Cracks

The third uncle's dry, resolute "Maybe... we should call the police?" was like a cold boulder crashing into the "warmth" pond that had been shrouded in sorrow and reluctant promises.

The water froze instantly, before ripples could even form.

The expressions on everyone's faces in the living room froze. The whispers and calculations that had been going on just moments before about how much money to raise came to an abrupt halt. Smokers forgot to flick their cigarette ash, those wiping away tears stopped, and even Auntie's suppressed sobs seemed to be choked by an invisible hand, leaving only heavy, terrified gasps.

The air seemed to have been sucked out, replaced by something heavier and more unsettling—fear and uncertainty about how to react to the unknown.

Call the police.

For the vast majority of law-abiding ordinary people, these two words are almost an instinctive reaction when faced with "bad things," a simple belief ingrained in their bones. "Go to the police when you're in trouble." But in the current specific situation, against the backdrop of sinister words like "kidnappers," "murder," and "overseas," these two words are like a double-edged sword, flashing a cold and dangerous light.

Everyone's gaze shifted from Uncle San's flushed and tense face to Aunt Wang Guifang, who was slumped on the sofa, and then to Uncle Er, who was squatting in the corner with his fingers white as he held the accounting book.

My second aunt's husband suddenly raised his head, his facial muscles twitching. His eyes were filled with disbelief, anger, and a hint of fear of being offended as he looked at my third uncle. He opened his mouth as if to shout something, but only a hoarse sound came out of his throat.

Aunt Wang Guifang's reaction was much more direct. As if burned by those two words, her body trembled violently, then she burst into an even sharper, more desperate cry, "Don't call the police! Don't call the police! If you call the police, my Xiaohui is finished! Those people said... said they'd kill him if they didn't get the money! They really are capable of doing that! Don't call the police!!"

Her cries were heart-wrenching, filled with the most instinctive fear a mother feels when faced with a threat to her child's life, instantly overshadowing any other rational considerations. Several women were infected by her emotions and also began to wipe away tears. The fragile atmosphere of "alliance" that had just been built up in the living room by pooling money was about to be destroyed by this sudden proposal.

Just as emotions were about to spiral out of control and the situation was about to devolve into an argument, a voice rang out, not loud, but with a deliberate clarity and stability, interrupting Auntie's wailing.

It's Zhang Fen.

Lin Feng's mother, her eyes red and swollen, had a forced, authoritative expression replaced the sorrow on her face. She sniffed, her gaze sweeping over everyone before finally settling on her third uncle, and said in as calm a tone as possible:

"Third Uncle, your intentions are good; you're thinking of Xiaohui. But..." She paused, as if recalling something, "But my Xiao Feng... he works at a law firm, with Lawyer Zhou, and has seen many cases. He mentioned to me before that these kinds of fraud gangs, many of their members aren't even in China! They're all abroad! In places like Myanmar and the Philippines, far from where the authorities are!"

Her words drew everyone's attention. The relatives all knew that Lin Feng worked at a "law firm in a big city," although they didn't know exactly what he did, but the words "law firm" naturally carried an aura of professionalism and credibility. At this moment, Zhang Fen brought up her son's experiences "at the law firm," which undoubtedly increased the weight of her words.

"The police are capable, but even with their extensive reach, they can't extend their reach overseas anytime soon!" Zhang Fen continued, her voice filled with anxiety. "What if... what if we call the police here, and somehow the news leaks out and they find out... wouldn't that alert them? Then Xiaohui would really be in danger!"

Her words were like a bucket of cold water, dousing the restless thoughts that had just been stirred by the suggestion to "call the police." Yes, can the police manage things domestically, or those lawless places abroad? If the kidnappers knew the police had been called, wouldn't they be furious...? Many people dared not think any further.

Seeing the worry and agreement on everyone's faces, Zhang Fen seemed encouraged. She straightened her back, turned her gaze to her second sister, Wang Guifang, who was crying so hard she was almost fainting, and then looked at her brother-in-law, whose face was ashen. In a tone that carried a sense of determination and "sacrifice," she said:

"Guifang, brother-in-law, don't be too anxious. The most important thing right now is to ensure Xiaohui's safety! As for the money... we'll figure out a way to raise it! Our family..."

She gritted her teeth, as if making a tremendous decision, and under Lin Jianguo's somewhat astonished gaze, uttered a number that surprised everyone present:

"Our family will contribute 100,000!"

100,000!

This number is more than three times the 30,000 that Lin Jianguo just mentioned! In the minds of ordinary working-class families in this small county, 100,000 yuan is by no means a small amount. It may be the savings accumulated over many years of frugality, or even the money they have hidden away.

In an instant, all eyes were on Zhang Fen, filled with surprise, admiration, and complex speculation. Lin Jianguo's lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but looking at his wife's tense profile and red eyes, he finally just sighed heavily, lowered his head, and tacitly agreed.

