Chapter 77: Turning Myself In

Chen Xiaowen walked straight up to Jing Xi.

“You really are still alive.”

Jing Xi remained composed. “Heaven must have been watching over me. By the way, thank you for what you gave me last time.”

Chen Xiaowen replied, “No need to thank me. Also, Zhou Wenwu and his wife asked around. Based on Zhou Shu’s situation, he’s looking at a minimum of five years in prison—at least.”

Jing Xi carefully studied Chen Xiaowen’s expression and noticed a hint of excitement in her eyes.

“You didn’t report him yourself, did you?”

Chen Xiaowen shook her head, hesitating. “So many years have passed. It doesn’t matter anymore.”

Jing Xi recalled how Chen Xiaowen had come to her house before, asking for help. “Do you still need my help? Consider it a favor repaid.”

Chen Xiaowen shook her head again. “No need.”

With that, she turned and left.

As Jing Xi watched her walk away, she got the feeling that Chen Xiaowen was saying goodbye.

She thought back to the first time Chen Xiaowen and Li Fenghua had come to her house looking for trouble. Back then, Xiaowen had just stood behind Li Fenghua, speaking only occasionally. Later, she even helped Li Fenghua escape.

The memory made Jing Xi want to laugh.

She used to think Chen Xiaowen was just a clueless little wife.

Now, she realized, she wasn’t that foolish after all.

Jing Xi silently wished her well.

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Because of Zhou Shu’s involvement in inciting Meng Fanxin, Zhang Yuzhi, and Zhang Yufan—especially since Meng Fanxin was also suspected of murdering Chen Erhu—the entire town was shaken. The case had caused significant negative social impact, triggering another wave of crackdowns on crime in Beizhen.

When Jing Xi went to town to have some clothes made, she ran into Zhou Jiwen and Li Tao. Seeing the dark circles under their eyes, she realized how overwhelmingly busy they had been lately.

After exchanging a few brief words, she left.

But an idea had suddenly formed in her mind.

For three days after returning from town, she thought it over carefully.

Then, she decided to go to the police station.

Her business with Zhou Shu needed to be settled once and for all.

She arrived early, and by chance, she ran into Zhou Jiwen.

It looked like he was just about to head out.

“Officer Zhou!”

Zhou Jiwen spotted her small figure and quickly walked over. “Comrade Jing Xi! What are you doing here? I was just about to head to your village to find you!”

Jing Xi smiled. “Well, what a coincidence. I came to see you too!”

Zhou Jiwen gestured for her to come inside. “Let’s talk in my office.”

When they entered, Jing Xi noticed that Li Tao was also there. “Hello, Officer Li.”

Li Tao glanced at Zhou Jiwen, who was grinning ear to ear, and curled his lips. “Comrade Xiao Jing, what brings you here?”

Jing Xi sat down, feeling a little uneasy. She twisted the hem of her clothes between her fingers, reluctant to let go.

“Actually… I came to turn myself in.”

Both officers exclaimed at the same time, “Turn yourself in?!”

“Yes! It’s about Zhou Shu.”

Zhou Jiwen pulled out a chair and sat down. “What do you mean?”

Jing Xi took a deep breath and began explaining.

“I lied before—about why Zhou Shu was kicked.”

Zhou Jiwen and Li Tao exchanged glances. “Go on.”

Li Tao started taking notes as Jing Xi recounted the truth:

“Most of what I said before was true. But I left out one thing—it was me who kicked Zhou Shu.”

She continued, her voice steady.

“That day, after visiting my ancestors’ graves, I was heading down the mountain when I passed through that wooded area. I was already feeling uneasy—people in the village say that place is haunted. And I was alone, still thinking about my aunt’s affairs, so I didn’t even notice someone was following me.

“Then, Zhou Shu suddenly appeared in front of me. He said he was going to rape me. Before I could react, he pushed me to the ground and tied my hands with a rope.

“I was terrified.

“Then, I heard him unfastening his clothes. I don’t know where I found the strength, but I managed to struggle free. I got up from the ground and kicked him.

“I kicked him really hard. He lay there motionless for a long time.

“I lost control in that moment—I was overwhelmed by fear and rage. Since he hadn’t tied my hands tightly, I was able to free myself.

“So I tied him up instead.

“Then, I kicked him more than ten times.

“I didn’t stop until I was too exhausted to continue.”

Zhou Jiwen quickly added, “And before leaving, you dragged him to a more visible spot down the slope? So someone would find him?”

Jing Xi nodded. “Yes.”

Zhou Jiwen asked, “Why didn’t you admit it back then?”

Jing Xi glanced at Zhou Jiwen before quickly looking away. “I was afraid. Besides, he had no evidence, and I had no evidence. In the village, people always tend to side with men. Even though Zhou Shu is a scoundrel, and even though I did nothing wrong, there would still be people throwing dirt on me. So I decided I couldn’t speak out about this. Otherwise, who knows how the villagers would gossip about me?”

Li Tao, who had been taking notes, put down his pen. He was reminded of something Jing Xi had said long ago in the small house she used to live in before it burned down.

Life is hard. Life for a woman is even harder.

In an era where words could destroy a person, living freely was nearly impossible.

Li Tao felt deep sympathy. He understood all too well how difficult life was for women.

Zhou Jiwen asked, “Then why did you choose to speak up today?”

Jing Xi responded, “I’ve thought about it for days. Now that someone like Zhou Shu has been arrested, I see no reason to keep hiding the truth.

Even if the law punishes me for this, I can’t let someone like Zhou Shu go unpunished.

Whether it means paying compensation or serving time, I accept my fate!”

Li Tao wrote down the last line of his notes.

Zhou Jiwen smiled slightly, looking somewhat relieved. “Just as I expected. But what I kept wondering was—how did you escape from Zhou Shu? That part didn’t add up for me. And as you said, there’s no concrete evidence.”

Jing Xi held out both hands, as if making a firm decision. “You can arrest me now.”

Zhou Jiwen and Li Tao shook their heads in unison. “Go home and wait for a summons. It’s not necessary for now. Besides, there are inconsistencies in Zhou Shu’s testimony, so we need to interrogate him further.”

Jing Xi nodded. “Alright, I’ll wait at home.”

She had come fully prepared to be detained today.

But things didn’t unfold the way she had expected.

After Jing Xi left, Zhou Jiwen and Li Tao closed the door.

Li Tao sighed. “I told you before, this girl isn’t as simple as she seems. But still, she’s really pitiful.”

Zhou Jiwen smirked. “Are you sure you’re not interested in her?”

Li Tao hesitated for a long moment. “Maybe a little. But she’s way too young. I wouldn’t feel right about it.”

Zhou Jiwen chuckled twice. “Eight years isn’t that big of a gap.”

“It’s not exactly small either.”

Zhou Jiwen sighed. “Now I see why you handed this case over to me. You were afraid your feelings would cloud your judgment?”

Li Tao admitted, “Yes.”

Zhou Jiwen nodded. “Alright. Given her good attitude toward admitting fault and the fact that this was self-defense, I’ll try to get her a lighter sentence. At most, she’ll have to pay for medical expenses.”

Li Tao grinned. “The law is flexible, fair, and just. And Officer Zhou is truly impressive!”

Zhou Jiwen scoffed. “Quit joking around. I have work to do!”