Back at the hotel, I found Ni Li, whom I had arranged to stay at the hotel after we disembarked.
Now that the matters in Yanjing were mostly settled, having brought her and her daughter from the Philippines, I naturally had to find a way to settle them.
I knocked on the room door. Ni Li made a "shushing" gesture and pointed towards the bed inside. Following her direction, I saw her daughter sleeping soundly.
"Have you eaten?" I asked.
She nodded. "We ate dumplings downstairs just now."
"Would you like to come over to my room?" I asked.
She nodded, stepped out of her room, and gently closed the door.
In my room, I poured her a cup of tea and asked, "How is the verification of your identity information coming along?"
"I've already called the police station back home and confirmed that my household registration is still there. I'll just need to go back and get a new ID card. However, my daughter's household registration is a bit more troublesome... I need to get a birth certificate, and I'm working on it."
I nodded. "The matters I had to attend to in Yanjing are also nearly complete, and I'm planning to return to Guangling. You know I have a shop in Guangling... My idea is this: you first go back and sort out your and your daughter's household registration. If you'd like, you can come work for me."
With that, I smiled. "Of course, if you'd prefer not to, I can also lend you some money. You can use it for now and repay me later."
"Thank you..." she said, biting her lip, her eyes welling up. Choking back a sob, she continued, "Honestly, I never thought I'd be able to return one day... I don't know how to thank you. From the moment we disembarked, I decided that I'm willing to do anything for you, even serve you like a beast of burden."
As she spoke, she suddenly stood up and knelt before me. I quickly helped her up. "You don't need to do this. Please get up."
"I don't know... how to thank you... I..."
"Since we met, it's also a kind of fate. Besides, if you hadn't given me that treasure map before, I wouldn't have found what I was looking for on Jinzi Mountain. We're even now. Don't think about it too much."
"But..."
"Alright, let's not dwell on the past. Let's talk about what's next," I said. "What do you think of the two proposals I just gave you?"
She pursed her lips. "I hope to come and work for you. I'm willing to do anything."
I nodded. "How about this, then? You come back to Guangling with me first. After we've settled in Guangling, you can go back to get your ID card and your daughter's household registration."
"Okay."
Truthfully, I also hoped she would come and work for me. She had lived in Hekou her whole life and had barely been out.
From the moment she disembarked, I saw a lot in her eyes.
There was a bewilderment, a complete lack of exposure to the outside world. With her bringing a child, her future livelihood was a problem.
Since I had brought her back from the Philippines, I couldn't just abandon her.
For now, I'd have her work at An Yuan Tang. As for what she would do in the future, that would be her own decision.
After we had made arrangements, the next day I called Fatty to let him know I was returning to Guangling. He said on the phone, "Master Xiang, you're leaving so soon? My master still wants you to come and keep him company!"
"You'll be there to keep him company, so why should I add to the fun? You take good care of your master, make sure the old man is well entertained. Anyway, there's nothing pressing in Guangling, no need to rush."
"Alright, should I come and see you off?"
"No need. I've already bought my tickets. See you in Guangling."
After taking Ni Li and her daughter to the train station to get temporary IDs, we boarded the train back to Guangling.
As we neared Guangling, I called Hong Yunpeng.
When I got out of the train station, I saw him waving at me with a smile.
But when Ni Li and I walked over, he froze completely. "Xiao Fei... Are these two...?"
For a moment, I didn't know how to explain it to him, so I said, "My distant cousin, and this is her daughter."
Ni Li smiled slightly and greeted Hong Yunpeng. "Hello."
Hong Yunpeng snapped back to attention. "Hello, hello."
Fatty had rented a vacant house near An Yuan Tang. Since it was empty, I had Hong Yunpeng arrange for Ni Li and her daughter to stay there.
That evening, Hong Yunpeng and I returned to the old house in the suburbs. He then began to ask me where I had been all this time.
During the day, with Ni Li present, it wasn't convenient to say much. Now that it was just him, I told him everything that had happened.
After listening, he asked, "Ni Li's husband is dead?"
"En," I nodded.
Hong Yunpeng mused, "She really is quite pitiful..."
Suddenly, I felt something was off about him. "Brother Peng, I've told you so much, but you're not asking about my affairs. Why is your attention focused on that woman?"
"No, I'm just curious. So, you plan to have her work at An Yuan Tang next?"
I nodded. "You can handle it then. She hasn't lived much outside, so please take good care of her."
"No problem! Leave it to me!" Hong Yunpeng's eyes lit up.
I frowned slightly. "Brother Peng, something's not right... Could it be that you've taken a liking to her?"
"Ah? Where?" Hong Yunpeng's cheeks flushed.
"You just met her today, and you're already this..."
"What are you talking about? I just sympathize with her. Think about it, how difficult it will be for them, mother and daughter, to live in Guangling without support."
"There are many unsupported children in orphanages, why don't you sympathize with them?" I said with a grin. "Tell me the truth, have you fallen for her?"
Hong Yunpeng fidgeted and said, "Not exactly... just a bit of a good impression..."
"Look at you! You say it's not! But I have to warn you first. I've already told you about her past. You need to think clearly. She suffered a lot in Hekou. If you really like her, you'll have to accept her past."
I said, "Ni Li is not inherently bad. She's someone who can live a good life, but her past is too difficult..."
"I know, I'm not a child," Hong Yunpeng pouted.
I was at a loss for words. "I'm just looking out for you. And what about your father? How will you explain it to him? She has a daughter. Will Uncle Hong agree?"
"I'm already this old. Do I still need him to make decisions for me?" Hong Yunpeng said. "Xiao Fei, stop worrying about me, and worry about yourself. You're not young anymore."
"What about me?"
"During the time you were gone, Xiao Bai came looking for you quite often. You haven't even called to ask about her. That little girl sits at the shop for a whole day every time she visits..."
"The Xiao Bai you're talking about is Bai Hanyan?"
"Who else could it be?"
I was stunned and didn't know what to say.