Finally, when the sky was shining and the snow had almost melted, I took off my heavy fur coat and changed into a gray-green leather trench coat that I had never had a chance to wear since I came here, with shoulder buckles, a light gray cashmere beret, a small red umbrella, and a basket of vegetables, ready to go out in search of some good food.

As soon as I walked a short distance, a few children held the potatoes and cabbage in their hands and said, "Buy some vegetables, Miss!" "Buy mine, buy mine!"

They scramble to be the first to be missed.

I looked at them, most of them were boys and girls of six or seven years old. One of the girls was especially young-toothed, and I crouched down and touched her face, "What's your name?" ”

"Eileen." She replied timidly.

Eileen was thinly dressed, and an old cloth jacket covered her, which looked extraordinarily wide and empty. The place was still cold, though it had melted with snow.

"Where's Mom?"

"My mother went to the well, and it was just me and my brother at home. Buy my food...... Miss. With that, Irene brought the dish in front of my eyes again.

Ukraine has one of the top 10 coal reserves in the world, and mines of all sizes are dotted throughout the Donetsg region. There is a surplus of labor in other parts of the country, but there is a shortage of labor here, so women have also become helpers. It's more profitable than farming. What's more, the cost of female workers is even lower, so many coal mine owners like to use female workers to squeeze profits.

I pulled out my wallet and pulled out ten euros and stuffed it into her little red hand.

"You should stay home with your brother. Take the dish back and eat it with your mom in the evening. ”

She shook her head, a little scared.

"What's wrong?" I was a little surprised.

"My mother said that I can't go home until the vegetables are sold."

I was speechless, and pulled her into my arms. The other children were already burning in their eyes and shouted impatiently, "Miss, there is still my food!" My mom is also in the mine, and I have two mouths for my younger siblings at home! ”

I paid them to bring the food back. Erin didn't leave, standing behind me.

"Miss...... Do you live here alone? Eileen's expression was hesitant.

I nodded.

"You have to be careful." She blushed, then said in a very soft voice.

I was shocked, and my voice trembled a little, "What's wrong?" ”

"I've heard people say that some people are playing on your idea. So today, everyone is waiting for you to buy groceries, knowing that you live by yourself and have to buy and cook by yourself. "There were so many speculations in my head that I couldn't breathe.

"Who, you know?"

She just lowered her head and refused to say anything.

I pulled out a fifty dollar from my wallet and shook it at her in my hand, "Erin, you tell me that the fifty euros is yours...... You can take it back and get something nice for yourself and your brother. ”

Erin looked at me, her hand reaching out and retracting.

I pulled her hand over and wanted to shove the money into her. However, there were several bruises and whip marks on the base of her palms, which were shocking.

Eileen's head hung lower.

I was speechless in shock, and after a while, I stroked her wrist, "What's going on?" ”

"My mother left two years ago, leaving me alone. Now a new mom who hits me as soon as she drinks. ”

I get it. "What about my brother? Also born to a new mother? ”

Erin nodded, and added, "My brother is cute, and I like him. ”

I held her in my arms.

Erin's little face was buried in my arms, and her voice was muffled, "It's a gangster...... They say you can get a good price. ”

I hugged her tighter. In a foreign country, this little girl saved my life.

He let go of Erin and gave her the money, paused, and then withdrew the money and exchanged it for ten five-euro bills and stuffed it into her hand. Then I put the food in her arms into my basket.

"Don't give it all to the new mother, keep some of the money for yourself. When you're hungry, you buy something to eat, you know? ”

She nodded, and bowed again. Whispered, "You have to be careful," and ran away.

I'm not in the mood to go shopping. But I remembered Eileen's sentence, "So everyone came and waited for you today...... Knowing that you live on your own", I decided, cheering up.

There are so many pairs of eyes around here, I have to figure out my situation first. I carried my basket and went to Canmina's grocery store.

"Miss, you're here!" Seeing that her mental state is much better than before, I am also happy.

"Remember me?" I set the basket in the doorway and sat down with the handle of the umbrella in one hand.

"Remember, Miss Pretty, you've been to my shop—spring is coming, and there's no need for greasy chilblain medicine," Cammina said with a soft smile, "what do you want today?" ”

"Ask for wine."

Her eyes widened in disbelief, "You drink?" ”

"Wine can relieve worries, but it can eliminate all worries, which is a good thing."

Canmina didn't speak, paused, turned around and brought most of the bottle of wine and two glasses, "If you don't dislike it, I'll ask you." She looked at me softly.

I unplugged the wine and poured two glasses of wine, held one of them up and said to her, "Cheers!" ”

Kansmina and I talked about her hometown, about the neighbor's housekeepers, and after three rounds of drinking, her cheeks were red, and my face was slightly hot.

"Pretty Miss, what's your name? I've seen you several times, but I don't even know your name. ”

"My name is Lu Qiao."

"It's a short, cute name, unlike the names of our country, which take a few seconds to utter in its entirety. Any explanation? ”

What is the significance of the name?

When I was born, my parents hoped that I could travel all over the country, and it was best to go abroad and go around overseas, learn advanced knowledge and skills, and then return to the motherland to apply what I had learned and build a better country. So he named me "Lu Qiao", which means "the mountains have roads and the sea have bridges", and I will not be in trouble wherever I go.

Tiredness welled up in my heart, and I couldn't understand it, so I could only press my fingers to the center of my eyebrows.

"In our country, the name implies that the road under our feet leads in all directions, and there will be no danger." I smiled.

Kanmina looked at me, paused, and said, "What a name. She raised her glass and touched mine lightly, and said, "May you please Miss and toast to the road ahead." ”

The look in her eyes told me that she had heard what Erin had said, too.

Putting down the glass and taking her hand, I asked, "How old are you, Canmina?" ”

She looked at me, as if she had peered farther into the void beyond me, "I'm thirty-six. ”

The alcohol didn't make her face rough and age, and Canmina looked only thirty years old. I listened to her talk about the past, but now I had to tear open her wounds again. It's good that she's forgetful.

"What about your family? I've been here all these times, but I've only seen you sitting alone behind the counter, never seeing your loved ones. How old are you...... You probably have a husband and children, right? ”