Trafford’s Trading Club

Seeing the disappointed Ma Houde and Lin Feng walking back with a middle-aged homeless… Ren Ziling hurriedly got off the car.

“Huh? Why did you catch such a guy?”

Ma Houde shook his head, “She left there before we arrived. I think she found that someone was observing her… or she discovered you.”

Only then did Ren Ziling remember that she had came in contact with Zhao Ru.

“I tried to be careful… That woman is really sensitive.” Ren Ziling was surprised, “Then what should we do next?”

“I have no idea.” Ma Houde shook his head, “Maybe we have to call more people to go to other places where the homeless are to check.”

Lin Feng gaped, “Officer Ma, Zhao Ru knew that we’re looking for her, do you still think she’ll hide in those other places?”

“Then what if she thought differently?” Ma Houde rolled his eyes, “Everything is possible. We policemen must keep seeking for some tiny hints constantly during these seemingly useless work.”

Ren Ziling patted Lin Feng’s shoulder, “Officer Ma is stuffing money into your pocket. You should thank him and treat him to a meal? Oh, I know a restaurant nearby is very good. Let’s go have a dinner today!”

Lin Feng rolled his eyes, “Do you want me to invite you to go together?”

“You’re so nice!” Ren Ziling blinked eyes, “Can I pack up some food for my Luo Qiu?”

“…”

Lin Feng felt miserable. This month, he might have to eat dirt to survive… but at this moment, Ma Houde made a phone call.

“Hi, honey, I’ll eat outside this evening. Yeah, Lin Feng is treating, yes…”

‘Officer Ma, you cannot do this!!’

…

…

Later.

Ren Ziling went back home, taking off her shoes and shouting, “Brat, Luo Qiu? Boss Luo Qiu? Are you in? Did you cook? I brought back some food for you.”

Usually, Ren ZIling wouldn’t get a response, so she just walked into Luo Qiu’s room.

She saw Luo Qiu looking at a photo album beneath the lit-up table lamp.

“What are you looking at?”

Luo Qiu closed the album and put it back into the drawer, “Nothing, just the graduation photos from before.”

“Graduation photos…”

Ren Ziling recalled her childhood days. But soon she said, “Have some food, sweet and sour pork ribs! Uncle Ma’s subordinate treated us!”

This was Boss Luo’s favourite dish, so he took it while walking out of the room, “Why did you go there?”

“Let’s not mention that.” Ren Ziling looked depressed and told him the events happened in the daytime, then specially mentioned, “I was staying in the car! You can ask Old Ma!”

“Homeless?” Luo Qiu murmured.

“What are you thinking of?” Ren Ziling asked.

“What can I think of?”

Ren Ziling shrugged her shoulders… she didn’t know what Luo Qiu thought. She sat down and supported her chin with both hands, saying sadly, “Old Ma said he didn’t arrest the right person, so I couldn’t get the tip-off fee! But at least he caught a thief! Yet, he didn’t even want to pay 100 yuan! Does he have any humanity left?”

“I’m going to heat the dish and cook rice. You only ate a little, right?” Luo Qiu asked indifferently.

“How do you know that?” Ren Ziling gaped.

“Are you eating or not?”

“Heihei…”

Subeditor Ren laughed insidiously and peeped at the balcony, “Ah, you didn’t collect the clothes right! Let me help you!”

Boss Luo shook his head and took out some dishes.

He knew that both Ren Ziling and Uncle Ma weren’t full. This could be seen from the several full meal boxes.

…

…

The homeless started work as soon as the sun rose and slept when the sun set. Nobody noticed those junkmen and even they didn’t know the other similar fellows living near them.

The senior near Zhao Ru said that they were abandoned by this city.

He was called Uncle Mai. And he introduced his grandson with pride, “This is my grandson, Mai Xiaojun.”

At 9 o’clock in the evening, Uncle Mai took his grandson to take a shower in the surrounding public toilet and came back.

Mai Xiaojun was a student, and received some help from the society; so when Uncle Mai came back, he took a bucket of water to wash Mai Xiaojun’s clothes.

Mai Xiaojun unfolded the table, and sat on the little stool. Uncle Mai fired an oil lamp for him to do his homework.

After a while, when other homeless approached, Uncle Mai chatted with them about some daily information in this city while washing the clothes.

Zhao Ru now suddenly walked out of her paper ‘house’, “Sir, let me help you.”

“Ah? No need.” Uncle Mai shook his head.

Zhao Ru smiled, “Sir, you treated me to some buns, so I need to help you with something.”

Other men laughed at that time. They didn’t know why a girl came to such places but her smile looked nice.

Uncle Mai didn’t insist on his behaviour and received Zhao Ru’s kindness. Since then, he knew this new girl’s name, “Little Ru.”

He could not help ask her later, “Little Ru… you’re so young, why…”

Zhao Ru hanged the clothes and said, “You said the people here are all abandoned, didn’t you?”

So Uncle Mai didn’t ask more. Everyone here didn’t want to tell their own stories.

That evening, his grandson looked excited and happier than ever, because Zhao Ru tutored him. And the senior felt appreciated and happy.

He had a much better sleep watching his grandson looking so delighted.

…

During the daytime, Uncle Mai woke up as before. Everything was the same, including sending his grandson to school.

After coming back, Uncle Mai met two policemen, who were walking towards him; they took out a photo and asked, “Did you see this person?”

It was Zhao Ru.

Uncle Mai didn’t answer them, but frowned first, “Officer, what’s wrong with this person?”

They just told him, “She’s a dangerous escaped criminal! We suspect she’s hiding in the surrounding area. Did you see her?”

“No, I didn’t.”

Uncle Mai shook his head and gave a natural and peaceful look.

The policeman didn’t care about that, “Oh, fine. But if you see her, call the police, and you’ll get some rewards!”

Uncle Mai didn’t say anything but smiled. When the two cops left, he walked into the alley.

He backed to his ‘house’; after cleaning his objects, he went to the next ‘house’.

Seeing this sleeping girl with her body curled up, Uncle Mai put down two stuffed buns at the door. He bought buns on the way back to this ‘house’.

To Uncle Mai, she was not Zhao Ru, but only a new girl.

She said she was an abandoned person.

All members here were abandoned and they had no history.

That was all.