It was three days later when the record was being taken for Song Ning.
Two Public Security Comrades were questioning her, and the one responsible for recording was a Little Public Security Officer named Yang.
When recording her name, Little Officer Yang confirmed seriously, "Song Ning? Is it the 'Ning' from Anning?"
"No, it's not. It's the 'Ning' from 'Ningwang'," Song Ning answered.
"The 'Ning' from 'Ningwang'?"
Little Officer Yang was surprised and looked at the previous record, asking, "You just said you are from Yakou Village, Yanling County, Zhucheng, Xiang Province?"
"That's right!"
"Oh! That character isn't commonly used! Do you all name your children like that where you're from?"
Little Officer Yang, after writing "Ning" several times but unsure if the strokes were correct, showed a strong desire to learn.
"Not really! Um, Public Security Comrade, have you heard of 'Hundred Tigers Siege Village'?" Song Ning's tone carried a hint of mystery.
When it came to names, she knew this question.
She knew it very well.
Because since childhood, the Original Owner also found the character "Ning" difficult to write and had asked her Grandfather many times.
"Hundred Tigers Siege Village?"
The Public Security Comrade sitting beside him was much older. He chimed in, "Is that the 'tiger disaster' that happened in Xiang Province in the fifties? It was even reported in the newspapers back then."
"Tiger disaster? Were they real tigers? What happened back then?" Little Officer Yang showed intense curiosity.
"Yes! Real tigers injured people. It's said the cause was villagers killing a tiger cub, and then real tigers besieged the village. They wouldn't leave even with firecrackers and cannons. Only when the tiger cub's body was handed over did the tigers leave. In short, many people in that area lost their lives to tigers, and many people from all over the country came to support. It caused quite a stir!" the Old Comrade said with emotion.
Little Officer Yang's eyes widened, and he was about to press for more details.
The Old Comrade waved his hand, "Alright! You can learn more about this later. Finish today's work first."
"Oh!"
Little Officer Yang then turned back and continued asking Song Ning, "So? What's the connection between your name and 'Hundred Tigers Siege Village'?"
"There is!"
Song Ning quickly regained the initiative and said solemnly, "The hundred tigers besieged our village. The year I was born was the year the 'tiger disaster' was at its worst. My Grandfather originally wanted to name me 'Song Xing' because I had a brother named 'Song Wang'. At that time, a Comrade from higher up went to our village to support with the 'tiger menace' and was injured in the foot, so he stayed at our house to recuperate! He objected then, saying that a girl should have a more literary name, suggesting 'Song Ning,' meaning to gaze, which is deeper and more meaningful!"
"Later, my Grandfather felt that the Comrade from higher up was cultured, so he not only named me Song Ning but also changed my brother's name to Song Wang, meaning 'hope'."
"Oh! So that's how it is! The name is nice, it's just that the character is a bit difficult to write!" Little Officer Yang was still struggling with the character "Ning."
"So it was your village that had the tiger disaster! It's much better these years, right!" The Old Comrade also felt some emotion and curiosity.
"Much better! They're extinct! Tigers are protected now, and it's not allowed to hunt them casually."
Song Ning happily led into the next topic, "Um, you two might not know this, but back then, because of the tiger disaster, our village was one where the government approved the public use of hunting rifles. In the early years, most villagers knew how to shoot! That... actually, I've learned too!"
"Also, my Grandfather went to the battlefield in the early years, served as a medic, and later became a Barefoot Doctor in the village. His Medical Skill was excellent! So, I, I know some martial arts and some medical skills, all taught by my Grandfather! Um... Little Officer Yang, am I speaking too fast? Have you recorded it all?"
"Ah—oh—I've got it, I've got it!"
Although Little Officer Yang didn't know how the conversation had veered off to "shooting" and "my Grandfather," nor did he understand how it related to their questions, he was stunned for a moment but still dutifully recorded Song Ning's words.
Except for the character "Ning" that had stumped him earlier, he considered himself quite professional at taking records.
Song Ning breathed a sigh of relief and sat up straight again.
"Um, Comrades, you can continue asking?"
The Original Owner had run away, without even a Letter of Introduction, and her Identity information was completely blank.
The information the Public Security Comrades were recording now was equivalent to her future "Official" background proof.
