Chapter 24 Anti-Trafficking Squad: Gangs Always Have a Meeting Point
Xie Jiayan stared blankly at Jiang Ling, wanting to retort, but because her jaw was dislocated, her mouth was wide open, and saliva was dripping down the corner of her mouth.
Shen Sanzhuang felt a sharp pain in his heart from Jiang Ling's icy gaze. His round face turned red with anger, and his eyes bulged as if they were about to burst: "You, you filthy bitch..."
Jiang Ling glanced at him sideways.
A torrent of foul language was stuck in Shen Sanzhuang's throat. He spat a mouthful of phlegm on the ground, as if that would release all his resentment.
Jiang Lingchong stretched out her hands to Xiao Wei: "Yao Yao, come here, let Auntie hug you."
It was as if a spring breeze had melted the ice, causing the willows by the lake to sprout new buds and turn lush and green. Jiang Ling, who had been radiating coldness just moments before, now became warm and gentle in her presence towards Xiao Wei.
Meeting Jiang Ling's gaze, Xiao Wei's eyes lit up with anticipation: "Auntie, are you really my auntie?"
Jiang Ling nodded firmly, her eyes resolute: "Yes!"
Xiao Wei stared blankly at her.
Tears welled in her eyes, her lips trembled, and her whole body shook. After a long pause, she finally cried out, "Auntie—"
Xiao Wei's voice was shrill; all her grievances were poured into this one cry.
Jiang Ling reached out and pulled her into his arms.
Xiao Wei's tears fell onto Jiang Ling's shoulder, but Jiang Ling didn't care at all. She gently patted her back and softly comforted her, "It's okay, it's okay, Auntie will take you home."
Xiao Wei cried so hard she hiccuped, and while crying, she stretched out her hands and hugged Jiang Ling's neck tightly, as if she was afraid that if she let go, Jiang Ling would abandon her.
The police car arrived, and the anti-trafficking team, which had received Li Zhenliang's call, rushed over.
After Li Zhenliang explained the situation, the lead detective immediately grabbed Xie Jiayan and Shen Sanzhuang by the shoulders and said sternly, "Come on! Come with us to the station to explain things."
And so, the criminal police escorted Shen Sanzhuang and Xie Jiayan, while Jiang Ling carried Xiao Wei, and together with Shen Xiaoyong and Shen Xiaomei, they went to the Criminal Investigation Detachment of Yan City Public Security Bureau.
Xie Jiayan had been to the police station before, but this time, when she was taken to the Public Security Bureau and saw a sign on the porch pillar that read "Yancheng City Criminal Investigation Detachment," she immediately chickened out.
The police officers at the local police station mainly handle civil disputes. To avoid further escalation of conflicts, they are very friendly and generally prioritize harmony, trying to coordinate as much as possible. After seeing the household registration book and hospital records, along with the children's testimonies, they usually choose to believe Xie Jiayan and do not regard them as child traffickers.
But what is the Criminal Investigation Division? It's where criminal cases are handled, and every detective there has sharp eyes; they dare to confront even the most vicious murderers head-on. What if you went to the police station today, and the officers started meticulously verifying the authenticity of your household registration and medical records?
Thinking of this, Xie Jiayan's mouth watered even more, but she couldn't speak. In her anxiety, she could only keep making "ah, ah" sounds, occasionally giving Shen Xiaomei meaningful glances. This girl was usually very obedient. When her younger siblings misbehaved, she would take the initiative to discipline them. As long as she could prove to the police that she was their mother, she wasn't afraid.
But this time, Shen Xiaomei did nothing.
Shen Xiaomei is different from Xiaowei and Xiaoyong; she was sold by her parents.
Born into a farming family, she was born with deformed hands and was shunned by her family. From a young age, she learned to read people's expressions and mannerisms. She worked tirelessly, never daring to make any demands, yet she was still sold to human traffickers at the age of six.
After coming to Xie Jiayan's side, Shen Xiaomei quickly adapted to the life of begging every day. Abandoned by her family and with nowhere else to go, she just lived numbly.
Shen Xiaomei had witnessed Shen Sanzhuang swiftly chop off the hands or feet of several disobedient boys, seen Xie Jiayan twisting children's ears while beating and cursing them, and heard countless pale and powerless words of sympathy from passersby. Her heart gradually grew cold. Even if she was rescued by the police, what difference would it make? Returning her to her biological parents would only make her life more miserable.
Therefore, Shen Xiaomei always tried to please Xie Jiayan, strictly disciplined her younger siblings who had survived, and covered for Shen Sanzhuang and the others when questioned by the police.
