But thinking about the customs of Heyang County, I felt that such a thing was inevitable. Especially in the southeast corner of Sangjiadang, nestled in the mountains, it had no contact with the outside world and was as poor as before the liberation. Every household relied on buying wives.
After the incident, the men of Sangjiadang stood up in righteous indignation, saying that the daughter-in-law they had bought was a born ungrateful person. She had run away five or six times, had her legs broken, and still ran away with the smugglers. She was a complete failure to support the family. A few gossipy women raged that the daughter-in-law was a seductive vixen, confident that something bad would happen sooner or later. They all became wise after the event.
The nationwide wanted man was wanted for a year, and I don't know how a lame woman concealed her identity and hid for a whole year. She was only brought to justice now after turning herself in - the entire Gui City police station has become a laughing stock in the industry.
"You've been on the run for nearly a year. Why did you suddenly think of turning yourself in?"
Jiang Xi looked up at him.
Only then did Yan Li realize that the woman had a pair of sparkling eyes. Even though there was a scar the size of a bowl under her eyes, and even though there was a pool of stagnant water under the sparkling eyes, one could still feel the charm of the past, which made people want to stop and take a look.
"Officer," Jiang Xi's voice was rough, like sandpaper scraping across it, as if he hadn't spoken in a long time. "Why are you asking these questions?"
"The case requires it."
Yan Li closed the file and handed over the bottle of mineral water. Xiao Liu also stopped writing and looked over curiously.
Jiang Xi didn't answer. She seemed to have lost interest in everything in this world. After a while, she said with difficulty, "I... went home."
Yan Li immediately understood.
When the wanted warrant was first issued last year, he made a special trip to Shen City to apprehend the suspect. During his investigation, he discovered that Jiang Xi's parents had died less than two months after she was abducted. It was said that her father, in a trance while on his way to search for her, was run over by a truck. The death was so horrific that Jiang Xi's mother, overwhelmed by the shock, suffered depression and committed suicide by jumping from a building.
Yan Li could almost imagine the despair Jiang Xi felt when he overcame countless difficulties and returned to his hometown, only to find that his parents had already passed away in the accident that year.
He suddenly felt a little sympathy for the murderer.
Jiang Xi was silent for a while: "There's no point in living."
"Why kill people?"
"If you can't survive, just kill yourself."
Jiang Xi closed her eyes slightly, and Yan Li noticed that she had a row of curly and curled eyelashes.
He suddenly remembered the personal information of Jiang Xi sent from Shen City. The ID photo, which claimed to be able to reveal the true form of demons and monsters, showed a girl with bright eyes and a charming look. Just by looking at her, he could feel the spiritual energy coming towards him.
If fate had not taken a sudden turn and been too cruel to this woman, she would have had a bright and happy future instead of having to endure the last journey of her life with a dishonorable crime.
Yan Li felt a little regretful.
He thought of his own daughter who was in high school and was at the lively and active age, the same age as Jiang Xi when she disappeared. If one day... he simply couldn't bear to think about it.
"Can't survive? Did they beat you?"
"Beat him, of course I should. I whip him three times a day, and whenever he gets upset, I whip him. In that area, a purchased wife is considered one's own property, and it doesn't matter if you beat her to death."
Jiang Xi rolled up his sleeves, revealing a small part of his wrist, and Xiao Liu exclaimed in surprise.
It was a short stretch, with not a single piece of good flesh left. It was covered with pits and scars layered on top of each other. It was obvious that it was left by years of whipping. It looked terrifying at first glance.
"Isn't it ugly? It's nothing."
Jiang Xi pulled her sleeves down nonchalantly. Yan Li noticed that her right little finger was slightly tucked outward, as if it had been broken and not properly reattached.
"Beatings were commonplace, and I was often punished by not having food or sleep all day and all night - and that was nothing."
Little Liu, who had grown up in the bright sunshine under the red flag, couldn't understand: if this wasn't a big deal, then what was? Soon, Jiang Xi made him realize the evil that poverty could breed in a land watered by ignorance and stupidity.
"Do you know where Sang Quangen got the money to buy me? He's the eldest brother, and he has three brothers. The four of them pooled their money together and bought me. On the surface, I'm Sang Quangen's wife, but do you know how many people sleep in this bed?"
"several?"
Xiao Liu's throat tightened.
Yan Li glanced at him but didn't scold him.
"Four, ah, no, later there was one more, his old, damned father."
Jiang Xi let out a strange laugh from his throat, short and cold.
It was like an absurd reality that only appeared in the night talk. Xiao Liu was stunned and his voice was trembling: "This, this..."
He was speechless for a moment.
"Why didn't you call the police?"
"Call the police?"
Jiang Xi's eyes made Xiao Liu's face flushed with irritation. For some reason, he suddenly didn't dare to listen.
Yan Li understood what Jiang Xi meant from her silence.
In the remote and poor Heyang County, most police officers turned a blind eye to this for the sake of local public security.
Jiang Xi said nothing, but her almost mocking look seemed to have said everything.
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