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Chapter 40: Self-contradictory
The onlookers all nodded in agreement. If anyone could go to the police station and make a scene to have someone immediately declared guilty, the station would be so crowded it would be impossible to move. In this world, who doesn’t have a few enemies? Things were turning out completely differently from what Fang Juan had imagined. She had suffered so much—why didn’t anyone pity her? And what did they mean by “evidence”? Wasn’t she evidence enough?
She was indignant, insisting that these male officers in the police station were in league with Ji Tangtang, helping her. But the police station wasn’t a place where she could just cause a scene at will. Earlier, Liu Xinming and Zhou Jincheng had merely wanted to show a stance—they weren’t powerless against her.
Several female officers, half supporting and half coercing, escorted Fang Juan inside the station. Fang Juan only wanted to bite Ji Tangtang to death; she didn’t intend to involve Zhou Jie and the others. But the officers, accustomed to handling so many criminals, had their ways of getting the information they needed. Using a few techniques, they quickly extracted the names of Zhou Jie and Feng Bing.
The station chief, Director Li, immediately arranged for their capture. Since Liu Xinming and Zhou Jincheng knew Ji Tangtang and were indirectly involved, they were not included in the operation to avoid suspicion.
Zhou Jie and Feng Bing, having previously followed Zhou Qiang, had learned many ways to deal with female victims. After tormenting Fang Juan that day, they also threatened her as Zhou Qiang had once threatened women. After the threats, Zhou Jie even offered that if she cooperated and ensured the “female demon” wouldn’t be angry with them, he would let bygones be bygones and propose to the Fang family. They assumed Fang Juan had been cowed by them, but they underestimated her hatred for Ji Tangtang and didn’t expect her to run to the police station. Confident that they had humiliated and intimidated Fang Juan and safeguarded their “family jewels,” they didn’t even hide, leaving them completely unprepared for capture at the station.
Upon seeing Ji Tangtang, their knees went weak, almost causing them to fall to the ground.
“We received a report saying you followed this comrade’s instructions to insult and assault her. Is that correct?”
Yao Daobing, the lead investigator, pointed his pen toward Ji Tangtang while scrutinizing the two men. Facing Ji Tangtang’s innocent and harmless expression, Zhou Jie felt a chill in his lower body. That morning, she had worn the exact same innocent expression while easily crushing the gang leader’s most critical area.
“No, no, it has nothing to do with this comrade!” Zhou Jie shook his head repeatedly, angrily pointing at Fang Juan. “She came to us, asking us to rob this comrade. She said she sold medicinal herbs at the supply cooperative and made a lot of money.”
Feng Bing nodded vigorously. “Yes, yes! She specifically came this morning and said the female comrade had a watch, telling us to take it to the black market. She even said we could keep a little less after selling it.”
“What about the injuries on her body?” Yao Daobing’s pen paused, his eyebrows rising.
“I did it!” Zhou Jie panicked. “I… we were just seeing each other, and I didn’t expect her to ask me to rob someone. She wanted to harm me, so I taught her a lesson.” While speaking, he cautiously glanced at Ji Tangtang, worried she might be displeased. Seeing her expression unchanged, he became bolder.
“Police officers, I know I was wrong. I won’t lay a hand on her again. I originally planned to propose at her home tomorrow. Who would have thought that such a small quarrel would bring her to the police station… really, it was just a small dispute. Officers, we could have solved it ourselves at home.”
“She didn’t say that just now,” Yao Daobing interjected. “She said both of you jointly humiliated her against her will. This is sexual assault. You’d better tell the truth and confess.”
“Juan’er, I know I was wrong. I won’t touch you again. Don’t be angry, alright? If I go to jail, what happens to you and the child?”
Fang Juan’s mind was struggling fiercely. She had rushed to the police station intending to drag Ji Tangtang down with her, but at the station, she realized her plan was too naive. The police wouldn’t believe her one-sided account. Now, Zhou Jie and Feng Bing’s testimony pointed to her as the instigator. She realized that not only could she no longer drag Ji Tangtang down, but their testimony might send her to prison. Her rationality slowly returned, and she deeply regretted her earlier impulsiveness.
“Yes, police officers, we were seeing each other,” Fang Juan gritted her teeth and changed her statement. “I was jealous that Ji Tangtang made money selling herbs, so I came to the station to deliberately involve her. I know I was wrong and won’t dare do it again.”
Clearly, that wasn’t the whole truth. But Yao Daobing looked at them all and, since Fang Juan herself had recanted and didn’t claim she had been raped by Zhou Jie and Feng Bing, the matter was finally recorded as Fang Juan deliberately harassing Ji Tangtang. Due to her poor moral character, misconduct, and extremely bad influence, she was punished along with Zhou Jie and Feng Bing to parade the streets for self-reflection. After completing this, she would be sent to the farm for one year of labor reform.
Hearing this, Fang Juan, full of hatred, rushed toward Ji Tangtang. “You vile woman! Are you satisfied now? It’s all your fault! All because of you!”
“Did I force you to do these things?” Ji Tangtang looked at her in puzzlement.
Fang Juan was immediately at a loss for words. Zhou Jie nodded and kowtowed, saying, “Lady… uh, don’t take it to heart. Her brain’s not working right. I’ll properly educate her.”
Ji Tangtang’s expression turned slightly cold, her eyes flashing disdain. Fang Juan was both stupid and malicious—not someone worth her concern. But these two were hardly any better. She had said nothing earlier, partly to avoid trouble and partly because she didn’t fully understand the local laws. She had thought that if the punishment ended up being lighter according to the law, wouldn’t that be a benefit for them? It wasn’t about covering for them.
Seeing Ji Tangtang’s expression, Zhou Jie shrank back in fear, obedient as a quail. Yao Daobing, witnessing this scene, became even more certain of his suspicions: things were clearly not as simple as they appeared. This Comrade Ji seemed to be no ordinary person.
Ji Tangtang ignored Yao Daobing’s thoughts about her. With the trouble resolved, she returned to Hongxing Village with Gu Shiyu. Accompanying them was also Liu Xinming. Liu Xinming’s purpose was to go to the village to inform Fang Juan’s family about what she had done in the city and to ensure that the Fang family would have her punished accordingly.
Upon hearing the news, the Fang family once again cried and wailed, cursing the heavens. Ji Tangtang paid no attention to the commotion at the Fang household; she simply escorted Gu Shiyu back to the Gu residence. Gu Weiguo and his wife, seeing them return, were utterly flustered, their noses not really noses, their eyes not really eyes.
Earlier that day, the two of them had spent the whole day discussing matters and agreed that they couldn’t just let things slide. At this moment, Shen Meifang forced a smile and stepped forward. “Did you get the marriage certificate? Let me see it!”
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