Jiang Ling’s attention was drawn to the girl.
She must be Liang Qiqiao.
It was still hot in September. While other girls wore short sleeves and skirts, Liang Qiqiao wore long sleeves and pants. The top button of her floral blouse was fastened tightly, and her black trousers covered her feet completely.
Yet even with such modest, conservative clothing, she couldn’t hide her blooming beauty. Liang Qiqiao had a full chest and a rounded rear, a slim waist and long legs—her figure was curvy and well-proportioned. Though she was only a senior in high school, she already exuded a distinct feminine charm.
If this were 2025, a girl with such an enviable figure would undoubtedly be confident and do her best to showcase her personal charm. But in 1993, people’s aesthetic standards were more conservative. Especially without parental protection, Liang Qiqiao often worried about her overly prominent chest and hips.
Hearing Zhao Yanhong call her “big chest and wide hips” and say she “had a bad reputation,” Liang Qiqiao felt both embarrassed and angry. Her face flushed so red it seemed to bleed, wishing she could just dig a hole and hide. Gentle by nature, she had never scolded anyone and didn’t know how to express anger, so she could only grab her brother’s arm, trying to quickly get away from those who looked down on her.
Wei Changfeng couldn’t stand it and spoke sharply: “Zhao Yanhong, you’re a woman too—why are your words so cruel? Watch your language!”
Qian Jianshe didn’t want to make things worse. He glared at Zhao Yanhong: “Apologize right now!”
Zhao Yanhong forced a smile but didn’t look sincere: “Yes, yes, I apologize. Sorry, I’m not very educated and speak roughly. Don’t take offense, okay?”
The apology was clearly insincere, but seeing her admit fault, Wei Changfeng didn’t scold her further. He looked at Liang Qiqiao kindly and said: “Good timing. Your brother had a conflict with a classmate. The other party’s parents apologized and compensated 200 yuan, and they promised that next year, when Liang Jiushan enters No.1 High School, they would help reduce his tuition and provide some living support. If you agree, please sign the mediation agreement.”
“Okay.” Liang Qiqiao nodded obediently, trembling as she took the pen Wei Changfeng handed her, preparing to sign the document.
Having lost their parents early, the community officers had originally wanted to send the siblings to an orphanage. But she didn’t want to leave her familiar surroundings and feared being separated from her brother, so she refused. Using her parents’ compensation money, she became the head of the household. Though the car accident compensation amounted to 6,000 yuan, money ran out quickly; daily expenses for food and necessities were constant, and no matter how much she saved, life was still difficult.
Compared to classmates from dual-income textile factory families, Liang Qiqiao always felt inferior and could only focus on studying. She had already planned everything: Hunan Normal University offered guaranteed placements and tuition-free education. When she entered college, her brother would be in his first year of high school, and he could board at school. Later, when he also went to university and she had a job, they would finally have a chance to get ahead.
She had initially thought 6,000 yuan was a lot, but over three years, prices had soared. Textile factory workers’ wages had risen from a few dozen yuan to three or four hundred. Now the money was almost gone. High school tuition and living expenses felt like a mountain pressing on her chest, making it hard to breathe.
In front of her stood the Qian family—Qian Darong, Zhao Yanhong, and their son—in a row. Zhao Yanhong had her arm around her son like a protective mother hen, making Liang Qiqiao’s chest tighten and her eyes sting with tears.
If her parents were still alive, who would dare bully them?
But she had neither the strength nor the ability to confront the Qians. Qian Jianshe, the factory director, controlled the textile factory’s resources. If they offended him, the factory could reclaim the apartment allocated to her parents. Would they end up homeless? Moreover, the compensation he offered was so tempting…
“Sister!” Liang Jiushan grabbed his sister’s hand holding the pen, his eyes full of struggle.
Liang Qiqiao sighed and gently comforted her brother: “Jiushan, hang in there a little longer. Once we get into college and leave this place, they won’t be able to bully you anymore.”
Wei Changfeng also spoke to Liang Jiushan: “Listen to your sister. You’re still a student. Focus on your studies—it’s the most important thing right now.”
Wei Changfeng understood that the siblings had been wronged, but as a police officer, he had seen too many cases and knew life could be full of helplessness.
Liang Jiushan and his sister’s parents had worked in the textile factory. They currently lived in factory dorms and attended the factory’s children’s school. If he strictly punished Qian Darong, Zhao Yanhong and Qian Jianshe would certainly make life difficult for the siblings behind the scenes, leaving them in an even worse situation.
The light in Liang Jiushan’s eyes gradually dimmed, and his head drooped. He let go of his sister’s hand but bit his lower lip until it bled.
It seemed that all conflicts were resolved.
But Jiang Ling knew the tragedy was only beginning.
Qian Darong never truly recognized his wrongdoing. Not only did he continue to bully Liang Jiushan, but one rainy night in November, he sexually assaulted Liang Qiqiao. Afterward, the Qian family, as today, played one tough and one gentle role: they paid the Liang family 10,000 yuan and forced Liang Qiqiao to sign a letter of forgiveness.
Later, the Qians sent Qian Darong to study in the provincial city but shifted all blame onto Liang Qiqiao, claiming she seduced him and sacrificed her own innocence for money. Overwhelmed by rumors, Liang Qiqiao couldn’t bear it and attempted suicide by slitting her wrists, ending her life at the most beautiful age of eighteen.
Just as Liang Qiqiao was about to sign, Jiang Ling reached over and took the mediation agreement, gently placing it on the table.
