Chapter 54 Su Xinwan: Jiang Ling seemed to see her former self.
Jiang Ling stared at Ying Songmao, feeling a tightness in her chest.
She tried hard to change Ying Songmao's predetermined life trajectory, just so he could live a peaceful and safe life.
But now, Jiang Ling finds that everything she has done seems to be in vain.
In fact, due to his involvement, Ying Songmao became a narcotics officer five or six years earlier.
In his previous life, Ying Songmao must have made up his mind to join the anti-drug team after Chen Mu and Chen Zhigang died.
Did your sister have an accident and your parents grieve during this period?
In her previous life, without Jiang Ling's intervention, Ying Yuhua and Chen Mu's relationship would not have been exposed. Ying Yuhua might have become involved with drugs and attempted suicide again, causing her parents immense grief. And once Ying Songmao discovered the truth, he would undoubtedly hate drugs to the core.
Therefore, he chose to dedicate himself to the fight against drugs.
However, having lived a second life, Jiang Ling had already helped Ying Yuhua get rid of Chen Mu and had also verified that Ying Songmao and Chen Mu were completely innocent, with no possibility of leaks. He had successfully returned to work at the Municipal Bureau after his vacation, so why did he still decide to transfer to the Yuezhou Narcotics Enforcement Team?
Jiang Ling's eyes darkened: "Why?"
Jiang Ling knew that discovering Ying Yuhua's connections with drug dealers must have put Ying Songmao, as a police officer, under immense pressure. But now that the truth was out and the April 26th drug case was nearing its end, Ying Songmao shouldn't be under too much pressure.
Jiang Ling's gaze was like a deep pool, unfathomable, as if the brightest sunlight would be completely absorbed by its depths.
Ying Songmao felt inexplicably uneasy.
How can he explain his decision?
Because his sister was involved with drug dealers, Ying Songmao felt that he was "tainted".
Only by uprooting this troublesome drug trafficking group can he feel that the "filth" on his body has been cleansed.
Besides, if I don't go to hell, who will?
The Yuezhou City Narcotics Enforcement Team had just been established, and many criminal police officers were unfamiliar with the characteristics, types, chemical properties, and addiction mechanisms of drugs before being deployed to the front lines of narcotics enforcement.
Ying Songmao understands pharmacology and can identify drug types. His joining the anti-drug squad will help Yuezhou police quickly crack the drug trafficking network behind the April 26 drug case and save more people harmed by drugs.
Therefore, Ying Songmao signed up.
He knew he would be selected by the Yuezhou police.
He also knew that he would miss his colleagues at the Yan City Public Security Bureau.
He... couldn't bear to leave Jiang Ling.
From the first time Ying Songmao met Jiang Ling, he secretly took a liking to this policewoman who pinned her bangs back with a pearl hairpin and openly showed the scar on her forehead.
He was willing to offer Jiang Ling assistance.
He wanted to see Jiang Ling's bright eyes, like sunlight shining down, when she solved a case.
He wanted to know about Jiang Ling's past and her preferences.
He cautiously approached Jiang Ling, hoping to become her friend.
But now, he has to leave.
He did not reveal his inner feelings because now was not the time.
Ying Songmao didn't want to put pressure on Jiang Ling, nor did he want her to worry.
Thinking of this, Ying Songmao suppressed his sorrow and smiled, saying, "There are things I should do, and things I shouldn't do."
Jiang Ling met his slightly curved eyes and saw the determination in them to do what he knew was impossible and to bravely declare war on drugs.
He is a good person.
He is also a brave person.
In this life, his sister and parents are still alive, and he has people to care about, so he should cherish his life more, right?
I hope he can have a good ending in this life.
Thinking of this, Jiang Ling nodded gently: "Okay, go ahead."
Ying Songmao knew Jiang Ling would understand him, so he stood with his feet together, heels touching, and raised his right hand in a salute. Countless words welled up in his mouth, but he swallowed them all.
Jiang Ling returned the greeting: "Ying Songmao, take care!"
