Chapter 150: Habitual Offender
Xia Mufan looked at Lin Ruxue: "What do you think?"
What's my opinion? Lin Ruxue fell into deep thought.
Originally, she was extremely angry towards Zhang Jianren and wanted to bring him to justice, but the last words her mother said touched her heart.
If she sent Zhang Jianren to prison, would the news that the baby was molested spread? Will it have a psychological impact on a six-month-old child if she is branded as having been molested? As a mother, it is impossible not to consider this.
Xia Mufan saw that Lin Ruxue's eyes were dim and she was looking at the ground without saying a word. He knew that she was having a fierce ideological struggle, so he turned to look at Sun Hanxiang: "Sun Hanxiang, don't be in a hurry to forgive me. I still have some questions to ask you."
Sun Hanxiang immediately stopped crying and looked at Xia Mufan anxiously: "What do you want to ask me?"
Xia Mufan asked: "Does Zhang Jianren come to see you at a fixed time every day?"
Sun Hanxiang didn't know what Xia Mufan meant, so she answered vaguely, "It's afternoon anyway, so I don't really care what time it is."
Xia Mufan asked again: "Is the time for square dancing fixed?"
If you ask other square dance dancers about this question, you will know the answer. Sun Hanxiang can only tell the truth: "It is fixed. It starts at 3:00 pm and ends at 5:00 pm every day."
Xia Mushige asked: "Will you dance the whole show, or just a certain period of time?"
Sun Hanxiang knew it was difficult to hide it, so she could only say reluctantly: "I usually don't dance the whole time, just about an hour, and I have to go back around 4:30 to prepare dinner."
Xia Mufan asked: "Why did you give the baby to Zhang Jianren?"
Sun Hanxiang opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say for a long time, so she just started to act like a spoiled child.
"If not him, then who should I give the baby to? I don't know anyone else in the small square except him. Zhang Jianren and I live in the same building, and he and Ruxue are in the same unit. We know each other well. I feel more at ease if I give the baby to him."
Xia Mufan continued to ask questions calmly: "Did you pay attention to Zhang Jianren and the baby while you were dancing? Did you notice that Zhang Jianren had left the square?"
Sun Hanxiang was so confused by Xia Mufan's questions that cold sweat broke out on her forehead. Her eyes were wandering and she was trying hard to defend herself.
"Zhang Jianren is a retired teacher, well-educated and knowledgeable. I think it's okay to leave the kids to him. Dancing is just for exercise. I love dancing. Why can't I have my own space? When I dance, I forget everything else. Why do you have to keep them under my watch?"
Xia Mufan's speech was not fast, but it made Sun Hanxiang tremble with fear: "If he is really an educated elder who knows how to advance and retreat, after accepting your entrustment to take care of the baby, he will try his best to keep the baby within your sight so that you won't worry. But, do you know where we found Zhang Jianren?"
Without waiting for Sun Hanxiang to answer, Xia Mufan sneered, "Zhang Jianren hid on the hill to the north of the small square, halfway up the hill with his back to the small square. There are few people there, and the woods are quiet. He took the baby to such a remote place while you were concentrating on dancing. What do you think his purpose was?"
Sun Hanxiang's breathing stagnated.
Xia Mufan's words hit the nail on the head and she was powerless to refute. Yes, if she just wanted to help him take care of the baby, why would she hide in such a remote place? People with children in the square were gathering and chatting next to the small flower bed. Why should he stay away from this group of people?
Sun Hanxiang's arrogance was immediately extinguished by Xia Mufan. She sat on the chair, her limbs felt a little weak and her breathing was not smooth. She felt that this reception room was too small.
Sun Hanxiang had plenty of ways to deal with her obedient daughter, but when facing the police, she couldn't say a word.
Xia Mufan has experienced many interrogations, big and small. She has ways to deal with cunning criminals. How could she be afraid of Sun Hanxiang? Xia Mufan pressed forward step by step, refusing to give in at all.
"You clearly gave the baby to Zhang Jianren every afternoon. The baby was out of your sight for an hour. After you brought the baby back, his nipples were red and swollen and he kept crying. Why did you never tell your daughter and son-in-law? Why did you cover up for Zhang Jianren and put all the blame on Lin Ruxue?"
