Wang Guilan hadn’t given Su Tong a proper glance since entering the room. Secretary Wu had ordered that someone from the family must come to care for Su Tong. If Dongling hadn’t reminded her there would be a reward for meritorious service, she would never have personally made this trip. Since she had come, she had no intention of leaving empty-handed.
Hearing Su Tong speak so abruptly genuinely startled her.
Her daughter, who usually wouldn’t say a word no matter how hard you tried, normally didn’t even dare lift her head in her presence. Today, suddenly speaking such a long sentence truly gave her a fright.
Wang Guilan turned her head and stared hard at Su Tong on the bed before shrilly exclaiming, “Yo—!”
“Well, look who’s talking! How impressive! If it isn’t our Da Ya! Tsk tsk—sounding so full of energy! Banging into a pillar actually made you bolder, huh! What’s the matter! Playing the hero now! Thinking you can disown your own mother—well, that won’t be so easy!”
Wang Guilan’s sarcastic tone was in full force, the authority that had been suppressed earlier in front of the police now fully unleashed before Su Tong, clearly determined not to leave without getting the reward money.
Su Tong, leaning against the headboard, didn’t even glance at Wang Guilan and spoke directly to Jiang Pinglu:
“Director Jiang, I’d like to inquire: how many years imprisonment do arranged marriage, inciting others to commit crimes, and attempted rape typically carry?”
The moment these words were spoken, everyone in the room was stunned.
Ignoring their expressions, Su Tong continued calmly:
“I woke up a bit late, but I just remembered that my collision with the pillar is related to these two individuals here. Would you have time now? I’d like to truthfully report the entire sequence of events to the public security department.”
Wang Guilan, finally reacting, let out a furious roar, “You jinx! Are you trying to stir up trouble and disrupt the whole household? Why didn’t you just die from that collision? Now you want to bring harm to others! Just see if I don’t strangle you, you little whore!”
As Wang Guilan charged forward, Qin Yi, seemingly having learned his lesson, didn’t use his hands this time but simply stuck out a foot, tripping her to the ground. He then turned and barked at Jiang Pinglu:
“Lao Jiang, how do you usually handle cases!”
Jiang Pinglu finally snapped into action, rushing forward to twist Wang Guilan’s arms behind her back and restrain her.
Seeing the situation turning bad, Wu Dongling nearby jumped up and screamed:
“Wu Tong, you shameless creature! You got yourself violated and now you want to blame others! You’re already tainted… mmmph…”
Ma Daming, seeing Jiang Pinglu take action, quickly moved to control Wu Dongling as well. Then, at Jiang Pinglu’s signal, he escorted both women out of the room.
The ward finally fell quiet.
Jiang Pinglu then asked with a serious expression, “Wu Tong, what you just said…”
“Director Jiang, what did you hear from Li Youshuan and Wang Lao Er?”
“Those two said your mother… that Wang Guilan asked them to help escort the bride. You suddenly became distraught on the road and crashed into a pillar, but didn’t die… then tried to run away. They were chasing you when they happened to run into our ambush…”
This answer didn’t surprise Su Tong. Those two weren’t completely foolish.
“Director Jiang, what they said is generally correct. As the person involved, I think some details need to be added.
First, as the party concerned, I had absolutely no knowledge of this marriage arrangement. Wang Guilan sold me off after receiving fifty yuan from the other party. She has committed the crime of arranged marriage.
Second, Wu Dongling gave the men surnamed Li and Wang two yuan, instructing them to thoroughly humiliate me on the road, take their time with me, and only send me over after they’d had their fill. This was to prevent me from regretting my decision and running back after I woke up. She committed the crime of solicitation.
Third, the direct reason I hit the pillar was because Li and Wang intended to assault me. Unexpectedly, I didn’t die and managed to escape. While chasing me, they knocked over a kerosene lamp, which caused the cowshed to catch fire. These two men attempted rape, damaged public property, and even tried to lie to the police to evade responsibility!
