Ch 85: Is There Really Such a Good Thing? [QT]

Security guard Liu was stunned. The steamed bun in his hand was crushed as he spoke in a hurried, hushed tone, “What did you say, young lady? That family—those simple, honest-looking people—are human traffickers? Kidnapping children?”

Shen Yunxuan nodded firmly, her tone resolute. “Yes. Quickly call for backup and restrain them. Bring as many people as you can—I’m worried they might have weapons. If we wait, it’ll be too late. I’m heading to the police station to report this. The rest is up to you!”

Without waiting for a response, Shen Yunxuan turned and walked away. Liu instinctively reached out to stop her but noticed the family glancing in their direction. He quickly changed his gesture, stuffing the bun into his mouth to cover his shock. Pivoting on his heels, he called a few of his colleagues, grabbed some equipment, and stormed toward the suspects without warning.

The only man in the group turned pale, immediately releasing the baby he was holding. Liu quickly caught the infant, but not before noticing the man pulling out a knife and swinging it toward him. Fortunately, Liu remembered Shen Yunxuan’s warning and was prepared. Ducking, he rammed into the man, knocking him to the ground. The other guards jumped in, pinning him down firmly.

“Police! Don’t move!” A group of officers arrived on the scene with serious expressions, promptly handcuffing all four suspects. When they opened the suspects’ bags, they found infants packed inside—twelve in total, including the ones being carried. The sight brought tears to the officers’ and guards’ eyes, and a few couldn’t resist kicking the traffickers in anger.

Bystanders gathered, their shocked murmurs growing louder as the police instructed Liu and his team to escort the suspects to the station. Meanwhile, Shen Yunxuan, taking advantage of the commotion, packed up her stall and returned home to drop off her things before heading to the police station to give her statement.

Captain Wang Zhijun, who had been searching for her, sighed in relief upon seeing her. “Comrade Shen, thank you for your timely report and guidance. If those traffickers had boarded the train, the consequences would have been unimaginable. We’ve confirmed that the infants were stolen from the hospital. We’ll need your cooperation for a detailed statement.”

Shen Yunxuan nodded. “Of course. I’m here to assist.”

Captain Wang escorted her to an adjoining room, poured her a cup of tea, and casually remarked, “Comrade Shen, we owe you a debt of gratitude. When I saw those children, I broke out in a cold sweat. If they had succeeded, countless families would’ve been destroyed. On behalf of the entire police force, I salute you!”

Before she could react, Wang stood at attention and saluted crisply. Shen Yunxuan barely managed to wave her hands in protest. “Captain Wang, you’re too kind. This is simply what anyone would do. No one would let such criminals succeed!”

“Indeed,” Wang praised her. “You’re a model comrade! Now, tell me how you discovered the situation and alerted the security guard, Liu Xin. How did you figure out those bags were hiding infants?”

Having already prepared her explanation, Shen Yunxuan calmly recounted the events. She explained how she always observed the people at the train station while selling her goods. That morning, the family of four seemed off to her. The babies they carried were unusually quiet—not crying or moving, even amidst the noisy train station, which was highly unusual. Her suspicions deepened when she noticed them handling their bags with excessive care. At one point, she even spotted movement inside one of the bags, and the outline of an infant’s face briefly pressed against the fabric. When the group reacted nervously and adjusted their bags, her doubts were confirmed.

Recalling stories of child abductions from her youth, she immediately reported the situation to Liu Xin and the police, prioritizing swift action. She concluded, “I thought, if I was wrong, I’d apologize and compensate them. But if I was right, I couldn’t let those criminals get on the train. Once it departed, it would’ve been like finding a needle in a haystack.”

As Wang Zhijun listened, he broke into a cold sweat, praising her again. “Courageous and meticulous—excellent work!” He shuddered to think what might’ve happened if Shen Yunxuan hadn’t acted decisively.

After completing her statement, Wang Zhijun informed her, “The families of all twelve children have been located. The infants were drugged and are currently recovering in the hospital. Some parents have left thank-you gifts for you, and three families are here, hoping to express their gratitude in person. Would you like to meet them?”

Shen Yunxuan firmly declined the envelopes Wang offered her, replying, “It’s the right thing to do to protect those children. Please convey my thanks to the families for their gratitude, but I cannot accept their gifts.”