"It is dereliction of duty to casually hand the baby over to a stranger; it is deception to conceal the fact that the baby came home crying in the afternoon; it is selfish and incompetent to not reflect on what happened but only know how to shirk responsibility!"
Every word Xia Mufan wrote was as sharp as a knife, making Sun Hanxiang feel ashamed. Sun Hanxiang is a strong-willed person who wants to be the first in everything. She thinks she has a good control over her daughter, but today, facing Xia Mufan's questioning, she backed down.
Sun Hanxiang's face turned pale and she turned to look at her daughter.
Seeing her daughter hesitate, Sun Hanxiang knew that her daughter had heard her words, so she reached out and pushed her daughter: "Is it still necessary to think about this matter? When encountering such a thing, everyone would swallow their anger and bear it. Isn't it said that family disgrace should not be made public? You still have to bring it up for everyone to discuss. How can you be so shameless?"
In Sun Hanxiang's view, as long as her daughter can forgive Zhang Jianren, the label of irresponsibility will naturally be thrown away.
Xia Mufan spoke at this time.
"Teacher Lin, do you think that a man like Zhang Jianren, who was able to extend his evil claws to your baby today, will he continue to do so before or after this?"
"Maybe he had a criminal record before. But after being discovered, the child's parents chose to keep quiet, so he could extend his claws to your baby today."
"When faced with such an evil person, if you and I don't care and let him do whatever he wants, who will be hurt in the end? Maybe the baby, maybe other children."
Xia Mufan's words were like a heavy hammer, hitting Lin Ruxue's heart hard.
She is a scholar, and reading makes one wise. She understands all the principles that Xia Mufan said.
When I was in school, I once read the article "Exhibition to the Public" written by Mr. Lu Xun. When the teacher got excited, he rapped his knuckles on the podium, making a "dong dong" sound. Until now, Lin Ruxue still remembers what the teacher said.
“The corruption of social morals begins when the people become numb to evil.”
"Punishing evil is to protect good. However, many people turn a blind eye to it because it does not concern them. This indifferent attitude will undoubtedly condone evil and become an accomplice of evil."
When Lin Ruxue heard the teacher's words, she was deeply shocked and told her deskmate that she would never be a spectator in the future but a warrior who dared to face life head-on.
Now that I'm older and a mother, have I become an indifferent spectator?
If even the victims choose to ignore such evil deeds, or even forgive the evil person who makes their baby cry every night, wouldn't they be accomplices in encouraging the evil person's arrogance?
No, I don’t want to. I don’t want to be the kind of person that my younger self once despised!
Thinking of this, Lin Ruxue's eyes gradually brightened, and she looked at Xia Mufan with a firm tone and said, "I will not issue a letter of apology. I demand that Zhang Jianren be severely punished."
Seeing Lin Ruxue so brave, Xia Mufan heaved a sigh of relief: "Okay, I understand. Don't worry, in order to protect the victim, the case will not be tried in public, and the victim's name will be handled accordingly."
After saying that, Xia Mufan stood up and signaled Feng Xiaoyu to hand the prepared transcript to Lin Ruxue and Sun Hanxiang, asking them to sign and put their fingerprints on it after confirming that it was correct.
Lin Ruxue cooperated very well, but Sun Hanxiang suddenly stood up and glared at her viciously, as if she were an enemy.
"Lin Ruxue, do you really want to make a big deal out of this? Let me tell you. If you don't listen to me, I will go back to live in the old house. Whoever wants to take care of the baby can go. Anyway, I won't help you take care of the baby, so as not to waste effort and get no thanks."
After being scolded by Xia Mufan for "dereliction of duty, deception, selfishness and incompetence", Sun Hanxiang felt extremely humiliated and wanted to restore her dignity. Sun Hanxiang knew that her daughter couldn't find anyone to help take care of the child, so she wanted to use this to take advantage of her.
It seemed that only when her daughter begged her and coaxed her, the humiliation inflicted on her by Xia Mufan would gradually disappear.
The baby is Lin Ruxue's life. In the past, whenever Sun Hanxiang gave up, Lin Ruxue would compromise with her.
But today, this trick doesn't work.
Lin Ruxue held the child in her arms and rocked him gently. She looked at the sleeping baby tenderly and said without raising her head, "Okay, then you can go back. I'll find a way myself, baby."
