Courtyard House: Railway Police at the Start

Chapter 40: Su Qin Carries the Sword

"The child is burning up."

Huo Chong was holding the abducted boy, his eyes red with anxiety.

"There are spare medications on board. Go to the dining car and find the purser."

After handcuffing the two, Tang Zhenghong finally had a moment to check on Yingying's condition. Fortunately, the little girl's face was no longer flushed, and her breathing rate had returned to normal.

"What are your names, and why are you tying Yingying up?"

The woman glanced sideways at the man next to her, but didn't say anything.

The man rolled his eyes and said haphazardly, "My name is Ma San. As for her, today she's called Chen Cuifang, but I don't know what she'll be called tomorrow."

"You're not going to explain yourselves properly, are you? Fine, Huo Chong, get your tools and teach them a lesson."

Not wanting to suffer further after already being caught, the woman quickly said, "Government, we will cooperate. My name is Gu Cuilan, and his name is Ma Sanbao."

"So none of you are behaving honestly, are you?"

The man then became honest and said with a wry smile, "Fine, we admit defeat. My name is indeed Ma Sanbao. I wasn't wrong when I said Ma San, that's what everyone calls me."

"Good to know. Don't go against the government. Tell me, why did you kidnap Yingying?"

Ma Sanbao guessed that Yingying must be the girl who was tied up later. He had also just heard that she was a military dependent, and he looked unlucky: "We originally wanted to take this feverish 'young lotus root' to Anyang to 'get rid of her.' She probably took too much medicine, and started having a fever as soon as she got on the train. We could only think of finding a chance to get off the train first and find a place to see a doctor. We couldn't just go through all that trouble and end up with a sick person stuck with us. Who would have thought that we would run into this money-losing girl? The two of them actually knew each other and even sensed that something was wrong and wanted to call for help. We had no choice but to tie them up together."

Similar to Tang Zhenghong's guess, Yingying is a military dependent and has a strong sense of justice at a young age.

Lu Zhang asked with a stern face, "Where did you abduct the boy from?"

"We're just people responsible for 'shipping' and unloading goods, but when I was drinking with that 'good mom,' she mentioned it briefly, saying it was in the Qianmen Street area, but we don't know whose it is."

In the flower-picking business, men are called "kind-hearted fathers" and women are called "good mothers".

"A stick of incense" or "good baby" refers to a boy; "a flower" or "little baby" refers to a girl like Yingying; something that's stuck in your hands is called a money-losing item or rice that's expensive.

Lu Zhang's face darkened even more: "So, you're just running errands? Who's your supplier?"

"That woman looks like a 'newbie,' this job must be a 'free ride.' At this point, would I still lie to you?"

"New Wharf" refers to someone who has just arrived in Beijing to work as a petty thief, whose background is unknown. "Shunfengdou" means someone who was tricked into coming along the way.

Lu Zhang wasn't so easily appeased. He grabbed the man, asked Huo Chong for a rope, and struck a pose reminiscent of Su Qin carrying a sword.

The conditions were basic; there wasn't even a place to hang, but it was enough for this guy to endure.

Tang Zhenghong felt he had learned something new.

He had previously only seen some foreign language homework videos in a folder on his computer, out of a hobby of bondage.

I've heard there are also moves like "Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg" and "Roasted Whole Lamb," which are very effective.

"You're dishonest; you just spout lies. Would you dare do business with her if you didn't know her background? Tell me, what's her name?"

"I'll tell you everything, it's so uncomfortable, can you please untie me?"

Before long, Ma Sanbao couldn't take it anymore, and the grown man pleaded with a sob in his voice.

"You worthless wretch. Explain your problems first. Zheng Hong, take notes."

Having come this far, Ma Sanbao dared not attempt any new moves. He quickly explained the situation to his superior and, after confirming that everything was in order, had the other party put their handprint on the document.

This record will be handed over to the next railway police station along with the personnel.

"Search them. Check their letters of introduction, and have Comrade Duan from the Public Security Bureau confirm them later."

Although the couple didn't look like enemy agents, Lu Zhang still didn't dare to be careless.

"We're really just child hunters, not enemy spies. Who knew we'd be so unlucky, running into some random little girl on the bus and actually recognizing her?"

Ma Sanbao was truly convinced this time, and he cooperated with a mournful face, clearly knowing which crimes were serious and which were minor.

