Translator: AlfredoPoutineSoup  Editor: DesTheSloth
Seeing the disappointed Ma Houde and Lin Feng walking back with a middle-aged homeless⦠Ren Ziling hurriedly got off the car.
âHuh? Why did you catch such a guy?â
Ma Houde shook his head, âShe left there before we arrived. I think she found that someone was observing her⦠or she discovered you.â
Only then did Ren Ziling remember that she had came in contact with Zhao Ru.
âI tried to be careful⦠That woman is really sensitive.â Ren Ziling was surprised, âThen what should we do next?â
âI have no idea.â Ma Houde shook his head, âMaybe we have to call more people to go to other places where the homeless are to check.â
Lin Feng gaped, âOfficer Ma, Zhao Ru knew that weâre looking for her, do you still think sheâll hide in those other places?â
âThen what if she thought differently?â Ma Houde rolled his eyes, âEverything is possible. We policemen must keep seeking for some tiny hints constantly during these seemingly useless work.â
Ren Ziling patted Lin Fengâs shoulder, âOfficer Ma is stuffing money into your pocket. You should thank him and treat him to a meal? Oh, I know a restaurant nearby is very good. Letâs go have a dinner today!â
Lin Feng rolled his eyes, âDo you want me to invite you to go together?â
âYouâre so nice!â Ren Ziling blinked eyes, âCan I pack up some food for my Luo Qiu?â
ââ¦â
Lin Feng felt miserable. This month, he might have to eat dirt to survive⦠but at this moment, Ma Houde made a phone call.
âHi, honey, Iâll eat outside this evening. Yeah, Lin Feng is treating, yesâ¦â
âOfficer Ma, you cannot do this!!â
â¦
â¦
Later.
Ren Ziling went back home, taking off her shoes and shouting, âBrat, Luo Qiu? Boss Luo Qiu? Are you in? Did you cook? I brought back some food for you.â
Usually, Ren ZIling wouldnât get a response, so she just walked into Luo Qiuâs room.
She saw Luo Qiu looking at a photo album beneath the lit-up table lamp.
âWhat are you looking at?â
Luo Qiu closed the album and put it back into the drawer, âNothing, just the graduation photos from before.â
âGraduation photosâ¦â
Ren Ziling recalled her childhood days. But soon she said, âHave some food, sweet and sour pork ribs! Uncle Maâs subordinate treated us!â
This was Boss Luoâs favourite dish, so he took it while walking out of the room, âWhy did you go there?â
âLetâs not mention that.â Ren Ziling looked depressed and told him the events happened in the daytime, then specially mentioned, âI was staying in the car! You can ask Old Ma!â
âHomeless?â Luo Qiu murmured.
âWhat are you thinking of?â Ren Ziling asked.
âWhat can I think of?â
Ren Ziling shrugged her shoulders⦠she didnât know what Luo Qiu thought. She sat down and supported her chin with both hands, saying sadly, âOld Ma said he didnât arrest the right person, so I couldnât get the tip-off fee! But at least he caught a thief! Yet, he didnât even want to pay 100 yuan! Does he have any humanity left?â
âIâm going to heat the dish and cook rice. You only ate a little, right?â Luo Qiu asked indifferently.
âHow do you know that?â Ren Ziling gaped.
âAre you eating or not?â
âHeiheiâ¦â
Subeditor Ren laughed insidiously and peeped at the balcony, âAh, you didnât collect the clothes right! Let me help you!â
Boss Luo shook his head and took out some dishes.
He knew that both Ren Ziling and Uncle Ma werenât full. This could be seen from the several full meal boxes.
â¦
â¦
The homeless started work as soon as the sun rose and slept when the sun set. Nobody noticed those junkmen and even they didnât know the other similar fellows living near them.
The senior near Zhao Ru said that they were abandoned by this city.
He was called Uncle Mai. And he introduced his grandson with pride, âThis is my grandson, Mai Xiaojun.â
At 9 oâclock in the evening, Uncle Mai took his grandson to take a shower in the surrounding public toilet and came back.
Mai Xiaojun was a student, and received some help from the society; so when Uncle Mai came back, he took a bucket of water to wash Mai Xiaojunâs clothes.
Mai Xiaojun unfolded the table, and sat on the little stool. Uncle Mai fired an oil lamp for him to do his homework.
After a while, when other homeless approached, Uncle Mai chatted with them about some daily information in this city while washing the clothes.
Zhao Ru now suddenly walked out of her paper âhouseâ, âSir, let me help you.â
âAh? No need.â Uncle Mai shook his head.
Zhao Ru smiled, âSir, you treated me to some buns, so I need to help you with something.â
Other men laughed at that time. They didnât know why a girl came to such places but her smile looked nice.
Uncle Mai didnât insist on his behaviour and received Zhao Ruâs kindness. Since then, he knew this new girlâs name, âLittle Ru.â
He could not help ask her later, âLittle Ru⦠youâre so young, whyâ¦â
Zhao Ru hanged the clothes and said, âYou said the people here are all abandoned, didnât you?â
So Uncle Mai didnât ask more. Everyone here didnât want to tell their own stories.
That evening, his grandson looked excited and happier than ever, because Zhao Ru tutored him. And the senior felt appreciated and happy.
He had a much better sleep watching his grandson looking so delighted.
â¦
During the daytime, Uncle Mai woke up as before. Everything was the same, including sending his grandson to school.
After coming back, Uncle Mai met two policemen, who were walking towards him; they took out a photo and asked, âDid you see this person?â
It was Zhao Ru.
Uncle Mai didnât answer them, but frowned first, âOfficer, whatâs wrong with this person?â
They just told him, âSheâs a dangerous escaped criminal! We suspect sheâs hiding in the surrounding area. Did you see her?â
âNo, I didnât.â
Uncle Mai shook his head and gave a natural and peaceful look.
The policeman didnât care about that, âOh, fine. But if you see her, call the police, and youâll get some rewards!â
Uncle Mai didnât say anything but smiled. When the two cops left, he walked into the alley.
He backed to his âhouseâ; after cleaning his objects, he went to the next âhouseâ.
Seeing this sleeping girl with her body curled up, Uncle Mai put down two stuffed buns at the door. He bought buns on the way back to this âhouseâ.
To Uncle Mai, she was not Zhao Ru, but only a new girl.
She said she was an abandoned person.
All members here were abandoned and they had no history.
That was all.