Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Under normal circumstances, the cheaters who were trying to get money enjoyed hanging around the train station or near rest stops because those areas had a lot of people. Also, those traveling on long journeys would often have enough small change in case they needed it. After all, there was an old Chinese saying that said, “Poor people, rich trips.” The meaning was that when one left their house, they needed to bring more money for the journey. A good part about that kind of place was that it was convenient to do guerrilla warfare.
However, Zhang Zian had come to the capital for only a few days, so he had seen the capital’s security. He realized that there were always a lot of people patrolling at the train station, the airport, and the rest of the important areas, and the swindlers who were trying to get money did not dare to stay for very long. They had run to the ordinary areas where people lived to try to cheat money. Even though the efficiency was a bit lower, people in the capital had money, so it was much safer.
He did not have any evidence, so he could not confirm if the man and woman were really cheaters or not. If they were really a couple that was in trouble, then it would be inappropriate to turn around and walk away… But if they were cheaters, he was not willing to give his money to them for no reason, even if it was only one cent.
That was why he had suggested going to the civilian police to ask for help. If anyone was met with troubles, the civilian police would definitely try to help them––but first, they would check their identities.
He did not really want to send them to find the civilian police; he more so wanted to check their intentions. If the other party was not feeling guilty, they would not be scared to see the police. They would likely agree without hesitation, then he could believe that they were a couple that had fallen into trouble. He would not mind giving them some money to let them eat a meal if that were the case… But if the other party was really guilty, they would definitely find a reason not to go.
As expected, before he even finished saying what he wanted to say, both of their facial expressions changed.
The young man smiled disdainfully. “Older Brother, I’m just borrowing some money to eat a meal. Let’s not trouble the police. Furthermore, the policemen are so busy. They might not be able to help us…”
The woman added, “Yes, older brother, we are all foreigners, and we heard that the capital’s policemen have a lot of power. They are more likely to bully those who are unfamiliar to this place. We are also unfamiliar with the capital, and we are scared of being bullied if we enter the local police station…”
“It’s especially because we are in the capital that the police do not dare to randomly do things. After all, it’s the emperor’s domain, so you don’t need to worry about that. Right, didn’t you lose your wallet? If you lose your money, you need to report to the police! Have you all reported to the police?” Zhang Zian knew that they were making excuses, but he was purposely pretending to be unaware.
“I’ve reported already. I’ve reported already…”
“There’s no need to report. The wallet doesn’t have a lot of money in it. Even if you report it to the police, you won’t be able to get it back. Let’s just leave it…”
The young man and woman spoke at the same time. One said that they had already reported, and the other said that they did not need to report. They looked at each other awkwardly. Although what they said was different, their meaning was the same: They refused to go to the local police station, no matter what.
At that moment, Zhang Zian was already 100 percent sure that the two of them were swindlers. He was even less likely to give them money because giving them money was indulging them.
The truth was, if everyone had special eyes, could recognize the swindler’s tricks, and kept a tight hold of their wallets––so much so that taking away money from their wallet was like taking away firewood from under a cauldron––then that kind of industry where they stopped people for money would have vanished a long time ago.
So he shook his head and said, “I don’t have money. I can only go with you to report to the police. How about it, do you want to go or not?”
Both he and his opponent had a tacit understanding of what the other was thinking, but they weren’t able to break through the last layer of window paper.
The young man’s face darkened. He raised his eyebrows, wanting to say something else, when the young woman pulled on him, giving him a quick look. She hurriedly waved at Zhang Zian, squeezed out a smile, and said, “Nevermind, nevermind. We just remembered that we had a distant relative in the capital. We can go to him to borrow some money for a ticket home after. We’ll have dinner there. Big brother, I’m sorry to have delayed you.”
The young man felt unsatisfied in his heart, but it seemed like the scam was led by the woman. He could only force down the words he wanted to say as he quietly took two steps back.
They had realized that Zhang Zian was smarter than they had thought and knew that they would not be able to trick him. Rather than wasting more time on him, it was better to find a new target.
Zhang Zian nodded and did not continue saying anything. He turned around to continue forward.
Since the other party had already acknowledged the truth, then there was no need for him to stay behind and waste more time.
Even if he knew that the other party were swindlers, what else could he do? Go to the police station and report them? Where was the evidence? If he were to make a report he would need evidence… He could not make a police report empty-handed.
The other party had two people, and he was alone if they reached the police station and the other party denied what they had said insistently. What evidence did he have to prove that the other party was swindling people? Perhaps he might even be harmed by them in retaliation, and they might accuse him of slander.
Forget it, there was no need. In the end, he would not be able to hit the fox and would instead cause a fuss for himself.
