and pushed her on purpose?”

“No way. Her mother’s always been so gentle with her. But come to think of it, I haven’t seen Mrs. Xu in a while. She used to take the child out shopping every day.”

…

Gu Qinghuan pounded and kicked at the door, but there was no response from inside.

She was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. What on earth was going on with Sister Luo Ning?

Just then, a kindly auntie carrying a vegetable basket said, “Don’t worry, girl. I just sent my son to fetch the police at the street corner. Once they get here and open the door, we’ll know what’s going on. Maybe something happened to the adults inside, and there was no one to look after the child.”

Things like this weren’t uncommon. In these alleys, sometimes old folks looking after grandkids would fall ill, and the kids would crawl around unsupervised—sometimes even eating their own filth.

Everyone kept speculating about what was happening inside.

Some said the family had gone out and left no one home.

Others guessed someone had fallen ill, leaving the child unattended.

Still others whispered conspiracy theories, saying the child had been pushed on purpose.

Everyone talked as if they’d seen it with their own eyes.

All Gu Qinghuan could do was wait anxiously.

Luckily, the young man was quick on his feet, and soon two policemen arrived on bicycles.

Gu Qinghuan and the neighbors quickly explained what had happened.

The police prepared to break the lock and check inside.

Just then, Xu’s mother came back from an all-night mahjong session. She’d had bad luck and lost over thirty yuan—she was in a foul mood!

As she neared home, she saw a crowd gathered—and realized it was right at her door, with the police present. Her heart skipped a beat.

Xu’s mother rushed over. “What’s going on? Why are you all gathered at my door?”

Well, now the police didn’t need to break in.

“No one was home? Did you know your child fell from upstairs? If this young man hadn’t acted bravely, there would’ve been a disaster! Ma’am, you really need to be more careful. You can’t leave a child home alone,” the policeman said, giving a simple warning since nothing too serious had happened.

Xu’s mother didn’t seem too concerned about her granddaughter falling from upstairs—she didn’t even spare her a glance, just wanted to get rid of everyone as quickly as possible.

“Yes, yes, I know. I’ll be more careful in the future. There’s nothing to see here, everyone, please disperse.”

Gu Qinghuan felt uneasy at her reaction—something was off.

“Auntie, I don’t know if you remember me. I’m Gu Qinghuan, Zhong Luoning’s cousin. Where is she? Could we see her?”

Only then did Xu’s mother notice Gu Qinghuan standing nearby.

It had been years, and she’d long forgotten about her daughter-in-law’s cousin.

And she wanted to see Zhong Luoning? No way!

She gritted her teeth inwardly, but kept a friendly face.

“Haha, you’ve come at a bad time, dear. Luoning left early this morning and hasn’t come back yet.”

Her obvious evasiveness only made Gu Qinghuan more certain something was wrong.

“Then is it alright if I wait for her inside? It’s been years since we’ve met, and I really miss her.” She insisted on going in.

Xu’s mother was losing patience.

“It’s really not convenient today. Come back another time! Besides, Yuran’s just had a scare and things are busy at home. We really can’t entertain guests.”

She even used Yuran as an excuse to keep Gu Qinghuan from entering."

"Chapter 130: Moral Decay, the Terrifying Nature of Humanity

""Chapter 130: Moral Decay, the Terrifying Nature of Humanity""

“Auntie, is something wrong with Sister Luo Ning?” Gu Qinghuan asked tentatively.

“What could possibly happen to her? She’s perfectly fine! Why are you spouting nonsense and cursing people?” Mrs. Xu snapped, shifting her annoyance onto Gu Qinghuan.

But Gu Qinghuan didn’t miss the flicker of guilt and unease in Mrs. Xu’s eyes.

Thinking of the injury on Youran’s hand, she felt instinctively that something was wrong.

There was definitely a problem—and the answer was somewhere in this house.

Just then, Youran, who had been quiet all this time, suddenly broke free from He Qiang, rushed over, and clung to Gu Qinghuan’s leg, looking up at her in panic.

“Mama! Mama!”

The child’s voice was urgent and frantic, as if trying to say something.

The people nearby shook their heads.

“This kid really is a fool, can’t even recognize her own mother.”

“No wonder Mrs. Xu doesn’t let her out.”

...

“Come on, let’s go home with Grandma. Mama will be back soon,” Mrs. Xu said, grabbing Xu Youran and dragging her toward the door, clearly annoyed by the commotion. This little fool was really embarrassing her today.

The child was obviously afraid of Mrs. Xu. She struggled hard but couldn’t break free. In panic, she turned to look at Gu Qinghuan, crying out, “Mama! Mama!”

Suddenly, Gu Qinghuan understood what she meant. She wasn’t calling her “Mama”—she was asking Gu Qinghuan to help her mother, or rather, to save her mother.

She just couldn’t express it clearly.

Youran must have heard her mention her mother’s name and realized she knew her, so she was asking for help.

Something must have happened to Sister Luo Ning!

