Chapter 324: 310 Shui Lian’s Final Boxed Meal (1)
Political Commissioner Lin led a group of seven people, including Meng Shuyan, this little milk baby. During this journey, Jiang Jinghuai had sent one person to notify the police station, leaving only six people now.
The group followed Little Milk Tea, not daring to relax even a fraction. One pair of military boots after another stepped onto the ground, leaving footprint after footprint.
Political Commissioner Lin sighed, "Teacher Shui looks so mild and gentle, who would’ve thought she’d be so restless. But what I don’t understand is, why did she take hostages?" They didn’t even know the other party’s motive.
Jiang Jinghuai’s deep-set eyes darkened, his brows furrowed. "Old Lin, this was my mistake, I’ll take full responsibility. After all, she’s someone I brought to the military." If he had known earlier what kind of trouble she would bring, would he have brought her?
He thought about it—he still would have.
"Jinghuai, don’t think like that. It’s not your fault. Everyone misjudges people sometimes, and besides, the path one chooses is their own responsibility. She’s an adult; she doesn’t need others to teach her basic principles." Political Commissioner Lin didn’t mean to blame him; he just couldn’t figure out what Shui Lian was after. Matters of the heart truly wreak havoc. A man being too outstanding is also a fault.
Political Commissioner Lin wasn’t the only one thinking this; Fang Tongzhou and Lin Xiaobing also felt fortunate that they were just average—plain in looks, far less attractive than their captain. Otherwise, they might one day encounter a woman like Teacher Shui, driven mad by unrequited love, harming their wives and children. That would be a nightmare.
Jiang Jinghuai pressed his lips together, remaining silent.
**
After walking for about ten minutes, Tian Sangsang grew anxious. They were almost out of the forest, yet no one had arrived yet? Could it be that they couldn’t find this place?
Beside her, Chen Biao suddenly halted and cursed under his breath, "Damn it, the cops are here!"
"What!" Shui Lian’s face turned pale as she nervously scanned the surroundings. "What do we do!" They hadn’t even managed to retreat, and their enemies had already arrived!
Tian Sangsang held her breath, listening carefully to the noises around them, then took the chance to raise her voice and shout, "Is anyone there? Help!"
Nini was a clever child. Though weak from hunger, she knew to yell at this moment to draw rescue nearer. "Daddy! Mommy!" she shouted as well.
"Shut up, you filthy woman!" Chen Biao quickly clamped his hand over Tian Sangsang’s mouth and gave her a fierce kick. That kick was exceptionally heavy—fine beads of cold sweat immediately appeared on Tian Sangsang’s forehead, her calf bone throbbing faintly with pain.
"We’ll split up!" Chen Biao said to Shui Lian. "Take the kid and go that way. I’ll take this wretched woman and go the other way."
"Got it!" Shui Lian nodded decisively; there wasn’t time for further deliberation. "We’ll meet outside."
Tian Sangsang watched helplessly as Shui Lian dragged Nini away while she herself was pulled along by Chen Biao. The iron chains on her arms dug into her skin, causing pain. She knew there were people nearby; she wasn’t scared—she was ready for a bold gamble.
The pain in her calf was bone-deep, but she couldn’t afford to care about it. Suddenly, a knife appeared in her hand. She raised it fiercely and stabbed Chen Biao’s arm.
"Ah!" Chen Biao howled in pain, staring incredulously at his arm. It was as if he had seen a ghost, unable to comprehend where Tian Sangsang’s knife had come from.
Taking advantage of his stunned moment, Tian Sangsang ran forward at full speed. Fear awakened hidden reserves of strength within her; she could only run as fast as her legs allowed.
The wind whipped past, scraping against her face as if it could draw blood, but she didn’t notice at all.
Chen Biao sneered maliciously as he watched her run. He reached into his pocket, only to feel... nothing! "You filthy tramp!" Only then did he remember he’d handed the gun over to Shui Lian for safekeeping yesterday and hadn’t retrieved it.
He stared at Tian Sangsang; he might not have the gun, but he couldn’t let her escape. She was a hostage, after all! Gripping the bloodied knife that Tian Sangsang had just stabbed him with, he chased after her.
