“Is it good?”
“Mm-hmm, it’s delicious!”
The mother and children took turns eating, bite after bite, finishing the large chicken drumstick completely. Even the bone was gnawed over several times by Niannian.
An’an ate until her little belly was round. Her face was smudged and messy, and she shyly smiled at Song Yuntang.
Song Yuntang took out a small towel and carefully wiped An’an’s little face and hands clean.
Full and drowsy, An’an leaned against Song Yuntang’s arm, clinging to her.
Song Yuntang wrapped one arm around An’an and pulled Niannian close with the other. Her children were perfect in every way—just a bit too thin. In the future, they would need to eat meat at every meal to nourish their bodies.
The carriage had only just quieted down in the afternoon when the train arrived at a major station.
The stop was long, and many passengers boarded, all carrying large and small bags as they headed to Beijing. In an instant, the carriage was packed, with people even standing in the aisle.
During this time, Song Yuntang noticed several particularly tall and imposing figures walking through the carriage.
At the front was an elderly man wearing a Zhongshan suit. His bearing was extraordinary; despite his age, his eyes were sharp and wise.
Behind him followed several young men, each tall and straight-backed. Even though they were not wearing military uniforms, it was obvious they were soldiers—their presence set them apart.
It seemed the elderly man was a high-ranking cadre from the military district, which explained why so many officers accompanied him.
They all headed toward the front carriages—the sleeper section—where tickets were difficult to obtain, and ordinary people could not enter.
Song Yuntang glanced at them briefly, then withdrew her gaze and paid no further attention.
Thus, she did not notice that as the elderly man passed by, he turned his head and took a second look—especially at Niannian, his gaze lingering for a moment.
Among the young men, a pair of deep, dark eyes also turned back, sweeping over Song Yuntang and the two children. A faint trace of hesitation flickered in them.
At the same time, a middle-aged woman carrying a bundle squeezed into the carriage, pushing people aside with her plump hips and luggage.
“Make way, make way—here—this is my seat—”
After boarding, Li Xiulan immediately set her sights on Song Yuntang—a young woman with no man beside her, traveling with two small children. The perfect target.
If she could lure them in, not only could the woman be sold, but the two children as well. One deal, three profits—what a win!
Without hesitation, she plopped down across from Song Yuntang, her face beaming with a warm and generous smile.
She pulled out a sack of sunflower seeds from her bundle and called out, “Come, come, have some seeds! Homemade from the countryside—good quality! Everyone have a taste. My family sells roasted snacks—if you like them, you can buy from me.”
She passed them around to everyone nearby. With such a reasonable excuse, no one grew suspicious.
Then she grabbed a handful and offered them to Song Yuntang. “Little sister, have some seeds. Auntie’s treating you—no charge. Oh my, these two children are so good-looking! They look about the same age—are they boy-girl twins?”
“Little sister! They really are boy-girl twins? That’s so rare—one in ten thousand! How are you so lucky to have twins in one go?”
“Why is it just you and the children? Where’s your husband? Not on the train? It’s not easy for a young woman like you to travel with two kids. If you need help, just tell Auntie—I can help watch the children.”
“Come, come, I also have mung bean cakes and walnut pastries. Little ones, do you want some? Don’t be shy—we’re fated to sit together…”
Throughout all this, Song Yuntang did not speak. Li Xiulan alone kept chattering nonstop, her enthusiasm undiminished by any cold response.
She thought she appeared kind and generous, but the greed and scheming in her eyes were almost spilling over.
Not only did Song Yuntang see through her at a glance—even Niannian and An’an sensed it.
Because Li Xiulan resembled someone… Ding Yuzhen.
Ding Yuzhen also wore a smiling face while hiding vicious intentions underneath.
An’an was most afraid of Ding Yuzhen. Her trauma resurfaced, and she clung tightly to Song Yuntang’s arm, curling her small body inward.
Niannian, steady beyond his years, remained silent, unmoved by the food laid out before him.
