Chapter 104 Deception: The Most Heartwarming Assist
Mediation room at Jinwu Road Police Station.
The evening sunlight was still dazzling, casting several slanted beams of light through the dusty windows onto the polished terrazzo floor.
Jiang Ling and Zheng Yu sat on one side, opposite Zhang Xiaoyu's grandfather, Zhang Zhanshan. The old man was thin, his skin dark from years of hard work in the wind and sun. He wore a faded cotton shirt with a slightly loose collar. His brows were habitually furrowed, and his cloudy eyes revealed stubbornness and an inescapable hostility, as if he disliked everyone.
Director Wang from the neighborhood office sat next to me, trying his best to force a friendly smile.
After handling Mao Dali's case, Jiang Ling felt very heavy-hearted. Children are like tender seedlings, requiring careful nurturing. If they are exposed to storms too early, they are likely to suffer indelible wounds, which will manifest in the future.
If Mao Dali's father had treated his son more gently, and if Ah Huang had been able to accompany Mao Dali as he grew up, then he wouldn't have planted a seed of hatred in his heart, which would have sprouted and grown in pain, ultimately turning Mao Dali into a murderer.
If Xiaoyu is left with his abusive grandfather and grows up in a cold and unloving family, what will his future be like? Will he feel abandoned and believe that the world is devoid of warmth, thus turning to crime?
Thinking of this, Jiang Ling's heart clenched.
We must resolve Xiaoyu's guardianship issue as soon as possible and prevent Zhang Zhanshan from taking Xiaoyu away.
Jiang Ling had dealt with Zhang Zhanshan several times. He was known for his domineering, selfish, and domestic violence ways. He had previously ignored Xiao Yu, but when he heard that Zhang Minghui and An Xiaohui were making a lot of money from patent royalties, his greedy nature was exposed. He threw a tantrum and insisted on taking Xiao Yu back to the countryside.
Once again, the two sat down, and Jiang Ling imagined countless scenarios of being difficult, throwing a tantrum, and making unreasonable demands. She even prepared a mental plan to deal with the other party's exorbitant demands for money.
Director Wang cleared his throat and got to the point: "Uncle Zhang, the main reason I invited you here today is to discuss who will raise Xiaoyu in the future. You know about his father Zhang Minghui's situation; he definitely can't take care of the child. The child is still young and has been traumatized. He's currently in a rehabilitation center and needs a stable and loving home..."
“Home?” Zhang Zhanshan suddenly raised his head, his voice rough and harsh, with a heavy local accent. “What home does he have? His father is locked up, his mother died a long time ago, and his family has long since fallen apart. Oh dear, what sins did our Zhang family commit to deserve such a jinx?”
Zheng Yu frowned slightly, about to speak, but was stopped by a look from Jiang Ling.
Director Wang patiently continued to persuade them: "You can't say that. The child is innocent. You see, you are getting old, and you may not have the energy to take care of the child."
"Who said we were supposed to take care of him?" Zhang Zhanshan's voice suddenly rose, abruptly interrupting Director Wang. He waved his hand irritably, as if shooing away flies. "That jinx! A cursed creature that brings misfortune to parents, whoever gets involved with it is doomed. I wouldn't dare take him. We two old folks want to live a few more years, you can find someone else to take care of you, don't bother me!"
"A jinx?" Jiang Ling keenly caught the word, and her heart stirred slightly.
Based on the information she had previously gathered, although Zhang Zhanshan was dissatisfied with his daughter-in-law and disappointed in his son, he had never so clearly and vehemently referred to his grandson as a "jinx," and even seemed to be desperately trying to distance himself from the situation.
This change was too abrupt.
Although I don't understand where this change came from, it is clearly a godsend.
The opportunity has arrived!
A thought flashed through Jiang Ling's mind like lightning.
Jiang Ling immediately adjusted her strategy, no longer trying to persuade the other party of the benefits of raising him, but instead following Zhang Zhanshan's fears.
