Chapter 56 Hu Shuifen: What's most unsettling is her eyes
Jiang Ling was pleasantly surprised to see Su Xinwan like this.
Liu Haoran was the first to rush down, heading straight for the Jeep. He touched the hood with admiration, his eyes full of envy: "Officer Su, this car is nice! Where did you get it?"
Su Xinwan was wearing a summer uniform today: a beige single-breasted short-sleeved shirt with a small collar and olive green trousers. Her eyes were unusually bright, making her look completely different from her usual gentle self.
She looked up at Liu Haoran and said in a clear voice, "I borrowed it from Captain Lei."
Li Zhenliang and Zhou Wei also got out and circled the jeep, exchanging a few words every now and then.
"If only we had a car too."
Do you have a driver's license?
"No, but I can learn it."
Jiang Ling walked to the car and looked at Su Xinwan: "Have you thought it through?"
Su Xinwan nodded emphatically: "I've thought it through."
Jiang Ling asked, "What are you planning to do?"
Su Xinwan pursed her lips, her voice slightly hoarse: "Find out the truth, draw a clear line, and seek justice."
Jiang Ling finally breathed a sigh of relief.
She feared that Su Xinwan would choose to escape when faced with difficulties, becoming an ostrich hiding in the sand.
They were also afraid that Su Xinwan might not be able to make sense of things and would be caught up in the dilemma of family ties.
What I fear even more is that Su Xinwan is afraid of public pressure and the world's judgment of her brother, and therefore dares not investigate to the end.
If the person involved doesn't bravely stand up, what's the point of Jiang Ling's efforts?
Hearing Su Xinwan finish saying those 12 words, Jiang Ling felt gratified. She opened the passenger door and got in: "Let's go! To Changhe Town."
When Li Zhenliang and the other two saw Jiang Ling get into the car, they quickly leaned to the window and asked, "Team Leader Jiang, are you taking us with you?"
Jiang Ling turned her gaze to Su Xinwan.
Su Xinwan hesitated for a moment, then readily nodded: "Let's go together then."
Li Zhenliang and the others cheered and squeezed into the back row to sit down. They excitedly touched the seats and marveled at how good the conditions were at the Municipal Bureau, that they even had a car provided for fieldwork.
Although the interior furnishings are a bit old, they're still better than the two police motorcycles at the police station, right?
Jiang Ling was somewhat surprised.
She thought Su Xinwan would refuse to have anyone accompany her, since it involved family privacy. Su Xinwan was introverted, and it had taken her a lot of courage to ask for help yesterday. She never expected that after just one night, Su Xinwan would be like a completely different person.
Not only did they borrow Lei's car to drive out, but they also accepted Li Zhenliang and others to go with them on the investigation.
As Su Xinwan started the vehicle, she explained, "Many hands make light work."
Since you've already asked for help, you might as well open your heart.
She trusted Jiang Ling and her team members.
Jiang Ling suddenly remembered something: "Wait a minute."
Su Xinwan stepped on the brakes, and the car came to a steady stop.
Jiang Ling rolled down the car window and called out to Wei Changfeng, who was standing in the corridor, "Old Wei, if my parents call, please tell them I'll have dinner with them when I get back tonight."
Wei Changfeng had already heard about this from Li Zhenliang and the others yesterday, so he waved his hand and said, "Okay."
The vehicle started again and remained very stable.
Zhou Wei had learned to drive in the army, and seeing Su Xinwan's skillful movements, he couldn't help but praise her: "Officer Su, you drive very well."
Su Xinwan glanced at the rearview mirror, but didn't say anything.
She keeps some things to herself, and even if they fester, she won't tell anyone.
She hated Chu Jingen so much that she dreamed of killing him.
So, despite her seemingly honest and timid nature, she secretly devised hundreds of ways to kill Chu Jingen.
Shoot him dead!
Su Xinwan has excellent shooting results.
Kill him!
Su Xinwan has an excellent fighting record.
Run him over!
Su Xinwan is an excellent driver.
...
Su Xinwan's hatred for Chu Jingen made her outstanding, but it prevented her from developing a sound personality.
She felt terrible about herself.
She dared not show herself, afraid of attracting attention.
She hid herself away, like a snail hiding in its shell.
Jiang Ling asked, "I'm on a team with Li Zhenliang, Liu Haoran, and Zhou Wei. Are you sure you want them to participate in the investigation as well?"
Su Xinwan took a deep breath and said in a hoarse voice, "Yes, I'm sure."
After a brief pause, Su Xinwan added, "Please keep this a secret for now."
Jiang Ling turned around and glanced at Li Zhenliang and the others.