Li Xiulan continued smiling. “Don’t like these? I have other tasty things. These children are adorable—just tell Auntie what you want.”
But inwardly, she sneered: Brat, why aren’t you taking the bait? Once you eat and drink my stuff, when you pass out, you’ll know my methods…
Niannian suddenly turned his head and called out, “Mom.”
Song Yuntang responded, “Mm, what is it?”
Niannian spoke clearly, “Before we got on the train, Mom said not to talk to strangers, not to eat food from strangers, and not to believe strangers. Because they might be human traffickers who would sell Niannian away. If I get sold, I’ll never see Mom again.”
“Wow… Niannian is amazing. You remembered everything. Well done.”
Song Yuntang smiled and praised him, making the boy blush slightly. An’an also smiled sweetly at him, saying her brother was amazing.
Their conversation was heard by those around them. Even the unaware passengers realized something was wrong and immediately put down their sunflower seeds, no longer daring to eat.
What a subtle yet sharp accusation!
Li Xiulan had her façade torn apart by a five-year-old child and a seemingly rustic young woman. Her fake smile vanished, replaced by a fierce and twisted expression.
“You little brat, who are you talking about? Who’s a human trafficker? Say it clearly!”
“I didn’t name anyone. Why are you taking it personally? Feeling guilty?”
“Who’s guilty? I’m not a human trafficker! What a joke—repaying kindness with ingratitude! Everyone, look—this girl is slandering me! Stand up and explain yourself!”
Explain it, then!
Song Yuntang wasn’t afraid of her.
The already noisy carriage grew even louder with their argument.
In the sleeper carriage—
After sitting down, the elderly man with streaks of silver in his hair asked the young soldier beside him, “Xiao He, did you see that child just now? Didn’t he resemble someone?”
The elderly man was none other than Commander He, the head of the Beijing Military District. The young soldier beside him was his aide, Xiao He.
Xiao He looked confused. “A child? Which child?”
He was a straightforward young man who hadn’t noticed anything—what child, who did he resemble?
Commander He shook his head helplessly. “If you didn’t see, then forget it.”
But in his mind lingered that fleeting glance—the child had looked exactly like someone in their youth.
As he pondered, his gaze shifted slightly to the side.
Standing beside him was a cold and handsome man in formal attire. He carried a stern, restrained aura, along with the upright righteousness of a soldier.
His eyes were dark as he fell into thought.
Because just now, he too had seen someone.
That face… bore a resemblance to hers.
In Fu Weicheng’s memory, Song Yuntang remained as she had been five years ago—thin and frail, with a sallow complexion from long-term malnutrition, always lowering her head, never daring to look at others directly.
Thus, in his mind, she had always been a vague, timid figure—not like the woman just now, with fair skin and bright, spirited eyes.
But those features… were too similar.
Fu Weicheng couldn’t help but feel stirred. Before he realized it, his steps were already moving toward the rear carriage.
“Regiment Commander Fu, where are you going?” a soldier behind him asked.
Fu Weicheng didn’t answer and walked straight ahead, driven by an inexplicable urge to take another look.
He soon reached the ordinary carriage—and what greeted him was a completely different scene.
Song Yuntang and Li Xiulan had started with an argument, exchanging words back and forth. But Li Xiulan couldn’t win, and in anger, she resorted to violence, turning the quarrel into a fight.
Song Yuntang, with two children, hadn’t wanted to cause trouble.
She didn’t seek trouble—but she wasn’t afraid of it.
Li Xiulan shouted, “You little brat, how dare you talk back! I’ll tear your mouth apart!”
She rushed forward and shoved Song Yuntang hard.
Caught off guard—and with Li Xiulan’s brute strength—Song Yuntang was pushed backward.
“Mom—!”
Niannian and An’an cried out anxiously.
Staggering back, Song Yuntang reached out to grab a nearby seat to steady herself. But—
A broad, warm presence pressed against her back, and a firm hand wrapped around her waist, steadying her securely.