HCB Chapter 2002 I'm Here to Deliver a Message
Chapter 2002 I'm Here to Deliver a Message
"Get in there! Get in!"
Cheng Kui's angry shouts were particularly jarring in the snowy night.
Li Xiangnan pushed open the door and saw Cheng Kui, the head of the Hongxing Gang, grabbing a little beggar by the back of the neck and dragging him into the yard like a chick.
The little beggar was about twelve or thirteen years old, thin as a skeleton, wearing a tattered cotton-padded jacket whose original color was no longer discernible. The cuffs and hem were also tattered into strips of cloth, revealing the dark cotton wadding inside.
He was wearing a pair of tattered cotton shoes with his toes sticking out, and his ankles were red and swollen from the cold. There were no long underwear underneath.
Cheng Kui was tall and strong, with a muscular build. He was only wearing a simple winter coat in the snow. The little beggar struggled in his hands, but it was like an ant trying to shake a tree; he could only thrash about in vain.
Li Xiangnan strode forward, somewhat puzzled: "Brother Cheng, what's going on? Why did you grab a little beggar?"
Cheng Kui threw the little beggar to the ground. The child fell to the snow with a thud, wincing in pain but not daring to make a sound. He just curled up in a ball, shivering on the ground.
"Dr. Li, I'm sorry to bother you!" Cheng Kui wiped the sweat from his forehead. In the dead of winter, he was sweating profusely from trying to catch a beggar. "To tell you the truth, I was patrolling the alley with a few brothers when we saw this kid loitering suspiciously near your house! We sensed something was wrong and went over to ask him what he wanted, but hey, he stammered and couldn't give a clear answer, only saying he was looking for the Li family! I immediately felt something was off. What time is it? Why would a beggar want to come to your house?"
Everyone inside came out and formed a circle, looking at the small figure shivering in the snow.
Song Ziming frowned: "Could it be that the Shangguan family is up to some trick again? This time they're just sending a little beggar to cause trouble?"
“Possibly!” Wang Defa squatted down, carefully examined the child, and asked, “Cheng Gangtou, is this the only suspicious little beggar around?”
Cheng Kui said angrily, "Just this one! Damn it, something's definitely wrong!"
Wang Defa nodded thoughtfully, carefully examining the child's exposed ankles, wondering if his frostbite was real or fake. "He looks rather pitiful, but who knows if he's faking it!"
Upon hearing this, the little beggar trembled even more violently.
He raised his head, revealing a dirty little face with big eyes, but his eyes were full of fear, like a frightened fawn.
He seemed to have never expected or encountered being so seriously grabbed by so many people, especially by someone as burly and strong as Cheng Kui, who grabbed him as easily as stepping on an ant.
His lips were frozen purple, and his teeth chattered, making a clattering sound.
Qin Ruobai felt a pang of sympathy. She remembered a group of children who had been forced to beg by Xu Sheng and his gang, and it made her uneasy. Even though they had cracked down on that gang, these little beggars were still popping up everywhere. She couldn't help but say, "How about... we give him some food first? Look how cold this child is... he's shivering!"
"Sister Ruobai!" Lin Youwei felt sorry for Qin Ruobai, but thinking of the Li family's current situation, she tugged at Qin Ruobai's sleeve. "We can't be soft-hearted. What if... he really came here to do something bad? We'll fall for his trick!"
As she spoke, she also positioned herself in front of Qin Ruobai, as if afraid that the little beggar might suddenly attack him.
Li Xiangnan remained silent, simply watching the child.
To be honest, his thoughts coincided with Qin Ruobai's, but Lin Youwei was right.
All actions are now predicated on the premise of security.
You can give the child some food, but only after you've made sure the other person is not in danger!
Who knows what kind of trouble Shangguan Wuji will cause!
He observed the child, while the little beggar also secretly watched him, his eyes darting around, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.
"Brother Cheng," Li Xiangnan pondered for a few seconds, then asked, "Where did you find him?"
"Under the locust tree at the alley entrance! In front of Zhang Dashu's house!" Cheng Kui said, "Every night I follow your instructions and lead the brothers to patrol the area to prevent anyone from causing trouble! Hey, just now on the third lap, I saw this kid huddled under the locust tree, trying to climb it, peeking out at your house! I went over to ask him something, but the kid turned and ran away... Isn't it obvious he has something to hide?"
He kicked the little beggar, not hard, but enough to make the child tremble again: "Tell me right now, who sent you? What do you want?"
The little beggar's lips moved, his voice barely audible, like a mosquito's buzz: "I...I, I'm looking for the Li family..."
"What do you want with the Li family?" Cheng Kui asked sternly.
"I...I,I..." The little beggar stammered for a long time, but couldn't get a coherent answer.
