Chapter 1133

"Oh, the great hero is back."

Inside the railway police office building at Ningyang Station, Old Hu saw Ma Kui walking in with Wang Yan and Wang Xin, and welcomed them into the office with a laugh.

Ma Kui said knowingly: "Is it about the trafficker we caught earlier?"

Old Hu nodded, picked up a cigarette to light for himself, and then threw the rest to Wang Yan, so Wang Yan and Wang Xin also started blowing smoke.

Old Hu then spoke: "I got a call from over there; the female trafficker you caught this time is truly the leader of a huge gang, more than ten people. Some steal on the train, some meet them at the station, some watch the children at the base, and some find buyers outside.

The children were sold far away, not just in our Northeast; many children were trafficked inside the Great Wall. Even within our Northeast, they were darting back and forth between several provinces, and the children were all sold to small places. In the past two days, we've contacted comrades in various places and have rounded them all up. We've found six children and also asked for some addresses where they had already been sold, found the buyers, and maybe we can let some children go home.

The superiors have decided to hold a commendation meeting and call on everyone to learn from you. It's also for publicity, to make those criminals afraid and not dare to be reckless on the train."

"We really earned merit?" Wang Xin laughed, "Look, I said it, earning merit is only a matter of time. Old Ma and I get a third-class merit, Wang Yan should get a second-class merit, right? He's already caught over a hundred people, he's truly a beast."

Wang Yan glanced at him: "There's more to your words, you're scolding me, right?"

"How could that be, I'm truly praising you. I just don't have the ability, otherwise, do you think I wouldn't want to be a beast?"

"Then you are a beast."

"I thank you." Wang Xin said irritably, but there was nothing he could do.

Seeing them finish bickering, Old Hu laughed: "I don't know the specifics, I didn't ask about that. Anyway, next week you three will have two days off to attend the commendation meeting, and you'll know then; this thing is the same sooner or later, and you can accept an interview by the way. Wang Yan and Wang Xin have been working until now without a break, so have a good rest."

"That's good." Ma Kui laughed, "I'm basking in their reflected glory."

"That's not basking in glory, that's under your wise leadership, Old Ma." Wang Yan laughed and took over the conversation.

"No wonder you can be an official." Wang Xin gave a thumbs up, looking at Old Hu, "It's also under your wise coordination, Old Hu."

Old Hu was between laughter and tears, didn't take the bait, and instead said: "Are you moving today?"

Ma Kui nodded with a smile: "I'm thinking of moving as soon as I go back."

"Should I find some people to help?"

"No need, there aren't many things at home, and besides, aren't these two right here?" Ma Kui was naturally not polite; if there was help, he would use it. This was different from asking for personal favors; he felt at ease.

"Right, the three of us are enough. I'll go borrow a tricycle later, and we'll be done moving in two trips." Wang Yan added.

"Moving is hard work, I have to eat meat, Old Ma." Wang Xin clamored on the side.

"I think you look like meat, you have so many demands." Ma Kui said irritably, then asked, "Old Hu, when they called you, did they mention an old blind man?"

"They did, and specifically asked me to tell you—he couldn't be found. The trafficker said she didn't abduct her, but threw the child on the platform, and she couldn't be found. But where would there be truth in a trafficker's mouth? And so much time has passed; even if the trafficker could remember, after so many years, she wouldn't be found. It's hard to say if she's alive or dead."

"Right, it's hard to say. Poor brother..." Ma Kui sighed.

Of course it was pitiful; anyone with a conscience would feel bad. Otherwise, how could the old blind man have been able to hang around the train for so many years? Although he had indeed caused many scenes, in the end, it wasn't all people who were disgusted by him. After all, if they really wanted to deal with him, how could they not handle a blind old man with no family?

But no matter how bad it felt, one still had to live their own life; those who carried the burden of the country and the people on their shoulders were ultimately the minority, and most people still had to live their own small lives.

So the Ma family was happy, and the people in Wang Yan's courtyard were also happy...

Accompanied by the noise of an engine, a large truck drove into the courtyard.

The courtyard was full of people chatting together, as well as children jumping around. The men in the courtyard were also playing cards and chess outside, laughing and talking.

Although it had warmed up a lot, it still hadn't truly entered summer. This time was very awkward; heating the kang was hot and wasted coal, but if not heated, it felt cold and damp inside, and one couldn't stay. So during the day, most chose to stay outside, where there was the warmth of the sun, and it didn't delay things like washing clothes or knitting sweaters.

