Trafford's Trading Club

Long Qiang crouched down on the ground with his hands on head… This had happened to him before, but this time it was submachine guns, rather than police batons, which were pointed at him.

Long Qiang said, ”Officer! Itʼs not a kidnapping! To be honest, I am just inviting her to go to the prison. Iʼm really not a kidnapper.”

”Officer Lin, Long Qiang has actually visited a guy named Fatty Zhang in the prison many times,” said a policeman.

Lin Feng was puzzled... Was this just a joke? How embarrassing it would be if Officer Ma knew that?!

He frowned and gave a shudder, then knocked Long Qiangʼs head forcefully, ”Not a kidnapping? Then why did you force her on your car?”

”This... Well, I thought she pretended to be pure to get more money. And I didnʼt have time to wait for her and listen to her blatter about..”

Lin Feng groaned, ”Donʼt talk b*llshit.”

”Officer, you are wronging me!” Long Qiang bitterly said, ”If I kidnapped her, why would I chose this god-forsaken place?”

”But her fiancé said the ransom demand was eight million! Donʼt go back on your word!”

Long Qiang was stunned, ”What? I just said eight hundred.”

”Eight hundred?” Lin Feng surprisingly showed the number with his fingers.

”Yes, eight hundred! And it was just for the medical expenses since she bit my ear…” Long Qiang miserably said, ”Officer, You really are wronging me! If you donʼt believe me, you can ask Fatty Zhang. Itʼs him who asked me to bring this woman there.”

...

”Officer Lin, what should we do now?” A policeman came and asked.

Lin Feng looked at the sky and suddenly said, ”How is Zhou Zihao?”

”He is resting in the car.” The policeman went on, ”If what Long Qiang said is true, shall we ask the search team to find Tao Xiaoman?”

”Go ahead.” Lin Feng nodded, ”And you go and bring Fatty Zhang here. Iʼll confront him with Long Qiang.”

”Yes, sir!”

...

...

”Where am I? Is anybody here?” Tao Xiaman shuddered with fear and said with a tremble in the cold cave… Her clothes were soaked through and her face was pale.

”Please... Please wear this coat first.” Old Feng sighed, taking off his coat.

”Donʼt come to me, who are you... Where I am? ” Tao Xiaman quickly stood up, but the sharp pain from her feet made her fall down to the ground all of a sudden.

Old Feng hurriedly held her up, ”Youʼve twisted your ankle. Donʼt move!”

And he whispered, ”Donʼt be afraid. Iʼm not a bad guy. Iʼm just living nearby. And I pulled you up when I was fishing.”

Tao Xiaman thought for a while and asked, ”You…you saved me?”

”Yes, I did.” Old Feng sighed, ”Please rest assured. Iʼm just an old man... If you donʼt believe, you can touch my hand.”

Gently holding her hand, he continued, ”Touch my hands or face as you like. Iʼm weaker than you.”

The wrinkled hands were dry and skinny, and the face was rough with stubble.

”Put on this coat. Donʼt get cold.” Seeing Xiaman calm down, Old Feng whispered, ”Iʼll make a fire to warm you.”

”Thank you...” Tao Xiaman nodded. Though her reason warned her not to trust this old man, a familiar peaceful feeling from touching the hand was spreading in her heart, which made her feel warm… This was really a strange but wonderful feeling.

”My pleasure.” Old Feng looked around but found nothing that could start a fire. He walked out of the cave and unexpectedly saw a bunch of withered branches and some dry leaves…along with a lighter nearby.

Perhaps these were prepared earlier by the club boss… But why did he do this and leave them here? Old Feng didnʼt believe that it would require an effort for the boss to send him back along with Tao Xiaman, yet, he and Tao Xiaman was left in this place.

Old Feng wasnʼt sure what was the boss thinking but he was now experiencing a complex range of emotions.

However, for him to bring a blinded Tao Xiaman to leave this place was a little too hard.

The sky and turned totally dark. To go out of this empty and desolate place with an injured Tao Xiaman was difficult and even dangerous for him.

While the burning firewood was crackling and the heat was spreading to Tao Xiaomanʼs feet, she subconsciously asked, ”Excuse me, have you already made a fire? Why is it still so dark?”

”Yes, you can come closer.”

”But... But why canʼt I still see anything?

Old Feng thought for a while and said, ”Have you hurt your head? You really canʼt see anything?”

Tao Xiaman subconsciously touched her painful head…”I canʼt see...I canʼt see...How could I...”

Looking at panicked Tao Xiaman, Old Feng quickly comforted her, ”Donʼt worry, girl. Maybe only the swelling is temporarily pressing down on your optic nerve. Donʼt be afraid. I will be here with you. Donʼt be afraid! ”

This ”Donʼt be afraid” really comforted Tiao Xiaman as she quietly sat there with her knees bent and hands held together. Then, everything became quiet except for the crackling firewood.

”Excuse me, are you still there?” Tao Xiaman asked with hesitation.

”Yes, I am here!”

”I... Iʼm a little scared. Can you talk about something with me?” Tao Xiaman bitterly smiled, ”Your voice somehow makes me feel relieved.”

”Really?” Old Feng felt sad, quietly breaking the branch and throwing it into the fire.

”Yes. And where are we?”

”Oh, weʼre just in a village.” Old Feng thought, ”I have lived here since I was a child.”

”Have you ever gone out of here?” Tao Xiaman surprisingly asked.

Old Feng shook his head and sighed, ”I donʼt want to go anywhere. Whatʼs more, I have nowhere to go.”

”Why do you say that?” Tao Xiaman curiously asked, ”How about your family?”

”Family?” Old Feng kept silent for a while and whispered, ”My wife is gone and my daughter, I havenʼt seen her for a long time.”

Tao Xiaman hurriedly said, ”Iʼm sorry.”

”Thatʼs OK.” Old Feng shook his head, looking at Tao Xiaman under the firelight, he couldnʼt help but think of his wife…

”Excuse me? Excuse me? Are you still there?” Tao Xiaman hastily stretched out her hand.

”Yes, I am here.” Old Feng hurriedly answered, ”Donʼt be afraid, girl. You just sit here for a while. Iʼll go and pick you some fruits.”

”No, thanks. Iʼm not hungry…Where, where are you going?”

Hearing the footsteps vanish, Tao Xiaman subconsciously curled up like a lost and helpless child.

She lost her sight and even injured her leg, How could she not be afraid?

She never dreamed she would experience this once again--- when she was a child, sheʼd lost her way home when she played outside with her playmates…

She slowly closed her eyes---this time, who would come and find her?

Dad.