Chapter 28: The Little Provocateur of the Seventies (28)

Liu Suisui’s eyes were tinged with a hint of amusement. As expected, if you dangle a carrot in front of them, any donkey will follow along.

After stepping out of the courtyard, Scarface and Dazhuang followed behind her at a distance that was neither too close nor too far. It was enough to keep an eye on her movements while remaining close enough to restrain her if necessary.

She led them forward, guided by the location 007 provided for Li Xiangyang. After several twists and turns, she spotted him before long. However, from a distance, she could also see police officers by his side.

Scarface and Dazhuang were already prepared to bolt, but Liu Suisui walked straight into a side alley, not even glancing at the officers. The two men exchanged a look, both seeing a flash of shock in the other’s eyes—this girl was actually serious; she wasn't playing them?

Seeing her about to vanish from their sight, they hurried after her. When they caught up, they found her clutching her chest, gasping for air.

"You scared me to death! I thought I was going to get caught by the police for doing something bad," she said, glancing nervously around.

"You little girl, I misjudged you. I didn't expect that when a woman turns ruthless, she’s truly ruthless," Scarface remarked with a sigh.

Having walked for so long, they had assumed she was scouting a route to escape. But even after encountering the police, she hadn't chosen to run over and report them; this proved she was genuinely defecting to their side. Their trust in Liu Suisui soared, completely unaware that the alley they had entered was a dead end.

"Big Brother, my desire to make money is definitely real. After all, we can only live better if we have money, right? Let me calm down for a second; it’s my first time doing something illegal, and I’m a bit nervous." She patted her chest, looking surreptitious in a way that felt entirely out of place with her persona.

Dazhuang couldn't help but sneer, "Look at you, shaking like that. With such little guts, you want to do big things? We are the ones who truly do big things!"

"Yes, yes, you and the boss are the best. I’m truly inferior," she replied. A few words were enough to make them beam with pride.

Scarface cleared his throat. "Anyway, it’s getting late. Go and lure the target over quickly. Once we pull off this big score, we’ll be set for life."

"Got it!"

Liu Suisui nodded vigorously. Then, with a cunning smile, she snatched up a wooden club leaning against the wall and swung it down with all her might. Scarface didn't even have time to react; his head was struck, and he felt dazed and dizzy. He looked at her in disbelief, "Third Sister, you..."

Dazhuang finally caught on. "You wretched woman! How dare you trick us!"

"Don't move! Move again and I’ll shoot!"

"Squat down! Hands on your head!"

Before he could even react, several police officers surged into the alley, surrounding them completely. The presence of a "bait" had lowered their guard, and Liu Suisui’s deliberate avoidance of the police earlier had dulled their suspicions even further. Now, they stood like fools, squatting on the ground with their heads in their hands, utterly at a loss.

"Educated Youth Liu, are you alright? Are you hurt? Did they do anything to you?" Li Xiangyang rushed in from behind the crowd, looking anxious as he inspected her from head to toe.

Liu Suisui shook her head. "I'm fine. But I think this guy might have a problem—I hit him pretty hard, and I don't know if he has a concussion." Fortunately, the term "excessive defense" wasn't a common concern yet, or she might have ended up in the station right alongside them.

Earlier on the road, they had crossed paths, but Liu Suisui had given him a look, pretending not to know him. Li Xiangyang had spotted the two suspicious men behind her and knew immediately she was being coerced. Realizing she hadn't called for help meant there was a deeper reason, so after they passed, he brought the police to trail them quietly. They waited for the perfect moment—right after that club was swung—to charge in.

Liu Suisui knew she wasn't a match for an adult male in a direct fight, so she had to rely on a sneak attack to gain the upper hand. She wouldn't have acted rashly without ensuring her own safety. It was lucky Li Xiangyang had been clever enough to report it to the police station; otherwise, he might have had to face these two men alone, and there would have been a risk of them escaping to spread the word.

"They have a hideout. I know where it is. There are several other girls and children inside."

Officer Liu hadn't expected such a significant achievement to fall into his lap so easily. He looked at Liu Suisui with admiration; she looked so small and frail, yet he never expected she could run these traffickers in circles.

"It’s likely a good time to strike. I observed signs of life, but they weren't there, so it’s the perfect moment to rescue the others."

The hideout certainly wasn't run by just those three. Such an important "business" wouldn't be left to such incompetent fools. They were likely just guards tasked with keeping up appearances. The old woman had probably acted on an impulse to kidnap her, never expecting to bring a bomb into her own den.

Liu Suisui led the team to the small courtyard, and the old woman was caught before she could even attempt to flee. The victims in the dark room were rescued, and the nest was dismantled. As for the subsequent investigation, that was a matter for the police.

"Educated Youth Liu, right? Thank you for your bravery. We were able to save these children. There have been reports for days, and we never realized the traffickers were right under our noses." Officer Liu looked at the young girl with growing fondness, as if she were his own daughter.

Liu Suisui waved her hand. "It was just a small effort. It’s thanks to those idiots being so gullible; otherwise, I never could have tricked them." If they had been even slightly smarter, she would have been the one getting a beating.

When several parents arrived to collect their children and learned what had happened, they showered her with gratitude and insisted on treating her to a meal to thank her for saving their lives. Liu Suisui tried every way to politely decline their kindness.

However, before leaving the police station, she made one request to Officer Liu.

"Could you help me send a silk banner to the Red Star Brigade?"

"Of course! If you do a good deed, you deserve a reward," Officer Liu agreed readily, looking at her with a kind, grandfatherly smile.

"One more condition: just write his name on the banner. There's no need to include mine," she said, pointing to Li Xiangyang.

"Why?"

She covered her face in embarrassment. "I don't want anyone to know I was kidnapped. It’s just too humiliating!"