I fell through the tunnel and brought my family to live a good life

After reading the case files and having someone helpful to clear up his confusion, Tang Wenhao learned a lot about what happened back then. He also confirmed that Chen Yuanyuan was Sun Yingying.

"Brother Gao, do you still remember where Sun Yingying's parents live?" Tang Wenhao decided to visit her home.

"Remember, their home is in Scorn Lane. The house at the northernmost end of the lane is where Sun Yingying's parents live now."

"Disdain Alley?" It was the first time Tang Wenhao heard such an alley name.

Gao Jian explained, "Yes, Disdain Alley. It is said that the name came from the fact that a large number of beggars gathered here in the beginning. They were homeless and could only build simple shacks in this desolate land to survive. Over time, this place became a gathering place for beggars, and people gave this alley this name. Later, many poor people who had nowhere else to go lived here."

Speaking of Sun Yingying's parents, Gao Mian showed pity, "The old couple only have this one daughter in their life, and they spoiled her since she was a child, but this Sun Yingying... Oh, I didn't expect it..."

Tang Wenhao learned the specific address and since it was still early, he decided to go and check it out. He said goodbye to County Magistrate Zhou and Gao Jian and returned to the inn.

Tang Wenhao walked straight to Shen Xiao's room and knocked on the door. Shen Xiao was waiting for Tang Wenhao to come back. Tang Wenhao told Shen Xiao that he had checked the files and found out the specific address of Sun Yingying's parents. The two immediately set off and went to the Scorn Lane.

Although Scorn Lane was located in a remote area, they found their destination without much trouble with the help of passers-by.

The alley was narrow and winding, only enough for one or two people to walk side by side. There was mud on both sides of the road, and a few bricks and stones were laid in the middle for walking. It was wobbly when you stepped on them. Shen Xiao and Tang Wenhao tried their best to keep their balance, but when they landed, mud would still splash and make a "pat-pat-pat" sound.

The two of them walked slowly along the Disdain Lane. Tang Wenhao's thoughts continued to extend along this muddy path. He imagined the scene of Sun Yingying's parents living in this difficult environment, and a feeling of sadness welled up in his heart.

Finally, they arrived at the small house at the northernmost end of the alley. The wooden door was shabby and looked like it would fall down at any time. Tang Wenhao knocked on the door gently, feeling nervous and expectant. A moment later, there was a slow and heavy sound of footsteps in the yard, and then a ray of light shone through the crack in the door, and an old woman with an extremely haggard face and silver hair appeared in front of them. Her eyes were sunken, revealing an indescribable fatigue and vicissitudes. Shen Xiao and Tang Wenhao looked at each other at the same time, and were secretly surprised in their hearts. The appearance of this old woman was far from what they imagined Sun Yingying's mother to be, and the white hair on her head made it hard to believe that she still had a young daughter.

"Excuse me, who are you..." The old woman's voice was hoarse, and her hands were tightly grasping the wooden door, with some vigilance and alertness.

Tang Wenhao quickly stepped forward, trying to make his tone sound gentler and more sincere: "Hello, Auntie, we are here to look for someone. Excuse me, is this Sun Yingying's home?"

When the old woman heard the name "Sun Yingying", her eyes moistened instantly and she clenched her hands unconsciously. "No, no, you've come to the wrong place." She shook her head hastily in denial, her voice a little flustered and hurried. "I don't know any Sun Yingying. You should look somewhere else."

Tang Wenhao and Shen Xiao keenly sensed something from the old woman's reaction. They knew that the old woman in front of them was Sun Yingying's mother, but she was unwilling to admit it for some reason. So Tang Wenhao told a white lie, hoping to make the old woman let down her guard.

"Auntie, we met a woman before. She said her name was Sun Yingying and she lived in the Dislike Lane in Licheng. We became friends afterwards and she asked us to come and see her parents. Is she really not your child? Then do you know her parents?"

The old woman looked at Tang Wenhao's sincere eyes and involuntarily loosened her hands that had been tightly grasping the wooden door. "Yingying... has not been heard from for a long time. We all thought she..." At this point, the old woman could no longer control her emotions, and tears slid down her wrinkled cheeks.

Realizing her situation, Sun Yingying's mother wiped away her tears with her sleeves and said, "Come in, come in."

There is a small courtyard right after entering. This courtyard is very small. There is a simple stone table next to it, but it is cleaned very neatly. The aroma of Chinese medicine that was faintly audible in the alley is now even stronger in the courtyard. Going further in is the house. Sun Yingying's mother led Tang Wenhao and Shen Xiao into the house. The house was filled with a faint aroma of Chinese medicine, which echoed the smell outside the alley. The furnishings in the house are simple, with a wooden table and a few wooden chairs, and an old-style wooden bed against the wall. Although the bedsheets are old, they are washed white and look particularly clean.

Shen Xiao and Tang Wenhao had just sat down on the chairs, wondering why they didn't see Sun Yingying's father, when they heard the sound of the door opening. A moment later, an old man with gray hair on his temples entered the room.