A young boy from the 1970s, separated from his family, fled famine and led his younger brother into

"We're not arresting you anymore. We've already caught all the bad guys. You're little heroes, important witnesses for our police. Uncle will protect you and reward you!"

The train police captain's words were like a pardon, finally allowing Su Nianci's extremely tense nerves to relax. She knew that she had won this thrilling "train battle," and won it completely!

She belatedly breathed a sigh of relief, her body went limp as if she had exhausted all her strength, and leaned directly against Xiao Shitou, sobbing softly, looking completely shaken.

Little Stone immediately hugged her tightly, supporting his sister with his small body. His dark eyes were filled with heartache and lingering fear.

The train police captain looked at the brother and sister who depended on each other for survival, feeling both pity and admiration. He stood up, opened the door, and announced loudly to the passengers and Lin Wenjun who were watching:

"Dear passengers, please rest assured! This heinous crime has been successfully solved thanks to the courageous report from our two young heroes and everyone's active cooperation! All seven suspects from the two criminal gangs led by Scarface and Ma San have been apprehended!"

"Whoosh—!"

Thunderous applause and cheers erupted instantly inside the carriage!

"Great! Well done!"

"Thank you for your hard work, officers!"

"These two kids are really great!"

All the passengers looked at Su Nianci and Xiao Shitou at the door of the train police station with admiration and respect. In their eyes, the two ragged children seemed to be radiating light at that moment.

Lin Wenjun was so moved that tears welled up in her eyes. She rushed forward and hugged the two children tightly, her voice choked with emotion, "It's alright, it's alright... You're both so wonderful! Your sister is so proud of you!"

Feeling the warmth of Lin Wenjun's embrace and the kind gazes of the surrounding travelers, Su Nianci experienced for the first time in this unfamiliar era something other than danger and scheming—the treatment of a "hero."

Although, this "hero" was "directed" by herself.

What followed was perfectly logical.

The train police captain personally escorted Su Nianci, Xiao Shitou, and Lin Wenjun back to their original seats. Furthermore, to commend their "heroic act," he specially brought them a lavish "reward" from the dining car.

A greasy roast chicken, four steamed buns, and two bottles of orange-flavored soda!

In an era when even meat was rationed, this was a lavish feast comparable to the Lunar New Year!

"Gulp."

Little Stone stared at the golden, glistening roast chicken and couldn't help but swallow hard. He'd never even seen anything smell so good before, let alone eaten it.

The surrounding passengers also cast envious glances.

"Here you go, little heroes, this is a reward for you! Eat up!" The train police captain smiled, personally tearing off a large chicken leg and handing it to Su Nian-Ci.

"Thank you, officer." Su Nianci didn't stand on ceremony; she knew this was her deserved "trophy." She took the chicken leg but didn't eat it herself; instead, she stuffed it directly into Xiao Shitou's hand.

"Little stone, eat up."

"Sister...you eat." Although Little Stone was extremely hungry, he still put the chicken leg to Su Nianci's mouth.

"I'm not hungry, you eat. If you eat, you'll grow tall and strong, and then you can protect me." Su Nianci patted his head.

Little Stone glanced at her, then at the fragrant chicken leg, and finally stopped refusing. He opened his little mouth and took a big bite. His blissful expression, with his mouth oozing with oil, was enough to melt anyone's heart.

Su Nianci tore off another chicken leg and handed it to Lin Wenjun: "Sister Wenjun, you should have some too. Thank you so much for today."

"I...I don't need it..." Lin Wenjun quickly waved her hand.

"Eat it." Su Nianci's tone left no room for argument. "Without you, we wouldn't know where we'd be right now. This is what you deserve."

Looking into Su Nianci's eyes, which didn't seem like those of a child but seemed to see through everything, Lin Wenjun finally accepted the gift. She felt that in front of this little sister, she was the one who needed to be taken care of.

The "victory celebration banquet" was a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

The roast chicken had a crispy skin and tender meat, the steamed buns were soft and sweet, and the orange soda had a refreshing and stimulating sweetness. Su Nianci and Xiao Shitou ate until their bellies were round, their faces beaming with a long-lost sense of childlike satisfaction and joy.

After a satisfying meal, the train arrived at its next major station.

A large number of railway police officers were already waiting on the platform of the station.

The train police captain personally escorted Scarface, Ma San, and the other suspects off the train. They all looked dejected, handcuffed, and wilted. As they passed Su Nianci's seat, Ma San and the thug wrapped up like a dumpling stared at Su Nianci with eyes filled with extreme resentment.

Those eyes seemed to say: You little bitch, just you wait, we'll haunt you even as ghosts!

Su Nianci didn't even bother to lift her eyelids; she was focused on wiping the grease from the corner of Xiao Shitou's mouth.

To her, these defeated adversaries posed no threat whatsoever. They would spend the rest of their lives in prison, with no chance to commit further evil.

After seeing the prisoner off, the train police captain returned to the carriage.

He walked up to Su Nianci, squatted down, took something out of his pocket, and handed it to her.

It's that dragon-shaped jade pendant.

"Young man, this was found in the luggage of that guy named Ma San. It should be your stuff, right?"

Su Nianci's heart skipped a beat. She knew that the jade pendant wasn't with Ma San at all, but was hidden close to her and Xiao Shitou's bodies. The train police captain's words were clearly... a test!

Although he outwardly believed her, deep down he may still harbor a sliver of doubt.

Su Nianci's mind raced.

She could neither admit it nor deny it.

If she admits it, it's equivalent to confirming that Ma San and his group came for the jade pendant, and then she will be unable to clear her name as the "trigger".

If she denies it, and the railway police captain searches them again and finds the real jade pendant, then she will be deceiving the police, which would be an even more serious crime.

This is a dilemma!

Su Nianci raised her head and looked into the deep, seemingly penetrating eyes of the train police captain, a look of confusion and fear on her face.

She didn't take the jade pendant, but shrank back and said timidly, "Officer, this isn't mine...my family heirloom. It's...an old pocket watch left by my father. It's worthless."

As she spoke, she subconsciously covered the pocket on her chest.

That action, that answer, was absolutely perfect!

She denied that the priceless jade pendant was hers, yet she also reasonably explained why she had a "family heirloom," and subconsciously pointed out the location and importance of the "family heirloom" with a gesture.

The train police captain looked at her and remained silent for a full ten seconds.

Finally, he slowly put the jade pendant back, a meaningful smile appearing on his face.

"Okay, Uncle understands." He stood up and gave Su Nianci one last deep look. His gaze was complex and hard to decipher, containing admiration, inquiry, and a hint of... indescribable solemnity.

"Little student, your name is Su Nianci, right? My name is Lei Ming, and I'm the captain of the train's police team. You're a very... very special child. I hope we'll have the chance to meet again in the future."

After saying that, he turned around and strode away.

Watching Lei Ming's departing figure, Su Nianci's heart inexplicably tightened.

Her intuition told her that this railway police captain named Lei Ming was definitely not simple! His last words and his complex gaze seemed to have seen through all her pretense!

"I hope we'll have the chance to meet again in the future..."

What exactly does this sentence mean?

Is it just polite talk, or... a warning with a hidden meaning?

For the first time, Su Nianci felt a sense of uncertainty about her future. She felt as if she were being watched by an invisible net.