"Wait a minute," Jin Xiu said quickly, seeing the girl hurrying towards the door, "and consider your own situation, this is your chance to get out of it." You can ask me, not only because you brought the news on your own initiative, but also because you, as a woman, have almost reached the point of exhaustion: when a word can save you, do you still want to go back to the robbers, to the man? ”

"A young lady like you, with a good heart and a beautiful person," replied Azhu calmly, "once you give your heart to a man, love will take you to the ends of the earth—even someone like you who has a home, friends, and other admirers, and wants anything. Who can expect to save us if we give a rotten heart to any man who has left us empty except for the lid of the coffin, and who can expect to save us when we are sick or dying, and who can hope to save us if we give a rotten heart to any man who has always been empty in our miserable lives? Have pity on us, pity on us, you know, we are left with only this little bit of woman's affection, and this little affection that could have made people feel gratified and proud, but because of the merciless providence it has also turned into new torture and pain. ”

"Do you want to," Jin Xiu said after a pause, "take some money from me, and you can live rightfully - until we meet again, no matter what, okay?" ”

"I will never accept a copper." Azhu waved his hand again and again and replied.

"Please don't turn people away from thousands of miles away," Jin Xiu said, and stepped forward sincerely, "I am really willing to do my best for you." ”

"If you can end my life at once, miss," replied the girl, wringing her hands, "you have done a great job for me." Tonight, I feel sadder than ever when I think of what I've done, I've been living in hell, and it's good to be able to stay out of that hell when I die. May you receive as much happiness as I have suffered. ”

The unfortunate girl sobbed loudly as she spoke. This extraordinary meeting was more like a dream that came and went than a real thing, and the overwhelmed Jin Xiu fell on the chair, trying to sort out the chaotic thoughts.

Indeed, Jin Xiu faced an extraordinary test, and the situation was very difficult. She was anxious to find out the secret of Yongchang's life experience, and the poor woman she had just talked to was so trusting of an innocent girl like her, she couldn't help but regard this trust as very sacred.

Her words and deeds touched the heart of Jin Xiu, and her love for the child she was protecting, and a wish that was almost as sincere and enthusiastic as she was, to make this wandering girl come back and be a new person.

They plan to stay in Conch City for only three days, and then move to the remote seashore for a few weeks. It's midnight on the first day. What course of action should she take in the next forty-eight hours, and how should she act? Or how could she postpone the trip without making people suspicious?

Mr. Qian came to Conch City with them, and he had to stay here for two days. But Jin Xiu knew that this illustrious gentleman was impatient, and she clearly foresaw that he would be furious when he heard it, and hated the thief who had abducted Yongchang again, so Jin Xiu did not dare to reveal the secret to him and Pan, unless her justification for the girl could be supported by an experienced person.

These were also reasons why she must be extremely cautious and unmistakable in her conduct when she told Madame Merley about this, and the old lady's first impulse must have been to consult the venerable doctor. She had considered enlisting Young Master Mei's help, but the thought had brought back memories of the last separation, and she didn't seem worthy of calling him back—tears welled up in her eyes with this series of memories—and he might have learned how to forget her and let go of melancholy.

Jin Xiu spent a sleepless night full of worries, she had a lot of thoughts, and all kinds of considerations appeared in her mind one after another, and she was suddenly inclined to one way, and sometimes she was inclined to another, and suddenly all of them were overturned. The next day, she thought about it again and again, and finally couldn't care so much, and decided to ask Young Master Mei to discuss.

"If he were to come back to this place and feel miserable," she thought, "how miserable I would be!" But maybe he didn't come, he could have written, or someone else might have come and deliberately avoided me—as he had done when he left. I didn't think he would do that, but it would be better for both of us. Thinking of this, Jin Xiu put down her pen and turned her face away, as if she did not want the letterhead who was about to serve as a messenger for her to see her crying.

She had picked up the same pen for the fiftieth time, put it down again, and thought over and over again how to write the first line of the letter, but could not write a word, and at that moment Yongchang, who had been walking in the street, walked into the room breathlessly, and judging from his uncontrollable excitement, it seemed that something disturbing had happened.

"What's wrong with you, so flustered?" Jin Xiu stepped forward and asked.

"I don't know how, I seem to be out of breath," replied the child, "oh my God, you think, I am finally going to see him again, and you can see that I am telling you the truth." ”

"I never thought you weren't telling us the truth," Jin Xiu comforted him, "what the hell is going on?" - Who are you talking about? ”

"I see that gentleman," Jin Xiu was so excited that she could barely speak, "that is the old gentleman who was very good to me, and we often talked about." ”

"Where?" Jin Xiu asked.

"Got out of the carriage," Yongchang replied, shedding tears of joy, "and went into a house." I didn't talk to him—I couldn't talk to him, he didn't see me, I was shaking so hard that I couldn't even walk up to him. But Lao Li asked me if he lived there, and they said yes. You see," Yongchang said, unfolding a piece of paper, "right up here, he lives in this place—I'll be there at once." When I saw him again and heard him speak, I didn't know what to do. ”

These words, along with many other long and eight short cheers, greatly diverted Jinxiu's attention, and she looked at the address, Riverside Boulevard, and immediately decided to seize this unexpected opportunity.

"Quick!" "Tell them to hire a carriage and be ready to go with me," she said. I'll take you there without a minute's delay. I just told my aunt that we should go out for an hour, and you can pack up and leave. ”

Jin Xiu didn't need to be urged at all, and within five minutes, they had already gotten into the carriage and headed straight for Riverside Avenue. When she arrived at that place, Jin Xiu left Yongchang in the carriage, and under the pretext that the old gentleman also needed to prepare for receiving him, she asked the servant to give her business card, saying that there was something very important to ask to see Mr. Luo.

