As he spoke, three male police officers in their thirties entered.
After quickly understanding the situation, the three grabbed their flashlights and were about to leave to rescue the children, but Xiao Huai Dong stopped them.
“Comrades, please wait.”
Everyone turned back in confusion.
Even Xu Huaying looked puzzled. Right now, every second counted. If they arrived too late, the children might already be taken away and sold…
“Bad man! Are you trying to stop the police uncles from saving my brother and sister?”
Gu Erhu cried with red, swollen eyes, glaring at Xiao Huai Dong as if he wanted to devour him.
Everyone looked at Xiao Huai Dong with suspicion.
“Look, Erhu’s shoe soles are covered in lime. Does anyone know where nearby construction is happening?”
One of the officers’ eyes lit up. “I know—it’s Zhuxi Village. They’re not building houses; the village pig farm is expanding its pigpens. I remember there’s an abandoned warehouse near the pig farm. Comrade, you’re amazing to notice such a small detail. Now we have a direction—we won’t waste time searching blindly. We can rescue the children sooner.”
Xiao Huai Dong quickly took out a pack of cigarettes and handed one to each officer.
At first, they waved their hands to refuse.
Smiling, Xiao Huai Dong said, “It’s so late, and we’re troubling you all. We really feel bad. Let me come with you—maybe I can spot more clues.”
“Ah… this…”
Officer Wang patted Xiao Huai Dong on the shoulder, took the cigarette first, and nodded. “Comrade, you’re indeed very observant. If he comes along, he might play a key role.”
The others followed, accepting the cigarettes and smiling at him.
“Then let’s not delay—we’ll set off now.”
Xiao Huai Dong then looked at Xu Huaying. “You take the children back first. Trust me—I’ll bring the two kids back with the police.”
“Brother Dong! Y-you must be careful!”
Xu Huaying felt both touched and worried for his safety. After all, he wasn’t familiar with the county, and it was night. If they really encountered traffickers, it would be dangerous.
“Aunt Xu, don’t worry. My dad will definitely bring Brother Dahuo and Sister Lingling back safely!”
After waving at her father, Xiao Nanchu held Xu Huaying’s arm and reassured her.
Gu Erhu rolled his eyes. “Hmph, like you need to say that. The police uncles are so capable—they’ll definitely save my brother and sister.”
Xu Huaying grabbed Gu Erhu’s ear. “Come on, you’re coming back with me right now to explain how you ran into traffickers!”
Gu Erhu, who had been about to resist, immediately drooped his head.
Xu Huaying got on her bicycle, with Xiao Nanchu still sitting on the front bar and Gu Erhu on the back seat.
Along the way, Gu Erhu was unusually quiet. When they got home, he took out a feather duster on his own.
“Mom, it’s all my fault. Go ahead and hit me!”
Xu Huaying laughed angrily, snatched the feather duster, and struck him while scolding, “Now you know you were wrong? If your brother and sister don’t come back, I might as well beat you to death!”
Knowing he was in the wrong, Gu Erhu let the blows fall on him without making a sound.
As she beat and scolded him, Xu Huaying herself began to cry.
When she cried, Gu Erhu also burst into tears.
Xiao Nanchu didn’t know how to comfort them.
She could divine the future and knew the outcome would be good, but even if she promised them, they wouldn’t believe her. So she could only sit quietly to the side.
“Was it easy for me to raise the three of you? I only wanted to find a companion, and yet you resisted so much and caused such trouble. If they’re really sold and can’t be found, it would be like knives carving into my heart!”
Xu Huaying cried as she struck him harder.
Then she began hitting herself.
“Mom, I’m sorry! Don’t hit yourself—hit me instead!”
Gu Erhu grabbed her arm, crying with tears and snot all over his face.
Suddenly, Xu Huaying threw down the feather duster, picked up the stunned Xiao Nanchu, and sat on the sofa. Wiping her tears, she apologized, “I’m sorry, Little Bean Sprout. Did I scare you? Don’t be afraid—I won’t hit you like that.”
Sniffling, Gu Erhu glared at Xiao Nanchu with resentment.
It was all the fault of that freeloader and that burden. If they hadn’t appeared, how would the three siblings have encountered traffickers?
When his older brother and Lingling came back, they would definitely drive the two of them out of the house.
The night grew deeper. Neither Xu Huaying nor Gu Erhu had any intention of going upstairs to sleep.
Xiao Nanchu was so sleepy she could barely keep her eyes open, but she felt embarrassed to go upstairs alone. Her head bobbed like a pecking chick.
Meanwhile, Xiao Huai Dong followed the three officers quietly into Zhuxi Village and found the old warehouse near the pig farm.
When the four of them entered, it was already empty. On the ground, they found two thick hemp ropes and children’s footprints.
“Brother Xiao, it seems we’re too late!”
After searching the warehouse, disappointment filled the officers’ eyes.
After a moment of thought, Xiao Huai Dong said, “Given the short time, even if they’ve been moved, they shouldn’t be far. Let’s split into two groups and search nearby.”
“Alright, we’ll follow Brother Xiao’s suggestion.”
On the way there, the officers had already grown quite friendly with Xiao Huai Dong, addressing each other like brothers.
Failing to rescue the children made them feel guilty toward him.
After splitting up, Xiao Huai Dong took an officer surnamed Liu and bypassed the pig farm, heading toward the house near the pond where several buildings stood.
He remembered that in his previous life, two years later, the county police, together with city officers, had destroyed a trafficking den at that very house by the pond in Zhuxi Village. Nearly ten traffickers were arrested, and more than twenty abducted children were rescued. The incident caused a sensation and even made the newspapers.
Across from the pig farm was the pond.
Xiao Huai Dong instinctively lightened his steps and had Officer Liu turn off the flashlight.
They quickly reached the other side. Holding his breath, Xiao Huai Dong leaped up onto a wall less than two meters high, startling Officer Liu.
“Officer Liu, wait here. I’ll go in and take a look.”
Before Liu could respond, Xiao Huai Dong had already jumped down.
Just as he was thinking about where to start searching, a faint whimpering sound reached his ears.
Following the sound, he quickly made his way to a row of houses on the east side within seconds.
The whimpering grew louder and clearer.
Soon, he pinpointed a specific room.
“Shut up! Cry again and I’ll starve you. Damn it, all you do is cry. If you don’t fetch a good price tomorrow morning, I’ll skin you alive.”
“Alright. The two we just brought in—we’ll sell them first thing tomorrow. I’m worried the longer we wait, the riskier it gets. Those two kids don’t look ordinary.”
“Don’t worry, boss. We’ve been in this business for years. Once they fall into our hands, they never escape. The goods were brought in by Baldy. He’s been supplying us plenty these past two years—safe as can be!”
“Counting the two just brought in, this batch only has eleven. It’s getting worse every time. If this continues, our entire operation might collapse.”