Tang Zhenghong checked the statement. The boy was indeed abducted from Qianmen Street, but Yingying should live in a compound. He didn't know how the two met. He could only ask Yingying after she woke up.

"The child seems to be doing well for now. Captain Lu, the family is quite anxious, shall I take the child back first?"

Lu Zhang thought for a moment and then picked up Yingying: "Okay... go and call your family over. Since you're a military family member, it's inconvenient for you to bring a child. Besides, Yingying is still unconscious. Let's move her to our restroom carriage."

On the other side, Yingying's mother, who was usually calm and collected, was anxiously looking around from her seat. When she saw Tang Zhenghong return alone, her heart sank and she almost fell over.

"Sister-in-law, we've found the child. Why don't you grab your luggage and come with me to sleeper car number twelve?"

"Really? Is Yingying alright?"

Women are weak, but mothers are strong.

Upon hearing that Yingying had been found, a surge of energy erupted from her previously swaying body. She gripped Tang Zhenghong's sleeve so tightly that her fingers turned white.

"It's alright, the child is asleep. Our captain saw that you are a military family member, so he'll buy you and the child sleeper tickets to rest."

Yingying's mother packed her things with a grateful expression: "Thank you so much. Where can I buy a ticket?"

"No rush, let's go see the child first, I'll help you carry it."

On the other side, Lu Zhang, holding Yingying, asked, "These two came from a hard-seat carriage; didn't you check their introduction letters?"

Wang Shou exchanged the tickets for the two people out of kindness.

Zou Yishui could only take the blame on himself and Tang Zhenghong, explaining, "It was our negligence; we didn't notice that any child had a fever at the time."

Lu Zhang remained silent with a stern face. At this moment, Yingying woke up and called out, "Mommy, Mommy."

"Yingying, Mom will be here soon. Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"

His wife is pregnant, and now Zou Yishui feels a sense of warmth when he looks at the child, speaking to her with a gentleness he has never seen before.

"Yingying has a headache. Uncle, Zongzheng has been taken away by bad guys. He's asleep and won't talk to me. Please save him!"

It turns out the little boy's name was Zongzheng.

Lu Zhang checked his pockets and found he didn't have a single piece of candy. Embarrassed, he pulled his hand out and asked, "Yingying, Zongzheng has been rescued. Besides his headache, is there anything else bothering him?"

"Yingying is hungry, and the bad guys have also captured her, but Yingying is not afraid."

"Yingying is so brave."

Just as Lu Zhang finished praising the little girl, Yingying saw her mother coming over with luggage and burst into tears.

Yingying's mother loosened her grip, ran to her daughter, picked her up, and carefully examined her: "Yingying, Mommy's here. Tell Mommy where you feel unwell?"

The little girl hugged her mother tightly and sobbed, "Waaah... Yingying thought, thought she would never see her mother again. Some bad people were holding Zongzheng and kidnapped Yingying too."

"The child said she has a headache, which is probably due to the sedative. Yingying is very brave. What's your name, comrade? Are you aware of this situation?"

Seeing that her daughter was alright, Yingying's mother finally breathed a sigh of relief. Feeling somewhat exhausted, she sat down on the bed and hugged Yingying tightly. When she heard Lu Zhang ask about Zongzheng, she paused for a moment, stood up, and said gratefully, "Hello, my name is Tian He. Thank you so much. Zongzheng isn't one of the children in our courtyard, so I really don't know anything about his situation. Yingying has only played with him a few times in the courtyard."

Yingying had stopped crying by now, and hugged her mother, saying in a clear voice, "Zongzheng calls Aunt Gao 'Auntie,' Mom is so silly."

Tian He explained somewhat awkwardly, "The Aunt Gao that Yingying mentioned should be the cook in the household of one of the leaders in our compound."

"Yes, Aunt Gao's cooking is delicious."

"Yingying, do you know where the Zongzheng family lives?"

Yingying frowned and thought for a while, then shook her head: "Yingying doesn't remember. Zongzheng said his father is gone, and his mother washes vegetables, so Aunt Gao often takes him to play in our yard."

Tang Zhenghong poured a glass of water for Wang Shou and handed it to Yingying: "Yingying is very brave, but you can't do that next time. You must protect yourself first, and then tell the adults, okay?"

"Thank you, brother. Yingying is not afraid. Where is Zongzheng?"

"Zongzheng is sick and has gone to take his medicine. How about we wait until he gets better before playing with Yingying again?"