Chapter 3 Volunteering: Let me give this case a try.
Jiang Ling's attention was drawn to the girl.
She must be Liang Qiqiao.
September was still hot. While other girls wore short sleeves and skirts, Liang Qiqiao wore long sleeves and trousers. The top button of her floral shirt was fastened tightly, and her black trousers completely covered her insteps.
However, even with such a conservative and simple attire, the beauty of a blooming flower could not be concealed. Liang Qiqiao had a full bust, a pert bottom, a slender waist, and long legs, with a curvaceous figure. Although she was only a senior high school student, she possessed great feminine charm.
If this were 2025, a girl with such an enviable figure would be full of confidence and would do her best to show off her personal charm. But now it is 1993, and people's aesthetic standards are still relatively conservative. Especially without the protection of her parents, Liang Qiqiao is often troubled by her overly full breasts and hips.
Hearing Zhao Yanhong say that she had "big breasts and a big butt" and "a bad reputation," Liang Qiqiao was both ashamed and angry. Her face turned bright red, and she wished she could dig a hole and disappear. She had a gentle temper and had never cursed anyone before. She didn't know how to express her anger, so she could only hold onto her younger brother's arm, trying to get away from these people who despised her as soon as possible.
Wei Changfeng couldn't stand it anymore and spoke very rudely: "Zhao Yanhong, you're a woman too, how can you speak so harshly? Please watch your words!"
Not wanting to cause any further trouble, Qian Jianshe glared at Zhao Yanhong and said, "Apologize right now!"
Zhao Yanhong gave a forced smile: "Yes, yes, I apologize. I'm sorry, I'm not very educated and my speech is rather rude, please don't mind."
The apology was clearly insincere, but seeing that the other party had admitted their mistake, Wei Changfeng didn't scold them anymore. He looked at Liang Qiqiao gently and said, "It's good that you're here. Your brother had a conflict with a classmate. The other parent apologized and paid 200 yuan in compensation. They also promised to reduce his tuition and provide him with a living allowance next year when he gets into No. 1 Middle School. If you agree, sign the mediation agreement."
"Okay." Liang Qiqiao nodded obediently, her hands trembling as she took the pen Wei Changfeng handed her, preparing to sign the mediation agreement.
Her parents passed away early. Community officials initially wanted to send her and her siblings to an orphanage, but she didn't want to leave her familiar environment and feared future separation from her siblings. She refused their suggestion and used her parents' compensation money to support herself. Although her parents received 6,000 yuan in compensation for the car accident, the money quickly ran out, and even with careful budgeting, life was still difficult.
Compared to her classmates from dual-income families working in the textile factory, Liang Qiqiao always felt inferior and could only study hard. She had already planned it all out: Hunan Normal University guaranteed job placement and didn't charge tuition; when she went to university, her younger brother would be in his first year of high school, and the school offered boarding; once her brother got into university and she had a job, the two of them would have finally made it through.
She initially thought the 6,000 yuan compensation was a lot, but she didn't expect that prices would soar in the past three years. The wages of textile factory workers had increased from tens of yuan to three or four hundred yuan. Now, there was hardly any money left. High school tuition and living expenses had become a mountain weighing on her heart, making it hard for her to breathe.
The Qian family of three stood in a row before Liang Qiqiao, with Zhao Yanhong holding her son's shoulder like a mother hen protecting her chicks. This made Liang Qiqiao feel a tightness in her chest and tears well up in her eyes.
If their parents were still alive, who would dare to bully the siblings?
However, she lacked the strength and ability to fight against Qian Darong's family. Director Qian was in charge of the textile factory's logistics; if she offended him, the factory would take back the house allocated to her parents, leaving her and her siblings homeless. Moreover, the compensation he offered was so tempting…
"Sister!" Liang Jiushan grabbed Liang Qiqiao's hand holding the pen, his eyes filled with struggle.
Liang Qiqiao sighed and gently comforted her younger brother, "Jiushan, just bear with it a little longer. Once we get into university and leave this place, they won't be able to bully you anymore."
Wei Changfeng also advised Liang Jiushan: "Listen to your sister, you're still a student, the most important thing is to focus on your studies."
Wei Changfeng was not unaware that Liang Jiushan and her brother had been wronged, but as a police officer at the local police station, he had seen too many cases and knew that life was full of helplessness.
Liang Jiushan and her brother's parents are textile factory workers. They currently live in the textile factory's dormitory and attend the factory's affiliated middle school. If Qian Darong is dealt with seriously, Zhao Yanhong and Qian Jianshe will definitely make things difficult for the siblings behind their backs, which will only put them in an even more difficult situation.
The light in Liang Jiushan's eyes gradually dimmed, and his head drooped. He withdrew his hand from his sister's, but bit his lower lip until it bled.
All the conflicts seemed to have been successfully resolved.
But Jiang Ling knew that the tragedy would begin on this day.
Qian Darong did not truly realize his mistake. He not only bullied Liang Jiushan even more, but also raped Liang Qiqiao on a rainy night in November. After the incident, the Qian family acted like they are today, with one playing the good cop and the other the bad cop, compensating the Liang family 10,000 yuan and forcing Liang Qiqiao to sign a letter of understanding.
Afterwards, the Qian family sent Qian Darong to study in the provincial capital, but pinned all the blame on Liang Qiqiao, saying that she seduced Qian Darong and was willing to sacrifice her innocence for money. Unable to bear the gossip, Liang Qiqiao committed suicide by cutting her wrists, her life ending at the beautiful age of eighteen.
Just as Liang Qiqiao was about to sign, Jiang Ling reached out and took the mediation agreement, gently placing it on the table.