Li Zhenliang took the lead and said, "Of course."
Liu Haoran: "I'm the most tight-lipped."
Zhou Wei: "I will follow the team leader's arrangements."
Jiang Ling then explained the key points of the case to everyone in detail in the car.
Li Zhenliang and the other two looked at each other in bewilderment.
—A man raping another man?
—Was sexually abused as a child?
—Was the biological mother aiding and abetting the evildoer?
Ah, what suffering this is!
After a while, Li Zhenliang cautiously asked, "So, Team Leader Jiang, what are we going there for today?"
Jiang Ling asked Su Xinwan, "What are your plans for today?"
Su Xinwan thought about it all night yesterday.
Jiang Ling's words peeled away the shell that had been shrouding Su Xinwan's heart, and details she had previously overlooked began to surface.
She regretted realizing it so late.
She graduated from police academy three years ago. During those three years, she was first assigned to work in the archives department of the municipal bureau. Last June, she was transferred to the front line of criminal investigation because the First Brigade needed female police officers to assist her.
If she could remove the filter of affection she had for her mother, if she could pay more attention to her brother's unusual behavior, and if she could have mustered the courage to ask for help sooner, perhaps her brother could have escaped his suffering much earlier.
Su Xinwan originally thought it would be difficult to say the words "her younger brother may have been sexually assaulted".
It's as if those few words are coated with a deadly poison, wrapped in burning embers. The moment they're uttered, countless people will point fingers and whisper in their backs, digging their fingers into their hearts.
Once she says it, Xinyan's life will be completely ruined.
However, when she actually said it, she suddenly realized that the world was still running normally, Xin Yan hadn't lost a single hair, and the people around her were filled with sympathy, not malice.
It turns out that she had been trapping herself all along.
She trapped herself.
Xinyan is the same; she is trapped by family ties and by fear.
In fact, most of life's fears are fears of the unknown.
Once you bravely take that step, you won't be afraid anymore.
Having figured all this out, Su Xinwan suddenly felt full of energy.
—This is a case, and she is one of the parties involved.
She is a police officer, and she wants to send Chu Jingen to prison so that Xinyan can be truly freed.
Su Xinwan looked at Jiang Ling: "I'll show you around the place first. I advise Xinyan to report the case to the police, and then we can start the investigation after the case is filed."
Jiang Ling met her gaze and expressed her concerns from yesterday.
Su Xinwan had previously researched a lot of information and knew that it would be difficult to convict Chu Jingen and that his sentence would be too lenient. Compared with the psychological and physical harm he caused to Chu Xinyan, the price he paid was far too light.
Looking at the wide road ahead, Su Xinwan said coldly, "We still need to report it to the police. Although the consequences don't match the harm done, at the very least, he should pay the price!"
Jiang Ling asked again, "Aren't you afraid of gossip?"
Su Xinwan shook her head: "I'm not afraid."
The one who is wrong is Chu Jingen; he is the one who should be blamed, not Xin Yan, the victim.
Su Xinwan's determination inspired Li Zhenliang and the other two sitting in the back row, and their expressions naturally improved as well.
"Okay! We'll help you."
"You did the right thing! Evil should be punished."
"Don't worry, we will keep the investigation confidential, and the court can also choose to hold a closed trial to minimize the impact on public opinion."
The jeep drove along a tree-lined road.
The plane trees lining the road are lush and verdant, their branches intertwining in the air to form a green corridor. Sunlight filters through the leaves, creating dappled golden glints that sparkle before your eyes.
An hour later, Jiang Ling and his group arrived at Changhe Town.
This is a town located on the outskirts of the city, named after a small river that meanders through it.
The town is built along the river, with lush trees lining both banks, creating a beautiful environment.
Art school teachers and students often come here to sketch, and the town has a thriving tourism industry with many hotels and restaurants.
Guangming Road is the main road connecting Changhe Town to the city center. It is convenient to travel, has complete supporting facilities, and is very lively.
Su Xinwan's home is located at No. 18 Guangming Road. It is a two-story self-built house with a basement. Half of the yard is paved with cement, and the rest of the open space is planted with vegetables. It's early summer, and the vegetables are lush and green. Loofah, cucumber, and green beans climb up the bamboo trellis, full of vitality.
Su Xinwan parked her car on the side of the road and pointed to the villa across the street with white tiles on the exterior walls, aluminum alloy window frames, and large green glass windows, saying, "That's my home."
Actually, that wasn't her home.
That was nothing more than a cage that Chu Jingen built ten years ago.
Jiang Ling asked, "Where is the Changhe Town Police Station?"