She had to have the Public Security Comrades write down everything she could think of, like getting all possible preventative measures in place, to make things easier for her later.
The subsequent questioning then moved onto the main track.
After they had inquired and recorded the cause and process of her being trafficked in detail, Little Officer Yang asked as usual, "Comrade Song Ning, according to what you've said, you were abducted while on your way to find your marriage partner. Now, we will follow your wishes. Do you wish to return to your village or continue to your partner's location?"
Most of the girls questioned before had been abducted while on their way out—some visiting relatives, some seeking refuge, and some looking for work. When asked about their wishes later, most did not continue their original journeys and asked to go home.
When asked about Song Ning, she did not hesitate, "I want to continue to my partner's location."
She wanted to return to that "home" too, but not now.
She was penniless now; she needed to get an Identity first, and then make that Identity have some Confidence.
Clearly, going to her marriage partner's place was the wiser choice.
"Okay!"
Little Officer Yang continued writing and asked, "Can your marriage partner be contacted? Is it possible for him to come to Anping to pick you up? Or, is it possible for someone from your family to escort you there?"
Marriage partner?
Song Ning thought about her Grandfather's confident expression when he mentioned the marriage engagement before. She guessed that this "partner" was a real person, but after two years, he still hadn't come to the village to marry "her," which sounded a bit strange.
It was even more impossible for him to come and pick her up.
As for someone from her family escorting her? Heh! That was simply wishful thinking.
If her Uncle and Aunt knew she had been abducted, they would probably sell her off overnight, and sell her far away, for fear of not getting a good price.
They were no different from the abductors!
Song Ning immediately shook her head and said, "No! No one is coming to pick me up, and no one can escort me."
"Okay!"
Little Officer Yang replied as a matter of routine, "Then please provide the specific address of your marriage partner. Since your luggage and identification documents were lost, we will issue you a new Letter of Introduction from the Anping City Public Security Bureau! Don't worry! It will be valid anywhere you go!"
This was Song Ning's favorite part.
She had been waiting for this Letter of Introduction.
Following her memory, she stated an address: Southwest Military Region, 13th Army, 7th Regiment, Lu Changqing.
"You're a military dependent?" Little Officer Yang almost jumped up.
"Um... no! No! Not yet!" Song Ning waved her hands repeatedly.
He was just a marriage partner, they weren't married yet!
The marriage engagement was arranged by the Original Owner's Grandfather and Lu Changqing.
Back then, it was Lu Changqing who had actively proposed the engagement.
After arriving in Anping, Song Ning finally faced the various scars on the Original Owner's body for the first time—cuts, scrapes, and burns, mostly from climbing mountains, working in the fields, and doing housework, with some inflicted by her Aunt and younger male cousins...
The Original Owner had lived a life worse than a dog all these years, constantly hoping this marriage engagement would help her escape her suffering, but Lu Changqing had broken his promise...
Because he broke his promise, her Uncle and Aunt treated Song Ning with even more contempt, abused her even more, until they pushed her to a dead end, forcing her to escape with all her courage! This ultimately led to her dying of illness on the road while being trafficked!
In other words, without a reasonable explanation, his part in the Original Owner's death was undeniable!
Lu Changqing—she would reserve judgment on this person until she met him.
However—this marriage engagement concerned the Original Owner's Grandfather, and she would not let it go so carelessly.
The long questioning session finally came to an end.
Song Ning thanked them and left.
The Old Comrade beside him took Song Ning's record and read it carefully again. When he saw the address she had left, he muttered, "This address... Hey! Isn't this address the unit of Commander Gu?"
He slapped his thigh and said, "If I had known, I would have asked Commander Gu to give this girl a ride back!"
"Commander Gu?" Little Officer Yang chimed in from the side, "Speaking of which, Commander Gu had previously asked my mother to buy clothes for Song Ning. I thought they were very close!"
"Bought clothes for Song Ning?"
"Yes! You know, my mother works at the Shopping Mall! She helped buy several outfits back then!"
The Old Comrade looked at the record in his hand again, somewhat puzzled, "Then does Commander Gu know that Song Ning is his comrade's fiancée?"
Little Officer Yang leaned in, "With all due respect... if he knew, wouldn't he have just given her a ride back?"
The old and young comrades looked at each other, and a hint of gossip sparked between them.
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