After visiting the rooms upstairs, Jiaojiao came downstairs, ready to drag Yu Rou to see the mud-brick house she had mentioned before.
As they reached the hallway entrance, a few boys noticed and joined in.
What started as a plan for two turned into a group activity.
When they reached the door of Li Shu's house next door, Jiaojiao paused, recalling Xiaohei, who used to enthusiastically greet her every time she passed by, and called out, "Xiaohei?"
But the grocery store, which had tied Xiaohei for years, showed no sign of movement.
Next to her, Ruan Wei explained, "Xiaohei was sold off the year before last."
"Sold off?" Jiaojiao frowned and looked over.
Ruan Wei nodded, saying, "A few years ago, Uncle Li worked as a mason in the big city, but unfortunately fell from a building and died. His wife took his compensation and left the next month, leaving Li Boxue with his grandparents. Without anyone to work, the family couldn't manage, so they sold Xiaohei."