Su Xinwan pointed ahead: "After you finish walking down this road, turn right."
Jiang Ling turned to Li Zhenliang and said, "Go to the Changhe Town Police Station and inquire whether there have been any cases of missing young men or teenagers in the past ten years."
Su Xinwan's heart skipped a beat.
Her voice trembled slightly: "You mean?"
Jiang Ling remained calm: "Make bold assumptions, then verify them carefully."
Su Xinwan remained silent, but her heavy breathing betrayed her inner fear.
Changhe Town is a tourist town, and a Jeep with a Yanshi license plate parked on the side of the road did not attract the attention of others.
Jiang Ling gave Zhou Wei a wink.
Zhou Wei immediately jumped out of the car, leaned against the side of the car, and observed the surrounding environment.
Jiang Ling said, "Let's discuss the case first."
Everyone nodded, their expressions serious.
Although there was no blackboard, no chalk, and no quiet office, everyone got into work mode as soon as Jiang Ling spoke.
"Analyzing Chu Jingen from the perspective of criminal psychology, he is essentially an extreme power addict and control freak. All his criminal acts stem from his desire to completely control the lives, bodies, wills, and minds of others."
These words struck a chord with Su Xinwan. She nodded in agreement. "He's the absolute ruler at home. My mom, me, and my brother all have to listen to him. If anyone dares to disobey, he'll whip them with a belt, beat them with a stick, and won't let them eat or pay for their schooling."
Li Zhenliang sighed and exchanged a sympathetic look with Liu Haoran.
Officer Su is quite pitiful too.
Jiang Ling continued her analysis: "For Chu Jingen, Hu Shuifen and Xinyan were his private property, which he had kept by his side for a long time. Chu Jingen could control and abuse them anytime, anywhere, and enjoy the pleasure of absolute domination. This continuous sense of control is addictive."
Su Xinwan was heartbroken.
Jiang Ling glanced at her: "Are you alright? Do you want to rest for a bit? Or, you can go down and take charge of surveillance, and Zhou Wei can come up to participate in the case discussion."
Su Xinwan shook her head: "No, I can do it, I want to hear it."
It was rare to see the honest and timid Su Xinwan say "no," so Jiang Ling nodded to her: "Okay, then you can participate and be in charge of taking notes."
Su Xinwan took the paper and pen that Liu Haoran quickly handed her and sat in the driver's seat to start taking notes.
In her previous life, Chu Jingen was killed. When a person dies, it's like a lamp going out. The criminal file did not record what other crimes Chu Jingen committed besides sexually abusing Chu Xinyan.
Therefore, in this case, Jiang Ling did not have any special abilities.
She had to thoroughly analyze human nature and conduct in-depth investigations based on theories of criminal psychology.
Last night's nightmare served as a reminder to Jiang Ling.
A person addicted to control wouldn't let Chu Xinyan off so easily. So why did he allow Chu Xinyan to go to university in Kyoto? Did he find a substitute?
—Will Hu Shuifen, like the pregnant woman in the dream, actively seek out prey for Chu Jingen in order to please him and satisfy his perverted fetishes?
Following this line of thought, the couple would inevitably leave some traces.
The investigation of missing persons is a good starting point.
Watching the crowds moving outside the window, Jiang Ling analyzed the situation slowly. Her speech was deliberate, but every word was crystal clear.
"Chu Jingen's sexual abuse was not only to satisfy his desires, but also to completely destroy the victim's personality, will and hope. Watching a vibrant life wither and twist in his hands was the greatest proof of his sense of power."
Li Zhenliang gritted his teeth: "Devil!"
This was Liu Haoran's first encounter with this kind of pervert, and he felt a chill run down his spine.
Jiang Ling asked Su Xinwan, "How old was Xinyan when your mother married Chu Jingen?"
Su Xinwan: "Eight years old."
Jiang Ling asked again, "When did Xin Yan change her surname?"
Su Xinwan thought for a moment: "Ten years old."
Jiang Ling: "Did he start becoming neurotic and screaming in his sleep at night when he was ten years old?"
Su Xinwan's face was pale, and the knuckles of her right hand holding the pen were white from gripping it so tightly. She managed to utter a single word: "Yes."
Jiang Ling said, "That makes sense. Two years is enough time for Chu Jingen to transform your mother into an object that is completely dependent on, fearful of, and obedient to him. Once your mother is completely subservient, Chu Jingen will start looking for his next target, and you and Xinyan, who are alone and helpless and can only rely on him for survival, are his best targets."
Su Xinwan shivered.
Memories she had deliberately forgotten suddenly resurfaced in her mind.