“Uncle Zhang,” Jiang Ling said calmly, with an understanding tone, “we understand your feelings. It’s hard for anyone to bear such a big change in the family. You’re worried about Xiao Yu… well, his strong fate might affect his family, that’s only natural.”
She deliberately used the somewhat mystical term "fate".
Zhang Zhanshan was taken aback by the police's words. He paused for a moment, then, as if he had found a kindred spirit, slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "That's right! That's exactly it. What the policeman said is correct. Isn't Xiaoyu a reincarnation of a jinx? Not only did he bring death to his mother, but he also caused his father to end up in jail. I've asked around, and his face and birth chart are definitely those of a jinx."
Zhang Zhanshan was so excited that his spittle flew everywhere, as if he were stating a truism.
Jiang Ling remained expressionless, revealing a hint of agreement and consideration for the other party: "Uncle Zhang, you are right to think this way. Since you and your family feel that Xiaoyu is not suitable to stay with you, then for the sake of the child and for your peace of mind, you should indeed find a more suitable place."
She then changed the subject, her tone becoming serious and professional: "After careful consideration, our police, neighborhood committee, and civil affairs department believe that Wen Xiufen, Xiaoyu's downstairs neighbor, is the most suitable guardian. You should know her, right? Sister Wen is kind-hearted and has always taken good care of Xiaoyu, who is very dependent on her."
Jiang Ling paused deliberately, lowered her voice, and created a sense of privacy as if she were speaking for your own good: "More importantly, Sister Wen's birth chart is full of blessings, she is kind-hearted, and she can dispel evil spirits. It will be good for Xiaoyu to be with her, and it will also minimize the impact on your family. Isn't that the best of both worlds?"
These words not only affirmed Zhang Zhanshan's fears but also offered a solution and even brought up the metaphysical principle of good fortune in one's birth chart, striking a chord with Zhang Zhanshan.
Zhang Zhanshan's cloudy eyes lit up, as if a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders, and he asked eagerly, "Really? Wen Xiufen can handle it? Is her birth chart really that good?"
“Of course,” Jiang Ling said firmly. “We also did our research and made a careful choice. You think, if she couldn’t control the child, we wouldn’t dare entrust the child to her, right?”
"That's good! That's good!" Zhang Zhanshan breathed a sigh of relief, even showing a relieved smile on his face, as if he had gotten rid of a huge burden.
“Then let Wen Xiufen raise him, we have no objection, absolutely no objection, just don’t let him come back to our house! And don’t let him come to see us, it’s bad luck!” He couldn’t wait to express his attitude, afraid of getting involved in anything.
Jiang Ling felt a huge weight lifted off her shoulders and immediately pressed her advantage: "Uncle Zhang, it's truly reasonable of you to think this way; you're doing it all for the child's good. However, changing custody isn't something that can be done just by talking; it requires going through the proper legal procedures."
She gestured for Zheng Yu to take out the documents that had been prepared beforehand.
"This is the 'Voluntary Relinquishment of Custody Declaration'." Jiang Ling pushed the document in front of Zhang Zhanshan, pointing to the place where signatures were required. "You and your spouse need to sign and put your fingerprints together, indicating that you voluntarily relinquish your custody of Zhang Xiaoyu and agree that Ms. Wen Xiufen will be his guardian. Once you sign this, the court's judgment will have a basis, and the child's ownership will be completely clarified, avoiding any future entanglements. Don't you agree?"
She specifically emphasized "clearly defining ownership" and "avoiding trouble," which perfectly suited Zhang Zhanshan's desire to completely distance himself from the situation.
Zhang Zhanshan looked at Jiang Ling: "Give me half of my son's savings for my retirement, and the rest to Xiaoyu. Don't let Xiaoyu contact me again unless it's absolutely necessary; I don't care about him!"
Remembering what the "old immortal" had said—that losing money was a way to avoid disaster—Zhang Zhanshan didn't dare ask for more. He took half of his retirement money and gave the rest to Xiaoyu, since Xiaoyu's surname was Zhang and he was also a member of his Zhang family.
