After Li Yitian left, the four children cried for another hour, and their cries were full of happiness for the rest of their lives.

In the end, it was the older Zhao Xiaoyu who calmed down first, he wiped his face twice, and said with a little trilling in his voice: "Okay, don't cry, this matter is over." ”

The remaining children struggled to bite their lips and choked to stop their crying.

After the brothers and sisters quieted down, the most clever dog said, "Brother Yu, those people are gone."

They didn't do anything to us just now, but what if they regret it tomorrow?

Why don't we run now. ”

Zhao Xiaoyu slapped him on the head, and the "snap" made the dog shrink his head, and the expression on the dog's face with a bit of a kobold military advisor disappeared in an instant.

Zhao Xiaoyu pointed at him and hated iron and steel, and said, "You are stupid, you don't look at who they are."

There are ten taels of gold to take out when you go out, which is more than a hundred taels of silver!

They must be rich and powerful people, just how far can a few of us run?

It's really annoying people, people report to the government, such a large sum of money, you must be wanted to arrest a few of us, where are you going to run then?

Besides, Grandpa Yan and they still have to sit together because of us, usually Grandpa Yan is so good to us, you let him suffer this crime, do you still have any conscience?"

The dog clutched his aching skull and replied weakly: "Oh." ”

The children sat together again with sad faces.

At this time, Zhao Xiaoyu stood up again and relieved his brothers and sisters: "Tomorrow may not be such a bad result, the three of them are all big shots."

Since he said that he would let us go, he shouldn't worry about us children anymore.

Won't they leave us their money bags and let us see the doctor and buy new clothes? Maybe we'll meet tomorrow and that will be over.

But we have to remember this love of others, and we will pay it back in the future. ”

At this moment, Xiao Shi's words made Zhao Xiaoyu fall into an ice cave: "Will they let us go because they saw through Brother Yu's true colors?"

Zhao Xiaoyu is actually a very good-looking boy, but he has been making his face dirty, and it is not for nothing.

There are many ninth-rate people in this small town, and he once saw a naked boy thrown out of a carriage passing by a stinking ditch.

He still remembered the corpse's big eyes, the frozen despair in the swollen eyes, and the pain on the immature little face that had not yet dissipated.

That night he had a nightmare in which the scene kept changing.

But there was always the corpse of the child, and he was standing not far from him, looking at him blankly with bloodshot eyes.

There were many unrecognizable people around him, smiling hideously and walking towards him.

Zhao Xiaoyu has struggled in the dark side of the town since he was a child, and he knows that this is an era of cannibalism, and these little shrimps are just bits and pieces used by the big people to change their tastes.

So after that night, Zhao Xiaoyu always made his face, which was more delicate than a boy, dirty, just because he was afraid that his body would be still in the stinky ditch at some point.

Now Little Stone's words evoke memories of all his fears that have been sealed for a long time.

He seemed to be able to imagine what the future would be like for him, with the dark basement, the cold shackles that were heavy to the bone, and the ...... All sorts of smirking approaching people.

So his body began to tremble, his teeth began to "cluck", and the boy's body seemed to appear in front of him again, only this time the corpse's face was himself.

Zhao Xiaoyu gritted his trembling teeth hard, and he said in a trembling voice: "It's okay, if that's the case, I will give him back this life for you."

At least my life can be exchanged for ten taels of gold, right?

It's just that I'm not here anymore, so you three have to live well and eat more good things for me. ”

The dogs' eyes began to turn red again, just when they wanted to cry again.

Zhao Xiaoyu held back his fear, pulled up an ugly smile and said, "Do you still remember what happened when we met?"

The three of them nodded vigorously, Zhao Xiaoyu pointed to Mu Ne's honest, three sticks can't beat a fart of the big cow and said with a smile: "The big cow is the first brother I brought back." ”

At this time, Da Niu burst into tears, and he didn't know what to say, so he nodded desperately.

It was a winter morning, and the streets were covered with cold, biting snowflakes.

Because Zhao Xiaoyu didn't catch wild fish in the ice cave on the river yesterday, he had to carry the two copper plates he had saved up hard to buy two buns as rations.

Eat one today, and keep the other as a backup, and eat it when you can't hold it anymore.