Today, even if the Xu family was a dragon’s den or a tiger’s lair, she had to go in.

Gu Qinghuan glanced around, thinking quickly.

The police obviously wouldn’t barge into a private home just because of her vague suspicions. They were already preparing to leave.

The crowd was also slowly dispersing.

Now was the moment! She had to risk it!

Gu Qinghuan seized the opportunity. The moment Mrs. Xu opened the door, she shoved it open and dashed inside before anyone could react.

Everyone was startled.

Mrs. Xu screamed in panic, “Help! Someone’s broken into my house!”

The crowd buzzed with excitement again—there was going to be a real show today.

The two police officers hurried back when they saw what was happening.

He Qiang was a righteous man. From the brief exchange between Gu Qinghuan and Mrs. Xu, he could tell something was off with Mrs. Xu’s reaction.

Plus, his impression of Gu Qinghuan was that she was a kind person, so he decided to help.

As the police officers ran over, he rushed to block them. “Please, can you take a look at my arm? It hurts so much! Did I break a bone when I caught someone just now?”

“I was acting bravely for justice! If my bone’s broken, who’s going to take responsibility?” He Qiang even wiped away some imaginary tears.

The officers, unable to get past him, could only smile helplessly. They’d noticed something was wrong too, but they weren’t here to resolve family disputes, so they’d planned to stay out of it.

But since Gu Qinghuan was willing to risk trespassing to find out the truth, they didn’t want to make things too hard for her.

So they played along with He Qiang, pretending to be held up, giving Gu Qinghuan some time.

“Where does it hurt? Here?”

“No, not there.”

“Then here?”

“Still not there.”

“Then where, exactly?!”

...

After about a minute or two of this back-and-forth, He Qiang finally let the officers go in to “catch the intruder.”

That should be enough time for Gu Qinghuan to find the answer.

After all, the house wasn’t that big.

Now, all they could do was hope for the best.

As soon as Gu Qinghuan entered, she quickly found the stairs and rushed up to the second floor—the room where the child had fallen from.

She decided to start searching the second floor, where the problem was most likely to be.

Mrs. Xu couldn’t keep up with her at all; she watched helplessly as Gu Qinghuan took the stairs three at a time.

The moment Gu Qinghuan opened the door, a surge of rage shot straight to her head—she nearly fainted from anger.

Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

Her cousin Luo Ning was tied tightly to a chair with rope, even her mouth sealed shut.

The window beside her was wide open. It wasn’t hard to imagine that just moments ago, she had watched helplessly as her own daughter fell from the window.

What kind of despair must a mother feel in that moment...

At this point, Luo Ning was like a madwoman, shaking her head and struggling desperately. Looking closely, there was a fresh pool of blood beneath the back of the chair.

She must have tried with all her might to break free, the rope cutting into her wrists and drawing blood.

She must have fought desperately to stop her daughter from falling, but the rope was too thick—she couldn’t break free...

Gu Qinghuan’s heart twisted in pain, aching for her cousin, for this poor mother.

What kind of inhuman torment had she endured?

And yet, Gu Qinghuan didn’t know—this was only the beginning.

Just then, Mrs. Xu arrived too. She was startled at the sight of Zhong Luoning.

What was going on? She had only locked Zhong Luoning and Xu Youran in the room—she hadn’t tied her up!

What now? If the police saw this, they’d be finished!

The commotion at the door woke someone sleeping in the bed.

A drowsy voice called out, “Who is it? Get out!” It was Xu Jianguo.

Without even opening his eyes, Xu Jianguo reached over and pinched the woman beside him.

“Jianguo, you’re so naughty, don’t touch me!” a coquettish female voice suddenly rang out in the room.

Mrs. Xu was so frightened she nearly lost her soul. She shrieked, “Xu Jianguo, are you trying to die?!” He’d actually brought this woman home and was fooling around in their own house—did he have a death wish?

Gu Qinghuan, on the other hand, was furious—so angry she wanted to kill Xu Jianguo herself.

She had been so focused on her cousin tied up at the door, she hadn’t even noticed what was happening in the rest of the room.

What a scandalous scene—clothes strewn everywhere, men’s and women’s underwear scattered about, the mess making it obvious what had happened last night.

Xu Jianguo was having an affair, and he’d even brought his mistress home to fool around in his wife’s bed.

Even more outrageous, Gu Qinghuan noticed that Luo Ning had been tied up facing the bed.

Which meant Xu Jianguo had done it on purpose—he’d deliberately tied Luo Ning up in front of the bed, forcing her to watch as he spent the night with another woman.

And, as a spectator, their daughter Youran had also been present.

For a mother, this was a torment worse than death—forcing her daughter to witness such filth.

From the scene, Gu Qinghuan pieced together what her cousin had suffered last night, and her heart sank to the bottom.

She feared Luo Ning wouldn’t be able to bear it, feared she’d go mad. What could she do to save her?

All this happened in the blink of an eye.