The same was true in autumn and winter. Even in winter, in an environment of minus twenty degrees, many people still chose not to heat the kang during the day, but to sunbathe outside, or visit someone's house.

In short, everyone was poor. Of course, it didn't exclude that some people were truly lazy.

Clearly, the railway workers weren't rich either; at this time, everyone wasn't heating the kang and was sunbathing.

"You're here, Old Ma. This guy, where did you get the truck?" Old Lu was the first to stand up and greet Ma Kui, who jumped down from the truck's passenger seat.

"Wang Yan got it; snakes have snake paths, and rats have rat paths. This kid has wild connections; he said he was borrowing a tricycle, who knew he'd call a truck."

"Look at you, helping you doesn't even get any credit, and you're still using words to mock me." Wang Yan, sitting in the truck bed, said, then jumped down, helped Wang Sufang and Ma Yan down, and greeted Old Lu and the others.

Old Lu then shouted: "Come on, men, give a hand."

In fact, he didn't need to say much; the trio of train drivers—Old Cai, Old Wu, and Niu Dali—had already come over, as well as other men resting at home, and the women who were chatting and gossiping over there, all came to help. Even Wang Yongge, who should have been at work, was waiting at home to help.

Not everyone in this courtyard worked on the train; they were just from various positions within the railway system. When the houses were distributed earlier, people with the same jobs might have been assigned together, but as time passed, various personnel transfers, and some people privately exchanging houses, it gradually became mixed, and people from various positions were all there.

Just like that, with everyone's help, all kinds of things were moved in, and they even set off a string of firecrackers to celebrate.

After everyone dispersed, only Wang Yan and Wang Xin remained to help clean up, and they didn't worry about the rest. Afterward, Wang Yan went out to buy some meat, vegetables, eggs, and so on, preparing to have a housewarming meal in the evening.

Clearly, the neighbors had helped move, so normally they should invite them to eat, but unfortunately, they were truly poor and couldn't afford it, which everyone could understand. However, Wang Yan still bought a lot of chicken racks and sent them around the courtyard.

Otherwise, they would be eating meat and smelling the aroma, which would feel a bit lacking...

That afternoon, Wang Yan carried a basin, drew water from the tap in the courtyard, got a washboard, and started washing clothes under the locust tree.

Cai Xiaonian had nothing to do, playing with a pair of clappers to practice his skills. Wang Xin was holding a basin on the side, bored, helping Sister Wu feed the chickens. Niu Dali was pinching a cigarette on the side, cheering for Cai Xiaonian.

Clattering the clappers, Cai Xiaonian leaned over and said: "I say, you're washing clothes yourself?"

"What? You want to wash my clothes?" Wang Yan raised his head and was about to get up, "Then go ahead."

"No, who's washing your clothes? You heard wrong, heard wrong." Cai Xiaonian quickly pressed Wang Yan down; if he really let Wang Yan get up, he would really have to wash the clothes.

He then said: "Isn't your father-in-law's family all here? I see Ma Yan is quite capable, doesn't she wash them for you?"

Wang Yan glanced at him: "You're not as useful as a good brother like you, come come come, you help me wash them." As he spoke, he grabbed his clothes and pulled them over.

Cai Xiaonian strongly opposed: "Wrong, wrong, dear brother, can't I just be wrong?"

"That mouth of yours, sooner or later you'll get into trouble."

"Isn't there still you? Dear brother, if your younger brother is in trouble, can you just stand by and watch?"

"That's not for sure." Wang Yan laughed.

At this moment, voices came from not far away: "Little Yao, made new clothes? They look really good."

Yao Yuling's voice rang out: "Aunt Lu made them for me, Aunt Lu has great craftsmanship."

Cai Xiaonian squatted beside Wang Yan and said: "Actually, Yao Yuling is quite good, but it seems Wang Xin and Niu Dali both like her. Especially Niu Dali, look at him, he's about to drool."

Wang Yan saw it very clearly; the moment there was movement over there, Niu Dali's eyes were already looking over, straight and soul-lost.

"You worry too much every day, if you have that energy, study your own affairs."

"What affairs could I have? Wanting to get married, isn't that anytime? Everyone knows our railway workers have good benefits, we don't lack wives. My mom is looking for me, and I'm saving money, when it's about enough, I guess I'll run into a suitable one. Dear brother, save some money, if it's not enough, you can help your younger brother."

