“Uncle, you’re wearing a military uniform—are you a soldier?” Chaochao asked with a serious little face, his eyes bright and black, especially focused on the five-pointed star on Fu Sinian’s shoulder.
Fu Sinian nodded. “Yes, Uncle is a soldier.”
Chaochao continued, “My mom says soldiers are the loveliest people, and they’re also the most capable—they not only protect us but also catch all the bad guys. Uncle, is that right?”
Fu Sinian could already tell from the way Chaochao spoke that this was an exceptionally clever child. He wouldn’t say something like that without a reason.
He bent down, leaning closer, and looked at Chaochao as he asked, “Little one, have you run into some bad people?”
“Yes, there’s a bad person on the train.” Chaochao looked up and pointed at a stout woman in another carriage, saying word by word, “Uncle, that auntie is a human trafficker. You should arrest her quickly so no one else gets tricked.”
A human trafficker again?
Fu Sinian’s head instinctively ached at the words “human trafficker.”
Liang Kailai walked in, glancing at Fu Sinian, then at the unfamiliar little boy. The more he looked, the more he saw the resemblance.
He asked curiously, “Little one, how do you know that auntie is a human trafficker?”
“My mom said human traffickers like to get chummy with strangers, like to give strangers food, and enthusiastically offer to introduce strangers to jobs.” Chaochao held up three fingers. “One, two, three… That auntie fits all three points. She even tried to trick my mom earlier, but my mom saw through her, so that’s why she left.”
Liang Kailai was astonished. This kid really knew what he was talking about. What kind of woman could raise such a clever child?
After hearing Chaochao’s words, Fu Sinian looked up toward the other carriage at the stout woman Chaochao had pointed out.
The stout woman was holding a young girl’s hand, still chattering away. “Sister, don’t worry. Once we get off the train, just follow me. We’ll spend the night at the train station’s guesthouse, and then I’ll take you to work at the post office. Pretty girls like you—they’ll be fighting over you—”
As she spoke, the stout woman vaguely sensed a sharp gaze that sent a chill down her spine.
Then she looked up and met a pair of pitch-black, icy eyes staring straight at her.
Oh my goodness!
He was wearing a military uniform!
Fu Sinian was still scrutinizing the stout woman. When she spotted Fu Sinian and Liang Kailai, she was startled, grabbed her bundle, and bolted, completely abandoning her attempt to keep deceiving people.
That was clearly a guilty conscience.
“Liang Kailai, chase her! Don’t let her get away!”
Fu Sinian and Liang Kailai both took off after the stout woman. Despite being such tall, broad men, they moved through the crowded train aisle at incredible speed, catching up to the stout woman in no time.
In a few quick moves, Fu Sinian, who was in the lead, had grabbed hold of the stout woman.
“Commander Fu, watch your shoulder—let me handle it!”
Liang Kailai quickly took the struggling trafficker from Fu Sinian’s grip, pinned her arms behind her back, and restrained her firmly.
Even at this point, the stout woman refused to give up, shouting loudly, “What are you doing? Why are you grabbing me! I haven’t done anything wrong!”
“Heh, if you haven’t done anything wrong, why did you run? With tricks like yours, even a child saw right through you! You’d better behave yourself—we’re taking you to the train police!”
A child?
Could it be that child again?
The stout woman thought of Jiang Tang and Chaochao she’d seen yesterday and was so regretful she could have bitten her own teeth off.
Meanwhile, Liang Kailai also fished a packet of knockout powder out of the stout woman’s pocket. Now the evidence was conclusive.
After Liang Kailai had the trafficker firmly subdued, he still found time to talk to Fu Sinian. “Commander Fu, that kid just now was really sharp—sure enough, she really was a trafficker! Did you notice? That kid looks a lot like you. Could it be that your wife and kid are on this train too?”
Liang Kailai had meant it as a joke, his tone light, but he heard Fu Sinian answer with complete seriousness, “He’s not mine.”
“How could he not be—he’s a boy…”
Liang Kailai was about to continue when he noticed Fu Sinian’s expression had turned strange. Following his gaze, he saw a handsome man in a white shirt and black trousers walk over to the little boy. The man took the boy’s hand and led him away.
