In the following days, I stayed inside my shop. I didn’t eat much and didn’t sleep well. Whenever I closed my eyes, I’d see Chu Chu’s smiling face and Li Mazi’s mournful face.

A month later, Li Mazi came back. He looked even thinner and had a lot of white hair. To my surprise, he introduced me to a stranger. This stranger looked malnourished and scared, just as if he had some sickness.

I smiled and gave Li Mazi a welcoming hug. “Where have you been this entire month?”

Li Mazi smiled at me. “I went to find Chu Chu a nice place to rest.”

I nodded and didn’t continue talking about Chu Chu. I didn’t want to reopen Li Mazi’s wounds.

“Who’s this man?” I asked curiously, as I looked at the person Li Mazi had brought home.

“A distant relative. He’s called Li Mingming,” Li Mazi answered. “He has a problem.”

“What happened?” I asked Li Mingming.

“Brother, please save me!” Li Mingming grabbed my hands.

I nodded. “All right, tell me about your problem. If I can, I’ll try my best to help you.”

“It’s like this... My father came to me and he wants to take...