Qiao Lanshu, Teacher Zhao, and the two police officers had already reached the doorway.
Both officers were men. They stood at the entrance and asked Liu’s father, “Can we go inside? Would that be convenient?”
After all, the person inside was a female student, and they were unsure whether they should avoid any possible impropriety. Although such considerations were not usually necessary during an investigation, it never hurt to ask.
Liu’s father had already entered the room himself. When he heard the officers ask that, he immediately said, “No, it wouldn’t be convenient. This is my daughter’s room. What are two grown men doing going in there? You two should stay outside. Let the two female teachers go in.”
The two officers exchanged a glance, then looked at Liu’s father, who was standing inside the room. One of them said, “Comrade, you should come out too. It’s not appropriate for you to stay in there.”
After all, there were two young and attractive female teachers inside. How could a short-tempered man who had just caused a scene at the school possibly be left alone with them?
Director Han had told the two officers to accompany Qiao Lanshu primarily to protect her. As for how the case would be handled, that would depend mainly on whether the two families could communicate and resolve the matter.
If they truly could not reach an understanding and a conflict broke out, the officers would step in.
Hearing this, Liu’s father immediately became displeased. He shouted, “This is my daughter’s room! I can go in whenever I want. What’s inappropriate about that? You… Hey, hey, don’t pull me! What do you think you’re doing?”
The two officers each grabbed one of his arms and dragged him outside. The three of them stood in the courtyard. One of the officers took a pen and notebook from his bag and looked at Liu’s father with a stern expression.
“We need your cooperation in investigating your daughter’s suicide attempt…”
Liu’s father: “…”
Zhao Yanfang and Qiao Lanshu entered the room. It was very cramped, with only a tiny window. Piles of miscellaneous items had been shoved against one wall, making the place look dirty and disorderly.
Against the other wall, near the window, stood a wooden plank bed. It was small, and Liu Wenqiu lay on it.
She was curled up at the very edge. Her younger brother and sisters probably slept in the space beside her.
Zhao Yanfang and Qiao Lanshu exchanged a glance. Neither of them looked particularly pleased.
Zhao Yanfang walked in first and called softly, “Wenqiu? Your teachers have come to see you. How are you feeling?”
Liu Wenqiu lay on the bed with pale lips. She glanced at Zhao Yanfang but said nothing, instead fixing her gaze on Qiao Lanshu.
She stared at Qiao Lanshu for several seconds before looking past her. When she saw that there was no one else behind Qiao Lanshu, she looked away again, her expression turning quiet and subdued.
Qiao Lanshu noticed her gaze but said nothing. She simply followed Zhao Yanfang to the bedside.
It had to be said that seeing such living conditions, such a father, and the haggard-looking girl lying on the bed would arouse pity in most people.
Qiao Lanshu did feel sorry for her, but she felt nothing beyond that.
Perhaps it was because the girl’s methods were so clumsy that Qiao Lanshu had seen through her intentions at a glance. And since the girl’s target was still her own child, Qiao Lanshu found it impossible to feel much affection for her.
Zhao Yanfang pulled over a chair and sat beside the bed. Looking down at Liu Wenqiu, she said, “Wenqiu, why didn’t you go to school? Why did you… why did you try to kill yourself?”
The last time Zhao Yanfang had visited Liu Wenqiu, the girl had seemed to be in fairly good spirits.
She said softly, “When I came to see you last time, didn’t I promise that I’d have Han Ye apologize to you? Besides, no one in our class was going to laugh at you. Lots of people write love letters. It’s really not a big deal, so you mustn’t do anything foolish.”
Liu Wenqiu’s eyes reddened, and tears began to fall.
Zhao Yanfang sighed. “Don’t cry. Do you know that your father took some people and went to the school with clubs, threatening to kill Han Ye?”
When Liu Wenqiu heard this, hesitation flickered across her face. “Teacher Zhao, I didn’t know about that. My father never tells us anything he’s going to do.”
Zhao Yanfang shook her head. “I knew it. No offense, but your father is far too impulsive. Making such a huge commotion won’t do you any good, will it?”
As she spoke, Zhao Yanfang pointed at Qiao Lanshu and said to Liu Wenqiu, “Oh, right, Wenqiu. This is Han Ye’s mother, Teacher Qiao. When she heard what happened to you, she came here with me to visit you.”
Qiao Lanshu gave her a polite nod.
Liu Wenqiu said somewhat awkwardly, “Teacher Qiao.”
Standing beside Zhao Yanfang, Qiao Lanshu asked her, “Wenqiu, can you tell me what happened? I’d like to know the whole story.”
Liu Wenqiu pressed her lips together and said quietly, “There’s… there’s nothing to talk about, is there?”
After a pause, she added, “I don’t want to talk about it.”
Qiao Lanshu remained fairly polite as she asked, “How can you say there’s nothing to talk about? You nearly took your own life. That’s a serious matter—an extremely serious one.”
