Chapter 8: Catching Kidnappers

Shi Qingqian instantly recalled the shifty-eyed old woman she had seen earlier in the smoking area, holding a child in her arms. The train carriage was packed with people, making it difficult for her to push through the crowd, but she finally made her way to the carriage where Xu Huaian was.

She spotted him immediately. Xu Huaian, seeing her anxious expression, quickly stood up and hurried over.
“Qianqian, why are you here? Did something happen?” he asked with concern.

Shi Qingqian quickly explained what she had seen in the smoking area—the suspicious old woman and the missing child from the earlier carriage. Xu Huaian’s expression grew grave.
“Wait here. I’ll go get the train police.”

Before long, Xu Huaian returned with several officers. They listened carefully as Shi Qingqian repeated her account, then immediately organized a search through the carriages.

Shi Qingqian wanted to go along, but Xu Huaian leaned close and whispered:
“In cases like this, there’s never just one person involved. There are bound to be accomplices, and it could be dangerous. You should go back to your berth and rest.”

Shi Qingqian thought about it—he was right. Better leave this to the professionals.
“Then you must be careful.”
“Don’t worry, I will. Go back to your carriage and wait for me. I’ll find you once it’s resolved,” Xu Huaian reassured her.

…

But when she returned to her berth, she was stunned by what she saw.

The shifty-eyed old woman was sitting right there on her bunk.

Well, look at that. No need to search far and wide, she delivered herself right to me.

Shi Qingqian took a deep breath, then deliberately raised her voice and shouted:
“Hey, who are you, old lady? Why are you sitting on my bunk? Get out, get out! If you dirty my things, can you even afford to pay for them?”

The old woman flinched at her sudden shouting, a flash of panic in her eyes. But when she noticed that Shi Qingqian was just a young girl, she quickly put her shifty mask back on.
“What nonsense are you talking, girl? This bunk isn’t yours—I’ve been sitting here all along.”

Shi Qingqian planted her hands on her hips.
“Oh, I’m talking nonsense? You sit here without my permission and act like you have the right? If you want a seat so badly, why don’t you go sit in Empress Dowager Cixi’s tomb—there’s plenty of room there!”

Their quarrel grew louder, drawing the attention of surrounding passengers.

Across from them, Su Feifei felt a surge of smug delight. She had disliked Shi Qingqian from the start, and now she finally had the chance to trip her up.
“I say, comrade, don’t you know how to respect the elderly? She’s just an old woman, how much space could she possibly take? You’re young—can’t you show some generosity? Quarreling with an elder over a seat… aren’t you afraid people will say you have no upbringing?”

Shi Qingqian let out an incredulous laugh.
“Oh, so you’re the model of good upbringing, huh? Fine then—why don’t you let her have the Leshan Giant Buddha’s seat and sit on his lap instead? You drink horse piss and think you’re lofty, but cross me and you’ll find life and death are both hard bargains!”

Without another word, she strode over to Su Feifei, yanked her right off her bunk.

Su Feifei cried out in shock, “What are you doing?”

With a cold face, Shi Qingqian said, “Didn’t you say we should respect the elderly? Then give up your own bunk for her.”

Su Feifei’s eyes widened in outrage. “Why should I? I don’t even know her!”

Shi Qingqian smirked.
“Didn’t you just preach so self-righteously? What’s wrong now—you only feel noble when it costs you nothing? The whip stings more when it lands on your own back, doesn’t it? Too late for regrets now!”

She turned to the old woman.
“Go on, sit there.”

The old woman’s eyes gleamed. She hadn’t expected this skinny girl to be so fiery. Still, if it got her a bunk in the sleeper carriage, why not?
“Alright, alright. Thank you, comrade,” she said, grinning lewdly at Su Feifei before plopping herself down on Su Feifei’s berth.

Su Feifei’s anger erupted at once. She spun toward Shi Qingqian and shouted:
“That’s my bunk! What right do you have to give it away?”

Shi Qingqian glared back.
“Weren’t you the one preaching about respecting the elderly? I just helped you practice what you preach.”

Su Feifei choked on her words, unable to reply for a moment. But soon she snapped back,
“You’re twisting things! I was just speaking in principle—I never said to give my bunk to her.”

Shi Qingqian sneered.
“Hmph. So now you’re regretting it? A minute ago you were so eager to defend her. Why the sudden change of heart—because it’s your seat now?”

Su Feifei’s face flushed bright red.
“I… I didn’t know the situation. Why are you taking it out on me?”

“You didn’t know, yet you still spouted nonsense. Who do you think you are, the Virgin Mary?” Shi Qingqian shot back mercilessly.

Their argument escalated, passengers whispering and shaking their heads.

Just then, Xu Huaian and the train police arrived, drawn by the commotion.

“What’s all this noise?” one of the officers barked.

Su Feifei fell silent immediately, cowed.

Shi Qingqian exchanged a look with Xu Huaian. He strode over, eyes locking on the old woman in the lower berth.

While everyone’s attention was fixed on the quarrel between the girls, Xu Huaian suddenly lunged and grabbed the old woman.

She cried out in panic, struggling violently, but Xu Huaian’s grip was firm.
“What are you doing? Let me go!”

Xu Huaian’s voice was stern.
“Stop pretending. Tell us where the child is.”

“What child? I don’t know anything!” the old woman protested desperately.

The passengers gasped, stunned. So the old woman really was a trafficker.

The officers quickly moved in to restrain her, locking her down securely. Shi Qingqian finally let out a sigh of relief.

“Take her away for questioning,” Xu Huaian ordered, and together with the officers, he hauled the old woman out of the carriage.

The atmosphere in the carriage turned tense, whispers breaking out among the passengers.

Su Feifei stood pale-faced, shaken. She hadn’t expected that she had just defended a human trafficker.

At that moment, Fang Yi returned after being gone for some time. He hurried over to comfort her.
“Feifei, don’t be afraid. It’s alright now.”

Su Feifei lifted her head, guilt and self-reproach in her eyes.
“Brother Fang, I… I actually defended a trafficker just now. How could I be so stupid?”

Fang Yi patted her hand gently.
“Don’t say that. You didn’t know. Who could’ve guessed that old woman was a criminal? She’s been caught now, and the police will handle it. Don’t dwell on it.”