Mrs. Xu’s scream startled the couple in bed awake—they sat up, completely naked.

The two police officers rushed upstairs at the sound, only to witness this depraved scene with their own eyes.

As seasoned officers, they could quickly deduce what had happened.

But the reality was even more horrifying than they’d imagined. What kind of person could do something like this?"

"Chapter 131: Leaving Evidence—Zhong Luoning’s Painful Ordeal

Not only did the police rush in, but some old neighbors, eager for gossip, followed behind and barged into the house as well.

Xu’s mother was both furious and anxious, repeatedly trying to drive everyone out.

“Go, go, go! What are you all doing in my house? I’ll report you for trespassing!”

Although the police and Xu’s mother quickly managed to chase most people out, two or three still caught a glimpse of the scene inside and wasted no time spreading the word.

The adulterous couple inside were startled by the sudden intrusion. Naked, they scrambled around searching for their clothes, frantically getting dressed.

In that split second, Gu Qinghuan’s mind raced. She forced herself to stay calm—she couldn’t let Sister Luoning suffer in vain. This injustice had to be avenged!

Law enforcement was weak in this era; she couldn’t rely on others to do the right thing. If someone played tricks behind the scenes, all of Luoning and little Youran’s suffering would be for nothing.

So, while the police and Xu’s mother were busy driving people out, she quickly fished a small instant camera (from her space villa) out of her pocket.

She’d bought it for fun ages ago, but barely used it—now, unexpectedly, it was coming in handy.

Quietly, she snapped away, capturing every detail of the room: the clothes strewn across the floor and bed, the naked adulterers, even the bloodstains left by Zhong Luoning’s struggles—nothing was missed.

The couple were too busy getting dressed to notice her actions.

They never imagined anyone would have a camera to record their disgrace. After all, cameras were expensive and bulky in this era; who but a journalist would carry one around?

Gu Qinghuan stashed the “evidence” and the camera back into her space, then immediately grabbed a pair of scissors to cut Zhong Luoning free.

The two police officers hurried over to help as well.

He Qiang stood outside the door with little Youran, quietly watching everything unfold. Unable to bear it, he covered the child’s eyes, not wanting her to witness such a cruel scene.

Though, she had probably already endured even worse.

Perhaps because he had just rescued her, the child didn’t resist, letting him cover her eyes as she stood there in a daze.

The moment Zhong Luoning was freed, she rushed straight for the window. If the two officers hadn’t grabbed her in time, she would have jumped.

Gu Qinghuan’s guess was right.

After helping Gu Qinghuan gather information, Zhong Luoning had a huge fight with the Xu family over Xu’s mother hiding her letters.

She laid everything out in the open. She’d long known Xu Jianguo was seeing another woman, but never had the courage to face it. This time, she refused to tolerate it any longer and decided to confront him.

Naturally, the Xu family sided with their son. Not only did they not think he was at fault, they even accused her of “hogging the seat without using it”—not giving them a grandson, and only producing a “useless, money-draining” daughter.

How could she possibly win against the whole Xu family on her own?

From that day on, she and little Youran were locked up together by the Xu family.

Xu’s parents wanted her to publicly admit to infidelity and leave the marriage with nothing, so Xu Jianguo’s mistress could move in.

She agreed to the divorce, but would never admit to something she hadn’t done. The women of the Zhong family had their pride.

Nor would she accept leaving with nothing. If anyone should be kicked out, it was Xu Jianguo.

When she married him, he had nothing—not even a house, which her parents had provided.

Most of the furniture and belongings in the house were part of her dowry, so she refused to back down.

So things reached a stalemate.

Xu Jianguo would often bring that woman home. The walls were thin; Zhong Luoning could hear their laughter and merrymaking downstairs.

Xu’s parents treated her like a hawk breaking in a wild bird, trying to force her to give in. Each meal, they gave her and the child barely enough food and water to survive.

She gave most of the food to the child, quickly becoming gaunt herself.

She thought about escaping. The door was locked from the outside. The only possible way out was the window, which Xu’s mother had also locked, but if she waited until the house was empty, she might be able to break the lock and escape.

But escaping alone was easy—escaping with a child was hard. And even if she got out, where could she go? No money, no food, no ration coupons, no introduction letter…

Besides, if she ran, she’d be letting these wolves off easy, and it would be as good as admitting to things she hadn’t done, leaving the Xu family free to slander her as they pleased.

So she could only endure and wait.

She never expected that last night, Xu Jianguo, drunk, would bring that woman home.

He went berserk, bursting in and pinning her to the bed, beating her savagely. Little Youran tried to stop him and was kicked aside.

Then, Zhong Luoning was tied up facing the bed, forced to watch that disgusting man and his mistress cavorting right in front of her.

If her mouth hadn’t been stuffed, she would have vomited up everything she’d eaten.

She didn’t even know when her feelings for Xu Jianguo had turned to nothing but hate.

