Chapter 68: Sunshine and Glory
Su Jinbao climbed up to the window and jumped straight out.
Though the drop was taller than a person, the ground was overgrown with wild grass, so he wasn’t hurt.
Afraid the people outside would hear the noise, he took off running at full speed.
His cousin had told him: if something like this happens, find the uncles at the local station!
So little Su Jinbao ran all the way to the nearest police station.
He puffed up his small chest and saluted: “Reporting in! I discovered human traffickers!”
Cao Hongmei, who was at the station crying while reporting him missing, froze for a moment—then rushed over and grabbed him in a hug.
“Jinbao! Where did you go?! Mama was worried sick!”
The officers at the station were alert. One immediately asked, “Little one, what did you just say? Human traffickers?”
“Yes! They captured several kids, but I’m smart and managed to escape.”
Su Jinbao was bursting with pride—he was clearly the cleverest kid in the entire county!
After a brief round of questioning, the officers had Jinbao lead them to the courtyard where he’d been held.
Qian Huifang, being careful and thorough, used the station’s phone to call the county broadcast station to let them know the child had been found.
Though Su He had connections there, favors are precious—best not to use them unless necessary.
By the time Su He arrived at the station, the traffickers had already been brought in.
The unconscious children had been sent to the clinic for treatment.
Su Jinbao ran up to Su He with an eager, expectant look, hoping to be praised.
Su He ruffled his hair, then turned her gaze to the traffickers.
If they were ordinary criminals, they’d be cowering by now—but these men still had fierce, venomous looks in their eyes. The way they stared at Jinbao was practically dripping with poison.
Su He frowned. These people were different from someone like Lin Bo.
Lin Bo might have been all bark and no bite, but these guys—these were the desperate, dangerous kind. If they ever got out, they might take revenge on Jinbao and the whole Su family.
Once the traffickers were taken to the interrogation room, Su He found Director Zhou of the station.
She first thanked him as a victim’s family member, then took out her credentials as a special correspondent:
“This case involves the nation’s children, and it has severe social impact. Judging by those men, they’ve probably committed more crimes.
I believe under your interrogation, many facts will come to light.
So I’d like to write a report to thoroughly cover this case—not just to raise awareness on child safety, but also to highlight the excellent work of the police. Do you think that’s okay?”
Director Zhou waved it off: “No need to promote our station—we’re just doing our job for the people!”
Su He replied seriously, “I have to disagree with you on that. Serving the people is exactly why it should be promoted—so the people know to come to you first when they’re in trouble!”
Director Zhou laughed. “You’re quite the thoughtful young lady. Alright, go ahead as you said.”
When Su He left his office, she breathed a sigh of relief.
She believed her words would prompt the director to thoroughly dig up those traffickers’ criminal histories.
There was a 90% chance they were involved in a homicide. If that was confirmed, they’d never get the chance to retaliate against Jinbao or the Su family.
Back home, Su Jinbao proudly recounted the entire escape, then boasted, “Sis, no ordinary kid would think of piling the others up like that to reach the window—I’m just that smart!”
Su He looked serious. “Su Jinbao, do you realize you almost made a huge mistake?”
Jinbao blinked. “Huh?”
“Those kids were already unconscious, and you stacked them up. What if they’d suffocated?”
Jinbao looked confused. “What’s suffocate?”
Su He said, “Cover your mouth and nose at the same time and you’ll find out.”
He did just that, and in no time his face turned red. He quickly let go, looking like a deflated rooster.
“Sis, I… I didn’t know that could happen. They’re okay, right?”
Su He figured they were fine. If something had gone wrong, the officers would’ve said something.
Besides, Jinbao was small. Even stacking the kids probably wasn’t very orderly—their heads likely weren’t lined up perfectly, so they wouldn’t have been smothered.
Still, it was a good opportunity to teach him some safety awareness. No need to let him get too cocky.
Once she felt he’d learned his lesson, she softened. “The other kids are fine, but from now on, you have to think more carefully, understand?”
Jinbao nodded dejectedly.
Cao Hongmei thought Su He was exaggerating a bit. It wasn’t that easy for someone to suffocate! But she didn’t dare argue.
After all, if it weren’t for Su He, Jinbao wouldn’t have been so alert and clever—he might’ve been taken away by traffickers.
The more she thought about it, the more she hated Shen Ruyi.
It was clear the traffickers had been instructed by someone. Usually, they targeted much younger children. Rarely would they go for a kid Jinbao’s age.
Once Jinbao was asleep, Cao Hongmei gritted her teeth and said, “Xiao He, this has to be connected to Shen Ruyi! We’re just going to take this lying down?”
Su He’s voice was calm. “Without strength, we can only endure.”
Though it was likely the traffickers would confess under interrogation, Shen Ruyi wasn’t stupid. She’d never give them direct orders herself, so there wouldn’t be any evidence against her.
But that didn’t mean Shen Ruyi would get off easy. Now that her middlemen were caught, they’d probably blackmail her—and she’d be living in constant fear.
Her reckoning would come eventually.
Su He also suspected that Song Xian had intentionally swapped her with Shen Ruyi all those years ago. If that turned out to be true, then neither of them would escape justice.
In fact, after building a good relationship with Director Luo, she’d thought about checking her medical records at the clinic—but she held off.
Right now, she didn’t have the power to go head-to-head with the Shen family. It would only alert them.
Her strategy remained: develop quietly, don’t draw attention.
No need to explain that to Cao Hongmei.
“Second Aunt, from now on, try to pick up Jinbao after school, or make sure he walks home with classmates.”
Even if Shen Ruyi didn’t try the same trick again, better safe than sorry.
Cao Hongmei agreed, then began cursing Shen Ruyi non-stop: “Ungrateful snake, heart as venomous as a viper, may she die a terrible death…”
Su He drifted off to sleep to the sound of her aunt’s curses.
*
The next morning, they were woken by knocking at the door.
Cao Hongmei opened it to find a group of people outside—men, women, old and young.
“Who are you looking for?”
A woman stepped forward, emotional: “You must be the mother of little hero Su Jinbao? I’m Ji Xiaoming’s mom. If it weren’t for him, my son…”
Her voice choked with sobs. “We came especially to thank Su Jinbao. And to thank you for raising such an excellent child!”
Cao Hongmei, whose mood had been gloomy, instantly lit up.
And not just a little—it was like the sun had come out after weeks of rain.
