"What do you think you're doing, snatching a kid!" the man roared, immediately trying to grab him back.
Su Li clutched Tang Mo, whom she had just recovered, her entire body trembling. Dodging his hand, she summoned all her strength and screamed, "He's a child trafficker! They're traffickers! Everyone, quick, catch them!"
Su Li's scream instantly caused an uproar, shattering the peace on the train.
"You crazy bitch! You steal my son and still dare to scream? See if I don't kill you!" A murderous glint flashed in the man's eyes as he swung his fist straight at Su Li.
With no room to dodge, Su Li took the punch right to her temple. A sharp pain shot through her head, her vision went black, and she swayed unsteadily.
The man moved quickly, trying to wrench Tang Mo from her arms. "You crazy bitch, give me back my son!"
Su Li was dragged to her knees, but she clung to Tang Mo, refusing to let go. "This is my son! Don't you even think about taking him! Somebody help, they're traffickers! Fang Luo, hurry and arrest these people!"
The man grew frantic. As he tried to snatch the boy, he grabbed a fistful of her hair. But in the next instant, he was tackled to the ground by Fang Luo.
The man's three accomplices saw things were going south and tried to flee, but they were also apprehended.
"We're not traffickers! This is our kid!"
Their protests were vehement, but the children they were holding remained suspiciously "asleep," never waking. There was no way the police would let them go so easily.
The train's departure was delayed by a full ten minutes because of them.
When helpful onlookers dragged the four desperately struggling traffickers off the train, the platform erupted into unprecedented chaos.
"Damn them, so they really are traffickers."
"Spit! Death by a thousand cuts is too good for these traffickers! Beat them to death!"
"The black-hearted bastards! How could they lay a hand on such small children! They grabbed four this time. Who knows how many they've snatched before this!"
"Beat them to death! Beat them to death!"
The crowd was a furious mob, kicking and punching the handcuffed traffickers. The four were forced to their knees on the ground. The more they struggled, the more they were beaten. People spat on them in disgust.
Fang Luo hated traffickers more than anyone. He hadn't had the chance to arrest many before, so catching these traffickers was both thrilling and deeply satisfying. He and the other officers stood by to prevent the criminals from escaping but didn't stop the crowd from beating and cursing them, allowing them to vent their fury.
"Alright, folks, take it easy," Fang Luo said. "But if anyone saw any accomplices, please report them. We won't let a single one get away!"
As Fang Luo spoke, people exchanged glances, and soon a man stepped forward. "I saw them get on the train. They didn't talk to anyone else, so they're probably alone. If we see anyone suspicious, we'll grab them and bring them to you."
Fang Luo nodded. "Good, that's very good. Thank you all for your help today."
Just as Fang Luo was about to lead the culprits away, he saw Su Li walk straight toward them, holding Tang Mo, and stop in front of the man who had first attacked her.
The man glared at Su Li, his face contorted with hatred. He spat a mouthful of bloody saliva onto the ground. "You bitch... Sooner or later, I'll get my revenge and kill you..."
His threat was cut short by a sharp slap.
Su Li slapped him with all her might. Her hand throbbed and went numb, but she didn't stop, striking him again and again.
The sharp CRACK of the slaps echoed across the platform. The once-raucous station fell suddenly silent. Everyone watched wordlessly as Su Li, her eyes red and her face a mask of pure hatred, continued to strike the man, one slap after another.
"You heartless monster! How dare you steal my son! I'll kill you! I'll kill you!"
Every word she spoke was laced with bone-deep hatred.
If you were to ask Su Li who she hated most in the world, traffickers would top the list. She hated them to her very marrow. As for these people before her, she hated them so much she wanted to tear their flesh from their bones!
They were the ones who had ruined her life. They were the ones who had tortured Tang Mo and destroyed his entire life!
Seeing the icy, bloodthirsty look in Su Li's eyes, the onlookers shivered involuntarily, a chill running down their spines.
"You..." The man's ears were ringing. He crumpled to the ground from the force of her blows. Before anyone could react, Su Li spat viciously on him and moved to the second trafficker.
Again, a slap delivered with all her might, followed by a glob of spit.
Su Li didn't spare a single one of the four traffickers. Each accusing slap, each sound of spitting, was a clear expression of the grief, indignation, and hatred roiling in her heart.
This version of Su Li was terrifyingly frenzied. The platform was utterly silent; no one dared to intervene.
The crowd didn't notice, and neither did Su Li, that on the train, Beard, the man who had grabbed her hair in the scuffle, was staring intently at her. A bone-deep hatred and killing intent flashed in his eyes. His lips moved, silently forming the words, 'Su Li, is it? Just you wait.'
His sinister gaze shifted from Su Li to Tang Mo in her arms, a look of grim determination flashing in his eyes.
When he looked back at the four traffickers being beaten by Su Li, a flicker of regret crossed his face.
'Such a waste. All that training, and they got caught just like that!'
That was right. This man, Beard, was the leader of the traffickers. He was the one directing this operation. Cautious by nature, he always stayed hidden in the shadows. No one knew who he was. Losing those four wasn't a major blow.
No one knew this. All eyes were fixed on the four traffickers and Su Li.
"Alright, Su Li, that's enough." It was Police Fang who finally stepped forward to stop her. After he persuaded her to stop, Su Li, whose hands were aching from the blows, finally stood to the side.
Fang Luo had the other officers who had just arrived take charge of the three other abducted children. They were around the same age as Tang Mo: two boys and a girl.
"Who knows where these kids are from. Their parents must be worried sick."
"You said it. If it weren't for them... sigh. We really owe them our thanks today."
As the crowd murmured amongst themselves, the previously silent platform grew lively again. Hearing their comments, Fang Luo quickly waved his hand. "I can't take the credit. This was a group effort."
'The real hero today wasn't me,' he thought. 'It was Su Li.'
Fang Luo looked over at Su Li. She stood amidst the bustling crowd, but seemed oblivious to the chatter, and she didn't notice him looking at her.
Su Li clutched Tang Mo, her gaze fixed on him, never looking away. In her arms, Tang Mo, who was groggy and only half-conscious from the drug the traffickers had given him, was also staring back at her, as if seeing her for the very first time.
Looking into his eyes, feeling the warmth of his small body in her arms, the reality of the moment finally began to sink in for Su Li.
'I really got him back. I really got Tang Mo back.'
'I really saved him.'
'He's safe.'
Holding Tang Mo, Su Li burst into tears, wailing uncontrollably.
Her sudden outburst drew everyone's attention once more. The crowd looked from her to the child in her arms, their expressions softening with understanding.
'The poor woman.'
Her tears streamed down, falling onto Tang Mo's face. He blinked slowly, trying to lift a hand but unable to. Listening to her heart-wrenching sobs, he opened his mouth and whispered, "Mama."
This was the first time he had ever called Su Li "Mama." The first time in two lifetimes.