Little Youran cowered at her feet, trembling in fear, wanting to hide but unwilling to leave her mother.

Mother and daughter were forced to witness the depravity on the bed—filthy and revolting.

Zhong Luoning wanted so badly to comfort her child as she always had, to cover her eyes and shield her from the filth, but she couldn’t even do that—her mouth was stuffed so tightly she couldn’t utter a word.

The long night was pure torment, like someone slicing her flesh with a dull knife, over and over.

The ropes on her wrists were so tight she thought she’d never get free.

Little Youran kept trying to untie her mother’s ropes with her tiny hands, but it was futile.

Eventually, the child collapsed at her mother’s feet, falling asleep with tears still on her face.

Zhong Luoning didn’t sleep a wink all night, her mind racing with thoughts of the future.

In the middle of the night, Xu Jianguo woke up once. Maybe he thought the air was too stuffy from the room being sealed so long.

He tugged at the window, found the lock wouldn’t open, and in a drunken haze, grabbed a stool and smashed the lock, then went back to sleep.

A cold wind blew in, chilling Zhong Luoning to the bone—her heart as cold as her body.

Morning came, and little Youran woke up.

She found her mother icy cold, the window wide open, cold wind still blowing in.

Afraid her mother would be cold, she got up, dragged a small stool to the window, and tried to close it.

The old-fashioned window opened outward. She was short, so she had to lean halfway out to reach it.

Zhong Luoning shook her head desperately, but Youran didn’t notice. She struggled to break free, the skin on her wrists rubbed raw and bleeding, but she couldn’t loosen the ropes.

She rocked the chair, trying to wake the couple on the bed, but it was useless.

Never had she hated her own helplessness and weakness so much.

If only she’d been decisive sooner, cut her losses quickly, none of this would have happened. If only she hadn’t been blind enough to marry that heartless man, her life wouldn’t be so dark now…

Then came the scene just now: the child leaned out too far, and as soon as she grabbed the window, she lost her balance and fell.

Zhong Luoning watched her daughter fall with her own eyes. She completely broke down, her tears dried up. From such a height, even an adult would be badly hurt, let alone a child.

She had already prepared for the worst—life was too hard and painful. Death would be a relief.

A parent’s heart is always with their child. The first thing she did after being freed was try to follow her daughter—she must have thought her child was already…

Even the two male police officers couldn’t help but feel their eyes sting and turn red.

Gu Qinghuan’s heart twisted in pain, her eyes burning and streaming with tears.

“Luoning-jie, don’t do anything foolish! Youran is safe!” Gu Qinghuan hugged her tightly, terrified she might try to end it all.

Only then did she realize how thin Zhong Luoning had become—nothing but skin and bones. Words felt useless; all she felt was heartbreak and pity for the mother and daughter.

Zhong Luoning’s eyes were unfocused. She struggled to break free from Gu Qinghuan, clawing at the window.

“Don’t stop me! Let me go to Youran—she’ll be scared alone…” By the end, she was even laughing.

He Qiang quickly brought the child in.

“Luoning-jie, look who this is.”

Little Youran ran straight to her mother.

Zhong Luoning stared in shock, then dropped to her knees and hugged her daughter tightly, tears falling onto the child’s neck—cold and wet.

“Youran! My Youran!”

“Mama, mama!”

Mother and daughter had no need for more words. Just calling each other’s names was enough to move anyone to tears.

The next second, Zhong Luoning collapsed with her child in her arms, losing consciousness.

He Qiang hurried to help little Youran up, but the child refused to leave, clinging to her mother’s side.

Gu Qinghuan checked Zhong Luoning and found her forehead and hands burning with fever—she must have caught a chill from the night’s wind.

Little Youran also had a slight fever, though not as bad as her mother’s.

He Qiang helped take care of them both.

Gu Qinghuan wiped away her tears, made a quick decision, and acted decisively.

“Comrades, my name is Gu Qinghuan. I’m the victim’s cousin. On behalf of my cousin Zhong Luoning, I accuse her legal husband Xu Jianguo of adultery and infidelity.

“At the same time, he has long abused and illegally detained his wife and daughter, causing severe psychological trauma to both, and nearly costing Xu Youran her life.

“You have all witnessed what just happened—there’s no need for me to elaborate further. The evidence and witnesses are all here.

“As for the illegal detention, you can see the padlock on the door, the broken lock on the window, and the used dishes on the table—these are all proof that my cousin was locked in this room for a long time and unable to escape.

“I ask you to uphold the law and not let a single bad person go unpunished. I believe that the net of justice is wide, but not a single criminal escapes.”"

"Chapter 132: Dislocation, Gratitude

Xu Jianguo and his mistress had already gotten dressed by now, putting on a façade of decency.

“And who do you think you are? I haven’t even reported you for trespassing, and you want to accuse me? What a joke!

Comrade police, this is my home. Zhong Luoning is my lover. This is a family matter. I doubt you’d bother meddling in other people’s domestic affairs, would you?” Xu Jianguo said arrogantly.

