The case of Qian Darong finally came to a close, leaving a strong aftershock.
Because it involved juvenile sexual offenses, the Yan City Public Security Bureau attached great importance to the case, which was evident from the fact that the head of the bureau’s evidence team, Ying Songmao, was sent to the courtroom. The court had specially organized a juvenile tribunal, essentially a pilot program, which drew many colleagues from other cities in Hunan Province to observe and learn.
Reporters flocked to the scene, and the local evening paper ran a front-page story titled, “Educational Reflections Triggered by a Severe Campus Case—The Pain Behind Juvenile Sexual Offenses and Lapses in Family Supervision.”
The opening paragraph immediately triggered a storm within the textile factory, leading to a thorough investigation of work conduct and public integrity.
“Yesterday afternoon, the Yan City People’s Court juvenile tribunal issued its first-instance verdict in the case of a violent home-invasion at the Textile Factory Children’s School. The 15-year-old defendant, Qian Darong, was sentenced to two years of custodial education. His father, Qian Jianshe, deputy director of Yan City Textile Factory, was ordered to publish a statement of apology in the Yan City Evening News. This case exposed deep-seated social issues such as severe deficiencies in family education and lagging sexual education during adolescence, sparking heated public debate.”
Because of the intense public attention, the Jinwu Road Police Station, at the center of the media spotlight, decided to hold a review meeting.
Morning light streamed through the iron-barred windows of the station’s conference room, casting a patchwork of shadows across the worn walls.
Jiang Ling walked into the largest office at the east end of the second floor, holding a small booklet. She glanced at the wall clock in the meeting room—ten minutes until the meeting—and realized she had arrived early.
Li Zhenliang followed close behind, raising his eyebrows excitedly. “Xiao Jiang, I heard the bureau will be sending people over today. I guess we really did a great job. Do you think there’ll be a reward?”
Jiang Ling chose a seat in the far corner, facing the door. “Yes.”
The Qian Darong case involved juvenile sexual offenses and family education issues, making it a high-profile matter. According to the 1990s Public Security Bureau reward system, both collective and individual recognition would typically be given—something Jiang Ling was aware of.
Li Zhenliang sat next to her, setting his notebook on the table. “That’s great! In all my time here, this is the first time I’ve received recognition from bureau leadership.”
In her previous life, Jiang Ling had only cared about doing what she liked in her small corner of the world. Honors, perks, or promotions had never mattered to her. Even after rebirth, she remained the same, replying with only a single word: “Oh.”
Seeing her indifferent response, Li Zhenliang had no choice but to keep talking to himself. “You know, reporters came to interview you, and you refused to step forward—Old Wei took all the spotlight.”
“You little rascal, talking behind my back again?” Wei Changfeng entered, carrying an enamel mug with the words ‘Serve the People’ painted in bold. Thick tea leaves had settled at the bottom, with only a few swirling on the surface.
Li Zhenliang quickly stood and chuckled, offering no explanation.
Wei Changfeng shot him a glare. “And you have the nerve to say I stole the spotlight? That’s only because you two refused to show your faces.”
As they spoke, Liu Haoran and Zhou Wei from the case team also entered the room. Wei Changfeng immediately turned to them for guidance. “From now on, when dealing with the media, you young people should step up. The TV station is about to come for an interview. My face is too old—better let your younger faces handle it.”
Liu Haoran laughed, waving his hands. “No, no, my face is too big for the camera. I’m not going.”
Zhou Wei hurriedly added, “Me neither! I get nervous in front of a microphone.”
“It’s lively in here,” said Station Director Yao Hongyun as he entered carrying an old enamel mug.
Director Yao had been promoted gradually from the grassroots level. Affable and gentle, he loved tea and always brewed it dark like ink to stay alert. The mug he carried showed its age; the enamel along the rim had long peeled off, revealing dark red metal beneath.
Wei Changfeng stepped forward. “Director Yao, we were just discussing who should handle media interviews in the future.”
Yao Hongyun glanced at his team and smiled. “Let Xiao Jiang do it. She’s young, presents well, and although she doesn’t speak much, every word counts.”
That settled it, and everyone laughed.
Liu Haoran and Zhou Wei both exhaled in relief. “Good, good, Xiao Jiang has the best image in the station. She’ll be perfect.”
Li Zhenliang could hardly contain his excitement. “Xiao Jiang, you have formal training; your grasp of criminal psychology terminology will surely impress the reporters.”
Wei Changfeng joked, “Don’t worry about saying the wrong thing. If anything goes wrong, Director Yao takes responsibility.”
Jiang Ling hadn’t expected her relationships at the station to be so good in this life. She stood and replied, “Yes!”
The meeting room was filled with cheerful chatter.
Once the bureau leaders arrived, the atmosphere gradually became serious.
From the Yan City Public Security Bureau came Deputy Director Zhong Junzhang, in charge of criminal investigation; Deputy Captain Ying Songmao of the Technical Division; and Chen Xin, an officer from the Publicity Section.
