mtlumby2d Chapter 177 I'm Here to Help You
Chapter 177 I'm Here to Help You
She forgot which year it was, but she was beaten by her adoptive mother and kicked out of the house in the dead of winter. She could only squat in a sheltered corner of the wall, where she heard several villagers chatting.
Someone said, "Old Wang's family beat that girl again today. They beat her so badly that her skin was torn and bleeding. The child is so pitiful. I heard that before she was sold here, someone contacted her previous adoptive parents and gave them a large sum of money to help take care of her. I guess her birth parents had no other choice but to send her away."
Another person added, "That's right, but that heartless couple pocketed the money and sold the girl."
Lin Qingran's hand froze in the water, her heart filled with a mixture of anger and resentment.
She gritted her teeth, tears welling up in her eyes.
These memories, like sharp knives, pierced her heart. But they also strengthened her resolve to escape.
She must find her biological parents and leave this terrible place!
Perhaps her biological parents didn't really abandon her; they were just forced into it.
It's possible that she was once from a wealthy family, otherwise no one would have come specifically to give her money.
Perhaps her biological parents have been looking for her all along.
Lin Qingran's thoughts began to drift away, imagining her biological parents anxiously searching for her.
The more she thought about it, the sadder she became, and tears welled up uncontrollably again, dripping down her cheeks into the river.
"If only they could find me, I wouldn't have to suffer here."
Lin Qingran sobbed, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably.
But then she couldn't help but think of the new boy, wondering to herself if his parents would be terribly worried if they found out he was missing.
They must be extremely anxious and searching everywhere.
Lin Qingran returned home after washing the clothes, her steps slow and drawn-out, her mind still heavy with this matter.
She went into the dimly lit kitchen, rummaged around in the corner and found two cold steamed buns. She ate them silently with some pickled vegetables.
With each bite of the steamed bun, her thoughts drifted further away.
If she can help that boy leave the village, will the boy, in turn, help her find her parents?
Thinking of this, Lin Qingran felt a surge of excitement, and the steamed bun in her mouth seemed to lose its flavor.
So Lin Qingran secretly hid a steamed bun, carefully wrapped it in a tattered piece of clothing, and sneaked out while her adoptive mother was out playing mahjong.
As night fell, the entire village was enveloped in silence, broken only by the occasional bark of a dog.
Lin Qingran took a deep breath, mustered her courage, and, using the faint moonlight, tiptoed toward the old widower's house.
Her heart was pounding, as if it would jump out of her throat. With each step, she nervously looked around, afraid of being discovered.
The road beneath her feet was rugged and uneven, and Lin Qingran nearly fell several times, but she bit her lip tightly and persevered.
Finally, the old widower's dilapidated house came into view. Lin Qingran hid behind a large tree, trying to calm her rapid breathing.
After confirming that no one would suddenly appear, Lin Qingran secretly entered the old widower's courtyard. She didn't dare to breathe loudly, her heart was in her throat.
The courtyard was pitch black, with only the occasional chirping of insects. Lin Qingran crouched down and carefully searched the area.
As she passed the woodshed, she glanced nervously inside, but did not see the boy.
Sweat dripped down her face, but she didn't bother wiping it away and continued searching.
Finally, in the cowshed in the corner, Lin Qingran heard a faint noise.
She held her breath and slowly approached. By the faint moonlight, she saw the boy's figure huddled in the corner.
Lin Qingran's heart skipped a beat, and she lowered her voice to speak.
"Don't be afraid, I'm here to help you."
The boy looked at Lin Qingran warily, his eyes filled with fear and suspicion. His body trembled, and he wanted to scream.
Lin Qingran's heart skipped a beat, and she panicked instantly. But fearing being discovered, she mustered up some courage and rushed forward, covering the boy's mouth with her own wounded hand.
Lin Qingran's heart raced, as if it were about to leap out of her throat. She lowered her voice and spoke urgently.
"Don't scream, I'm here to save you."
But the boy continued to struggle. Lin Qingran could feel his strength, and she tightened her grip, her voice becoming more urgent.
"Trust me, I won't hurt you."
Lin Qingran was afraid of attracting attention, so her forehead was covered in sweat, which streamed down her cheeks and dripped onto the ground.
After several struggles, the boy finally ran out of strength. He was panting heavily, his eyes still showing a hint of wariness.
Lin Qingran was a little embarrassed at this moment, blushing as she explained in a soft voice.
"I'm sorry, I really didn't mean any harm. I just wanted to help you escape."
As she spoke, Lin Qingran took out the saved steamed bun from her bosom and handed it to the boy.
"You must be hungry. Eat something first."
She looked at the boy and spoke cautiously.
"Don't worry, I won't hurt you."
The boy stared at the steamed bun in Lin Qingran's hand, hesitated for a moment, and finally took it and wolfed it down.
Watching the boy finish the steamed bun in a few bites, Lin Qingran tentatively asked.
"Where are you from? Do you remember who's in your family?"
Lin Qingran's voice was soft and cautious, her eyes filled with anticipation.
The boy looked up, a hint of confusion in his eyes. He frowned, trying hard to remember, and slowly said.
"I...I only remember that my home is in a very, very big city, but...I can't remember the specifics."
Lin Qingran looked at the boy with a puzzled expression, her brows furrowed, and pressed for an answer.
Why can't you remember?
The boy's eyes dimmed, and he spoke with a hint of fear.
"I only remember being knocked unconscious. When I woke up, I found myself tied up. My mind was a mess, and my memory was very blurry. I don't remember how I left home, where my home was, or even what my parents' names were."
After saying that, the boy lowered his head, held his head in his hands, and looked very distressed.
Seeing this, Lin Qingran stopped pressuring the boy to remember anything. She looked at him gently and offered her advice.
"Don't worry if you can't remember. Just protect yourself and don't provoke that bad guy again. I'll find a way to get you out of here. I can't stay with you any longer, I have to go."
After saying that, Lin Qingran hurriedly went home.
The following night, with a heart full of trepidation, Lin Qingran quietly went to the old widower's house again.
Before they even entered the door, they could hear the old widower's cursing and the boy's cries coming from inside.
Lin Qingran's heart clenched instantly. She bit her lip and unconsciously clenched her fists.
"Serves you right for disobeying me! I'll teach you a lesson!" the old widower's vicious voice rang out.
Amid the old widower's curses, Lin Qingran gradually understood the ins and outs of the matter.
It turned out that the boy was so hungry that he couldn't bear it any longer, so he stole the old widower's food. As a result, the old widower found out and beat him.
"You little brat, how dare you touch my things!"
The old widower cursed as he swung his wooden stick, striking the boy hard.
The boy cried so hard that his voice became hoarse.
"I'm so hungry, I'm so hungry... Please, please let me go!"
His body trembled incessantly as he tried to dodge the rain of blows, but there was nowhere to escape.
Hearing all this from outside the door, Lin Qingran felt heartbroken and tears welled up in her eyes. She covered her mouth tightly with both hands, afraid that she would rush in.