Across the street from the police station stood a small eatery that served not only wontons but also Piaoxiang Mixed Noodles, dumplings, Changfen, and similar dishes. Its main appeal was quick service and steaming hot food that perfectly comforted weary tongues and stomachs after a long day’s work.
Since the shop faced the police station entrance, most customers were Public Security Officers, with a few tables occupied by nearby residents. The place was nearly full, with everyone having a bowl in front of them. Some were slurping noodles noisily, while others ate wontons and drank broth leisurely with porcelain spoons, creating a lively atmosphere.
Lin Xiangxiu hadn’t felt particularly hungry until Lin Xiao mentioned it, but now her stomach ached with hunger. She hadn’t taken a single bite of her Qingguo Noodles—she’d dumped the entire bowl down Lin Shuping’s neck.
What a waste of those Qingguo Noodles.
Lin Xiangxiu shook her head, snapping back to reality, and pulled Lin Xiao along to eat. “Alright, what would you like?”
“I want Yun Kou!” Lin Xiao exclaimed loudly.
The shop owner laughed heartily. “This little one, it’s called wonton! They’re filled with lots of meat.”
Lin Xiao nearly drooled, tugging at Lin Xiangxiu’s hand. “Mom, I want some. If it’s not expensive, can I have a bowl?” The little girl held up one finger to show her mother how little she would eat.
With a thousand yuan tucked in her pocket, Lin Xiangxiu nodded confidently. “If you want it, you can have it. Mom will treat you.”
The mother and daughter found a clean table to sit at. Lin Xiao ordered wontons with shepherd’s purse and pork filling, while Lin Xiangxiu hesitated between meat wontons and Piaoxiang Mixed Noodles before finally choosing the cheaper noodles.
She still didn’t know how much money she would need to settle in Shencheng, or whether a thousand yuan would be enough. She didn’t dare spend recklessly.
Once I find a job and get settled, when I have enough money on hand, I must come back for a bowl of meat wontons!
Lin Xiangxiu made a mental note.
The small eatery was run by a husband-and-wife team. The husband, wearing a white apron, worked in front of the hot pot, cooking noodles and wontons while wielding a large ladle and also seasoning dishes with scallions and cilantro. The wife was responsible for wrapping dumplings and wontons, and when her husband called out, she would bring over the bowls and serve the dishes.
The couple worked busily, sweat beginning to bead on their noses, but seeing customers eating with their heads down, completely engrossed, brought satisfied smiles to their faces.
Within ten minutes, Lin Xiangxiu heard the husband call out that the dishes were ready. The wife picked up a tray and brought over a bowl of wontons and a bowl of noodles, both steaming hot and fragrant.
The noodles smelled quite appetizing, with a blend of sesame and peanut sauce aromas, but Lin Xiangxiu was somewhat disappointed when she tasted them.
Perhaps the sauce ratio was off—the noodles tasted a bit greasy and weren’t particularly delicious. But given the low price, she couldn’t be too critical.
After drinking a glass of water, Lin Xiangxiu asked Lin Xiao, “Are your wontons good?”
“Not as good as the dumplings you make,” Lin Xiao whispered, her small face scrunched up.
As she spoke, she sniffed repeatedly, her eyes constantly drifting toward the mixed noodles.
Lin Xiangxiu immediately understood and pushed her bowl toward her daughter. “Shall we swap?”
“Okay!”
So mother and daughter exchanged bowls. Lin Xiao really liked the Piaoxiang Mixed Noodles—she felt restless if she went a day without eating noodles. She took bite after bite, exclaiming between mouthfuls, “Wow! The sesame sauce is so fragrant!”
“Wow! These noodles are so delicious, so soft.”
She didn’t mind the strong flavor of the sauce—in fact, she loved it. Her little face flushed red as she ate, and the shop owner, delighted by her reaction, brought over another bowl of soup.
“Homemade chicken soup, for the little girl.”
