Chapter 94 Unhappy Abandonment
When Cao Feng and the police found Ajiao, she was sitting on the stairs in a deep alley.
The girl saw them coming from afar, stood up and walked towards them.
A Jiao looked at everyone, no longer showing any sadness. She simply said calmly, "I want to go home."
At this moment, Ajiao was not as crazy as usual. She obviously remembered something and became much more sober.
The policewoman asked her tentatively: "Do you know where your home is? Who is there at home?"
Ajiao thought back and said, "My father has passed away, and my mother is in Yangnan, Shuchuan. I want to go home."
The policewoman saw her story from the live broadcast. As a woman herself, she has a strong sense of empathy.
She looked at A Jiao with a distressed look on her face. Regardless of the fact that she was a "crazy person" in everyone's eyes, she stepped forward, took her hand, and said, "Okay, we will take you home. Don't worry, we will definitely take you home safely. Believe me, I am a police officer, and I am also a woman!"
The power of these words is greater than anything Ajiao has ever heard before.
…
Return to the hotel.
Xue Qi also breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Ajiao.
Upon learning that she had regained some consciousness, she, like the policewoman, took her hand and held it, whispering comfortingly, "Don't worry, we will definitely get you home safely. As a woman, I will do my best to help you return to a normal life."
In the living room of the hotel suite, only Xue Qi and his wife, the policewoman and Fei Yu were left.
After Ajiao regained consciousness, the policewoman took a statement from her and Fei Yu.
A Jiao stared blankly ahead, as if lost in thought. After a long pause, she gave a wry smile. "So what? What if I wake up? Those harrowing experiences, like a trip through hell, haunt me like a nightmare, impossible to shake off. Plus, I've lived there for over a decade, and the world has changed so dramatically. What can I do to support myself if I wake up? Will my mother accept me when I return home?"
Her words caused Fei Yu to think deeply, which was also what she feared the most.
After being away from home for many years, will my sudden appearance really not bring any sudden trouble to my family?
She also said, "Yes, for people like us, living soberly is also painful, right? After we go back, not to mention whether our families will accept us, integrating into this completely changed society will be a huge problem."
The two lost confidence in the future, especially after they accepted some information from the outside world.
That feeling of being out of place had a huge impact on them.
Xue Qi stood up, walked into the bedroom, and took out a printed document, handing it to the two of them. "I started out as a food blogger. My company has gradually grown, and we've signed many food bloggers. Chen Ci Hedgehog, Grandma Liu, and Big Stomach King Taoti are all phenomenal bloggers cultivated by our company.
In the past quarter, after deducting the company's share and team expenses, their net profit reached 3 million. Now, I plan to create another type of Douyin account."
Fei Yu glanced at the contract Xue Qi handed over and looked at her in shock: "You...you plan to sign us to become internet celebrities?"
Xue Qi nodded. "Yes. It depends on whether you are willing to show up in public. Here is a draft contract. You don't need to sign it now, you can take a look. I will give you a guaranteed annual salary of 500,000 yuan, and provide food and accommodation. All you have to do is cooperate with my filming team to go to some remote areas to collect materials, shoot videos of abducted women, and help promote the anti-trafficking cause. You have now received a lot of traffic and attention due to the live broadcast of "Baby's Cooking". Your qualifications are very suitable in all aspects.
Of course, if you start this business, while you'll reap the benefits of traffic, you'll also face some criticism. This requires a very strong mentality. Think about it for a while. After you leave here, we'll contact the local government and send Ajiao to the hospital for treatment. Once she's finished, we'll consider whether to sign this contract.
The policewoman looked at Xue Qi. The woman in front of her seemed to be glowing.
Although Fei Yu has been living in the mountain village for many years, he has learned some information about the outside world through television and knows that the profession of "Internet celebrity" is the same as that of a star.
She stared at Xue Qi with wide eyes, looking at her in disbelief: "Ms. Xue, you want to make us stars? This... this must cost a lot of money, right? And you want to give us an annual salary of 500,000? This... this is too much."
