Mr. Huo, stop being abusive. Miss Fu is going on a blind date again.

The town was extremely quiet in the early morning, with the sound of wind, the barking of dogs coming from unknown distances, and the occasional roar of motorcycles.

Cao Yuan was lying on Xiaoxia's bed.

He was lying on the pillow on this 1.9-meter-long bed, with his calves exposed from the outside of the bed. However, when he went to wash up, Xiaoxia thoughtfully found a stool that was about the same height as the bed and put it at the end of the bed.

Sometimes she was confused, and sometimes she always discovered things that many people couldn't find, and her unexpected thoughtfulness gave him a knowing blow.

It's already half past one.

Cao Yuan lay on the bed filled with Xiaoxia's scent, not feeling sleepy at all.

He turned over and almost kicked the stool at the end of the bed.

Facing the ceiling, he stared at the wall paint that showed gray under the light, and whispered three words into the air: "Xia Xinxin."

He had excellent hearing and heard Grandma Xia on the other side of the corridor calling for help.

Just as she was about to lift off the quilt and get up, she heard Xiaoxia's low voice: "Grandma, what's wrong... Okay, please slow down, I'll help you."

The sound of rustling footsteps.

This room is closest to the bathroom.

He heard Xiao Xia help Grandma Xia onto the toilet in the bathroom, then close the door and come out, standing in the corridor.

Cao Yuan held his breath and listened quietly to the movement outside.

Xiao Xia yawned. Halfway through her yawn, the sound stopped suddenly. She must have covered it with her hands.

Across the door, Cao Yuan raised the corner of his mouth as he thought of her sleepy state.

I don't know when I fell asleep in the second half of the night.

Cao Yuan has not had dreams for many years, especially dreams about his childhood.

Some of the fragments were not clear, but he still remembered that autumn, when he and Cao Fang were seven years old, their parents were gone, and no relatives were willing to take them in.

Some local institutions can only guarantee that they can attend school.

He remembered that it was October 18th, a Friday evening.

It was raining heavily outside, and he and Cao Fang went out from home with broken umbrellas.

"When we pick up the things and sell them for money, we can buy rice. My brother will make porridge for you." Cao Fang squeezed the snakeskin bag in his hand.

From last night to now, they haven't eaten anything during the two meals.

He nodded and followed Cao Fang to the centralized garbage dump near the transition market.

Cao Fang quickly jumped onto the iron guardrail on the edge of the garbage pool, jumped up, used a stick to pick apart the useless things, picked out mineral water bottles and cans, and threw them out of the garbage pool.

"Xiaoyuan, pick it up quickly, don't let anyone snatch it away!"

Cao Fang shouted to him in the garbage pool.

This was the place they had been looking for for a long time.

The county town is not big, and some clean scrap-picking areas have been occupied by people. They are all adults. The two of them are only fourteen years old together, so there is no way they can rob them.

I can only come to this dirty and smelly place.

He stuffed the empty bottles into the snakeskin bag. The rain became heavier and heavier, so he simply threw away the leaky umbrella.

Their clothes were dirty and smelly, so they dragged their snakeskin bags to the recycling bin.

Seeing their dirty appearance, the other party looked disgusted and said, "The market is bad now, so they cost five cents each."

Cao Fang frowned, "Isn't it a dime each?"

The other party looked impatient, "Don't you understand what I said is five cents a piece? If you want to sell, sell it. If you don't sell, you'll be put down."

"But last week it was obviously a dime a piece, so don't bully us." Cao Fang argued with the other party.

"Where did this wild child come from! Look at this rags, no one will discipline you, right?"

The other party kicked the snakeskin bag they brought!

He looked at his brother's red eyes and threw himself at him regardless.

He has been strong since he was a child, taller than his elder brother, and has better skills than his elder brother. Even an adult man would be knocked back several steps by him before he could stabilize himself.

"let's go!"

Grabbing the snakeskin bag and Cao Fang's hand, he left this place.

Finally, they exchanged everything they picked up for money at another place for ten cents a bottle.

Thirty-one dollars and six cents.

They went to the supermarket and bought the cheapest rice and eggs.

After returning home, Cao Fang counted the remaining change and stuffed it under the bed for next time.

After two days, the weather cleared up, and he planned to go to the outdoor basketball court to see if there was anything he could pick up and sell for money.

Cao Fang took his hand and said, "Xiaoyuan, I'll give you something."

He opened his palm and found a nougat.

A dime a piece.

They can only get it by picking up a bottle.

"Happy birthday, brother."

He even forgot his birthday.

At seven years old, they are already starting to make a living.

He looked at his brother's malnourished face in the sunshine, tightly grasped the candy in his hand, and broke it in half.

Half for my brother and half for myself.

"Brother, I will respect you from now on."

Cao Fang patted the back of his head and said, "I'm only five minutes older than you."

“I will do what I say,” he insisted.

That night, Cao Yuan dreamed of some other scenes. In the end, Xiao Xia, who was wearing braids and a little red on her eyebrows, took his hand and said to him with a smile: "Happy birthday, little Yuanyuan."

At dawn, Cao Yuan woke up.

Xiaoxia's parents also got up, and without knowing what they were talking about, they left through the front door.

Xiao Xia was preparing to wash Grandma Xia and brought a basin of water out of the bathroom.

"I come."

Cao Yuan took it.

"Did you sleep well?" Xiaoxia asked him.

Cao Yuan looked at her. She had tied her hair into a high bun for convenience, revealing her entire delicate face.

He looked at it a few more times before looking away, "It's okay."

Xia Ming in the next room was still sleeping soundly.

After Xiao Xia washed Grandma Xia, Cao Yuan happened to come out of the bathroom.

The sleeves of the black shirt were rolled up, revealing a strong forearm, and the back of the hand and wrist bones were stained with water.

The hair is very short, neat and crisp, and the facial features become more and more strong.

Xiao Xia was in a daze.

In my hometown, I saw Cao Yuan early in the morning.

This was a scene she could never dream of, but it actually happened.

After breakfast, Xia Ming clamored to go out to play. Xiao Xia took him out, and Cao Yuan naturally followed.

Although the town is not big, it is famous for its simplicity and some old sites of red culture.

Back home, it's almost lunch time.

Cao Yuan followed Xiao Xia into the restaurant and saw the sumptuous dishes on the table.

Mother Xia came out of the kitchen carrying a plate of squirrel mandarin fish and said with a smile:

"Xiao Cao, Xinxin said today is your birthday, and my aunt's cooking skills are average, so don't mind."

Xiaoxia pulled Cao Yuan, who was still stunned, and said, "My mother is so humble. Her cooking skills are so good, she is not inferior to your Lanfang..."

Realizing that she almost spilled the beans, Xiaoxia shut up in time.

The others didn't hear clearly, but Xia Ming asked: "Sister, what did you say about Lanfang?"

"You heard wrong."

Xia Ming did not ask further questions, but asked Cao Yuan, "By the way, brother Cao, what do you do?"

Xia's father and Xia's mother, who were busy in the kitchen, and Xia's grandmother, who was sitting on the dining chair, pricked up their ears.

"Bodyguard." Cao Yuan replied.

Xia Ming nodded in understanding, glanced at Xiao Xia with a sudden realization, and then looked at him again, "So you are Lanfang's bodyguard?"