But today, Shen Xiaomei suddenly didn't want to speak up for Xie Jiayan anymore.
Xiao Wei's aunt came; she looked very capable.
She dared to hit Xie Jiayan, she dared to yell at Shen Sanzhuang, she said that kidnappers should all die, she firmly protected Xiaowei, and the way she coaxed Xiaowei with her eyes lowered and her face gentle was like Guanyin Bodhisattva in a temple.
It turns out that there are still people who care about children like them.
Shen Xiaomei's silence gave Xie Jiayan a bad feeling, as if everything had deviated from its original course.
Xie Jiayan looked at Shen Sanzhuang, who was still cursing and swearing, and wanted to warn him to behave himself, not to make a scene, and to try to appeal to the police's emotions. She also wanted to tell this simple-minded, muscle-bound fool that if Xiaowei's aunt insisted on getting the child back, then she should tell the police that Xiaowei was adopted by them while they were begging.
However, Jiang Ling dislocated her jaw, rendering Xie Jiayan speechless. She could only frantically try to signal Shen Sanzhuang with her eyes. Unfortunately, even as she blinked until her eyes were almost cramping, Shen Sanzhuang continued shouting incoherently, "You damn girl, is your mouth rotten and you can't speak? Quickly tell the police to release us, or I'll beat you to death!"
Xie Jiayan and Shen Sanzhuang were taken to the interrogation room, while Jiang Ling and Li Zhenliang led the three children into the anti-trafficking team's office.
The office faces south, and sunlight streams through the window panes, illuminating the desk against the wall.
The bluish-gray cement floor was spotless, the white walls were yellowed from age, and the green wainscoting bore many scratches from the furniture. The light yellow pine conference table and chairs added to the simple and unpretentious feel of the place.
Several potted green ivy plants cascaded down from the top of the filing cabinet, adding a touch of femininity to this otherwise masculine room.
Returning to this familiar place, Jiang Ling was filled with endless emotions.
The Yancheng City Public Security Bureau office building was built in the 1970s and is now twenty years old. Due to budget constraints, it has never been renovated, and the desks and chairs are all old ones, making working conditions difficult. But even in such harsh conditions, dozens of criminal investigators from the Criminal Investigation Detachment have been working tirelessly on the front lines, solving countless major cases.
"Please sit down." Yuan Yi, the captain of the anti-trafficking team, dragged a few chairs over from the conference table and poured a few cups of hot water, placing them in front of them.
Jiang Ling gently patted Xiao Wei and put her on the ground.
Xiao Wei slowly loosened her arms from tightly hugging Jiang Ling's neck, but the unfamiliar environment still made her uneasy, and she clung desperately to Jiang Ling's clothes, refusing to let go.
From the moment Shen Xiaomei entered the office, she stayed by Jiang Ling's side without leaving for a moment. Faced with Yuan Yi's goodwill, she didn't say a word, neither sitting down nor drinking water, but just stood silently to the side.
Unable to walk after having his legs cut off, Shen Xiaoyong sat on his small cart, braced himself with his hands on the ground, and the cart quickly slid to Xiaowei's side.
The three children, with Jiang Ling at the center, watched Yuan Yi's every move warily.
Seeing that none of them were willing to sit, Yuan Yi had no choice but to give up and turn his attention to Jiang Ling and Li Zhenliang: "Tell me, what exactly happened today?"
Jiang Ling stopped and saluted: "Jiang Ling, police officer from the case team of Jinwu Road Police Station."
Seeing how formal she was, Li Zhenliang had no choice but to stand still and salute: "I'm also from Jinwu Road Police Station. My name is Li Zhenliang."
Yuan Yi, who also came from the grassroots, treated them both very well, nodding with a smile: "Alright, alright, we're all on the same side, no need to be so polite. Jinwu Road Police Station has become quite famous lately. At the last bureau meeting, Director Zhong specifically mentioned Jiang Ling's name, praising you for not only having strong investigative abilities but also volunteering to create promotional brochures, so that we can learn from you. I heard you did the psychological assessment files for the technical team? Young and promising, very promising indeed."
Jiang Ling didn't pay attention to the other person's praise. She took out documents from her bag and explained, "Today I arranged to deliver materials to Captain Ying of the Technical Brigade. I happened to pass by the train station and ran into these two human traffickers, so I called the police. I was afraid they would become suspicious and take the child away, so I took action."
Yuan Yi didn't take the stack of documents; instead, he picked up the phone and called the technical team.
"Matsumaro, the documents you requested are here with me. I'll send them over to you later."
"Yes, Jiang Ling is here too."
"Oh, okay."
After hanging up the phone, Yuan Yi looked at Jiang Ling with a smile.
