Chapter Three: The Strange Child!
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... This restroom is built with a unique style. Though the two restrooms are separated by a wall, they don’t block sound.
...
At this moment, what reached this kid’s ears was a most unpleasant noise—accompanied by sounds of force and a girl’s quiet sobbing.
What was even more infuriating was that next door, there was the raucous shouting of a woman living her own little life!
...
Think of mighty China, where every stroke in our characters stands tall like a backbone!
Liu Haizhu’s anger flared instantly. He slapped the leaf in his hand behind him, pulled up his pants, stood up, and stormed out in one swift motion!
...
At the entrance to the women’s restroom by the street,
Liu Haizhu stood with hands on his hips, furiously shouting like a wild horse: “Damn it! You bastards inside, come out right now! I’m Liu Haizhu from Liu Village. You better come out, what the hell is this bullying my mom about!”
...
The sounds inside abruptly ceased.
A small crowd gathered around, whispering and murmuring among themselves.
Liu Haizhu explained a few things, then urged an aunt nearby to go check inside, but she shook her head vigorously.
The kid raised his eyebrows: “I’m telling you, if my second aunt were here, she’d have stormed right in already!”
As time dragged on,
Liu Haizhu grew impatient, took a deep breath, and charged into the women’s restroom alone.
Just upon entering, sweat broke out on his forehead!
Soon after, with a flushed red face, he rushed out quickly, hopped on his bicycle, and sped away like a flash.
...
Wuwuwu!~~~~
Two girls emerged from the women’s restroom, eyes brimming with tears, timid and frightened.
One of the girls held a portable tape player.
...
In the office of the Xinghua Township Land Administration,
The window was open, letting in a fresh breeze.
Several pots of green ivy sat on the windowsill, filling the air with an indescribable freshness.
Director Zhan held a teacup, smiling warmly as he watched the union director seated on the sofa.
The union director chuckled and said, “Director, if you ask about Haizhu, his background is quite complicated.”
At this, Director Zhan frowned slightly.
He knew that banners of praise were often sent to the office, but he never paid much attention, assuming the kid was just putting on a show.
Seeing the director’s grim expression, the union director voiced a concern.
They had worked together for decades. Although the union director belonged to the union, he was quite familiar with old Zhan’s temperament.
He was very capable but narrow-minded, always nitpicking.
The union director just couldn’t understand when old Zhan had suddenly taken such an interest in this troublesome kid.
Could it be...
No way, right?
Could it be... that kid had pissed off the leadership?
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Suppressing his doubts, the union director began recounting an old story.
...
That year, little Haizhu was just born; the Liu family had a big, healthy boy, and the household was filled with joy!
During this happy time,
Even the boy’s second uncle, under pressure from superiors, forcibly took leave from Shenlongjia just to come see his little nephew.
But the good times didn’t last long.
When the baby was just over two months old,
One day, while his mother was carrying him outside, right at Victory Street Square, a familiar-faced woman tricked her and took the baby away.
After that,
The entire Liu family was thrown into chaos!
The whole Liu Village was in uproar!!!
Villagers searched everywhere, turning the entire county upside down, but the baby was nowhere to be found.
...
Meanwhile, in the neighboring Pei County,
A kind-eyed woman smiled as she held a plastic baby bottle, teasing the infant on the bed: “Say ‘mama,’ say ‘mama,’ and I’ll give you milk.”
The baby, about three months old, plump and fair, cooed and tried to grab the bottle from her hands but couldn’t.
Finally, the child became impatient and actually babbled, barely intelligibly, “Ma, mama, mama...”
“Oh, good boy.”
The woman smiled with satisfaction.
...
On a snowy day,
At a roadside phone booth,
The woman whispered on the phone: “Okay, I know it’s stricter now.
... Don’t worry, within half a month, at most half a month, I can get it done... Trust me, I have my ways.”
...
The train rumbled loudly...
By the window seat, a woman held the chubby baby in her arms.
She stared expressionlessly at the scenery rushing past outside, yet her little heart trembled incessantly.
In the reflection of the glass, a stern man sat opposite her, upright and sharp-eyed.
He seemed to be watching her closely!!!
...
Slowly, night fell.
The iron dragon spewed black smoke, still thundering along the tracks.
On the train, the man sitting opposite the woman maintained his stiff posture, gazing long and hard out the window.
Every inch of land and river soaked in blood;
All the peace we enjoy was won by the sacrifices of our forebears!
...
“Wah!”
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Suddenly, the child cried.
The woman snapped back to reality, forcing a smile as she clumsily filled the bottle with milk powder.
The man reached out, “Let me help you?”
“Oh?!”
The woman seemed startled, then smiled and handed the baby over: “You hold the little one for me,” she said, pointing toward the train’s restroom. “I need to boil some water.”
The man took the chubby baby, “Alright!”
...
Soon, the woman returned holding a towel-wrapped bottle, smiling briefly at the man.
She took a ceramic jar from her bag, deftly poured some cool water.
“Where’s your husband?” The man, clearly experienced with children, gently patted the swaddled baby and asked.
“He’s working at the Yancheng Shipyard.”
The woman sipped from the jar, satisfied with the temperature, then filled the bottle and capped it, smiling at the man: “Comrade, thank you for your help.”
“Heh, it’s nothing.”
The woman teased the baby in her arms: “Good baby, say ‘mama,’ say ‘mama’...”
After a long while,
The woman sitting opposite them, clearly with the man, couldn’t hold back and said, “Hey sister, what are you doing? Your baby is only a few months old; how could it say anything? Hurry and feed him, he looks hungry.”
Beads of sweat appeared on the woman’s forehead, a hint of malice flashing in her eyes!
This scene, by coincidence, was just witnessed by the stern man, who was an active narcotics police officer.
...
The train rumbled on.
The woman awkwardly smiled as she brought the bottle to the baby’s mouth.
...
Suddenly, the infant’s gaze sharpened.
The tiny child furrowed his brows, eyes widening dramatically, making the hairs stand on end!
...
A cold wind swept through.
The baby’s gaze turned icy. At that moment, nearly everyone held their breath.
It was terrifying.
The baby said: “You’re not my mother. I am his mother!
I am his mother!
I... am... his mother!
...
The infant stared fiercely at the woman holding him.
...
“Ah!”
A piercing scream. The woman’s face turned pale, and she trembled violently all over.
...
The man opposite suddenly stood up with a ‘whoosh,’ angrily shouting at the woman: “What exactly are you doing?!”
He then instructed the woman beside him: “Go get someone!”