Sun Hanxiang was so angry that her face turned blue. "You think of a solution. What solution do you have? Then just quit your job and stay at home to take care of the kids. You deserve to die of exhaustion for being so disobedient!"
If it were the Lin Ruxue of the past, seeing her mother so angry, she would definitely try her best to coax her. But today, Lin Ruxue was completely hurt by her mother's words and actions, and she made up her mind to stay away from her.
When disappointment accumulates enough, it's time to leave.
"Quitting your job and staying home to take care of the kids, isn't that what you've been clamoring for? Now that your goal has been achieved, you can go home and do your square dance with peace of mind. Who you want to date or live with is none of my business."
Sun Hanxiang completely collapsed at her daughter's indifference. She sat on the ground and began to beat the ground and cry, "People say that only when you have children do you know the kindness of your parents. Well, you, an ungrateful bastard, don't even want your mother anymore and you want to drive me back. I'm telling you, you will not have a good ending in the future."
The small reception room was filled with the sound of Sun Hanxiang crying.
Xia Mufan and Feng Xiaoyu said nothing, but just looked at Lin Ruxue with sympathy. It was clearly she who said she wanted to leave, but now that Lin Ruxue agreed to let her go, she said that it was her daughter who drove her away. It's really speechless to have a mother like this.
Lin Ruxue didn't seem to hear her mother's noise. She held the child in one hand and said to Feng Xiaoyu calmly, "Where do we sign? Just tell me."
The floor of the reception room was made of cement and it was on the first floor. Sun Hanxiang sat on the floor with her buttocks cold and sore, but her daughter ignored her. The two uniformed female police officers had serious expressions. She howled for a few times and felt bored so she could only get up in disappointment, still cursing viciously.
Lin Ruxue seemed to be reborn. After signing and pressing her fingerprints, she looked at Sun Hanxiang with clear eyes.
"Mom, you've been criticizing me since I was little. I couldn't feel that I had any good points. It wasn't until I left you and went to college that I realized that I wasn't as bad as you said. After becoming a teacher, I kept reflecting on myself in the process of educating children, and slowly I found my confidence."
"You are my mother and you raised me. I am very grateful to you for that. Therefore, no matter how you suppress me, I feel that I should respect you."
"Mom, you can be selfish, but you must be kind. My baby was harmed by Zhang Jianren, and you forced me to forgive this evil man and put all the blame on me. A mother like you does not deserve my respect."
"From now on, we will live our own lives. I will definitely take care of your retirement, but I will not disturb you until you are able to take care of yourself. If you want me to make everything about you the center and listen to you like before, forget it!"
After hearing her daughter's words, Sun Hanxiang finally felt panic, as if something was being torn away from her body.
This daughter, her only daughter, the most obedient daughter, the daughter that her neighbors envy, is she just going to abandon her like this?
When people get old, they fear loneliness the most.
Sun Hanxiang stretched out her hand, trying to stop her daughter from leaving, but Lin Ruxue seemed not to see her and walked straight out of the reception room holding the baby.
Sun Hanxiang wanted to scold her daughter a few more times, but when she met her daughter's calm and cold eyes, she got scared.
This time, my daughter was really heartbroken.
My daughter has grown up and is now a mother and a teacher. Sun Hanxiang has retired, and is in a declining state in all aspects, including health, money, and ability. As one thing grows stronger, the other shrinks. It's probably impossible for her to control her daughter as strongly as before.
Sun Hanxiang felt like she was back to the day when her husband died. The person she could rely on was gone. What should she do in the future?
My daughter was really pushed away by myself. Endless regret surged in her heart, and Sun Hanxiang left in dejection.
After seeing Lin Ruxue off, Feng Xiaoyu asked Xia Mufan, "Can you lock up this scumbag Zhang Jianren until he dies?"
Xia Mushi shook his head.
Feng Xiaoyu was so angry that she pounded the table: "Damn it!"
Xia Mufan said coldly: "He even didn't let go of a six-month-old baby girl. He is definitely a habitual offender. If we can find his previous crimes, we will punish him for all of them..."
Feng Xiaoyu immediately became excited: "Okay, then let's dig into his criminal record!"
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