Jiang Ling never expected that Zhang Zhanshan would be so understanding today.
He and Wu Chuncao are Zhang Minghui's parents, so it's reasonable for them to use half of their savings for retirement. Jiang Ling nodded: "Okay, add this point to the document as well."
At this moment, Zhang Zhanshan just wanted to get rid of the jinx as soon as possible. As soon as the revised document was in front of him, he said impatiently, "Sign, I'll sign, I'll sign right now! My wife is outside, call her over to put her fingerprint on it."
As if afraid the police would change their minds, he called Wu Chuncao in. Under Jiang Ling's guidance, he took a pen and signed his and Wu Chuncao's names in a crooked manner. Then, he dipped his hand in red ink and pressed his bright red fingerprints heavily under his names. His movements were swift and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.
Looking at the heavy statement in front of them, Jiang Ling and Zheng Yu exchanged a knowing glance, both seeing relief and a hint of disbelief at the success in each other's eyes.
Having finished his business, Zhang Zhanshan didn't want to stay a moment longer, as if the police station had also been tainted by Xiao Yu's bad luck. He hurriedly greeted Director Wang and left without looking back, his steps as fast as if he were fleeing a plague-stricken area.
Director Wang exclaimed, "What a turn of events! I never expected Grandpa Zhang to be so agreeable today. Now Xiaoyu finally has a place to stay."
Zheng Yu went to see Director Wang off, leaving Jiang Ling alone in the mediation room.
Sunlight streamed through the window, casting warm dappled patterns on the table. Jiang Ling looked at the two signed statements, her fingertips gently tracing Zhang Zhanshan's crooked signature and bright red handprint.
It was resolved, and surprisingly smoothly.
Why did Zhang Zhanshan suddenly change his tune? Why did Zhang Zhanshan think Xiaoyu was a jinx? With these questions in mind, Jiang Ling packed her things and walked out of the mediation room.
As soon as I arrived at the entrance of the police station's somewhat noisy lobby, I saw a figure wearing a baggy school uniform and carrying a backpack, crouching down and peering into the doorway, his eyes darting around, revealing a mix of alertness and nervousness.
It was Liang Jiushan.
When he saw Jiang Ling come out, his eyes lit up, and he immediately stood up straight, a bright and slightly ingratiating smile plastered on his face. He jogged over to greet her: "Sister Ling! How did it go? Did you get it sorted out?" His voice was low, filled with barely suppressed excitement and anticipation.
Jiang Ling stopped and looked at the 16-year-old student who was about to enter high school.
Sunlight fell on his fluffy hair, creating a layer of light golden down. She recalled Zhang Zhanshan's words, "I asked around, and his face and birth chart indicate he's a jinx." Looking at Liang Jiushan's guilty yet self-satisfied expression, she instantly understood.
"What are you doing here?" Jiang Ling asked deliberately with a stern face, but there was no reproach in her eyes, only a knowing smile.
Liang Jiushan's eyes darted around, his toes unconsciously shuffling on the ground. "Uh... I, I was just passing by. Yes, just passing by, and thought I'd check on how Xiaoyu's situation was going. That old man, he didn't give you any trouble, did he?"
Jiang Ling didn't respond to his words, but looked at him calmly: "Zhang Zhanshan's attitude changed drastically today. He insisted that Xiaoyu was a jinx, bringing bad luck to his parents, and even said that he had asked around. Isn't that strange? Zhang Zhanshan has no relatives or friends in Yan City. Where did he go to ask around?"
At this point, Jiang Ling paused deliberately, looking at Liang Jiushan's face, which instantly stiffened. "Jiushan, you must know, right?"
Liang Jiushan's face flushed red instantly, all the way to his ears. He instinctively wanted to deny it, but under Jiang Ling's clear gaze that seemed to see right through people, those clumsy excuses stuck in his throat, and not a single word could be uttered.