Ying Songmao, who is usually very taciturn, was quite talkative today and even offered to come over. It seems that he cares a lot about Jiang Ling.
Upon closer inspection, Jiang Ling has a small, oval face, short hair, and one side of her bangs is held back with a pearl hair clip. Her almond-shaped eyes are bright, and her eyelashes are long and thick. She must be very cute when she smiles. However, at this moment, she has a cold expression, sharp eyes, and a calm demeanor, making her seem unapproachable.
This girl has a refined appearance, but she is actually strong-willed despite her gentle exterior. Yuan Yi found her quite interesting: "Songmao said he'll be here soon."
Before he could finish speaking, a round-faced detective came over to ask the captain for instructions on the next step. Yuan Yi said, "Separate those two, find a doctor to heal the woman's chin, and ask them for their personal information. I'll find out about the three children first, and then we'll compare the information from both sides."
The round-faced detective replied, "Yes!" and hurriedly left.
What Yuan Yi was most interested in now was how Jiang Ling knew Xiao Wei—oh, no, she said her name was Xu Qingyao. He pointed at Xiao Wei and asked, "Are you her aunt?"
Jiang Ling looked at Xiao Wei, who was tightly clutching her clothes, reached out and took Xiao Wei's trembling little hand, shook her head slightly at Yuan Yi, and a trace of pity flashed in her eyes: "Yes, I am Yao Yao's aunt."
Yuan Yi understood Jiang Ling's gaze, walked out of the office and called over a policewoman, asking her to take the three children to the cafeteria for something to eat.
The children were emaciated, pale, and emaciated, clearly suffering from long-term malnutrition. Yuan Yi handed the meal card to the policewoman and specifically instructed, "Don't give them too much meat, or their stomachs won't be able to handle it."
After the three children left, Jiang Ling said softly, "When I was studying at the police academy, I saw the missing person notice that Xu Qingyao's parents had posted on the telephone poles near the school. As soon as I saw Xiao Wei begging from me, I recognized her."
"The missing person notice clearly states that Xu Qingyao, nicknamed Yaoyao, went missing in June 1990, when she had just turned three. When she went missing, she was wearing a white dress with red flowers, white plastic slippers, and had two small braids with two red silk flowers tied at the ends. The missing person notice has her photo; she has a round face, big eyes, and rosy lips. In addition, she has a red birthmark on the web of her left hand, shaped like a heart."
Yuan Yi asked, "Three years have passed, and the child has grown up a lot. Can you recognize him at a glance?"
Children grow rapidly before the age of six, changing every year. Moreover, with her face injured, her hair tangled and dirty, and her body thin and frail, even her parents might not recognize her at a glance. How could Jiang Ling be so certain?
Jiang Ling responded fluently: "When Xiao Wei came to me asking for money, she held out her hand in front of me, and I noticed a scar on the web of her hand. I immediately thought of that missing person notice. I've heard that human traffickers remove all birthmarks from abducted children, and this scar might have been left to cover it up. Xiao Wei's current appearance is indeed very different from the photo, but I have a very deep impression of those big eyes. Even after three years, I recognized her at a glance."
Hearing this, Yuan Yi gave Jiang Ling a thumbs up: "You have a good memory. You still remember the missing person notice you saw three years ago."
Jiang Ling shook her head: "It wasn't three years ago. Xu Qingyao's parents never forgot to search for her during those three years. They posted missing person notices all over the streets and alleys of the provincial capital. From my sophomore year to graduation, I could see them on telephone poles, walls, and stairwells whenever I went out, so I remember them very well."
Parents' love for their children runs deep. Three years have passed since Xu Qingyao went missing, and her parents have relentlessly searched for her. However, since the child went missing in the provincial capital, the police reports and search efforts are handled by the provincial police, and Yuan Yi was unaware of this. Thinking of this, Yuan Yi asked, "Do you remember the contact number on the missing person poster?"
Jiang Ling nodded and gave Yuan Yi her contact information. Yuan Yi immediately picked up the phone and made contact.
There was a lively sound on the other end of the phone, apparently from a shop. Upon hearing that the Yancheng City Public Security Bureau had news about Xu Qingyao, the person who answered the phone excitedly shouted, "Quick, quick, go tell Old Xu that there's news about his girl!" After saying this, he said to Yuan Yi, "Officer, please wait a moment, Old Xu will be here soon."
A few minutes later, a trembling voice came from the other end of the phone: "Hello..." As soon as he finished speaking, his voice became choked up and he couldn't speak for a long time.
Yuan Yi briefly explained the situation and, after verifying the child's information with the other party, asked, "When can you come over to identify this child? Her name is now Shen Xiaowei. She has big eyes and a scar on the web of her left hand. She might be your child."
