After returning home from the state-run restaurant, Mr. and Mrs. Xiao stayed in their room and didn't leave. They talked a lot, expressing anger, excitement, sadness, fear, and regret. They sat on the edge of the bed all night without sleeping.
The next day at daybreak, Xiao's father went out of his room to brush his teeth and wash his face. He didn't even bother with breakfast. He went downstairs to where the bicycles were kept, got on his bicycle, and rode to the textile factory to ask for leave.
Having taken leave, Xiao's father went straight to the police station. He found someone he knew there and asked him to help investigate a case that occurred around 9 p.m. on October 20th of last year.
The police told Mr. Xiao that it would take some time and asked if he had time to wait. Mr. Xiao nodded and said he did. Sitting by the entrance to the archives room, constantly checking his watch, Mr. Xiao, who was waiting, heard footsteps coming out of the archives room. He immediately stood up from his chair. Mr. Xiao looked anxiously at the police officer walking towards him.
The police officer opened the file in his hand and said to Xiao's father, "This is the police report you are looking for. Open it and take a look. If you don't understand anything, you can ask me."
Mr. Xiao took the file, said thank you, and looked down at it. The file detailed the events of the case, and finally he saw the name of the person who reported it: "Gu Moting." He clenched his teeth, his hands trembling slightly as he held the file, his eyes bloodshot. Gu was telling the truth; he was the one who saved Xiaoxue. He and his wife had almost sent their daughter into a wolf's den.
Composing himself to calm the rioting crowd, Mr. Xiao closed the file and returned it to the waiting policeman. As he walked out of the police station, his previously upright posture suddenly gave way, and he slumped over. He looked up at the sky, exhaled, and decided he still needed to get the hospital records. Since they'd gone this far, he might as well review them completely.
At the hospital, it took Xiao's father quite a while to convince the nurse to find the documents for him. He secretly slipped the nurse ten yuan. The hospital has a high volume of visitors, and last year's records would take longer to find. The nurse told Xiao's father to come back at 3 PM to pick them up.
Xiao Xue, who works at the factory, ran into Su Wenxing on her way to the canteen for lunch after her shift. She saw him from afar, but pretended not to notice, grabbed her food, and turned to leave. Xiao Xue had never really liked being around Su Wenxing before, and now, knowing his character, she wanted to avoid him even more.
Seeing Xiao Xue turn and walk away, Su Wenxing quickly went after her. Xiao Xue wasn't walking very fast, but Su Wenxing was running and soon caught up with her. "Xiao Xue, wait for me there for a moment, I have something to tell you," Su Wenxing said, slightly out of breath from running.
Even if they caught up, there was no escaping her, so Xiao Xue simply stopped and turned to look at Su Wenxing. "What do you need me for?" "I need to eat lunch and take a nap, then I'll go to work."
Xiaoxue, I called you to talk about the betrothal gifts I'll be giving you in a few days. The "three turns and one sound" (referring to a set of three items, one watch, and one radio) I mentioned before are ready, and we can get married in a few more days. Su Wenxing was lying, trying to deceive Xiao Xue. He claimed the betrothal gifts were already prepared; there was clearly only a sewing machine plane ticket at home, but he said everything was ready.
During and after pursuing Xiao Xue, Su Wenxing always sought opportunities for intimate contact with her. When they went to the movies, he tried to take her hand in the dark, but she reacted quickly and dodged. In an era where even holding hands in the street was considered promiscuous, Xiao Xue was deeply influenced and would never have intimate contact with her husband before marriage.
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