As they entered, everyone stood and applauded.
Zhong Junzhang, a natural leader, spoke inspiringly. “The resolution of this case fully demonstrates grassroots officers’ deep understanding of the ‘educational rehabilitation’ policy, paving a new path for crime prevention. Particularly, Comrade Jiang Ling’s innovative use of criminal psychological assessment techniques provides new ideas for handling juvenile cases in the future and deserves recognition!”
Everyone applauded enthusiastically.
Although the praise was directed at Jiang Ling, her teammates—Li Zhenliang, Wei Changfeng, and others—were even happier than she was, secretly giving her thumbs-ups.
Ying Songmao, seated beside the political commissar, cast his gaze on Jiang Ling, sitting upright and composed.
Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a faint golden glow on her slender shoulders, adding a touch of mystery to her delicate appearance.
Her Criminal Psychological Assessment File, written in her notebook, was handed over and immediately became a model for the bureau’s Technical Division. To think someone so adept at applying criminal psychological assessment techniques was a newcomer!
Next came the award ceremony, which thrilled the entire case team.
The station received a collective third-class merit award and a commemorative banner; all participating officers received a bonus of 300 yuan.
Jiang Ling received an individual third-class merit, rewarded with a Hero 100 gold pen.
Li Zhenliang earned the title of “Outstanding Worker” and received a thermos flask.
Wei Changfeng received a Special Contribution Award and an acrylic paperweight.
Wei Changfeng, seeing the paperweight engraved with “Twenty Years of Service”, was moved to tears. This year marked his twentieth year in the force, and he couldn’t believe the bureau remembered him—truly heartwarming.
Li Zhenliang clutched his iron thermos, engraved with a giant “AWARD” character, grinning like a fool.
Jiang Ling’s gold pen had “Eradicate Evil, Uphold Justice” engraved on the cap. She gave a faint smile. How fitting—the heavens had allowed her to live again, and indeed, it was to eradicate evil and uphold justice.
Everyone stood behind the silk banner with golden lettering for a group photo. The words “Thunder Strike: Vanguard Protecting the Youth” gleamed brightly, and every face was lit up with joyful smiles.
After the photo, a few people from the Public Security Bureau were about to leave, but Director Yao stopped Ying Songmao by the arm. “Captain Ying, we have to thank you for helping secure the evidence this time. Since you’re here, why not say a few words? You could also guide some of our younger officers.”
Ying Songmao straightened, turned to look at the five officers on the case team, and after a moment of thought said, “You did very well preserving and submitting the evidence in time.”
Wei Changfeng quickly replied modestly, “It’s just what we should do.”
Ying Songmao then turned to Jiang Ling. “Your psychological evaluation report is very thorough. Our technical division would like to use your records as a new template. Is that okay?”
Jiang Ling nodded. “Yes, that’s fine.”
The method she used for recording had developed on the foundation of constant innovation and adjustment by her predecessors. She was glad to see it being promoted.
After saying this, Ying Songmao paused, unsure what else to add. Finally, he said simply, “Keep it up!”
His words were brief and clear, with no unnecessary flourish.
Amid the chorus of thanks, Jiang Ling handed the booklet in her hands to Ying Songmao. “Captain Ying, Qian Darong’s case made me realize the importance of sexual education for adolescents. I’ve been preparing a small promotional booklet, though it’s not finished yet. I hope you can take a look, and ideally the Bureau can sponsor its distribution citywide to promote adolescent sexual safety.”
When she received the award just now, Director Zhong warmly shook her hand, making her heartbeat quicken. She struggled for a while to suppress the burning sensation in her palm. By contrast, Ying Songmao was reserved and hadn’t shaken hands with anyone, so Jiang Ling chose to hand the materials to him instead of giving them directly to Director Zhong.
Ying Songmao took the booklet, flipped through a few pages, and passed it to Zhong Junzhang. “Director Zhong, take a look. I think Jiang Ling’s proposal is excellent.”
The Qian Darong case had sparked widespread discussion, and Zhong Junzhang had already been thinking about how to expand public awareness. Using this case to educate negligent parents and alert naïve adolescents about emerging sexual awareness was exactly what he wanted. He skimmed the booklet, smiled, and said, “Very good! The bureau fully supports this. Jiang Ling, when you finish it, bring it to the bureau and coordinate with Xiao Chen.”
Ying Songmao, observant as always, noticed that Jiang Ling was somewhat reserved when interacting with others. He placed the booklet on the table, gestured with his eyes for her to take it, and added, “Keep it up.”
After the visitors left the bureau, the meeting room remained buzzing with excitement.
Yao Hongyun praised Jiang Ling. “Xiao Jiang, you did really well this time. Director Zhong wants you to finish that sexual safety education booklet quickly. It seems the city really values it.”
Liu Haoran, young and inexperienced, felt his ears redden at the word “sexual.” He scratched his head and stammered, “Uh… are we really going to promote this… kind of education?”
