"Excuse me..." The woman cleared her throat, gathered her courage, and asked in a hoarse voice, "Excuse me, is this Red Heart Orphanage?"
The woman spoke with a strong regional accent, and no one could understand her. They could not help exchanging confused looks.
"Who are you looking for?" Auntie Li from the neighborhood committee put down her work, stood up, and asked with a smile, "This is Red Heart Orphanage."
Seeing that someone responded to her, the woman's anxiety eased slightly. She pulled out a missing-person notice from her bag and handed it to Auntie Li from the neighborhood committee as she said excitedly, "I'm looking for the rescue center! My son was kidnapped by traffickers! I've been looking for him for three years! I heard this place could help me find my son, so I took the train here from S City."
The moment she finished speaking, the old man holding a large tea mug immediately said, "Oh! So it's you! I know, I know! I was the one who answered that call at noon. How did you find your way here on your own? Didn't I tell you to call me when you arrived?"
The old man stood up politely. Auntie Li from the neighborhood committee understood as well and hurriedly ushered her inside. "Come in and sit down."
"You came from S City? Oh dear, that's not close at all. Even by train, it takes three hours! But why did you arrive so late? Did you get lost on the way?"
The woman wiped away her tears. She had not taken any wrong turns. She had simply boarded the bus going in the opposite direction while transferring, then had to change buses again while carrying her luggage. That was what delayed her.
"Ah!" The old man