Wang Zhijun tried several more times, but seeing her resolve, he relented with a sigh. “Comrade Shen, you’re truly an exemplary citizen.” He then led her to the meeting room.

Inside, three individuals with an air of authority waited. Wang Zhijun introduced them: one was the town mayor, whose only grandson—his sole surviving family member after his son and daughter-in-law’s tragic deaths—was among the rescued infants. Another was the principal of the local high school. The principal and his wife, both in their forties, had recently welcomed their first child after years of trying. Their infant, born premature, had been recovering in the hospital when he was abducted.

The third person was the factory director from the machinery plant. His grandson, only three days old and the youngest of the stolen children, was among the victims.

In this era, families that could afford hospital deliveries were generally well-off, and these three individuals represented the most influential households in the area.

According to the traffickers’ confessions, they arrived the night before, went straight to the hospital to scout the area, and acted early in the morning during the nurse shift change when no one was checking the wards. They drugged the adults in the rooms, sedated the babies, packed them into bags, and headed to the train station. By the time the missing children were discovered, and the nurses reported it to the police, they would have already boarded the train and been long gone.

The plan was to disembark two hours later and sell the children in a nearby mountain region. Whether the sedatives harmed the infants didn’t concern them; even if only six of the twelve babies survived, they would still make 3,000 yuan—750 yuan per trafficker—equivalent to two or three years’ wages for many people.

The traffickers also calculated that their close proximity to the hospital would lower the likelihood of suspicion. They assumed the authorities would focus on far-flung locations and not consider the children could be sold so close to where they were taken.

Upon learning the traffickers’ scheme, the town mayor, the high school principal, and the factory director were deeply shaken. They waited until Shen Yunxuan finished her statement to personally express their gratitude.

The mayor shook Shen Yunxuan’s hand solemnly, saying, “Comrade Shen, thank you. You didn’t just save my grandson; you saved twelve families in our town and helped prevent a major crime. You’ve done a great service to our community. On behalf of myself and the organization, thank you!”

The high school principal followed, “Comrade Shen, your vigilance and courage are unparalleled. If my child had been lost—given his fragile health—he might not have survived. My wife and I would have been devastated. You’ve saved our family, and for that, we are eternally grateful.”

The factory director added, “Comrade Shen, you are compassionate, fearless, and wise—a true heroine. I have great admiration for comrades like you. If you ever need help in the future, just let me know, and I will not hesitate.”

While they refrained from being overly explicit due to their public roles, they all readily offered monetary rewards. Shen Yunxuan, however, firmly refused. “I understand how precious your children are, and I’m glad they’ve been found safely. For me, this was simply a matter of reporting a crime when I noticed something amiss. I don’t dare claim credit, and I’m sure anyone in my position would have done the same. Please take back the envelopes.”

After some hesitation and mutual glances, the three men accepted her refusal, remarking on her noble character. They resolved to find ways to support her in the future.

They inquired about her background and learned that she was from a nearby village, recently married into a household with four employed members, and now made a living selling tea eggs at a small stall. They concluded that Shen Yunxuan might indeed be blessed, given her fortunate circumstances and sharp instincts, which had led her to uncover the traffickers’ plot.

In her previous life, Shen Yunxuan had excelled in navigating relationships with military spouses, superiors, and comrades. Her ease in interacting with the mayor and the others was no exception. Over a half-hour of conversation, they began affectionately addressing her as “Xiao Shen” and encouraged her to call them “Uncle” or “Elder Brother.” Only when she politely excused herself did the meeting conclude.

After Shen Yunxuan left, the mayor and the others exchanged further remarks. The mayor’s secretary soon arrived, reporting on her background. The more they heard, the more shocked they became.

“She ranked first in her class every year, yet they wouldn’t let her continue her studies?”

“They treated her like a servant, making her skin and bones?”

“They nearly sold her to a fool? She had to publicly sever ties with her family to get married?”

The mayor and the others were appalled. Even the secretary had been taken aback during his investigation, thinking he had seen cases of favoritism toward sons, but never such blatant mistreatment of a single child.

The secretary also reported on the Xiao family, whose reputation starkly contrasted with that of Shen Yunxuan’s natal family. The Xiao family was harmonious and supportive, making the mayor comment, “A united family brings prosperity. The Xiao family is exemplary and will only thrive in the future.”