What does a 500,000 yuan annual salary mean? This is something they dare not even imagine.
Even if they had not been trafficked, they dared not think about it.
An annual salary of 500,000 is a very difficult level to reach for ordinary people.
Having lived in a remote mountain village for so many years, they had a very low understanding of per capita income. Even the village head, who had the highest income, only made around 10,000 yuan a year.
An annual income of 10,000 yuan is already an astronomical figure for them!
Xue Qi: "You're worth it. Besides, I can't find anyone suitable for this job. No one is more suitable than you. This is a win-win situation for both you and me, not just a one-sided effort on my part. Furthermore, doing this job requires you to have a strong mentality, as it may tear open your inner pain again and again. This profession is not something that everyone can handle."
If you are willing to take over this business, I would be happy to become your partner! If you are not willing, I understand, I will arrange a behind-the-scenes job for you, at least to ensure that you can gain a foothold in society."
Fei Yu: "Well... as long as I can make money and live well, what does it matter if I endure some mental pressure? Besides, as you said, Miss Xue, the one who should feel the shame and psychological pressure of being kidnapped is not me, but those evil beasts."
A Jiao paused for a moment, then her calm eyes suddenly turned sinister: "If it's this thing, even if you don't pay me, just give me a meal, I'm willing to do it."
After suffering so many years of torture, Ajiao's heart has been tempered.
She paused for a moment, then murmured softly, "If I could get out of that kind of hell, what can't I get through in the future?"
Xue Qi nodded and said, "Okay. After you go back, Ajiao will first accept the forced treatment from the government. Don't feel any psychological pressure. Take good care of your body. We will wait for you to come out. Fei Yu, I will arrange for a psychologist to give you psychological testing and counseling. After you are reunited with your family, come to Yanjing City to contact our team. You can also use this time to get in touch with the outside world. If you feel that you don't want to do this kind of work and show yourself in public, I will definitely help you find other suitable jobs."
Ajiao's mental state was not very stable. After a while, she began to mutter to herself with her head down.
Her state of being sometimes lucid and sometimes crazy is a good thing for them. It is better than being unconscious for a long time.
Being awake means that her chances of recovery are very high and the time of recovery will be shorter, which is a good thing for her.
Xue Qi, Cao Feng and the government of Ajiao's hometown have already communicated with each other. Although Ajiao killed her own child, she will not be sentenced because she is completely mentally unconscious, but the government will provide her with compulsory treatment.
Only after Ajiao recovers can she regain her freedom and start a new life.
What Xue Qi showed Ajiao just now was just a draft contract. Even if she agreed to sign it now, Xue Qi would not let her sign it.
After all, her current mental state is not suitable for signing any contract.
Xue Qi will wait until Ajiao is completely healed and has a new understanding of the outside world before letting her decide whether to sign the contract.
The same goes for Fei Yu.
Although her mental state was good, she was still disconnected from the outside world. Xue Qi would give her some time to reacquaint herself with the outside world and gain enough experience before she could decide whether to sign the contract.
Even if they did not sign the contract, Xue Qi promised to help them find stable jobs.
During this process, she will provide them with free psychological counseling and help them learn some new knowledge about the old society to help them integrate into this new world more quickly.
After Xue Qi arranged everything, he sent the contract to Cheng Kai and asked him to prepare to set up a new department and develop new accounts.
Xue Qi estimated that this project would not make money, so she planned to pay for it out of her own pocket.
But even if he paid for it out of his own pocket, Cheng Kai still opposed it.
Upon learning that Xue Qi was going to create a new account with the theme of fighting human trafficking, Cheng Kai was completely confused:
"Sister 7, are you serious? First of all, your topic isn't very popular. There's no successful precedent for it on the Douyin platform. Secondly, searching for and rescuing abducted girls requires a huge investment of energy, and the time and money required are immeasurable. Finally, even if we find the abducted girl and create this feature, it's not certain many people will read it.