She placed her palm on the mediation agreement, her gaze gentle and calm: "Liang Qiqiao, sign it later."
Liang Qiqiao was stunned. Looking at the policewoman in front of her, who wasn't much older than herself, she stammered, "What... what else do you need us for?"
Zhao Yanhong jumped up: "What's wrong with you, policeman? Aren't you wasting everyone's time? They need to go to school, and we need to go to work. Who has time to waste in the police station with you!"
Jiang Ling looked at Wei Changfeng and said, "Old Wei, let me try this case."
Wei Changfeng opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but when he met Jiang Ling's bright eyes, he said nothing, only nodded and gave a soft "hmm". Having been young once himself, Wei Changfeng couldn't bear to refuse a newcomer who volunteered; at worst, he could offer guidance if mistakes were made.
Just then, a commotion broke out outside the police station.
Two policemen escorted in a middle-aged man with a menacing face. The man was handcuffed, had a ferocious grin on his face, and kept cursing and swearing in a harsh, aggressive voice.
"Behave yourself!" a young policeman shouted, then turned to Wei Changfeng and said, "Old Wei, this kid just robbed someone on the street and knocked down an old lady."
Robbery? That's a criminal case.
With a serious expression, Wei Changfeng said to Jiang Ling, "Xiao Jiang, I'm leaving this to you." He then hurriedly joined the police officers in the case team to deal with this sudden robbery.
Several police officers left in a flash, and the police station immediately fell silent.
Jiang Ling glanced at Qian Darong and his family of three, then released her grip and picked up the mediation agreement that was underneath: "You've signed this mediation agreement twice already, haven't you?"
Jiang Ling has an excellent memory and clearly remembers that Liang Jiushan's lawyer presented three mediation agreements signed by both Qian and Liang in court. These agreements clearly recorded the police report, the interrogation records, and the terms agreed upon by both parties. It was these three mediation agreements that proved Qian Darong's long-term bullying of Liang Jiushan, providing strong support for Liang Jiushan's second-instance judgment of life imprisonment.
Qian Darong said nonchalantly, "Yeah, so what?"
Jiang Ling looked coldly at Qian Darong: "Every time we reach a mediation agreement, you promise not to bully Liang Jiushan again, right?"
Qian Darong dared not meet Jiang Ling's gaze and guiltily turned his eyes away.
Jiang Ling then turned her gaze to Qian Jianshe: "Your son has been bullying his classmates for a long time, and has repeatedly refused to change his ways. The circumstances are egregious. According to Article 19 of the 'Regulations on Administrative Penalties for Public Security,' he could be detained or fined. However, considering that he is under sixteen years old, the focus is currently on education. But it seems that both the police station and you parents have failed in your attempt to educate him through mediation."
Qian Jianshe smiled broadly: "It's just kids playing around, what's the big deal? They'll understand when they grow up."
Jiang Ling waved his hand: "This is no small matter. Liang Jiushan called the police three times. His injuries constitute minor injuries. Qian Darong's behavior is illegal."
Zhao Yanhong said impatiently, "What bullying? Don't use such harsh words! Didn't your police conduct an investigation? Several classmates identified Liang Jiushan as the one who provoked him first, and the injuries on his body were self-inflicted, and have nothing to do with my Da Rong."
Jiang Ling countered, "If it's not a problem, why are you willing to apologize and offer compensation?"
Zhao Yanhong pursed her lips, about to speak, but was stopped by Qian Jianshe, who explained with a smile, "Liang Jiushan's parents worked at our textile factory, but unfortunately they both died in a car accident. We felt sorry for the two siblings, so we accepted the mediation and paid for their medical treatment. Anyway, it's better to avoid trouble, right, Officer Jiang?"
Qian Jianshe could tell that Jiang Ling was different from Wei Changfeng; she was younger and more serious.
Qian Jianshe didn't want to offend the grassroots police officers, so he deliberately said, "It's better to avoid trouble," which was meant to subtly remind Jiang Ling not to be so aggressive.
Jiang Ling picked up the notebook and walked out from the service desk, saying to Qian Jianshe, "Let's go to the interrogation room."
Upon hearing the words "interrogation room," Qian Jianshe smiled obsequiously and said, "It's just a small case; we can handle it here. Why change locations?"
Jiang Ling glanced at him, said nothing, and went ahead.
After walking a few steps, she stopped and looked at Li Zhenliang, the police officer on duty: "Can you help me out? Can we go together?" Whether it's an interrogation or a questioning, there always needs to be two people together to meet the procedural requirements.
Li Zhenliang looked around. Besides Jiang Ling, only he and Jiang Ling remained in the police station. He hesitated for a moment, then stood up: "You go first. I'll find someone to be on duty and come right away."
He was taking a statement earlier, and he was also furious. The Qian family of three ganged up on two children who had no parents—it was shameless! But since Liang Jiushan and her brother were willing to accept the other party's mediation terms, he couldn't say anything. Now that the newcomer Jiang Ling wanted to stand up for Liang Jiushan, he was naturally willing to participate.
Jiang Ling nodded and continued walking out, a warmth appearing in her eyes.
Li Zhenliang has been a police officer for ten years. He has a strong sense of justice and has privately provided financial assistance to the Liang siblings. He is a very good person, and it was definitely the right decision to ask him to participate in the mediation.
Seeing that Jiang Ling had left, Qian Jianshe had no choice but to hurry after her, urging Zhao Yanhong and Qian Darong, "Let's go, let's go."
A renewed sense of hope rose in Liang Jiushan's heart, and he tugged at his dazed sister: "Let's go!"
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Three chapters will be updated on the first day of the story, and one chapter will be updated every day at 9 am (before the VIP chapters).
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