Chapter 505: Mighty Little Mo (Part 1)
Lin Huanzhu had been helping for several days now, following them all the way here.
She worked so tirelessly, and since she had experience from chasing down culprits before, her help was immense. They were incredibly grateful to her.
"Old Tang, Xiao Lin," Wu Sheng greeted them. "Just in time for some food."
Tang Yuanxiao nodded and sat down with Lin Huanzhu.
The four of them gathered, discussing their respective findings over the meal.
"...Rescuing that child proves our direction is correct. If we keep searching, we’ll definitely find him," Tang Yuanxiao said, taking a large bite of rice.
"Exactly. We just have to follow the clues," Lin Huanzhu agreed, shoveling in a mouthful of rice. "My gut tells me we’re about to get a break in the case."
Lin Huanzhu wasn’t all talk; her abilities were truly outstanding.
They had managed to follow the trail all the way here thanks to Tang Yuanxiao’s observation skills, Wu Sheng’s clear thinking, and Su Li’s involvement.
"Today, I stumbled upon a very interesting clue. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I feel it’s important. It seems to be connected to the trail of Tang Mo and the others."
As she said Tang Mo’s name, a complex emotion flickered in Lin Huanzhu’s eyes.
When she heard Tang Yuanxiao say his son was missing, Lin Huanzhu had been surprised—surprised that Tang Yuanxiao even had a son.
Over the past few days, Lin Huanzhu had come to understand the basics of the relationship between Tang Yuanxiao, Su Li, and Tang Mo, even if she didn’t know all the details.
Only then did she understand what Tang Yuanxiao had meant when, in response to her question about marriage, he had answered, "I was."
Lin Huanzhu’s feelings toward Su Li, Tang Yuanxiao’s ex-wife, were a little complicated, but she also admired her.
This was mainly because Su Li was very accepting of her—her hair, her general demeanor, everything. She even seemed supportive. Besides, Su Li was very independent and opinionated, not like most women.
"Tomorrow, you continue following the lead you found. I’ll go directly to the neighboring city," Tang Yuanxiao said, picking up on Lin Huanzhu’s words.
"The neighboring city?" Lin Huanzhu flexed her hand. "We’ve been here for two days. It’s about time we moved on."
Seeing Lin Huanzhu flex her fingers, a flash of concern crossed Tang Yuanxiao’s eyes. "Is your hand okay?"
He had seen it clearly: Lin Huanzhu’s hand had been hit when she was subduing the couple who had bought the child.
Lin Huanzhu shook her head, unconcerned. "It’s fine."
Tang Yuanxiao didn’t press the matter, but a complex emotion flickered in his eyes.
This complex emotion was for Lin Huanzhu; he was truly grateful to her...
After exchanging a few more words, Tang Yuanxiao’s gaze shifted to Su Li, and his expression became even more complex.
Watching Su Li grow thinner by the day, her complexion worsening, made Tang Yuanxiao feel even more wretched.
Seeing Su Li like this and thinking about what kind of suffering Little Tang Mo might be enduring somewhere, he felt a heart-wrenching pain with every thought.
While Tang Yuanxiao’s heart ached, Su Li was suffering just as much.
’I don’t know if Little Tang Mo remembers what I told him before, if he’s pretending to be slow-witted. In my past life, the traffickers abused Little Tang Mo so horribly because he was too smart.’
’I wonder if he’s suffering that kind of torment right now...’
Su Li couldn’t stop these thoughts, and each one brought an unbearable anguish that tightened her chest, making it impossible to even eat her congee.
Wu Sheng had been watching Su Li. Seeing her expression, he sighed internally and was just about to speak when a police officer from Yuanjing City walked in.
"Su Li, there’s a phone call for you. They said it’s good news."
Hearing this, Su Li exchanged a glance with Wu Sheng, Tang Yuanxiao, and Lin Huanzhu. Her eyes lit up. "Could it be news from the Imperial City?"
They had all come out here to search, leaving Wu Qihua to hold down the fort in the Imperial City, with Yin Cuihua and Li Hongqin helping out.
Su Li spoke as she moved, rushing to the phone as if her feet had grown wings.
"Hello?"
"Su Li! Little Mo has been found! He’s been found!"
Su Li had just picked up the phone when Yin Cuihua’s excited voice came through from the other end.
Su Li thought she was hearing things.
"What did you say? Sister Cuihua, say it again. Say it again!"
"I said, Little Mo has been found! No, I should say he’s safe! He called the factory himself to let us know he’s okay! My assistant took the call. She said he escaped on his own and is safe now!"
Yin Cuihua’s voice was both excited and loud. This time, Su Li finally heard her clearly.
"Found... He’s been found... Little Mo... Little Mo..."
For a moment, Su Li was completely unaware of her own expression or feelings, utterly overwhelmed by the immense, joyful surprise.
She was ecstatic, but her legs went weak, and she was about to collapse to the floor. Fortunately, Wu Sheng was quick to react and caught her.
"Little Mo was found?" he asked.
A huge smile spread across Su Li’s face as she nodded repeatedly. "Yes! She said he escaped on his own!"
As she spoke, she pinched herself. After gasping from the pain, she then pinched Wu Sheng.
"Does it hurt? Wu Sheng?"
Wu Sheng grimaced. "Of course it hurts. It’s real."
Su Li’s face was full of smiles and full of tears.
These were truly tears of overwhelming joy.
"Sister Cuihua, I understand. I get it. We’ll head over right now. We’ll go find him."
Su Li hung up the phone and turned to look at Tang Yuanxiao behind her.
"Tang Yuanxiao, he’s been found! Little Mo’s been found! He escaped by himself! He’s safe now!"
Tang Yuanxiao’s whole body was tense. "I heard. I heard everything."
He smiled and walked out, sitting down in the stairwell and burying his face in his hands.
A man doesn’t cry easily, unless moved to the very core.
In that moment, Tang Yuanxiao couldn’t stop the tears from welling up.
’Momo... he’s been found.’
’Thank the heavens. Thank God Almighty.’
Lin Huanzhu stood behind him, watching Tang Yuanxiao’s trembling shoulders. She hesitated for a moment but ultimately decided not to approach.
While Su Li and the others were reeling from the shocking, joyous news and rushing to reunite with Little Tang Mo, Little Tang Mo himself was busy.
Or rather than busy, it would be more accurate to say he was continuing to astound everyone.
The special meeting was still in progress. After listing the names of more than a dozen children and the approximate locations where they were dropped off, Little Tang Mo ignored the flustered and bewildered police officers and continued on to the most crucial matter.
"...That’s the basic rundown of what happened over the past few days. You uncles should have a good idea of how important this is. Because so many people are involved and the geographic area is so vast, the police in a single region can’t handle it."
"Now..."
The captain slammed the table. "I know. I’ll report the case to my superiors right now."
Little Tang Mo revealed a smile.
Seeing Little Tang Mo’s smile, the captain felt a sense of affirmation. Normally a slow and deliberate man, he moved with an unprecedented speed, as if wind were at his heels, to make his report and do what needed to be done.
Although Little Tang Mo was very young, seeing the boy’s approval made the captain feel inexplicably moved and proud.
Because he had been trusted, because he had been affirmed.
Little Tang Mo was a victim, yet his heaven-defying abilities and his excellence, so unbefitting of his age, were things that everyone present would likely never forget for the rest of their lives.