Early the next morning, Jian Jing went to Sister Si's house and talked with her alone for a while.
Sister Si's face turned pale, her eye sockets were dark blue, and her eyeballs were covered with red bloodshot. It seemed that she had not slept well all night. Even her voice was much hoarse, no longer as tough as yesterday: "Miss Jian, tell me the truth, will he hurt Congcong?"
"The probability is not high." Jian Jing analyzed, "He told you yesterday that you called the police, but he only wanted to starve him, not to kill him directly. He probably wouldn't kill him before achieving his goal."
Sister Si was obviously relieved. She didn't really believe in Jian Jing's judgment 100%, but she needed someone to keep emphasizing it so that her heart wouldn't be twisted into a ball and she wouldn't be able to breathe.
"So we still have to wait? Can't we just go find someone directly?" She asked hopefully, "I heard from Yingjie that you helped Fang Li find his kidnapped son before, can you also go directly to where Congcong is?"
Jian Jing shook her head.
The time when Fang Dong'er was kidnapped, it was done in a hurry, leaving many clues. It turned out that the two kidnappers were not professionals and made many mistakes. That's why she happened to catch them by chance and brought them directly to her doorstep.
But the people who kidnapped Congcong are very cunning and cautious, and have not made any mistakes so far. There is no other way except to counter their moves.
Sister Si's face was full of disappointment.
"Sister, no news now is good news." Si Yingjie comforted, "Have breakfast. You didn't eat anything yesterday. If you don't eat today, you won't be able to hold on."
Sister Si smiled bitterly, "I can't eat a single bite. You know your nephew has been spoiled by his parents since he was young. He is always urged to eat out. I almost get angry and want to starve him for two meals. But I feel very uncomfortable when I think of him not having food for a day. I don't know why I am so strict with him."
The ending tone can't hide the crying tone.
Si Yingjie hurried to comfort her.
Jian Jing consciously avoided the exit and ran into Nanny Yuan. She asked Jian Jing to bring a plate of cut fruit and hesitated to speak.
"Is there something wrong?" she asked curiously.
Nanny Yuan asked: "When will Congcong be back?"
Jian Jing shook her head and said, "Aren't you guys on vacation? Why are you still here?"
"Alas." Nanny Yuan smiled bitterly, "I'm really worried about Congcong. This child is a bit naughty. After all, I have taken care of him for so long, and now he is like this..."
She showed her worry: "Who has a child who can't live well? Sigh."
"I find it strange, too." Jian Jing pretended to be puzzled. "In fact, money is not a big deal. I'm just worried about being killed. I heard that Congcong is the only child in the family. If... this family would be too pitiful."
The nanny agreed: "It took seven or eight years to get him. If he were to die, I don't know how he would cry."
Jian Jing was curious: "How could this happen?"
The nanny lowered her voice and revealed gossip: "I heard it was a physical problem and she did the test tube."
"The man and the woman?"
"You don't understand this." The nanny said in a sophisticated tone, "It's the woman's problem. They divorced a long time ago. The one who went through the trouble of doing IVF must be the man."
Jian Jing: “…That makes sense.”
This could explain why the father dotes on his child so much, while the mother is so strict.
"Jingjing." Si Yingjie ran downstairs quickly and waved to her, "The phone is ringing."
Jian Jing immediately put her thoughts aside and rushed upstairs.
Si Yingjie only felt a shadow flash before his eyes, and in the blink of an eye, the person was in the reception room upstairs.
Sister Si waited until Jian Jing came over before she nervously answered the phone.
Kidnapper: "Are you ready?"
"Time is too tight, and we can't transfer so much goods." Sister Si said, "Almost 100 million diamonds, plus the transfer, is that okay? We won't lose a penny, please don't hurt Congcong, let me hear his voice."
She glanced at Jian Jing, her emotions revealed: "Let him talk to me, can a photo prove it?" There was no need to act, the mother's tears almost fell instantly, "I want to hear him call me! If you don't let me talk to him, I won't give you a penny, who knows if he is... is he..."
The last line was choked with sobs.
The kidnapper was silent for a moment, then said calmly, "You think I don't know? The transfer will leave clues. You want to target me through the flow of funds? It's not that easy."
Sister Si tried to explain: "No more. Just ask anyone in the industry, who would prepare so much? The next batch of goods is in Botswana, and it will take a month to ship over."
The kidnapper paused and gave in: "If you don't have diamonds, gems will do. A rich lady like you, you can't be without a few valuable jewels, right?"
Sister Si looked at Jian Jing.
She wrote a few lines on the paper.
"If it's jewelry..." Sister Si said, "How about antiques? I have a painting from the Southern Song Dynasty that was sold for more than 90 million yuan. It should be worth more than 100 million yuan now."
The kidnapper said coldly, "Antiques are unique and too conspicuous. I repeat, I only want jewelry, gemstones, pearls, jade, whatever you want - Mr. Si, I have been very tolerant of you. Don't force me to cut off one of your son's ears before you can give it to me."
Sister Si's breath was choked.
After a while, she said, "I'll try my best... Let me hear the child's voice... Please."
There was silence on the other end of the line for a few seconds, and finally, the kidnapper compromised.
There were light footsteps, the creaking sound of doors, and then Congcong's heart-wrenching cry: "Wow—" His voice was hoarse and his vocal cords were dry, and you could tell from the sound that he was hurt from crying.
Sister Si couldn't wait, her heart almost jumped out of her throat before her words: "Baby? Congcong, can you hear your mother's voice?"
"Mom-Mom-" Congcong cried and hiccuped, "I don't want to stay here, I, I will be obedient-"
Sister Si suppressed her grief and comforted him: "Mom will come to pick you up soon, you have to listen to uncle."
