Zhang Liang clenched his fists. In that moment, he truly wanted to punch Zhao Panpan to death.
But Zhao Panpan refused any mediation. Her mind was already made up.
Since she insisted, the police took the mother and son back to the station to record their statements.
Unfortunately, hospital rooms didn’t have surveillance cameras because of patient privacy. Investigating what happened would take some time.
Before leaving, Zhang Liang looked at Zhao Panpan the way someone would look at an enemy.
“I’m really seeing you clearly for the first time. You’re vicious. No wonder even your parents didn’t want you.”
Zhao Panpan’s heart trembled. She bit her lip hard, refusing to let herself cry.
When he loved her, he used to cry over her pain and her past. He swore he would protect her for the rest of her life and never let anyone hurt her.
But now that he didn’t love her anymore, those same memories had turned into weapons in his hands, stabbing straight into her heart without mercy.
The female officer felt a pang of sympathy. She knew all too well how difficult it was for women to defend their rights. Lowering her voice, she quietly reminded Zhao Panpan,
“Make sure you get the police report receipt. And if you’re planning to divorce because of domestic violence, it’s best to contact the Women’s Federation. If they issue a formal warning to the man, it carries more weight.”
Zhao Panpan nodded gratefully. She immediately took out her phone and contacted the Women’s Federation. After explaining everything, all she could do was wait.
A nurse came in to reset her IV and apply medicine to the bruises on her face. Her eyes were full of concern.
“Thank you,” Zhao Panpan said sincerely.
If the nurses hadn’t stepped in when they did, things might have been even worse for her.
The young nurse shook her head gently and told her to rest well.
After sleeping for a while, Zhao Panpan took out her phone and called home.
“Grandma, I’m getting a divorce… No, it’s not a rash decision. I’m informing you, not asking for permission.”
That evening, Zhao Panpan’s grandparents, parents, and aunt all came to the hospital. Before she could even finish explaining what happened, they cut her off.
“What are you making a fuss about?” Zhao Yongwei said. “Back then you insisted on marrying him. You didn’t even want a bride price. Now you want a divorce just because he hit you a few times? What man hasn’t raised his hand before?”
As he spoke, he glanced at his wife.
Liu Fenhong shrank her neck slightly and joined in persuading her. “That’s right, Panpan. Married life is like this. Just endure it and it’ll pass. Once you have a child and get older, things will get better.”
Zhao Gu, her aunt, had tears in her eyes. “Panpan, divorce is so embarrassing. If you divorce, you won’t even have a place to go. What’s the point? Don’t be impulsive.”
Grandma Zhao sighed. “In the old days, even if people fought until their heads were bleeding, they never talked about divorce. Young people like you want to divorce the moment something happens. It’s too willful.”
Grandpa Zhao had already been dissatisfied for a long time. “I think this is all because of that dog! You value that dog more than your own family! If you ask me, it should’ve been killed long ago!”
Zhao Panpan felt exhausted.
Everyone told her to endure it or blamed her. No one cared about her injuries. No one cared about the humiliation she had suffered.
Since no one cared about her body or her heart, Zhao Panpan decided to stand up for herself.
“I’ve already decided to divorce. I’m not keeping this child either. You don’t need to try to persuade me.”
“Damn it!” Zhao Yongwei exploded.
He pointed his finger so close it almost poked her nose.
“I didn’t agree to this marriage from the beginning! But you insisted on marrying him. Not a single cent of bride price, and you even poured in all the money you earned from years of working. If you were shameless enough to marry him, then at least live well! Now you want a divorce? Do you think anyone will want a woman who’s been married before? And now you want an abortion? Have you gone crazy? You’re not getting divorced!”
Liu Fenhong wanted to comfort her, but thinking about the fact that she was only Zhao Panpan’s stepmother, she simply stayed silent.
Zhao Gu felt she was an outsider. People said it was better to tear down ten temples than destroy one marriage. She had already tried to persuade her. That was enough.
Grandma Zhao complained to her son instead.
