After more than nine hours of hiding, the human trafficker arrived at the warehouse by 2 a.m.
The so-called warehouse was actually a place to keep the abducted children.
These children were trafficked from different places around the country. Some of the older kids would be starved for two days to tame them before selling them.
Meanwhile, some of the kids were only slightly more than a week old. Their memories had yet to develop. Children of this age were the easiest to handle. After spending a few days with the professional nannies they hired, they would be ready to be sold.
Regardless of their age, once the children left the warehouse, it would be difficult to locate them again.
By then, they would be trafficked to different places.
Boys from the countryside were the most in-demand ones. When people had difficulties bearing a child, they would resort to purchasing one instead. One child would only cost them about 20 to 50 thousand.
After the child was sold and officially registered as a member of the family, the child would belong to them forever. Even if the police wanted to investigate the background of the children, they would not be able to find anything.
On the other hand, the rebellious ones would be sold to “Beggar Camp”. Beggar Camp was very influential among the locals and had their own impermeable system. They would break a child's leg and make them beg on the streets, which actually became the camp's main source of income.
By then, a police report would be rendered useless. The police would not be bothered to investigate the case, for they did not know where to start.
With such a great population in the mainland, once the trafficked children were “legally” adopted, they would be camouflaged.
Many times, parents, both rich and poor, would search the entire China for their missing children.
It might take them one year, three years or way longer than that.
In fact, it was not the most heartbreaking to not be able to find the children.
The most brutal scene happened when the parents pa.s.sed by the street, noticed a pitiful kid and pa.s.sed the kid a dollar. Yet, the parents failed to recognize the beggar as the son they had sorely missed.
As time pa.s.sed, children grew up and they no longer looked like the toddler they used to be. It was not easy for the parents and the children to recognize each other.
Reality was unlike the soap drama. When most of the parents found their children with the help of the police, the children would only see their parents as strangers.
Therefore, the parents could only pray hard.
They prayed for the children to be sold to a kind couple even if they could not stay by their children's side.
That would be a way better outcome for their children than being cut off a limb and turned into a beggar.
However, the human traffickers would never be considerate. They only wanted to earn more money.
Having an influential organization backing them, they did not have to worry about being exposed. Once they became the local tyrant, they became the law.
The officials would never dare disturb them.
This was also why the human trafficker felt relieved after he reached the warehouse. Once he returned to his own territory, there should be nothing for him to be afraid of.
The human trafficker knew that his enemy, who found him at the train station, would definitely not let him go. However, he was the least worried. This was his gang's territory. Even if she came from an exorcising family, they could still kill her as long as they were in this zone!
Thinking about this, the human trafficker called his superior and described the whole incident to Sixth Master.
Sixth Master was a well-connected man. That night he picked up the human trafficker's call, he was drinking with a reputable man. After the call, they clinked their gla.s.ses. “If anything is to happen, your help will be very useful.”
“Of course I'll lend you a hand. That goes without saying. But, Sixth Brother, I must remind you to stay within the lines.” The guest drank as he spoke to Sixth Brother as though they were fellow comrades, “Subdue your emotions when it is necessary and stay amicable with the others.”
“Yes, yes. Brother, you're right.” After saying that, Sixth Master told the bargirl, “Why are you still here? Have you not seen our brother's empty cup? Hurry up and top the gla.s.s up.”
The bargirl put on an innocent yet seductive smile. She moved closer to the guest as she continued to refill the gla.s.s with wine, trying her best to please her patrons.
After the drinking session, he ordered the bargirl to send his guest back to the most luxurious suite.
This was nonetheless one of the most expected measures to handle the situation.
In that case, no one would be checking that green train that was setting off from the Yungui District today.
The mainland was not like any other place. The official connections between the organizations were not as useful as people expected. Once the local tyrants were involved in the issue, it would be hard to maneuver the situation.
This was also why human trafficking could be done under broad daylight in this district.
Helian Wei Wei did not go directly to the train station. Instead, she brought the two little ones into an internet cafe nearby the train station. It was occupied by the gamers. As it was already two o'clock in the morning, the man at the front desk seemed rather weary. When he heard them coming in, he did not even bother to raise his head. “You're renting it for the whole night or a few hours? It is 10 dollars for the whole night and five dollars per hour for non-members. For members, three and a half dollars per hour.”
“I'm looking for your boss, Old Cat.”
Old Cat's name was enough to awaken the guy at the front desk. He, who initially was lying on the keyboard, finally raised his head to glance at Helian Wei Wei. Noticing the two boys at her heels, he furrowed his brows. “Are you sure that you want to speak to our boss?”
“Yes.” Helian Wei Wei said as she took out her phone to show a photo to the guy.
The guy seemed rather fl.u.s.tered as he murmured under his breath, “Why did you bring along two children when you're here for work?” He grabbed something before he rose to his feet. “Our boss is at the back. He told me that he is expecting someone today.”
Helian Wei Wei brought the two little ones over. The man went round the front yard before he knocked on the door thrice and pushed the door open, allowing Helian Wei Wei and the boys to enter the room.
It was not a big room and the fragrance of the tea was wafting in the air. There was a wooden table placed in the middle of the room. Meanwhile, on top of the table was a tea set and a purple jade toad. The jade toad was made of a translucent material and was evidently not an ordinary decoration.
Yungui District was famous for its tea. Besides, the people there appreciated tea and would collect tea sets too. But still, it was rather unusual for an internet cafe to have a valuable purple jade toad.
The person, who was drinking the tea, was a middle-aged man. He wore a string of Buddhist beads on his wrist. Seeing Helian Wei Wei's arrival, he raised his head and said, “So you're sent here by Master Monkey?”
Master Monkey? Little Qingchen's little ears twitched upon hearing this familiar name. He never knew that Uncle Monkey had such an honorific t.i.tle.
Helian Wei Wei put on a faint smile as she silently gave a nod of acknowledgement.
The middle-aged man eyed her up, before he looked at Little Qingchen and Little Shangxie behind her and said, “Lady, I know what you're here for. Since you were introduced by Master Monkey, then I have to remind you there are certain rules you have to adhere to when it comes to child trafficking. There are some things that you should not interfere and you must stay away from it.”