He was so cocky because he worked at the Revolutionary Committee and was used to abusing his power.

So what if he was having an affair? Even the Red Guards couldn’t control him, let alone these police officers.

If it was just a quarrel between husband and wife, the police really couldn’t do much—maybe just give a verbal warning.

As for affairs, that was considered a moral issue, which fell under the Red Guards’ jurisdiction.

But judging by the situation at the scene, this was already a case of intentional injury and illegal detention—the police had to step in.

“Xu Jianguo, right? Your violence against your wife constitutes intentional injury and illegal detention. Please come with us,” the officer said, handling things by the book.

“And what if I refuse?” Xu Jianguo said, sticking out his neck.

Xu’s mother threatened, “Comrade police, my son works for the Revolutionary Committee. You’d better think carefully.”

But the police were acting according to the law—they weren’t afraid of the Red Guards.

“Please come with us. If you refuse, we’ll have to use force.” One of the officers pulled out a pair of handcuffs.

Xu Jianguo lost his nerve and had no choice but to cooperate, though he was still confident that no one would dare do anything to him.

His mistress shrank back, looking like a quail, terrified she’d get dragged into this.

If she’d known, she never would have come back with him last night.

Luckily, the police ignored her completely.

Gu Qinghuan, seeing this, didn’t bother with them any further. There would be time to deal with them later. Right now, she needed to get the mother and daughter to the hospital as soon as possible.

In these times, even a minor illness could be fatal.

Xu’s mother, panicking because her son had been taken away, rushed out to find someone to help. Her husband was away on business, so she was on her own.

No one stopped Gu Qinghuan from taking Zhong Luoning and Xu Youran away.

Gu Qinghuan and He Qiang finally managed to get the mother and daughter onto a tricycle at the door.

He Qiang kept shaking his arm, looking uncomfortable.

He hadn’t been lying to the police earlier—his arm really was bothering him. He couldn’t quite describe the feeling, but one arm felt limp and powerless.

When he helped carry Zhong Luoning just now, he’d only used his right arm. His left arm was completely useless now.

“What’s wrong?”

“Sorry, Comrade Gu, I don’t know what’s up with my arm, but it’s not right. I might not be able to take you to the hospital. Let me call another ride for you.”

He Qiang called for another vehicle. Gu Qinghuan simply had him call two, and locked his own tricycle nearby.

“Leave your tricycle here and come with us to the hospital for a checkup. I’m worried you hurt your arm when you picked up the child.

Don’t worry, I’ll cover all the costs. If nothing’s wrong, great—it’s worth paying for peace of mind. If there’s a problem, I’ll pay for all your medical expenses.”

Gu Qinghuan’s words were reassuring.

He Qiang had already lost half the morning, so he didn’t mind a bit more time. He was the breadwinner at home and was genuinely worried about losing his ability to work.

So he agreed to Gu Qinghuan’s suggestion. He had a colleague send word to his younger brother to come and take the tricycle home—he’d rented it, and it was their main source of income. They couldn’t afford to lose it.

Gu Qinghuan tended to the unconscious Zhong Luoning, while He Qiang took care of little Youran. The four of them arrived at Beijing Hospital.

After an emergency examination, it turned out Zhong Luoning had fainted from a sudden high fever brought on by cold and fright. The doctor put her on an IV drip.

Little Youran also had a mild fever from catching a chill. The doctor prescribed medicine and told her to rest, but she refused to lie down and clung to Gu Qinghuan.

Gu Qinghuan had no choice but to take her along. As they left the emergency room, they ran into Xu Huaian, who had just finished his own treatment and was about to head home with Dabao and Beibei.

Xu Huaian saw her red, swollen eyes and exhausted face, full of questions but not knowing where to start.

Gu Qinghuan waved him off. “Too much happened. No time to explain. Please help me look after Cousin Luoning for a bit. I need to check on He Qiang’s injury.”

Dabao and Beibei, seeing their mother holding another child’s hand, immediately eyed Youran warily, sizing her up.

Youran, feeling their searchlight-like stares, shrank behind Gu Qinghuan’s legs.

“Dabao, Beibei, go with Daddy for now. Mommy will be right back.”

Gu Qinghuan took Youran to find He Qiang.

His injury had already been checked. The doctor said it was a dislocation.

No wonder he’d felt so weak.

A dislocation wasn’t a big deal. The orthopedic doctor skillfully popped it back in.

But after resetting it, his arm had to be immobilized with a splint to help the torn ligaments heal. With proper care, he’d be back to normal in about a month.

He Qiang was visibly anxious. If he couldn’t work for a month, his family—who still had siblings in school—would have nothing to live on.

“Doctor, do I really need the splint? I feel much better now,” He Qiang said with a hopeful smile.

Gu Qinghuan found it both funny and a little sad. If he hadn’t tried to save Youran, his arm wouldn’t have been dislocated…

“Doctor, please put the splint on him. I’ll go pay right now.”