He then expressed amazement at how the couple managed to sell so many eggs daily, despite not being part of a supply chain like a state-owned enterprise. Their business acumen impressed him, though he noted that small-scale trading closely bordered on the banned practice of profiteering.

After some thought, the mayor instructed Wang Zhijun, “Don’t interfere with Xiao Shen’s business for now. If higher authorities release policies banning private sales, make sure to warn her in advance.”

Wang Zhijun readily agreed, understanding this was a gesture of protection. After all, Shen Yunxuan had rendered a tremendous service. Without her, the abduction of twelve infants would have been a major case, likely attracting national attention. Such an incident could have ended not only his career but also the mayor’s tenure.

The mayor had only one descendant left, his grandson. If something had happened to the child, the mayor would likely have been devastated—perhaps even unable to carry on. In this sense, Shen Yunxuan had essentially saved the mayor’s life. Officer Wang Zhijun resolved to keep an eye out for her in the future, ensuring she wouldn’t be harassed by street thugs while running her stall.

Wang Zhijun immediately spread the word among the local troublemakers: Shen Yunxuan and Xiao Jun were off-limits. This news quickly cooled any ill-intentioned schemes against the couple, saving them a lot of potential trouble.

Wang also personally visited the Xiao family to deliver a certificate of commendation and a “Bravery in the Line of Duty” award of 50 yuan on behalf of the government. Shen Yunxuan graciously accepted this official recognition, which she felt she deserved. The gesture was handled discreetly to avoid attracting unnecessary attention or potential retaliation from criminal networks.

It was only then that the Xiao family learned of the highly publicized case of stolen infants and that it was Shen Yunxuan who cracked it. When they heard the full story, they were both horrified and grateful. They condemned the despicable traffickers and began to worry about Shen Yunxuan’s safety at the train station. With her agreement, Xiao Jun arranged for a trusted friend to manage the stall there, so she no longer needed to be present.

Shen Yunxuan had achieved her primary goal at the train station, and leaving it to someone else was more practical. In her previous life, when those children were abducted, she had been too overwhelmed by her chaotic family situation to intervene. At the time, she had just been struggling to gain footing in her in-laws’ household while feeling disillusioned with her birth family. Hearing about the incident only spurred her to caution her stepchildren to be vigilant in public.

Later that summer, when her stepson started middle school in town, she occasionally brought him meals. Her stepdaughter often insisted on tagging along, and one day, while acting out, the girl intentionally hid and was abducted by traffickers.

Shen Yunxuan discovered a hairpin on the ground, followed the trail, and stumbled upon a group of traffickers holding several young girls captive. She promptly alerted the authorities, leading to their capture. To everyone’s shock, these were the same criminals involved in the earlier infant abductions. Their success in stealing babies had emboldened them, and they now aimed to abduct young girls to sell as child brides in nearby mountain villages.

Her actions not only saved her stepdaughter but also shifted her stepchildren’s attitudes toward her. The Xiao family began treating her with newfound respect, and six months later, after a successful military mission, Xing Kai read about her commendation in a letter from home. Feeling proud, he finally approved her request to join him as a military spouse.

In her current life, she was determined to prevent such tragedies from happening. Through vigilance and action, she had not only saved twelve children but also established connections with influential figures, altering her fate and the destinies of those families. This was the first time she truly felt the transformative power of her rebirth, and it brought her great joy.

Although further investigations into the traffickers were out of her hands, her efforts left a lasting impact. The Xiao family, worried about her well-being after the incident, insisted she take a few days to rest at home. During this time, she expanded her product offerings to include quail eggs, spicy meat sauce, pig ears, and sausages—essentially recreating the kind of deli store that would thrive in the future.

One day, the director of the machinery factory visited the Xiao family and noticed the array of foods Shen Yunxuan had prepared. He also saw Xiao Jun returning home with a bicycle laden with baskets, trays, and supplies for their stall. The director remarked, “You carry all this every day? Isn’t it quite cumbersome?”

Xiao Jun wiped his brow and replied, “It is, but there’s no other way. Without a storefront, we have to make do with this setup.” He unloaded the goods, attached a wooden cart to the bike, and greeted the director before heading off to a nearby village to collect eggs.