Please take good care of yourself.
Please cherish your life.
Please, you absolutely must live well.
Ying Songmao turned and left.
This time, his silhouette was different from the desolate one he had taken when he came out of Director Zhong's office. He stood tall and straight, and every step he took was steady and powerful.
Jiang Ling watched Ying Songmao leave.
Even after his figure disappeared into the stairwell, I still couldn't look away.
Lin Weidong couldn't stand it anymore: "Jiang Ling, let's go."
He heard Ying Songmao's words very clearly.
Although fathers naturally tend to be wary of any man who gets close to their daughters, Lin Weidong found Ying Songmao somewhat agreeable since the boy volunteered for a dangerous job like drug enforcement.
Jiang Ling withdrew her gaze and silently followed her father toward the stairwell.
As Jiang Ling walked, she pondered to herself: It's a pity that she didn't know much about Ying Songmao in her previous life. She only knew that he switched careers to become a narcotics officer around 2000 and later died a heroic death. But Jiang Ling had no idea which year it was or what happened that led to his death.
All I can do is tell him to take good care of himself, think of his family when things happen, and not to rush into things recklessly.
Seeing that his daughter was in low spirits, Lin Weidong knew it was because of Ying Songmao, so he turned to Director Zhong and asked, "What's the situation with this Ying Songmao?"
Director Zhong understood Lin Weidong's feelings, so he introduced Ying Songmao very seriously.
"The deputy captain of the technical team is an outstanding forensic expert. He holds a master's degree from Huaxia Public Security University and is the most highly educated person in our bureau. He has a bright future ahead of him. Our bureau has just cracked a drug case. The drugs originated in Yuezhou, so we need the two cities to work together to continue the investigation. He took the initiative to submit a report to the Yuezhou Narcotics Enforcement Team in order to help solve the case."
Director Zhong concealed the fact that Ying Yuhua was involved in the case.
After all, Ying Songmao was once the young man he had the highest hopes for.
Although Ying Yuhua dragged Ying Songmao down, as long as he can successfully assist the Yuezhou police in cracking a major drug trafficking case this time, his future will be unobstructed.
Lin Weidong nodded to himself.
His education, qualifications, and appearance are passable, I suppose.
A sense of crisis arose in Luo Yunchen's heart.
Before coming here to see Jiang Ling, Lin Weidong had asked for his opinion: "I've found my eldest daughter. Her name is Jiang Ling. She grew up in an orphanage, entered police academy at 16, became a police officer at 20, and is now 21. She has already published a paper on criminal psychological profiling and has excellent criminal investigation skills. I'm too busy with work to come here, and she doesn't want to be transferred to Kyoto. I'm worried that she won't have anyone to rely on. Would you be willing to transfer to her side and assist her for a while?"
Luo Yunchen was captivated by what he heard.
Just hearing about Jiang Ling's upbringing sparked his great curiosity about the person.
He was an only child with both parents and a happy family. It was completely unimaginable how a little girl could grow up to be a police officer in such a harsh environment.
Moreover, his mentor actually gave him the evaluation that he had "excellent criminal investigation skills"!
Lin Weidong is a humble and reserved person who rarely praises his own people.
However, he did not hold back his praise for Jiang Ling at all.
Was it because the master loved Jiang Ling so much that he extended his affection to her, or was Jiang Ling truly outstanding?
Luo Yunchen graduated from the Public Security University and was assigned to the Kyoto Municipal Public Security Bureau immediately after graduation. Two years later, he became a student of Lin Weidong, focusing on criminal investigation sketching techniques. He has already solved many major cases. In addition, Luo Yunchen always attends the criminal investigation sketching training held by Lin Weidong as an assistant instructor. Therefore, he is considered a rising star with some fame in Kyoto and even in the Ministry of Public Security.
Even so, Luo Yunchen never received the kind of praise his master gave him. At most, his master would pat him on the shoulder and say, "Well done." When introducing him to others, his master would simply say, "My apprentice, not bad."