When Zhao Xiaoyu walked back after buying steamed buns, he saw three seven or eight-year-old beggars punching and kicking around a five or six-year-old beggar.

The beaten little beggar curled up on the ground, as if desperately trying to protect something.

Zhao Xiaoyu hesitated, ran to a nearby tree, broke a long branch as a weapon, ran over and danced wildly, and screamed "wow" in his mouth.

The three little beggars were beaten a few times, and seeing that Zhao Xiaoyu was taller than them and had a weapon in his hand, he hesitated for a moment, and the beggar led by him spat on the ground and said hatefully: "It's really unlucky." ”

He took his two companions and departed.

Zhao Xiaoyu stretched out his hand to pull the child up, and the child's right hand was still holding something tightly.

Zhao Xiaoyu's face showed a trace of contempt, and he said nonchalantly: "Don't worry, I won't grab something to eat with you, who in this neighborhood doesn't know Brother Xiaoyu's reputation." ”

The child seemed to be relieved, let go of the arm that was holding it, and Zhao Xiaoyu saw that it was half a sheet of bread.

It's almost enough for their children to eat for a day, so it's no wonder that the three little beggars want to rob him.

Zhao Xiaoyu looked at him condescendingly: "What's your name?"

The boy answered him honestly: "They all call me Da Niu." ”

After Da Niu finished speaking, he sat down on the spot and nibbled on the dough, and broke half of it and handed it to Zhao Xiaoyu.

In the world of beggars, there is also a reward for helping, Zhao Xiaoyu confidently took the dough cake and sat on the ground with the big cow and nibbled on it.

Da Niu Xu was hungry for a long time and devoured it quickly, and after a while, he finished eating the cake, and then watched Zhao Xiaoyu eat the cake.

Zhao Xiaoyu frowned and asked him, "How long have you not eaten?"

Da Niu swallowed his saliva and said, "I haven't eaten for three days, and I'm a little hungry." ”

So Zhao Xiaoyu handed the unfinished cake to Da Niu again, but he also ate it quickly, and there was not much left of the cake and was eaten by Da Niu in two bites.

Zhao Xiaoyu thought about it, and was very distressed to take out a big bun and break it in half and give it to the big cow.

Although it is a vegetable bun, the stuffing of the bun in this steamed bun shop is rolled through the lard, and the two children are eating the piping hot vegetable bun in a big gulp, and their tongues can't care about the numbness and savor the hard-to-find oil smell in the vegetable bun.

The two immature little faces were full of happiness.

After eating the buns, Zhao Xiaoyu patted his ass and was about to leave, but saw that Da Niu had no intention of leaving.

I asked him strangely, "Won't you find a place to warm up on such a cold day?"

Da Niu's voice was full of grievances and said, "Originally, I lived with the three of them, but they always robbed me of food these days."

Today, I was the first to come, and the boss's half of the cake was given to me.

They insisted on robbing me, and I hadn't eaten for three days. I didn't give them the bread, and I'm afraid I'll be beaten when I go back now. “

Zhao Xiaoyu thought for a while and said arrogantly: "Then you can mix with me from now on, if you have a bite to eat, you will have half a bite to eat."

From now on, you will be my little brother. “

Da Niu looked at this god who could eat buns, nodded adoringly, and quickly agreed: "Well, you will be the boss of Da Niu in the future." “

That year, Zhao Xiaoyu was ten years old, and Da Niu was five years old.

When Zhao Xiaoyu and Da Niu and Gou Zi met, Zhao Xiaoyu was twelve years old, and Dog and Da Niu were both seven years old.

That day, Zhao Xiaoyu and Da Niu were wandering on the street, and when they saw the dog following the family from a distance, they were curious and followed.

I saw that the dog took advantage of the family's inattention, and suddenly ran up and grabbed a few handfuls of the child's sugar gourd string with his dirty hands, and ran away after grabbing it.

was caught by the man who reacted, slapped his angry mother-in-law several times, and the sugar gourd skewers were not left and thrown to the ground.

When the family walked away, the dog picked up the leftover sugar gourd skewers and put them in the river water to wash them.

Wrapped in paper that he picked up out of nowhere, he sneakily ran to the vicinity of the sugar gourd seller, waiting for the next fat sheep.

After repeating it a few times, the dog's arms are full of sugar gourd skewers.