"You're thinking quite beautifully."

"I know you have a sharp tongue but a soft heart; actually, I've been prepared for my younger brother's marriage. Oh..."

Cai Xiaonian was still joking, but the next moment he was unexpectedly shocked.

At this moment, calls of 'Little Yao' rang out, and Wang Xin and Niu Dali, who were sitting there, darted out, but Niu Dali was faster than Wang Xin.

His voice was panicked: "Yao, Yao, what's wrong with you? Wake up, will you?"

He squatted on the ground, holding Yao Yuling, shouting while pressing her philtrum.

"Oh, you're going to shake her until something happens even if she was fine." Wang Xin had learned first aid at the police academy and didn't see anything, just checked her breath, which was stable, so there was no major problem for now. He said to Niu Dali, "Take her back, Dr. Shen is at home, I'll find her to come and take a look."

"Okay okay okay." Niu Dali responded busily, picked up Yao Yuling, and walked back, "Yao, you can't have anything happen, don't scare me. Yao, hold on, Dr. Shen will be here soon."

One look and you could tell he was truly anxious.

So much so that Cai Xiaonian couldn't help but complain: "Forget it, the way you shouted, it sounded like Yao Yuling was dying."

"Right, Dali, nothing's happened yet, don't worry." Other women who followed comforted her and went toward Yao Yuling's residence together.

Ma Yan heard the movement, ran over, and grabbed Wang Yan, who was walking slowly at the end: "What's wrong with Yao Yuling? Is she dying? She's so young. Don't you know how to see a doctor? Go take a look at her."

"Nothing major, I see it as hunger. But I haven't seen many patients, and people wouldn't believe it if I said it, unlike us." Wang Yan laughed and raised his eyebrows at her.

"Get lost, you're not serious." Ma Yan couldn't help but slap him again.

Wang Yan didn't mind, watching a beautiful short-haired woman running over from the distance, followed by Wang Xin carrying a box.

These two had no time to pay attention to Wang Yan and Ma Yan, running up the stairs. Yao Yuling's house was upstairs in this two-story building, two rooms. Below was another family's.

This woman was Dr. Shen from the courtyard, who worked at the railway hospital, named Shen Xiuping. In the original story, she had a relationship with Ma Kui. However, because her father had a criminal record, it also affected her reputation; although Ma Kui was willing, she didn't want to affect Ma Kui, so in the end, they didn't end up together, and she lived alone all her life without children.

Shen Xiuping was already quite old, over thirty, twenty years older than Wang Yan...

When Wang Yan and Ma Yan went upstairs, they saw Dr. Shen taking her pulse.

It was at this moment that Yao Yuling slowly woke up: "What's wrong with me?" Her voice was weak.

"Yao, you suddenly fainted just now, don't you remember?" Niu Dali leaned in, "Dr. Shen, is Yao okay?"

Dr. Shen shook her head: "She's fine, it's just hypoglycemia."

It was at this moment that she saw the cabinet next to her: "Why do you have so much cloth?"

"Exchanged with food coupons, right?" Cai Xiaonian said directly and firmly.

Afterward, everyone criticized Yao Yuling, saying she couldn't stop eating just to wear pretty clothes.

Yao Yuling quickly said weakly: "Dr. Shen, am I okay?"

"Nothing major, just drink some sugar water." She turned her head and said, "Go find some white sugar."

"Okay." Niu Dali responded and ran off.

Wang Xin was also warm-hearted and ran out the same way.

Then Niu Dali went door-to-door and couldn't find white sugar, but Wang Xin brought out a box of White Rabbit milk candies. As everyone knows, the value of White Rabbit at this time was high.

It was at this moment that Yao Yuling, eating the milky sweet White Rabbit, looked at Wang Xin as if her eyes were about to melt. She already had a good impression and was tentatively getting to know him, and this had completely triggered it.

Niu Dali was indeed quite silly, but even if he was silly, he could see something was wrong, so he immediately said: "Then what, Dr. Shen, does she need to rest quietly now?"

"It's best to be quiet, rest well." Dr. Shen nodded and stood up, "Alright, nothing major, I'll go back first."

"Everyone leave, everyone leave, let Yao rest well." Niu Dali continued, "I'll stay and take care of her."

"You leave too, Brother Dali, I want to be alone..."

Niu Dali held back his overflowing tears, don't cry...