Jiang Ling really ignited his competitive spirit.
Is it really that amazing?
Let me assist her for a while?
I want to see whether I'll be assisting her or she'll be assisting me!
And so, Luo Yunchen arrived.
The night he left for Hunan Province, his parents were whispering to each other in the house.
"Does Wei Dong want my Yun Chen to be his eldest son-in-law?"
"I think there's potential. They say it's about sending Yun Chen to the grassroots for training, but actually they want Yun Chen and Jiang Ling to develop their relationship, right?"
"You have a problem with that?"
"Haha, what objection could I possibly have? Yun Chen thinks too highly of himself and looks down on all the pretty girls in the family compound. It's rare for Old Lin to have an idea this time, so I wholeheartedly support him."
"What if Jiang Ling doesn't like my son?"
"Oh, I'm even happier then. Who told him to be so arrogant and picky? Someone should put his arrogance to a minimum."
Luo Yunchen didn't take his parents' jokes to heart at all.
Become my master's son-in-law? No way!
A master is a master, and a junior sister is a junior sister. Let's not talk about anything else.
Upon arriving in Yan City and meeting the legendary Jiang Ling, Luo Yunchen sensed Jiang Ling's distance from him.
Although she addressed him as "senior brother," she refused to shake his hand or team up with him.
She said: "Brother Luo has a bright future ahead of him, why stay in Yan City?"
Look, why does the phrase "bright future" sound so awkward to him? Is it a compliment? Or is it a subtle rejection?
At first, Luo Yunchen could think that all of this was because Jiang Ling grew up in an orphanage and had a cold personality. But when he saw her care for Ying Songmao and her initiative to tell him that Lin Weidong was her father, Luo Yunchen realized that Jiang Ling also had her passionate moments. It was just that she was rather cold to him.
Could it be that she really looks down on him, doesn't want him to stay, and is unwilling to cooperate with him?
How will he complete the task assigned by his master?
Luo Yunchen's former sense of superiority seemed to have been somewhat shattered.
--
Jiang Ling did not stay at the hotel that night. After having dinner with her parents, she returned to the police station.
Xiao Wenjuan held her daughter's hand reluctantly, tears streaming down her face. "Lingling, I know, I know you're not used to it yet. Mom won't force you to stay. Mom and Dad will come to the police station to see you tomorrow, okay?"
Jiang Ling quickly replied, "Okay, okay."
Having lived two lives, Jiang Ling had never met anyone who cried as much as her mother.
Having lived two lives, I have never felt so much touch and caresses as I have today.
As if to make up for what she had done wrong in the past, Xiao Wenjuan hugged Jiang Ling tightly as soon as she saw her, crying and calling out, "My son, my poor son..."
After finally getting Xiao Wenjuan back to normal, she couldn't bear to let go of Jiang Ling's hand for a moment. She would pull her, hug her, and stroke her neck down whenever she had a chance, as if she were a baby who needed her mother's caresses at all times.
Jiang Ling suffers from a fear of physical contact and succumbs to her fear in front of her biological mother.
Jiang Ling's hands, from her wrists to the backs of her hands and her fingers, were touched and rubbed by Xiao Wenjuan.
She wanted every single hair on her head to be lifted up and every scalp to be examined closely. The scars that she once considered painful memories were all gently stroked by her mother's trembling fingers.
If it weren't for her father being there, Jiang Ling felt that her mother would lift up her clothes and scrutinize every inch of her skin.
All I could hear was my mother's sad, heartbroken sobs.
"Lingling, how did you get this scar? Does it hurt?"
"Damn human traffickers, how much suffering has my daughter endured?"
"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, Mommy is here, Mommy loves you."
...
With her mother pulling her into her arms, Jiang Ling had nowhere to hide or escape, and could only stiffly lean against her.
My mother's embrace is so warm.
It has a faint, pleasant fragrance.
My mother's heart was pounding.
It was like a gentle and beautiful variation.