Aunt Wang Guifang, as if grasping at a last straw, broke free from Aunt San's support, rushed over, grabbed Zhang Fen's hand, and cried out, "Sister! My dear sister! I... I thank you on Xiaohui's behalf! Thank you!"

The atmosphere in the living room seemed to have shifted again towards "working together to raise money to save lives" because of Zhang Fen's "huge" sacrifice and "decisive" decision.

However, just as this feeling of "tragic unity" was about to take over again, a woman's voice, tinged with obvious doubt and a hint of sharpness, rang out, like a needle piercing the fragile bubble of warmth.

"Yo--"

The one who spoke was a middle-aged woman sitting next to my third uncle. She had slightly outdated perm curls and thinly drawn eyebrows; she was my third aunt. She hadn't said much until now, just observing coldly. Now she finally spoke, her lips curled up, her eyes filled with undisguised shrewdness and suspicion.

She ignored her third uncle's hand that was quietly tugging at her sleeve, looked directly at Zhang Fen, and raised her voice a few decibels:

"Sister Fen, that's true, ensuring safety is the priority. But how can you be so sure that once we pay the money, they'll actually release Xiaohui?"

Her words were like a block of ice, smashing into the newly warming air.

"Aren't these kinds of things common on TV and in the news?" Auntie San curled her lip, her tone becoming increasingly impolite. "Today they ask for 500,000, you give it to them, tomorrow they say their child is injured and needs medical expenses, so they ask for another 300,000! The day after tomorrow they say they need to 'grease some palms' and add another 200,000! It's a bottomless pit! They can never satisfy it!"

She paused, her gaze sweeping over her second aunt and uncle, whose faces were beginning to turn pale. Her words grew Xiaohui, even carrying a hint of cold reality. "Besides, what... what if something has happened to Xiaohui over there? Wouldn't all this money be wasted, without even a sound?"

"What nonsense are you spouting!" Her third uncle, who was standing nearby, finally couldn't hold back any longer. He jabbed her hard with his elbow, his face turning bright red, and growled, "If you can't speak properly, shut up!"

Auntie San was jerked to the side by the stab, letting out a cry of pain. She turned and glared at Uncle San: "Why did you stab me?! Did I say something wrong? It was true! Our family's money didn't grow on trees! We can't let something like this drain our savings, can we? If we lose everything, who will we cry to?!"

She became increasingly agitated as she spoke, her voice growing shrill. "The little money my family has is saved for my son to buy a house and get married! We can't just throw it away like this!"

"You...!" Uncle San was so angry that the veins on his forehead throbbed, but he was too tongue-tied to say anything more in rebuttal.

Third Aunt's merciless, even hurtful, words were like salt rubbed into Second Aunt Wang Guifang's already bleeding wounds. She abruptly raised her head, staring intently at Third Aunt, her eyes filled with betrayed anger and a deeper despair, but she couldn't utter a single word. She simply buried her head deep in her knees, her shoulders heaving violently, emitting a suppressed howl like that of a wounded wild animal.

The atmosphere instantly became tense.

The relatives who had just been sighing and pooling their money together now showed subtle differences in their expressions. Some felt that Auntie San's words were harsh but not without reason, and their eyes darted around; others were dissatisfied with Auntie San's fussing about money and saying unlucky things at a time like this, and their faces showed anger; still others were at a loss, looking at the wailing Auntie San and then at the sneering Auntie San, not knowing what to do.

In the small living room, the bonds of family ties groaned under the dual pressure of enormous sums of money and unknown fears, their cracks clearly visible.

The smoke grew thicker, and the sounds of crying, the lingering echoes of arguments, and heavy breathing mingled together, creating a suffocating atmosphere.

Just as this stalemate, chaos, grief, and suspicion were about to reach their peak, a calm, even somewhat abrupt, voice came from the corner of the living room against the wall.

The sound wasn't loud, yet it strangely pierced through all the noise.

Everyone instinctively looked in the direction of the sound.

Lin Feng had somehow moved away from his spot against the wall and closer to the crowd. His face was expressionless, lacking both the forced tragic air of his mother Zhang Fen and the sharp calculation of his aunt; instead, it was as calm as a deep pool.

He looked at his second aunt, who was burying her head in her knees and crying uncontrollably, and spoke in a calm tone as if they were discussing what to have for dinner:

"Second Aunt, crying won't help, and arguing won't help either."

He paused, and under the gazes of everyone—some doubtful, some scrutinizing, some dissatisfied—he spoke the following:

"Why don't you give them a call first?"

His gaze fell on the old cell phone, its screen slightly cracked, which his second aunt's husband was clutching tightly in his hand.

"Just consider it... raising the money takes time, and the elderly at home are worried." Lin Feng's voice remained calm and composed. "Let them, no matter what, let Sun Penghui... say a few words himself."

"At least," he raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the relatives with their varied expressions, finally settling on his second aunt.

"Listen to the sound first. Make sure... the person is still safe."