Chapter Thirty-Eight: Longing for Home

“Big Head, I’ll be returning to Hangzhou to visit family tomorrow. Bring little Wan over in the morning—I’ll take her back to Hangzhou to look for her relatives. We’ve already delayed a week; who knows how anxious her family must be by now?” Ning Zhiheng said with a smile as he watched him put the money away.

“All right. This little Wan really is such a good girl. Honestly, my wife’s been telling me these past few days that if we can’t find her family, we might as well raise her as our own daughter. She truly treats little Wan like her own child,” Liu Datong responded, briefly stunned by Ning Zhiheng’s words before quickly agreeing.

Ning Zhiheng grinned. “Just a few days and you can’t bear to part with her! But she’s someone else’s daughter—if you want, just have another of your own and hold on tight every day!”

Liu Datong laughed as well, thinking that his wife would surely complain once he got home, but he’d grown even more fond of this gentle girl. Maybe he should discuss it with his wife—having another daughter didn’t sound like a bad idea at all! But if it turned out to be another mischievous boy, what then?

“Big Head, I’ll be gone for around seven days this time. While I’m away, get a feel for what’s happening on the streets, especially among those rickshaw pullers always running about. I’ve noticed their trade is quite important. Try to get a few of their leaders on our side; if they can be our eyes and ears, it’ll be worth spending a bit of money.”

Ning Zhiheng placed great importance on the rickshaw pullers. The arrests of Yanagida Koju and Huang Xiansheng had been largely thanks to clues from them. If he could use these people well, it would be like gaining countless extra pairs of eyes—a tremendous help for his future work.

Listening to this, Liu Datong realized that Officer Ning wanted to set up some informants. Many police chiefs kept a few local rogues as informers, but none had ever used rickshaw pullers.

Still, he knew that whatever Officer Ning assigned him, no matter how hard, he couldn’t refuse.

He nodded at once. “Don’t worry, I’ll handle it. There’s a rickshaw company called Yunlai at the entrance to Loumen Alley. The owner was complaining a few days ago that business is bad and he wants to transfer the company. I’ll get a brother to take it over. Wouldn’t that make for a ready-made network of informants?”

“Good, let’s do that! Money’s not an issue. Liu Yong helped us this time, too. Let him be the manager—tell him it’s my reward for his efforts.” Ning Zhiheng was delighted by the news; sometimes luck was better than perfect timing. Money was the least of his concerns—he had plenty of spare cash.

“Then I’ll thank you on his behalf!” Liu Datong chuckled. Liu Yong was a childhood friend, always struggling for steady work and a tight household. If not for Liu Datong’s regular help, his family would barely scrape by.

He hadn’t expected Officer Ning to take notice of his friend—this was a rare opportunity, and he was sincerely happy for him.

“How much will it cost?” Ning Zhiheng asked.

“Not much. The rickshaw company rents the land; just keep paying the rent. The real value is in the rickshaws, but they’re all old now. Altogether, about five hundred legal tender should cover it.” Liu Datong did a quick calculation. “What you gave me this time is enough. I’ll arrange for Liu Yong to handle it tomorrow.”

With matters settled and a meeting time set for the next day at the train station, the two parted ways.

Early the next morning, when Ning Zhiheng arrived at the station, he found Liu Datong’s whole family waiting in the lounge.

Liu Datong’s wife was the very picture of a simple, honest southern woman. She cradled little Wan in her arms, her eyes red from recent tears.

Little Wan, too, nestled in her embrace, sobbing quietly. Anyone watching might have mistaken them for mother and daughter in a tearful farewell.

There were also two boys a bit older than little Wan, clearly reluctant to say goodbye to her.

Seeing Ning Zhiheng, Liu Datong stepped forward with a wry smile. “My whole family can’t bear to part with little Wan—they insisted on coming to see her off, so I had to bring everyone along.”

In just a few days, sweet little Wan had become a natural part of this ordinary family. They already saw her as one of their own, and now that she was about to leave, even her two “big brothers” looked heartbroken.

Ning Zhiheng’s arrival made Liu Datong’s wife and little Wan stop crying and stand up in a hurry.

These past days, Liu Datong’s wife had listened to her husband talk about being favored by an important figure, how their lives would keep getting better.

But seeing him in person—a young man in simple Zhongshan attire, neat and composed, his features proper yet still a touch youthful, and especially those bright, clear eyes—he didn’t look like some big shot at all, but more like a refined student.

She didn’t know what to say, only looked at her husband.

Ning Zhiheng stepped forward with a warm smile. “You must be my sister-in-law. Thank you for taking care of little Wan these days.”

Flustered, she replied again and again, “No trouble at all! No trouble!”

Little Wan, holding her hand, looked timidly at Ning Zhiheng, too shy to speak. They’d only met briefly on Beihua Street a few days ago and hadn’t seen each other since; she still felt a little unfamiliar with him.

“Little Wan, Uncle is taking you to find your parents today. You’ll soon be home—aren’t you happy?” Ning Zhiheng gently stroked her forehead, lowering his voice as much as possible to make it soothing.

