The crowd burst into laughter. Aunt Xu’s face turned ashen, like a pig’s liver. She reached out to hit him. Xie Sui stuck out his neck and said, “Come on, hit me here. I swear I won’t fight back. I just came from the police station. If you dare lay a finger on me, I’ll sue you until you’re bankrupt, believe it or not!”
Aunt Xu didn’t dare to make a move. Xie Sui’s cold gaze unnerved her. “Who exactly are you?”
“Xu Donglai is my brother. His younger siblings are my younger siblings. Did you ask me before you dared to sell my brother?”
Aunt Xu sneered, “You’re talking nonsense. I’m his biological aunt. Do I not know how many brothers he has? You’re here to snatch the children. I’ll call the police and have you arrested!”
“Can’t sworn brothers work? Go ahead and call. If you don’t dare to call the police, you must have been raised by your mother. Do you think I was joking when I said I just came from the police station? Your child trafficking… I think the police would be more interested in that.”
Aunt Xu panicked, “You’re talking nonsense, I didn’t sell the child.”
“Do you dare say you didn’t receive money? As long as you received money, it’s selling a child, which is illegal. Neighbors, please do me a favor and call the police. Arrest her and interrogate her thoroughly. Even if it’s your own child, you have no right to buy or sell them, let alone a nephew.”
“I’ll go call the police. Everyone, stop her from leaving.”
Some kind-hearted neighbors went to call the police. Aunt Xu didn’t dare to stay any longer. She pushed through the crowd and ran faster than a rabbit.
Xie Sui sneered, “A black-hearted, vicious woman. She’ll get her comeuppance sooner or later.” If she had truly sent the child to a good home, Xu Donglai wouldn’t have been unable to find her in his past life. She must have sold him to traffickers, perhaps to some remote corner of the mountains.
The neighbors asked him, “Are you really Donglai’s friend?”
“Yes, I am. I was late. As soon as I heard Donglai was in trouble, I rushed here. Everyone, don’t worry, Donglai is innocent. The factory has thoroughly investigated this matter. Director Wang is suspected of infringing on state property and is under investigation. Donglai will be out soon.”
“Really? That’s great! That scumbag is finally getting what he deserves.” Wang Fugui had a terrible character. They were all employees of the steel plant, and many hated him. But he knew how to flatter his superiors. A higher rank crushed the lower ones. These ordinary workers dared not speak their minds.
“Everyone, don’t crowd around here. The factory is investigating Director Wang’s crimes. Anyone with clues can report it. We must eradicate evil. Let’s unite and get rid of this factory bully.”
“Okay, we’ll report him. That Wang withheld my wages, he’ll have to spit it out.”
“I know he takes bribes. The welfare they gave us were all expired food, rotten through and through.”
The neighbors all went to expose and report Wang Fugui. Xie Sui seemed to be addicted to reporting. He couldn’t do it himself, so he incited everyone to join. This guy was lucky to be reborn; if he were a transmigrator, he’d be someone like Cheng Sheng or Wu Guang.
As soon as everyone left, Xu Donglai’s sister hugged her younger brother. Her little face was like a cat’s after crying. Lin Wanwan helped her wipe her face, “It’s okay, dear. We will help you.”
“Thank you, uncle and auntie. Are you really my brother’s friends?”
“Of course. Let’s go inside and talk.”
“Okay, please come in, uncle and auntie.”
Xie Sui said, “Don’t call us uncle and auntie. Call us brother and sister. I’m your brother’s friend. If you call me uncle, doesn’t that make me a generation older?”
Xu Yingying smiled, “Okay, brother. Sister is really beautiful.”
“Isn’t brother handsome too?”
The Xu family’s kitchen was cold and desolate. On the table were only two dry steamed buns. The young girl didn’t know how to cook, and the family had suddenly encountered misfortune. They hadn’t starved to death only because the neighbors had helped.
“Wash your faces. Brother will take you out to eat.”
“Okay, I’m hungry.”
Xu Donglai’s younger brother was named Xu Dongfang. Being a child, as soon as he heard there was food, his previous fear was forgotten. He was practically drooling.
Xie Sui placed the luggage bag at the Xu’s house. The place was relatively safe. He took out a wad of cash, a thousand yuan, for eating and buying things later.
At the state-run restaurant, they ordered braised pork, rice, stewed pork belly with cabbage and noodles, steamed fish, shredded potatoes, and a bowl of egg drop soup. The two children were starving and ate without looking up.
“Brother, can you still stay?”
Xie Sui remained silent. He didn’t know when Xu Donglai would be released, and he couldn’t stay here forever.
Xu Yingying said disappointedly, “When is brother leaving?”
“Don’t worry, sister. Even if I leave, I’ll make sure you are settled. I’ll inquire about when Donglai will be out. I won’t abandon you.”
“Thank you, brother.”
After eating their fill, Xie Sui took them to the department store and bought a lot of food and daily necessities. He also bought them cotton candy. The children finally showed smiles.
Joy turned to sorrow. Xie Sui was looking at the fabrics in the department store, discussing with Lin Wanwan what colors would look good. A woman suddenly appeared and stared at him, “Is it you?”
Xie Sui looked up. Oh my god, how could it be that waitress? But then he thought, why should I feel guilty? “Is there something wrong?”
The waitress was taken aback. Yes, what should she say? Did this guy play with her feelings? Not really, but they had chatted for a while, and she didn’t even know his name. But she was still very angry. She didn’t even get ten yuan, and she was scolded by her supervisor. How could she accept money from customers? It was forbidden. She almost got herself into trouble and lost her job.
“You caused me so much trouble, and you ask me what’s wrong?”
Lin Wanwan’s eyes were unfriendly, “How is it trouble? This is my husband. You can talk to me. How did he cause you trouble?”
The onlookers’ eyes were filled with gossip. Being wronged by a man, what could it be? It had to be either deceiving feelings or deceiving the body. Two women fighting over one man, this was an interesting spectacle.
Xie Sui rubbed his nose. This woman was unreasonable; he had already paid her.
The waitress said angrily, “You tricked me, didn’t you? You said you were being held hostage, and I helped you, which got me scolded by my supervisor. You still say you didn’t harm me?”
Xie Sui quickly apologized, “It’s my fault. Fortunately, young lady, you reported it to the police. I just came from the police station. Those people have been arrested. Everyone, stop looking. This young lady is a good citizen who acted bravely. I’ll send you a banner later.”
“I don’t need it. I was even docked my bonus.” The waitress still had a sour face, her eyes on Lin Wanwan were unfriendly. You have a wife, and you chatted so intimately with others? What a fickle, bad man!
“My fault, I’ll compensate you for your losses. Wife, the money is with you.”
“How much?” Xie Sui looked at her. “Young lady, you tell me, how much are your losses?”
“Five… one hundred yuan!” She suddenly felt that her losses were huge. To ask for such a large sum. In fact, the fine was only a few yuan from her bonus.
Lin Wanwan counted out ten ten-yuan notes and handed them to her, “Thank you. Please take this money. No matter what, you helped my man.”
The waitress didn’t expect her to actually give her the money. She also saw that she was dressed quite fashionably and didn’t seem to be short of money. She grabbed it, stuffed it into her bag, and turned to leave.