Chapter 3: Catching the traffickers
Li Yi had been waiting for some time when Wei Sanpao returned, bringing along seven or eight young men. Most of them looked to be around seventeen or eighteen years old. Although Li Yi didn't know their names, he recognized them as children of the workers from the local meat factory.
As the school day was about to end, Li Yi addressed the group. "Brothers, I called you here because I need a favor. If you help me, not only will you get the factory's approval, but I'll also reward each of you with 100 yuan!"
Wei Sanpao grinned. "Brother Yi, you're too generous! If you need anything, just say the word. We're here for you!"
Li Yi nodded and got to the point. "Weiwei—my daughter—told me that someone has been following her recently. She's been feeling uneasy about it. I suspect this person might be a human trafficker, and I want to deal with it."
He paused, then added, "However, dealing with someone like that isn't easy. That's why I need your help. Are you in?"
Wei Sanpao clenched his fists. "If anyone dares to hurt Weiwei, they'll regret it. We're all in!"
"Hold on," Li Yi said, his voice firm. "We have to be careful. We're not just going after anyone; we want to catch this trafficker in the act."
"Just tell us what to do, Brother!" one of the young men said, eager to help.
Li Yi explained his plan. "The rain is heavy today, so I decided to stay outside the kindergarten to watch, rather than going inside to pick up Weiwei. If the man is indeed a trafficker, he might try something while the rain gives him cover. Once he lures Weiwei, we'll capture him and take him to the factory for questioning."
"I think it's a good plan," Wei Sanpao said. "Workshop No. 3 has been closed for six months, so no one will be there. It's the perfect place for us to deal with him."
Li Yi nodded. "Exactly. We'll split into two groups. San'er, you take three others and block the east road near the kindergarten. The rest of us will cover the west. Once he makes his move, we'll trap him!"
"Got it, let's go!" Sanpao said with determination.
As the group prepared, Li Yi's eyes caught sight of a man wearing a straw hat, standing across the street. The man was suspiciously looking toward the kindergarten, and Li Yi instinctively felt something was off. Though Li Yi couldn't clearly see his face, his gut told him this man was the one.
"Look at that guy in the straw hat," Li Yi whispered. "Doesn't he look suspicious? Watch him closely."
The group followed his gaze and kept an eye on the man.
The school bell rang, signaling the end of the day. Children began to leave, accompanied by their parents. Soon, the playground cleared out, leaving only a few children behind.
Li Yi's eyes immediately searched for his daughter, Li Weiwei. She was standing by the kindergarten gate, looking nervous. His heart tightened at the sight.
In his previous life, he had neglected to pick up his daughter, leaving her vulnerable to kidnappers. Now, seeing her standing there alone, Li Yi was filled with regret. How could he have let her wait in the rain, alone and scared?
His mind raced with thoughts of what might happen if she was taken. He thought of the pain and despair his family had endured after Weiwei was lost, and the consequences of his mistakes. His heart burned with anger.
But Li Yi knew he had to remain calm. If he acted recklessly, the trafficker would escape. He couldn't risk Weiwei's safety. The trafficker was cunning, and the situation was dangerous. Until they had the trafficker in custody, Li Yi couldn't afford to make a move.
Minutes passed, and Li Yi's anxiety grew. Then, he saw the man in the straw hat move again. This time, the man was approaching the kindergarten gate, looking around cautiously.
Li Yi's heart skipped a beat. This was it—the trafficker was making his move.
He signaled to Wei Sanpao. "It's time. Let's move!"
Wei Sanpao and the others acted immediately, blocking the man's path. As they got closer, the trafficker didn't seem to notice them at first. But when they got within range, Wei Sanpao and Sun Wei acted quickly, grabbing the trafficker from both sides.
Before the trafficker could react, he was on the ground, held down by the young men.
Li Yi's heart pounded as he rushed over to his daughter. She was shaken but unharmed, and she immediately recognized her father. She clung to him, still in shock but safe.
"Are you okay, Weiwei?" Li Yi asked, holding her tightly.
Weiwei nodded, her voice trembling. "I'm okay, Dad. I was just scared."
Li Yi hugged her tightly, feeling both relief and guilt. "I'm so sorry, Weiwei. I won't let anything happen to you."
Turning to Wei Sanpao, Li Yi said, "We need to get this man to the factory before anyone notices. We can't take any chances."
Sanpao quickly tied up the trafficker using a belt and some shoe laces. They gagged him with a piece of cloth to prevent him from shouting for help.
With the trafficker securely restrained, the group quickly made their way to the No. 3 workshop at the meat factory, where they would deal with him.
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