Gu Qinghuan reassured He Qiang again.

“Just wear the splint and rest. Don’t risk a permanent injury. I’ll pay you double your lost wages for this month, plus nutrition and medical expenses. Don’t worry.”

He Qiang wanted to refuse, but couldn’t bring himself to say it. He couldn’t afford to lose his income—his family depended on him.

“Jie, I really can’t accept this…”

“Don’t be embarrassed. When you saved us, I didn’t stand on ceremony. Don’t stand on ceremony with me now,” Gu Qinghuan said as she went to pay.

He Qiang felt a warmth in his heart.

When she returned, the doctor had already put the splint on him.

“For the next few days, don’t get your arm wet, avoid overexertion, and don’t do any heavy work. Don’t force the arm—come back in a month to have the splint removed.”

After the doctor finished his instructions, Gu Qinghuan walked He Qiang to the hospital entrance.

“Thank you so much for today. You really helped me out.”

After expressing her gratitude, Gu Qinghuan crouched down and said to Youran, “Youran, this uncle saved you and helped us a lot. We should thank him. Why don’t you give him a bow?”

She could tell that Youran probably had some developmental issues. She was already five, but barely spoke and was very timid.

Since they’d met, she’d only heard her call for her mother, nothing else.

So she didn’t force her to speak, just to bow.

Youran wasn’t stupid—she understood what a bow meant, and knew He Qiang had saved her life. She obediently bowed deeply to him.

He Qiang gently helped her up with his good hand. “No need to thank me. Just grow up well!”

This child was pitiful.

Gu Qinghuan took out a wad of cash from her pocket (from her space), counted out 125 yuan, and handed it over.

“This is what I promised you—125 yuan in total. 100 yuan is double your lost wages for this month. I hope it’s enough.

These 20 yuan are for nutrition—buy yourself something good to eat while you recover.

And 5 yuan is for the work you missed today.

Please count it.”

He Qiang waved his hands and stepped back. “Jie, that’s too much. After paying for the tricycle, I’m lucky to make 30 yuan a month. 100 is way too much. Just give me 50, that’s already more than enough.

As for nutrition money, forget it. I’m a rough guy—I’ll be fine in a few days.

And don’t worry about today’s lost wages. The 50 yuan covers that too.”

“No way. I keep my promises. You have to take it. The extra is my way of thanking you.

You didn’t just save Youran today—you saved my poor cousin too. I can’t imagine what would have happened if we’d lost the child. My cousin probably wouldn’t have survived it either.

Their lives are worth far more than this money. This is the least I can do. Don’t turn it down.

You called me ‘jie’—from now on, we’re like siblings. If you ever run into trouble, come find me. If I can help, I will.” Gu Qinghuan pressed the money into his hands, making a solemn promise.

She was truly grateful to He Qiang, and genuinely admired people who worked hard to live honestly. He might be street-smart, but he was kind and principled.

As the old saying goes, “The most righteous are often those who live rough lives; the heartless are often the educated.” It fit He Qiang and Xu Jianguo perfectly.

He Qiang couldn’t read a word, but he didn’t hesitate to step up and save someone.

Xu Jianguo was educated and cultured, yet he abused his wife and daughter—worse than an animal.

Gu Qinghuan was willing to be friends with He Qiang because she respected his character.

Hearing her sincere promise, He Qiang’s eyes reddened imperceptibly.

Could someone like him really be worthy of calling her ‘jie’?

He always acted cheerful and outgoing, but that was just a mask for survival. In his line of work, if you weren’t friendly, no one would hire you.

Deep down, he was extremely self-conscious, especially around “important people” like her. He felt as insignificant as dust on the ground, unable to stir up even a breeze.

But Gu Qinghuan treated him as an equal. For the first time in his life, he felt respected, and all his hard work and perseverance seemed to have meaning.

He remembered what his grandfather used to say: “Live with a clear conscience, and you’ll make something of yourself.”

Now, he felt like he finally understood.

If Gu Qinghuan knew what he was thinking, she’d probably laugh. How was she any kind of ‘important person’? She was just an ordinary person.

“Jie, I’m fine. This is really too much money—I can’t take it,” he said, his voice a little choked.

Gu Qinghuan found it funny. Wasn’t this guy usually cheerful? Why was he acting like a quail now?

“Don’t be so wishy-washy. Your ‘jie’ isn’t short of money. Take it, go home and rest, and follow the doctor’s orders. You’re still young—an arm injury can affect you for life.”

Gu Qinghuan couldn’t help but laugh at herself. So this was what it felt like to be “Versailles” (humble-bragging). She remembered how Ming Ruxue once said she wasn’t short of money, and now she finally got to use the line herself.

In the end, He Qiang didn’t refuse anymore, but he made up his mind to work even harder in the future, to become a better person—someone worthy of Gu Qinghuan’s appreciation."

