Chapter 9: Lying

“Mom…”

Manman could no longer hold back his emotions. With a quick step, he rushed forward and grabbed Jiang Ningning’s leg.

When he was captured by the human trafficker, he wasn’t afraid. What worried him was how his mother and sister would go hungry without food. But when he heard his mother’s voice and opened his eyes, seeing her chase after the trafficker without regard for her safety, a wave of fear surged in his heart.

It turned out…

His mother really did love him.

Jiang Ningning’s body suddenly gave way, and she collapsed to the ground. She quickly pulled Manman into her arms. “Don’t be afraid, the trafficker has been caught by Mom.”

Manman nestled against her shoulder, his small hands clutching her neck. The mother and son, with red lips and white teeth, held each other and cried silently, tears streaming down their faces. Their grief tugged at the hearts of the onlookers.

“No wonder human traffickers always target young children. Manman looks like a doll from a picture, who wouldn’t feel sorry for losing him?”

“These traffickers are despicable. Let’s take him to the police station.”

On the ground, Huo Jianjun, who had been kicked in a certain part of his body, was writhing in pain, unable to say a word.

Jiang Ningning was ruthless. He had just abducted Manman to force her to apologize and hand over her job and house. But instead of caving, she had chosen to hurt him in return.

Seeing the crowd growing angrier and moving toward him to turn him over to the police, Huo Jianjun gritted his teeth, trying to get up. He reached for Jiang Ningning’s sleeve, “Big Sister, I’m Jian… Aaaah!”

Zhu Changguang stomped on his hand, speaking sternly, “You shameless trafficker, you dare act so brazenly in broad daylight!”

The police, who had arrived just in time, wasted no time in cuffing him and dragging him away. The county had recently been cracking down on human traffickers, and this man had walked right into their trap.

“I’m not a trafficker! I didn’t act inappropriately. Big Sister, I’m Jianjun, Huo Donglin’s brother!” Huo Jianjun shouted desperately.

Just as he was raising his voice, he was shoved into the police car and taken away.

Jiang Ningning, still dazed, lifted her head. Had she just heard Huo Donglin’s name? It must have been a hallucination.

“Comrade, please come with us to give a statement,” a female police officer stepped forward, her gaze soft as she looked at the mother and son.

After the emotional outburst, Manman hesitantly pulled away from Jiang Ningning’s embrace. He had always been aware of his mother’s fragility, and now he bravely wiped his tears. In a manner beyond his years, he addressed the police officer, “Pretty sister, if you need to ask questions, you can ask me. But can we please do the statement here? My mom hurt her hand protecting me, and it’s swollen. She needs to get it bandaged quickly.”

Manman’s reminder made Jiang Ningning belatedly notice that her palm had been scraped by the bamboo pole, and the skin had torn, causing the entire hand to swell and turn red. The sight was alarming.

Manman’s eyes began to fill with mist again.

The onlookers were visibly moved.

“I witnessed everything from beginning to end. Let them do the statement here, so that this mother and son can go get treated first.”

“I know them. This child often helps his sister pick up scraps around the neighborhood. His father is a soldier, and his mother is sick and bedridden, living in the textile factory’s housing.”

“I remember now, this mother and son have had a hard life. The grandparents took their subsidies, and the mother often has to take medicine. The three of them often go hungry.”

Manman:!!

His little face flushed red with embarrassment. He hadn’t expected these kind-hearted uncles and aunties to openly reveal their family’s struggles in front of everyone.

He lowered his head, not daring to look at Jiang Ningning’s face.

Because his mother had once said she hated children who lied.

And he had lied more than once.

The little dumpling was feeling anxious, but then a sudden violent coughing fit broke out nearby, and the coughing sounded so harsh it seemed as if the person might choke to death.

“Mom, please don’t be sick!”

Manman was so scared that his face turned pale, and he bit his lip until it was red. He was angry with himself for speaking too soon and cursing his mother with a sickness.

Jiang Ningning took advantage of the moment when no one was looking and winked at him secretly, then weakly said, “We have medicine for asthma at home.”

Manman: !!!

“Mom, hang in there, I’ll take you home right now.” Manman quickly responded, helping Jiang Ningning up and rushing toward home.

As they walked further, an unknown woman in the crowd suddenly began to cry out, “This mother and son are so unfortunate, having to suffer under such a wicked mother-in-law. And also, that human trafficker must be shot!”

The mother and son exchanged a glance and walked even faster.

At the family compound.

Xiaxia was sitting on a high stool, looking eagerly at the door, her chubby legs swinging back and forth.

Hearing the sound of the door unlocking, her eyes lit up with excitement.

She jumped off the stool and bounced toward them, stretching out her chubby little hand, “Brother, Mom, you’re finally back!”

Her voice was sweet and innocent.

Jiang Ningning, with a smile, immediately scooped up the little bundle and took a candy out of her pocket, unwrapping it and placing it in her mouth. “Xiaxia, be a good girl and listen to Mom. This is a reward.”

The sweet milk-flavored candy melted in Xiaxia’s mouth, and she was so surprised she covered her little mouth. She had never tasted such delicious candy before.

“Little sister, come down, Mom’s hand is hurt.” Manman tugged at his sister’s chubby leg, his tone holding a hint of jealousy he didn’t even notice.

Another piece of candy was immediately placed in his mouth.

He looked up and saw his mom smiling lovingly at him.

Manman carefully licked his candy with the tip of his tongue, savoring it. The sweet taste seemed to spread from his mouth down into his heart.

But then he remembered something, and the smile on his face quickly faded, turning into a look of guilt.

“Sorry, Mom, I lied to Grandpa and Grandma.”

Jiang Ningning had only held Xiaxia for a moment, feeling a bit exhausted. She took the chance to put her down, then sat on a stool beside the children. “Can you tell Mom why you told such a lie?”

Manman nearly buried his head in his chest, speaking in a low voice, “Grandpa and Grandma always ask where Mom is. I didn’t want them to say bad things about you like Grandma always does. Aunt Huang on the first floor is sick and bedridden, and no one says she’s lazy, so I… I’m sorry, Mom. I won’t lie again.”

The little one in front of her was even smarter than Jiang Ningning had imagined, with such careful thoughts.

The key was that he was only four years old!

“Although lying is wrong, your intentions were good, so this time, Mom forgives you.”

Manman suddenly raised his head, his eyes wide in disbelief. This mother was too good to be true.

“By the way, Mom, just now, Second Uncle came to knock on the door, but he was chased away by Grandma Zhu next door,” Xiaxia suddenly spoke up.

This statement was like a thunderclap out of nowhere.

Jiang Ningning hadn’t expected the Huo family to come so quickly.

Wait.

Xiaxia’s second uncle… his name was… Huo Jianjun?

No wonder the human trafficker’s face had seemed somewhat familiar. She hadn’t realized it at the time due to the shock.

Yesterday, she and the neighbors had beaten up her mother-in-law, and today, she had sent her brother-in-law to the police station. If they didn’t leave soon, the Huo family might swallow them alive.

Jiang Ningning made a decisive decision, her eyebrows raised in determination. “Have you packed everything? We’re leaving for the train station in an hour.”

“Why do we need to wait for another hour?” Manman asked, puzzled.

Jiang Ningning deliberately teased him, “You’ll know soon.”