“Director Yang, can I ask the neighborhood committee to help me transfer my household registration? That way, they can issue a certificate proving that I am not their daughter. From now on, I would have no connection with them whatsoever.”
“Girl, this isn’t strictly within the committee’s authority, but we can coordinate. If a certificate is needed, the committee can issue one. The rest depends on Director Hong’s office.”
“If that’s what you want, I think Director Hong will help you handle it. After today’s incident, plus the fact that they’ve taken their biological daughter back, it shouldn’t be difficult. Do you have any other requests?”
Anning understood immediately. She pretended to pout and said,
“Director Yang, look at how they’ve beaten me. My face is disfigured! I demand compensation—2,000 yuan. If they don’t pay, I’ll take them to court.”
“You’ll need to discuss that with Director Hong. Of course, the neighborhood office will back you up if needed. But for your facial injury, you’ll need an authoritative medical certificate.”
This meant Anning had to get a doctor to issue a disfigurement certificate. Once she had it, Jiang Chenggong couldn’t refuse to pay.
Director Yang, seeing that Anning understood the implication, realized that with Anning’s malnourished condition and neighborhood testimonies of abuse, the Jiang family might only offer a small amount for nutrition or minor compensation. But with a certified facial injury, they would have no choice but to pay.
“Alright, Director Yang, I understand. I’ll get the doctor to issue it shortly. Ah, Director Yang… these years have been so hard for me. I never had a full meal, never wore a single new outfit. I’ve worn only hand-me-downs from my cousins.”
“Even when the clothes had no patches, my cousin would take scissors and cut holes to make patches, telling me I didn’t deserve nice clothes—only patched rags.”
“Now my face is ruined. I just want to stay away from them. Asking for 2,000 yuan is just securing a little for my future.”
“Director Yang, look at my face—this huge scar. Who would marry a woman disfigured like me? If I had a decent dowry, things would be different. I could find a simple country man. With money in hand, life would be secure.”
“You also know my biological parents are rural folks supporting a large family—they can’t really help me.”
Anning poured her heart out, alternating between crying and speaking, leaving Director Yang stunned. This girl could cry and talk at the same time.
But thinking about it, it made sense. Any capable young man wouldn’t want to marry a woman who had been disfigured by others. Asking for a little extra dowry as compensation was reasonable. Since the Jiang family had done this, it made sense that they should pay.
Director Yang resolved to discuss the matter further with Director Hong. If the Jiang family refused, she would take the case to the provincial court.
Meanwhile, Li Weiming’s parents, wife, and his younger brother from the factory arrived at the station with a group, demanding accountability. They threatened that if justice wasn’t served, they’d seek vengeance on Ge Laogou.
Xu Hongli’s family didn’t show up at all, even though she lay unconscious in the hospital. Their illegitimate child with Li Weiming hadn’t even visited his mother. If the hospital stopped her medication for unpaid fees, Xu Hongli might follow Li Weiming’s fate within three days.
At the station, Director Hong was overwhelmed. Li Weiming’s family was crying and making a scene, demanding severe punishment for Ge Laogou.
Director Yang arrived at the station because Anning was now stable and she wanted to coordinate with Director Hong.
Hearing Anning’s demands and her compensation request, Hong thought this approach was safest. Rarely did a victim like Anning, without real family support, come forward with such requests. For families like Li Weiming’s, it was a small matter to resolve with 2,000 yuan plus an identity certificate.
Director Hong agreed to negotiate with the Jiang family once they returned that evening.
At that moment, a jeep stopped at the station, and several uniformed people stepped out—they were an investigation team from the city government.
Earlier that morning, Li Weiming’s death had been confirmed. Ge Laogou had struck him on the head with a club, and he couldn’t be saved at the hospital. The incident had caused a major uproar, reaching city-level authorities.
Li Weiming’s family, seeing the investigators, felt intimidated. They knew the whole affair stemmed from Li Weiming and Xu Hongli’s affair, and that passions ran high during the act of catching them in the scene.
If the city investigation team got involved, it could negatively affect their family’s reputation, especially their grandson in the military. But with the team already in the police station, nothing could stop the process now—it was all in fate’s hands.
In reality, the investigation team didn’t need to dig too deep. Asking neighbors around the small yard could reconstruct the incident.
The only unknown was the empty cellar. No one could say what had been inside. Both involved parties were unconscious. The only proof was a bag Xu Hongli had carried away, which Anning had deliberately filled with a few pieces of jewelry.
This demonstrated that the cellar once contained valuables, which were now missing. No matter how the investigation team searched, it would be impossible to find anyone responsible, and eventually, the case would go unresolved.
Anning hadn’t expected that simply following the events back then would lead to such major consequences. Li Weiming’s death, and in such a disgraceful manner, changed everything.
Now she could see that, as long as she secured her identity certificate, Jiang Yan would have nothing to do with the male lead. Without her “golden finger” advantage, it would be interesting to see what kind of life Jiang Yan could lead without using her as a stepping stone. Anning chuckled at the thought.