Doudou and Dingding were kind and helpful children. "Auntie, let us help you," they offered.
The woman's eyes lit up upon seeing the two children. "What beautiful children! Thank you, you are so sensible. Where are your parents?"
Doudou helped rinse water, looking serious and careful, which made her likable.
Dingding replied, "Dad and Mom are resting. We came out to play for a bit."
"Oh, where are you going?"
Before Dingding could answer, Xie Sui found them. "Doudou, Dingding, where did you go? You can't just wander off, be careful of kidnappers."
The woman's eyes flickered slightly, and she looked at the children with a guilty conscience.
"Dad, we're here, helping Auntie take care of the baby."
"What baby?"
Xie Sui went over and saw a baby of about six or seven months old in the swaddling clothes, crying with a red face, too weak to continue. He felt a pang of sympathy. "Big sister, are you traveling alone with the baby? She's so young, it must be hard."
"We're going to visit relatives. The baby's father is with us. Your children are so sensible."
"Let me hold her. Is the milk powder ready?"
"Yes, Dad, here you go."
The baby eagerly drank the milk powder, almost unable to breathe. Xie Sui chuckled. "See? This is what they call using all their might to drink milk. If they don't have enough strength, they'll go hungry. How long has she been hungry? It's truly suffering. Big sister, don't you have milk? Why don't you feed the baby yourself? Milk powder is so expensive..."
As Xie Sui chattered on, the woman gradually relaxed and started chatting with him. The baby finished her milk and then wet herself. Xie Sui invited her to their berth to change the baby's diaper and clean her bottom, to take a break.
The hard-seat carriage was crowded, and the woman was also tired, so it was a good opportunity to rest.
Lin Wanwan was surprised. Had two more people joined them in the short time she was out?
Upon seeing the baby, her maternal instincts kicked in, and she helped tidy up. Having raised two children herself, she was very meticulous. When she opened the swaddling clothes, she realized it was a girl.
The baby snuggled into Lin Wanwan's arms and fell asleep.
"She's so well-behaved. Big sister, if you don't mind, could we let her sleep here for a while?"
The woman quickly replied, "How could I mind? I'd be delighted. Your whole family are kind people. It's my good luck to have met you."
Xie Sui even gave up his own seat for her to rest. They had bought three berths; Doudou and Dingding shared one, and the other two had one each. The woman was also extremely tired and fell asleep against the bedding.
Xie Sui seemed to dote on the baby, holding and coaxing her, reluctant to let go.
Lin Wanwan was speechless. "You barely held your own son, and now you're so fond of someone else's child."
Xie Sui replied, "I didn't understand back then. You know the saying, a man's maturity isn't determined by his age. Some men are boys until they die, living confused lives. Others open up early, understanding a man's responsibilities and burdens. I understood too late, making you suffer. If you have another child now, I promise to be a good dad, and you won't have to worry about anything except giving birth."
"Who wants to have another child? Aren't you satisfied with two sons?"
Xie Sui said, "I think having a daughter would be even better. She'd be a sweet little cotton jacket."
Doudou chimed in, "Mom, we want a sister. I'll make milk powder for her."
Dingding added, "I'll play with sister and tell her stories."
Xie Sui grinned. "The whole family is unanimous. We want you to have a daughter. Let's go, Comrade Lin Wanwan."
The woman woke up, looking at their happy and joyful family, and for the first time, felt a flicker of envy.
She yawned and stretched, opening her eyes. "Thank you. My surname is Li. You can call me Sister Li. Please give me the baby."
"It's fine. She was sleeping so well. Sister Li, please rest. We're happy to entertain the baby."
Xie Sui didn't let go, clearly fond of the little girl.
Sister Li didn't think much of it and started chatting with them. Soon, she had revealed her entire situation. Afterwards, she regretted it, thinking this man was unusual. She was usually the one who extracted information from others, not the other way around.
Later, Sister Li went out for a moment to brief her man, and then returned quickly.
Xie Sui was very generous and treated her to meals. They spent the night in their berths, squeezing in with the baby.
After a night passed, they would reach Shenzhen in the afternoon. Under Xie Sui's care, the baby had eaten well and slept soundly, her little face looking much rosier.
Sister Li shamelessly took advantage of their hospitality, but Lin Wanwan didn't mind. Everyone faced hardships when traveling.
As they were about to disembark, Sister Li also alighted at this station. Xie Sui carried the baby, and she carried the luggage. Anyone seeing them would have thought the baby was Xie Sui's.
The train finally stopped, and people rushed out in a swarm. Xie Sui carried Doudou on his shoulders, Lin Wanwan held one child, and Sister Li carried the luggage, which wasn't much. They struggled to get out of the platform.
Xie Sui walked directly to a railway police officer on the platform and said, "Comrade, I want to report a crime. We've caught a human trafficker. Please detain her."
The railway police officer thought he had misheard. Human trafficker?
"It's that woman. This is the child, she tricked me into taking her. I'm 100% sure she's a human trafficker. Please arrest her quickly, don't let her escape!" – Su Dan Xiaoshuo Wang
Better safe than sorry. The railway police officer called for his colleagues, and they waited for Sister Li and her man to meet them before arresting them.
"Why are you arresting us?"
The group arrived at the waiting hall of the train station. The two looked defiant and protested loudly.
Sister Li was even more furious, beating her chest. "What do you people mean? You said you felt sorry for us and offered to help take care of the baby, and all along you were waiting for me!"
A sinister look flashed across her honest face, scaring Doudou and Dingding into hiding behind Xie Sui.
Lin Wanwan also looked puzzled. "What's going on?"
Xie Sui asked Lin Wanwan, "How much does a can of milk powder cost? Would women in our village afford to buy milk powder for their babies?"
Lin Wanwan suddenly realized. "Good milk powder costs over ten yuan a can. People in the village can't afford it. If they don't have milk, they make millet or white flour porridge, or borrow milk from others. They can't afford milk powder..."
Sister Li explained, "I couldn't afford it either, but it's convenient when traveling. You can't accuse us just for that."
Xie Sui continued, "This child doesn't look like she was raised on white flour porridge. Babies who don't get milk are usually sallow and thin, like kittens. She's not this fair and plump. You say she's your child, then tell me, what distinguishing features does the child have?"
Sister Li panicked. "Who remembers that? As long as she's all there, what other features do you need?"
Lin Wanwan's expression also changed. A mother cherishes her child. Every child has a birthmark or some unusual feature. How could she not know any distinguishing features after changing and washing the baby's diapers every day?
They really were human traffickers. Lin Wanwan looked at Xie Sui with admiration.