Jiang Ling nodded calmly. “Preventing juvenile sexual crimes and raising sexual safety awareness is essential.”
Li Zhenliang hesitated and asked, “We’re really promoting this?” His fingers unconsciously flipped through Jiang Ling’s unfinished booklet. She noticed how gently he handled it, as if afraid the lines would burn his fingertips.
Jiang Ling said firmly, “Not only promote it, but promote it strongly.”
After working with her on the case, Li Zhenliang had complete respect for Jiang Ling. She could anticipate Qian Darong’s actions and devise a plan to draw him out, and she personally taught Liang Qiqiao self-defense so she could stand up to Qian Darong. Without Jiang Ling’s strategies, he wouldn’t have received commendation from the municipal bureau.
Li Zhenliang closed the booklet and handed it back to her almost reverently. “Alright, I’ll follow your lead.”
Wei Changfeng, still hesitant, frowned. “Kids are innocent; they should just study. Learning about this could confuse them. I think having the health teacher talk about hygiene in class is enough. Why make a big deal about sexual safety education?”
Jiang Ling looked at him. “You didn’t say that in front of Director Zhong just now.”
Wei Changfeng felt a twinge of guilt. “How could I disagree with you in front of the director? I wouldn’t undercut you.”
Jiang Ling’s resolve was firm. “To prevent sexual crimes, this must be done.”
In the 1990s, sexual education was relatively conservative. Schools and families rarely discussed these topics openly. Some girls didn’t even understand menstrual hygiene, regarding menstruation as “dirty.” They didn’t know what harassment or molestation was, didn’t know how to protect themselves when alone, and didn’t know to seek help from the police or women’s organizations if harmed.
In the Qian Darong case, Liang Qiqiao’s self-blame and self-harm after being sexually harassed stemmed from a lack of awareness about sexual safety.
In this lifetime, Jiang Ling wanted to do something for girls.
Wei Changfeng wanted to argue further, but when he met Jiang Ling’s slightly rounded almond eyes, he sighed. “Alright, alright. The leaders say this world belongs to young people. If you want to do it, go ahead.”
Yao Hongyun, always amicable and appreciative of Jiang Ling’s persistence, waved with a smile. “Okay, the meeting is adjourned. It’s good that Xiao Jiang actively integrates with the team and works hard to show her abilities. You don’t need to go on field duty for now; focus on finishing your booklet.”
“Yes!” Jiang Ling held her booklet and replied loudly.
The case team returned to the office to continue discussing sexual safety promotion.
Team leader Wei Changfeng was conservative and thought it unnecessary, but seeing Jiang Ling’s enthusiasm, he let it go and supported the newcomer.
Li Zhenliang, a staunch supporter of Jiang Ling and a father himself, strongly agreed and promised full support.
Liu Haoran, only three years at the station and inexperienced in relationships, was too timid to even look at the booklet or express his opinion.
Zhou Wei, a retired soldier with family and children in the countryside, thought Jiang Ling’s efforts were meaningless, but, staying calm and seeing the leadership’s support, he only suggested separating male and female students for this education and said no more.
The aroma of food from the back cafeteria grew stronger. Liu Haoran jumped up first, grabbed an aluminum lunchbox from the drawer, and called, “Let’s go, enough discussion, time to eat!”
Li Zhenliang sniffed. “Spicy pork… smells like fried eggs too?”
Liu Haoran ran ahead, shouting, “If you’re not eager to eat, there’s something wrong with your mindset—charge!”
Seeing their eagerness, Wei Changfeng couldn’t help but laugh. “Go on, you bunch of gluttons.”
Jiang Ling walked last, a faint smile on her lips.
Halfway through the meal, the phone in the police hall rang. Soon someone rushed into the cafeteria. “There’s a report!”
Wei Changfeng immediately became alert, setting down his lunchbox. “What kind of case?”
Duty officer: “A bicycle bell was stolen.”
Wei Changfeng relaxed instantly. “Oh, that’s all?”
Liu Haoran and Zhou Wei exchanged a glance and shrugged. “That’s the 12th report like this, right? Who steals bicycle bells all day? They’re not even worth anything.”
Li Zhenliang added, “Yeah, a bike bell can be replaced at a repair stall for two and a half yuan. Why steal it?”
Yao Hongyun, however, was serious. “Matters involving the public, big or small, must be handled. Regardless of the bell’s value, it’s a loss. Since someone reported it, go handle it.”
Wei Changfeng acknowledged, and the case team grabbed their lunchboxes, eating as they went.
Jiang Ling didn’t move. Her expression grew serious.
The words “bicycle bell” triggered a memory, and a full file from a women’s prison surfaced in her mind.
Case number: NJ-2003-047
Name: Shen Xiaomei (Nickname: “Crazy Bell”)
Charges: Theft and Intentional Injury
___________
A new case had arrived.
…
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