Chapter 24: Searching for Hongyan’s Parents

Xu Jiaojiao wore a white dress today. Its design was simple yet elegant, but upon closer inspection, the fabric revealed its extraordinary quality.

The white material, with subtle floral patterns, exuded both luxury and sophistication.

She had her hair tied up in a bun, a hairstyle reminiscent of modern trends, and wore the bracelet her third brother had bought for her. It complemented her perfectly, making her look like a resilient little lily.

Lifting the hem of her dress, she twirled lightly under Xie Zhi’s gaze and asked with a smile, “How do I look?”

“When has Jiaojiao ever not looked good?”

“That’s true.”

Ever since she found something meaningful to do, Xu Jiaojiao felt her days had become incredibly fulfilling. Even seeing Shen Yun from afar didn’t seem to affect her mood anymore.

From the little she remembered from her academic studies, she thought the reinstatement of college entrance exams might still be a few years away. For now, she needed to figure out a way to support herself. After all, attending university was costly.

---

“Who’s there?” a voice called out from inside.

Xu Jiaojiao and Xie Zhi stood in the narrow stairwell. Xie Zhi spoke calmly, “May I ask if this is the home of Qin Hongyan’s parents?”

The old wooden door immediately opened. It was morning, and the stairwell was filled with the smells of cooking oil and food.

The door was opened by a young woman in a simple robe. She appeared malnourished but her eyes lit up the moment she saw Xie Zhi. “Yes, and you are?”

Noticing the curious crowd gathering around, Xu Jiaojiao frowned slightly and stepped forward. “May we come inside to talk?”

The young woman, Qin Fang, took one look at the well-matched pair and immediately understood the situation. She smirked and said, “Come in.”

Though they lived in the city, life in the city wasn’t necessarily better than in the countryside. The narrow apartment, shared kitchen, and communal bathrooms, each requiring a queue, made Xu Jiaojiao’s heart sink.

The living room was occupied by an unmade bed. Qin Fang awkwardly tidied it up, saying, “The house is a mess, make yourselves comfortable.”

After everything was finally put away, the conversation began.

Xie Zhi held Jiaojiao’s hand the entire time, his gaze lowered.

“Comrade, what’s your relationship with Qin Hongyan?”

“Oh, she’s my cousin. My aunt and uncle have gone out to buy breakfast,” Qin Fang replied.

“Why? Did Qin Hongyan’s country husband abandon her? Serves her right. She was always the problem, a perfectly good city girl acting as if her life depended on marrying a rural farmer. Even the educated youth were trying to move to the city, but she insisted on going to the countryside.”

After saying this, she spat bitterly on the floor, her yellowed face full of disdain for her cousin.

Xu Jiaojiao didn’t know how to respond. Whether Qin Fang’s words were out of resentment or sorrow was unclear. She could only smile awkwardly, deciding to wait until Hongyan’s parents arrived to talk.

She remembered that Hongyan’s parents loved her deeply. They had even considered visiting her in the countryside but never ended up doing so for some reason.

“My cousin has always been reckless,” Qin Fang continued. “Even back in school, she often hung out with delinquents. Who knows if anything happened between them?” She giggled maliciously, her face brimming with ill intent.

Hearing her words, both Xu Jiaojiao and Xie Zhi’s expressions darkened. Xu Jiaojiao even rolled her eyes—what kind of person was this?

Qin Fang, unfazed by their lack of response, shamelessly stared at Xie Zhi and pointed at him. “If she had snagged a man like this, maybe things wouldn’t have been so bad.”

“By the way, you’re still living at your cousin’s place, right? Qin Fang, where exactly is your home?” Xu Jiaojiao asked with a smile.

Qin Fang scratched her head awkwardly. “Oh, I’ve been living with my aunt and uncle for a long time. My household registration is even here now. So, technically, this is my home.”

Xu Jiaojiao couldn’t help but laugh. Pointing to the wooden board still in the room, she asked, “Is that your bed?”

Xie Zhi cast a sharp glance at Qin Fang, clearly unimpressed by her behavior.

“It is. My aunt and uncle don’t let me sleep in Hongyan’s room. I mean, what’s the point? In the future, they’ll have to rely on me for support. Who else would they count on, a daughter they haven’t even seen in years?”

Just as she finished speaking, the sound of a key turning in the door interrupted her. A middle-aged couple entered, carrying steamed buns and wearing joyful expressions.

“Jiaojiao, why are you here?” Qin’s mother asked excitedly.

“Did Hongyan send you? Is something wrong with her?”

Xu Jiaojiao discreetly observed the couple. Though she didn’t remember much about them, their eagerness seemed genuine. She immediately smiled but felt annoyed by Qin Fang’s presence, fearing she might spread gossip.

“Mrs. Qin, let’s talk outside,” she suggested.

Mr. and Mrs. Qin quickly set down their belongings and prepared to leave.

“Aunt, Uncle, aren’t you going to eat?” Qin Fang asked.

“No, we’re not eating.”

The four of them descended the narrow stairs. The bustling stairwell, full of curious onlookers, was abuzz with confusion as the guests left so soon.

Xie Zhi led them down a quieter path, taking a route that circled the public security bureau. Eventually, they arrived near the bureau.

Xu Jiaojiao looked at the couple, who seemed anxious but hesitant to speak. Feeling a pang of sorrow, she finally blurted out, “Uncle, Aunt, what I’m about to say might be upsetting, but please don’t get too emotional.”

She then recounted everything that had happened in recent months. The story was long, and by the time she finished, Mrs. Qin could barely stand. Tears streamed down her face, and she seemed to age in an instant.

Mr. Qin’s face was also wet with tears, though he managed to stay on his feet. Mrs. Qin pounded her chest in anguish and cried hoarsely, “Hongyan, my poor Hongyan! If only I hadn’t listened to Qin Fang and visited her in the countryside…”

“Mrs. Qin, it’s going to be okay. We’ve already found a lawyer, and the signatures from the villagers are ready. Hongyan will definitely receive a lenient sentence,” Xu Jiaojiao said, crying as well.

Before coming, she had been incredibly nervous. But seeing this couple weeping for their daughter reassured her.

“Hongyan misses you both very much. She wanted to visit you, but the Li family controlled her so tightly that she couldn’t even leave the village…”

---

Qin Hongyan sat stiffly in the small detention room. Her body ached all over, and the bright fluorescent light above her never turned off, blurring the distinction between day and night. The chair was deliberately designed to be uncomfortable, making it impossible to sit for long.

She longed to lie on the floor, but the space was too narrow. Any attempt to sit on the ground would immediately be met with orders to get up, further fraying her already tense nerves.

“Qin Hongyan, someone’s here to see you.”

She followed the officer woodenly to a visitation room, a space designated for meetings between prisoners and their lawyers or families.

The moment the door opened, the small room was crowded with six people. The chains on her handcuffs clinked loudly as she was led inside, the sound echoing in the silence.

Her empty eyes scanned the room until they landed on her parents, whom she hadn’t seen in years. Tears instantly welled up in her eyes. “Mom… Dad…”

“Hongyan, my poor daughter!” Mrs. Qin rushed to embrace her, only to find how frail her daughter had become under the loose prison uniform.

She rolled up Hongyan’s sleeves and saw her arms covered in scars. Words failed her as she struggled to process the sight.

“Hongyan, you’ve suffered so much. My heart aches for you,” Mrs. Qin cried.