Chapter 139: Human Trafficker?!

Jiang Nainai was rather open‑minded; she twirled her Buddhist Beads and said slowly, "Let the children go out and explore, see the world; that's a good thing."

"We old folks, our outlook can't keep up with the youngsters. Hui Juan, with us here, could we still let Jinjin and An'an go hungry? RuanRuan's milk is abundant; I've already expressed it early and stored it, enough to eat."

Jiang Jianguo pondered for a moment, looked at the vigor in his son's eyes, and finally nodded, "Going out to see the world is fine, but be careful, go quickly and return quickly. As for the factory side, I'll see if I can write you an introduction letter to make lodging easier."

With the family's support, the rest was easy to arrange.

Jiang Ran began contacting friends who had some connections in Guangzhou, gathering information and planning the route.

Su Ruan seized the time to refine the design Sketches the shop might need in the coming period, and handed them to Wang Shifu and Douzi.

At the same time, she began poring over every newspaper and magazine she could find about Shanghai and Guangzhou's customs, commerce, and information, building a knowledge base.

What she was most reluctant to part with, naturally, were the two little ones.

Su Ruan cradled her daughter Nian An, kissing her repeatedly; the little one seemed to sense Mom was leaving on a long trip, clung extra tightly, babbling and gripping her collar.

Jiang Ran lifted his son Jinjin high; the little fellow still furrowed his tiny eyebrows, but his waving little hands showed his excitement.

"Good boy, pretty little lady, Mom and Dad are going to conquer the world for you! When we return, we'll bring you lots and lots of new toys and new clothes!"

Jiang Ran made that lofty promise to the two children.

The night before departure, the moonlight was still beautiful.

Su Ruan and Jiang Ran stood side by side in the courtyard, looking at the familiar eaves and the old locust tree.

"Nervous?" Jiang Ran asked.

"A little," Su Ruan admitted honestly, then smiled, "but mostly anticipation."

Jiang Ran clasped her hand, ten fingers interlocked, "No matter what's outside, we'll watch together, venture together."

"Mm, together."

A few days later, Jiang Ran and Su Ruan hoisted simple bundles and boarded the southbound train.

The green‑painted train blew a long whistle, carrying their dreams toward the legendary Guangzhou, a place of both opportunity and challenge.

The green train clattered along the rails, and outside the window flew early‑winter scenery—bleak fields, distant mountains hazy.

The carriage was packed with all sorts of people; the air was thick, smelling of tobacco, sweat, cheap food, and rust.

The hard‑sleeper carriage was a bit better, but still noisy.

Jiang Ran and Su Ruan bought two middle berths.

Jiang Ran deftly shoved the luggage under the berth, then checked that the small pouch carrying money and documents was securely tucked close.

Su Ruan used her own water cup to fetch hot water, then took out a clean towel and carefully wiped the small table and the berth's edge.

"The conditions are a bit harsh; endure it, and once we reach Guangzhou it'll be fine." Jiang Ran looked at her meticulous demeanor and whispered comfort.

Su Ruan shook her head and smiled, "What hardship is that?"

Compared with the turmoil of the previous life and the destitution right after Rebirth, being able to sit in a sleeper berth and travel far to broaden one's horizons was already a great fortune.

She felt more excitement for the unknown journey and a slight worry for the young child at home.

Soon after the train set off, a person arrived at the lower berth opposite them.

It was a woman who looked about thirty‑something, wearing a half‑new, half‑worn floral cotton jacket, hair neatly combed, complexion a bit sallow, eyes slightly tired and flickering.

She cradled in her arms a boy about two years old; the child was wrapped in a thick cotton jacket, his little face buried against the woman's chest, seemingly asleep, motionless.

The woman claimed her surname was Wang and said she was taking the child to Guangzhou to find her husband's job.

She spoke with a heavy out‑of‑town accent, at a rapid pace, and avoided eye contact, constantly patting the child in her arms, appearing burdened with worries.

Jiang Ran, out of politeness, nodded; Su Ruan also courteously greeted, but a strange feeling inexplicably rose in their hearts.

That child… slept too deeply; despite the noisy, rattling, jostling train, there was no sign of waking.

Moreover, the woman's patting of the child seemed less soothing than a subconscious, restless, mechanical repetition.

But being away from home, Su Ruan didn't want to make a fuss, assuming she was just overthinking.

After they settled, she and Jiang Ran took out the notebook and pencil they carried, huddling together to whisper about plans for Guangzhou—what places to survey, what to focus on.

The journey was long; by night, the carriage gradually quieted, leaving only the rhythmic clatter of rails and the rise and fall of snores.

Jiang Ran let Su Ruan sleep in the lower berth, while he slept in the middle berth above her, able to see her condition with a simple tilt of his head.

Originally their tickets were for middle berths, but Jiang Ran negotiated with a lone senior craftsman in the opposite lower berth to swap spots, to better look after Su Ruan.

Su Ruan felt warm inside, knowing he was worried about her. She indeed was a bit tired, and the train's steady sway gradually made her drowsy.

After an unknown amount of sleep, Su Ruan was startled awake by a suppressed sobbing sound.

The sound seemed to come from the opposite lower berth.

She groggily half‑opened her eyes, and by the faint light seeping through the carriage junction, saw the woman surnamed Wang opposite her, back turned to the aisle, shoulders slightly trembling, still clutching the child tightly in her arms.

Meanwhile, a man who had been sleeping in the woman's upper berth, dressed in a gray‑blue work uniform and looking plain, had at some point moved to the edge of the berth beside the woman, lowering his voice and speaking hurriedly.

"... Why are you crying! We'll be at the destination soon… Delivered the goods, got the money… You can just find another place to have a child, can't you? This sickly one, keeping them is just a burden…"

The man's voice was pressed down extremely low, carrying an impatient fierceness.

The woman seemed frightened; the sobbing stopped abruptly, but her shoulders shook even more violently.

Su Ruan's drowsiness vanished instantly, her heart leapt hard!

Delivery? Money? Sickly? Burden?

Putting those phrases together, and recalling the child's unusually deep sleep during the day, and the subtle, atypical interaction between the man and woman, a terrifying suspicion drenched her body like ice water—

Human trafficker!

She almost shouted out, but forced herself to hold back, her body stiff, even her breathing became shallow.

She gently lifted her foot and kicked the bed board above.

Jiang Ran, already alert, woke almost instantly, silently lowering his head.

Su Ruan met his gaze, and in the dim light mouthed three silent words: "Human, trafficker, child."

At the same time, her eyes flicked quickly toward the opposite side.

Jiang Ran's gaze instantly sharpened; he did not act immediately, but silently adjusted his posture, using the cover of shadow to carefully observe the opposite side.