Chapter 141: My Wife's Water Bottle Toss Is Spot-On

Dao Ba Lian sized them up, paying particular attention to Jiang Ran's face, flashing a snarling grin, and in Mandarin thick with a Cantonese accent said, "Northern bloke, think you're brave? Meddling on the train, ruining my plans, you remember?"

On the train? Human traffickers!

Su Ruan's heart sank sharply, and she understood instantly.

These guys are accomplices of that Human Trafficker Gang, come for revenge!

She hadn't expected their influence could reach Guangzhou, and that they'd find them so quickly!

Jiang Ran also snapped to attention, silently cursing his carelessness.

He was busy surveying the market and forgot this matter.

He forced himself to stay calm, his mind racing.

The opponents were three, clearly local bullies; a head‑on fight would only cost them.

"Brothers, the incident on the train was a misunderstanding; we were following the rules and cooperating with the transit police."

Jiang Ran tried to stall, subtly shifting his body to shield Su Ruan more tightly, his peripheral vision scanning the surroundings for an opening.

"When you're out, you chase money, not honor. Brothers, you've worked hard; this little token is just a treat, consider it tea for you all."

As he spoke, he slowly reached into his pocket, which held some change left over from the past two days.

"Pah!" Dao Ba Lian spat, "Who cares about your stinky cash! My brothers got busted, the goods are lost—can you afford that loss?"

"Today, we have to teach you meddling dogs a lesson!" He narrowed his eyes, waved his hand, "The man gets a leg broken, the woman grabbed and sold in the hills for a profit!"

As soon as the words fell, two goons on either side sneered and lunged forward, one brandishing a short wooden stick.

The escape route was blocked, the Alley's depths grew darker, and it was unclear whether any ambush remained.

A hair's breadth away!

"Run!"

Jiang Ran roared, not backward but hurling the cloth sack of documents at the charging Dao Ba Lian, while mustering all his strength to side‑strike the goon on the right wielding the stick!

It was a desperate, unexpected tactic!

Dao Ba Lian was stunned by the sack, and the right‑hand goon staggered back from Jiang Ran's reckless collision.

A gap instantly opened in the encirclement!

"Su Ruan! Run to the main road! Don't look back!"

Jiang Ran shouted hoarsely, yet he tangled with the stick‑wielding goon and the now‑reacting Dao Ba Lian, buying Su Ruan time.

At the instant Jiang Ran yelled "run", Su Ruan hesitated not a moment, pouring all her strength toward the gap, toward the bright main road at the Alley's mouth.

She knew staying would only hinder Jiang Ran; she had to get out first, find help, and give him a chance of survival!

Fear nearly froze her blood, yet survival instinct and worry for Jiang Ran sparked astonishing speed.

She heard fighting, curses, and muffled thuds behind her; her heart hammered as if to explode, but she dared not look back, sprinting desperately, her lungs burning like fire.

"Damn it! Don't let that woman get away!" Dao Ba Lian roared.

Su Ruan could even hear footsteps closing from behind—the left‑hand goon Jiang Ran hadn't struck was now in pursuit!

Just as the filthy hand was about to seize the back of her collar, Su Ruan suddenly swung the glass water bottle she had been clutching since leaving the tea house, without a glance, smashing it backward!

"Bang!" a crisp crack rang, mingled with a man's yelp and the sound of glass shattering!

The pursuers seemed momentarily halted.

Seizing the chance, Su Ruan burst out of the Alley onto a relatively bright street bustling with pedestrians!

"Help! There's a robbery! They're beating people!!"

Su Ruan used her last strength to shriek toward a few men crossing the street, "Help!" The cry was hoarse and terrified, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

The men froze briefly, then hurried over.

In the Alley, the chasing goon saw uniformed people, his face turning pale, and he turned back into the darkness.

Su Ruan's legs gave way, nearly collapsing, but the fastest middle‑aged worker caught her.

"Comrade, what's wrong? Where's the robbery?"

"In the Alley! My husband… my husband is still inside! There are three of them! Please, help him!"

Su Ruan stammered, tears finally breaking free as she pointed toward the Alley.

The workers, hearing this, immediately rallied more nearby off‑duty passersby, grabbing any bricks or sticks they could find, and charged into the Alley.

Su Ruan struggled to follow, but a woman pulled her back: "Girl, don't go in, it's dangerous! We've already sent someone to call the police!"

Louder fighting and shouting soon echoed from the Alley.

Su Ruan's heart clenched, her nails digging into her palm as she stared fixedly at the dark Alley mouth.

It felt like ages, or perhaps only a moment, before a group emerged from the Alley.

Jiang Ran was supported by two workers, his face bruised, his mouth split, his clothes torn, limping slightly, yet his gaze remained sharp; seeing Su Ruan safe, he visibly exhaled in relief.

Dao Ba Lian and the two goons were seized by the workers, their faces caked in dust and grime, clearly getting nothing good.

Soon, sharp police sirens grew louder as law enforcement arrived.

In the guesthouse, faced with the police's questions, the still‑shaken Su Ruan and the injured Jiang Ran recounted in detail the train incident and tonight's retaliation.

The officers took the matter seriously, promptly contacting railway police, confirming the human‑trafficker case on the train, and detaining Dao Ba Lian and his cohorts, digging deeper into the gang entrenched along the railway and in Guangzhou.

"Comrades, you were brave but reckless," an older officer said gravely. "In the future, report immediately; protecting your own safety is paramount. Luckily, enthusiastic citizens helped; otherwise the consequences would be unimaginable."

Jiang Ran wiped the blood from his mouth, nodded, "Thank you, officer comrades, we've learned our lesson."

He looked at Su Ruan; both their eyes held lingering fear, yet also a gratitude for having survived.

This time, they truly realized the world outside offered not only business opportunities but real danger.

But sharing life‑and‑death peril brought their hearts closer.

Back in the room, Jiang Ran couldn't tend to his own wounds, first anxiously checking whether Su Ruan was okay.

"I'm fine, really fine." Su Ruan looked at his facial injuries, her heart aching as tears fell, quickly pulling out the red ointment she carried, "Sit down, I'll treat you."

"Skin abrasion, no problem." Jiang Ran grasped her trembling hand, feigned a relaxed smile, "You look so frightened, your face turned white. But my daughter‑in‑law is truly impressive; she swung that water jug with perfect aim!"

Su Ruan stopped crying and laughed, lightly punched him, "You still have the energy to joke!"

But the tense nerves finally completely relaxed.

That night, the two embraced and slept, both slept restlessly, but each other's warmth was the best comfort.

The next day, they canceled some of the scheduled itineraries and rested at the guesthouse.

Jiang Ran's ankle was slightly sprained, and Su Ruan firmly refused to let him wander around again.

Their investigation plan was forced to halt, but the gains were already huge, and after last night's events, they also needed time to calm their emotions and replan.

"It seems the water in Guangzhou is deeper than we thought," Jiang Ran leaned against the headboard, gazing at the city outline outside the window, he said.

"Hmm," Su Ruan nestled beside him, "but we have basically seen what we needed to see. This trip was worth it."