A young boy from the 1970s, separated from his family, fled famine and led his younger brother into

"Your uncle... is named Su Weiguo?"

The waitress's voice changed instantly, and her originally shrewd and discerning eyes were filled with shock and disbelief.

Su Nianci's heart skipped a beat, but she maintained a blank expression. She nodded and repeated softly, "Yes, my dad... oh no, my uncle, his name is Su Weiguo. Auntie, do you... do you know him?"

She deliberately changed "father" to "uncle," a very subtle psychological suggestion that made the other person think she had to change her address because she was living under someone else's roof, thus strengthening the credibility of her identity as a "martyr's orphan."

The waitress did not answer her question.

She stared at Su Nianci's face, as if trying to find a familiar shadow in that tender little face. Her lips trembled, and it took her a long time to squeeze out a few words:

"You...you are a child of Wei?"

Su Nianci's heart started pounding wildly!

She knew him! She actually knew her father!

This world is far too small!

Su Nianci suppressed the turmoil in her heart, revealing a perfectly balanced expression of surprise and affection on her face. Her tears welled up again, this time a genuine outpouring of emotion.

"Auntie! You really know my dad! My dad, he..." Her words caught in her throat, and she couldn't finish them.

The waitress's eyes instantly welled up with tears!

She dropped the enamel plate in her hand and hugged Su Nianci and Xiao Shitou tightly!

"My God! It's really Wei Guo's child! So alike! So alike! Especially those eyes, they're just like your mother's, they're practically identical!" As she spoke, she wiped the tears from Su Nianci's face with her rough hands, her voice filled with barely suppressed excitement and sorrow.

"My poor children! How...how have you all managed all these years?!"

In the restaurant, everyone was stunned by this sudden reversal.

So it wasn't a lie after all!

This child is truly a descendant of a hero! And he even knows the waiters here!

"Sister Zhang, this..." a young waiter next to her asked in a low voice.

The woman called Sister Zhang then realized she had lost her composure. She released her two children, wiped away her tears, forced a smile at the surrounding customers, and said, "Please excuse me. These are the children of an old comrade-in-arms... I haven't seen them for many years."

Her explanation was vague, but it was enough.

Everyone's faces showed a look of sudden realization, and their gazes toward Su Nianci and her brother were filled with even more sympathy and affection.

Sister Zhang took Su Nianci and Xiao Shitou's hands and led them to a quiet, empty table against the wall.

"Children, don't be afraid. You'll feel right at home here with Aunt Zhang! Let's see who dares to bully you now!" She patted her chest, her face full of righteous indignation.

Then, she turned around abruptly and shouted towards the kitchen, "Xiao Wang! Come here!"

A young chef wearing a tall white hat poked his head out: "Sister Zhang, what's up?"

"Don't worry about anything!" Without waiting for a reply, Sister Zhang stuffed some of the money from Su Nianci's bowl into the chef's hand, about a dollar or so, and then lowered her voice, speaking in an unquestionable, commanding tone:

"Go! Use this money to get me two steamed buns! And scoop a bowl of the meat broth that was left for Section Chief Wang! Make sure it's got plenty of minced meat and fat! You hear me? It's on me!"

The young chef was taken aback: "Sister Zhang, that's Section Chief Wang..."

"Section Chief Wang my ass!" Sister Zhang glared. "I'll talk to Section Chief Wang myself later! Just go when I tell you to! This is the descendant of a hero! Today, I'd give my life for anything, not just a bowl of meat soup!"

Her words were powerful and assertive!

The young chef was intimidated by her imposing manner and dared not say another word. He quickly bowed and shrank back into the kitchen.

Su Nianci sat at the table, looking at Aunt Zhang who had "speaked up for her" in front of her, and a complex warmth welled up in her heart.

She had calculated people's hearts and the rules, but she hadn't expected to encounter her father's old friend here and receive such a pure and heartfelt kindness.

Soon, the young chef came out carrying a tray.

On the tray were two steaming, large, white steamed buns and a large bowl of meat soup!

That bowl of soup? It wasn't soup at all! It was clearly half a bowl of minced meat! A thick layer of golden oil floated on top, and the rich aroma of meat instantly filled my nostrils!

"Gulp."

Little Stone stared at the bowl of meat, swallowing hard once more. His eyes, bright as two obsidian stones, were fixed on the meat, and he didn't dare to move.

"Eat! Eat up, kids!" Sister Zhang pushed the bowls and steamed buns in front of them, a satisfied yet concerned smile on her face. "Look how thin you are, you've all become gaunt! Eat up, you need energy to fill your stomachs!"

Su Nianci picked up a spoon, scooped up a large spoonful of soup with minced meat, blew on it, and handed it to Xiao Shitou's mouth.

"Little Stone, open your mouth."

The little stone obediently opened its mouth.

The moment that mouthful of "nectar"—a blend of meaty aroma, oily fragrance, and delicious broth—slid down his throat, his eyes widened in shock!

An exquisite flavor he had never experienced before exploded on his taste buds!

This is... the taste of meat!

This was the first time in his life that he had ever eaten real meat!

The next second, this usually strong and sensible child could no longer hold back. His lips trembled, and large tears, like beads from a broken string, fell down in a torrent.

He cried as he opened his mouth, waiting for his sister to feed him a bite.

He wasn't crying because he felt wronged or afraid, but because... he was happy.

This scene brought tears to the eyes of Sister Zhang and the surrounding diners.

"What a tragedy! What kind of relatives are these! They've let the descendants of a hero starve like this!"

"Eat quickly, child, eat slowly so you don't choke!"

Su Nianci's eyes also welled up with tears. While patiently feeding her younger brother, she broke off a small piece of steamed bun for herself, dipped it in the meat broth, and ate it in small bites.

This was the most delicious meal she had eaten since her rebirth.

The meal was both tear-jerking and thoroughly enjoyable.

By the time we finished eating, it was completely dark. The other customers in the restaurant gradually left.

After clearing the table, Sister Zhang looked at the two children snuggled together, already somewhat drowsy, and sighed.

She knew that it was against the rules to stay overnight at the hotel.

She wanted to take the child home, but her own home was already crammed with five people, leaving barely any room to turn around.

"Child," she knelt down, patted Su Nianci's head, and said with some difficulty, "the hotel is about to close. Where...are you planning to stay tonight?"

Su Nianci rubbed her eyes and forced herself to cheer up: "Auntie, we're not going anywhere else. We can just spend the night in the waiting room at the train station. It's warm there."

This was something she had planned long ago. Staying in a hotel was not only expensive but also unsafe. Although the waiting room was crowded and noisy, at least there were patrolling police officers, making it the most economical and safest option.

Hearing this, Sister Zhang felt even more distressed.

She was silent for a moment, then took out a few small bills from her pocket and stuffed them back into Su Nianci's hand, along with the money Su Nianci had left over.

"Auntie can't accept your money. Take these for self-defense." She paused, her expression turning serious, and lowered her voice, solemnly instructing:

"Nianci, listen to your aunt. The train station during the day and the train station at night are two different worlds. Most of the people who stay in the waiting room at night are like you, poor people with nowhere to go. You should find a few honest-looking travelers, preferably with their families, and hang out with them so you can look out for each other."

"When you sleep at night, whatever you do, don't fall into a deep sleep! If one person sleeps, the other must stay awake and keep watch! You two children should take turns. The pickpockets and thieves in the waiting room especially target elderly, weak, women, and children like you! Be extremely careful!"

Sister Zhang's words were like a warning light, instantly illuminating the darkness ahead for Su Nianci.

Spending the night at the train station.

This will be another silent battle, a battle of survival and courage.