Chapter 334: Chapter 333: As Long as You’re Found

Shiyi looked at He Lang in confusion. "Dad, are you crying?"

He Lang watched him, pressing his lips together. "As long as you’re found, that’s all that matters."

Shiyi said, "I don’t really know what happened. After school let out, Grandma was arguing with a woman. That woman said she was Xiao Yu’s mom. Then I felt hands cover my mouth from behind, and after that, I don’t remember anything. I woke up in some man’s arms. He smelled really, really awful, so I asked him who he was. But then I somehow fell asleep again. When I woke up the next time, I was here. Uncle Gu told me I’d been kidnapped by traffickers."

Shiyi recounted it so casually, they didn’t know whether to be relieved that the child seemed psychologically unharmed or to worry that the naive boy wouldn’t have even known he was being sold.

Regardless, it was Gu Kai Zhi who had saved his son. He Lang stood up and bowed deeply to Gu Kai Zhi.

Gu Kai Zhi quickly helped him up. "Please, don’t. I’m a soldier. This is my duty."

He Lang smiled. "I don’t care about duty. You saved my son, which makes you a benefactor to my entire family."

Shiyi stared with innocent eyes at his dad and Uncle Gu.

Xue Xingzhou patted his head. ’Thank goodness we found him,’ he thought. ’Otherwise, how would I ever explain this to my sister when she gets back? Such an adorable kid... anyone would go crazy.’

Shiyi mumbled, "Uncle."

Xue Xingzhou smiled and said, "You silly kid. To survive a great disaster means good fortune will follow."

Afterward, the three men sat and talked, getting to know one another.

Because He Lang and the others had come in a hurry, they didn’t have anything valuable on them. Their thanks could only be expressed in words for now, but he did ask for Gu Kai Zhi’s home address.

Gu Kai Zhi was on leave for a month to visit family. Since they were now considered friends, he generously gave them his address.

Shiyi really liked Gu Kai Zhi and was reluctant to leave him when it was time to go.

Gu Kai Zhi gave him a hug. "From now on, in crowded places, you have to hold on tight to a grown-up’s hand."

Shiyi nodded. "Uncle Gu, will I get to see you again?"

Gu Kai Zhi raised an eyebrow. "Hmm, I don’t know about that. But maybe."

He Lang said to Shiyi, "Alright, when Uncle Gu has time in the future, I’ll bring you to see him."

He Lang said to Gu Kai Zhi, "If you need anything, give me a call. I’m always available."

Gu Kai Zhi smiled and nodded, though he felt he probably wouldn’t need anything.

After He Lang and Xue Xingzhou left with Shiyi, Gu Kai Zhi went to the bus station. He planned to take a bus back to his county town, and from there, he would still need to take an ox-cart back to his village.

He Lang and Xue Xingzhou went to the local police station. They told the officers there what had happened and asked about the two traffickers.

"Oh, those two traffickers? They’ve confessed everything. They’re professionals. They have local contacts, and our officers are already on their way to the main hideout."

He Lang asked, "How many years will those two get?"

The officer at the station laughed. "Years? You’re underestimating. Execution. They really picked the wrong time to get caught. This is a ’Strike Hard’ period. Never mind a major crime like child trafficking, even petty thieves get several years."

He Lang looked at Xue Xingzhou, who nodded.

"That’s good."

Hearing that the criminals would be punished, He Lang was relieved.

They boarded the train back to Beijing City. He Lang held Shiyi on his lap.

His mood on the journey back was completely different from when he’d come; he had a smile on his face now.

Shiyi looked out the window with curiosity.

Looking at Shiyi’s carefree expression, Xue Xingzhou said to He Lang, "This silly kid doesn’t have a clue. It’s as if he wasn’t the one who got lost. He put us all in such a state, while he just slept through it all and woke up found."

He Lang glanced at Shiyi and smiled.

"He’s still little. He shouldn’t have to go through things like this. It’s good that he’s carefree."

"True."

It was the middle of the night when He Lang and the others got home. Ever since Mr. He and Mrs. He learned that He Lang had gone to Yu Province, they had been sick with worry, afraid that the child found wasn’t Shiyi.

He Lang opened the main gate and came in. A few seconds later, the light in his parents’ room switched on, and Mr. and Mrs. He quickly came out.

The first thing they saw was Shiyi standing next to He Lang.

"Shiyi."

Shiyi called out, "Grandpa. Grandma."

Mrs. He rushed to Shiyi, squatting down to pull him close and examine him carefully. Then she threw her arms around him, crying, "My precious! Where did you go? Grandma was scared to death! We finally have you back."

Shiyi reached out and patted Mrs. He’s back. "Grandma, don’t cry. I’m okay."

Hearing this only made Mrs. He cry even harder. ’Such a good boy. How could I have lost him?’

Mr. He said to her, "It’s good that he’s back. Keep your voice down. It’s late, and we have neighbors."

Just then, Daya also came out.

When Shiyi saw Daya, his eyes lit up.

"Big Sister Daya, you’re back."

Daya walked over. "Uncle, Shiyi, you’re back."

He Lang nodded to her. "No school?"

"Yeah."

She looked down at Shiyi. "I heard you were taken by traffickers. Shiyi, are you okay? Did they hit you?"

At this, Mrs. He quickly let go of Shiyi and started feeling him all over. "Where does it hurt?"

Shiyi shook his head. "They didn’t hit me. They used some kind of knockout drug on me, so I was asleep the whole time."

Mr. He asked He Lang, "Were the traffickers caught? What’s their punishment?"

"Yes. The death penalty."

"Serves them right! People like that should be shot. Don’t they have parents? Don’t they have children? How could they do something so worthy of divine retribution?" Mrs. He cursed. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Mr. He looked at them. "Alright, let’s talk inside. It’s so cold out."

Daya said, "You must not have eaten. I’ll go make you all some food. Shiyi, what do you want to eat?"

"Big Sister Daya, I want the meatball soup you make."

Daya smiled and nodded. "Okay."

Mrs. He stood up too. "I’ll go with you."

The mention of food made everyone realize just how hungry they were. Over the two days Shiyi was missing, He Lang had barely eaten a thing, and neither had Mr. and Mrs. He. His mother had spent her days in tears, with no appetite and no restful sleep. Now that Shiyi was found, everyone’s appetite had returned.

And so, in the middle of the night, the family finally sat down for a proper meal together.

Poor Xue Xingzhou, however, received no such treatment when he got home. When he arrived, his family was already asleep, and the courtyard was pitch black.

He took a quick shower and tiptoed back to his room.

"Xingzhou?" Zhang Qian’s voice was drowsy with sleep. She sensed someone pushing the door open.

Xue Xingzhou walked over. "It’s me."

CLICK. Zhang Qian turned on the light and sat up.

"Did you find Shiyi?"

Xue Xingzhou nodded. Only then did he notice that Ruanruan and Tun Tun were both asleep in the bed.

"That’s good. Are they home?"

"Yeah."

Zhang Qian looked at him. "Are you hungry? I can go make you a bowl of noodles."

"Forget it. We can deal with it tomorrow. It’s late. You should get some sleep."

Xue Xingzhou was hungry, too, but he could endure it. He was also exhausted. ’Better to just get some sleep,’ he thought.