The servant returned in a short time and asked her to go upstairs at once. Miss Jin Xiu followed the servant into an upstairs room, and saw an old gentleman with kind eyes and a dark green coat. Not far from him sat another old gentleman in a pale yellow waistcoat, who did not look very kind, with his hands crossed and pressed against a thick cane, holding his chin.

"Oh," said the gentleman in the dark green coat, who was polite and thoughtful, and quickly stood up, "Miss, I beg your pardon. Have a seat. ”

"You're Mr. Luo, excuse me?" Jin Xiu said, glancing at the other gentleman, and then moving his gaze to the one who spoke.

"It is down here," said the old gentleman, "that this is my friend Mr. Lin." Can you let us talk for a few minutes? ”

"I suppose," interjected Miss Jin Xiu, "that it is not necessary to trouble this gentleman to avoid it during the time we are talking. If what I have heard is true, he knows what I want to discuss with you. ”

Mr. Luo lowered his head. Mr. Lin, who had already stood up from the chair and bowed hard, bowed hard again and sat down.

"I'm sure I'll surprise you," Jin Xiu couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed, "after all, the kindness and kindness you have shown to one of my very sweet little friends, and I'm sure you're interested in hearing about him again." ”

"Not bad." Mr. Luo said.

"You know his name is Yongchang." Jin Xiu replied.

As soon as this sentence came out of her mouth, Mr. Lin, who pretended to be a big book on the table, turned the book over, making a loud noise, he leaned back on the back of the chair, all the expressions on his face were gone, only 100% surprise remained, his eyes widened, and he was stunned for a long time, and then, he seemed to feel a little embarrassed that his mood was so exposed, his body twisted suddenly, and returned to the posture just now, his eyes looked straight ahead, and he made a surprised sound, In the end, it seemed that instead of floating in the air, it gradually disappeared into the unfathomable potholes in his stomach.

Mr. Luo was also surprised, but he didn't show it with such a strange attitude. He moved his chair to the young lady's side, and said:

"Promise me, miss, never again to mention your kindness, kindness, or anything, because no one else knows about it. If you can produce any evidence that can change the bad impression I once had of that bitter child, let me see the evidence as well. ”

"A bad thing. If he's not a bad thing, I'll eat my head. Mr. Lin said angrily that he spoke in ventriloquism, and the muscles on his face did not move.

"That child has a good nature, and a warm-hearted heart," said Jin Xiu, blushing, "and it is the intention of Heaven to let him suffer beyond his age. ”

"I'm only sixty-one years old," Mr. Lin's stiff face still didn't move, "but that Yongchang is also twelve years old, and he has a bad stomach, I don't understand what this means." ”

"Miss, don't worry about my friend," said Mr. Luo, "he has no intentions. ”

"No, it's a mouth." Mr. Lin shouted.

"No, it's a mouth." Mr. Luo stood up as he spoke, his anger clearly rising.

"If he had no intention, he would have eaten his head." Mr. Lin was still yelling.

"If that's the case, he should have knocked his head off." Mr. Luo said.

"But he just wants to see who dares to do that." Mr. Lin coped as he tapped the floor with his cane.

And so it was so, that the two old gentlemen were angry several times, and then shook hands in accordance with their usual practice.

"All right, miss," said Mr. Law, "to return to the subject of your good intentions so concerned, can you tell me what news you have received from this bitter child?" Let me say a few words, I tried everything I could to get him back, and at first I thought he was lying to me, and that his former group of accomplices had pestered him to get something out of me, and this thought of mine had been greatly shaken since I left the country. ”

Jin Xiu had already taken the time to sort out her thoughts, and she went straight to the point, and in a few words she told what had happened after Yongchang left Mr. Brownlow's house, and only kept the news of Azhu's report, and was ready to tell this gentleman privately. She concludes by assuring that the child's only regret over the past few months has been not being able to see his former benefactor and friend.

"Thank goodness." "This is a great relief to me. But you haven't told me, miss, where he is at the moment. You must forgive me for begging you for being blamed—but why not bring him with you? ”

"He's waiting in a carriage outside the gate." Jin Xiu replied.

"Outside this gate!" The old gentleman shouted, hurried out of the room, went downstairs, jumped on the carriage pedal, and rushed into the carriage without saying a word.

Sure enough, as soon as he hurried back to his previous seat, Mr. Luo returned with Yongchang, and Mr. Lin welcomed him very modestly, even if the joy at this moment was the only reward for Jinxiu's worry and longing for Yongchang, she was satisfied.

"Slowly, slowly, there is one more person who should not be forgotten," said Mr. Law, ringing the bell, "please call Mrs. Wen here." ”

The old butler answered the call in a hurry. She bowed at the door and waited for orders.

"Oh, your eyes are really getting worse day by day?" Mr. Luo asked a little annoyed.

"Yes, sir," replied the old lady, "the eyes of man are not getting better at my age, sir." ”

"I told you that," replied Mr. Law, "you should put on your glasses and see if you can figure out for yourself why you were called, shall you?" ”

The old lady began to look for glasses in her pocket, but Yongchang's patience could no longer withstand this new test, and he gave in as soon as he got up on impulse, and threw himself into the old lady's arms.

"Oh my God!" The old lady hugged him and exclaimed, "Isn't this my wronged child?" ”

"My dear old grandma!" Yongchang cried.