Just as Song Lili and Song Fanghua were arguing and everyone was watching the spectacle, the human traffickers began quietly retreating backward.
Song Fanghua, who had been acting with great enthusiasm, immediately stopped her tears when she saw this. "You two, stop right there."
Her sudden change startled everyone.
"Miss, we've already paid the money, so we'll be on our way. The train will arrive soon," the man said, but his steps didn't pause.
"Leaving? You may have compensated for the money, but is this child really yours?" Song Fanghua decided to drop the act and spoke directly.
"What? Miss, what do you mean by that?" the woman asked, her eyes darting nervously as she tightened her grip on the child.
"Nothing much. The child has been crying nonstop and keeps looking around calling for his mother. If he were really your son, why would he react like this?"
"This… this… Our rural children are shy around strangers. He's just scared; he'll be fine in a moment." As she spoke, the woman tightened her grip even more, causing the child in her arms to cry even louder and push desperately against her.
Song Fanghua didn't say another word. She took a few steps forward and suddenly reached out to pull open the child's collar.
"What are you doing?"
The woman screamed and tried to back away, but it was too late. Song Fanghua's tug had already revealed the bruises on the child's neck and the rope marks on his wrists.
"Everyone, look! This child was clearly tied up. She claims he's her son, but what kind of mother would do something like this?"
The train car fell silent instantly.
Several older passengers came closer to look, and their expressions changed immediately.
"This… these are human traffickers."
"Quick, call the train police!"
Seeing that their scheme had been exposed, the man ignored the woman and the child, pushed aside those blocking his way, and tried to run toward the connecting passage between the train cars.
"Quick, stop him! Don't let the trafficker escape!" Song Fanghua shouted loudly.
In an instant, several young men rushed forward and pinned the man to the ground.
People in this era still maintained a sense of righteous courage, unlike in later times when doing a good deed often came with the fear of being framed.
Seeing the man captured, the woman tried to flee with the child but was grabbed firmly by the hem of her clothes by Xu Wanqiu.
"Put the child down." Despite the pain in her leg, Xu Wanqiu held on tightly.
Even Wang Juan, who had been making a fuss earlier, now reacted. She stepped forward and slapped the woman. "You liar! You almost fooled all of us. Were you planning to kidnap both of us earlier?"
As she spoke, Wang Juan slapped her a few more times.
Song Lili stared blankly at the scene before her. She had originally intended to oppose Song Fanghua and show off her own goodness, but now…
After the traffickers were caught, the train police quickly arrived.
"Make way, make way." The train police handcuffed the two traffickers immediately and carefully took the child from the woman.
The police captain was a middle-aged man in his thirties with a square face that exuded integrity.
"Comrade, hello. I'm Zhou Jianhua, the accompanying train police. Thanks to you, this child was saved from danger."
Song Fanghua waved her hand dismissively. "It was the right thing to do. I'm just glad the child is safe."
Afterward, the police asked for more details, recorded them in a small notebook, and then took the traffickers away.
"Miss, you're truly amazing!"
"Yes, if it weren't for you, we would have all been fooled."
"Human traffickers are too rampant these days; we need to be more vigilant."
The passengers in the carriage now all gave Song Fanghua a thumbs-up.
Xu Wanqiu, meanwhile, held Song Fanghua's hand, her eyes filled with admiration. "Fanghua, you're amazing. I didn't notice anything earlier. Thankfully you were here, otherwise Wang Juan and I would have been in danger."
Wang Juan rolled her eyes at Xu Wanqiu's expression. "I was just thinking about getting compensation for Wanqiu earlier and didn't consider much else. Who knew they were human traffickers?"
Song Fanghua glanced at her indifferently and didn't respond.
"Pah. Crocodile tears." Song Lili spat the words at Song Fanghua.
She had originally intended to use this incident to ruin Song Fanghua's reputation, but instead, it ended up making Song Fanghua look good.
What was worse, she had spoken in support of the traffickers earlier, and the people around her were already looking at her differently.
Song Fanghua took a step forward and said softly, "Song Lili, you were just speaking up for the traffickers. Don't provoke me, or I'll tell the train police that you're in cahoots with them and let you experience what it's like to be locked up too."
"You…" Song Lili glared at her, furious at her words.
"Don't test my limits. We're in unfamiliar territory here, and no one will help you."
Song Lili shivered at her threat, and seeing the look in her eyes, she suddenly felt that Song Fanghua was somewhat frightening.
She hurriedly ran back to her own carriage, as if afraid that if she ran too slowly, she would be arrested.
With the matter resolved, the carriage returned to its usual state.
Song Fanghua leaned against the window, resting with her eyes closed, while Xu Wanqiu, accompanied by Wang Juan, went to the restroom to change into a fresh pair of pants.
After changing, Xu Wanqiu returned and, to thank Wang Juan and Song Fanghua for their help, took out some sponge cakes she had brought from home.
"Fanghua, Wang Juan, thank you both for earlier. These are sponge cakes my mom made herself. They're really delicious—try some."
Wang Juan's eyes lit up when she saw the sponge cakes. She grabbed one and stuffed it into her mouth. "Wanqiu, your family is so well-off. Not like mine—my mom only packed a few steamed corn buns for me. I don't even get to eat sponge cakes during the New Year."
"I only brought these. My mom was worried I'd get hungry on the road and specially packed them." As she spoke, Xu Wanqiu handed another piece to Song Fanghua. "Fanghua, you try some too."
Song Fanghua shook her head. "I'm not hungry. You eat it."
"Come on, just try a little." Xu Wanqiu insisted, pressing the sponge cake into her hand.
Song Fanghua looked at the soft sponge cake in her hand, its sweet aroma reminding her of her past life when her parents were still alive and she was a student. Her mother would also make such sponge cakes for her to take to school.
Back then, she always thought they weren't trendy enough, but later, after her parents passed away unexpectedly, she never ate them again.
"Thank you." Song Fanghua's eyes dimmed slightly.
While the two were talking, Wang Juan had already finished the sponge cake in her mouth. She stared longingly at the remaining portion in Xu Wanqiu's hand. "Wanqiu, do you have any more? I'm still hungry!"
"This… this is my own share. I don't have any left either."
"Aren't we good friends? Good friends should share. I'll give you half of what my mom brought for me later," Wang Juan said, not waiting for Xu Wanqiu's reply before reaching out to take it.
Xu Wanqiu hesitated for a moment, then broke off another half of her own portion and gave it to her.
Song Fanghua watched this scene, her understanding of Wang Juan growing clearer.
This kind of person not only takes advantage of small gains but is also the type who specifically targets the soft-hearted.
The more Xu Wanqiu yielded, the more Wang Juan would push her luck.
Moreover, such people never remember the kindness shown to them, taking it for granted, while if you ever treat them poorly even once, they will hold a grudge.