Chapter Eleven: Uncle, Not Quite Enough

Facing the admiring gazes of the train police and the somewhat frowning, even accusatory looks from the train attendants, Jiang Jing bore the blame with a blank expression, cursing silently in his heart at those damn traffickers who had kidnapped Jiang Xiaxia.

“Comrade, we will arrive at Wucheng in five minutes. It would be best if you, along with your mother and niece, go to the police station first to give a statement.”

If it had been just one trafficker, it might have been manageable.

But since they had caught four, one of whom used hidden silver needles under the nails as a weapon, they couldn’t detain them on the train.

“Money!” Jiang Xiaxia tugged at the police officer’s sleeve anxiously as he motioned for them to get off the train. “Money!”

The train police didn’t quite understand. “Did they steal your money too?”

Seeing his confusion, Jiang Xiaxia turned pleadingly to Jiang Jing—Jiang Hua behind him—and said, “Nai!”

Jiang Hua pushed aside her tall but ineffective youngest son and stepped forward apologetically to explain, “My youngest son was hospitalized recently, and I had muttered a few complaints about our financial situation. The child took it to heart, thinking he needed to earn money to support me. She happened to overhear someone at the hospital saying that catching traffickers would earn a reward, so she set her sights on these traffickers. We’re truly sorry to trouble you.”

Although catching these scoundrels was a good thing, it inevitably added more work for the two of them. Jiang Hua apologized while explaining.

Despite the apologetic expression on her face, the subtle pride behind her words was hard to miss.

Such a young child already thinking about supporting the family!

Especially since this tall, burly young man standing before them was her youngest son.

And their family didn’t appear to favor sons over daughters.

With a child already thinking about the family’s welfare, it was hard not to feel a twinge of envy.

The train attendant, feeling a bit superior due to her seniority, couldn’t help but chide Jiang Jing, “Young man, you’re tall and strong, yet you let your niece support the family? That won’t do! If word got out, no woman would want to marry you!”

Jiang Jing stared blankly at the elderly woman and the little girl before him—one sweetly calling “Nai,” the other holding the younger one, smiling warmly while praising Xiaxia’s filial piety.

And he—

Jiang Jing chuckled softly, already foreseeing what his life would be like once he returned home.

The train attendant wanted to say more, but the police officer, who was more experienced and firmly believed Jiang Xiaxia’s skills had been taught by this man from a young age, was convinced Jiang Jing’s identity was no ordinary one.

He tugged on the attendant’s sleeve, signaling her to stop.

They called over others, secured the traffickers, and then led them away. “Comrade Jiang, once we arrive, we will notify you—”

“No need. After getting off, I’ll call the police station directly. Someone will come to pick them up. You just need to hand them over to the railway authorities.”

The train police sighed in relief, thanked them repeatedly, and left the space to the family of three.

“Third son, did you offend someone on your last mission? Why did the ticket assigned to you by your unit lead you straight into the traffickers’ den?”

Just as Jiang Jing was about to ask his mother to give him some face, since he was already well into his twenties, Jiang Hua frowned and spoke first, “You should ask when you get off. If it really is related to your mission, then I think it’s best we split up.”

Jiang Xiaxia didn’t understand what her grandmother meant. She had been obediently munching on the small cookies the train attendant gave her, but seeing Nai’s face darken, she stopped eating and looked at her confusedly. “Nai?”

Why was she upset?

“It has nothing to do with Xiaxia!” Jiang Hua patted the little girl’s head, sighing inwardly.

This girl had saved both her and her third son’s lives!

“It’s your uncle’s fault! Not yours. Keep eating.”

Hearing this, Jiang Xiaxia took a small bite again.

The train attendant had given her three cookies; she saved two for Nai and ate one herself.

Watching Jiang Jing’s increasingly dark expression, Jiang Xiaxia felt a bit guilty and carefully broke off a tiny piece of cookie, offering it to him with a coaxing, “Uncle, eat!”

Jiang Jing looked at the cookie, smaller than his thumbnail, and nearly laughed in frustration. “You’re very generous!”

Jiang Xiaxia didn’t catch the sarcasm and nodded seriously. “Uncle, I am!”

Only for you, Uncle!

“Good boy!” Jiang Hua found the scene amusing but couldn’t help teasing a bit.

Jiang Jing snorted, “I can’t compare to you! You got two cookies!”

“No contest!” Xiaxia nodded earnestly, clearly agreeing that her uncle paled in comparison to her grandmother.

But then she suddenly widened her eyes in surprise. “Three!”

She could say three words now!

“Not as good!” the excited Xiaxia repeated like a newly speaking parrot, with her tiny voice chiming in every half minute.

Jiang Jing felt like the sound was drilling into his brain. Finally off the train, he hugged the little girl, covering her mouth with a stern face. “If you say one more word, I won’t take you off the train! Ah—”

Before he finished, Jiang Xiaxia hadn’t even shown a hint of grievance when Jiang Hua smacked the back of his head, making a deliberately pitiful yelp.

He had hoped to evoke sympathy from the little girl.

But Xiaxia just looked up, giggling and occasionally shouting “Not as good!”

Several police officers, who had already received notice and come to escort them for questioning, watched this scene with baffled expressions.

Weren’t these two just rescued from cruel traffickers?

How did it look like they were on vacation instead?

Suppressing their doubts, one officer stepped forward. “Comrade, we received notice and would like to take you to the station for further questioning. Don’t worry, a female officer will accompany your mother and niece.”

Jiang Jing sighed and patted the excited Xiaxia in his arms. “If you want details, my mother and niece can’t be without me. After all, I only caught one trafficker, my mother caught one, and my niece caught two and a half!”

The police officer stared blankly. “Comrade, are you joking?”

Jiang Jing, resigned, handed over his credentials. “No joke. I’m telling the truth. Most of this was thanks to my niece, not me.”

Hearing this, Jiang Xiaxia nodded vigorously, her little voice blending with the whistle of the departing train as she shouted once more, “Not as good!”

Jiang Jing’s face turned utterly dark.