Chapter 244: Vigilance
"Brother Gao, this seems a bit against the rules." The young policeman looked at the receding train, turned back to glance at the middle-aged policeman holding the child.
"Xiao Zhao, do you know where that phone call just came from in Jing City?" Gao Changming looked at Zhao Jinke, a glint in his eyes.
"Where from?"
"Baiqian Village in Jing City." Gao Changming’s lips curled into a smile.
"Baiqian Village where the government officials live!" Zhao Jinke’s voice cracked.
"Yes, the person on the phone knew their family was involved in this matter. They will dispatch someone over to guide us to take them all down at once. Xiao Zhao, there’s hope to find my brother’s child now." For the first time in many days, Gao Changming saw a glimmer of hope.
"And they’ll arrive today. Let’s quickly take them to the police station." Energized, Gao Changming handed the child to Zhao Jinke, and pushed the two human traffickers along.
"Brother Gao, but when you agreed to let them go earlier, hadn’t you called yet?" Zhao Jinke asked, puzzled.
"The introduction letter and the train tickets were genuine." Gao Changming said, "Besides, they already helped us catch people. What else could we do by keeping them?"
"True enough."
At Baiqian Village in Jing City, the person answering the phone was Xu Zongyin. At this moment, his face was gloomy with a hint of worry in his eyes. When Ding Ancheng returned from outside, this was the expression he saw on his father.
"Dad, what’s wrong?" Ding Ancheng raised an eyebrow and asked.
Xu Zongyin hesitated as he looked at Ding Ancheng, causing him to become instantly serious, "What happened? Did something happen to Jing and them?"
"There was an issue, but it’s resolved now. I... just don’t worry when you hear it." Xu Zongyin recounted the whole story, "They’re back on the train now. Roujing is fine, she’ll be in Jing City by tomorrow night. I’ve already arranged for people to assist with the investigation to be sure to eradicate that den of traffickers."
Upon hearing this, Ding Ancheng nodded, but his expression did not brighten. Xu Zongyin knew that only when Yi Roujing appeared in front of him would he truly be relieved.
"I’m heading to the Zhou Family." With that, Ding Ancheng turned and left.
Xu Zongyin knew his son was angry, intent on fully exposing those traffickers, but it was for a good reason, so he wouldn’t stop him.
On the train, Yi Roujing lay in the soft sleeper while Li Hongying held a cup of brown sugar water, occasionally asking if her stomach hurt. Yi Roujing obediently lay there to ease their minds, consistently answering that she wasn’t in pain, really not in pain.
Yi Roujing even checked her own pulse, which was steady, but this was something Li Hongying would only listen to without truly believing, as it was Yi Roujing taking her own pulse and saying so.
Ding Anmin went to the dining car to buy a boiled egg, now rolling it over Xia Xingchen’s swollen left cheek, "You, next time don’t be a good person randomly. Don’t help people you don’t know no matter what they ask. You’re the kind who would get sold off yet still help count the money. Got it?"
Xia Xingchen nodded obediently, feeling a lingering fear, "Really, if sister-in-law hadn’t come out quickly, I think I would have been taken away by them by now. Is sister-in-law alright? Is the baby alright?"
"She’s fine." Ding Anmin said, though she was actually worried. She had gone next door a few times, yet Yi Roujing’s condition seemed better than Xia Xingchen’s, and even compared to her own, she seemed healthier.
"I have some medicine here, do you want to apply some? It’s gentle; Xiao Rui uses it for any minor injuries." Qin Sixian looked at Xia Xingchen and took out a porcelain bottle from a rattan box.
"Thank you, Sister Qin." Ding Anmin thanked her, "Xingchen, you continue rolling the egg yourself. I’ll take it to sister-in-law first. I’m not sure if she bumped into something."
"Okay." Xia Xingchen nodded.
Having just gone through an ordeal, Ding Anmin was now extremely cautious. Though Qin Sixian seemed nice, they had only recently met on the train, and it was always good to have a guard up.
Going next door, Ding Anmin handed the porcelain bottle to Yi Roujing, then whispered something in her ear, a look of appreciation flashed in Yi Roujing’s eyes. Subsequently, she opened the bottle cap, fanned its scent with her hand, raised an eyebrow, and said, "The medicine is mild, it’s a good remedy."
"Later, when we’re next door again, just say I’m pregnant. To be safe, I won’t use it." Yi Roujing said.
"I understand." Ding Anmin took the porcelain bottle back, embarrassedly rubbed her head, "I was all flustered, sister-in-law is pregnant, it’s better not to use it unless necessary. Xingchen, I’ll apply a bit for you."
Xia Xingchen nodded. She knew Anmin went over to ask about the medicine’s properties, and thinking of this, her eyes reddened again, she felt meeting Anmin, sister-in-law, and the Ding Family members was truly her great fortune.
"Does it hurt a lot?" Ding Anmin softened her touch a bit more.
"I’m fine, just happy." Xia Xingchen sniffled and said.
"Not beaten silly, are you? After being hit, nearly abducted, and still happy." Ding Anmin teased, "You better not cry, or this medicine will be wasted, a pity for little Si Rui’s remedy."
Qin Sixian laughed, "It’s okay, I have more. That bottle can be for Xingchen."
"Thank you, Sister Qin." Xia Xingchen turned and sincerely thanked her.
"You should rest well next, or when Brother Gu sees your face in Jing City, imagine how distressed he’ll be."
Xia Xingchen blushed from Ding Anmin’s comment, glaring at her.
"I didn’t expect Brother Huang to know some martial arts." Xia Xingchen teased Ding Anmin back, "You won’t be scared when going out in the future; Brother Huang will definitely protect you, plus you yourself are so strong, that swing was quite something, thanks to you."
Ding Anmin was previously angry but was amused by Xia Xingchen, immediately tickling her.
Huang Xiaobao came in with a hot water bottle and saw the two playing around.
The rest of the journey, whenever family members needed to use the restroom, either Ding Anguo or Huang Xiaobao would accompany them, providing full protection, even accompanying Qin Sixian, making her feel grateful again.
After a thirty-six-hour train journey, at 6:15 PM on October 2nd, Yi Roujing and her group finally arrived in Jing City. Stepping off the train, there were quite a few people on the platform, mostly to welcome others. Among them, Yi Roujing could immediately spot Ding Ancheng.
His tall, upright posture was quite striking. Jing City in October was much cooler than Huaixi County, so Ding Ancheng wore a white shirt, with a green V-neck vest over it and green work pants below, looking quite dashing as he walked towards her.
"Why are you dressed so lightly?" Ding Ancheng draped a sweater he brought over Yi Roujing’s shoulders, tidying her collar gently yet with a bit of force, pulling her softly into his embrace, "Are you alright?"
"Don’t worry, I’m fine, really. If you’re still worried, we can make a trip to the hospital." Yi Roujing’s heart softened, she whispered.