At that, Liu Wenqiu looked up at Qiao Lanshu, seeming torn about what to say.
Qiao Lanshu continued immediately, “Someone nearly lost their life. This isn’t a minor issue, so I’ve already called the police. Han Ye has been taken to the police station for questioning. Since you’re ill, you don’t need to go to the station. Two police officers are waiting outside. You can tell them what happened in a moment.”
When Zhao Yanfang heard this, she felt that Qiao Lanshu’s words were a little too harsh. Wasn’t it rather cruel to say such things to a girl who had just attempted suicide?
Liu Wenqiu was visibly shocked as well, even panicked. She looked at Qiao Lanshu, her face turning even paler.
“Teacher Qiao… why did you call the police?”
Her expression grew frantic. “This… this is only a minor matter. We could have discussed it and worked it out between ourselves. Why call the police?”
No matter what the circumstances, people were always afraid of the police.
After all, they were the law enforcement authorities.
Liu Wenqiu was only a middle school student, so naturally she was even more frightened.
She had never expected Qiao Lanshu to call the police.
She had thought that by making the matter this serious, Han Ye’s father would bring him to their home to apologize. Then both families would sit down and negotiate a solution.
Han Ye certainly would not agree to marry her. He usually kept his distance from girls and had barely interacted with her a few times.
So, what she had originally hoped for was to negotiate with Director Han and see whether he could arrange a job for her. She was about to drop out of school, while her younger sisters still needed an education. Her family was already poor, and her father refused to pay school fees for his daughters.
If the younger children were going to study, the eldest had to drop out.
Over the past two years, because Liu Wenqiu had been allowed to remain in school for two extra years, her younger sister—who was already nine—still had not started school. Her youngest sister was seven and would need to begin school as well.
But if Liu Wenqiu stopped studying, she would have to enter society and, like her parents, take temporary laboring jobs. She would work herself half to death from morning until night and still earn only a few dollars a day—so little that she would not even dare spend money on meat.
She had heard that some girls managed to find well-off partners at school, after which their partners’ families arranged jobs for them.
And the jobs were said to be excellent: sitting in an office, eating in the canteen, going home early every afternoon, getting holidays during the New Year and other festivals, and even receiving generous subsidies.
She was envious.
That was why she had set her sights on Han Ye.
But Han Ye’s family had actually called the police, leaving Liu Wenqiu at a complete loss.
Qiao Lanshu looked at her and said calmly, “Your father caused a disturbance at the school, claiming that Han Ye had behaved indecently toward you. But Han Ye denied it, and you were threatening to kill yourself, so we had no choice but to turn the matter over to the police.”
Zhao Yanfang’s expression grew serious as well. She said to Liu Wenqiu, “Wenqiu, did Han Ye behave indecently toward you? You didn’t mention anything about this when I came to see you last week.”
Liu Wenqiu’s face turned an ugly mixture of pale and red. She lay there without saying a word.
Every now and then, she glanced toward the door. She probably had no idea what to do and was waiting for her father to come and speak on her behalf.
Qiao Lanshu stepped directly into her line of sight and said sternly, “Student Liu, do you know that falsely accusing someone is a crime?”
Liu Wenqiu jumped in fright. She looked up at Qiao Lanshu and hurriedly said, “I—I didn’t falsely accuse him…”
Qiao Lanshu kept a stern expression.
“How did you not? Your father repeatedly claimed that Han Ye had behaved indecently toward you and even demanded that Han Ye take responsibility for you. But Han Ye said that he barely knew you. The only time the two of you had any physical contact was when you fell and he kindly helped you up. Yet somehow, word got out that he had behaved indecently toward you. Your father even went to the school and made a scene, making sure everyone knew about it. He has ruined Han Ye’s reputation. How is that not a false accusation?”
Zhao Yanfang was about to speak, but Qiao Lanshu pressed a hand against her shoulder to stop her.
Qiao Lanshu continued, “In the past, a conviction for slander could get someone sent to a labor camp for three years. How many years is it now? Don’t worry too much. You’re a minor, so they definitely won’t arrest you. At most, they’ll arrest your father. After all, he was the one who caused a disturbance at the school without bothering to find out the truth.”
Liu Wenqiu was frightened by her words.
Crying, she said, “Teacher Qiao, Teacher Zhao, I—I didn’t…”
Zhao Yanfang asked her sternly, “Wenqiu, just answer one question. Did Han Ye behave indecently toward you? Is that why you tried to kill yourself?”
Liu Wenqiu had avoided the subject all along. But now, under Zhao Yanfang’s serious gaze, combined with Qiao Lanshu’s earlier warning, she began to feel afraid.
After hesitating for a while, she shook her head and said, “No. Han Ye… he didn’t behave indecently toward me.”
Qiao Lanshu’s expression darkened. “If he didn’t, then why did your father say he did? Why did he spread false rumors about a middle school student?”
Liu Wenqiu began crying again after being questioned. This time, however, she refused to say another word.
