The young lady talked incessantly about her family, and a warm smile unconsciously appeared on the little beggar's face.

Finally, Xiao Youniang begged, "Brother, please come home with me. Daddy and mommy are very powerful and will definitely take good care of us."

If that doesn't work, she will eat less and share some with her brother.

The little beggar pursed his lips and did not answer. He only urged the little girl to rest early and said that he would take her to see the authorities at dawn the next day.

Although she didn't get a clear answer, Xiao Youniang still obediently lay down on the pile of grass prepared by the little beggar and fell asleep.

The night was bitterly cold and the little girl could not sleep well. In her dreams she was always being chased by beggars and was separated from her parents by thousands of miles.

The little beggar guarded her until the sky turned pale, then he woke up the little girl, and the two of them carefully headed towards the county government office.

The Zhang family stayed up all night. Xu Liyun and Zhang Laoer worked with the officers to search the whole city. Yu He also sent his men to look for her everywhere, but Xiao Youniang seemed to have disappeared out of thin air and no trace could be found.

Although the child trafficking den was destroyed and other missing children were found, Xiao Youniang was the only one missing. Even the young master from the capital was found unexpectedly, but Xiao Youniang remained a mystery.

Just as the Zhang family was preparing to leave the city to look for someone, Mr. Zhou brought good news - Xiao Youniang was found in the county government office!

The Zhang family rushed over and saw the little girl sitting obediently at the table, munching on buns.

The stone in Xu Liyun's heart suddenly fell to the ground. When the little girl saw her parents, she dropped the buns and jumped into her mother's arms like a happy little bird.

"Mom, I miss you so much!" The little girl was hugged tightly, and her uneasiness disappeared instantly.

Zhang Laoer gently stroked his daughter's disheveled hair. The braids that had been tied had fallen apart, making her look pitiful.

Sanwa, Siwa and Wu Niang surrounded the younger sister. Wu Niang carefully checked her younger sister's body and felt relieved only after confirming that she was fine.

After rubbing against her mother's arms for a long time, the young girl stood up with her messy hair, pulled over a little boy covered in dirt, and said to her family, "Mom and Dad, it was this beggar brother who saved me. Can we take him home?"

As the sun sets, a donkey cart carrying a family and a little beggar slowly moves along a winding country road. Wild flowers on the roadside sway in the wind, and the mountains in the distance appear soft and distant under the setting sun.

The little girl nestled in her mother's arms, surrounded by her dear brothers and sisters. She recounted how she and the little beggar cleverly escaped. There was no trace of fear in her tone, only the innocence and excitement unique to children.

But when she mentioned the lost rabbit lantern, a barely perceptible sense of loss flashed in her eyes.

Zhang Siwa saw this and immediately comforted him, his words full of brotherly tenderness and determination: "Don't be sad, it's just a lantern. I'll make you a better one when I get home!"

When Xiao Youniang heard this, a smile as bright as a flower blossomed on her face, and her eyes were shining with anticipation, as if she had already seen the new lantern that was about to be born.

Inside the carriage, the little girl's bell-like laughter was like the most beautiful music in spring, infecting everyone. Even Zhang Laoer, who was usually wary of strangers, showed a rare smile to the little beggar.

In such an atmosphere, Zhang Laoer finally asked the little beggar's name, and secretly decided in his heart that he would help this brave child find his family no matter what.

The little beggar Xiao Ting's answer was simple and direct. There was a hint of shyness on his face, but it could not hide his tenacity and innocence.

The children of the Zhang family extended their hands of friendship to him one after another. Xiao Ting was a little overwhelmed by this sudden warmth, but he was more moved.

With Xiao Youniang's introduction, the scene of Zhangjia Village gradually became clear in Xiao Ting's mind. From the willow trees at the head of the village to the Daxiu Mountain at the end of the village, from the warm kang in the home to the small swing in the yard, every detail was full of the breath of life and the warmth of home.

The moment the donkey cart stopped at the door of his house, Xiao Ting felt as if he had really found a new home, and his heart was filled with an unprecedented sense of security.

After a night of running around and tension, the Zhang family can finally take a break.

Zhang Laoer was busy shuttling around the house, lighting the kang, boiling hot water, and ensuring that every child got enough rest.

With the help of the Zhang family, Xiao Ting experienced the first hot bath in his life, changed into clean clothes, sat by the stove, feeling the warm air caressing his wet hair, his heart filled with unprecedented gratitude.

After waking up, Xiao Youniang took her mother's hand and excitedly participated in decorating the room for Xiao Ting.

The new room is tidy and warm, and every item is arranged in order, as if silently welcoming the arrival of the new member.

Xiao Youniang held Xiao Ting's hand, with expectation in her eyes, and led him into their new world. In this simple yet loving home, everyone's hearts were closely connected, weaving together a beautiful picture of the future.

Xiao Ting's fingers slowly stroked the soft and delicate bedding, feeling the warmth coming from the kang, as if he was in a distant yet warm dream.

He hadn't experienced such luxury for many years, and the feeling of comfort from the inside out was so great that he could hardly believe it was real.

Seeing that Xiao Ting had fallen asleep before he could finish his words, Xiao Youniang did not disturb him out of concern. She just quietly left the room and took Zhang Siwa, who had just opened his sleepy eyes, to the back mountain to prepare the bamboo materials needed to make lanterns.

Making lanterns is a craft that cannot be acquired in a day, and Zhang Siwa knows well how difficult it is.

He first took his sister through the bamboo forest on the back mountain, carefully selecting those tough bamboos, and taking every step very seriously.

The subsequent processes require meticulous learning and practice, and every link is full of ingenuity.

When the morning light broke, Xiao Ting woke up slowly from his dream, and the fatigue of the night seemed to be completely absorbed by the warm bedding.

Although the clothes on her body are simple and plain, and no longer as gorgeous as before, they fit the skin unexpectedly and bring an unprecedented sense of comfort.

Just as he was immersed in this rare tranquility and comfort, he heard the clear and pleasant laughter of children outside the window. Then, waves of tempting food aroma slipped into the room through the gaps in the window lattice, whetting his appetite.

Not long after, Zhang Siwa walked into the room carrying several large plates of steaming dumplings. He raised his chin slightly towards Xiao Youniang, motioning her to wake up Xiao Ting to have breakfast together.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Youniang immediately ran towards Xiao Ting's room. Before she could call him, Xiao Ting had already walked out neatly dressed and in high spirits.

"Brother Xiao Ting, you're awake! Come and have dinner with us."

Xiao Youniang took Xiao Ting's hand and led him to the main room with great joy.

As soon as we sat down, the hot dumplings were placed on the table.

Tap the screen to use advanced tools Tip: You can use left and right keyboard keys to browse between chapters.

You'll Also Like