Because of the remote location, it was more than two hours later when the police found the place.
When Wen Yan called the police, she had some disagreements with some staff members of the film crew.
She called the police mainly because of the naked woman locked in the pigsty, not because she was filming a movie when a strange man suddenly carried her away.
Some members of the crew thought she was meddling in other people's business.
Because the crew contacted the village committee immediately after the incident.
The village committee also explained to the film crew that the man who suddenly appeared was named Ni Datou, and that he was mentally ill, a mental illness he had been born with.
It is common knowledge that mentally ill people are not breaking the law when they assault others.
The only consequence of calling the police is a verbal warning and a reminder to the guardian to keep a closer eye on the mentally ill patient.
Therefore, some staff members in the production crew felt that the most important thing was to keep the peace and get filming done as soon as possible.
Zhou Junye was initially unwilling to get involved.
However, his tone was much better towards Wen Yan than towards the other staff members.
"It's like this, Wen Yan. I know you sympathize with that woman, but you have absolutely no evidence to support your suspicion that she was trafficked. Her family and villagers have all said that she was locked up because she has a mental illness."
“If we don’t restrict her personal freedom, she will go out and beat people like her son, and in serious cases, accidents may happen. Even for her safety, we have to lock her at home.”
Wen Yan does not agree with this statement.
"Even if someone is mentally ill, this is not how they should be cared for. They're not even given clothes to wear. Is this how you supervise someone?"
"Director Zhou, there are so many scripts on the market for you to choose from, but you chose the script 'The Voice'. What was your original intention?"
"Isn't the purpose of this film to call for more fair and just treatment of deaf and mute people in society? Strictly speaking, isn't this woman also one of the deaf and mute people?"
"She's mentally unstable and no longer knows how to express the suffering she's endured. She's no different from a deaf-mute, or even worse off than these disabled people. Is this fair? Is this just?"
"I'm not arguing with you about this to morally blackmail the production team or to ask you to do anything. I can easily report this to the police in my personal capacity."
"If my personal leave to deal with this matter delays the production schedule, I can compensate the production team for the losses."
"My reporting this to the police might waste police resources and the film crew's time, but it might also save this poor woman's life!!"
"That's why I insist." Wen Yan's tone was more resolute than ever before.
“I agree with Wen Yan’s approach,” Shen Jinghe also spoke up. “I am the biggest investor in this film, and I agree to the crew suspending production for half a day.”
Zhou Junye had actually been persuaded by Wen Yan: "Okay, then I'll listen to you."
When the police arrived, Ni Sanshui and the villagers gave the same story.
It is said that the woman who was locked up, Chai Zhaodi, had suffered from mental illness for decades.
By chance, she ended up staying at the Ni family's house, eating and drinking for free and refusing to leave. Ni Sanshui took pity on her and married her, giving her a home to settle down in.
As he spoke, Ni Sanshui pulled out two marriage certificates from his home to prove that his marriage to Chai Zhaodi was legitimate and officially stamped by the government.
The more complete Ni Sanshui's paperwork was, the more suspicious Wen Yan became.
She had heard from Grandma Zhou that she didn't have an ID card until she was fifty years old. It was only after the authorities tightened their control and started conducting a census that she went to apply for one.
Decades ago in such a small mountain village, a normal citizen didn't even have the awareness to apply for an ID card, so how could they possibly think about getting a marriage certificate?
Moreover, the other party was a stranger from out of town who had fallen ill and came to his house. Didn't the relevant departments even check her identity? Did she have identification? Was her identification genuine?
Wen Yan raised her doubts about this and requested the police to investigate.
The police agreed and also persuaded Ni Sanshui to improve Chai Zhaodi's living environment.
"Is that all, officer? To improve living conditions?" However, Wen Yan didn't believe that a bad old man like Ni Sanshui would really improve Chai Zhaodi's living conditions.
If he had ever had such thoughts, he wouldn't have treated this woman this way.
"Could we speak in private, officers?"
"Can."
Wen Yan led the police aside and shared her thoughts.
"Given her condition, shouldn't you be allowed to conduct a forensic examination? I think she needs medical attention, and perhaps you should also check for signs of assault; she has quite a few bruises."
The police were also in a dilemma: "Ms. Wen, they are legally married at present, and we have no other way but to persuade them. As for the bruises you mentioned, it's normal for a mentally ill person to bump into things."
Obviously, there is no evidence to prove that Ni Sanshui committed a crime.
On the surface, this matter appears to be a family affair, or even a family dispute, because the other party is a mental patient.
However, Wen Yan is now worried that once the crew and the police leave, Ni Sanshui will not only fail to improve Chai Zhaodi's living conditions, but may even beat her to vent his anger.
"Well then, I think it's safer to send her to the hospital. Given her current condition, both mentally and physically, I think she needs medical attention. But if I make the suggestion, Ni Sanshui might not agree, and might even try to extort money from me. So I hope you two officers can help me out. You can make the suggestion, and I'll cover the expenses."
"Are you sure? You're from out of town and have no relation to Chai Zhaodi. Are you sure you want to pay for her medical expenses?"
“Yes, I’m sure. I don’t need the money. If something like this happens to me someday, and someone is willing to lend me a helping hand, my family and I will be grateful to that person for the rest of our lives. I’m willing to help her within my means.”
"OK!"
Chai Zhaodi was eventually taken to a hospital in the city in a police car.
As he left, Ni Sanshui's gaze towards Wen Yan seemed to be laced with venom.
But Chai Zhaodi was in a police car, so there was nothing he could do.
-
Chai Zhaodi needed to stay in the hospital for treatment, so Wen Yan, Shen Jinghe, and Zhou Junye simply returned to the hotel to spend the night.
After a busy afternoon, none of them had time to eat, so Zhou Junye ordered takeout to be delivered to their room.
The three men gathered in his room for a late-night snack.
Zhou Junye said, "Today's filming was delayed by half a day, but you still have to wrap up filming by the day after tomorrow at the latest. What will you do if Chai Zhaodi's matter is not properly resolved?"
"That's perfect." Wen Yan happily ate two skewers. "I was worried about not being able to be in two places at once. I'll have plenty of time after filming wraps up. Anyway, meeting her is fate between us. Oh, right, let me tell you something."
"What?"
You'll understand once you hear it.
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