Zhao Yanfang asked her several more questions, but she still remained silent, doing nothing but cry.
Zhao Yanfang was softhearted. She looked helplessly at Qiao Lanshu.
Qiao Lanshu, however, remained cold and stern. “Teacher Zhao, she just admitted that Han Ye did nothing to her. From beginning to end, this was all a misunderstanding. But since I’ve already called the police, we should still have the officers come in and record her statement. That way, we won’t have to worry about something else happening after we leave.”
She was mainly worried that once they left, Liu Wenqiu’s family would deny everything they had said and go back to the school to cause trouble.
Zhao Yanfang looked at Liu Wenqiu with some disappointment now.
She had never imagined that one of her students could do something like this.
Perhaps Liu Wenqiu’s family background was at fault. Or perhaps Liu Wenqiu herself was simply too calculating.
Regardless, hurting others was wrong.
As soon as Qiao Lanshu finished speaking, she walked to the door and called for the two police officers in the courtyard.
The officers had been questioning Liu’s father and recording his statement.
When they heard Qiao Lanshu call out, they immediately came over and asked, “Teacher Qiao, what is it?”
Qiao Lanshu told them, “Please come in and record a statement. Student Liu just admitted that Han Ye did not behave indecently toward her and that this suicide attempt had nothing to do with Han Ye.”
The two officers exchanged a glance, then immediately took out their notebooks and pens and entered the room.
After being questioned by the officers for quite some time, Liu’s father was drenched in sweat.
He was beginning to regret his actions. Why had he acted on impulse and taken people to the school to cause trouble?
The officers had told him that he had disrupted public order and harmed public security. If the allegations about Han Ye’s supposed misconduct were proven false, he could also be charged with spreading rumors, defamation, personal attacks, and damaging someone’s reputation.
In short, the situation was extremely complicated, and the consequences were serious.
He might even be sent to a labor camp.
Liu’s father lowered his head and paced around the courtyard twice. Noticing that the neighbors had come out to watch the spectacle, he turned away with a gloomy expression and went back inside.
The two tall police officers entered the room and, with Qiao Lanshu and Zhao Yanfang present, asked Liu Wenqiu several questions.
Liu Wenqiu was so frightened that her face had gone pale, and even her voice trembled as she spoke.
Zhao Yanfang felt sorry for her. After all, she had taught the girl for two years.
But since the officers were handling the matter, she could not interrupt.
Qiao Lanshu stood to the side, feeling no sympathy for Liu Wenqiu at all.
Liu Wenqiu needed to learn a lesson and stop thinking about harming others.
Han Ye had done nothing wrong. Why should he have to pay for her poverty and ignorance?
Everyone had to make their own way in life. If she wanted a better life, then while the market economy was just beginning to develop, she should work hard in society and gain experience.
No matter how difficult the situation Zhong Mei had found herself in, she had always managed to claw her way back out. As long as Liu Wenqiu had that kind of determination, she could do the same.
That was what Qiao Lanshu thought, though she did not say it aloud.
After all, Liu Wenqiu’s family would probably only accuse her of saying something like, “If you’re so compassionate, why don’t you give up your own food?”
The police officers finished recording the statement quickly. Liu Wenqiu no longer dared to lie, nor did she dare refuse to answer. She told them everything they asked.
What she said this time was essentially the same as what Han Ye had previously told Qiao Lanshu.
She had secretly fallen in love with Han Ye, so she had written him a love letter.
But Han Ye had thrown the letter away, and someone else had found it and posted it on the blackboard…
In short, Han Ye had not behaved indecently toward her. She had attempted suicide because she felt humiliated after being mocked by her classmates and had acted impulsively.
After finishing the statement, the officers left the Liu residence with Qiao Lanshu and Zhao Yanfang.
They were worried that Liu’s father might cause trouble again later.
So the two officers walked up to him and said sternly, “This matter hasn’t been settled yet. We need to return and speak with Han Ye himself and his family to find out whether they are willing to accept mediation or intend to pursue legal responsibility. For the time being, stay at home and wait for further notice.”
When Liu’s father heard this, he immediately panicked.
“Officers, everything has already been made clear. Why are you still talking about legal responsibility? What legal responsibility could we possibly have? This was nothing more than the children fooling around!”
The two officers reprimanded him harshly. “You used a suicide attempt to threaten someone, and you still call it fooling around? Wait for further notice. We’ll decide how to handle the matter after we’ve spoken with Han Ye’s family.”
Zhao Yanfang stood beside Qiao Lanshu, looking somewhat worried. She lowered her voice and said, “Teacher Qiao, do you think Liu Wenqiu might try to kill herself again?”
Qiao Lanshu shook her head. “No. She doesn’t look like someone who intends to take her own life.”
A girl who was constantly thinking about how to advance her prospects and secure a job could hardly be called simple-minded. She merely wanted a better life—she didn’t look like someone bent on dying.
