Upon the police's arrival, they were also horrified by the gruesome scene. Experienced officers began taking photographs for evidence, while several young officers couldn't help but vomit.
Decapitations, dismemberments, eviscerations – internal organs and shattered remains were scattered everywhere. The entire room was a scene of brutal murder. It took five full hours of painstaking work to piece together their bodies.
Although these individuals appeared to have turned on each other, they had left behind written confessions of their crimes before their deaths. A review of their personal information revealed no apparent conflicts between them; they had gathered solely for a party and drinks.
Furthermore, each of them bore inexplicable wounds, all inflicted by the same weapon. The police therefore concluded that a third party had been present at the scene.
The confession letter, soaked in blood on the table, stunned everyone. A group of over ten people in the house had been involved in buying and selling 327 girls within the past two years.
As soon as the matter was reported, the city immediately dispatched a special task force to assist with the investigation without delay. The final destinations of those girls were clearly documented in the notes. The officers, eager to rescue the victims without wasting a moment, worked as quickly as possible.
Those women who had been assimilated by Zhaojia Village and had become involved in the human trafficking ring were now helping the villagers conceal their crimes. Several women who had been abducted years ago, even those who had children but still wished to leave, were hidden in the back mountains by them.
Among those abducted in the last two years was Xue Ruonan. Upon noticing the villagers' activities, she began to feign affection and gentleness towards Zhao Zhen, hoping to lower his guard.
Every night, she felt nauseated and wanted to vomit, but she put on a show of enjoyment. Zhao Zhen was deceived by her act and ceased his physical abuse.
However, when the police were about to enter the village, Zhao Zhen still locked her in the basement and chained her up. Unsure, he also gave her a sedative; it was always better to be cautious.
Under Jun Jiuli's deliberate guidance, all the victims trapped in the mountains were rescued.
The villagers surrounded the police officers attempting to leave, wielding farming tools. "You can leave, but you must leave them behind."
"That's my wife, the mother of my child. I paid for her. You're not allowed to take her."
Children came forward, clinging to the police officers' legs, crying, "Bad guys, boohoo~ Don't take my mommy away, don't take my mommy away."
The entire village was tightly encircled, and the children's cries mingled chaotically with the villagers' shouts. The police officers could not move, and their shouts went unheeded.
At this moment, the leading captain fired a shot into the air. "Trafficking women is illegal. Please do not obstruct official duties."
The crowd fell silent for a moment, then erupted into renewed clamor.
"The police fired, the police killed people. Let's all charge them together, don't be afraid of them. They wouldn't dare do anything to us."
Just then, several bolts of lightning suddenly struck from the sky. Those surrounding the police were struck unconscious and fell to the ground, while the few police officers remained unharmed. The onlookers, including the elderly, quickly retreated.
A female police officer, who had been comforting the rescued women, subtly smiled at the corner of her mouth, thinking, "They deserve it. Heaven has eyes."
Without revealing her thoughts, she said, "Quick, quick, call an ambulance!" and then went to check the pulses of those who had been struck.
This case had a very adverse impact, leading to a nationwide crackdown on trafficking. The state also enacted new laws, prescribing the death penalty for severe trafficking of women and children, and life imprisonment for buyers.
After returning home, the victims would still face various societal challenges. However, none of these would be worse than their previous experiences. May they have a smooth life.
Jun Jiuli distributed all the money to them and gave each person a good luck charm. Although no amount of money could fully compensate for the harm they had suffered, it was all Jun Jiuli could do.
Despite expending significant manpower and resources, the police failed to find any useful leads. The deaths of these human traffickers became an unsolved mystery, yet many silently praised this unknown hero, hoping she would never be caught.
Upon waking and learning that the police had already left the village, Xue Ruonan fainted again. When she awoke, she was devoid of all spirit and no longer dared to oppose Zhao Zhen, appearing resigned to her fate.
Without Xue Ruonan's financial support, Zhao Zhen still managed to acquire his three mu of land. He would begin farming this year.
Zhao Zhen, unwilling to let Xue Ruonan cook at home unsupervised, took her with him to the fields. After only a week of digging, Xue Ruonan's hands were covered in blisters. She remained indifferent to Zhao Zhen, who in turn saw no reason to care.
However, Zhao Dezhu, toiling in a different plot of land, felt immense sympathy. Seizing an opportunity, he carefully pricked her blisters and applied some Sanxie grass to heal her wounds.
As they worked in the fields, they would frequently glance at each other. In their shared gazes, Zhao Dezhu felt his heart swell with sweetness, and Xue Ruonan felt she had found love. All her suffering, she believed, was meant to lead her to the best man.
When Zhao Zhen was away on business, they often snuck into haystacks together. Their relationship flourished, and the astute old Zhao father, having long noticed something amiss with his son, followed them once and understood everything.
But his son was already 28, and with a "monster" in the family, it was impossible to find him a wife. Meeting someone kindred and understanding was not a bad thing, though it was somewhat unfair to his nephew. However, for his son's sake, he had to endure it.
The crops in the field ripened, and it was time to dig up the potatoes. Xue Ruonan, new to the task, struggled to control her hoe, often breaking the potatoes and snapping the corn stalks beside them. The climbing beans attached to the corn stalks were also not spared.
Seeing his hard-earned crops so carelessly ruined by Xue Ruonan, Zhao Zhen was instantly enraged. He raised his hoe and smashed it towards Xue Ruonan.
Her screams were clearly heard for miles around. Zhao Dezhu wanted to rush forward to defend the woman he loved, but Zhao father held him back tightly. Considering Zhao Zhen's physical strength, he could only shrug his shoulders, lower his head, and silently dig for potatoes.
By noon, Xue Ruonan, who had been frail upon arrival, could now carry over a hundred pounds of potatoes back home along the mountain path.
Approaching the house, she saw her parents and hesitated to approach them. The elderly couple, with their white hair and unsteady steps, walked towards her.
Seeing her thin, tanned, and frail daughter carrying a large basket of potatoes, Xue mother's heart ached uncontrollably, and tears streamed down her face. This was her daughter, whom she had doted on endlessly, who was never even asked to sweep the floor at home, and now she was suffering in this impoverished, remote place.
As the three were about to embrace emotionally and exchange heartfelt words, Zhao Zhen walked over, utterly disrupting the moment.
"Who are you people? Stay away from my wife."
"Your wife? You shameless buyer. What right do you have to be Ruonan's husband?" Xue father said indignantly.
This man before him was the one who had ruined his daughter's life. How could he not be filled with resentment? Without demand, where would the harm come from? If they hadn't had the need, how could his daughter have been abducted?
"Oh, it's Father-in-law and Mother-in-law! Come in, come in and sit. Ruonan, you too, why aren't you properly hosting your elders? Leaving them to talk outside the courtyard is so impolite." He cast a subtle, piercing glance at Xue Ruonan.
Frightened by his harsh gaze, Xue Ruonan dared not retort. She could no longer consider her parents' safety, only hoping she wouldn't suffer Zhao Zhen's abuse again.
She quickly opened the door, showering Zhao Zhen with praise, and coaxed and pulled her parents into Zhao Zhen's house.