I was transported to the 1970s, and I became the most stylish kid in the whole compound.

Chapter 22 The New Year Picture Doll in a Sailor Shirt

When Hua Li saw the little boy, she jumped up from her chair, walked over quickly, and grabbed him, afraid that he would run away again.

Luo Yan climbed down from the chair with her little bottom sticking out, and ran over to hug the little boy, but the little boy hurriedly dodged away.

Why was Luo Yan, with her two little hands outstretched, disliked?

Hua Li laughed when she saw her daughter's discomfitured expression.

"Brother's clothes are dirty and unhygienic. Mom will give him a nice wash. You go and eat first."

Luo Yan said, "Brother, you should eat too."

Even if the little boy had something to eat at the police station last night, he definitely didn't eat anything after sneaking out this morning.

Hua Li was also worried that the child would go hungry, so she took the spare toiletries that she had left for Luo Yan and took the little boy to brush his teeth and wash his face.

The little boy is very obedient; he can wash his face and brush his teeth independently.

The little boy, with his face cleaned, was so handsome that Hua Li and Luo Yan stared at him, mesmerized.

Luo Yan led the little boy to the dining table and had him sit next to her.

Hua Li ladled a bowl of millet porridge and placed it in front of the little boy, gently instructing him, "It's a bit hot, eat slowly."

The little boy nodded obediently, picked up the spoon, blew on it to cool it down, and then ate it.

Hua Li gave the little boy a large meat bun and then used serving chopsticks to pick up food for him.

After the little boy finished eating, he put down his chopsticks, stood on the ground, and bowed to Hua Li, which brought tears to Hua Li's eyes.

Luo Yan finished eating and took the little boy to watch TV.

Hua Li boiled water in the kitchen, poured it into the bathtub, and called the little boy to take a bath.

With Hua Li around, the little boy hesitated and refused to take off his clothes, so Hua Li went out and let the little boy wash them himself.

While the little boy was taking a bath, Hua Li washed all the clothes he had changed out of. They were all made of thin cotton fabric, which was very soft to the touch, unlike the coarse cotton fabric worn by ordinary people.

After washing the clothes, Hua Li called to the little boy from outside the door.

"Turn your back over, and I'll rub your back."

The child is too young; even if the front can be cleaned, the back cannot.

As Hua Li entered the bathroom, she saw the little boy sitting in the bathtub with his back to her, his back covered in shocking bruises. Tears streamed down her face.

Hua Li walked over, picked up a towel, and gently wiped the little boy's back, sniffing as she spoke.

"I don't know your name... We met for the first time yesterday and it was a day off, so how about I call you Xiaoxiu?"

Xiao Xiu nodded, and Hua Li continued.

"Were the injuries on your body inflicted by your parents?"

Xiao Xiu shook his head.

Hua Li's anxiety subsided. She thought to herself, "What kind of parents beat their children to death?"

"Were you kidnapped by bad guys?"

This time, Xiao Xiu didn't move. Hua Li guessed that Xiao Xiu probably didn't understand what "abduction" meant, so she asked him in a different way.

Were you taken away by a stranger?

Xiao Xiu remained still.

Hua Li's heart sank. "Your family gave it to someone else?"

Xiao Xiu nodded.

That means someone in the family secretly took Xiaoxiu away from her parents and gave her to bad people.

Such a family is too vicious. Hua Li couldn't bear to ask any more questions.

After Xiaoxiu finished showering, Hua Li brought out his old sailor shirt for Xiaoxiu to wear, and tied it around his waist with a blue cloth strip. It actually looked quite nice.

Seeing Xiao Xiu's fair and delicate skin, as beautiful as a New Year's painting doll, Luo Yan happily brought out her old slippers for Xiao Xiu, saying, "Brother, wear these."

Xiao Xiu looked at the pink slippers, pursed her lips, and struggled to put them on.

