Unlike the approachable warmth of the police service hall, the interrogation room was cold and solemn.
A single table with three chairs, a pale gray cement floor, snow-white walls, and the eight large black characters on the wall reading, “Leniency for confession, severity for resistance,” gave the space an imposing atmosphere.
When Qian Darong stepped inside and saw the slogan on the wall, he visibly flinched. His eyes darted nervously, and he shrank close to his mother, silent.
Jiang Ling didn’t speak immediately. Even when Li Zhenliang entered and they sat at the wooden interrogation table, she remained silent.
Her silence alone was a heavy psychological pressure on the Qian family.
Zhao Yanhong nudged Qian Jianshe, signaling him to speak with the police.
Qian Jianshe had no choice but to step forward and sit opposite Jiang Ling. “Officers, whatever you have to say, we’ll do our best to cooperate.”
“My major at the police school was criminal psychology,” Jiang Ling finally spoke.
Qian Jianshe froze for half a second. Criminal psychology? What does that even study? What does it have to do with him?
“Research in psychology shows that long-term bullies, if not properly intervened, are over four times more likely than the average person to commit violent crimes as adults,” Jiang Ling said, her words measured, each syllable clear.
A heaviness settled in Qian Jianshe’s chest, his voice dry and hoarse. “Well… my Darong was just playing around with classmates. It’s not really bullying. The police even investigated at school twice before, and it was Liang Jiushan who made a fuss…”
“No need to explain.” Jiang Ling raised her hand, cutting off his defense. Liang Jiushan’s file contained three mediation reports from back then, and later, the lawyer re-collected evidence, proving that the classmates who testified for Qian Darong were lying.
“In 1990, there was a robbery-murder case in Shanghai. During the trial, it was discovered that the criminal had been bullying weaker classmates since he was seventeen. Because this violent tendency went unchecked, he eventually committed a heinous crime and was sentenced to death.”
Which parent would willingly hear an example like that? It was practically a warning: if Qian Darong wasn’t properly guided now, he could end up on a criminal path. Qian Jianshe’s face went pale as he glanced at Zhao Yanhong.
Zhao Yanhong, fiercely protective of her child, hurriedly defended him. “Don’t scare us! Darong is an obedient child with a bright future. That Liang Jiushan? He even dares to hit people at the police station. He’s the one with criminal tendencies—he’ll be the one to get shot someday.”
Jiang Ling’s first step was to make the Qian family realize the importance of guiding Qian Darong properly, preventing trouble before it started.
Right now, Qian Darong bullied the weak for two reasons: the thrill of dominating Liang Jiushan, and because his parents’ protection meant the worst consequence was paying a little money. He had no fear.
With his family’s indulgence, the pleasure of bullying would only escalate, and Qian Darong would eventually walk the path of crime.
But this first attempt seemed to fail.
In Qian Jianshe and Zhao Yanhong’s eyes, Qian Darong was their precious child, a mischievous but clever boy destined for a bright future under their protection. No matter what consequences Jiang Ling mentioned, they simply refused to believe it.
Jiang Ling said calmly, “According to Article 134 of the Criminal Law, intentionally injuring another person can result in up to three years’ imprisonment.”
The room’s seriousness intimidated Zhao Yanhong, who was used to muddying waters and playing the victim. But she refused to show weakness before this young female officer, stiffening her neck: “Don’t talk to me about criminal law or a sentence of up to three years. My Darong is a minor! At most, you can educate him.”
Jiang Ling narrowed her eyes, a sharp gleam flashing within. She pointed at Liang Jiushan: “He’s also a minor. Even if he killed someone, he wouldn’t get the death penalty.” The emphasis on “also” was deliberate.
Before Liang Jiushan fully grasped her meaning, Zhao Yanhong nervously pulled her son close, shielding him. “What nonsense are you talking about?”
Li Zhenliang’s palms were sweaty. Jiang Ling had joined the station just over a month ago and rarely spoke more than “yes,” “okay,” or “I understand.” He hadn’t expected her words in the interrogation room to be so sharp and forceful.
Jiang Ling raised her voice: “Even a cornered rabbit will bite. Aren’t you afraid that Liang Jiushan might lash out and hurt Qian Darong?”
Zhao Yanhong’s arrogance came from their advantage.
Qian Darong was big and strong, with a few friends to back him up. Until now, he was the only one able to harm Liang Jiushan; Liang Jiushan could never touch him.
But Jiang Ling’s words carried weight, making Zhao Yanhong uneasy. What if… what if Liang Jiushan, pushed too far, really lost control?
Perhaps from handling too many case files and criminals, Jiang Ling understood human nature well.
In selfish parents like Zhao Yanhong, Liang Jiushan’s life was worth less than half a finger of Qian Darong’s. If Qian Darong hurt Liang Jiushan, it was skillful; if Liang Jiushan hurt Qian Darong, it was unforgivable.
Only by scaring her, by making her feel the danger, would she restrain herself.
Liang Qiqiao, honest and anxious, spoke up: “My brother is sensible; he wouldn’t…”
Liang Jiushan’s eyes lit up as he understood immediately. He shouted: “The barefoot are not afraid of those in shoes! Qian Darong, if you bully me again, I’ll stab you with a knife! You all say minors won’t go to jail—so what? Even if I go to a juvenile detention center for a few years, I’ll still come out a strong man.”