At a glance, they were clearly father and son.
Damn… So the kid had a father. Even if he looked that similar, he wasn’t Fu Sinian’s son.
Liang Kailai wished he could slap himself. He’d just rubbed salt into Fu Sinian’s wound.
Fu Sinian watched the little boy and the handsome man walk away, then silently withdrew his gaze.
…
On the other side, Song Yuanyang had just been absorbed in reading. When he looked up, he only saw the sleeping Jiang Tang and Yueyue—but no Chaochao. It gave him quite a fright.
Fortunately, he soon spotted Chaochao’s figure at the other end of the carriage and hurried over to bring him back.
At that time, Chaochao watched Fu Sinian and Liang Kailai capture the human traffickers together. Their figures in military uniforms looked handsome and heroic. This was the first time he had been so close to a strange uncle.
Mom was right—soldier uncles were the most reliable and capable. They really did catch the bad guys!
Mom also said that his father was a soldier too.
If only his father could be this capable, then he could protect Mom and Yueyue, and they would never be bullied by bad people again.
“Chaochao, the train is dangerous. You’re a little kid and can’t wander off on your own. Let’s go back quickly. If your mom wakes up and doesn’t see you, she’ll worry.” Song Yuanyang reminded Chaochao.
Chaochao knew Song Yuanyang. Mom had said this uncle wasn’t a bad person, and when Yueyue had a stomachache, this uncle had helped them by pouring hot water for them several times.
“Thank you, Uncle Song.”
He nodded, placed his little hand in Song Yuanyang’s, and followed him back to their seats.
So Chaochao didn’t know that the unfamiliar military uncle whose eyes had sparkled just moments ago had looked up and watched him for a very, very long time.
The commotion from catching the human traffickers caused some noise in the carriage. Jiang Tang woke up to these sounds. Opening her eyes, she saw Chaochao lying on the small table between the train seats, intently watching Song Yuanyang write.
Jiang Tang apologized, “Chaochao, I’m sorry. Mom fell asleep just now.”
Chaochao said, “Mom, you fell asleep because you were too tired taking care of me and my sister. It’s okay, Chaochao can take care of himself. Uncle Song just told me a story.”
Chaochao blinked at Song Yuanyang, a hint of cleverness hidden in his eyes. He didn’t tell Jiang Tang about having wandered off earlier.
If Jiang Tang found out, she would definitely worry.
He didn’t want to make his mom worry.
Song Yuanyang nodded naturally, keeping Chaochao’s secret. “Comrade Jiang, if you’re tired, rest. I’ll help take care of Chaochao.”
Jiang Tang thanked him, “Comrade Song, I appreciate your help.”
The atmosphere among the three eased because of this. Song Yuanyang finally took out some pastries and candies and handed them to Jiang Tang and Chaochao. “Comrade Jiang, since we’re acquainted now, let me treat you to some pastries. I’m definitely not a human trafficker trying to get close to you.”
Jiang Tang smiled and said, “If a top student from Jing University became a human trafficker, that would be a terrible waste of talent.”
As they talked, Yueyue, who had been lying in Jiang Tang’s arms, stirred. She had long eyelashes, curly and upturned, fluttering like butterfly wings as she slowly opened her eyes.
After having her little belly rubbed for a while, Yueyue felt much better.
The moment she opened her eyes, she saw the pastries and candies on the small table. Her hazy eyes instantly sharpened, staring at them with sparkling brightness.
Her little belly even let out a… grumble, grumble sound.
What a little foodie—the moment she woke up, she wanted to eat.
Jiang Tang took a piece of pastry and handed it to Yueyue. “Little foodie, eat up.”
Afterward, Song Yuanyang asked Jiang Tang, “Comrade Jiang, you’re traveling such a long distance by train alone with two children. Are you visiting relatives?”
Jiang Tang shook her head. “No, I’m taking the children to the military district to find their father.”
Upon hearing this, Song Yuanyang raised his eyebrows in shock. Traveling thousands of miles to find their father? Could it be that her man was irresponsible?
With such a beautiful wife and such adorable twins, how could any man bear to let them endure such hardship!
What a scumbag!
Fu Sinian: Achoo! (Someone’s talking bad about me behind my back.)