Congcong: "Well, I-I will definitely listen-"
The phone was suddenly hung up.
Sister Si turned around in panic: "What happened? The signal is cut off?"
Jian Jing shook her head and said, "He is alert."
"What should we do then?"
Jian Jing didn't answer but asked, "Are there any text messages?"
Sister Si looked down and saw new information: [At 2 o'clock this afternoon, bring your prepared things to Renhe Park. You can only come alone. If someone else comes with you, cancel the transaction immediately.]
Another one: [Your son didn’t eat today]
She immediately called her brother-in-law and told him about today's contact.
Brother-in-law Si was also very anxious: "The goods are ready, I will be back soon and we will discuss it."
Sister Si was no longer able to speak. She responded with difficulty, held the phone, and looked around in confusion.
Si Yingjie asked: "Jingjing, what should we do next?"
"Pay the ransom." Jian Jing said without hesitation, "You do it."
Si Yingjie was stunned: "Me?"
She nodded.
Sister Si said: "No, I will do it myself."
"No." Jian Jing rejected it. "You are not in good condition. If the kidnappers threaten you, can you guarantee that you will make a rational choice?"
"Rational? Of course I can't be rational." Sister Si stood up suddenly, hysterical, "My son could get into trouble at any time, how can I be rational? I don't want to be rational, I just want my son to come back safely."
Jian Jing said: "He won't touch your son for the time being. This is his trump card."
"What do you mean?"
"Why does he want to starve Congcong? Is it just to threaten you? Who knows, starving him for two or three days won't make him sick." Jian Jing analyzed in an orderly manner, "But it's hard to say if it goes on for a long time. As long as no one knows where the child is, he can bargain with you."
Si Yingjie suddenly realized: "You mean, he wants to delay time so that we dare not let the police arrest people?"
"Yes, this is a delaying tactic. If the child is injured and could die at any time, the parents may risk everything and try to catch him before interrogating him. But if he is just hungry and his life is not in danger, you won't dare to take the risk."
Sister Si nodded slowly and finally calmed down: "You are right."
Soon, Si's brother-in-law hurried back with a safe in his hand. Inside was dozens of diamonds of different sizes. The big ones were five or six carats, and the small ones were only two or three carats. Because they had not been cut yet, their glossiness was not very high.
Sister Si said, "I asked Yingjie to go to the bank to get the gems, and he will hand them over later."
"Let me do it." Brother-in-law Si said, "I'll do it myself so the kidnappers won't be suspicious."
This made sense. She glanced at Jian Jing as if asking for advice.
Jian Jing said, "No need to argue. I think the park is a cover. With the professionalism of the kidnappers, it is impossible for them to reveal the real details right away."
"You think he will change sides midway?" asked Si's brother-in-law.
She said, "It's very likely. It might take a long time. The two of you are not in good condition, and the kidnappers only want one person. If you encounter trouble on the way, it will be easy to have an accident."
Brother-in-law Si hesitated and said, "It's not that I don't believe Yingjie, but he is my son after all. I want to see him in person. Otherwise, if you ask me to wait here, I really..." He smiled bitterly, "I can't stay here."
Since her father said so, Jian Jing didn't say much and just nodded in agreement.
After a quick lunch, at one o'clock in the afternoon, Jian Jing told everyone: "I'll go to the park and see if I can help you in any way."
Si Yingjie said: "I'll accompany you."
"You stay at home with Mr. Si and contact me anytime if you have any news." Jian Jing refused and went out alone.
At 1:30 in the afternoon, Brother-in-law Si also set off.
He put on a microphone and a locator, installed a signal transmitter in the safe, and slowly drove towards the park.
At 1:50, he arrived at the parking lot and waited for the next stop.
At exactly two o'clock, the phone rang.
"Hello." He picked up the phone nervously.
The kidnapper came straight to the point: "Go to the bridge over the central lake of the park alone, or you will know the consequences."
Brother-in-law Si quickly got out of the car, picked up his suitcase, and ran quickly to the destination.
It was the hottest time of the year, and the park was deserted during the day. He hardly bumped into anyone while walking on the road. When he got to the bridge, he looked around and saw only the annoying chirping of cicadas, and could not see the person he was crossing.
The phone rings.
"Reached?"
"We're here, we're here." Brother-in-law Si wiped his sweat.
"You're very cooperative." The kidnapper's tone slowed down. "Now, walk forward and turn left. There is a box under the first row of chairs on the right. Take it out."
Brother-in-law Si did as he was told and took out a small box the size of a palm from under the chair.
"Open the box and put the diamond in it."
Brother-in-law Si turned his head and looked around, but found nothing. He had to do as he was told, open the safe he brought, and pour in the prepared jewelry.
"Put your suitcase in there and take mine."
Brother-in-law Si replaced the one who was killed.
"Within half an hour, I will deliver the boxes to Sakura Avenue. When we get there, I will tell you what to do."
The phone hung up.
Brother-in-law Si quickly ran back to the parking lot and called his wife to inform her of the progress.
"I heard it." Sister Si clasped her hands, "He should feel more relieved when he sees that there are no police. Maybe after paying the money this time, Congcong can come back."
Brother-in-law Si took a deep breath and said, "Okay, I'll come over now. Is there any new news from Miss Jian?"
"She just called us and said she found traces of a suspicious person and planned to follow him. Do you want me to call her to find Sakura Avenue?" Sister Si conveyed.
Si's brother-in-law thought about it and said, "Forget it, let her continue to follow. What if she can find the right person? I might have to make changes on my side."
"Right."