Minors not going to jail had been Qian Darong’s shield. Now, Liang Jiushan turned it against him, acting like a fearless rogue. Qian Jianshe’s heart sank.
He looked at Liang Jiushan.
Fifteen years old, thin, still a child in appearance. Yet his sharp eyes blazed with anger, seeming to contain a power that could burn everything before him.
Recalling Liang Jiushan jumping to hit his son at the police station, Qian Jianshe finally felt fear.
What if this boy really went mad one day and killed his son? Darong was his only child—he could not be put in danger.
Qian Jianshe tried to diffuse the tension, but Qian Darong, hiding behind his mother, seemed to adapt to the unfamiliar environment. He sneered dismissively: “Liang Jiushan, anyone can talk big. You’ve never even killed a chicken, and you dare talk about killing someone? Ha!”
Qian Darong became aware of his sexual feelings at a young age. In middle school, he bullied others with a gang of friends and developed an inner malice. He’d fallen for Liang Qiqiao—gentle, beautiful, with a fine figure—and would harass her in the high school building.
Liang Qiqiao, timid and honest, complained to the teacher. But since she was shy and easily embarrassed, she couldn’t say everything, and the teacher didn’t pay much attention, only lightly scolding Qian Darong.
Qian Darong acted like a bully at school. After being scolded by the high school teachers, he took out all his frustration on Liang Jiushan. He started by picking fights and pushing him around, and when the teachers scolded him, he moved on to provoking and hitting him off campus. Liang Jiushan reported it to the police twice, but Qian Darong’s parents quickly sorted it out. This made Qian Darong even more arrogant, seeing Liang Jiushan and his sister as soft targets he could easily control.
Though Qian Darong feared Jiang Ling, he had never taken Liang Jiushan seriously. Hearing Liang Jiushan threaten, he emerged from behind his mother to mock him.
“Killing a chicken?” Jiang Ling glanced at Liang Jiushan.
Liang Jiushan, clever and quick, smiled mischievously: “Is killing a chicken hard? I’ll learn at the market. Twist the neck, one cut, blood flows. Ha!”
He demonstrated the motion, miming grabbing with his left hand and slicing with his right, raising an eyebrow at Qian Darong.
Qian Darong stared, a chill crawling up his legs. Liang Jiushan, shorter than him and usually a clown under his feet, now exuded an inexplicable menace.
Seeing Liang Jiushan so eager to ‘practice on a chicken,’ Zhao Yanhong felt nervous too. Darong was her foundation in the family; nothing could go wrong. If her son got hurt, Qian Jianshe would never forgive her—she would be thrown out without a second thought.
Qian Jianshe realized that the situation had completely slipped out of his control and decided to first deal with Jiang Ling’s side: “Officer Jiang, you really need to give Liang Jiushan a proper lesson. You have to nip things in the bud. If a juvenile offender really appears in our district, wouldn’t you be criticized as well?”
The police station evaluated “model officers” every year. If repeated mediations not only failed but actually intensified conflicts and led to juvenile crimes, the higher-ups would indeed criticize them. Such officers wouldn’t earn the “model” recognition, and year-end bonuses would be reduced.
“Hmph.” Jiang Ling gave Qian Jianshe only a single word.
Qian Jianshe then looked at Li Zhenliang, who was taking notes on the side: “Officer Li, say something too. When residents in the district have disputes, mediation is supposed to be the priority, right? How did it end up like this, a fight to the death?”
Li Zhenliang felt a rush of satisfaction deep in his chest.
He hadn’t expected that turning someone’s own tactics against them could feel this good!
Qian Darong had arrogantly claimed that minors who commit murder wouldn’t go to prison? Fine—let him taste the same bitter medicine.
Being singled out, Li Zhenliang suppressed the curve of a smile at his lips and coughed twice, pretending to be serious: “Officer Jiang is mediating. Just follow her instructions.”
Qian Jianshe gave a wry smile. “Officer Jiang, just say it straight—what exactly do you want us to do to satisfy you?”
Seeing that Qian Jianshe was finally taking the matter seriously, Jiang Ling pointed at Liang Jiushan: “This problem, you should be asking him.”
Qian Jianshe had no choice but to turn to Liang Jiushan: “Liang Jiushan, didn’t we just agree on conditions and reach a mutual understanding? Why are you yelling about killing now? Haven’t you thought—if someone really got killed, even if you don’t get the death penalty, your and your sister’s futures would be ruined?”
Liang Jiushan sensed the veiled threat in Qian Jianshe’s words, pressed his lips together, and countless thoughts flashed through his mind.
Liang Qiqiao’s face went pale. She held her brother’s arm tightly, her body trembling.
Jiang Ling, however, leaned back slightly, her face cold: “Oh? When Qian Darong was shouting that minors don’t go to prison for crimes, why didn’t you use that to teach him a lesson?”
Then, Jiang Ling suddenly stood up, slammed her hand heavily on the table, and raised her voice sharply: “Qian Darong! Did you hear me clearly? Even if minors commit crimes, their futures are still ruined!”
Jiang Ling’s eyes held a cold glint, like an icicle hanging from a winter roof—sharp and intimidating. Qian Darong, struck by her gaze, didn’t dare meet her eyes and once again hid behind his mother, silent and afraid.
…
You can grab the full book now on my Ko-fi page, available in both PDF and EPUB formats! 🖤
📎 Here’s the link to the full novel