After being held by her mother for a long time, Jiang Ling's body gradually regained its softness.
Perhaps it's just a habit?
A mother's heartbeat is a comforting melody for a baby.
Since she became conscious, since she was conceived in her mother's womb, she has been accompanied by this incredibly familiar heartbeat.
As a result, under her mother Xiao Wenjuan's persistent and loving caresses, Jiang Ling's psychological resilience greatly improved; at least her mother's caresses and touches did not make her feel disgusted.
It's not just that I don't dislike it.
I'm... somewhat happy.
It's the kind of joy that comes from secretly hiding the candy after getting it, and then quietly taking a lick when no one's around.
Under her parents' earnest guidance and loving embraces, Jiang Ling finally felt a sense of reality.
—She is someone who is loved by her parents.
Her parents traveled a long distance to see her.
It calmed her anxious heart.
It also calmed all the resentment and dissatisfaction she had felt in her past life.
As night fell, the police station's lobby was lit up, but very quiet.
As soon as Jiang Ling stepped into the hall, a figure stood up, accompanied by a weak, joyful exclamation: "Jiang Ling, you're back!"
Jiang Ling looked closely and saw that it was Su Xinwan.
She was wearing a floral long-sleeved shirt, black trousers, and white sneakers, which made her face look even more pitiful.
Jiang Ling hurried forward and looked around.
Apart from a police officer sitting at the service desk, Su Xinwan was the only person in the police station.
"Why are you here alone? Where are Li Zhenliang and the others?"
Upon hearing Jiang Ling's words, Su Xinwan quickly explained, "It's too late, so I told them to go back. They've been busy all day and must be tired. I'll just wait here."
Jiang Ling recalled that she had Li Zhenliang pass on a message to Su Xinwan today, which was to ask her to come over tonight or tomorrow.
I thought she would come tomorrow, but I didn't expect her to wait for me at the police station as soon as she got off work. She seemed so anxious, so the situation must be very serious.
Jiang Ling said gently, "It's so late, come to my dorm."
Su Xinwan asked somewhat embarrassedly, "Is this...is this appropriate?"
Jiang Ling already had a good impression of Su Xinwan, and unlike before, she didn't resist getting close to people: "It's okay, come with me."
After greeting the police officer on duty, Jiang Ling led Su Xinwan into the backyard.
The pomegranate trees in the backyard are in full bloom.
The evening breeze carries the fragrance of flowers.
Su Xinwan was filled with anxiety and had no interest in looking at the brightly blooming flowers, nor could she smell the faint fragrance of flowers carried on the wind.
Jiang Ling asked her, "Did you understand today's lecture?"
Su Xinwan nodded repeatedly: "I understood, and I even took notes." After saying that, she spoke like a student facing a teacher, recounting the key points of today's lecture one by one.
"Hmm, that's good." Jiang Ling likes people who have good memories and are meticulous in their work.
Jiang Ling asked, "If I asked you to design the facial makeup, could you do it independently?"
Su Xinwan thought for a moment: "Before coming to the lecture, Sister Zheng Yu and I discussed the rope murder case in private. We speculated that the murderer might have been unhappy in his own life, so he killed out of jealousy and revenge. We also guessed that he was a laid-off worker, but it wasn't as clear as you said."
Jiang Ling continued, "And then what?"
Perhaps it was the darkness that gave Su Xinwan courage, and she mustered her courage to say, "Now that I've learned the three-dimensional investigation method, my psychological profile should be more accurate."
Jiang Ling turned to Su Xinwan and asked, "What do you think of Officer Lin's criminal investigation sketch?"
Su Xinwan's voice became much brighter: "I like drawing, and I also really enjoy observing people. I find the principles Officer Lin mentioned amazing. If I practice more, I think I can draw them too!"
Jiang Ling smiled.
Su Xinwan is such a shy person; she would never say "I can do it too" unless she was absolutely certain. It seems she must be quite good at painting.
That's great, Senior Brother Luo, I've found you a female disciple.
