When Lin Wanwan opened her eyes again, the light dissipated, and what she saw in front of her were various retro-style houses. At her feet, a little beggar was circling around her to evade an old woman in ancient costume.
No, that's not right. Looking at the scrawny, bare-bottomed little figure covered only in ragged fabric, this was clearly a little beggar, not a dumpling.
"You little brat, daring to bite your old grandma. Just watch, I'll beat you to death." The old woman in ancient costume chased after the child, trying to hit him.
Are they filming a drama here? Where did they find such a little actor? Looks as pitiful as those starving refugee children in the photos.
"Are you all filming a drama?" Lin Wanwan asked in local dialect.
The old woman responded in the dialect of Yong City. Is this a local play they're filming?
"What filming, all that nonsense..." The old woman, out of breath from chasing the little ragamuffin for a while without catching him, lashed out, but the moment she got a clear look at Lin Wanwan, she suddenly went silent, as if her throat was being grabbed. She eyed Lin Wanwan up and down. "You, which noble family do you come from? Why aren't you accompanied by a servant girl?"
Lin Wanwan didn't answer her but suddenly stood frozen, looking around blankly at the unfamiliar bustling street and the rows of low houses. She was utterly shocked.
Just a moment earlier, she had been at the sales office.
Everything in front of her made Lin Wanwan rub her eyes instinctively. But when she lowered her hands and looked again, it was still the same scene.
On the stone-paved road, there were also people driving donkey carts, shouting as they passed by.
The hot weather immediately made Lin Wanwan break out in a cold sweat — and she hardly ever sweats: "Could it be that I've time traveled?!"
Seeing Lin Wanwan's dumbfounded look, the old woman rolled her eyes and smiled with a greasy face, "Oh dear, young lady, are you here visiting relatives? Come, come with me. I'm most familiar with this area. I'll take you to find a place."
As she spoke, she reached out with a large, shriveled hand to grab her.
An unsolicited act of kindness can only mean evil intentions or theft.
Lin Wanwan stepped back cautiously, eyeing the old woman in ancient costume warily, and said coldly, "How dare you! Do you know who I am?"
Hmph, this old woman didn't look like a good person. In an unfamiliar place, how could Lin Wanwan casually follow someone like that?
Back in university, she and Chen Jinyu had often worked as extras for film crews in Xiang City. They've never eaten pork, but they've seen pigs run; they've learned a bit about acting. At this time, she needed to appear like a noble lady to intimidate the other.
Sure enough, the old woman hesitated a bit, and after taking another look at Lin Wanwan dressed in rich attire, she abandoned her sinister intentions and turned to continue chasing the child. The child, whom she had picked up from the market, was destined to be a beauty with those innocent bright eyes and could fetch at least three to four strings of cash at a certain place.
"You little brat, come back with me, why are you running around? Watch me break your legs!"
"You're a bad person, you're a bad person! I don't know you!" the little refugee yelled sharply, taking Lin Wanwan as a lifesaver, circling around her to avoid being caught by the old woman.
Upon hearing this, Lin Wanwan was immediately filled with righteous indignation. Wasn't this a human trafficker?
She traveled through time and encountered a human trafficker snatching people on her first day! How outrageous! Human traffickers deserve to be punished! The little refugee must be a little beggar, and that old witch had evil intentions! Oh right, she even wanted to trick me away, planning to kidnap me too!
How hateful!
Lin Wanwan immediately grabbed the old woman's arm and said coldly, "Are you a child trafficker?! This little one doesn't even know you, why are you trying to grab her?"
"Whether she knows me or not, what does that have to do with you? You little girl exposing yourself in public—no servant by your side, either! I can tell you're not from a good family. Did you sneak out from the Red-light House?" The old woman struggled to pull her hand back, turning the tables with scolding, while her other hand tried to reach for Lin Wanwan's face.
The "Red-light House" she mentioned was the famous brothel in the city.
Although Lin Wanwan didn't know the "Red-light House," deducing from the old woman's tone, she could guess it was a brothel.
She quickly scanned her surroundings, noticing that a few onlookers had already gathered. Most of the passersby looked as if they were struggling, and not a single brightly colored garment was in sight.
Then she looked down at herself. Despite being slightly disheveled and dusty, she still stood out significantly.
The ancient-style outfit she wore was a work uniform gifted by the event organizer, identical to the leading actress's outfit from a popular historical drama. The silk and sheer layers were intricately decorated and matched with modified embroidered shoes, making her perfectly blend in on this ancient street.
If there was anything off, it was that the attire was too extravagant, starkly contrasting with the surrounding poverty, but would never be mistaken as outlandish clothing.
If she'd felt hot and had changed into her short-sleeved T-shirt and denim shorts, she'd be in big trouble, entangled by this aggressive trafficker.
Newly arrived, Lin Wanwan, with no identity and unaware of the situation, couldn't cause too much of a scene. This old woman didn't look like an easy person to deal with. To dare snatch children in public, even if she wasn't a local bully, she must be somewhat involved in the underworld.
As such, she had to settle this quickly.
Thinking of this, Lin Wanwan executed a martial arts move, instantly sending the old woman sprawling on her back, crying out in pain. Then she wasted no time in picking up the little beggar and fleeing into a nearby alley.
The best strategy was to run. Whatever happens, better to find a less crowded place to figure out the current situation.
After running for a bit, Lin Wanwan saw a signboard with a traditional character "當" (Pawn) written on it. She immediately set down the little refugee and tidied her clothes, then asked the little one, "Where are your parents, no, father and mother?"
The young refugee looked up at her with a pair of bright eyes and said, "I don't have a father or mother. My aunt brought me to the town."
So, an orphan!
Lin Wanwan's heart was struck by those innocent eyes in an instant. It reminded her of herself back then. After her parents passed away, her young self was pushed around by grandparents and uncles, feeling lost and helpless.
This little one was brought to town by her aunt, yet the aunt was nowhere to be seen. Was she abandoned deliberately?
Lin Wanwan asked again, "Then where's your aunt? I'll take you to find her."
The little one lowered her head at these words, keeping her two black fingers fidgeting as she softly said, "I don't know. Aunt said she'd abandon me, wouldn't want me anymore."
"Abandon you?! Just as I thought!" Lin Wanwan was furious, but after calming her breath, she asked, "Little one, how old are you?"
"I'm four years old. I'll grow up soon!"
"Four years old... younger than I was back then." Lin Wanwan thought to herself.