Had she… run into a human trafficker?
As someone who had spent plenty of time surfing the internet in the 5G era, Song Jinyue was already familiar with countless tricks human traffickers used to lure and abduct their victims.
One of the most common methods was to strike up a friendly conversation, gather information about the target, and then tailor the bait accordingly.
The smell inside the train was rather pungent, making Song Jinyue’s stomach churn, so she hadn’t been in the mood to chat.
Earlier, when the middle-aged woman beside her had casually asked whether she was going to the capital to look for work, Song Jinyue had simply gone along with it.
Yet the very next moment, the woman offered to introduce her to a job with excellent pay and benefits.
How could there possibly be such a convenient coincidence?
Back when Song Jinyue read period novels, she often encountered plots involving human traffickers on trains. Those traffickers especially liked targeting young and attractive women traveling alone.
Song Jinyue hadn’t managed to buy a quieter sleeper ticket with fewer passengers, so before boarding the train, she had deliberately put on makeup that made her complexion several shades darker.
She hadn’t expected to attract a trafficker’s attention anyway.
Song Jinyue quietly studied the woman beside her.
She appeared to be in her fifties, with a warm smile and a kind-looking face. No matter who saw her, they probably wouldn’t associate her with a human trafficker.
“Young lady, if you’re looking for work, just come with me when we get off the train. I’ll take you there!”
The woman continued enthusiastically trying to win Song Jinyue over.
Just as Song Jinyue was about to respond, a girl who looked around her age squeezed through the crowd toward them.
“Auntie, is what you said really true? There’s actually such a good job?”
The girl’s eyes sparkled. She was obviously tempted by the offer.
The trafficker froze for a moment, apparently not expecting an unexpected bonus to fall into her lap. Then she smiled so widely that she could barely close her mouth.
“Of course it’s true! The deputy director of the factory is my cousin. If you want to work there too, all I have to do is mention it to him. It’s perfect—you two girls can keep each other company.”
“That’s wonderful! Auntie, thank you so much!”
The girl excitedly grabbed the trafficker’s hand and immediately believed every word she said.
Seeing that another fish had taken the bait, the trafficker happily began chatting with her.
The girl’s name was Fang Tang.
She had previously worked at a shoe factory in her hometown. Although she earned a stable monthly salary, the work was simply too exhausting.
She only had one day off each week, worked overtime four or five days a week, and spent as many as fourteen hours a day working.
After several months, Fang Tang’s body couldn’t take it anymore, so she resigned.
However, aside from the shoe factory, she couldn’t find any other work back home. That was why she decided to try her luck in the capital.
She figured a big city would have more opportunities, and perhaps she could find a suitable job there.
“Oh my, working at a shoe factory is so exhausting! How could a young girl like you possibly endure that?”
The trafficker put on a sympathetic expression.
“How about this? When we get off the train, come with Auntie. I’ll introduce you to a job that’s easy and pays well.”
“Thank you, Auntie!”
“Oh, it’s nothing. My own daughter is about the same age as you girls. Seeing the two of you is just like seeing my own daughter. If I can lend a hand, of course I will.”
The trafficker spoke so sincerely that Fang Tang was deeply moved.
Song Jinyue sighed inwardly.
What an innocent, naive girl.
At this point, Song Jinyue was already eighty percent certain that the woman beside her was a human trafficker.
Unfortunately, she didn’t have any concrete evidence yet.
Even if she accused the woman now, no one would necessarily believe her. Worse, she might alert the trafficker and ruin her chance to uncover the entire operation.
Since the trafficker was also heading to the capital, Song Jinyue decided to play along.
Why stop at catching one trafficker?
She might as well follow the trail and help the police wipe out their entire den!
With that thought in mind, Song Jinyue excused herself to use the restroom.
In reality, she went looking for the railway police.
“Comrade, I’ve noticed a suspicious person on the train. I’m about eighty percent sure she’s a human trafficker, but I don’t have any evidence yet. We probably won’t be able to confirm her identity until we reach the capital.”
The moment the railway officer heard the words “human trafficker,” his expression turned grave.
He discreetly glanced around. After making sure no one was paying attention to them, he lowered his voice.
“Comrade, what are you planning to do? Don’t worry. We’ll cooperate with you fully.”
“The trafficker’s destination is the capital, and I happen to be going there too. So I’m planning to play along and follow her to find out where their hideout is. When the time comes, I’d like to trouble you to contact the local police so they can arrest the entire trafficking ring.”