"Sister 7, you have to understand that if something is not done by anyone, it's not because it's difficult or incapable of being done by others. It's because it has no economic value. Even if you did it, you might not be able to make it big or become a hit!"
Cheng Kai said this very well.
Cheng Kai has made great contributions to the growth of their company.
It's undeniable that Xue Qi has barely put any effort into running the company. She always lets Cheng Kai do whatever she wants, and he's always been able to handle the aftermath.
Although Cheng Kai would often object, he would not really stop Xue Qi.
But this time, Cheng Kai's objection was very firm, saying:
"Sister Seven, this isn't something you can solve out of your own pocket. If you're not careful, it could even impact our company's development. It's been incredibly difficult for our company to get to where we are now. Fighting human trafficking involves so many issues, so many aspects. First of all, you did a good deed this time, saving two girls, but do you know what the consequences will be? You've offended a county and a provincial capital.
For us internet celebrities, the support from the city's policies is also largely responsible. Places like Guishan have seen strong tourism growth in recent years, but this incident will undoubtedly lead to a sharp decline in tourism. Did you offend the local villagers? It's not just that.
You saved two girls today, and public opinion has affected Guishan, so you've already offended Guishan. But if you go to Shuchuan tomorrow to fight against human trafficking, you'll offend Shuchuan again. Every time you do a special report, you offend a certain group of people. Do you think it's necessary?"
Xue Qi had also thought about these questions.
But she just wanted to do her best to help some girls who were still in dire straits.
There are more than one girls like Ajiao.
Cheng Kai added, "Sister Seven, offending the local government is secondary. Touching on such a sensitive topic is particularly likely to provoke conflict between men and women. The authorities are currently cracking down on influencers who maliciously promote topics that antagonize men and women in order to promote marriage and childbirth. On a deeper level, you could easily be labeled an extreme influencer and be targeted.
You're a top internet celebrity now, making a lot of money. There are always people who are jealous, and there are always people who want to rob the rich and give to the poor. Sometimes, it's better to be low-key. There's no need to go against those people in power. What do you think?
Xue Qi was on the hands-free mode, and she and Cao Feng sat on the sofa, each doing their own thing.
Cao Feng was originally looking at work materials, but when he heard Cheng Kai's speech, he couldn't help but stop the work and listen.
When Cheng Kai was speaking, Xue Qi did not rush to refute him, but listened carefully to every word he said.
After he finished speaking, Xue Qi expressed his own opinion:
"Cheng Kai, I understand your thoughts. You are doing this for the long-term benefit of the company.
As a top influencer, I'm under a lot of scrutiny. Touching on sensitive topics is like testing the limits of my own mortality. However, I've never done this project to provoke conflict between men and women, but simply to make this society and this country a better place.
Just because no one has succeeded in doing something doesn’t mean I can’t succeed in doing it.
I'm doing this simply to save as many girls as I can. Your concerns are not unfounded, but society is developing, and it's not just the conservative people at the top who are doing the work. I want to use these stories to tell everyone that if we want to solve the problems of marriage and childbearing, we can't hide them or oppress women. We must bravely expose the problems and liberate more women who are suffering. Only then will modern women feel more secure in marriage and in society.
As for the risks you mentioned, they do exist. But just because these problems may arise, should I not do it? That doesn't make sense."
Seeing that he couldn't convince her, Cheng Kai pinched his brows and said, "Sister 7, think about it carefully and calm down. Wait until you come back to make a decision. I know you are doing this for those two girls. I would rather pay for their living expenses every year out of my own pocket than risk the entire company. Sister 7, this company is not only yours, but also mine. I am your partner, and I hope you can listen to my advice."
After hearing what Cheng Kai said, Xue Qi suddenly realized that in this world, not only she, the "tool man", began to grow, but Cheng Kai, the "tool man", also began to grow, and they both had their own independent thinking.
