Wang Guilan had not once looked at Su Tong properly since entering the room. Village Secretary Wu had ordered that someone from the family must come to take care of her. If it hadn’t been for Dong Ling reminding her that there would be a reward for meritorious service, she would never have made the trip herself. Since she had come, she had no intention of leaving empty-handed.
So when she suddenly heard Su Tong speak, she was startled.
This daughter of hers—who usually couldn’t squeeze out a single word no matter how hard you hit her—always kept her head down in front of her mother. Now she suddenly spoke such a long sentence, it genuinely shocked her.
Wang Guilan turned her head and stared hard at Su Tong on the bed, then let out a sharp, drawn-out “Oh—”
“So it was you talking! Well, well! Isn’t this my big girl! Tsk tsk—what a strong voice you’ve got there. Hit your head and it made you bold, huh? What’s this, become a hero now? Don’t want to recognize your own mother anymore? Not so easy!”
Her tone was sarcastic and sharp, her presence domineering. The arrogance that had been suppressed in front of the police earlier now came rushing back toward Su Tong in full force. She clearly had no intention of leaving without the promised reward.
Su Tong leaned against the bedhead and didn’t even glance at her. Instead, she said directly to Jiang Pinglu:
“Chief Jiang, I’d like to ask: how many years do crimes like forced marriage, instigation of criminal acts, and attempted rape carry?”
The room froze.
Su Tong ignored everyone’s expressions and continued calmly:
“I woke up a little late, and I’ve just remembered that my head injury incident involves these two people here. If you have time now, I’d like to give a full account of everything that happened to the police.”
Wang Guilan finally reacted, erupting in a roar.
“You disaster star! You’re trying to tear this family apart! Why didn’t you just die when you hit that pillar? Now you want to harm everyone else too! I’ll kill you, you little slut!”
She lunged forward, but Qin Yi—seemingly having learned from earlier—did not step in this time. Instead, he simply stuck out a leg and tripped her to the ground, then turned to Jiang Pinglu and barked:
“Old Jiang, is this how you usually handle cases?!”
Only then did Jiang Pinglu snap back to his senses. He rushed forward, twisted Wang Guilan’s arms behind her back, and restrained her.
On the side, Wu Dongling realized something was wrong and jumped up to shout:
“Wu Tong, you have no shame! You were already ruined by someone and still want to blame others? You’re already impure—mmph!”
Seeing Jiang Pinglu take action, Ma Daming quickly stepped in to restrain Wu Dongling as well. With Jiang Pinglu’s signal, both women were taken out of the room.
Finally, the ward fell silent.
Only then did Jiang Pinglu ask solemnly:
“Wu Tong, what you just said—”
“Chief Jiang, what did you hear from Li Youshun and Wang Lao’er?”
“They said your mother… that is, Wang Guilan, asked them to escort you for marriage. On the way, you suddenly tried to kill yourself by hitting a pillar. You didn’t die, tried to run, and they chased you—then happened to run into our arrest operation…”
Su Tong was not surprised. Those two weren’t stupid.
“Chief Jiang, their account is mostly correct. But as the person involved, I need to clarify a few details.
First, I had no knowledge of this marriage arrangement at all. Wang Guilan accepted fifty yuan from the other party and sold me off. This constitutes the crime of forced marriage and trafficking.
Second, Wu Dongling gave Li and Wang five yuan to allow them to assault and humiliate me on the way, and only deliver me after they were done, so I wouldn’t resist later. That is incitement to crime.
Third, Li and Wang attempted to violate me, which directly led to my attempt to take my own life by hitting the pillar. I survived and escaped. While chasing me, they knocked over a kerosene lamp, causing the cattle shed fire. They are guilty of attempted rape, destruction of public property, and lying to evade police responsibility.
Fourth, Wang Guilan not only arranged the forced marriage but also drugged me with an unknown substance before sending me out, in order to prevent resistance.
If I had not regained consciousness later, she could also be charged with poisoning or even attempted murder… but that point can be set aside. This is the full truth. I am willing to cooperate with any investigation. As for how to handle it, I leave it to the police.”
When she finished speaking, even Jiang Pinglu was stunned. They usually went around promoting legal awareness, yet this girl seemed to understand the law better than they did—each point precise and well-argued.
To be honest, arranged and forced marriages in rural areas were not clearly defined. In poorer regions, bride prices were often extreme.
Although the Marriage Law had been enacted, old traditions still lingered. Police could lecture, but they could not truly interfere in family decisions like who someone married or how much bride price was paid.
In cases like Wu Tong’s family, things were indeed worse than usual. The family clearly did not care about the girl, and the chosen groom was unsuitable. The escort arrangements were also unreliable, which likely led to the girl’s breakdown attempt.
Normally, this would at most result in criticism and education. But because Wu Tong had made meritorious contributions, the case had been handled more strictly: the entire Wu family was severely reprimanded, and Li Youshun and Wang Lao’er were detained for three days and had not yet been released.
But no one expected so many hidden details.
Jiang Pinglu wiped the sweat from his forehead. This was a failure on the police station’s part.
They had not even asked the victim and had treated it as a simple arranged marriage case.
He glanced at Qin Yi. The provincial leader was still here—this had to be handled carefully. Otherwise, instead of a reward, they might end up with punishment.
Qin Yi was equally shocked.
First, by Wu Tong’s experience—it was far worse and more absurd than he had imagined.
Second, by her clear logic, articulation, and familiarity with legal provisions, far beyond an ordinary rural girl.
Third, by her calmness when speaking of attempted rape—something completely unnatural for someone of her background.
Once again, he felt this girl was full of mysteries.
After this incident, Su Tong’s ward became quiet for several days.
Neither Wang Guilan nor Wu Dongling came again, nor did Jiang Pinglu and the others.
The legal system of the era was still incomplete. In remote areas like Qingfeng County, legal awareness was even weaker.
She did not expect much punishment for them. She only wanted to speak the truth on behalf of the original owner, so that the poor girl would not die misunderstood and unnoticed.
After several days of glucose injections and rest, Su Tong felt much better. She decided to step outside for some air. She had been here for days and had not properly seen the place yet.
She pulled her thick cotton coat around her and stepped out of the ward.
Nurse Xiao Li had said the coat she came in with was too thin, stiff, patched over and over, and soaked in blood beyond saving.
Dr. Zhao had found a coat from his younger days for her. Although it was a bit large, it was much warmer than her own.
The doctors and nurses here were warm-hearted, fair-minded, and sincere—very characteristic of this era.
The inpatient building was a three-story red-brick structure. Her ward was on the second floor. Outside was a long corridor with a red-brick railing.
Looking down, there was a rectangular courtyard, and across from it stood another two-story red-brick building, likely the outpatient department.
Passing the nurse station, she saw a calendar on the wall showing the date:
December 22, 1976—Lunar November 2, the Winter Solstice.