The two walked and talked, and went up to the second floor of the backyard. Jiang Ling opened the door and welcomed Su Xinwan into the dormitory.
Turning on the lights, the cool white light of the fluorescent lamps cast a chilly glow over the tidy room.
Su Xinwan stood at the door, looking slightly awkward.
Jiang Ling moved a folding chair to the bedside: "Sit down."
After Su Xinwan sat down, Jiang Ling poured her a glass of water and placed it on the desk to her right.
Jiang Ling's thoughtfulness gradually calmed Su Xinwan's heart.
She took a big gulp of water from her glass.
After waiting for three hours in the police station, Su Xinwan was really thirsty.
Once she had calmed down, Jiang Ling said, "Speak, what do you need me for?"
Su Xinwan looked up at Jiang Ling, her eyes pleading: "My brother, I feel that his condition is not right, I'm afraid something will happen to him."
Jiang Ling knew what she was going to say, so she didn't urge her and listened quietly.
Like Jiang Ling before her, Su Xinwan was very reluctant to talk about her family with others because she was ashamed to say it.
But today, she finally mustered the courage to expose her inner wounds, revealing them to Jiang Ling in a bloody and raw state.
“My father was a technician at the town’s machine repair shop. He died in an accident at the shop. My mother took my brother and me and married my current husband, Chu Jingen. Because Chu Jingen had no sons, he changed my brother’s surname.”
Having recounted her most difficult and unbearable past, Su Xinwan's subsequent words flowed smoothly.
"Chu Jingen was just an ordinary brick factory worker in town. He had been married once but had no children. My mother married him because he was honest and had a house in town. But unexpectedly, the collectively-run brick factory went bankrupt, and Chu Jingen took over the factory and ran it himself. He was just in the right place at the right time and made a fortune."
Jiang Ling noticed that Su Xinwan called Chu Jingen by his given name, without referring to him as father or stepfather.
Su Xinwan lowered her head slightly, her eyes vacant and filled with sorrow: "Chu Jingen moved into a villa, bought a mobile phone, wore a gold chain, and acted like a nouveau riche. Everyone in town fawned over him. But... to me, my mother, and my brother, he was a devil."
"He's always been mean to my mother." After saying this, Su Xinwan looked up at Jiang Ling, her eyes filled with fear and apprehension. "He's mean to my mother, you know?"
Jiang Ling didn't understand and frowned.
Su Xinwan opened her mouth, but no sound came out for a long time. The words seemed to be stuck in her throat, and she couldn't say them no matter what.
Seeing that she was so anxious that tears were about to fall, Jiang Ling felt a pang of sympathy and reached out to gently pat her arm: "Don't rush, tell me slowly."
The moment Jiang Ling's hand touched Su Xinwan's arm, Su Xinwan flinched.
However, Su Xinwan quickly calmed down and looked at Jiang Ling apologetically: "Um, I'm not afraid of you. I'm just... just not used to it."
Jiang Ling's heart was in turmoil.
Afraid of contact with people, keeping everything to themselves.
Jiang Ling felt as if she were seeing her former self.
Jiang Ling sighed softly, "I know."
If Jiang Ling hadn't experienced more lifetimes than others, she probably wouldn't have been able to open her heart and truly experience this real world.
Therefore, Jiang Ling really wanted to help Su Xinwan.
Su Xinwan composed herself. Although she was ashamed to speak, she had to ask Jiang Ling for help since she needed to.
We're all women, so... it should be acceptable, right?
“He wouldn’t beat my mom; at least her face, hands, and exposed skin were all intact.”
"But he tormented my mother in bed."
“When I was little, I was most afraid of the night. The noises coming from the next room would terrify my brother and me. My mother would scream incessantly, like a skinned animal, with blood and foam. It was so scary, so scary.”
Jiang Ling shivered.
She has never been married and has no sexual experience, but she has seen some cases.
The methods men use to torment women in bed are truly cruel and violent, leaving women unable to live or die.