“Panpan is already grown up. If you have something to say, say it properly. What father talks to his own daughter like that? This isn’t when she was a child anymore.”
Zhao Panpan looked coldly at Zhao Yongwei.
“You’re just angry because you didn’t make any money from me, right? Even if you’re unhappy, I’ve already given everything I could. I married him and poured my money into that family. You can’t squeeze another cent out of me. I’m an adult. I can make my own decisions. As long as the law allows divorce, that’s enough.”
She had only called to inform them so the Zhao family wouldn’t have dealings with Zhang Liang’s family in the future. She wasn’t asking for their support.
Zhao Panpan raised her hand and pointed to the door.
“You should all leave. I need some quiet.”
“If you die outside someday, don’t expect me to care!” Zhao Yongwei cursed as he stormed out.
The rest of the Zhao family sighed and followed him.
Their visit didn’t change Zhao Panpan’s mind at all. But being alone in the hospital was inconvenient, so she called a friend for help.
Before her friend arrived, the door suddenly burst open. A crowd of people rushed in.
Zhao Panpan looked up and immediately recognized them—Zhang Liang’s relatives and friends.
“All this over a dog? You want an abortion and a divorce?”
“How can you be so heartless? You even sent your husband and mother-in-law to the police station!”
“If he hit you, there must be a reason. Why didn’t he hit someone else?”
“You’re so eager to abort the baby. Could it be some other man’s child?”
“It takes two hands to clap. If you got beaten, there must be a reason!”
The Zhang family surrounded her, throwing accusations and dirty rumors at her one after another.
In the end, the nurses had to call security to force them out of the hospital room.
After the chaos settled down, everyone from the Zhang family left except Zhang Jun. The others waited outside, clearly unwilling to let Zhao Panpan off easily unless she gave in.
Zhang Jun looked at her with the air of a family patriarch.
“All this drama over an animal. You’ve really opened my eyes.”
Zhao Panpan stayed silent. No matter what, she was getting that divorce.
“You can divorce if you want,” Zhang Jun said slowly. “But my brother’s child must be born.”
Zhao Panpan felt speechless.
“The law protects my reproductive rights. You don’t get to decide that.”
Zhang Jun frowned.
He had never liked Zhao Panpan. But the family was poor, and she didn’t ask for a bride price, so she had been the most suitable choice.
If they divorced now, it wouldn’t be too hard for his younger brother to remarry. After all, Zhang Liang owned a house in the city.
But Zhang Jun didn’t want his brother to remarry.
What he wanted was to move his own son into that city apartment.
If his brother had a child dragging him down, it would actually work out better.
Both brothers would have children, and the whole family could live together. The kids could even get a good education in the city.
That would be the perfect outcome for everyone.
“If you don’t agree,” Zhang Jun said darkly, “I wouldn’t mind taking you back to the mountains. The law doesn’t reach very far there.”
His threat was cold and deliberate. No matter what, he was determined to keep his brother’s child.
They had both grown up in the mountains. After struggling for years, he had managed to settle in a small town.
Meanwhile, the younger brother he had helped support was now living comfortably in the city.
Deep down, Zhang Jun had always been jealous.
But that was still his younger brother—the one he had practically raised like a son. So even if he felt jealous, he kept it buried.
Now, this rare opportunity had appeared in front of him.
He didn’t want to miss it.
After thinking for a moment, Zhao Panpan decided to stall him.
“I’ll think about it.”
If Zhang Liang refused to agree to the divorce, she would have to file a lawsuit. Until then, the most important thing was making sure she stayed safe.
Otherwise, with their legal marriage still in place, they could take her back to Zhang Liang’s hometown and claim it was reasonable. If that happened, escaping on her own would be nearly impossible.
Zhang Jun nodded with satisfaction and left with his people.
But the story quickly spread among people they both knew. Even in the residential areas where Zhao Panpan’s relatives lived, people began gossiping about how she was “getting divorced over a dog.”
Soon, someone posted the story online.
Public opinion exploded almost overnight.
And just like that, Zhao Panpan became the target of everyone’s criticism.