That year, Su Xinwan was fourteen years old and in junior high school. Her body had begun to develop, and she had become aware of her gender. She also noticed that Chu Jingen's gaze towards her was strange. She wore her bra tightly and always walked with her chest hunched over, afraid that Chu Jingen would discover her increasingly full female characteristics.
One evening, while taking a shower at home, someone tried to turn on the toilet. The continuous clicking sound made Su Xinwan's heart pound. She quickly turned off the tap, hurriedly put on her clothes, and opened the door to find her stepfather, Chu Jingen, standing calmly in front of her.
Chu Jingen's eyes lingered on her chest, filled with a sticky malice.
He even reached out and patted her bottom, laughing as he said, "Wanwan has grown up."
Su Xinwan was terrified and screamed.
It was her younger brother, Chu Xinyan, who rushed over with his schoolbag on his back, pushed Chu Jingen aside, stretched out his arms to block Su Xinwan, and shouted, "Don't touch my sister!"
Upon hearing this, Su Xinwan said in a trembling voice, "Yes, Chu Jingen once tried to assault me, but my brother saved me."
A hint of pity appeared in Jiang Ling's eyes: "He's the one who saved you."
Su Xinwan felt that the scenery in front of her was spinning.
She couldn't breathe.
Jiang Ling's calm gaze finally brought her back to her senses.
Su Xinwan stared intently at Jiang Ling, her eyes filled with an overwhelming sorrow: "It was Xinyan who diverted Chu Jingen's attention, which brought me peace."
Jiang Ling's expression was serious: "Xin Yan is kind and loves you very much. What you need to do now is help him get rid of the bad guys and find justice. First, calm yourself down, don't cry, don't run away. Don't be afraid, you're a police officer."
Yes, I am a police officer.
A police officer who safeguards the safety of the people.
Su Xinwan took a deep breath, suppressing the sadness, guilt, and pain that welled up inside her.
"clear."
After saying that, she picked up her pen and continued taking notes.
Jiang Ling continued to analyze Chu Jingen's criminal motives.
"The family is a relatively closed environment, and Hu Shuifen's cowardice and complicity provided a protective umbrella. Xinyan became Chu Jingen's safest and most convenient outlet, carrying all his violent, dark and twisted desires."
"In Chu Jingen's extremely distorted perception, he may have a morbid possessiveness towards Xinyan. He cannot tolerate Xinyan getting out of his control, such as resisting, seeking help, or even showing independent thought, which would be regarded as betrayal."
"Okay, here's the question."
"Why would Chu Jingen, who is so possessive, tolerate Xin Yan applying to a university in another city and allow her to enroll smoothly?"
Liu Haoran and Li Zhenliang also fell into thought.
Right, didn't Chu Jingen consider Xin Yan his possession? Why would he let him leave?
Remembering what Jiang Ling had just told them to investigate missing persons from the past ten years, Li Zhenliang suddenly realized: "He found a new victim!"
Just as he let Su Xinwan go because he had Chu Xinyan, he temporarily let Chu Xinyan go because he had a new person.
Jiang Ling nodded firmly: "Yes, that's possible."
Liu Haoran raised his hand and asked timidly, "Is it possible that Hu Shuifen took on the role of the victim?"
A hint of confusion flashed in Su Xinwan's eyes.
Will Mother really have a change of heart and feed the eagle with her own body so that Chu Jingen can speak freely?
Meeting Jiang Ling's calm gaze, Su Xinwan quickly regained her senses: "Impossible! If she really wanted to be free to speak her mind, she wouldn't be begging him to come home every winter and summer vacation."
Jiang Ling said, "Everyone has two sides. She may be despicable, but she's also a mother. Is it possible that the conditions she negotiated with Chu Jingen included Xinyan having to go back home during winter and summer vacations?"
Su Xinwan felt as if she had been cleaved in two by an axe.
Half of my mind was screaming wildly: "Mom is a sinner! She didn't protect us, she suffered herself, and now she's sending Xinyan to hell."
But the other half was weeping and trying to defend their mother: she was also a victim, a pitiful person. At least she raised us and sent us to university; she struggled to survive in the cracks, it wasn't easy for her either.
Jiang Ling noticed Su Xinwan's unusual behavior and remained silent.
However, this time Su Xinwan quickly returned to normal, her voice calm: "Then, let's deal with the guilty and the virtuous according to their kindness."
Human nature is complex.
People are not simply black and white.
It is not simply a matter of good or evil.
Jiang Ling nodded: "Very good. Everyone's guesses are reasonable, which is why I asked the three of you to go to the police station to check if there are any missing persons cases in the last ten years."
