The moment Su Tong saw Ma Daming, she understood how the doctors and nurses had learned about Wu Tong’s “glorious deeds.”
Ma Daming had another nickname in the village: “Ma Da Zui” (Big Mouth Ma). He was both eloquent and bold in speech, to the extent that this nickname had once overshadowed “Ma Dadan” (Bold Ma).
She was certain that to highlight her “noble” image, Ma Daming must have spent even more effort describing how “miserable and tragic” her life at home had been…
Otherwise, why would the doctors and nurses look at her with such pity in their eyes…
Su Tong stared at Ma Daming, unsure of what to say.
Ma Daming pulled over a chair by the bed and sat down on his own. “Tong Ya, don’t worry! We’ve learned all about your situation. Just focus on recovering. Secretary Wu has already gone to your home. You don’t need to be afraid. From now on, the village will stand up for you. If you want to marry, you can marry. If you don’t, then forget it…”
After saying this, he felt his words might not have been forceful enough. He turned to Jiang Pinglu behind him and asked, “Old Jiang, isn’t that right?”
Jiang Pinglu finally found an opportunity to speak and hurriedly stepped forward to reassure her, “Yes! Yes! The state has a Marriage Law, and marriage autonomy has long been emphasized. Your parents’ actions are illegal and won’t be recognized.”
“Wu Tong! Don’t worry! Our police station will also make a special trip to educate your parents about the law, so they realize their mistakes. Your situation has also revealed that there are still many issues with our legal education work!”
“In the next step, we will prioritize this task, firmly responding to the state’s policies and guidelines, and opposing arranged marriages, forced marriages, and even the buying and selling of marriages…”
Jiang Pinglu grew more and more impassioned as he spoke, raising his arm high.
Su Tong blinked her eyes, listening to one “don’t worry” after another, and then each of them launching into endless speeches!
Jiang Pinglu noticed the confusion in Su Tong’s eyes and paused. Recalling what Ma Daming had told him about her—that she had always been introverted and insecure, had little interaction with others, and had dropped out of middle school before finishing—he wondered if she might not fully understand the grand principles he was explaining.
After a moment’s thought, he asked a more practical question for the girl. “Wu Tong, tell us… what immediate problems do you want to solve? Bring them up, and we will definitely find a way to address them.”
Su Tong’s eyes lit up. Were they finally done with the grand speeches and ready to tackle actual issues?
Seeing Su Tong’s expression, Jiang Pinglu knew he had asked the right question. He quickly put on what he thought was a kindly smile.
“Go ahead! You can ask for anything!”
Su Tong saw that both men had stopped talking and were staring at her intently. She realized she finally had a chance to speak.
“I… I only have one request…”
Su Tong held up one finger.
Jiang Pinglu and Ma Daming nodded in unison, mentally preparing themselves to do everything in their power to fulfill her request, even if it was beyond their capabilities.
“About the incident where I switched that child… it’s fine to talk about it in the hospital, but could you please not publicize it any further! And if there are any follow-ups related to this case… that involve me, please keep them confidential! I just want to live quietly, the same as before!”
Su Tong’s tone was resolute.
Outwardly calm, she was screaming inside. It seemed they still didn’t know about the fugitive arrest. Just the child-switching incident had already made her the talk of the hospital. Fortunately, the doctors and nurses hadn’t known her before. Once she was discharged in a couple of days, she wouldn’t have to deal with them anymore.
But then there were those two fugitives—they were like ticking time bombs! If they confessed over there, and people here started hyping it up, how could she possibly explain herself!
In this sensitive era, if she encountered someone with an overactive imagination who decided to treat her as a spy or something…
Ugh! She couldn’t even bear to think about it!
She had just arrived and wanted to live a good life! Switching the baby could be explained as a momentary lapse of judgment where she forgot the danger, but how could she explain catching the thieves?
Jiang Pinglu and Ma Daming both stared at her without saying a word.
Su Tong blinked again. “Is… is my request too much?”
“Too much! Extremely too much!”
It was Ma Daming who spoke, his tone earnest:
“Tongya! I know what kind of life you used to live! The way your parents and siblings mistreated you—we saw it but had no standing to intervene. Now that you’ve made such a great contribution, we must publicize it properly. Let your family see clearly: they never treated you like a human being before, but if they dare bully you again now, they’ll be bullying a hero who eliminated threats to the people. The government won’t stand for it!”
“Good child!”
This time it was Jiang Pinglu who spoke. “There are times to be low-key and times not to be. On this point, I agree with Daming. This matter must be properly promoted—it will only benefit you, with no harm! It’s good for your production brigade and even for our Qingfeng Town!”
Then his tone shifted as he continued, “Of course—mainly because, well, yesterday Daming and I already reported this to the county leadership. Your Secretary Wu has probably already announced it in the village. So, wanting to keep it low-key is no longer an option! Haha!”
Jiang Pinglu finished cheerfully. After yesterday’s report, the leadership had been very satisfied, and even the police station received praise.
Su Tong’s heart turned ice-cold.
What a pity these two weren’t working in the propaganda department.
…………
Finally seeing off these two “propaganda” cadres, Su Tong breathed a sigh of relief. She needed to sort through her memories properly—the girl’s recent memories were relatively clear, but the distant ones were blurry.
There were still many problems to face: her impoverished family circumstances, ignorant and biased parents, scheming siblings, the backward economy of this era, conservative public attitudes, the lack of ID cards requiring introduction letters for travel, limited acceptance of new things…
It seemed that after dealing with matters related to this case, she would have to carefully consider how to live her future life…
Ma Liu and Zhang Kui should have woken up by now. Although Zhang Kui had taken two punches from her that day, the main reason for his coma was excessive blood loss. As for Ma Liu, she didn’t know if he had any hidden illnesses, but judging from where he was holding his pain that day, it seemed like appendicitis…
Just as she was thinking this, the door knocked again. She sighed inwardly about how lively this hospital room was, with people coming in waves. Maybe she should just pretend to be asleep later.
The door was already ajar, and the newcomer only knocked symbolically before entering. It was a tall, straight-backed young man wearing a black leather jacket, his presence condensed, his gaze cold and detached.
Su Tong’s heart skipped a beat. She recognized him as the young man who had shouted at Ma Liu during the arrest scene—it was he who had stopped Ma Liu from shooting her.
Later, he was also the first to catch up to the jeep. Though she had been “unconscious” at the time, she could recognize his voice.
What was coming would always come; what needed facing would always have to be faced.
The visitor carefully closed the hospital room door before steadily approaching her bedside.
That night had been too dark to see clearly, but now Su Tong realized he was much younger than she had imagined. His appearance and demeanor were exceptionally refined, with a heroic sharpness in every contour of his brow and eyes—like an unsheathed sword. Yet his gaze held a maturity beyond his years, creating an undeniable, imposing aura around him that was difficult to ignore.
He observed Su Tong for a moment before speaking. “I apologize for involving you in this case. I’m the lead investigator—my name is Qin Yi.”