"Chief Hoắc, can I take a day off today? It’s the first death anniversary of my parents… I want to go back and light some incense for them."
Đinh Trường Sinh called Hoắc Lữ Mậu.
"You little rascal, why didn’t you say anything this morning? Now it’s almost dark and you’re asking for leave? Fine, go on then. I’ll have Vương Hổ Nha cover your shift. I swear, forgetting a thing like that!"
Though a bit annoyed, Hoắc Lữ Mậu still agreed without much fuss.
As soon as his shift ended, Đinh Trường Sinh took off. But he’d already made arrangements with Khấu Đại Bằng’s driver, Đỗ Sơn Khôi—wait until he dropped off the big boss, then hand over the car to him.
Now, Đinh Trường Sinh was lying flat along an irrigation ditch, staring at the crescent moon growing brighter in the night sky, lost in thought. Was Dương Kim Thoa telling the truth? Was she playing him?
He didn’t really know why, but even without expecting anything in return, he still wanted to help her escape that hellhole. Not for love or lust, but because he just couldn’t stomach the idea of a beautiful woman being ground down by a scumbag like Trần Tiêu Tử. And somewhere inside him, a faint sense of justice stirred—he was a cop, wasn’t he? So why hadn’t the police chief done anything to save her? Just because they were all from the same village? But if a cop couldn’t protect the weak and punish the wicked, then what the hell was the badge for?
“Thanks, Brother Đỗ. I’ll treat you to dinner tomorrow.”
Đinh Trường Sinh hopped into the old Santana '87, nodding at Đỗ Sơn Khôi.
“No need to be so polite. Tomorrow, I’ll treat you,” Đỗ Sơn Khôi replied with a nervous smile. This kid was family to the boss and technically part of the police force. Who knew—he might go full-time soon. Best stay on his good side.
Đinh Trường Sinh just grinned and floored the gas pedal. The car shot off like a rocket, leaving Đỗ Sơn Khôi standing in a cloud of dust—Does this kid even know how to drive?
As night deepened, Đinh Trường Sinh pulled from the trunk a coil of rope and a wooden stick. He wasn’t sure if Trần Tiêu Tử was out gambling or still at home. If he was home… well, then he’d just have to handle things the hard way. As long as he didn’t accidentally kill the guy, it should be fine, right?
Somewhere in the back of his mind, he’d cast himself as a noble hero on a righteous mission. And the woman waiting for him? The most important person in his life right now. Nothing else mattered.
“Thank God, the door’s locked from the outside. Looks like Trần Tiêu Tử isn’t home.” Đinh Trường Sinh climbed up from the slope behind the mountain, tossing his rope down toward the main road where the car was waiting.
“Is that you?” A weak voice came from inside as he pushed the door open—barely more than a whisper.
“It’s me,” he whispered back.
Inside, Dương Kim Thoa was curled up under a blanket on the edge of the bed.
“You came to save me? When are we leaving?” she asked, trembling.
“Right now. Get dressed—we're leaving tonight.”
“Brother Đinh, can you grab my clothes over there? He locked them in the cabinet… My ID too.”
Đinh Trường Sinh threw her the clothes and bent down to unlock the shackle around her ankle using a hairpin clutched between his teeth. Even as his fingers brushed against her smooth skin in the dark, not a single impure thought crossed his mind. The spot where the shackle had dug in was calloused, hardened by time and pain.
“You’re really leaving the baby behind?”
“Yes. That child… is the shame of my life. If I bring it with me, I might as well be dead already.”
“…Alright. Let’s go.” Đinh Trường Sinh let out a breath. At the door, Dương Kim Thoa turned to glance at the sleeping baby, walked over, gently pulled the blanket up, and then resolutely stepped away from the room.
Everything went surprisingly smoothly. As they made their way down the steep slope behind the mountain, Dương Kim Thoa lifted her head, took a deep breath of the cold night air, and tears filled her eyes. She lowered her head and wept silently. Then suddenly, she threw her arms around Đinh Trường Sinh, burying her face in his shoulder, sobbing.
He understood. He really did. After more than a year of captivity, anyone would cry if they suddenly found freedom. He gently patted her back.
“This isn’t the time to cry. We still have a long way to go.”
Eventually, she composed herself and followed him to the car.
Since he wasn’t a confident driver, Đinh Trường Sinh didn’t dare go fast. Luckily, the roads were quiet at night. After two long hours, they reached a city in the neighboring province.
“Miss Dương, I know you’re not coming back. I know you don’t want anyone to know what happened this past year. So I won’t ask, and you don’t have to thank me. I did this to give myself some peace of mind. Here—five thousand yuan. There’s a train station here, even an airport. Take whatever transport you like, just get as far away as you can. Forget everything and start a new life.”
“I’ll never forget you. I swear I won’t. Give me your number—I’m a woman of my word.”
She hugged him tightly, whispering into his ear. He could feel her tears dripping down his neck. In that moment, he believed she was telling the truth.
The wind had picked up. He walked her to the train station. Watching her tall figure disappear into the distance, he sighed to himself—he would probably never see her again. A woman like that didn’t belong to Bàng Dục village, nor to Lâm Sơn town.
On the drive back to the village, he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed that no one would witness his triumphant return in the middle of the night. Still, he was in high spirits. Tomorrow morning, he’d make sure to leave extra late, just in time for everyone to be up and about. And when he did, he’d drive the car slowly past the village chief’s house.
Just to make a point.