Hua Li emptied the bathwater, cleaned up the room, and sat down on the sofa next to Xiao Xiu with iodine. While disinfecting the wounds on Xiao Xiu's hands and knees, she explained the situation to Xiao Xiu.

“You ran away, and the police officers are very worried, so I have to go to the police station to tell them you’re at my house…” Xiao Xiu’s eyebrows turned red with anxiety, and Hua Li quickly comforted her.

"Auntie isn't sending you away, but she needs to make it clear that you're staying at my house so that your parents can find you."

Xiao Xiu nodded, his big eyes still filled with fear.

Actually, Hua Li didn't say that she would have to send Xiao Xiu off after the three-day holiday, but with the child in this state, she really couldn't bring herself to say it.

Hua Li went to the police station to explain the situation and mentioned that Xiao Xiu was injured and that she was willing to take care of him for two days. The police immediately agreed to Hua Li's request.

On her way back, Hua Li went to the supply and marketing cooperative and bought half a pound of meat and a pound of eggs. When she got home, she took out her key and opened the door.

Hearing the door open, Wu Cuihua rushed out, "Hua Li, I saw that man today."

Hua Li was stunned for a moment before realizing, "It's that guy with the yellow teeth?"

Wu Cuihua nodded vigorously, "Yes, it's him. I went to the sugar factory with him. I guess he's an employee there."

The sugar factory was a full hour's drive from the military region, and Hua Li was deeply moved that Wu Cuihua was willing to go to such lengths for her sake.

"Sister-in-law, wait a moment."

Hua Li strode into the room, went into the master bedroom, took out thirty yuan that she had prepared in advance from the drawer, and put it into Wu Cuihua's hand.

"Oh dear, what are you doing?" Wu Cuihua declined.

Hua Li gripped Wu Cuihua's hand tightly.

"I was seriously ill last time and I was very grateful for your help. I've been wanting to thank you properly for a long time, but I've been busy with family matters and haven't had the time. You must accept this money."

Wu Cuihua was a kind-hearted person, but she was reluctant to accept money even when offered, so she accepted it after a few refusals.

"Then I won't stand on ceremony, little sister. Don't worry about things so much in the future."

Hua Li was very happy to see Wu Cuihua accept it, and then gave Wu Cuihua some more instructions.

"Sister-in-law, no matter what happens in the future, you must pay attention to safety first and never take risks."

Fortunately, the man with yellow teeth was heading back to the sugar factory. What if he had gone to some remote place and Wu Cuihua had been in danger while following him?

Wu Cuihua followed the man with yellow teeth mainly out of gossip, but she couldn't possibly tell Hua Li this.

"Don't worry, I'm very reliable."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Hua Li went home.

A short while later, Wu Cuihua knocked on the door, holding a watermelon.

"Someone from my hometown brought these over; they're so sweet. Here, have one for your family to try."

Hua Li declined, but Wu Cuihua squeezed through the door and put it in the kitchen.

Wu Cuihua was surprised to see Xiao Xiu playing with Luo Yan.

"Where did these children come from? They're so good-looking, are they a girl or a boy?"

Hua Li pulled Wu Cuihua to sit down at the dining table and told her how she discovered Xiao Xiu.

"I haven't heard of any family losing a child in our compound, so it probably isn't one of ours."

Hua Li thought so too.

Wu Cuihua muttered to herself, "If he was abducted, why would he specifically target our compound?"

Hua Li thought of a possibility but remained silent.

After chatting for a while, Wu Cuihua left.

Hua Li saw Wu Cuihua off, closed the door, and came back. She casually touched the clothes on the clothesline; they were all dry. She picked them up and gave them to Xiao Xiu to wear.

"Xiao Xiu, Auntie is asking you, why did you come to my house?"

Wearing his original clothes, Xiao Xiu felt much more comfortable. He blinked and pointed to the red five-pointed star embedded in the cabinet.

Hua Li knew she had guessed correctly. "Is there anyone in your family who is in the military?"

Xiao Xiu nodded.

(End of this chapter)