At the question the thug fell silent mid wail.
His gaze drifted instinctively toward Lu Lizhou who stood in the doorway tall upright and radiating integrity.
The moment he had laid eyes on this officer earlier he had felt a flicker of recognition.
Now hearing Su Wan’s question he suddenly recalled the man who had intervened when he had harassed Su Wan five years ago.
This man looked very much like him.
Yet if this really was that man why was Su Wan asking him?
It must just be a resemblance he told himself.
He spoke quickly. “It was too dark. I did not see his face clearly and I do not know who he was. But I am certain he was not from around here. The way he moved he was clearly a soldier.”
Disappointment flickered in Su Wan’s eyes.
She had hoped that if she could identify the child’s father at least the boy would not have to grow up bearing the stigma of being born out of wedlock.
Even the thug had not seen the man’s face clearly though.
“Comrade Su Wan I have told you everything I know. Please show us mercy and let us go. We will never dare do such a thing again.” The thug was in such torment from the itching he would have gladly hit the wall to find relief. He begged repeatedly.
Su Wan looked at him and said coldly. “Do you remember how this feels?”
“We do we do.” They answered hurriedly.
“And do you know who is truly responsible? It is not me. It is the person who put you up to this.”
Su Wan took a small bottle from her pocket tipped out two pills and placed one in each man’s mouth.
She leaned close to the taller man. “The one behind this knew perfectly well I am the village doctor. He knew I would notice something was wrong and could act against you at any moment. Yet he still sent you to target me.”
“If things go wrong it is you who will suffer. He will stay hidden and wash his hands of everything. He does not care about you at all. He is simply using you as pawns to take the blame.”
“You are already known to the authorities. After today you will be watched more closely than ever. Should anything happen in this village you will be the first they question.”
“From now on you will be like rats scurrying across the street with everyone watching your every move. Think about what that will be like.”
The taller man swallowed the pill. He listened to her deliberate words his gaze shifting and his hand clenching.
He knew all this perfectly well. Yet what could someone like him do even if he confessed? Better to take all the blame himself and once things had quieted down demand a handsome payment from the man who had hired him!
“That is all. You may take them away now.”
Su Wan turned to Lu Lizhou who had stood watching quietly. “They are suffering from an allergic reaction. Once the medicine takes effect they will be fine by morning.”
Lu Lizhou nodded and signaled the patrolmen to lead them out.
“Comrade Su Wan it still itches terribly!” The two men continued scratching frantically.
“Endure it!” Lu Lizhou said firmly. “Did you not hear what Comrade Su Wan said? You will be fine after tonight.”
A faint smile touched Su Wan’s lips.
She had a quicker way to stop the itching. There had once been an elderly traditional Chinese doctor sent down to the village who was skilled in acupuncture. She had looked after him well while studying medicine alongside her father and in gratitude he had taught her all his special techniques. A few carefully placed silver needles would have ended their discomfort instantly. Why should she make things easy for them though?
“They are keeping their tongues remarkably still.” Lu Lizhou observed.
“They are old hands at this and know exactly how to hold out.” Su Wan replied with a sharp smile.
“I shall speak to the authorities and ask them to continue questioning them thoroughly.” Lu Lizhou said.
“There is no need.” A cunning glint shone in Su Wan’s bright eyes.
“Imagine if they began to fear they might never be able to function as men again. Do you think they would turn against the one who hired them?”
Lu Lizhou looked surprised. Did she mean those two men had been permanently harmed? He had not expected the powder she carried to be so potent!
“You want them to turn on each other.”
“Yes.” A cold light flashed in Su Wan’s eyes. “Imagine being endlessly hounded by two greedy grasping men who keep coming back for more. What would the mastermind do then?”
Lu Lizhou narrowed his eyes. “You cannot keep watch over thieves forever. Eventually he would feel forced to silence them permanently.”
Su Wan nodded in approval. Hearing his deep resonant voice an idea took shape and she spoke tentatively.
“Commander Lu did you come here five years ago?”
Lu Lizhou thought for a moment. “I do not believe so.”
“You do not sound entirely certain.”
He considered again and answered clearly. “I am certain I did not.”
Five years ago he had been sent on a mission and had suffered severe injury. He had no memory of ever having been to this place.
Su Wan could not quite name the feeling that rose in her chest. She spoke lightly. “Well it is getting late. I should head home.”
“Take care on the road.”
Lu Lizhou watched her ride away and his gaze lingered long after she had disappeared from sight.
“Commander what are you looking at so intently?” A subordinate came hurrying over following his line of sight. “That is Comrade Su Wan the village doctor isn’t it? Commander do you have feelings for her?”
Lu Lizhou turned and gave him a cool glance. “Nonsense! Have you finished surveying the area?”
“Surveying is complete sir!”
“Then return to base!”
Lu Lizhou mounted his bicycle and rode off. The soldier scratched his head. Had he been mistaken? The commander had always kept women at a distance. Even the most talented performers in the military arts troupe had received nothing but cold indifference from him. If he had no interest in Comrade Su Wan why had he come himself tonight? He could easily have sent someone else to deliver the message.
Su Wan rode to her parents’ home. Her mother stood in the main room looking anxiously toward the gate. Her father had only just returned after attending to a patient in the next village at dusk. He had already heard what had happened from Su Wan’s uncle and sat silently on the wooden bench his face set hard. They both hurried forward the moment they saw her.
“Wan-wan are you all right?” Her mother’s eyes glistened with tears as she clasped her daughter’s hand.
“Your uncle has told us everything. Lin Wenchuan is a worthless man carrying on with that Bai Wei! Worse still they tried to destroy you too. How can people be so wicked?”
Su Wan patted her mother’s hand gently. “Mother I am fine. Let me have a drink of water first.”
“Of course.” Her mother poured water into an enamel mug.
“They are alive and well! I want so much to embrace them!” A faint figure appeared beside the water voice trembling with outstretched arms as if to hold them.
Su Wan paused lifting the mug to her lips. If not for the warning from her future self her parents would die while she was imprisoned?
“After they framed you and sent you to prison they feared your parents would protest so they spread lies. They said our family lacked moral character. That your father had failed to raise you properly and that you used your position as a doctor to lure men.”
“They incited villagers to gather at our door demanding your father hang a self criticism notice and march through the streets admitting guilt. A man of honour all his life his spirit was broken. He spat blood right there and fell to the ground and passed away consumed by grief and anger.”
The figure spoke as if reading Su Wan’s thoughts filled with bitterness. Su Wan tightened her grip on the mug her chest rising and falling.
“Wan-wan why aren’t you drinking?” Her mother asked with concern seeing her lost in thought.
Su Wan collected herself and blew gently on the water. “It is still a little hot.”
“Your mother watched her daughter taken to prison and her beloved husband laid to rest. The whole world fell apart.” The figure wept softly. “She took a bottle of pesticide and went to Lin Wenchuan’s workplace. She spoke out against his cruelty and drank the poison in a final act to prove your innocence!”