In the end, Tian Sangsang was still a woman, and her leg had been injured by his kick earlier. After running for some distance, she suddenly tripped and fell to the ground.
"Run, keep running! Weren’t you being so cocky?" Chen Biao taunted, clutching the knife as he approached her, spouting vulgarities: "Dare to stab me? I’ll show you hell first, then finish you off!"
Tian Sangsang staggered to her feet, her gaze locked nervously on the bloodied knife in his hand. Chen Biao’s size was too imposing—if they fought head-on, she stood no chance.
With blood-red eyes, Chen Biao lunged toward her. To her surprise, the anticipated pain didn’t come. Suddenly, a shadow dashed past her, delivering a swift kick to Chen Biao’s stomach. The force made Chen Biao stagger, and before he could react, the figure landed a punch on his face, expertly binding his arms behind his back.
"Let me go!" Chen Biao struggled violently, yelling hysterically but unable to break free.
"Stay put!" Political Commissioner Lin commanded sternly.
Tian Sangsang exhaled in relief.
"Sister-in-law!" Fang Tongzhou rushed to help her up, his voice full of concern. "Are you alright, sister-in-law?"
"I’m fine!" Tian Sangsang shook her head at him, moving her hands slightly. "It’s just that these chains won’t come off!" If there had been a lock on them, it would’ve been easily solved.
Political Commissioner Lin walked over to inspect them, saying, "Sister, you’ll have to bear with them a little longer. We’ll find tools to remove them once we’re back at the base. Where’s Nini? She wasn’t with you?"
"Nini was taken away by Shui Lian."
Fang Tongzhou commented, "Looks like they really split into two groups. Since you’re on this side, Shui Lian and Nini must be on the other."
Political Commissioner Lin nodded. "Let’s go find them!" His daughter was still in Shui Lian’s hands.
Tian Sangsang understood the situation roughly. As she walked with them, she asked, "Tongzhou, have you seen Yanyan?"
"Don’t worry, sister-in-law. Yanyan is with our captain," Fang Tongzhou assured her. Hearing this, Tian Sangsang finally felt at ease.
On the other side, Shui Lian had already been cornered, with no means of escape left! She grabbed Nini by the throat and stood at the edge of the cliff. Glancing back, she saw a deep pool below, loose rocks tumbling down the cliffside—it seemed everything could fall at any moment. Boundless fear and regret overwhelmed her; her mind went blank, unable to understand how things had come to this point. But she had no way out now.
The wind howled fiercely, billowing her white dress.
Meng Shuyan had been set down, the tiny figure standing off to one side.
Chen Xiaobing drew his handgun and pointed it at Shui Lian.
A soldier’s weapon isn’t meant to harm indiscriminately—it’s meant to punish evil. Unless absolutely necessary, they wouldn’t pull the trigger. All they could do was hope Shui Lian wouldn’t force them to shoot.
"Shui Lian." Jiang Jinghuai glanced at the injured Nini in her grasp. The little girl couldn’t speak, her pale face and helpless eyes staring straight at him.
It was as if she were silently pleading: Save me.
His heart twisted with pain.
Memories... blurred.
He stood stoically, his expression as calm as water, and asked her quietly, "What do you want?"
"Don’t come closer. If you do, I’ll jump off with her. I mean it." Shui Lian emphasized, then smiled at Jiang Jinghuai—a smile she believed was beautiful. "I don’t want anything. I just want you."
"You overestimate me. I’m only a mortal man."
Shui Lian gazed at him deeply. "But I just love you."
"Nini!" Spotting Nini being held hostage on the cliff’s edge, the hastily arriving Political Commissioner Lin cried out.
His arrival triggered Shui Lian’s heightened vigilance, her body freezing stiff.
"Mommy." Meng Shuyan walked up to Tian Sangsang’s feet.
Tian Sangsang saw that her son was safe. With her hands still bound, she couldn’t embrace him, but she crouched down to kiss his cheek before standing again to watch the situation unfold alongside him.