Xue Qi knew that she couldn't continue the conversation with him tonight, so she whispered, "Okay, I'll think about how to strike a balance."
After hanging up the video call, Xue Qi felt for the first time that he had encountered an "obstacle" and felt powerless as if he was being crushed by reality.
The further she went, the more she realized that many things were not as simple as she had imagined and could not be done as she wished.
Cao Feng put away the book and asked her, "Your starting point and motivation are good, and the questions and concerns raised by Cheng Kai are also correct. But have you ever thought about how to balance this issue? Perhaps if you come up with a balanced solution, Cheng Kai will agree to let you do this project."
Xue Qi: "I thought Cheng Kai wouldn't object if I asked for it myself."
Cao Feng pointed out the problem: "You have a good eye for project selection. However, when it comes to the company's development, you don't have the same long-term vision as Cheng Kai. Cheng Kai has made the problem clear to you: this isn't about money, it's about the development of the entire company."
Xue Qi was also very smart and quickly got to the point: "He's most worried that if I raise this topic, it will have too much influence and offend everyone, leading to it being banned. Manager Cao, do you have any good ideas on this?"
Cao Feng suggested, "Since we're going to focus on the fight against human trafficking, can we cooperate with the local government?"
Xue Qi's eyes lit up, and he looked at Cao Feng. "Yes, that's fine, Steward Cao! I'll cooperate with the local government, and they can show the public their determination to fight human trafficking, which will win them some favor. And you can also get support from the relevant backstage. It's a win-win situation, so why not?"
Cao Feng smiled gently at her and patted her head. "Yes. I believe no government would refuse this kind of cooperation, especially with Guishan, which currently has a very bad reputation. If they can show that they are cooperating with you and producing programs on the theme of fighting human trafficking, the people will feel very safe. In the long run, the people will support them."
Xue Qi was inspired and had an idea in his mind.
The next morning, she took the PPT she had made overnight to see the mayor of Guishan County.
The county magistrate received her warmly. After learning her purpose, he said, "Ms. Xue, you raised the issue of human trafficking. We've been concerned about this for a long time. We've received reports of this kind, but we didn't dare to make it public. You know, Guishan is a poor place, relying on tourism for support in recent years. If we make this public, who will want to visit? Our economy is entirely supported by tourism. If our reputation is tarnished, it will be a disaster. The villagers will become increasingly impoverished, and I'm afraid such incidents will increase."
Xue Qi opened the PPT he had made, showed it to the county magistrate, and said, "County magistrate, you can take a look at my ideas. As you know, our company mainly focuses on food broadcasting and food. Guishan not only has tourism, but the local specialties here are also very famous, but there are few channels for promotion.
I'm currently looking to create a new media outlet focused on combating human trafficking, and I need the support of your local government! As long as you agree to work with me and vigorously promote the fight against human trafficking, I'm willing to help you advertise for two years free of charge, help you sell local specialties in your county, and guarantee you a certain sales volume!
Think about it, can you really keep some things secret? The more you fear exposure, the more these things will be exposed in a nasty way.
The incident involving Ajiao and Fei Yu, through the program "Baby's Cooking", has made the whole world aware of the human trafficking that occurs in Guishan, and your local reputation has been affected.
If the Guishan government is willing to cooperate with us, it will not only open up another avenue for profit, but also enhance your credibility with the people. By showing your stance, the public will at least understand that your government is committed to combating human trafficking, and is not in league with the traffickers.
Xue Qi's proposal was the best public relations plan the county magistrate had ever received.
You have to know that Xue Qi’s team’s sales level is in the tens of millions, with two years of free advertising. Which poor county can resist such temptation?
But the county magistrate has another concern.
Now the villagers are still sitting at the door of the hotel where the program crew is staying. Once the program crew and Xue Qi and others come out, they will be stopped.
Originally, people in the hotel could sneak out through the back door, but now the villagers have completely blocked the back door and no one can enter or exit freely.
