Liu Nian came looking for them three days later. She was Uncle Zhou's daughter.
That afternoon, Wen Ning was sorting things behind the counter. Feng Dema was bathing the Squirrel Spirit by the entrance, while Lu Ming squatted beside him, cracking sunflower seeds.
Feng Dema was the first to see Liu Nian standing at the door.
With squirrel fur still stuck all over his hands, he looked up blankly at the woman in her forties.
She wore a plain coat, her hair neatly tied back. Her eyes were red, and a thin sheen of sweat covered her forehead. It was obvious she had come a long way.
"Excuse me, is Wen Ning here?"
Feng Dema turned and shouted into the shop.
"Boss! Someone's here to see you!"
Wen Ning stepped out from behind the counter. The moment he saw Liu Nian at the entrance, he understood.
He did not ask who she was or how she had found them.
"Come in and sit down."
Liu Nian entered the shop and looked around, her gaze sweeping over the interior.
"I had a dream."
Her voice was a little hoarse as she spoke.
"Someone in the dream called me his daughter. He bought me candied hawthorn skewers and told me not to resent him. I asked around for ages, and someone told me there was a shop here on the east side of town."
She paused and raised her head to look at Wen Ning.
"I'm looking for my dad. Was he here?"
Wen Ning was silent for a few seconds, then nodded.
"He was. But he's already left."
The expression on Liu Nian's face froze.
"Left? Where did he go?"
"I don't know."
Wen Ning shook his head as he answered.
"He slipped away on the morning three days ago. Alone."