Chapter 60: Chapter 54: Xiao Mo’s Mother

"Nothing? That’s impossible. Are you sure you’re not in the wrong room?"

Just as Tang Mo was lost in her own assessment of her abilities, the video call on the strange man’s watch rang. The subordinate who had been sent to search Tang Mo’s apartment was reporting his findings.

There was nothing in Tang Mo’s room; it was as if no one had ever lived there.

"Are you sure this woman is really a rich mark?"

The man questioned Ah Lian with suspicion.

"Of course! There’s no way there’s nothing. I clearly saw her carrying a pile of stuff upstairs that day. Oh, right! The backpack! Was the backpack not in the room either?" Ah Lian insisted.

"She doesn’t have a Space Ability, does she?" Seeing Ah Lian’s certainty, the man started to suspect another possibility.

"No way. The first time I met her, she was carrying a knife. A woman who can wield a knife must have some Strength. Other than their Space Attribute Value, Space Ability Users are garbage at everything else. It’s definitely not her."

"Maybe she was on her guard and stored her things somewhere else."

Ah Lian wondered aloud, ’Wasn’t my disguise perfect?’

He had fooled plenty of people with this act; there was no way he’d screw up with this little girl.

Tang Mo secretly rejoiced. ’Thankfully, people these days are still relatively inexperienced. They’ve probably never even heard of a Space Treasure.’

’If they decided to search me, I’d be in a really tight spot.’

"Whatever. We’ll have Sister Zhang come and ’train’ her a bit later. After a few days of hardship, she’ll spill everything."

Thinking about this "training," the man’s gaze returned to Tang Mo’s face, his eyes filled with lust.

But when he saw Tang Mo’s grimy face and short hair, he looked away in disgust.

’This one would be hard to sell. What a headache.’

A moment later, Tang Mo heard the sound of the tent flap being opened again.

"Another new one?" came the voice of a woman who sounded about thirty.

"Sister Zhang, she’s all yours. Make sure you tie her up tight. Give her the drug once an hour to keep her from being disobedient. Let me know when she’s been ’trained,’ and I’ll arrange for a client."

After giving his instructions to the woman who had just entered, the man left with Ah Lian.

The woman they called Sister Zhang took out a pre-prepared rope and walked toward Tang Mo.

’A rope like this can’t hold me.’ Tang Mo knew her own Strength.

So she didn’t struggle, deciding to wait for Ah Lian and the others to get further away before making a move. She let the middle-aged woman approach her.

When the woman was right in front of Tang Mo, Tang Mo clearly sensed her footsteps pause for a moment.

But after just a few seconds, the woman recovered and grabbed Tang Mo’s hands to tie them.

The effects of the knockout drug weren’t very long-lasting. Just as her hands were tied and the woman was about to bind her elsewhere, Tang Mo slowly opened her eyes.

The first thing she saw was a familiar face.

It was Xiao Mo’s mother, who lived next door to Tang Mo. They had met once before.

"You’re awake?"

Seeing the sharp, assessing look in Tang Mo’s eyes, Zhang Mei jumped in fright.

"Don’t blame me. Blame this world we live in. Blame your own bad luck."

Sister Zhang mumbled this, though it was unclear if she was trying to comfort Tang Mo or herself.

"If you’re going to do this kind of work, why bring your daughter to live in a man’s home?"

More than anger, Tang Mo felt curiosity.

’If she’s already in the business of pimping, why make her daughter endure such humiliation?’

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Tang Mo was an extremely pragmatic person. She could understand people doing all sorts of selfish and harmful things to survive, but she couldn’t wrap her head around the life this woman, Zhang, was living.

Hearing Tang Mo’s question, Zhang Mei was also taken aback for a moment.

This wasn’t the first time she had done this, but every other girl, without exception, would wake up screaming, cursing, and crying hysterically. This was the first time she had encountered a young woman like Tang Mo.

"When I first came here with Xiao Mo, the same thing happened to me as what’s happening to you. But my first client was a benefactor. I don’t know what he saw in me, but he paid a high price to buy me out. After that... well, you see how things are now."

Perhaps feeling a bit guilty for doing this to an acquaintance, Zhang Mei explained subconsciously.

"Don’t you hate Ah Lian and the others? Why are you helping them?"

"Hate? What good is hate? Do you know what I get for every girl like you I prepare? A full bottle of mineral water and half a pound of rice. Oh, that’s right. You get to live in an apartment. You wouldn’t understand what this food means to pitiful people like us."

A mocking expression appeared on Zhang Mei’s face. ’Hate? If pride could be traded for food, I’d gladly rip my own face off and let an army stomp on it.’

The feeling of starving is unbearable. The feeling of being bullied is unbearable.

If she had a choice, she would never want to endure that kind of suffering again in her life, even if it meant becoming an accomplice to the abusers.

"So I’m worth a bottle of water and half a pound of rice to you. That’s not too bad."

Tang Mo nodded in understanding. Seeing as it was a profitable venture, she could actually understand Zhang Mei’s choice.

"What about your daughter, then? Are you just going to let her follow the same path as you, submitting herself to that man?"

’If doing anything for your own survival is understandable, is it okay for a mother to do this?’

Tang Mo had never been a mother, but she knew that if it were Lin Yi, she would give her own life before letting Tang Mo suffer even the slightest grievance.

"That’s her fate. At the very least... at the very least, I have to survive first."

At the mention of her daughter, the light in Zhang Mei’s eyes dimmed.

There’s no test to become a parent in this world, and not all parents love their children enough to sacrifice themselves.

Perhaps because the conversation had turned to a topic she didn’t want to discuss, Zhang Mei stopped paying attention to Tang Mo. Instead, she took out a roll of tape and sealed Tang Mo’s mouth.

She finished tying her to the chair so she couldn’t move, then turned and left the tent.

It was now time for the base to distribute lunch. Even though she lived in an apartment, Zhang Mei and her daughter still relied on the daily food distribution from the base for their meals.

And, of course, the extra income from Ah Lian’s side.

After Zhang Mei left, Tang Mo was alone in the tent.

Just as she was about to break the ropes on her wrists, the tent flap was pulled open again, and a slender figure slipped inside.

"Shh!"

Xiao Mo, wearing a worn but clean cotton-padded jacket, put a finger to her lips to shush Tang Mo. Then she began struggling to untie the ropes binding Tang Mo to the chair.

Perhaps because she was too weak, Xiao Mo couldn’t undo the knots without a tool, and her face was covered in sweat from the effort and anxiety.

Seeing the little girl’s red, determined face, Tang Mo suddenly felt a little moved.

Xiao Mo had been eavesdropping outside the tent the whole time. Tang Mo had noticed her small figure long ago.

Tang Mo could have easily snapped the restraints with a slight struggle of her hands, but now she remained perfectly still, letting the girl work on the ropes.

She wasn’t the type of person who liked to owe others favors, but this was one favor she wanted to accept.

Finally undoing the ropes, Xiao Mo tossed them aside and gently peeled the tape from Tang Mo’s mouth.

"Hurry up and run! Run as far away as you can! Those people are really powerful here, you can’t afford to cross them." Xiao Mo pushed Tang Mo anxiously, sweat streaming down her face so fast she didn’t even have time to wipe it away.

Tang Mo finally understood the strange look on Xiao Mo’s face when she had asked if Ah Lian was her friend.

’So she knew all along.’

’She knew everything.’

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