“See, I told you there was a problem!” Cheng Kui said to Li Xiangnan, “Dr. Li, if you ask me, just give him some hot food and send him on his way! These days, I’ve seen plenty of people like this. They come over to freeload whenever they hear there’s a celebration! You’re kind-hearted, but there are so many pitiful people like this in the world, you can’t save them all! They have their own way of life, their own strongholds. Give them something to eat and let them get far away, so they don’t cause any more trouble!”
This is true.
In 1980, there were indeed many beggars like this on the streets of Beijing!
Although the number of cases decreased significantly after the previous crackdown, many reappeared around the end of the year.
For beggars all over the country, Yanjing (Beijing) held a fatal attraction.
Most of them are organized and have their own territory. They go out to beg during the day and return to their hideout at night.
When there are weddings or funerals, they come over to ask for some leftovers. Usually, the host won't make things difficult for them and will send them away with some food and drink.
Friends, relatives, and neighbors all agreed that Cheng Kui's words made sense, and that this was the current situation.
“Cheng Gangtou is right,” Song Ziming nodded. “Brother Nan, the wedding banquet is tomorrow. It’s better to avoid trouble! Get the child a bowl of hot soup noodles and let him go!”
Li Dequan sighed as well: "These days, there are indeed too many pitiful people! Our abilities are limited, and we can't help them all!"
As soon as he spoke, everyone echoed his sentiments; there was nothing that could be done about it.
Upon hearing this, the little beggar lowered his head even further, his shoulders trembling as if he were crying, or as if he were trying to hold back something.
Li Xiangnan, however, felt that something was amiss.
He walked up to the little beggar, squatted down, and looked directly into the terrified eyes.
“Child,” his voice was gentle, “tell me, who sent you to find the Li family?”
The little beggar shook his head and remained silent.
"Did someone pay you to come here? Or were you sent to cause trouble? You must have some purpose, right?" Li Xiangnan continued, "Don't worry, as long as you tell the truth, I won't make things difficult for you!"
As a doctor, he could tell that the child's eyes weren't feigned; he was genuinely afraid.
The aura emanating from him, the injuries and frostbite on his ankles, the backs of his hands, and his face—these were things that an ordinary, normal person couldn't fake.
The little beggar shook his head again, but tears fell, carving two white streaks on his dirty face.
"Hey, you little brat, you're asking for trouble now!" Cheng Kui snapped, "Dr. Li was just asking you a nice question, and you're pretending to be mute? Believe me or not, I'll really beat you up!"
The little beggar was so frightened that he kept shrinking back, but Cheng Kui grabbed him and held him down.
Li Xiangnan waved his hand, knowing that Cheng Kui was just scaring the child. They were all from the lower class, and no one would really make things difficult for the other.
He stared at the child for a few seconds, then a plan formed in his mind. Suddenly, he sighed, stood up, and said to everyone, "Fine, Brother Cheng is right. Give him a bowl of hot soup noodles and let him go!"
After saying that, he turned and walked into the house.
The little beggar suddenly raised his head, a hint of anxiety flashing in his eyes.
Li Xiangnan caught this detail out of the corner of his eye, which made him even more certain.
This kid is definitely not just here to freeload.
But he didn't turn back. He continued walking into the house, saying to Zhu Qiuju as he went, "Mom, cook a bowl of noodles, and add plenty of hot broth so this child can warm up!"
"Okay!" Zhu Qiuju replied and turned to go to the kitchen.
"Wait!" Li Xiangnan stopped again, turned to look at the little beggar, and his tone became stern: "But child, I have to make this clear from the start. This bowl of noodles is for you out of pity! After you finish eating, you must leave immediately, and you are not allowed to come back again! If I find out you are still loitering around here, or doing anything you shouldn't be doing..."
He paused, his voice turning cold, "I'll send you to the police station! Then, it won't be a matter that can be resolved with just a bowl of noodles!"
These words were spoken without any mercy.
Everyone was stunned for a moment.
The Li Xiangnan they knew was always gentle and kind, and rarely spoke in this tone.
The little beggar trembled, looking at Li Xiangnan with teary eyes, his lips trembling as if he wanted to say something but dared not speak.
Li Xiangnan stopped looking at him and said to Cheng Kui, "Brother Cheng, please watch him finish eating and then see him out of the alley! If he doesn't leave, do as I say!"
"Don't worry, Dr. Li, leave it to me!" Cheng Kui nodded.
Li Xiangnan then turned around and actually went inside.
One step, two steps, three steps.
Just as he was about to step across the threshold, a faint, almost tearful voice came from behind him:
"I...I came here to beg for food..."
Li Xiangnan paused, but did not turn around.
"So what are you here for?" he asked the little beggar with his back to him.
"I...I'm here to deliver a message..." the little beggar's voice choked with sobs.
"???"