The director nodded thoughtfully, watching the wooden cart behind the bicycle. As the factory had machinery for producing parts, he began to consider how he could show his gratitude.

Returning to the factory, the director discussed with a master technician the idea of creating a custom vending bike. They designed a three-wheeled bike with a long, flat box attached to the back, segmented into compartments for different goods. It could serve as a mobile stall—no setup or breakdown required. Just park it, sell, and ride off when done.

Additionally, they created a second bike with a taller storage compartment, suitable for transporting goods like eggs from villages to town. This innovation not only ensured better efficiency but also expressed the factory director’s appreciation in a practical, thoughtful way.

As soon as the two vehicles were ready, the factory director delivered them to Shen Yunxuan, emphasizing that they were made from recycled bicycles and old materials and didn’t cost much. He insisted she accept them, adding that if she didn’t, they’d be of no use to him.

When Shen Yunxuan saw how thoughtfully the vehicles had been designed, she quickly offered the factory director some money. “Uncle Lin, these are too valuable. I can’t just take them for free,” she said, handing him the cash.

Director Lin frowned and replied firmly, “Xiao Shen, if you treat me as an uncle, you wouldn’t try to pay me back. You didn’t even accept my thank-you gift for helping find my grandson, and now you want to pay for a small gesture of mine? We’re friends. This is mutual help. Don’t be so distant! Put the money away, or I’ll get upset.”

Shen Yunxuan smiled and relented. “Alright, Uncle Lin, I’ll accept them. But please stay for dinner. Let’s wait for my father-in-law to return so we can all have a drink together.”

Director Lin agreed. That evening, Xiao Zhijun prepared a feast, complemented by the variety of cooked dishes Shen Yunxuan had made. The men had a great time drinking, while Xiao Jun couldn’t stop marveling at the new vehicles. He treated Director Lin as if he were his own uncle, expressing endless gratitude.

Director Lin was delighted. Being able to repay his grandson’s savior with something they truly valued made him feel fulfilled. When he left, Shen Yunxuan packed several portions of her cooked dishes for him. He didn’t notice until the next day when he saw the generous packages and felt a twinge of guilt. “These delicacies must’ve cost a fortune,” he thought. “Xiao Shen is far too generous.”

Reluctant to eat everything himself, he carefully divided the food and shared it with relatives and close friends. To his surprise, everyone raved about how delicious it was and asked where it came from. Many of his friends were of similar status, and Director Lin took the opportunity to spread the word, praising Shen Yunxuan’s culinary skills and unique flavors.

Soon, it became a trend to serve her dishes at gatherings, with people regarding them as a sign of good taste. Shen Yunxuan’s business flourished without her even leaving home, as customers came to her door. She had finally achieved her goal of earning money with less effort.

Meanwhile, word about the child trafficking incident eventually reached the village. The villagers were horrified to learn that nearly twelve children had been abducted and vowed to be more cautious. Some remarked, “Thank goodness we don’t go to hospitals to give birth. If we ever do, we’ll need more people to keep watch.”

They also praised the bravery of the “anonymous good Samaritan” who discovered the traffickers. “That person has real guts,” they said. “If it were us, we might not have dared to report it.”

However, when Shen Xuewei heard the news, her heart sank. In her previous life, the traffickers hadn’t been caught until winter. Why had things changed now? She hadn’t done anything to interfere in this matter—what could have triggered this butterfly effect?

Puzzled, Shen Xuewei asked the village chief, “Do you know who this brave person is?”

The village chief, seeing it was her, shook his head dismissively. “The police didn’t say, so how would I know?” He walked away with his hands behind his back.

Others nearby avoided speaking to her, dispersing into small groups. Realizing she was being ostracized, Shen Xuewei’s face darkened, and she left in a huff. Someone watched her storm off and muttered, “It’s her fault for spreading rumors that Yunxuan’s egg prices were too low and could cause trouble. If not for her, Yunxuan would still be collecting eggs here. Now we want Yunxuan back, but it’s too late. This troublemaker still has the nerve to show her face!”

“Exactly! Always putting on airs as the commander’s wife, looking down on us. Why didn’t she go and catch the traffickers herself?”

🌸˚˖𓍢ִ໋🌷͙֒✧🩷˚⋆