Fourth, Wang Guilan not only engaged in trafficking marriage but, fearing I would resist if I knew the truth, directly drugged me with a bowl of medicine of unknown dosage and composition before sending me off.
If I hadn’t woken up later, she might even be suspected of poisoning or intentional murder… But let’s not dwell on that. This is the true sequence of events. Every word I’ve said is factual, and I am ready to cooperate with the investigation at any time. As for how to handle this, it’s up to the police comrades to decide!”
After Su Tong finished speaking, Jiang Pinglu was stunned. Their police station went around promoting legal education every day, yet this girl seemed to know more than they did, articulating each point logically and convincingly.
To be honest, in rural areas, the line between arranged marriages and trafficking marriages was often blurred. The poorer the area, the more exorbitant the bride price demands.
Although the Marriage Law had been promulgated, old mindsets and traditions couldn’t change overnight. They could only preach tirelessly but couldn’t actually dictate how much bride price should be given or who should marry whom. They truly had no authority over such matters.
The situation at Wu Tong’s home was indeed more tumultuous than most ordinary families. The main issue was that her family didn’t care much about her—the man they found for her was unsuitable, and the escorts were unreliable. Otherwise, the girl wouldn’t have been driven to such despair.
Under normal circumstances, this would have been handled with criticism and education at most. But this time, because Wu Tong had rendered a service, to show seriousness, the case was dealt with more severely. Not only was the entire Wu Family subjected to stern criticism and education, but Li Youshuan and Wang Lao Er were also detained at the station for three days and hadn’t been released yet!
But who would have thought there were so many hidden details behind this incident? Jiang Pinglu wiped the sweat from his forehead—this was a oversight on the part of the police station!
They hadn’t even questioned the person involved and had treated it as a typical arranged marriage case.
Jiang Pinglu glanced at Qin Yi. With the provincial leader present, he had to handle this matter meticulously. Otherwise, instead of receiving any rewards, he might end up with a disciplinary action.
Qin Yi was no less astonished than Jiang Pinglu.
First, he was shocked by “Wu Tong’s” ordeal, which was even worse and more absurd than he had imagined.
Second, her clear, logical articulation and familiarity with legal provisions far surpassed that of an ordinary person.
Third, her calm and composed demeanor when mentioning attempted rape was definitely not the normal reaction of a rural girl facing such a situation.
Once again, he felt that this girl was full of mysteries.
After this incident, Su Tong’s hospital room remained quiet for several days.
Not only did Wang Guilan and Wu Dongling not show up, but Jiang Pinglu and the others didn’t come either.
The legal system in this era was still underdeveloped, and Qingfeng County, located in the remote southwest, had an even weaker and more backward sense of rule of law—even among law enforcement agencies.
She didn’t hold much hope that Wang Guilan and the others would face severe punishment. She simply wanted to speak out on behalf of the original owner, to ensure that this poor girl’s life hadn’t been lost in vain without anyone knowing the truth.
After several days of glucose injections and adequate rest, Su Tong felt much more energetic and decided to step outside her ward for some fresh air. Having been hospitalized for days, she hadn’t properly observed her surroundings yet.
Su Tong tightened the thick cotton coat around herself and walked out of the ward.
Nurse Xiao Li had told her that the cotton coat she was wearing when admitted was stiff, thin, patched layer upon layer, and soaked with blood—beyond salvageable.
Doctor Zhao had found one of his daughter’s old cotton coats for her. Though slightly oversized, it was far warmer than her own.
The doctors and nurses here were all warm-hearted individuals—clear about right and wrong, enthusiastic and straightforward—embodying the most distinctive characteristics of this era.
The inpatient department was a three-story red-brick building. Su Tong’s ward was on the second floor, opening directly into a long horizontal corridor with red-brick railings.
Looking down, she saw a rectangular courtyard below, facing a two-story red-brick building that appeared to be the outpatient clinic.
Passing by the nurse’s station, she noticed a tear-off calendar hanging on the wall displaying today’s date:
December 22, 1976. The second day of the eleventh lunar month—Winter Solstice.