This incident also gave the county magistrate a headache. If they were to suppress the situation by force, these unruly people might risk their lives to fight against the armed police.
Once someone dies, it's hard to say what will happen.
In addition, there are so many "reporters" at the scene doing live broadcasts. If something really happens and public opinion spreads, it will be even more unfavorable to Guishan.
So in the past few days, the county magistrate has been thinking of a solution that would have the best of both worlds.
The county magistrate did not rush to agree to Xue Qi's request, but instead put forward a condition:
"Right now, not only are there villagers guarding the entrance to your hotel, but there are also some so-called journalists. Any live broadcast from them could damage Guishan's reputation. If we are determined to fight human trafficking, we must first deal with those troublemakers.
However, by then, our government's measures will be relatively strong, and those reporters will inevitably have a lot of smear campaigns. I guarantee, as the county magistrate, that Guishan will crack down on the trafficking of women and protect any young woman who visits. Trafficking will never happen again. I hope that by then, I can leverage Ms. Xue's influence to help clear Guishan's name and let netizens around the world know our resolve to combat trafficking."
Xue Qi nodded and agreed: "Okay. No problem."
-
The police went to the mountain village to collect evidence. Based on the evidence at the scene and the video provided by Xue Qi, the murderer who hurt Yuan Meng was indeed not Ajiao, but someone else.
Yuan Meng's legs were crushed by the tremendous weight, but Ajiao had no strength left, and with the confessions of several children, she was completely cleared of suspicion.
Thanks to the government's efforts, Ajiao and Fei Yu's families were quickly found and rushed to reunite with the two girls.
Both Ajiao and Fei Yu gave birth to children against their will, and the children were successfully registered.
The county magistrate seriously held those responsible accountable and dealt with them.
Soon, the armed police acted decisively and arrested all the people who led the villagers to the hotel to cause trouble and brought them back to the police station.
When the other villagers realized that the police were serious about this, they immediately became timid and returned to the village.
On the second night after the villagers returned to the mountain village, a strange phenomenon occurred in the sky and a sudden wildfire swept through the entire village.
What’s even more bizarre is that the fire didn’t burn too many trees. After the village burned down, it was extinguished by a heavy rain.
When the forest rescue team arrived, the wildfire in the village had been extinguished, but the casualties in the village were difficult to estimate.
-
When a wildfire broke out in the village, Yuan Meng, who had been in a coma for several days, was out of danger and was awakened by the sound of her parents arguing.
In the independent ward, anti-inflammatory liquid was flowing into her body little by little through the plastic tube.
She felt dry mouth and a lack of strength, and she couldn't feel her lower body at all. She thought it was because she had been unconscious for too long and didn't realize that her legs were gone.
She looked up at her parents beside the bed. Although they had been very restrained, they still roared in anger during the argument:
"It was you who insisted on asking them for money and resources. Now, our image and that of our daughter has been completely ruined in the eyes of netizens. Our career is ruined, and so is our daughter!"
Yuan Ting was smoking. He was already very annoyed, and when he heard his wife's complaints, he became even more angry.
He suppressed the rage in his heart, clenched his fists, glared at her fiercely, and scolded: "Shut up."
But Zhang Yu was so emotional that she seemed out of control and didn't listen to anything he said.
She was like a madman, hysterically saying, "Yuan Ting, I've had enough of you. I want to divorce you! Neither of us can live like this anymore. We can't go on like this! My daughter is yours, and the house is yours too! I don't want anything anymore! Take your daughter and leave me! Leave my life forever!"
Anger welled up in Yuan Ting's throat: "Say that again?"
Zhang Yu: "I want to divorce you! Take that legless daughter and get out of my life!"
Hearing this, Yuan Meng's heart skipped a beat.
She couldn't feel her legs, so she squeezed them with her hands, but from her waist down it was all... empty!
Yuan Meng: “!!”
Finally I remembered the scene that night.
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