"Chapter 133: Guilt, and the Three Little Ones

Gu Qinghuan brought Youran back to the hospital room. Zhong Luoning still hadn’t woken up. On the way, Gu Qinghuan had secretly given her some spiritual spring water, so her fever had subsided a bit. Once she woke up, she should be fine.

Youran lay nervously by her mother’s bedside, watching her anxiously.

Meanwhile, Dabao and Beibei were curiously observing Youran.

Gu Qinghuan called Xu Huai’an out into the hallway and briefly told him what had happened that morning.

“This was really a close call. You have no idea—if He Qiang hadn’t reacted quickly and caught the child, I can’t even imagine how Sister Luoning would go on with her life.

The moment we let go of her, she tried to jump out the window. She had completely lost the will to live.

I’ve been back for so long, but I was so caught up in my own affairs that I never went to check on her and her daughter. It’s all my fault. If I’d noticed sooner, things wouldn’t have gotten this bad.” Guilt and self-reproach filled Gu Qinghuan’s face, and as she spoke, tears slid down her cheeks.

This incident had really shaken her. In the past, she’d subconsciously felt that she wasn’t the original “her,” and didn’t need to be responsible for her original self’s family. She was just here for a time-travel experience.

But when she was truly in the middle of it, she couldn’t treat real life as just a journey. The people around her were real, and she couldn’t just watch coldly from the sidelines.

She was affected by them—happy, sad, hurt, regretful.

She finally understood: this wasn’t just a time-travel journey. She was truly living another life, as Gu Qinghuan.

Xu Huai’an pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly, giving her a sense of security and strength.

Gu Qinghuan didn’t push him away. Instead, she let herself cry her heart out in his embrace.

People passing by thought someone in her family must be gravely ill, and quietly walked past.

“Gu Qinghuan, you’re not a god. You can’t predict the future. You’ve already done your best—there’s no need to blame yourself.

Think about it: you actually saved them, didn’t you?

If you hadn’t gone to see them today, if you hadn’t run into He Qiang, there’s no way Youran could have been saved.

But you did go, and your appearance saved them. You were so brave, risking everything for them.

You’ve already done so well—don’t sell yourself short.” Xu Huai’an only comforted her after she’d cried enough.

“But when I think about what they’ve been through, it hurts so much. My heart feels like it’s been stabbed a thousand times.

How can there be fathers and husbands like that in this world?”

Xu Jianguo’s actions and his vile nature disgusted her, making her even more averse to men and marriage.

She remembered how gentle and beautiful Zhong Luoning used to be, and now she was like a withered, broken woman—completely changed.

So what has marriage really brought women?

Maybe it’s better not to marry or have children, just to stay safe!

Xu Huai’an wanted to tell her that not all men are like Xu Jianguo, that there are many good men in the world, but now wasn’t the time.

He silently patted her shoulder.

“Don’t overthink it. The most important thing right now is to help cousin Luoning get away from the Xu family. And since Xu Jianguo works at the Revolutionary Committee, we need to be prepared—this could turn into a tough battle.

You caught Xu Jianguo cheating. Maybe we can use that to force him to divorce cousin Luoning.”

Xu Huai’an tried to shift her attention to practical matters.

Gu Qinghuan wiped her tears, stepped out of his arms, and straightened her rumpled clothes.

Xu Huai’an was a little reluctant; it was rare for them to be this close.

“You’re right. Now’s not the time to get emotional.

This battle isn’t over yet. I have to stand up for them.”

After she finished, she noticed his clothes were wet from her tears and apologized awkwardly for losing control.

While the two of them were talking, the three little ones inside weren’t idle either.

Youran stayed by her mother’s bedside, tucking in the blanket for her, wiping the blood from her hands with a little handkerchief—busy as could be.

Dabao and Beibei had just learned from Xu Huai’an that the lady in the bed was this little girl’s mother.

Beibei, always outgoing, went over with a smile. “Sister? My name is Beibei. What’s your name?”

Youran glanced at her, then turned away without responding.

Beibei thought she was being ignored and pouted, feeling wronged. “Brother, sister doesn’t want to talk to us.”

Dabao didn’t want his little sister to be upset. He tried to talk to Youran. “Hi, I’m Xu Xingchen, and this is my sister Xu Xingyue. How old are you? Can we play together?”

Youran gave a shy smile at his words, but still didn’t respond.

Dabao didn’t know what that meant.

“Can you hear us?”

Youran lowered her head and ignored them.

When Gu Qinghuan came in, she saw Dabao and Beibei looking dejected.

They’d tried everything, but Youran still wouldn’t speak.

“Mama, why won’t sister talk to us?” Beibei ran over to ask.

Gu Qinghuan gathered the three children together.

“Youran, this is your big brother Dabao—he’s a few months older than you. This is your little sister Beibei. From now on, you can play together.

Dabao, this is your little sister Youran. She doesn’t like to talk much, but she understands everything you say. You should get along and take care of her.

Beibei, Youran isn’t ignoring you on purpose. She just doesn’t want to talk right now. Let’s be patient and wait for her, okay?”