I saw him cautiously running into a small alley, where a few snotty little babies were waiting with copper plates.

The dog sold them the remaining sugar gourd skewers for two pennies a string.

After the little children left, the dog took out a bunch of sugar gourds left over from his arms and ate them deliciously.

This scene was watched by Zhao Xiaoyu, who was secretly following, and they were shocked.

Zhao Xiaoyu pulled the big cow, and the two came to the dog together.

The dog looked vigilantly at the two who suddenly appeared, both of whom were taller than him, and he had to give up the choice of doing it.

He asked Zhao Xiaoyu vigilantly: "What do you want to do? If you want to grab money, I will fight with you." “

Zhao Xiaoyu looked at the big bull who couldn't beat a fart with three sticks, and felt that he needed such a "wise general" under his command.

So Zhao Xiaoyu replied to him unreasonably: "Follow me, you will be our brother in the future!"

The dog was still vigilant, and asked rhetorically, "Why?"

Zhao Xiaoyu was a few years older than him and a little more cunning, so he threatened him: "If you don't be our brother, I will tell the sugar gourd seller what you just did, and see how you follow him in the future, maybe he will have to ask you to spit out your money to him." ”

This time he pinched the dog's seven inches, and the dog had no choice but to call Zhao Xiaoyu helplessly: "Boss." ”

Zhao Xiaoyu's eyes lit up and he pulled the dog and hurriedly said, "Let's go, let's go get a few more strings of sugar gourds." ”

The dog grabbed him in turn and said: "You can't do more about this, and if you do too much, you will find out if you sell sugar gourds, and you can do it once every half a month at most."

And let's say okay, I'll mess with you, what can you give me?"

Zhao Xiaoyu pinched his waist with both hands and made a little adult gesture and said, "Of course you are the third." As for what we can give you, we will beat you up and change it for sugar gourds in the future, and we will eat it together. ”

The dog was very unconvinced and said, "Why am I the third child?"

Zhao Xiaoyu pointed to the big bull who was taller than his peers and said, "Have you ever beaten him?"

The dog shook his head and said, "I can't beat it." ”

Zhao Xiaoyu pointed at himself again and said, "Then did you beat me?"

The dog looked at Zhao Xiaoyu, who was taller, and shook his head honestly.

At this time, Zhao Xiaoyu said confidently: "So you are the third child." ”

The dog resigned himself to his fate with a bitter face.

If Zhao Xiaoyu's encounter with Da Niu and Dog is the result of abandoned children huddling together for warmth, then Xiao Shi is the life that the three children snatched from the clutches of fate.

On that day, the Blessed Inn welcomed a strange guest, who was strange because he was pulling a large cargo covered in black cloth in an ox cart.

The guest is a strange middle-aged man, with a beard and a burly build, his eyes like eagles but revealing a palpitating coldness, and when he looks at someone, it makes people feel that it is not a human but a vulture that locks on its prey.

The guest also stood by the cargo while eating, as if it were his life.

He paid for the room to the shopkeeper Liu, but only asked for a futon, and seemed to plan to sleep next to the ox cart at night.

Zhao Xiaoyu happened to come to the inn to ask Shopkeeper Liu if there were any leftovers to take away at the inn today, and happened to see this strange person and car.

Shopkeeper Liu said that there is not much leftover food for the time being, and there will be people coming in the evening, so he will give it to him when he has enough, and let him wait outside the inn.

As if he had eaten a bad stomach, the middle-aged man scolded and went to the backyard of the inn.

Zhao Xiaoyu looked at the black cloth blowing in the wind on the car, standing there silently like a dark night devouring light.

Zhao Xiaoyu suddenly felt a burst of fear in his heart for no reason, but he had a strong curiosity in his heart.

So he secretly untied the rope that bound the black cloth, lifted it, and secretly looked inside.

This glance made his body cold, his hands and feet stiff, and only the sound of his heart beating in his chest echoed in his mind, and the sound was as loud as a drum.

He saw a huge iron cage with many little girls with their hands and feet tied and their mouths gagged all looking at him in horror.

Although he knew that the situation was extremely dangerous at the moment, Zhao Xiaoyu's body just couldn't move until he saw a different gaze.

There was no fear in this gaze, no begging, only childlike curiosity.

