In the alley, Su Mingqiang and Li Jinhua walked quickly toward the police station.
"Jinhua, should we really call the police?"
Su Mingqiang was still somewhat hesitant.
"They are your parents after all..."
Li Jinhua gritted her teeth and said.
"They're going to kill your child, and you're still worried about this?"
She grabbed her husband's arm.
"Mingqiang, all I want now is to live a good life with you. I'm willing to do anything for this family!"
Seeing his wife's resolute expression, Su Mingqiang finally nodded emphatically.
"Okay, whatever you say!"
The two quickened their pace and soon disappeared at the end of the alley.
...
Arrived at the police station.
The bright lights in the hall made the two of them feel a little uncomfortable for a moment, and Li Jinhua subconsciously hid behind her husband.
"Don't be afraid."
Su Mingqiang squeezed his wife's cold hand and whispered.
"My dad's right, we need to protect ourselves with the law."
Behind the duty desk sat a policeman in his early forties, with a square face and a pair of bright eyes beneath thick eyebrows.
He looked up and saw the young couple, then immediately put down the documents he was holding.
"Comrade, is there anything I can help you with?"
The police officer's voice was calm and powerful.
Su Mingqiang took a deep breath and pulled his wife to the duty station.
"Officer, we...we want to report a crime."
The police officer's gaze swept between the two, noticing Li Jinhua's red and swollen eyes and Su Mingqiang's tense jawline.
He stood up and walked around from behind the counter.
"I'm Captain Wang. Come, let's go to the mediation room and talk this over."
The lighting in the mediation room was much softer, and Captain Wang poured hot water for the two of them.
Holding the disposable paper cup, tears welled up in Li Jinhua's eyes again amidst the rising steam.
"Don't rush, tell me slowly."
Captain Wang took out his notebook.
"What happened?"
Su Mingqiang looked at his wife's trembling shoulders and gritted his teeth.
"It was my father-in-law and mother-in-law...they forced my wife to have an abortion..."
"What?"
Captain Wang frowned.
"Is your wife pregnant? Forcing your wife to have an abortion is illegal!"
Li Jinhua suddenly raised her head, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Officer, my parents... they said if I don't give them money, they'll take me to the hospital... I... I don't want to abort the baby..."
Her voice was choked with sobs, and she could barely speak.
Captain Wang's expression turned serious.
"Don't be afraid, tell me in detail what happened."
Over the next half hour, the couple recounted the entire incident in fits and starts.
Su Mingqiang recounted how his parents-in-law pressured him to ask his father for money, while Li Jinhua sobbed as she described how her parents threatened her, even saying they would "force her to go to the hospital."
"They also said...that since they raised me, I should listen to them..."
Li Jinhua's voice was filled with sobs.
"But this is my child..."
Captain Wang paused in his recording, a flash of anger crossing his eyes.
"This is a typical case of domestic coercion."
He put down his pen, his voice firm.
"According to the law, no organization or individual may force a woman to have an abortion. Your parents-in-law's actions are suspected of being illegal."
Su Mingqiang's eyes lit up.
"Really? Then... what should we do?"
"First of all, you did the right thing; calling the police was the right choice."
Captain Wang took a document out of the drawer.
"These are the relevant clauses of the Anti-Domestic Violence Law. Please take a look."
Li Jinhua's trembling fingers traced the words on the paper. When she saw "It is forbidden to interfere with women's reproductive freedom by means of violence, threats, etc.", her tears fell again.
"Officer."
Su Mingqiang's voice trembled.
"My parents-in-law are waiting at our house right now... waiting for us to bring the money back..."
Captain Wang stood up.
"Come on, I'll go back with you right now."
...
at the same time.
At Su Mingqiang's home, Li's father was sitting cross-legged on a chair in the center of the main room, a cigarette dangling from his mouth, squinting as he pondered.
"Old man, how much do you think Su Jianguo can give?"
Li's mother rubbed her hands together, her eyes shining.
"It'll cost at least a thousand yuan, right?"
Mr. Li exhaled a smoke ring and smiled smugly.
"A thousand? You underestimate that old man! His son's first grandson will cost at least two thousand!"
"How many do we want?"
Li's mother moved closer.
"Three thousand first!"
Mr. Li slapped his thigh.
"After some bargaining, we should be able to get at least 2,500. We also need to keep paying Jin Hua's salary—30 a month, that's 400 a year..."
Li's mother laughed so hard her eyes disappeared.
"The old man is so shrewd! Once he gets the money, he'll buy his son a bicycle first, then..."
Her words were interrupted by a sudden knock on the door.
Mr. Li frowned impatiently.
"You're back so soon?"
He slipped on his slippers and went to open the door.
"Have you received the money yet?"
As soon as the door opened, Li's father's smile froze on his face. Two uniformed police officers stood in the doorway, with Su Mingqiang and Li Jinhua standing behind them, their heads bowed.
"Comrade Li Decai?"
Captain Wang showed his credentials.
"We are from the Chengxi Police Station. We received a report and are investigating a case of coercion."
Mr. Li's face turned deathly pale instantly, and the cigarette in his mouth fell to the ground.
"W-What case? Officer, are you sure you haven't made a mistake?"
Captain Wang said seriously.
"Someone reported you forcing your daughter to have an abortion, which is illegal."
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