After Song Jinyue explained her plan, the railway officer immediately frowned in disapproval.
“No. Human traffickers almost always operate in groups. Letting a young woman like you enter their hideout alone would be far too dangerous.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve practiced martial arts with my family since I was little. They won’t be able to hurt me. Unless absolutely necessary, I won’t confront them directly either. I’ll wait obediently for the police to come and rescue us.”
After Song Jinyue repeatedly assured him that she could protect herself, the railway officer finally agreed to her plan.
However, for safety’s sake, once they arrived at the station, he would secretly follow behind them to make sure they remained safe.
Another railway officer on duty with him would be responsible for contacting the local police.
Song Jinyue quietly returned to her seat as though nothing had happened.
Perhaps because she was about to help raid a human trafficking den, she suddenly felt unusually excited.
The pungent smell on the train had made her nauseous earlier, but now her discomfort had completely vanished.
She even joined the conversation between the trafficker and Fang Tang, casually chatting with them from time to time.
The train ride from Qingcheng to the capital took twelve hours.
It was such a long journey that even the trafficker’s enthusiasm eventually ran dry.
After chatting with Song Jinyue and Fang Tang for five or six hours, the woman finally couldn’t keep talking anymore. She leaned back against her seat and fell into a deep sleep.
As the train was nearing its destination, the trafficker suddenly jerked awake.
The first thing she did was check whether Song Jinyue and Fang Tang were still beside her.
“Auntie, you’re awake. We’re almost at the capital.”
Seeing her wake up, Fang Tang smiled at her.
The trafficker wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth and instantly became alert.
“Ah, good! Once we get off the train, you two just follow me. I’ll take you to the factory to meet my cousin and have him arrange good jobs for both of you!”
Song Jinyue, who had been excited throughout the journey, obediently nodded along.
Seeing that both girls appeared completely fooled by her story, the trafficker finally lowered her guard.
The capital was the train’s final stop.
Once the train arrived, the passengers began getting off one after another.
Song Jinyue said she didn’t want to squeeze through the crowd, so she remained seated after the train stopped.
The trafficker wasn’t in any hurry, so she let her wait.
Only after most of the passengers had left did the three of them finally stand and head toward the exit.
The railway officer, now dressed in plain clothes, was already waiting outside.
When Song Jinyue emerged, the two briefly exchanged glances.
He then quietly followed them from a distance.
“Auntie, aren’t we supposed to be going to the factory? Where are we?”
As their surroundings became increasingly remote, Fang Tang finally asked in confusion.
The trafficker answered with a perfectly serious expression.
“My house is just up ahead. I need to stop by home first and pick up a few things for my cousin. Since we’re asking someone for a favor, it wouldn’t be right to show up empty-handed.”
Hearing this, Fang Tang looked embarrassed.
“I didn’t think of that. I’m sorry for making you spend money on us, Auntie. Don’t worry. Once I get my first paycheck, I’ll pay you back for whatever you buy.”
After winding through several narrow streets and alleys, the three finally arrived in front of a dilapidated house.
There were only three households in the alley.
The doors of the other two houses were tightly shut, and from their appearance, they seemed to have been abandoned for quite some time.
“Old man! Yaowen! Yaowu! We have guests! Hurry out and welcome them!”
The trafficker called into the house.
Before long, three men emerged.
All three had shifty eyes and sinister expressions. One glance was enough to tell that they were no good.
“Mom, you brought back some good ones this time. They should fetch a nice price.”
Liu Yaowen’s eyes seemed glued to Song Jinyue as he openly looked her up and down.
Even though Song Jinyue had darkened her complexion by several shades with makeup, it still couldn’t conceal her delicate, striking features or the natural elegance she carried herself with.
Seeing the malicious look in Liu Yaowen’s eyes, Fang Tang swallowed nervously.
Her heart sank.
She might have been innocent and naive, but if she still couldn’t figure out what was happening at this point, then she would truly be a fool.
“Jinyue, run!”
Fang Tang hurriedly grabbed Song Jinyue and turned to flee.
Unfortunately, the middle-aged trafficker had already been prepared for this.
She grabbed both girls by their clothes and finally dropped her kind and benevolent facade, staring at them with a sinister expression.
“Hmph! You’re only thinking about running now?”
Her lips curled into a cold smile.
“Too late!”