Xu Jiaojiao was wearing a white sling today. The style was elegant, but if you looked closely at the fabric, you could tell there was something unusual about it.

The white fabric with a dark floral pattern looks both noble and generous.

She tied her hair up into a bun, a style reminiscent of modern times, and put on the bracelet bought by her third brother, which fit her perfectly, like a tough little lily.

She held up the hem of her skirt and turned around under Xie Zhi's gaze, and asked with a smile: "Does it look good?"

"When has Jiaojiao not been pretty?"

"That is."

Speaking of which, ever since she had something to do, Xu Jiaojiao felt that her day was extremely fulfilling, and even from afar, her mood was not affected when she looked at Shen Yun.

In her few memories of studying liberal arts, the resumption of the college entrance examination might still be a few years away. Now she still has to find a job for herself, and going to college costs a lot.

.............

"Who is it?" a question came from inside the house.

Xu Jiaojiao and Xie Zhi stood in the narrow staircase corridor. Xie Zhi asked calmly, "Excuse me, is this Qin Hongyan's parents' home?"

The old wooden door was opened in an instant. It was morning and the corridor was filled with the smell of oil smoke and cooking.

The person who opened the door was a young woman wearing a simple gown and looked quite malnourished. The moment she saw Xie Zhi, her eyes lit up: "Yes, who are you?"

Seeing the curious crowd around her, Xu Jiaojiao frowned slightly and approached them: "Can we go in and talk?"

Qin Fang's eyes lit up when he saw the woman. Then he looked at the two well-matched people. How could he not understand anything? He said, "Come in."

Although they live in the city, the life of city dwellers is not necessarily as good as that of people in the countryside. The cramped rooms, shared kitchens, and bathrooms that require long queues are all enough to overwhelm Xu Jiaojiao.

There was an unmade bed in the living room. Qin Fang rolled up the bed awkwardly and said, "The house is too messy. You can sit anywhere you want."

After everything was ready, the meeting finally began.

Xie Zhi held Jiaojiao's hand all the time, his eyes drooping.

"Comrade, what is your relationship with Qin Hongyan?"

"Oh, she is my cousin. My aunt and uncle went out to buy breakfast." Qin Fang said.

"Why? The country man Qin Hongyan found was no good and dumped her. She deserves it. She has a problem with her brain. She is a good city girl, but she was determined to marry a farmer in the countryside. The educated youth knew to move to the city, but she was stupid and insisted on going to the countryside."

After saying that, he spat viciously, his yellow cheeks full of malice towards his cousin.

Xu Jiaojiao didn't know what to say for a moment. She couldn't tell whether the words were a complaint or heartache. She could only smile awkwardly and think about waiting for Hongyan's parents to come before talking about it.

She remembered that Hongyan's parents loved her very much and had wanted to go to the village to see their daughter before, but for some reason they never came.

"My cousin has a wild personality. When she was in school, she often went out to play with gangsters. I don't know if she gave them any money." After saying this, she covered her mouth and giggled, with a malicious look on her face.

After hearing what this woman said, both of them looked unhappy, especially Xu Jiaojiao who rolled her eyes. What kind of person is this?

Seeing that they didn't say anything, Qin Fang wasn't embarrassed. His eyes almost stared at Xie Zhi's eyes, and he pointed at him: "It's not impossible to hook up with a man like this."

"Why are you still living at my cousin's house, Comrade Qin Fang? I wonder where your home is." Xu Jiaojiao asked with a smile.

Qin Fang touched his hair awkwardly: "Oh, I have lived in my aunt's house for a long time, and now I have even registered my household registration. It can be considered my home anyway."

Xu Jiaojiao burst out laughing and pointed to the wooden board that had not been removed yet: "Is this your bed?"

Xie Zhi glanced at the woman with sharp eyes and knew at first glance that she was not a good person.

"It's mine. Hey, my aunt and her friends won't let me sleep in Sister Hongyan's room. Why bother? They'll still rely on me for their retirement. If not me, will they rely on their daughter whom they can't even see?"

Just as he finished speaking, the sound of a key turning in the door was clearly heard, and a middle-aged couple came back with buns in their hands, their faces full of joy.

"Jiaojiao, why are you here?" Qin's mother asked excitedly.

"Did Hongyan come to find you? What happened to Hongyan?"

Xu Jiaojiao secretly looked at the couple. Although she couldn't remember, the eagerness in their eyes was real. A smile immediately appeared on her face, but she felt annoyed when she looked at Qin Fang next to her. She didn't know how to publicize it if this man knew.

"Aunt Qin, let's go outside and talk."

"Mother Qin and Father Qin hurriedly put their things down and were about to leave.

"Aunt and uncle, you don't want to eat anymore."

"No more."

The four of them walked down the narrow staircase. People were coming and going inside. They looked at the distinguished guests from the Qin family with confusion on their faces. They left so quickly.

A few people walked along a road with few people. Xie Zhi led them. It was equivalent to going around the Public Security Bureau, but they would still get there in the end.

Xu Jiaojiao felt sad when she saw the couple wanting to say something but not daring to. She was silent for a while and almost shouted, "Uncle, Auntie, don't get too excited about what I'm going to say next."

As she spoke, Xu Jiaojiao recounted everything that had happened during this period. It was a long story, and after she finished, Mother Qin could hardly stand. Tears as big as beans welled up in her eyes, and her face seemed to age in an instant.

Qin's father also had tears on his face, but luckily he was able to stand up. Qin's mother pounded her chest hard, her voice hoarse: "Hongyan, my Hongyan, if I hadn't listened to Qin Fang and gone to see Hongyan, it would have been great."

"Aunt Qin, it's okay. We have found a lawyer and the signatures of the villagers are ready. Hongyan will definitely be treated leniently." Xu Jiaojiao also cried uncontrollably.

Before coming, she was extremely nervous, but she finally felt relieved when she saw the couple crying for their daughter.

"Hongyan has always missed you and wanted to come and see you, but she is controlled by the Li family and can't even leave the village."

........

Qin Hongyan sat in the prison cell, her whole body stiff and sore. Above her head was an incandescent light that was on all day and night. The stool was designed to be very tricky, intentionally to make it uncomfortable for the people sitting here.

She actually wanted to lie on the ground, but the space was very narrow. As soon as she sat on the ground, someone would call her to get up, which would completely break her already tense nerves.

"Someone is looking for Qin Hongyan."

She followed them out in a daze and was taken to a reception room specially prepared for criminals, lawyers and their families.

The moment the door was opened, six people were sitting inside, and the small reception room was instantly full. The handcuffs made a clear sound of chains and were then placed on the table.

Qin Hongyan looked at her parents whom she hadn't seen for many years with empty eyes. Tears fell before she opened her mouth to speak: "Dad, Mom."

"Hongyan, my poor daughter." Qin's mother hugged her regardless of anything, only to find out how thin her body was hidden by the loose clothes.

When she lifted her sleeves and saw wounds all over her body, she could no longer describe her feelings in words.

"Hongyan, you've suffered so much. My heart aches."