Chapter 517: The Little Anti-Trafficking Hero (Part 1)
Su Li and Little Tang Mo, who were so intensely on Beard’s mind, had no idea who Beard was.
Little Tang Mo had never seen Beard, let alone knew he was a leader of the group, and Su Li had no recollection of him either.
In her past life, Su Li had hated human traffickers so much she wished she could drink their blood and eat their flesh. Beard didn’t know this, or perhaps he wouldn’t have cared even if he did.
In this life, it was Beard’s turn to hate them so much he wished he could drink their blood and eat their flesh. Unfortunately for him, Su Li and Little Tang Mo still had no idea who he was.
Su Li and Little Tang Mo had returned to the Imperial City two days prior, just as the nationwide anti-trafficking operation was winding down.
They had stayed there for a long time, not in any hurry to return, because they were looking for Miao Zhi.
That was the last place Miao Zhi had been seen. They had turned the entire surrounding area upside down, but still couldn’t find her.
Father Miao, a man of iron will, had rushed over after hearing the news about Miao Zhi and had nearly collapsed from the blow.
Considering his physical condition, Tang Yuanxiao made the executive decision and insisted he stay in the hospital to rest while they continued the search.
But days went by with no results.
Everyone who had been mentioned before was rescued, yet there was still no sign of Miao Zhi.
It was as if Miao Zhi had vanished into thin air. Repeated interrogations yielded no new information.
Finally, seeing as they truly couldn’t find her and time was slipping away, they decided to return to the Imperial City first. The largest number of criminals had been captured there, including the heads of the organization. Perhaps they could get some answers in the capital.
With that in mind, Su Li and the others composed themselves and set off for the Imperial City.
The journey back was particularly crowded, and they had an unusual amount of luggage.
This wasn’t luggage they had bought, but gifts they had been given.
What Little Tang Mo had done could not be kept secret, thanks to the children who were rescued one by one.
After the children who had been on the road with Little Tang Mo were rescued, they turned back into his little tails the moment they saw him again.
They refused to let the police send them home, insisting on staying with Little Tang Mo.
Later, when their parents received the news and rushed to pick them up, the joy was unimaginable. These were parents who had nearly lost the will to live after their children disappeared.
And when they heard what Little Tang Mo had done, listening to their children’s innocent accounts, their gratitude toward him was simply beyond words.
They would have willingly kowtowed a hundred times to him.
But Little Tang Mo was just a child, so such a gesture was out of the question. In the end, these people, filled with gratitude, simply tried to find any way they could to be good to Little Tang Mo and Su Li.
Word spread from these parents, and soon, many more learned that it was thanks to a young boy that they were reunited with their children. Then, someone—no one knew who—started it: they began bringing the best things they owned to thank Little Tang Mo.
Of course, Little Tang Mo and Su Li couldn’t accept these gifts.
After being refused face-to-face a few times, the parents stopped trying to give the gifts directly. Knowing they were staying at the guest house and spending time at the police station, they started leaving the items right at the station’s entrance.
That way, they could thank both Little Tang Mo and the police, killing two birds with one stone.
With someone having taken the lead, the entrance was soon piled high with gifts before Su Li and her group even began their journey back.
There might be a bag of sweet potatoes and sunflower seeds, a pair of handmade cloth shoes, a homemade item of clothing, some money, some snacks and fruit, or perhaps some cured meat...
Or a bag of millet, or some decorative steamed buns, even some toys and books.
Basically, there was a bit of everything. Some people sent eggs, which was fine. Then many started sending chickens and fish, and even... a pig.
The entrance to the police station, normally an imposing place that people didn’t approach without reason, was suddenly thrown into utter chaos for three days.
Hens and roosters were tethered by the leg right at the entrance, and next to them was a plump, white pig.
Amidst the crowing of roosters and the oinking of the pig, the police officers could only look at each other, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
Like everyone else, Su Li and Little Tang Mo found the situation both hilarious and touching.
It was a feeling that couldn’t be put into words.
"To the police officers, thank you for your hard work. Please slaughter the pig and have a good meal."
"Thank you, big brother. These eggs are for you."
Some notes were scrawled in crooked handwriting, and some who didn’t know how to write the characters used Pinyin instead. But every single one was a token of their heartfelt appreciation.
They were truly grateful, so they offered the most sincere gifts they could.
This kind of gratitude was incredibly moving.
The police were used to receiving some thanks, but also their share of complaints. They had never experienced gratitude on this scale before.
The police captain, who was no longer a young man, said this was the most sincere thanks he had ever received in his career.
This outpouring of gratitude was staggering, and needless to say, it motivated everyone to work even harder.
Since they couldn’t return the gifts meant for Little Tang Mo, they ended up taking as many of them as they could on their journey.
It was all from the heart; none of it could go to waste.
On the way back, Su Li and her group ate the food everyone had given them.
Seven of the children who had been trafficked in the same vehicle as Little Tang Mo refused to leave his side, so their parents decided to travel back with the group as well.
With the addition of Mu Haoye’s family, who had already planned to join them, their trip back this time was especially lively.
When the adults got lively, it meant nonstop talking. When the children got lively... well, that was a sight to behold.
In the terrifying environment before, the children had been too scared to think of anything else. But now, reunited with their parents and their fear forgotten, they started to vie for attention and get a little jealous.
All the kids adored Little Tang Mo and wanted to cling to him, which immediately put Little Tongtong on high alert.
Before, it had been perfectly balanced with Little Yang Mei on one side and her on the other. Now there weren’t enough hands to go around. Little Tongtong started asking questions to earn the right to hold Little Tang Mo’s hand.
"Tang Mo, tell me, who do you like the most?" In her anxiousness, she dropped the usual "Big Brother."
Little Tang Mo looked at all the younger kids surrounding him and felt a headache coming on.
Then he saw Little Tongtong’s nervous expression and sighed. "I like all of you... but I like you the most."
Little Tongtong immediately puffed out her chest, possessively threw her arms around Little Tang Mo, and gave him a loud SMACK. "I like you the most, too!"
It wasn’t just because Tang Mo was handsome and Su Li was a good cook anymore—although those were still factors—Little Tongtong genuinely liked Tang Mo now.
"Tang Mo, let’s get married when we grow up!"
Little Tang Mo was speechless. "..."
He looked to Su Li for help, only to see her and Tongtong’s mother laughing so hard they were doubled over, even calling each other "in-law."
Little Tang Mo was speechless once again. ’What an unreliable mom!’
Little Yang Mei blinked and jumped in. "I want to marry him too! Let’s all get married together."
"Me too!"
"Me too, me too! I want to marry our little hero brother!"
All the children chimed in, declaring they all wanted to marry Little Tang Mo. Boys and girls shouted it together. The boys, after shouting "I’m gonna marry him!", felt that wasn’t quite right and changed their cry to "I’m gonna take him as my wife!"
Their childish chatter and joyful laughter made the whole journey incredibly lively.
As for Little Tang Mo’s "Little Hero" title, it was official.
Before he left, the police chief had personally presented him with a silk banner, officially dubbing him the "Anti-Trafficking Little Hero."
He was an Anti-Trafficking Little Hero in the truest sense of the word.
After the Anti-Trafficking Little Hero returned to the Imperial City with Su Li and rested for a day, he once again began to help ask around and search for Miao Zhi.