To be honest, such street fraud was so common in China that it could be found in any city. Moreover, their single fraud amount was very low, ranging from tens to hundreds, and they could not meet the standard of filing a case. Even if they were transferred to the police station, they would just criticize their education and would be put into detention for a few days at most. They would eat several free meals in the detention center and become good people by the time they were released, which made them even more fearless.
Zhang Zian knew himself that he did not have the ability to deal with that. He could only hope that the other people could see clearly so they would not be cheated by them.
He patted his cheeks, lifting up his spirits, and observed the hidden corners around him. He tried to concentrate on finding the Warding Off Evil Cat again.
However, his gaze kept scattering unconsciously. He was unable to concentrate. It seemed that he had neglected some details.
After walking a few steps forward, he heard someone say, “Pretty lady.” Although they were definitely not calling him, he could not help but turn his head around to look.
The young man and woman stopped a girl who looked like a college student. She was around the same age as them, but her face was obviously much younger than them. She looked like a girl who was not deeply involved in the world; maybe she was a good girl who studied hard and listened to her parents.
She was wearing glasses, carrying a shoulder bag, wearing brand name sports shoes, and holding a new Apple phone in her hand. From her look, it could be seen that her family was relatively prosperous.
After she had been stopped, she was very shocked. There was a strange expression on her face. At first, she was slightly guarded, but when she saw the other person’s face smiling face and the baby, her guard soon disappeared.
Zhang Zian said, “What bad luck…” That kind of girl was definitely the best kind of victim.
As expected, the young man and woman surrounded her and repeated what they had said to Zhang Zian just now.
Zhang Zian had already walked a distance away. He could not hear what they were saying all that well, but he thought that it was probably similar to what they had said to him. He observed the university girl’s expression change. She had obviously been persuaded by them already.
“Ga? That girl won’t be so dumb, right? She obviously doesn’t have a chest, but she has to have a brain… Where did all her intuition go?” Richard stood on his head and muttered.
The University student showed her empty palms, and seemed to be saying that she did not bring any spare change. That was probably true. After all, now that AliPay was so advanced, young people that were not traveling long distances often did not bring spare change with them.
The young man and woman motioned to their phones, meaning to say that she could transfer money to them through her phone.
“Ga ga! Do you want me to go take a sh*t on their heads?” Richard asked. “Or do you want me to pee on this girl’s face to wake her up?”
Zhang Zian shook his head. One could not wake someone up that was lacking in brain cells. Even if she had not been cheated that time around, she would most likely be cheated the next time.
The University girl hesitated. She felt that something was not right, as the beggar was using a QR code to beg for money… It caused people to wonder whether the other party was actually a beggar or not.
At that moment, the infant that had gone back to sleep after crying suddenly woke up, waved its hands around, and started crying loudly. The cries were still very lacking in energy.
The University girl was flustered from the crying, and her heart had already been softened. Any remaining sense of reason had flown out of the window. She took up her phone and quickly transferred a sum of money to them, even urging them to hurry and find a place to eat. She also told them to buy some milk powder for the child and then hurry and buy a train ticket home.
From the smiles on the young man and woman’s faces, the sum of money was probably quite a lot. It was likely not just some tens of yuan, but perhaps 200 or 300 yuan––or even more.
Despite that, it was still not enough to satisfy their appetite. They had decided that the university student was a good target, so they wanted to fully exploit her.
After the university student had finished transferring the money, she wanted to leave, but the young man and woman jogged after her. Zhang Zian guessed that they were probably trying to get the university student to give them more money––it was like sending the Buddha to the west; one had to go all the way when saving someone.
She had never met that kind of shamelessness and stickiness. Adding on the fact that the infant kept crying, she was bothered to the point of being irritated and confused. She transferred them more money.
Only then did the young man and woman let her go, satisfied.
Wait! Why was it that the infant’s crying time was so coincidental both times? Why did the infant cry at the most appropriate moment every time?
Zhang Zian was acutely aware of the suspicious aspect… He suddenly realized what details had been bothering him. Was the baby that they were holding really their child?
At the thought of the possibility, he felt like cold water was poured on his head and he was cooled from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet.
Compared to the most heinous crime he envisioned, fraud was nothing at all!
“Ga ga! What’s with you? Why are you shivering? Are you jealous that others can make money so easily?” Richard, standing on top of his head, felt his trembling. It moved its claws uneasily.
Zhang Zian did not reply instantly. He moved his gaze away, and looked at another lady that was carrying an infant.
He opened his eyes wide and observed her actions and her expression, then turned to look at the young woman who he had met earlier.
Comparing the two, he felt that the posture the young woman had when carrying the infant was very rigid. With that kind of posture while carrying an infant, the infant was likely to be uncomfortable… Her gaze did not have the special kind of doting that the woman opposite had when looking at her infant.
He clenched his fist tightly, realizing that he had underestimated the ugliness of human nature.