Lin Xiangxiu thanked him and began eating the wontons. With the first bite, she understood why Lin Xiao didn’t like them. The wontons were served in a clear broth made from seaweed and dried shrimp, which was rather bland.
Both mother and daughter were from the north, where people preferred stronger flavors. Lin Xiao didn’t care for this plain, watery taste.
Noticing a jar of chili sauce on the table, Lin Xiangxiu scooped half a spoonful into her broth, instantly turning it a vibrant red. Much better.
The wontons were unusually made—the filling had a surprising crispness to it.
They were also quite large, each about the size of a newborn’s fist. The front end was a tight ball of meat, while the back trailed a neatly gathered wrapper, resembling a small fish’s tail.
She couldn’t eat one in a single bite and had to take two. The crispy filling carried the rich aroma of pork, making it irresistibly delicious.
Why was the meat filling so crisp?
Lin Xiangxiu had always been interested in cooking and loved exploring food. Encountering this uniquely textured filling, she couldn’t help but ponder how it was made.
As the two enjoyed their meal, a group of people suddenly rushed into the shop. They wore Public Security Officer uniforms, with heavy dark circles under their eyes, exhaustion etched on their faces, and the dust of travel still upon them.
Lin Xiangxiu stared in astonishment, wondering how they could be so worn out. The shop owner, however, seemed accustomed to this. The male proprietor looked up familiarly and asked, “Deputy Director Liu, the usual wonton noodles today?”
The man addressed as Deputy Director Liu nodded, rubbing his throbbing temples. “Five orders of Pure Meat Wonton Noodles, plus two orders of dumplings, all with red soup.”
A tall officer behind him quickly added, “And one portion of mixed noodles for me. I’m too hungry—one bowl won’t be enough.”
The group settled at a table next to Lin Xiangxiu and her daughter, greeting colleagues eating nearby before starting to chat.
The tall officer took off his cap and grumbled, “Those bastards almost got away! Who’d have thought they’d run so far, nearly making it into the village? If I hadn’t spotted them in time, those kids would’ve been kidnapped!”
“Exactly,” another officer agreed, nodding as he drank water. “Luckily we arrived early. Any later, and the villagers might’ve beaten them to death.”
Deputy Director Liu pondered for a moment. “We’ve been chasing this human trafficking ring for days. Now that we’ve finally caught them, we still need to report to the higher-ups. I’m thinking… we should launch a public awareness campaign, warning people to be cautious about nannies or tutors. We can’t have another case like this where traffickers pose as nannies to kidnap children.”
“Should we hold a meeting when we get back?”
…
Lin Xiangxiu was shocked to learn that human traffickers existed even in a big city like Shencheng. She immediately grew alert, straining to eavesdrop on the conversation next door.
After listening for a while, she gathered that a human trafficking ring had been operating in this police station’s jurisdiction recently, with several children nearly abducted.
The traffickers were cunning—they specifically posed as nannies to target lone children. Once they identified a child, they would pretend to be the nanny and whisk the child away.
Lin Xiangxiu listened with a pounding heart and couldn’t help but warn Lin Xiao, “If anyone tries to talk to you outside, don’t respond, especially if they seem suspicious. Actually, forget it—don’t play outside alone. When you go out, stay close to me.”
Lin Xiao, sipping her chicken soup, nodded, though it was unclear whether she was really taking it in.
Still uneasy, Lin Xiangxiu pricked up her ears to listen to the conversation at the next table, hoping to pick up more tips on preventing abduction.
Unexpectedly, what she overheard led to a job opportunity.
The topic at the next table had shifted at some point from abduction prevention to hiring nannies.
“When the time comes, we’ll give presentations at those Foreign-Related Apartments and the Western-Style Houses and Villa District—they’re the main groups affected,” the tall Public Security Officer smacked his lips and suddenly asked Deputy Director Liu, “Deputy Liu, isn’t your brother-in-law also looking for a nanny? I heard he’s gone through several already and still hasn’t found one?”