Liu Haoran reacted quickly this time: "Why the last ten years? Chu Xinyan is a junior this year. Why not just check the missing persons cases from the last three years?"
Li Zhenliang slapped him on the head: "Are you stupid? Expand the search area, maybe we'll make an unexpected discovery? Who knows if that Chu Jingen is two-timing?"
Liu Haoran felt a slap on the head and looked at Li Zhenliang with a wronged expression: "Liangzi, if you have something to say, just say it. Why did you hit me?"
Li Zhenliang rolled his eyes at him: "Seeing you act stupid makes my hands itch."
Jiang Ling knew that Li Zhenliang and Liu Haoran were trying to lighten the mood, after all... this matter involved Su Xinwan's family, so it was inevitable that she would feel nervous, fearful, and conflicted.
Jiang Ling glared at them: "Alright, hurry up and go."
Li Zhenliang and Liu Haoran got out of the car, met up with Zhou Wei, and headed to the Changhe Town Police Station together.
Jiang Ling then looked at Su Xinwan and said, "Let's go see your mother together."
Whether they're human or ghost, we'll have to meet eventually.
The two got out of the car and walked side by side toward the Chu family villa.
The self-built houses in the town were all constructed by contractors using blueprints copied from the city. There were European, American, and Chinese styles, a wide variety, and the interior decoration was uniformly nouveau riche.
It's both rustic and extravagant.
Since starting university, Su Xinwan has rarely gone home, only returning on the second day of the Lunar New Year to offer New Year's greetings before leaving again.
Pushing open the openwork wrought iron gate, Su Xinwan stood on the cement ground of the yard, staring blankly at the middle-aged woman busy in the vegetable garden on the east side.
The middle-aged woman's body was hunched over, like a plant that had been repeatedly battered by the cold wind and withered prematurely.
Despite the hot weather, she was wearing a drab, cheap long-sleeved shirt, with the top button fastened to completely cover her neck and throat.
Hearing the noise coming from the gate, the middle-aged woman slowly straightened up and turned around.
She looked older than her actual age. Her cheekbones were high, her cheeks were deeply sunken, and the corners of her mouth turned down, forming a bitter curve.
What's most unsettling is her eyes.
Her eyes were large, with cloudy, dark brown pupils that seemed covered by a layer of dust that could never be wiped away, dull and lifeless. Deep within her pupils lurked weariness and lingering fear, as if any slightly loud noise or sudden movement could startle her.
Perhaps because she had just reunited with her biological mother, Jiang Ling's heart was much softer than before.
Seeing Hu Shuifen like this, Jiang Ling's heart was gripped by sorrow, and it beat much slower than usual.
Although they were about the same age as her mother, Hu Shuifen was gloomy while Xiao Wenjuan was radiant.
Her entire physique silently spoke of a humility and withering that had been utterly hollowed out by fear and repeatedly crushed by life. It was not simply aging, but a decaying aura emanating from the depths of her soul, eroded and destroyed by long-term mental violence.
Su Xinwan opened her mouth, her lips trembling incessantly.
After a long pause, she called out softly, "Mom!"
Hu Shuifen's eyes, which had been vacant, seemed to ignite a small flame after she saw Su Xinwan.
She walked very lightly, almost silently, with a deliberate, cautious gait, as if afraid of disturbing something, or perhaps afraid of displeasing someone.
As she got closer, Hu Shuifen glanced at the unfamiliar Jiang Ling, then quickly lowered her eyes.
She bent over, leaned close to Su Xinwan, and whispered, "What brings you here...?"
Before Su Xinwan could speak, Hu Shuifen, like a startled rabbit, quickly pulled a wad of cash from her pocket and stuffed it into her hand, panting heavily, "Go, go, go! Don't come back."
Su Xinwan stuffed the money back into her mother's hand: "I have something to do."
Standing to the side, Jiang Ling saw Hu Shuifen's hand.
Her fingers were long and thin with large knuckles. Her nails were bitten and uneven, with unhealthy white edges, revealing her inner anxiety and tension.
A car horn sounded from the road.
Hu Shuifen was so frightened that she shoved Su Xinwan hard. Fear made her burst out with unprecedented strength, and Su Xinwan was pushed back a few steps.
Hu Shuifen's voice was low, but it carried an indescribable desolation: "Go! Go!"
Her eyes held a dark, cold light.
Su Xinwan refused to leave, stubbornly looking at her mother: "Why are you telling me to leave, but telling Xinyan to go home?"
Hu Shuifen stared intently at her daughter, licking her dry, white lips with her tongue: "He's a man, so don't be afraid. You're a woman, and you'll get married."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com