Su Jinxia said, “He’s not going to die. He saw someone coming to help us, so he hit himself on the head with a brick, trying to accuse us first.”
She said this because she understood Song Jianping. He often twisted the facts when speaking to others. When faced with someone tough, he would start acting pitiful; when faced with someone weak, he would become arrogant.
Ma Cheng slapped the table again. “What a bastard! We’re going to the hospital right now!”
On the one hand, he was worried that someone might die. On the other, he wanted to establish the case properly. He had wanted to deal with Song Jianping for a long time. Since today’s incident had become so serious, it should not be brushed aside. Besides, hooliganism was a typical charge—it meant going to prison.
Lin Yuanyuan had not expected things to go so smoothly. It was only when she stood outside the hospital that she finally believed Song Jianping was about to be punished. At last, the pent-up anger in her heart had been released.
After entering the hospital, Ma Cheng found a nurse and asked for directions. He soon located the ward.
As soon as he entered, he saw a man in a white military uniform. The blood staining it was particularly conspicuous. He gave the man a slight nod, and the other man nodded back.
When Song Jianping saw the Station Chief arrive, his eyes lit up. Then he saw that wretched girl from the Su family—and Lin Yuanyuan as well!
“Station Chief, you have to stand up for me! These two women cornered me in a small alley and tried to molest me. When I resisted, they beat me with a brick!”
Since he could not escape the charge, he would confuse the issue. After regaining consciousness, this was the only good idea he had been able to come up with.
If he were convicted of hooliganism, the secure job he was about to obtain would be gone. If he had known this would happen, he should not have been so impatient to take advantage of Lin Yuanyuan. He should have demanded a few more yuan in betrothal gifts—then the Lin family would have agreed.
The corner of Ma Cheng’s mouth twitched. This man lied without even needing to think. Who would believe such nonsense?
“Song Jianping, stop spouting rubbish. Explain clearly exactly what happened.”
Lin Yuanyuan was furious, but for a moment she did not know what to say. What kind of nonsense was this man talking?
Su Jinxia said, “I’ve seen shameless people before, but I’ve never seen anyone as shameless as you. Is your face made of gold? Why would the two of us ever take a liking to you?”
“You stinking woman, what did you say?” Song Jianping relied on the Station Chief being there. No matter how capable of fighting this woman was, he did not believe she would dare hit him now.
Zhao Yue narrowed his eyes. This man was truly good at pretending. When he had helped carry him out of the alley, they had happened to encounter a little three-wheeled vehicle. As soon as Song Jianping got on, he had lain down and pretended to be unconscious.
He had lain there without saying a word all the way to the hospital as well, making them think he had finally behaved himself. Who would have thought he had not been planning anything good at all?
“I saw everything that happened. It wasn’t like he said.”
Song Jianping stared at the man in uniform. “Who the hell are you? I’m grateful that you took me to the hospital, but you can’t spout nonsense! I’m injured like this entirely because those two women beat me!”
Su Jinxia said, “You’re saying the two of us beat you, one man against two women? Who would believe that? We’re two weak women, and you’re a grown man. Were you just standing there and letting us hit you?
“You were clearly trying to act like a hooligan. I caught you in the act, and then you dragged both of us into the alley.
“You said so many filthy things. Just thinking about them makes me sick. If this big brother hadn’t happened to come along, who knows what would have happened to us now!”
As she spoke, she deliberately squeezed out a few tears. Her pitiful appearance made everyone around them feel sorry for her.
Before anyone realized it, several people had gathered nearby. When they saw the police arrive, they knew something had happened inside and immediately came over to watch the commotion.
Song Jianping was furious. “You’re talking nonsense and twisting right and wrong!”
Ma Cheng stepped forward and grabbed him by the collar. “This is the questioning stage. Behave yourself!”
Only when Song Jianping met the Station Chief’s eyes did his momentum falter.
“These injuries really were caused by these two women. I swear on Heaven and Earth—could I have beaten myself?”
“Song Jianping!” Ma Cheng said. “It’s not as if we’ve only just met. I know how strong you are. These two little girls are so thin and frail—how could they possibly beat you?”
“If you made a mistake, admit it quickly. Fortunately, things aren’t too serious at the moment. If you confess, you’ll only spend a few days in there. But if you keep spouting nonsense, it won’t be a matter of spending just a few days in prison!”
“It wasn’t me! Why should I confess?” Song Jianping pointed at Su Jinxia. “This woman punched and kicked me!”
Then he pointed at Lin Yuanyuan. “She hit me with the brick!”
“All right, enough!” Ma Cheng said. “What’s the point of saying all this? Who here would believe you? Are you made of paper, so they could just hit you however they pleased?”
Song Jianping pointed at Su Jinxia again. “What do I have to say for you to believe me? This woman is strong! She knocked me down with one blow and even kicked me flying!”
Su Jinxia took a deep breath, then began to cry in earnest, looking deeply wronged.
When Zhao Yue saw her crying, he hurriedly took a handkerchief from his pocket and held it out to her.
The moment Su Jinxia saw the white handkerchief, she cried even harder. She had received this handkerchief in her previous life as well. At this moment, every grievance she had suffered surged into her heart as she looked at the man before her.
She threw herself into his arms and began to sob. The more she cried, the more aggrieved she felt, and soon she had burst into loud, heart-rending wails.
Everyone present was moved.
“How much must that little girl have suffered to cry like that?”
“Song Jianping is obviously lying. How could a little girl like me possibly have the strength to beat someone like that?”
“If you ask me, he was trying to take advantage of her. He didn’t succeed, so now he’s accusing them first!”
“Then what about the injuries on his body?”
“He must have caused them himself. What else could have happened?”
The people outside the door chattered among themselves.
To avoid affecting the investigation, Ma Cheng could only walk over and close the door. The people moved away when he approached, then came back as soon as the door was shut.
Lin Yuanyuan was a little stunned, but she quickly reacted and began to cry as well.
She did not cry as loudly. She, too, felt deeply aggrieved at having been entangled with someone like this.
Her parents were both honest, straightforward people, and her older brother was away and could not return. Their family had always put up with things because they did not want to let the relationship become too strained.
Yet this incident had happened anyway. When she thought about the gossip that would spread in the future, sorrow welled up inside her, and she began to cry even harder.
Zhao Yue had grown up without ever being hugged by a young woman, much less under circumstances like these. He had no idea where to put his hands. Being so close to her, he discovered that she really did smell wonderful.
The more nervous he became, the more rigid his body grew. He felt as though he was about to turn into a wooden post.
In the eyes of outsiders, however, his expression was extremely dark, making him look furious.
Song Jianping watched everything before him. How had the situation reversed so quickly? These two stinking women—if they ever fell into his hands one day, he definitely would not let them off easily!
But for now, he also put on a pitiful expression and said, “You two women are really good at pretending to be weak. Do you think I don’t know how to cry? Even if I did something wrong and wanted to do something to you, these injuries on my body really were caused by you. I swear to Heaven!”
“If you weren’t the ones who caused all these injuries, then may I be run over by a car while crossing the road, and may I fall straight into a cesspit when I go to the toilet!”