After making the appointment with Su Xiao, Lin Nian left the hospital dormitory with her children.
She wasn’t used to placing all her hopes on others.
While Su Xiao was helping her gather information, she also needed to take action herself.
She decided to go to the Commerce Bureau first to understand the current policies and procedures.
The military compound was quite a distance away from the Commerce Bureau in the city, and she had to pass through several old streets.
Holding one child in each hand, Lin Nian walked slowly.
Ningning was attracted by the malt candy being sold on the street. She tugged on Lin Nian’s sleeve, shaking it nonstop.
“Mom, Mom, I want candy!”
“Okay, one each. No eating too much.” Lin Nian smiled and took out a few coins, buying a stick for each child.
Seeing the children holding the candy and eating happily, Lin Nian’s mood improved a lot.
As long as her children were with her, she had confidence to overcome any difficulty.
To take a shortcut, she chose a narrow alley she rarely used.
The alley was narrow, with peeling walls on both sides. Above them were tangled electrical wires. The sunlight was cut into fragments and scattered down through the gaps.
Not long after she entered the alley, a few figures walked toward them unsteadily.
They were a few young men wearing loud floral shirts and flared pants. Their hair was long, and they had cigarettes in their mouths, looking like idle street thugs.
Lin Nian’s heart tightened instantly.
She instinctively pulled the children behind her and continued walking, eyes straight ahead, trying to pass them without stopping.
But trouble always found you on its own.
The yellow-haired one in front lit up when he saw her.
He stepped forward and blocked her path, letting out a frivolous whistle.
“Well well, where did this pretty girl come from? You look really nice.”
The two thugs behind him laughed loudly, their eyes openly roaming over Lin Nian.
“Bringing two little burdens? Your husband not home?”
“Sis, come have fun with us—we’re way more interesting than babysitting kids.”
Their filthy words were unbearable.
Lin Nian’s expression turned cold instantly.
She pushed the children further behind her and said coolly, “Move.”
“Move?” Yellow-hair laughed as if he’d heard the funniest joke. He stepped closer, and a horrible mix of cheap tobacco and sweat hit her face. “Sure, we can move. Leave all your money here, and we’ll let you pass.”
They were robbing her.
Lin Nian quickly assessed the situation.
Fighting them head-on was impossible.
The three of them were grown men, tall and strong. She was a woman with two children—there was no chance of winning.
She had to use her wits.
She glanced at the alley entrance. It was still dozens of meters away. If she could make enough noise, someone would come.
“You want money?” Lin Nian stepped back slightly, pretending to be scared, her voice trembling a little.
Seeing her “weak and easy to bully” look, Yellow-hair grew even more smug.
“You’re smart! Hurry up, don’t make us get rough!”
As he spoke, he reached out, trying to touch her face.
Now!
Right before his hand touched her, a cold glint flashed in Lin Nian’s eyes.
She suddenly raised her voice and screamed toward the alley entrance with all her strength:
“Robbery! Murder! Somebody help!”
Her sharp voice echoed loudly in the narrow alley.
The thugs were stunned by her sudden scream.
“You crazy woman, what are you yelling for!” Yellow-hair shouted angrily, reaching out to cover her mouth.
This was the moment Lin Nian was waiting for.
She didn’t step back. Instead, she moved in—fast.
Her left hand shot up, not to block but to grab his wrist with precision.
At the same moment, her right hand reached into Ningning’s snack bag and pulled out a leftover bamboo chopstick—lightning fast.
Before Yellow-hair could react, she shifted her body, using a clever twist, and wrenching his arm behind his back.
“Ah!” Yellow-hair cried out in pain.
Before he could struggle, the sharp bamboo chopstick was already pressing against a specific spot on his lower back.
Over the years, while treating her body, she had learned basic meridian knowledge from an old Chinese doctor.
She knew this point controlled the sciatic nerve. Even slight pressure could make half a person’s body lose strength.
“Don’t move.”
Her voice was icy, emotionless.
“If you move again, this chopstick might end up inside one of your kidneys.”
Yellow-hair gritted his teeth in pain. He could clearly feel the sharp object pressing against him with frightening precision.
He wanted to struggle, but his arm was firmly controlled by her technique, and he couldn’t exert any strength.
He couldn’t understand how this delicate-looking woman could be so strong and so fast!
The other two thugs were stunned by the sudden change.
When they finally reacted and tried to help him, hurried footsteps and angry shouts came from the alley entrance.
“What’s going on here? Nobody move!”
Two soldiers in uniform with red armbands ran over.
When Lin Nian saw the PLA soldiers, the weight on her heart finally lifted.
Still holding Yellow-hair firmly, she said calmly, “Comrades, the three of them tried to rob me. They also tried to assault me. I caught him in the act.”
The soldiers understood instantly.
One stepped forward and quickly subdued the other two thugs.
The other looked at Lin Nian—this small, delicate woman who had single-handedly restrained a grown man—and his eyes were full of admiration.
“Comrade, are you okay? You can let him go. We’ll take over.”
Only then did Lin Nian release Yellow-hair.
Freed, he tried to argue, “Nonsense! Who robbed you! We were just joking around!”
Lin Nian sneered and said clearly, “Comrade, the three of them blocked me in this alley and demanded money. That’s extortion.”
“And he tried to touch me. That’s public indecency.”
“According to the current security regulations, these two charges are enough to put them behind bars for a few days, right?”
Her tone was calm, logical, and steady.
The soldiers nodded again and again, looking at her with even more respect.
This woman had skills, brains, and courage.
“Rest assured, Comrade!” one soldier said firmly, “We won’t let any criminal go. They will be taken to the police station and handled properly!”
In the end, the three thugs were dragged away like chickens, heads hanging low.
Before leaving, one of the soldiers even saluted Lin Nian.
“Comrade, thank you for your courage and quick thinking. Please take your children home. After we finish processing them, we may need you to give a statement.”
“Okay. Thank you, Comrades.”
The crisis passed safely.
Lin Nian crouched down and gently touched her two frightened children’s pale faces, comforting them softly.
“Don’t be scared, An’an, Ningning. Mommy is here. The bad guys have been taken away by the soldiers.”
As she watched the soldiers leave, she began thinking about something else.
This matter would likely spread back to the military district very soon.
She wondered if it would reach Lu Tingchuan’s ears.