Little Wan nodded obediently, but gripped Liu Datong’s wife’s hand even tighter. She was still a little scared, unsure where this uncle was taking her.

That squeeze brought tears to Liu Datong’s wife’s eyes once more, making Ning Zhiheng feel awkward. Liu Datong stepped up and glared at his wife, “Woman, always crying! How many times have I told you at home, and you’re still like this here!”

They chatted for a while in the waiting room. Before long, the train arrived. Ning Zhiheng and little Wan said a reluctant farewell to the Liu family and boarded the train home.

On the train, little Wan was silent at first. Ning Zhiheng tried all sorts of ways to coax her to speak, even producing a cloth doll he’d prepared. At last, her wariness faded and she began to talk and laugh, gradually warming up to him.

Jinling and Hangzhou weren’t far apart, but trains at the time were slow. It took them the whole day, and it was after five in the afternoon before they arrived in Hangzhou.

Alighting with little Wan, they hired two rickshaws and headed straight for the Ning residence.

Hangzhou in late autumn was beautiful—the roadside leaves already crimson, some fluttering down like butterflies in the wind.

They passed stretches of lake, the water calm and smooth, with only a few small boats gliding by, their wakes still rippling behind them.

This was where Ning Zhiheng had grown up. Every breath on this land filled him with a deep sense of belonging.

The Ning family was a prominent clan in Hangzhou. Their ancestors had once served as local officials and later established themselves here, generation after generation as a family of scholars.

In later years, many of the descendants became successful merchants. Ning Zhiheng’s grandfather was a shrewd businessman who built up the family fortune, leaving behind three sons and a daughter.

Ning Zhiheng’s father, Ning Liangcai, was his third child. Ning Zhiheng had an eldest uncle, an aunt, and a younger uncle.

Ning Liangcai had little talent for study and turned to business instead, running three fabric shops and a restaurant. The family was well-off, their days comfortable and prosperous.

His mother, Sang Su’e, was also from a prominent household and bore two sons—Ning Zhiheng and his elder brother, Ning Zhipeng.

Later, Ning Liangcai took a concubine, who gave him a son and a daughter—Ning Zhiheng’s younger brother, Ning Zhiming, and youngest sister, Ning Zhen.

Before long, Ning Zhiheng arrived at the grand entrance to the family mansion in southern Hangzhou—a stately home with carved beams and flying eaves, one of the finest in the district.

Getting out with little Wan, the rickshaw pullers set their luggage gently at the door, took their tip, and left.

There was a gatekeeper stationed at the entrance. Seeing someone arrive, he hurried forward and exclaimed, “Ah! Second Young Master is home! Second Young Master is home!”

“Uncle Xia, how have you been?” Ning Zhiheng greeted him warmly.

Uncle Xia was an old family retainer who’d watched him grow up. Now elderly, he’d been given an easy post at the gatehouse, keeping watch over the entrance.

“I’m well—plenty to eat, warm to wear, nothing to complain about!” Uncle Xia picked up the luggage and called out loudly into the courtyard, “Where is everyone? Go tell Madam—the Second Young Master is home!”

Little Wan, seeing strangers, said nothing, only held tight to Ning Zhiheng’s hand, her wide eyes darting everywhere.

At Uncle Xia’s calls, the whole household came alive. The Second Young Master, long absent, was finally home, and several servants hurried out, greeting him warmly, taking his luggage, and leading him toward the inner courtyard.

Before he even reached the inner rooms, his mother, Sang Su’e, came rushing out. Hearing that her second son was home, she couldn’t wait and came herself.

Seeing her son approaching—tall and upright, calm and dignified—she realized with a start that he’d grown more mature and resolute than when she’d last seen him a year ago.

“Mother, you shouldn’t have come out!” Ning Zhiheng strode forward to take her hand, greeting her tenderly.

His “Mother” was natural and affectionate—a fusion of his past and present selves, sincere and seamless in his love for his family.

“You finally remembered to come home! Not even a telegram all year—don’t you know how worried your family’s been?” Sang Su’e tugged his ear, seemingly rough but actually gentle, only letting go after his exaggerated cries of pain.

Only then did she notice the pretty, sweet-faced little girl at his side. With a smile, she asked, “And whose child have you brought home? What an adorable little thing—she just melts your heart!”

She reached out to embrace her, but little Wan, frightened, hid behind Ning Zhiheng.

“Mother, this child is here to find her family. I’ll explain everything later. After a whole day on the train, I’m starving—can we eat yet?”

The moment her son said he was hungry, Sang Su’e’s heart ached. “Eat, eat! Don’t bother waiting for that old rascal—who knows where he’s wandered off to this time. We’ll start first!”

At her command, everyone bustled into action, preparing to serve the meal.

In this household, Sang Su’e ruled. A lady from a great family, the main wife and mother of two eldest sons, her status was unshakeable. With Ning Liangcai naturally a little henpecked, and even more so since taking a concubine, he never dared raise his voice.

All the servants knew—the moment Madam glared, the Master was left speechless!