On the evening of September 27, Ms. Jin, who had just flown back to China, anxiously called her husband from the high-speed train. "I left Xiaoshan Airport and was already on the high-speed train before I realized my bag was gone." Normally a decisive and capable person, her voice was trembling at that moment.
On the other end of the line, her husband's heart leaped into his throat: something important must have been lost. His wife, Ms. Jin, is from Taizhou and works in foreign trade, constantly traveling. He knew all too well what was inside that small black bag she carried with her — US dollars, som (the currency of Uzbekistan), a translator device, cosmetics, and a passport that absolutely could not be lost under any circumstances.
On the day of the incident, after landing at Xiaoshan Airport, Ms. Jin transferred to Metro Line 19 to rush to the East Railway Station, then switched to a high-speed train back to Taizhou. The exhaustion from the long journey prevented her from noticing along the way that the small bag was no longer with her.
The turning point came after 4 p.m. that day. A station attendant at Xiaoshan International Airport Station found an unclaimed small black bag near the security screening machine and handed it over to the police office as required. Officer Wang Zhen and auxiliary police officer Zhu Yike opened the bag according to procedure and took inventory: 1,375 US dollars (approximately 9,218 yuan), 16,000 som, bank cards, a translator device, cosmetics — and a passport. The name on the passport was none other than Ms. Jin.
The officers quickly called the family. "We are from Hangzhou Metro Police. Is Jin XX your family member? We found a bag that appears to contain your wife's belongings." Ms. Jin's husband, upon receiving the call, was both surprised and overjoyed: "My wife was just crying on the phone saying she lost her passport! She had been transferring flights, switching to the metro, and boarding the high-speed train — she had no idea where she lost it. You found it this quickly? Thank you so much, I will have her contact you right away!"
That evening, Ms. Jin got in touch with the officers and verified each item through WeChat, one by one — nothing was missing. She immediately said she would come to Hangzhou from Taizhou the next day.
The next day, Ms. Jin appeared at the police office as promised, carrying a banner she had custom-made overnight. The officers noticed a detail: after opening the bag, she did not first count the US dollars, but went straight for the passport and carefully put it away. When the officers asked why the passport was so important, Ms. Jin explained with a wry smile: she has been in foreign trade for years and had a South America trip scheduled after the National Day holiday. If the passport were lost, reapply for a visa would take time and effort, likely causing her to miss multiple trade shows, delay contract signings, and on top of already-booked flights and hotels, the losses would amount to hundreds of thousands of yuan.
"Thanks to your diligence and sense of responsibility, I can enjoy this holiday with peace of mind." The passport was returned to its rightful owner, and the matter came to a warm conclusion. The officers' reminders should also be heeded: when taking the metro, getting on and off, waiting, buying tickets, and using the restroom are all moments when it is easiest to be distracted. Always keep your belongings "in hand and on body." If something is lost, immediately contact station staff; if something is found, turn it in promptly, so every lost item can find its way "home" sooner.