Zhao Xiaoyu followed his gaze and saw a girl wearing a red jacket with pigtails on her head, he couldn't see her face clearly, but he remembered her curious and clear eyes.

The body resumed its activities again, and Zhao Xiaoyu hurriedly restored the black cloth to its original state and ran home.

He couldn't forget those frightened eyes, and those curious eyes.

At last he called the dog and the cow, and he wanted to save them, at least save her!

After hearing this, the dog blinked and said in surprise: "Boss, you are crazy! We will never be able to beat that person, even if we are rescued secretly, what should we do if people look for us?"

Zhao Xiaoyu made up his mind: "I have a way, it turns out that when I was hungry, I once went to eat a kind of grass outside the city, and I fainted after eating, and I had a stomachache after waking up."

Later, I asked Grandpa Yan, and he said that he didn't know what kind of grass it was, but he had tried it before.

Not only will the grass be dizzy when you eat it, but it will also smell dizzy when you burn it.

As for how to hide her, let's let her hide in the big soil hole we once dug, buy some food in advance and put it in, and hide until the person is gone and then come out. ”

The dog showed his wit at this time, and said to Zhao Xiaoyu: "Boss, all the girls have seen you, or you will hide in it."

We'll put all the money in again, and then we'll say you're running away with her. When the wait is gone, you will come out. ”

So the three of them finalized a plan to save people.

In the middle of the night, the three of them took the herbs and built a rudimentary stove out of the broken bricks to light the herbs.

One covered the fire with a shabby black cloth, and the other fanned the burning green smoke to the middle-aged man, and both held their breath.

Who can't hold it back, the third person replaces, and so on.

After a long time, the dog threw a brick at the man, and when the man did not respond, he beckoned the two to save him.

Zhao Xiaoyu opened the cage, and the three of them woke up a few girls to let them run quickly, while Zhao Xiaoyu pulled the girl in the red jacket and hid in the soil hole that the three had dug before to hide money.

Before, the three of them joked that they would hide a lot of copper coins here in the future, so they dug up very big and big, and now it finally came in handy.

They had already eaten and drunk inside, but it was extremely dark without fire and candles. In the dark, the girl grabbed Zhao Xiaoyu's arm tightly, and Zhao Xiaoyu comforted her: "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, just hide for a few days."

There's plenty of food in the cave, and you can't be hungry. ”

The girl snorted. Zhao Xiaoyu asked her again, "What's your name?"

The girl's voice in the darkness was crisp: "My name is Little Stone." ”

But after the effect of the drug, the middle-aged man woke up in the middle of the night and found that the "goods" were gone, and he was furious.

He vowed to break the corpses of those who had done so. But he hurriedly followed the footprints to find it.

By dawn, all but the girl in the red jacket had been recaptured.

How far can a group of four or five-year-old children, hungry and unsure of the road, run?

But the girl in the red jacket couldn't find it. The middle-aged man was suspicious of the little beggar he saw during the day.

inquired about Zhao Xiaoyu's residence and hurried there, but saw two strange children there, and one child was still scolding.

After asking, I learned that the person I was looking for had stolen the money hidden by two little beggars in the middle of the night and fled with the girl.

The middle-aged man was still unwilling, and stayed in this small city for three or four days, and he couldn't find anyone in the city.

Later, the delivery date he agreed with his next family was approaching, so he left unwillingly.

It wasn't until the middle-aged man had left for three days that the dog confirmed that he was no longer in the city, and Zhao Xiaoyu and Xiaoshi came out of the darkness.

Since then, the four have lived together, and the five-year-old Xiaoshi is the youngest of the four and has become the little sister of the three.

Tomorrow, the four of them will go to see Li Yitian, maybe it is the parting between the three of them and Zhao Xiaoyu, and the atmosphere in the broken house is very solemn.

The children recalled their previous lives, and the more they recalled, the more sad they became. In the end, each of them huddled in a corner, afraid that they would quarrel with their siblings.

They gritted their teeth and wept, unaware that their brothers and sisters were also crying silently.

However, the fate of the little people is so sad, even if your fate is as humble as dust, it is difficult to take it into your own hands.

On this last night, the four children slept together and hugged each other very tightly, as if they would lose the whole world as soon as they let go.