The older woman grabbed the child on the back of the younger woman next to her.
The two plainclothes police officers in the car behind slowly approached.
"If you come any closer, I'll strangle her!" the old woman continued to threaten.
Her expression twisted as she warily glanced at the security guard opposite her. She lost control of her grip, and the child suddenly woke up and burst into tears.
"Smack!"
An undercover police officer approached and, taking advantage of her momentary lapse in attention, forcefully slapped her hand from behind, then subdued her.
The young woman next to her, carrying a child on her back, was completely stunned, her legs trembling.
The child's cries mingled with the old woman's shouts.
The scene was chaotic; passengers who hadn't yet left the platform stopped in their tracks, and discussions ensued.
"That old woman was calling that girl 'daughter-in-law' just now, I never imagined she was a human trafficker!"
"How outrageous! They dared to forcibly take these two girls away in broad daylight..."
"Those two children must have been kidnapped too. They were listless; they were probably drugged."
"..."
The crowd dispersed only after Lu Qiuying and Lin Ziyan went with the police officer in the car to give their statements.
The two finally breathed a sigh of relief as they left the train station office.
Lu Qiuying knew that the two aunts were suspicious, but she didn't expect them to be so bold as to take action right there on the platform.
She had never seen such an arrogant human trafficker before, and she was stunned for a long time before she came to her senses.
"Ayan, when did you realize they were acting strangely?" Lu Qiuying asked suspiciously.
Lin Ziyan rubbed her eyes and said with a wry smile, "The first night."
"So I haven't slept well for several days."
Actually, she realized something was wrong thanks to the fruit candy that Jiaojiao gave her before she left.
Lin Ziyan saw that the two children were about the same age as Jiaojiao, and thought of giving them some fruit candy.
But the two children didn't wake up all day.
She used to see videos on the news, where girls would be wary of strangers when they went out, but she never expected to actually encounter one herself.
“No wonder, several times I woke up in the middle of the night and noticed that you seemed to be not asleep, and you were sleeping all day, but you were always in a daze,” Lu Qiuying said suddenly.
…
The two arrived at the Huazhou International Hotel.
As soon as Lin Ziyan presented her letter of introduction and relevant documents, the hotel manager rushed to the counter to handle the transaction.
"Hello Ms. Lin, I am the room manager of Huazhou Hotel. This is our hotel's membership card. If you have any questions during your stay, please feel free to contact me."
"Thank you." Lin Ziyan accepted her business card and membership card, nodding her thanks.
All she wants right now is to get back to her room and take a shower...
"Autumn Shadow?"
Just as Lin Ziyan was about to say goodbye to Lu Qiuying, an old lady walked out of the restaurant next door.
Several elderly people followed behind her, seemingly having just finished their meal.
"Grandma!" Lu Qiuying put down her luggage, hurried over, and gently put her arm around the old woman's thin shoulder.
Lin Ziyan, "..."
Her drowsiness vanished, her heart raced, and she suddenly felt a little nervous.
Did you accidentally meet my parents?
Lin Ziyan wanted to facepalm, but she tried her best to restrain herself.
"Hello, Grandma Lu." She greeted her politely but firmly.
"Grandma, this is Lin Ziyan, my brother..." Lu Qiuying suddenly stopped and didn't continue.
Grandma Lu looked at him gently and said with a smile, "Comrade Lin, come visit us at home sometime."
Her friend next to her looked at her in surprise.
The Lu family rarely invites guests, and this girl in front of them, apart from being pretty, has nothing particularly special about her…
"Thank you, Grandma Lu." After saying goodbye to them, Lin Ziyan picked up her bag and left.
Grandma Lu watched her retreating figure, a glint of light flashing in her eyes.
My first impression was good.
She guessed it when her granddaughter let it slip: this girl is probably her grandson's girlfriend.
"Old Lu, we're leaving now. See you later," her old friends said goodbye.
Grandma Lu smiled and nodded, then politely said a few words.
Lu Qiuying thought to herself, "I almost let it slip."
Several of Grandma's friends wanted to introduce their granddaughters to her brother.
If she had said it out loud, rumors about Ziyan would have been circulating in the compound tomorrow.
"We'll talk about it when we get home," Grandma Lu said calmly, patting her granddaughter's hand.
Lu Qiuying pursed her lips, got into the car with her grandmother, and left the Huazhou Hotel.
…
The next morning,
After Lin Ziyan woke up, she felt a pang of hunger.
She slept all afternoon and night, and didn't eat anything except for lunch.
The doorbell rang.
Lin Ziyan put on her clothes and ran to open the door.
"Ms. Lin, if you don't open the door soon, we'll have to use the spare card." The manager breathed a sigh of relief when he saw her.
"Manager Teng, I'm sorry to trouble you. I just woke up," Lin Ziyan said with a slightly embarrassed smile.
She needs to sleep well to have an appetite, and right now her stomach is rumbling.
"I'm glad you're alright. Would you like your meal delivered to your room?" Manager Teng asked.
Lin Ziyan said, "Thank you."
After she finished washing up, her meal was delivered.
Lin Ziyan raised an eyebrow slightly, surprised that the hotel's service was so thoughtful, even preparing breakfast from Fushi.
She quickly finished her breakfast, dressed simply, and went out with her cloth bag.
The Beijing Lianchao supermarket is near this hotel, about a five-minute walk away.
Lin Ziyan took a map from the hotel reception and walked there alone.
Snowflakes drifted down, leaving the treetops bare and looking somewhat desolate.
Lin Ziyan was wearing a pink woolen scarf and a white woolen hat, covering herself up completely from head to toe, leaving only her bright and clear eyes visible.
She didn't walk quickly, but instead looked at the surrounding buildings and walked slowly.
The walls are made of blue bricks, and bare tree branches sprout out, like children sneaking out for some fresh air, mischievous yet restrained.
Most people on the road are riding bicycles; only a few cars drive by occasionally.
Almost all the shops on the street were closed, but the signs outside said they were open for business.
Lin Ziyan rubbed her hands together and gradually quickened her pace.
"It's so cold, my toes are going to cramp..." she muttered to herself, suddenly wanting to get back to Fuzhou as soon as possible.
Upon arriving at the entrance of Beijing Hualian, one sees a large signboard illuminated by lights.
Lin Ziyan raised her hand and glanced at her watch; it was just 8:30.
Several women wearing hats and carrying cloth bags walked into the Beijing Lianchao supermarket.
The thick plastic curtains prevented the heat from escaping.
Lin Ziyan lifted the curtain and walked in, and a warm feeling instantly enveloped her.
"Welcome to Beijing Chinese Supermarket..."
A sweet voice rang out, and a young girl standing at the door greeted each guest with a beaming smile.
Lin Ziyan nodded to her, took off her hat and scarf and draped them over her hands before walking inside.
Incandescent lights illuminated the entire store, and the dazzling array of goods were neatly arranged.
She walked towards the home appliance section and looked around slowly.
Television, rice cooker, washing machine, refrigerator, radio...
What brings you to Beijing?
Lin Ziyan looked at the person walking over, her eyes filled with doubt. How could she run into an acquaintance here so early?
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