Su Xinwan's voice trembled.
Her body was trembling.
My hands started shaking all the way down to my feet.
Words of comfort seemed utterly inadequate at this moment. Jiang Ling reached out and pressed down on Su Xinwan's arms from the side: "Don't be afraid, you're a police officer."
Perhaps it was the word "police" that gave Su Xinwan confidence, and her trembling gradually stopped.
A tear slid down her cheek. Su Xinwan sniffed and said in a nasal voice, "I... I don't want to cry. I know crying is useless."
Jiang Ling released her hand and handed her a handkerchief.
The white cotton embroidered handkerchief was one of the gifts her grandmother gave her.
The fabric is very soft, and the four corners of the handkerchief are embroidered with red trumpet vine flowers, which is very unique and beautiful.
Su Xinwan took the handkerchief and wiped away her tears. Looking down, she saw the trumpet creeper flower on the handkerchief and exclaimed, "Ah! This is a hand-embroidered handkerchief, it must be very expensive! I'm so sorry it got dirty, so sorry..."
Alas! Kind people always like to apologize when things go wrong, always tend to reflect on themselves first, and are too concerned about details and other people's reactions.
Jiang Ling sighed: "Handkerchiefs are for people to use. Stop apologizing and just tell me what's going on."
Su Xinwan pursed her lips and continued, "On the surface, my mother didn't look injured. Even when she was in so much pain the next morning that she couldn't get out of bed, she looked perfectly fine. Only I knew that she was bleeding from her lower body, had injuries on her inner thighs, and had a large bruise on her lower abdomen. She... was in unbearable pain."
“I want my mother to leave Chu Jingen, but she refuses.”
“My mother is the old-fashioned kind of woman. She has never worked or earned money in her entire life. She used to rely on my father, and later on Chu Jingen. Without a man, she doesn’t know how to live.”
“My mother asked me: Without Chu Jingen, how will my brother and I pay for our school fees? Where does she live? Who will give her money to buy groceries and cook? Who will pay the utility bills? I didn’t know how to answer.”
“My biggest dream when I was a child was to leave that suffocating home.” Su Xinwan’s speech quickened as she said this.
"I did it!"
"I have a good memory, I study hard, I study like crazy, and finally, I was admitted to the police academy through the early admission program."
"Wearing the police uniform and moving into the police dormitory, I finally felt confident."
"From then on, I never saw Chu Jingen's venomous eyes again, nor heard my mother's heart-wrenching screams. I finally left that home that looked magnificent but was filled with eeriness and gloom."
Jiang Ling interrupted her description: "You escaped that home, that's good. Tell me, how is Chu Xinyan?"
Su Xinwan began to gasp for breath.
Her expression turned anxious and helpless: "Yes, I escaped, but my mother and my brother are still there. I can't save my mother, but I have to save my brother."
Jiang Ling began to guide Su Xinwan: "How old is your younger brother?"
"I'm 21 years old."
Jiang Ling: "You should be in college by now, right?"
Su Xinwan nodded: "Yes, he did very well and got into Kyoto Normal University to study his favorite subject, Chinese literature."
Jiang Ling asked, "Since you're going to university, you've already escaped that home. Besides, he's 21 years old and independent. Why do you need to save him?"
Su Xinwan gritted her teeth: "Xinyan is different from me. He is very sensitive and... a bit neurotic. From a very young age, he refused to let me hold him or bathe him. He often screams in his sleep, and his voice sounds just like his mother's."
Su Xinwan's hands and feet began to tremble again: "I'm worried, I'm worried..."
She stared intently at Jiang Ling, her eyes darkening and becoming gloomy.
“He would be very conflicted every winter and summer vacation. He didn’t want to go back, but my mother would call him and beg him to come home. Every time he came home, he would become very violent. When I talked to him, he would unconsciously pull his hair, and he also… self-harmed.”
Su Xinwan finally spoke her mind: "I'm worried that my brother is being bullied by Chu Jingen, just like he bullied my mother."
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