The day after Niuniu was sent back, Li Hongjun went out to fetch water in the morning and heard some noise at the courtyard gate. He listened carefully and it seemed like something was scratching at the door repeatedly, but it didn't sound like a cat or a dog or anything like that.
Out of curiosity, Li Hongjun still opened the courtyard door to take a look, and there he saw Niuniu crouched at the door, her lips turned a bruised shade of purple from the cold.
The courtyard door opened, but Niuniu hadn't realized it yet, one small hand still maintaining the motion of scratching at the door, grasping a few times.
"Niuniu, why are you here, who brought you?" Li Hongjun, seeing the child there, quickly looked around but didn't spot Li Xianghe.
Niuniu, as if she hadn't heard her uncle's words, continued to scratch at the air.