Chapter 35: Uncle, Are You Here to Pick Me Up?
’How "thoughtful" of them. They delivered everyone right to my doorstep. Saves me the trouble of hunting them down one by one.’
The door slammed shut behind them, the resounding crash of heavy metal making their eardrums throb.
Cao Jiajia hugged herself, her teeth chattering from the cold.
She stumbled forward a couple of steps and reached for the hem of Shanshan’s clothes.
Annoyed, Shanshan took a step to the side, turning her body to dodge the other girl’s hand.
Undeterred, she tried to get close again.
Shanshan couldn’t be bothered to deal with her, so she just ignored her and let the girl trail behind her.
It was pitch-black, and a cold wind moaned as it slipped through cracks in the crumbling walls.
She held her breath, listening intently for a moment.
Once she confirmed there was no immediate danger, her eyes slowly adjusted to the dark.
When she could finally make out the shapes around them, she crouched down next to the other children, comforting them in a soft, quiet voice.
"Don’t be scared, don’t be scared. I’m here. No one can hurt you now."
Two little girls were huddled in a corner, clinging to each other.
No matter how Shanshan tried to comfort them, they just kept shaking their heads as tears streamed endlessly down their faces.
Just when she was about to give up, however, a little boy lifted his head.
He looked to be about seven or eight years old, with fine features and a composure in his eyes that belied his age.
Shanshan had just started to tell him not to be afraid when he quietly nodded.
He even went and sat beside the two little girls, gently patting their backs and whispering.
"Don’t be afraid. I’ll protect you."
The sight warmed Shanshan’s heart.
With an ally, her plan would go much more smoothly.
Under the cover of deep darkness, she slipped back to a corner, bent down close to the floor, and whistled twice.
A moment later, a rustling sound echoed from deep beneath the ground.
One by one, hibernating snakes began to poke their heads out from cracks in the stonework.
Rats scurried out from holes in the wall, their backs still caked with dirt.
Centipedes and ants emerged in swarms, crawling up from the base of the walls.
They moved silently toward the human traffickers’ hiding spot.
A few moments later, the panicked screams and shouts of the traffickers erupted outside.
"Ow! Something’s biting me!"
"My leg! There are poisonous bugs! Run!"
"Ghosts! There are ghosts!"
They were clearly terrified and didn’t dare look back.
All they could do was flee for their lives.
Shanshan held her breath, pressing herself against the wall and waiting silently.
These venomous creatures weren’t lethal; they would only create panic and throw the traffickers into chaos.
She had to wait until it was completely quiet outside to make sure there was no ambush before making her move.
After about fifteen minutes, the surrounding area fell silent.
Only then did she turn and issue a command in a hushed voice to those deeper in the cellar.
"Now, slide the wooden bolt on the ceiling open."
A few of the bolder children did as she said.
They carefully used a wooden stick to push the crossbar over the cellar entrance, creating a small gap.
Shanshan quickly added a warning.
"Don’t come up yet. I’ll go out and scout first."
She ducked and climbed out of the cellar, her eyes cautiously scanning the area.
Just as she’d thought, the warehouse was empty, leaving nothing but a mess in its wake.
"Come on out, everyone! It’s safe!"
Shanshan crouched by the opening to the cellar and waved for them to come up.
The children were hesitant at first, remaining huddled together.
But at that moment, Cao Jiajia was the first one to climb out.
She summoned her courage, wiped away a tear, and shouted.
"I believe in Shanshan! If she says we’re safe, then we’re safe!"
Her shout gave the rest of the children a boost of confidence, and they began scrambling for the exit.
"One at a time! Don’t push!"
The little boy from earlier stood to the side.
He held out his small hands to steady the younger children, reminding everyone to keep order.
The dozen or so children finally made it safely out of the cellar.
Led by Shanshan, they hugged the wall, sneaking silently toward the courtyard gate.
Just as they stepped through the courtyard gate, the sound of rapid footsteps suddenly reached them from a distance.
"My baby! Is that you?! Are you alive?!"
’What?’
The little boy jolted and whipped his head around. But Shanshan’s voice startled him so badly his hand trembled.
He instinctively reached out to cover her mouth and stop her from giving away their position.
But Shanshan deftly tilted her head to dodge his hand and shouted at the top of her lungs.
"I’m over here! We’re all over here! Hurry!"
"That’s Shanshan! It really is Shanshan’s voice!"
In the crowd, Zhang Yunhua stopped dead in her tracks.
Her lips trembling, she stumbled toward them.
The moment she saw Shanshan, she lunged forward and pulled the girl into a tight hug.
"Oh my god... You’re really alive! How did you get out? Did they hit you? Does it hurt? Are you hurt anywhere?"
She asked, looking Shanshan over for injuries.
Shanshan chattered away, comforting Zhang Yunhua at the same time.
She explained in detail how she had managed to sneak out with the other children from the village.
But she never mentioned the most incredible part: that she could understand animals and had even gotten them to help lure the traffickers away.
"You foolish child, that was so reckless!"
Zhang Yunhua’s face went pale as she listened, and her voice rose an octave.
"What if the traffickers had caught you? You would’ve gotten a terrible beating! Besides, the adults would have come to rescue you eventually. Why did you have to run out on your own? It’s so dangerous!"
Her tone was stern, but her words were laced with pure, heartfelt worry.
"Hehe, I’m pretty amazing!"
Shanshan giggled, wriggling out of Zhang Yunhua’s arms and taking a couple of steps back.
She puffed out her little chest, planted her hands on her hips, and her eyes sparkled.
"I can protect myself, and I even led everyone to safety! See? I came back safe and sound, didn’t I?"
Ling Anxun stood at the back of the crowd, listening quietly.
Watching Shanshan’s proud little display, he felt a flicker of warmth inside him.
Just then, a soft chuckle sounded from nearby.
Shanshan immediately whipped her head around toward the sound.
A few steps away stood a tall, thin man in a military-style greatcoat.
Most peculiar of all, his entire body was enveloped in a faint, golden light.
Shanshan’s eyes lit up in an instant.
With a little "Ah!", she took off running toward him.
"Mister!"
"Are you here just for me? Did you know I was here, so you came to find me?"
Ling Anxun looked at her sparkling eyes, and his heart softened.
"Yes, I came looking for you."
Zhang Yunhua came over just then.
Wringing her hands, she said gratefully.
"So you’re the one who helped us find Shanshan? Oh, thank you, thank you so much, sir! If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have known where to even start looking!"
When Shanshan heard this, she immediately stood up straight.
She bowed deeply and respectfully to Ling Anxun.
"Thank you, Mister!"
Her earnest yet childish expression made all the adults around them laugh.
Ling Anxun smiled, too.
He looked down at Shanshan, his gaze gentle.
"You’re welcome."
He paused, then asked softly.
"You’re Shanshan, right?"
Shanshan nodded emphatically.
"You’re very brave."
Ling Anxun continued in a serious tone.
"You assessed the situation, made your own decision, and had the courage to lead an escape. You did a good job."
"That’s right!"
Hearing this, Shanshan immediately lifted her head and patted her little chest.
"Shanshan is amazing!"
Ling Anxun looked at her and couldn’t help but laugh again.