“Mama, I understand. I’ll take good care of my little sister.” Dabao patted his chest, promising. Boys are born with a protective instinct toward girls.

“Mama, I’ll play nicely with sister too. It’s okay if she doesn’t want to talk.” Beibei chimed in.

Hearing the two kids, Youran tilted her head, lost in thought. But this time, she didn’t avoid their gaze. Instead, she looked at Dabao and Beibei with curiosity—a sign of progress.

“Gurgle, gurgle…” Youran’s little stomach growled with hunger.

Beibei pointed at her tummy. “Sister, are you hungry? I brought chocolate. You can have some.” She generously took a piece of chocolate from her pocket.

Youran recognized it—her mother had bought it for her before—but she didn’t know if she should accept it. With her mother lying in bed, she had no one to ask.

She looked at Gu Qinghuan for help, her eyes full of longing.

Gu Qinghuan nodded. “Your little sister is giving it to you. Go ahead and take it. Can you say thank you?”

Youran’s eyes flickered, and she immediately hid behind Gu Qinghuan. She didn’t want to speak, and didn’t know how.

Gu Qinghuan felt a bit frustrated, blaming herself for pushing too hard and scaring her.

Beibei, seeing this, shook her head generously. “Mama, it’s okay. Even if sister doesn’t say thank you, I still want to give it to her.” With that, she stuffed the chocolate into Youran’s hand.

“Good girl, Beibei!” Gu Qinghuan fondly ruffled Beibei’s hair.

Youran stared at the chocolate in her hand, deep in thought.

“Youran, normally you should say thank you to your sister, but Auntie knows you’re not ready yet. We’ll owe her for now, and when you’re ready, you can thank her, okay?”

This time, Youran actually nodded slightly.

Beibei felt greatly encouraged. “Mama, sister nodded!”

Gu Qinghuan smiled too. At last, the child was showing a normal reaction.

“Huanhuan, watch them for a bit. I’ll go buy some food—the kids must be hungry,” Xu Huai’an interjected.

Gu Qinghuan nodded. “Go ahead, I’ve got things here.”

Dabao volunteered, “Dad, I want to go with you.”

Xu Huai’an took him along.

Xu Huai’an got a few bowls of shredded pork noodles from the hospital cafeteria, and the family ate a simple meal together.

Around two in the afternoon, Zhong Luoning finally woke up.

The moment she opened her eyes, she turned over to look for her daughter. Seeing her standing there safe and sound, she finally relaxed.

Mother and daughter hugged tightly, both sobbing uncontrollably. It was as if they’d been reunited after a brush with death, moving everyone who saw them.

Zhong Luoning had gone through such emotional turmoil. Gu Qinghuan had thought that, with her gentle nature, she wouldn’t be able to withstand such a storm, and had worried about her mental state.

But she turned out to be much stronger than Gu Qinghuan had imagined.

Maybe it was a mother’s strength, or maybe she’d been through too much already. In any case, after a brief moment of daze, Zhong Luoning quickly calmed down—but she had to hold onto Youran to feel at ease.

“Huanhuan, thank you for saving Youran, and for saving me.” Her voice was a bit hoarse, but still steady.

At the time, Zhong Luoning had been ready to die. Life was too hard, and if her daughter was gone, she had no reason left to go on.

She hadn’t expected things to turn around—her cousin suddenly appeared and saved both her and her daughter. In that humiliating room, when Gu Qinghuan suddenly showed up, she was shocked and at a loss, but not happy to be rescued.

She was surprised by Gu Qinghuan’s sudden arrival, and didn’t want her family to see her in such a wretched state. What she felt most was endless pain, as if she was being torn apart.

“Sister Luoning, we’re family—no need to thank me. Are you feeling better? Do you want some water or something to eat? Your stomach might be upset, so how about some porridge?” Gu Qinghuan deliberately changed the subject.

She motioned for Xu Huai’an to go get some food. The hospital cafeteria should have porridge or something suitable for patients.

Xu Huai’an nodded and took the two kids with him, giving the two women space to talk.

Youran obediently stayed by her mother’s bedside.

“You got married?” Zhong Luoning looked in the direction Xu Huai’an had gone, puzzled.

Only then did Gu Qinghuan remember she hadn’t told her cousin. She replied awkwardly, “Yes, I got married in the countryside. He’s a retired soldier, has two kids, and treats me well, so we’re living together now.”

Zhong Luoning gave a faint smile. “Little Huanhuan has grown up. And you have better taste than your sister!”

She had just noticed that the man’s gaze always followed Gu Qinghuan, full of tenderness and devotion—the look of someone deeply in love.

And Xu Huai’an looked like a true gentleman, someone who made people feel at ease.

After all she’d been through, Zhong Luoning was no longer the naive girl she once was. She’d learned to look at the bigger picture, not just judge by appearances."

"Chapter 134: Weak Spleen and Stomach, and Youran’s Autism