Following Qin Yi’s gaze inside, Su Tong calmly stated:
“He fainted from exhaustion. All his vital signs are normal, so other doctors can take over now.”
What she didn’t say aloud was…
To intimidate Ma Liu into not lying and to prevent him from speaking carelessly after waking up, she had pretended to accidentally cut his “certain part,” which directly scared him into unconsciousness.
Qin Yi struggled to tear his eyes away from Ma Liu. Had the problem that had kept everyone anxious for so long really been resolved so easily?
Was it truly solved?!
He hadn’t quite adjusted to the idea yet…
Unexpectedly, Su Tong slipped a piece of paper into his hand, with several lines neatly written on it.
“I asked about the contents on this three times, so it should be accurate. You can verify it further.”
Qin Yi was momentarily stunned before accepting the paper. After reading the recorded information, his calm eyes visibly stirred…
This girl—
Not only had she resolved the surgical challenge, but she had also helped them obtain the most crucial information for the case.
Ma Liu had been ill since his arrest, and in his pained state, their usual interrogation methods were completely ineffective.
Ma Liu was well aware of this, adopting an attitude of “if you don’t save me, you won’t get anything either—if I die, you’ll gain nothing.”
Unexpectedly, with this girl’s intervention, both major problems had been solved.
Qin Yi could barely contain his excitement. Looking at the slender girl before him, he was momentarily overwhelmed with mixed emotions.
He stared intently at Su Tong, his dark eyes reflecting the bright lights of the operating room, blazing intensely…
After a long while, he finally spoke to her in a low, clear voice, “Wu Tong, thank you!”
Su Tong smiled, pulling Ma Liu’s watch from her pocket and handing it to him, saying:
“Ma Liu can undergo normal judicial procedures after his stitches are removed. I’ll hand this watch over to you as well.”
Qin Yi took the watch, his eyes fixed on her as if he wanted to say something.
Su Tong gave him a faint glance. “You keep my secret, I save your person. We’re even.”
She cut off all his words, then walked out through the glass door without looking back.
Only at the stairwell corner did she glance back.
Qin Yi stood under the brightly lit operating room entrance, watching her. When she turned, he straightened his posture and raised his hand in a formal military salute.
His figure, silhouetted against the light, was tall and straight, like a pine tree standing proud in the snow.
That night, Su Tong’s dreams were filled with battlefields from her past life, as if she were back on the front lines, moving through medical tents in the war zone…
Early the next morning, Lin Li knocked on Su Tong’s hospital room door, handing her a bag and saying Qin Yi had asked him to deliver it.
Opening it, Su Tong found the set of exquisite silver needles she had used the previous night and a small ladies’ watch. The watch hands were luminescent, visible even at night—likely quite valuable.
Additionally, there was a sheathed military dagger.
Lin Li added appropriately, “The boss said these are personal gifts to Comrade Wu. Please be sure to accept them.”
From Lin Li, she learned that Qin Yi had left for the capital overnight. Once Ma Liu recovered somewhat, they would also escort Ma Liu and Zhang Kui away. It seemed unlikely she would see any of them again.
These items were thoughtfully chosen, all things Su Tong could use.
Considering Qin Yi didn’t seem like someone short on money, and although they had agreed to settle their accounts, accepting a bit more gratitude from him wouldn’t be excessive, so Su Tong nodded and accepted with a smile.
Time flew by swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, Su Tong had been staying at the county hospital for nearly half a month.
Thanks to the title of “hero,” all her expenses during the hospitalization were covered by the public. She ate well, slept well, and even received nutritional supplements at the hospital.
Su Tong’s health had finally improved significantly, far better than when she was first admitted.
Jiang Pinglu visited the hospital the day before Su Tong was discharged. After returning last time, he had reinvestigated the situation Su Tong reported.
He discovered that Li Youshuan and Wang Erbao had indeed lied. Although they stubbornly denied it, insisting that Wu Jia Daya had hit the pillar because she didn’t want to get married, Jiang Pinglu, who had lost face in front of the provincial bureau comrades last time, was determined to get to the bottom of it this time.
He employed various investigative techniques and repeatedly interrogated them. Eventually, the two had no choice but to admit to the attempted rape, though for some reason, they refused to acknowledge that Wu Dongling had instigated them.
However, because it was only “attempted,” Li Youshuan and Wang Erbao had their punishment changed from three days of detention to three months of farm reform.
While the punishment might not seem severe, in that era, it meant their reputations were ruined, and they would likely be scorned for the rest of their lives.
Wang Guilan and Wu Dongling, on the other hand, were sent to the Town Police Station for a week of legal education. Compared to the other two, their punishment was relatively mild.
Outsiders unaware of the details thought Jiang Pinglu was making a mountain out of a molehill.
Although the outcome fell far short of the punishment they deserved—after all, the original host had lost her life—Su Tong was mentally prepared, knowing that Jiang Pinglu had done his best under the social circumstances.
Accompanying Jiang Pinglu was a staff member from the County Revolutionary Committee, who presented Su Tong with a 50-yuan bonus. It was said that the commendatory banner would be sent directly to the village.
This was the county’s reward for her act of bravery, separate from the organizational reward Qin Yi had mentioned.
Originally, the bonus was supposed to be delivered along with the banner to the village, but upon the suggestions of Jiang Pinglu and the county public security bureau comrades, the authorities decided to give the bonus directly to Su Tong.
Holding the 50 yuan, Su Tong knew it was a considerable amount of money in that era.
The original host had lost her life over a 50-yuan bride price. Even if she hadn’t died, she would likely have been forced into a marriage for that sum, living an absurd and repressed life.
She sighed and, in the afternoon, took the money to stroll around the streets.
In the county town of the 1970s, there were no tall buildings, the streets were narrow, and most pedestrians wore blue or black clothing, with styles that were generally bulky and loose.
The winter was chilly, with few evergreen plants. Most trees stretched out bare branches, creating a view that resembled an old and monotonous painting.
It was a serious and gloomy era, but also one where everything was waiting to be rebuilt.