Volume One, Chapter 20: Injury Assessment

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Sun Yaling didn’t want to cause her parents any more trouble during the New Year, so early the next morning she followed Zheng Gang back home. After the fifteenth day of the lunar new year, the celebrations were effectively over. Sun Yaqin began helping her parents pack and prepare for the move, while Sun Junde often sat by the stove, chain-smoking hand-rolled cigarettes.

By March, the snow along the streets of Beibin City had started to melt. Qin Xiangdong hadn’t seen Sun Yaqin for three months. He’d thought about visiting several times but never found a suitable reason.

Today happened to be his day off. Outside, a burst of firecrackers announced that the Sun family was moving. According to local custom, they would invite neighbors to a meal—known as “lighting the bottom of the pot.”

“Xiangdong, are you home?”

Hearing the familiar voice, Qin Xiangdong nervously tugged at the corner of his shirt, his ears flushing slightly.

After a long pause, he cleared his throat and opened the door. “Here! It’s Comrade Yaqin!”

“Xiangdong, our family is moving today, and my parents asked me to invite you over for a meal.”

Sun Yaqin’s poised and confident manner only made Qin Xiangdong feel more shy.

“Great! I’ll get ready and come right over.”

Qin Xiangbei, hearing the conversation, came out to join the fun. “Yaqin, is our neighbor only inviting my big brother? What about the rest of us neighbors?”

Sun Yaqin lifted her chin, appearing like a proud little peacock in Qin Xiangbei’s eyes. “Who are you? I don’t know you!” With that, she turned and walked away.

Qin Xiangdong watched Yaqin’s attitude toward Qin Xiangbei with secret delight—she clearly treated him differently from others.

He fixed Qin Xiangbei with a stern look. “Qin Xiangbei, I warn you, don’t get any ideas!”

Qin Xiangbei, wearing a defiant expression, teased, “What? Brother, you like Yaqin too?”

Qin Xiangdong furrowed his brows, his gaze sharp and serious. Though at home he was often the one bullied, deep down Qin Xiangbei feared him.

Seeing that Qin Xiangdong was truly angry, Qin Xiangbei forced a sheepish smile. “Brother, I was just joking.” Then he slunk back inside.

Standing before the mirror, Qin Xiangdong straightened his back and adjusted his clothes before heading to the Sun household.

Yang Guilan had only invited her eldest brother Yang Zhiqiang, the family of Chen Laosi, and Qin Xiangdong.

Among the Yang siblings, eldest brother Yang Zhiqiang was closest to their family. Over the years, the two families had supported each other.

“Xiao Qin, have a seat!”

Yang Zhiqiang looked at Qin Xiangdong and remarked, “Hey, this young man looks like he’s been in the military.”

Qin Xiangdong simply nodded without saying much.

Sun Junde quickly added, “Comrade Xiao Qin has done us a favor. There are no outsiders here today, so everyone, make yourselves at home.”

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Halfway through the meal, an uninvited guest arrived—Yang Guizhi, who stumbled in unsteadily.

“Oh, big brother is here too. Sister, why do you only invite big brother when you move? What about us brothers and sisters? No wonder Sun Yaqin is so unruly.”

She dragged over a wooden stool and plopped down, leaning her back against the wall.

Yang Zhiqiang couldn’t stand it any longer. “Guizhi, what are you doing! We have guests here. If you have something to say, wait until they leave!”

Yang Guizhi crossed her arms defiantly. “I insist on speaking today! Sister, you’ve built a new house and you’re ignoring us relatives. I and second brother have called you, but you won’t answer.”

“Yang Guizhi, you know why I don’t answer your calls. Yang Zhigang did something despicable, and yet you still defend him. Do you have any respect for me as your eldest sister?”

“Our family doesn’t welcome you! Lian, take your third aunt out!”

Sun Liancheng immediately stood and escorted Yang Guizhi outside.

“Don’t touch me! Sun Liancheng, I’m your third aunt!”

Even though his mother spoke, Sun Liancheng paid no heed. Yang Guizhi was forced out the door. Curious neighbors watched from outside.

“What are you looking at? There’s nothing to see!”

Yang Guizhi spat on the ground and left in a huff.

That evening, Sun Yaling returned with Yanyan. While their parents were busy entertaining their granddaughter, Sun Yaqin slipped over to her eldest sister’s side.

“Sis, with all the moving lately, I haven’t asked how you and your husband are doing.”

Mentioning Zheng Gang, Sun Yaling clenched her teeth, a slight twitch in her cheek as she forced a smile. “It’s nothing. We’re fine.”

Sun Yaqin sensed something was wrong. Suddenly, she grasped her sister’s arm. Sun Yaling gasped in pain.

Sun Yaqin rolled up her sister’s sleeve, revealing a patch of bruises. “Did that bastard Zheng Gang do this?”

Sun Yaling looked down silently, her voice lacking conviction. “I accidentally bumped into something.”

Sun Yaqin was confused. Her sister had seemed so resolute before—how had things come to this? There was only one explanation: it was because of Yanyan.

“Sis, when a man hits a woman, it’s either the first time or it happens again and again. Do you think it’s good for Yanyan to grow up in this kind of environment? She’s still young and naïve now—but what about when she grows up?”

Sun Yaling was silent for a moment. “Don’t tell the family about this. Last time when we visited, your brother-in-law was angry but didn’t lay a hand on me. A while ago, he let something slip that my mother-in-law found out about. I argued with her, and only then did he hit me.”

“So, sis, are you planning to forgive him?”

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Sun Yaling bit her lip. “My mother-in-law compromised and will only demand half of his monthly salary from now on. I can’t lose Yanyan.”

Having lived two lives, Sun Yaqin immediately caught the crux of her sister’s words. “Did your brother-in-law threaten you with custody of Yanyan?”

Sun Yaling held her head high, fighting back tears but silently confirming Sun Yaqin’s suspicion.

Sun Yaqin said no more. She knew that unless she could help her sister secure custody of Yanyan, her sister would never divorce. Yanyan was her life.

“Sis, come with me.”

Sun Yaling didn’t know what her younger sister had in mind but put down her work, dressed, and accompanied her.

Sun Yaqin took her sister to the hospital, where a doctor—a woman in her forties who looked quite familiar—was waiting.

“Doctor, my sister was beaten by her husband. Could you please examine her injuries and provide a medical injury report?”

These days, domestic violence was sadly common. But as the saying goes, family shame should not be spread abroad. Usually, victims with minor injuries didn’t want to make a fuss or have their wounds publicly documented.

“Yaqin! I’m fine! Let’s go!”

Sun Yaqin ignored her and helped her sister sit down. Sun Yaling kept her head low, as if hiding from others.

The doctor conducted a full examination, her brow furrowing.

“There is a ten-centimeter linear bruise on the right forearm, with obvious tenderness and purplish discoloration. The skin on the right shoulder is broken with minor bleeding. There is also a subcutaneous hematoma of approximately 3 by 6 centimeters on the right leg.”

The doctor looked grimly at Sun Yaqin. “What is your relation to her?”

“I’m her sister.”

“She’s been beaten like this. Why not get a divorce quickly and start fresh? These injuries are clearly caused by a blunt instrument.”

Sun Yaqin saw the anger in the doctor’s eyes and began to recount her sister’s story in tears, explaining how the brother-in-law used the child as leverage.

The doctor rapidly wrote the injury report and then tossed it to Sun Yaqin with a stern tone.

“You family members can’t always hide in the background. That only emboldens the abusers.”

“Understood, Doctor!” Sun Yaqin took the injury report, unsure whether to feel relief or heartbreak for her sister.