We stayed at Jinzi Mountain for a day, during which I thoroughly clarified what my father did during the days he disappeared.
After bidding farewell to Zhao Chengyuan, I still thought about visiting him again if I had the chance. However, he said that since this place had been exposed, he couldn't stay any longer, so it was basically impossible to meet again in the future.
Although Zhao Chengyuan always said he feared death and didn't want to be captured by the Illuminati nearby, from his tone and actions, I always felt that this wasn't the real reason he was hiding.
As for the deeper reasons, I knew that even if I asked, he wouldn't necessarily tell me.
Leaving Jinzi Mountain, we returned to Hekou.
Now that An Ying had obtained the Golden Buddha, would she return to China?
I thought it was very likely.
So, Fatty and I didn't linger and planned to fly back to China that day. Just as we were about to leave, Zhu Li found me.
"Xiao Xiang, there are some things I feel I need to tell you," Zhu Li said with a somewhat troubled expression.
"Uncle Zhu, whatever it is, just say it," I replied.
"Alas... originally, when you came to me, I should have taken good care of you and shouldn't have let you get involved in too much trouble..."
"Uncle Zhu," I smiled, "what are you saying? Just tell me directly."
"It's like this, you asked Ni Li to stay at my farm before, and to arrange some work for her..."
I nodded.
"The day before yesterday, she contacted a snakehead from somewhere and was caught by the local police with her daughter while trying to smuggle back to China," Zhu Li said.
I was stunned and asked, "Where are they now?"
"Still at my farm," Zhu Li said with a wry smile. "I originally didn't plan to tell you about this, but I thought it was better to let you know."
Although I felt some sympathy for the mother and daughter, I felt I had already helped them as much as I could.
I shouldn't have gotten involved in this matter, but thinking about it, if it weren't for the treasure map Ni Li gave me, I might not have discovered anything on this trip to Jinzi Mountain.
Out of gratitude, I thought I should go and see them.
I told Zhu Li my thoughts, and he advised me, "Xiao Xiang, there are things I shouldn't say, and you know many things yourself, but I still have to remind you, you are still young, don't..."
He stopped there and patted my shoulder earnestly, "Think it over yourself."
I was a bit slow to react, what did he mean?
Fatty, who was standing by, couldn't help but laugh. After Zhu Li went to the car, I asked Fatty why he was laughing.
He said, "Master Xiang, you still don't get it? He's worried you've fallen for this woman."
"Ah?"
"But his worry is unnecessary. If he knew that Master Xiang is no ordinary romantic figure, he might not say these things."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm telling the truth," Fatty said with a smile. "In Guangling, there are still a big one and a small one waiting for you."
"What big one and small one?"
"President Wu and Xiao Bai, aren't they a big one and a small one?" Fatty joked. "Oh, and not just in Guangling, there's one abroad..."
I didn't bother with this fatty and just got in the car with a roll of my eyes.
When I arrived at the farm and saw Ni Li, her eyes showed guilt. I asked her why she wanted to smugly smuggle back to China.
"Mr. Xiang, I'm sorry for causing you trouble," Ni Li said with a guilty look.
"If you want to apologize, it shouldn't be to me," I said. "Uncle Zhu is handling your matters."
She lowered her head, bit her lower lip, and her daughter stood by, staring at me with wide eyes.
Seeing them like this, I sighed and patted Ni Li's daughter's head, telling her to go out first as I had something to say to her mother.
The little girl hesitated, looked at Ni Li, and only after receiving her nod did she leave the room.
The room Ni Li was staying in was much better than the one in Hekou, with complete and modern facilities. It seemed Zhu Li had not mistreated them.
"Tell me, why did you want to smuggle back without a word?" I asked.
Ni Li took a deep breath and said, "I want to go back and see..."
"Didn't you say before that you have no relatives left in China?"
Ni Li looked at me and said, "That's right, I have no relatives left in China, but I still hope to return and let my daughter grow up in China... I've had enough of this wandering life, and I can't give her a better environment here... Xiang Fei, can you understand a mother's feelings?"
"Even if you wanted to return to China, you wouldn't have to smuggle, would you?"
She smiled and said, "Without smuggling, how could I take her back? My daughter and I have no identification, nothing. Smuggling is the only way..."
As she spoke, she suddenly knelt before me, "Please, do me a favor one more time, just this last time!"
Seeing her kneeling before me, begging, I felt an indescribable feeling.
"Do you really want to go back?" I asked.
She nodded vigorously, her eyes already moist.
"Alright, I can help you," I sighed. "But how will you live after you return to China?"
"There will be a way..."
"Forget it," I sighed. "Consider it me owing you. I have an antique shop in Guangling. If you're willing, you can work there. As for your future life, you'll have to figure it out yourself. I can't always help you."
She was stunned and didn't quite react. Tears uncontrollably flowed from her eyes, "Thank you..."
"Hurry up and get up. If someone sees us later, they'll think I did something to you," I said. "I'll find a way for you to return to China. Until then, I hope you can tell me directly if something comes up and don't make decisions on your own."
"Okay," she wiped her tears and nodded.
As the saying goes, saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. I don't know if this counts as saving her.
This is all I can do. As for this woman's future, it all depends on herself.
After telling Zhu Li about bringing them back to China, he didn't seem surprised at all, just smiled helplessly.
I knew he must have misunderstood again. I wanted to explain, but he didn't give me a chance.
"Then you can all travel back by boat. I'll arrange it for you in the next few days," Zhu Li said.
"Thank you for the trouble, Uncle Zhu."
"What trouble is there? Perhaps one day I'll return to China and have to trouble you."