TYH-DCI | Chapter 30 – The Smile That Can’t Be Hidden

He placed two tins of malted milk powder he had specially bought at the supply and marketing cooperative onto the table, then said to Xi’er, “I came all this way to see you and haven’t even eaten yet. Aren’t you going to take me out for a meal?”

Xi’er looked a little torn and glanced at Jiang Lai. She felt Jiang Lai needed her more at the moment.

She was even about to take out money and let Dongfang Jibai go eat on his own.

Jiang Lai cut in before she could speak. “Xi’er, go have dinner with Brother Dongfang. I’ve still got Wang Shengnan and the others here.”

Only then did Xi’er reluctantly nod. “Alright then. Make sure you drink your porridge while it’s hot—it’s century egg and pork porridge, super fragrant!”

“Later when I come back, I’ll buy a washbasin and some daily necessities too. It’ll be more convenient.”

Jiang Lai quickly replied, “Alright, but don’t buy too much. I’ll probably be discharged in a day or two anyway. Too many things will be hard to carry.”

“Got it! Leave it to me!” Xi’er patted her chest confidently.

The two of them left the ward.

Dongfang Jibai muttered a little sourly, “Little ungrateful girl. I rushed all the way here, and you won’t even treat me to a meal. I really spoiled you for nothing.”

But his tone carried more relief than complaint—his little sister had grown up.

Xi’er knew her brother was all bark and no bite.

She immediately clung to his arm and started acting spoiled.

Dongfang Jibai was easy to appease as well, and since he wasn’t truly angry, the siblings quickly made up.

Inside the ward, the man in the Zhongshan suit turned to the two police officers and said, “You two can go out first. Take the statements later.”

The officers nodded without objection and left, closing the door behind them.

The man stepped forward and placed down canned goods, fruit, and malted milk powder before introducing himself.

“My name is Chen Jianguo. You can call me Uncle Chen.”

He looked at the three girls kindly, finally resting his gaze on Wang Shengnan.

“You must be Comrade Wang Shengnan, right?”

“Yes, that’s me,” Wang Shengnan replied.

Chen Jianguo took out two envelopes. “Your family asked me to bring you these.”

She accepted them and thanked him. “Thank you for the trouble. I’ll let my family know.”

Chen Jianguo waved it off. “Just a small matter.”

Then he handed over another envelope. “This one is from Xi’er’s family. She isn’t here, so please pass it to her.”

“Alright, I will,” Wang Shengnan said.

Finally, Chen Jianguo took out a third envelope.

This one was for Jiang Lai.

Jiang Lai blinked in confusion.

He explained, “This is a reward from the county government for the four of you. Thanks to you, four children were rescued and four families were saved from tragedy. On behalf of the county government—and those families—thank you.”

Jiang Lai originally wanted to refuse. She hadn’t done it for money.

But then she thought of Li Zhaodi.

In the end, she accepted it. “Thank you, and thank the government. We just did what any citizen of this country would do.”

“May there be no human trafficking in the world.”

Those five words made Chen Jianguo’s expression shift slightly.

He looked at her with genuine admiration now. “Yes. May there be no human trafficking in the world. Comrade Jiang, you did very well. The future of this country is in your hands.”

Li Zhaodi felt her blood surge with emotion. Even Wang Shengnan felt the same.

At that moment, they felt an overwhelming sense of strength, as though they could confront anything.

After a few more polite words, Chen Jianguo left.

From beginning to end, he never revealed his identity.

But even Li Zhaodi could tell he was no ordinary man.

After he left, the two police officers returned briefly, expressed their gratitude, and completed Jiang Lai’s statement. Then they also left.

As for Chen Jianguo’s identity—

He was the Party Secretary of Lin County.

He had only come because of a call from a superior who had once promoted him.

He was told to personally deliver money to two girls, but no further explanation was given—only this sentence:

“They are from the Wang family and the Dongfang family in Beijing.”

That was all.

But that was enough.

Chen Jianguo understood immediately.

One was a powerful political family, the other a military one—both far beyond his level.

After confirming details, he personally prepared money, gifts, and even added a 200-yuan reward from himself.

Then he went to the hospital alone, without alerting anyone.

He never expected that this small errand would become an unexpected turning point in his future.

At the hospital again—

Xi’er returned after eating with her brother, carrying a large pile of things she had bought from the supply and marketing cooperative.

The others were stunned.

Jiang Lai asked, “Did you buy all this? How are we going to carry it later on the train?”

Xi’er grinned. “Don’t worry! My third brother drove here for a mission. He’ll stay a few days and then take us to our destination by car!”

Dongfang Jibai nodded. “Yes. Rest well. I’ll take you all there.”

Jiang Lai finally relaxed.

Wang Shengnan handed Xi’er an envelope. “A man in a Zhongshan suit gave this to me earlier. He said it was from your family. His name was Chen Jianguo.”

Xi’er opened it, glanced inside, then looked at her brother.

Dongfang Jibai casually said, “It’s fine. Take it. The old man probably arranged it.”

Only then did Xi’er put it away.

Seeing Xi’er still wearing the soiled dress she had worn all day, Jiang Lai asked, “Why are you still wearing that? Don’t you have a change of clothes?”

Xi’er froze.

Then she suddenly remembered.

“I’ve been wearing this all day running around!”

Her face flushed red with embarrassment.

And then, in pure frustration, she turned on her brother:

“This is all your fault! You’ve been here so long and didn’t even remind me!”

Dongfang Jibai: “……”

He had arrived less than two hours ago.

Silence fell over the room.

The night was as still as a bridge in Cambridge.