After searching for three years, they finally received news from the police. The other party didn't care whether the name matched or not. Overjoyed, he immediately replied, "Okay, okay, we'll buy tickets right away and take the earliest train to Yancheng. Please wait for us, please wait for us!"
Yuan Yi could hear the joy and trepidation in Xu Qingyao's father Xu Weida's voice. After three years of the child being lost, there was finally definite news, so it was no wonder he was so excited. He only hoped that Jiang Ling hadn't mistaken the child for someone else, and that Xu Weida's wish would come true this time.
After hanging up the phone, Yuan Yi said to Jiang Ling, "Once Xu Weida arrives, Xiao Wei's identity will be confirmed. But... how can you be so sure that Xiao Wei was abducted?"
Jiang Ling's actions were truly astonishing. After recognizing Xiao Wei, she knocked Xie Jiayan unconscious without saying a word when Xie Jiayan provoked her. When Xiao Wei woke up, she immediately dislocated Xie Jiayan's jaw. She didn't seem like a newcomer who had only been with the company for half a year at all.
On the way to the Criminal Investigation Brigade, Jiang Ling had already prepared his explanation: "First, it's not normal for Xiao Wei to beg in the square without any adults with her."
"Secondly, when I approached her and said that I was her aunt and had been looking for her, Xiaowei did not have any wariness of strangers. She quickly believed me and showed her attachment to me, which shows that she had been separated from her relatives and desperately longed for family affection."
"Third, Xiao Wei's clothes were tattered, her hair was matted, and she was as thin as a rake. When Xie Jiayan rushed over to snatch it, Xiao Wei's first reaction was not to happily greet her, but her body became extremely stiff. This shows that Xiao Wei had been abused for a long time."
Because Xu Qingyao's identity has not yet been confirmed, Jiang Ling still refers to her as "Xiao Wei" when she mentions her.
Yuan Yi nodded, clearly agreeing with Jiang Ling's analysis.
A cold glint flashed in Jiang Ling's eyes: "Faced with my questioning, Xie Jiayan reacted extremely violently, hitting and cursing, repeatedly claiming that the child was hers, and even taking out a prepared household registration book to try to guide public opinion. Her reaction is not like that of an ordinary adoptive parent, but rather like that of an experienced, thief-crying-stop-thief human trafficker."
Yuan Yi felt like he was discussing a case with a colleague, so he naturally raised an objection: "What if the other party adopted Xiao Wei, registered her in the household, and then the whole family begged for a living?"
Jiang Ling's eyes were icy: "A family? All three children in one family are disabled. Don't you think that's too strange? Shen Xiaoyong's legs were cut off by a sharp weapon, Shen Xiaomei's right hand was born disabled, but her left ear is missing and the scar is still there; Xiaowei's burns on her cheeks are even stranger. If it was a burn caused by carelessness, it would usually be on one side of the face; if it was caused by a fire, in addition to the sides of the cheeks, there should also be scars on the forehead, nose, and neck. The symmetrical burns on both sides of her cheeks are obviously done intentionally."
Yuan Yi's fists tightened slightly: "Do you think Xie Jiayan and Shen Sanzhuang deliberately maimed the child so they could beg for money?"
Jiang Ling said with certainty, "Yes! They are clearly repeat offenders. The two of them claim to be husband and wife, have three children, and are registered in the household. They are adept at exploiting people's sympathy. They have a strong control over the children. I suspect they are accomplices, operating in different areas, moving from place to place after each crime. In other densely populated areas of Yancheng, there must be other disabled children similarly controlled by traffickers begging. I hope the police can act quickly and apprehend them all, rescuing those suffering children as soon as possible."
Yuan Yi remained silent for a moment.
If Jiang Ling's judgment is accurate, then this is a major case that requires a significant deployment of personnel. Recently, half of the anti-trafficking team members have been deployed for fieldwork, leaving few at the municipal bureau.
Thinking of the other children harmed by Yaozi's accomplices, Jiang Ling urged him anxiously, "Group crimes must have a meeting point. If Xie Jiayan and the others don't return tonight, they will definitely become alert and escape. Captain Yuan, please hurry up and take action to catch all those human traffickers in one fell swoop."
In the nearly two years since its establishment, the anti-trafficking team has rescued hundreds of women and children. Yuan Yi certainly knows the importance of speed in warfare.
Seeing Jiang Ling's anxious eyes, Yuan Yi nodded emphatically: "Don't worry! There's no need to wait for Xie Jiayan's confession. Just go directly to the branch captain and ask for her."
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