She pressed her palm on the paper, her gaze gentle yet steady: “Liang Qiqiao, don’t sign it yet.”
Liang Qiqiao froze, looking at the female officer who was only slightly older than her, and stammered: “W-what else do you want us to do?”
Zhao Yanhong jumped up: “What’s wrong with you, officer? Aren’t you just wasting everyone’s time? They need to go to school, we need to go to work—who has time to mess around in the station with you?”
Jiang Ling turned to Wei Changfeng: “Old Wei, let me handle this case.”
Wei Changfeng opened his mouth as if to say something but, meeting Jiang Ling’s bright, determined eyes, said nothing. He simply nodded and softly said, “Hmm.” Having gone through youth themselves, he couldn’t bring himself to refuse a newcomer volunteering. At worst, he could guide her if she made a mistake.
At that moment, a commotion came from outside the station.
Two police officers escorted a burly middle-aged man with a scarred face inside. His hands were cuffed, a feral grin on his face, cursing constantly in a harsh, grating voice full of aggression.
“Behave!” a young officer shouted, then turned to Wei Changfeng: “Old Wei, this guy just committed a robbery on the street and knocked over an old lady.”
Robbery? This was a criminal case.
Wei Changfeng’s expression turned serious. He tossed Jiang Ling a word: “Xiao Jiang, this is yours now.” Then he hurried off to join the case team to handle the sudden robbery.
As the officers left in a rush, the station lobby fell silent.
Jiang Ling’s gaze swept over the three Qians. She lifted her palm from the paper and picked up the mediation agreement: “You’ve already signed agreements like this twice, haven’t you?”
Jiang Ling had an excellent memory and clearly recalled that Liang Jiushan’s lawyer had submitted three mediation agreements, signed by both the Qian and Liang families, to the court. These documents detailed the police reports, inquiry records, and the terms agreed upon by both parties. It was precisely these three agreements that proved Qian Darong had been bullying Liang Jiushan for a long time, providing strong support for Liang Jiushan’s life sentence in the second trial.
Qian Darong said carelessly, “Yeah? So what?”
Jiang Ling looked at him coldly. “Every time, in the mediation agreements, you promised not to bully Liang Jiushan again, didn’t you?”
Qian Darong avoided Jiang Ling’s gaze, feeling guilty, and turned his eyes away.
Jiang Ling then shifted her gaze to Qian Jianshe. “Your son has repeatedly bullied a classmate and refuses to correct his behavior. The circumstances are serious. According to Article 19 of the Public Security Administration Punishments Regulations, he could face detention or fines. Considering he is under sixteen, the focus has been on education. But as it stands, whether it’s the police station or you as parents, this mild approach based on mediation has clearly failed.”
Qian Jianshe forced a smile. “Kids just play around. What’s the big deal? They’ll naturally learn when they grow up.”
Jiang Ling waved her hand. “This isn’t just harmless fun. Liang Jiushan reported three incidents to the police. His injuries already constitute minor harm, and Qian Darong’s behavior is illegal.”
Zhao Yanhong impatiently interjected, “Minor harm? Don’t make it sound so bad! Didn’t your police investigate? Several classmates said Liang Jiushan provoked first, and his injuries were self-inflicted. It had nothing to do with my Darong.”
Jiang Ling countered, “If it had nothing to do with him, then why were you willing to apologize and compensate?”
Zhao Yanhong pursed her lips, about to reply, but Qian Jianshe stopped her. Smiling, he explained, “Liang Jiushan’s parents were employees at our textile factory, but unfortunately both died in a car accident. We felt sorry for the siblings, so we agreed to the mediation and paid for his treatment. It’s better to avoid unnecessary trouble, right, Officer Jiang?”
Qian Jianshe could tell that Jiang Ling was different from Wei Changfeng—she was young and more meticulous.
Not wanting to offend a grassroots police officer, Qian Jianshe deliberately said “better to avoid unnecessary trouble” to nudge Jiang Ling, hoping she wouldn’t be too aggressive.
Jiang Ling picked up her notebook and walked out from the service counter, saying to Qian Jianshe, “Let’s go to the interrogation room.”
Hearing the words “interrogation room,” Qian Jianshe forced a smile. “It’s just a minor case. We can handle it here. Why move somewhere else?”
Jiang Ling glanced at him but said nothing, walking ahead.
After a few steps, she stopped and looked at the on-duty officer Li Zhenliang. “Can you help? Two people are needed, right?” Whether for interrogation or questioning, the procedure requires two officers.
Li Zhenliang looked around. Aside from Jiang Ling, the police hall was almost empty. He hesitated for a moment, then stood up. “You go ahead. I’ll find someone to cover and come right after.”
Earlier, he had been taking notes and had been quietly furious. The Qian family—three against two parentless children—was shameless! But since Liang Jiushan and his sister agreed to the mediation terms, he couldn’t interfere. Now that the new officer Jiang Ling wanted to stand up for Liang Jiushan, he was naturally willing to join.
Jiang Ling nodded and continued walking, a hint of warmth in her eyes.
Li Zhenliang had been in the force for ten years, had a strong sense of justice, and had even privately helped the Liang siblings. It was the right choice to have him participate in the mediation.
Seeing Jiang Ling walk ahead, Qian Jianshe hurried to catch up, urging Zhao Yanhong and Qian Darong.
Inside, Liang Jiushan felt a new sense of hope and grabbed his dazed sister’s hand. “Let’s go!”
…
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