Su Tong followed Qin Yi’s gaze and glanced inside. Her expression remained calm as she said:
“He fainted from exhaustion. His vital signs are normal. He can be handed over to other doctors now.”
What she didn’t say was…
In order to intimidate Ma Liu into not lying—and to prevent him from talking nonsense after waking up—she had pretended to accidentally injure a certain part of him, which had directly scared him into unconsciousness.
It took Qin Yi a moment to pull his gaze back from Ma Liu. The problem that had troubled everyone for so long had been solved so easily?
Really solved?!
He still hadn’t fully processed it…
Unexpectedly, Su Tong handed him a sheet of paper.
“I questioned him three times using the same points. The information here should be accurate, but you can verify it again.”
Qin Yi froze for a moment before taking the paper. As he read the neatly written information, his usually calm eyes visibly shifted.
This girl—
Not only had she solved the surgical problem, she had also extracted the most critical intelligence in the case.
Ma Liu had already been in poor condition since his capture, and under such circumstances their usual interrogation methods were useless.
Moreover, Ma Liu understood this very well—he had been acting as if even death would not deprive them of anything useful.
Yet this girl had solved both problems in one move.
Qin Yi could barely suppress his excitement. Looking at the frail young woman before him, he felt a mix of emotions.
He stared at her intently. The light from the operating room reflected in his dark eyes, sharp and intense.
After a long pause, he said in a deep and clear voice:
“Wu Tong, thank you.”
Su Tong merely smiled, took a watch from her pocket, and handed it to him.
“When Ma Liu’s stitches are removed, he can go through normal legal procedures. This watch is also returned to you.”
Qin Yi took the watch but did not look away from her, as if he still had something to say.
Su Tong glanced at him indifferently.
“You keep my secret, I save your people. We’re even.”
With that, she cut off everything he was about to say and walked out through the glass door without looking back.
Only when she reached the stairwell did she turn her head.
Qin Yi stood at the brightly lit entrance of the operating room, watching her. When he saw her look back, he snapped to attention and gave her a standard military salute.
His tall figure stood straight under the light like a proud pine resisting frost and snow.
That night, Su Tong’s dreams were filled with the battlefields of her past life, as if she were once again on the front lines, moving through field medical tents…
The next morning, Lin Li knocked on Su Tong’s ward and handed her a bag, saying it was from Qin Yi.
Inside were the set of fine silver needles she had used the night before, a delicate women’s wristwatch with luminous hands for night visibility, and a military dagger with its sheath.
Lin Li added at the right moment:
“Boss said these are personal gifts for Comrade Wu. Please accept them.”
From Lin Li, she learned that Qin Yi had left for the capital overnight. Once Ma Liu recovered a bit, they would escort both him and Zhang Kui away. It seemed unlikely they would meet again.
The items were all thoughtfully chosen—things she could use.
Considering that Qin Yi didn’t seem short of money, and since she had already said they were even, accepting a little more in return as thanks wasn’t unreasonable. So she accepted them with a smile.
Time passed quickly. Before she knew it, Su Tong had already been in the county hospital for nearly half a month.
Thanks to her “hero” status, all medical expenses were covered by the state. She ate well, slept well, and received nutritional support.
Her body had recovered significantly compared to when she was first admitted.
The day before her discharge, Jiang Pinglu came to the hospital. After returning from the previous incident, he had re-investigated the case based on what Su Tong had reported.
He discovered that Li Youshun and Wang Erbao had indeed lied. Despite their persistent denial—insisting that Wu Tong had hit the pillar because she didn’t want the marriage—the investigation continued.
After losing face in front of provincial officials last time, Jiang Pinglu was determined to get to the truth.
Using various investigative methods, he interrogated them repeatedly. Eventually, they admitted to attempted rape, though they stubbornly refused to admit that Wu Dongling had instigated them.
Because it was “attempted,” Li Youshun and Wang Erbao’s punishment was reduced from three days of detention to three months of labor reform at a farm.
Though it seemed light, in this era it was enough to ruin their reputations for life.
Wang Guilan and Wu Dongling were sent to the township police station for a week of legal education. Compared to the others, their punishment was relatively mild.
Outsiders, unaware of the details, even thought Jiang Pinglu had overreacted.
Although this outcome was far from what they deserved—after all, the original victim had lost her life—given the social conditions of the time, Su Tong had already expected this and knew Jiang Pinglu had done his best.
Along with Jiang Pinglu came an official from the county revolutionary committee, who presented Su Tong with a 50-yuan reward. The banner of commendation would be sent directly to the village.
This was the county’s reward for her bravery, separate from the organizational reward Qin Yi had mentioned.
Originally, the money was to be sent to the village along with the banner, but after suggestions from Jiang Pinglu and the county public security bureau, the higher authorities decided to give the bonus directly to Su Tong.
Holding the 50 yuan in her hands, she knew that in this era, it was a considerable sum.
The original owner had lost her life because of 50 yuan in bride price; even if she hadn’t died, that same amount would likely have dictated her marriage and a restrained, tragic life.
She sighed.
In the afternoon, she went out into the streets.
The county town of the 1970s had no tall buildings and narrow streets. People mostly wore blue and black clothing, thick and bulky in style.
The winter air was cold and bleak. Evergreen plants were few, and most trees stood bare with dry branches, resembling an old, monotonous painting.
It was a solemn and gray era—but also one full of renewal and beginnings.