Chapter 38

Trafficker

“What’s going on? Why isn’t the city gate open?” Eldest Brother Ning asked.

This was not a good sign. If they wanted to enter Linzhou, they had to pass through White Cloud City. If they could not enter White Cloud City, they would have to return the way they had come and start from the beginning.

Everyone’s heart began to pound.

Ning Bai, on the other hand, scanned his surroundings warily before reminding everyone, “Everyone, gather and watch your families. Don’t let anyone slip away!”

There were many refugees here, and there were already a few covetous gazes fixed on the people from the Ning Family Village.

Fortunately, there were many people in the Ning Family Village. Everyone immediately gathered together. The strong men surrounded the village while the women, children, and elderly guarded the carts filled with food and water. Ning Yue was also surrounded.

Ning Guang stood guard at the side with an electric baton to protect his wife and children. This was something that even a fool understood.

At this moment, there was a commotion in the crowd. Someone felt that there should be food on the people from the Ning Family Village, so they rushed over to snatch it.

“Get out of my way!” The men guarding the far end of the room beat the men to the ground with their fists. They were men who had eaten their fill and were strong.

This beating served as an example to the others who were staring at them.

Although peace had been restored here, conflicts were happening everywhere else on the wasteland.

What Ning Yue couldn’t stand the most was that not far away, a child seemed to have starved to death. His parents were crying as they threw their child into the fire to eat. She felt a chill down her spine.

What kind of world was this!

If she didn’t have the space for supplies, would she also have to eat her child’s corpse? Ning Yue didn’t dare to imagine it.

She looked down at the two children in her arms. They had such lovely innocent faces, and they would smile at her. She would die before she let them go.

“Boohoo… Father, Mother, don’t leave me behind. I’m afraid…” Another little girl cried. Ning Yue looked over and saw the cruel reality of human trafficking.

A couple pushed their daughter, who was only five or six years old, to a man. They took two steamed buns and turned to leave. They seemed to be numb to their daughter’s pleas and quickly ate half of the buns.

The human trafficker pulled the little girl away, ignoring her cries and tantrums.

In the distance, a carriage was parked. It was the trafficker who had dragged the little girl to it. As the girl entered the carriage, the curtain parted and several people seemed to be sitting inside.

Suddenly, Ning Balang’s gaze shifted to something else.

A disheveled little boy was reaching out to steal a water bag from a man’s waist when Ning Balang shouted, “Brother Chen! That’s Brother Chen!”

Then he rushed over.

Everyone was shocked. Madam He wanted to chase after him without thinking, but Ning Yue stopped her. She handed the child to Madam He. “Mother, I’ll go. Don’t come over!”

She wasn’t trying to show off. Everyone shouldn’t be separated now. It was easy for them to get into trouble alone. The younger brother Balang had mentioned was the youngest son of First Aunt. He was only seven years old.

Could it be that the little boy who stole something was Xiaochen? Ning Yue wasn’t sure. Ning Balang was more familiar with Xiaochen.

“I’ll go take a look!” Ning Laosan immediately followed. He also gestured for the others not to follow. In this situation, it was not good as long as there were more people. It would easily cause chaos. If things went wrong, they might be separated again.

When the people in the carriage saw Ning Yue and the others going to look for Xiaochen, someone immediately got out of the carriage and walked over. The human trafficker who had taken the little girl away shouted, “What are you doing?!”

When Third Brother Ning heard this, he stopped and turned around, glaring at him.

The human trafficker had already arrived. He pointed at Third Brother Ning fiercely. “What do you want? That’s my subordinate!”

“What do you mean by your subordinate? This is my younger brother. Do you know how old he is?” Ning Yue had already found Xiaochen. Xiaochen also recognized her and Ning Balang and immediately hid behind them. He didn’t expect to meet his family here. All the fear he had been feeling these past few days burst out, and tears streamed down his face.

“Eighth Brother, Sister Yue!” Xiaochen spoke in fear. His clothes were tattered and his face was dirty. He looked like a little tramp.

Seeing this scene, the curtain was lifted again, and this time it was drawn up.

Inside were two women, brightly dressed, who stood out among the ragged refugees. The woman in red got out of the carriage and walked over.