The child in Ma Liu’s arms had been hanging his head limply against Ma Liu’s chest since they emerged, completely silent and unresponsive even when his father called out to him.
Everyone’s hearts clenched. Qin Yi already commanded in a low voice, “Do as he says!”
Seeing the officer comply, Ma Liu tightened his grip on the gun and said fiercely:
“Everyone move back ten meters! I, Ma Liu, only want freedom, not lives. If you all behave properly, I won’t harm this kid. Otherwise, it’s hard to say.”
As he spoke, the group moved toward the vehicle until they reached it.
Still suspicious, Ma Liu had Zhang Kui first check the fuel gauge, then inspect the cash and food to confirm everything was done according to his instructions.
Only then did he say, “I’ll leave the kid by the roadside after driving twenty li. Before that, don’t try any tricks, or we’ll all perish together! No one will benefit!”
Under Qin Yi’s gesture, everyone stepped back. Ma Liu raised the pull-ring on his thumb to his chest, then pointed the gun at Su Tong, ordering her to carry the child into the back seat first.
When Su Tong took the child, she found him in a deep coma, with a noticeable high fever.
After getting into the car, she secretly checked the child’s pulse and discovered his bodily functions were severely declining, with signs of multiple infections. If this continued, his life would truly be in danger.
Ma Liu waited until Zhang Kui got into the driver’s seat before backing into the rear seat himself.
Just as Zhang Kui was about to step on the gas, Ma Liu suddenly called out, “Wait!”
Ma Liu had always been highly suspicious. Now seated in the car, he realized that Zhang Kui was injured and had lost a lot of blood. Driving with one arm was already difficult enough; he couldn’t possibly keep an eye on the back seat.
Ma Liu’s own body was nearly spent. Holding a sick child hostage was manageable, but now there was also a woman in the car…
Although she looked frail and half-dead, her appearance was too coincidental, making him suspect she might be a police plant…
Ma Liu narrowed his eyes. One hostage was enough; more would only increase the risk.
Thinking this, he pushed the car door open and barked at Su Tong, “Get out!”
With that, he snatched the child back and kicked Su Tong out of the car with a swift blow.
Ma Liu quickly shut the door and aimed his gun through the window at Su Tong, who lay on the ground. He thought to himself, whether she was genuine or not, he’d eliminate her first.
Qin Yi discerned Ma Liu’s intention. Raising his gun, he strode forward and shouted sternly:
“Stop! Don’t add more crimes by killing innocents! If you dare shoot, I’ll shoot too! Test me if you don’t believe it!”
Su Tong, still dazed from the fall, turned her head and saw a young man in special training gear. His gun stance was precise, his gaze sharp, and his expression resolute, warming her heart instantly.
Though this era was still backward, the sense of justice and professional integrity of the police officers were in no way inferior.
Ma Liu snorted, withdrew his gun, and waved the pull-ring again as a warning against any rash moves.
He yelled, “Zhang Kui! Drive!”
“Wait!”
Another voice called out.
The surroundings fell into a brief silence, because this time… it was actually Su Tong, still on the ground, who had shouted.
Struggling to rise, she staggered to the car window and said to Ma Liu:
“Take me as the hostage instead. Let the child go!”
Her words left everyone, inside and outside the car, stunned.
The police officers were both furious and anxious. This woman, covered in blood from head to toe, had just been bullied by two ruffians to the brink of death and nearly finished off by Ma Liu with a gun. Barely able to protect herself, what was she doing now?
In the blink of an eye, she wanted to “step forward”?
She thought she could just swap herself for the hostage?
Did she think this was some kind of game?
This was practically volunteering to get herself killed! The criminals had been using the child as their “get-out-of-jail-free card”—why would they listen to her? If anything, one hostage might become two, making their operation even more constrained.
Qin Yi was also deeply surprised. His eyes locked onto Su Tong’s figure. The old, ill-fitting cotton jacket and pants she wore were stained with faint traces of blood, her braids messy and disheveled. Like many impoverished rural girls, she appeared frail and wretched, as if a strong gust of wind could knock her over…
Why would she do such a thing…
She actually wanted to exchange herself for that child…
What was she trying to accomplish…
Ma Liu was momentarily stunned as well. He adjusted his glasses and pressed the gun against Su Tong’s head, sneering coldly:
“You really must have hit your head hard! We spared your life, and you don’t even know how to appreciate it!”
“That child is in critical condition! He needs to be taken to the hospital immediately!” Su Tong stared straight into his eyes.
Ma Liu found this amusing. Although the situation didn’t allow for much relaxation, he couldn’t quite control his expression. He looked at her as if she were a fool and shouted to the surrounding police officers:
“Hey! Where did you find this idiot, coming here to play the saint in front of me?”
“They only have two vehicles. If you take me instead, no one will be able to catch up to you!” Su Tong said calmly and softly.
Ma Liu’s smile froze on his face. He thought for only two seconds before suddenly pushing the car door open, grabbing Su Tong, and pulling her inside. As Zhang Kui stepped on the gas, Ma Liu tossed the child out from the other side—his movements were unexpectedly swift.
The jeep roared away, leaving the police officers far behind. For a moment, everyone on the scene fell into silence.
“Dongdong—”
The child’s father, Liu Shiwen, was the first to react. He rushed forward in a flash and tightly embraced the child in his arms.
It was unclear what others were thinking, but Jiang Pinglu was utterly shocked by this turn of events. Standing in the cold wind, he couldn’t close his mouth for a long time.
He hadn’t handled many major cases before, but over the past few days, everyone had been working tirelessly, enduring hardships day and night to find this child. They had mobilized countless militiamen, conducting investigations and searches—all of which he had personally experienced.
Exhausted and weary, they hadn’t dared to slack off even for a moment. The child’s identity was clearly anything but ordinary! This was a matter of life and death!
They had finally tracked down the criminals, only to discover they were strapped with explosives. He had no idea how to proceed with the case, and then, out of nowhere, a blood-covered girl appeared. With just a few words, she made the criminals throw the child out and flee…
Just like that, they threw the child out and fled…
It took Jiang Pinglu a long time to calm his emotions. He finally managed to close his jaw and, turning around, noticed Ma Daming standing there with his mouth agape, wearing the same stunned expression.
This made Jiang Pinglu feel somewhat balanced—at least he wasn’t the only one feeling this way!
He patted Ma Daming’s shoulder, about to say something, but Ma Daming turned to him with a dazed look and said, “Old Jiang, doesn’t that girl look like Wu Tong from our village?”