He lowered his head, twisting his fingers around the hem of his school uniform like a child caught doing something wrong, muttering softly, "I... I just think he's such a scoundrel, all he cares about is money, he has no feelings for Xiaoyu at all. He clearly doesn't love her, but he still insists on fighting for custody of Xiaoyu for money. Isn't that the kind of person Sister Ling doesn't want to give Xiaoyu to either?"
Liang Jiushan's voice grew softer and softer, and his head drooped lower and lower: "I want to, I want to help you. Xiaoyue once told me that the old man is very superstitious, so I found someone to pretend to be a charlatan and say a bunch of nonsense. Anyway, he said that Xiaoyu is a jinx, and if you get close to him, you will be plagued by bad luck, or even suffer bloodshed, and you will have to spend money to avert disaster."
He looked up and glanced quickly at Jiang Ling, his eyes filled with trepidation and a hint of stubbornness: "Sister Ling, I know it's wrong to lie. But there's no point in reasoning with someone like Zhang Zhanshan. He believes in superstition, so let's use superstition against him. He doesn't dare to have Xiaoyu, so Xiaoyu can stay with Aunt Wen. Aunt Wen is such a good person... Xiaoyu will definitely be better off with her than with those two old men."
The boy's thoughts were pure and direct, with a touch of self-righteous cunning, yet full of righteousness for the weak and protection of kindness.
Jiang Ling looked at him quietly.
The blushing, uneasy boy before me possesses a warm yet tender heart of chivalry. He has escaped the tragic fate of his past life and will have a brighter, more sunny future.
There was no criticism, no lecturing. Jiang Ling's lips slowly and gently curved upwards, forming a warm and genuine arc. She reached out and, instead of patting Liang Jiushan's shoulder like an adult, gently ruffled his tousled short hair, as if he were a younger brother deserving of praise.
Jiang Ling's voice carried a helpless smile, but also a deep warmth, "You've got some nerve, and your ideas are pretty twisted. But..."
Liang Jiushan felt the warm, gentle touch on his head, his body stiffened slightly, and then he suddenly raised his head, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Jiang Ling with unbelievable surprise.
Jiang Ling withdrew her hand, her smile warm and bright: "Well done."
"Well done!" were the words Liang Jiushan most wanted to hear. His face flushed even redder, but this time not from shame, but from immense joy and excitement. He grinned, revealing a big, slightly silly smile, and nodded vigorously: "Mm!"
"Go home and do your homework!" Jiang Ling deliberately put on a stern face, but couldn't hide the smile in her eyes. "Don't you dare to do this kind of feudal superstition again next time."
"Okay, okay!" Liang Jiushan replied with a grin, like a little mouse that had just stolen some oil. He turned and ran off with light steps, his schoolbag bouncing behind him, full of youthful energy.
Jiang Ling stood there, watching the figure in the oversized school uniform disappear into the police station's gate, merging into the golden sunset outside.
The evening breeze, carrying the warmth of summer, brushed against Jiang Ling's cheeks, making her feel warm inside.
This sixteen-year-old boy, with his boundless imagination, cleverly exploited human weaknesses and meticulously designed a "jinx" scenario. Without swords or verbal battles, Liang Jiushan used his unique methods to remove the biggest obstacle on Xiaoyu's path back to warmth without bloodshed.
This sentiment is pure and fervent, carrying the impetuousness and wisdom unique to young people; clumsy yet so effective.
Law is a cold framework, procedure is a rigorous set of steps.
But what supports this framework and allows the steps to run smoothly are often the most inconspicuous, warm-hearted people hidden in the everyday world.
Liang Jiushan's "deception" was the most unexpected and heartwarming assist in Jiang Ling's case-solving career. Xiao Yu was lucky to meet the warm and loving Wen Xiufen; but to meet such a quirky yet kind-hearted young man was also a wonderful twist of fate.
The glow of the sunset illuminated the police station building, and Jiang Ling's eyes shone with determination.
On the road to upholding justice, there is the unyielding strength of the law, and there should also be the warmth of human kindness, like a gentle stream that quietly converges and eventually becomes a mighty ocean.
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