Chapter 109: How Many Injustices Exist in the World

Kang Ning pulled a tissue from his pocket and handed a piece to Shuyi. “Don’t cry. If you trust me, tell me what happened. Who was in your house?”

Shuyi shook her head violently, covering her face as silent sobs wracked her.

Kang Ning pondered for a moment, then stepped out of the car and cautiously approached the front gate of Shuyi’s home. As soon as he entered the courtyard, the sounds of heavy breathing between a man and woman inside made Kang Ning halt, his keen ears catching every detail.

He glanced at the motorcycle parked outside, shook his head, and returned to the car. He drove about thirty meters away to a large banyan tree, turned the car around, and then left the village. Approximately eighty meters past Shuyi’s home, he found a wide stretch of road to stop on, turning off the engine and headlights.

Under the moonlight, the surroundings were silent except for the occasional chirp of cicadas and croaks of frogs.

Overwhelmed with a stifling weight, Kang Ning sighed deeply and gently pressed the tissue into Shuyi’s trembling hands. Having just endured such torment, Shuyi could no longer hold back her sorrow and collapsed into Kang Ning’s arms, crying aloud. “Brother Xiaohua, I hate it so much…but how can I blame my mother?”

Kang Ning held her frail frame close, softly patting her delicate back as he whispered comforting words. “Don’t be sad, Shuyi. Tell me everything, and I promise I’ll find a way to help you.”

After a long while of weeping, Shuyi finally calmed enough to recount the details, her voice choked with emotion. “That motorcycle belongs to the village chief. My mother has owed him eight thousand yuan for years, trying to pay for my father’s treatment, but she never managed to clear the debt. Last autumn, he... he violated my mother. I was away at school at the time and didn’t know. When I came home and saw her always crying, I asked her, but my mother was too afraid to tell me the truth. She kept saying she felt unwell. I thought it was because life was hard, and she was sad about my father, so I comforted her without suspecting anything… until—”

Kang Ning tightened his embrace around the sobbing Shuyi, soothing her gently. After some time, she continued, “On the third night of the Spring Festival break, just as I was falling asleep, that monster slipped in. I felt my clothes being undone and woke up, grabbing a hoe to strike him. My mother stopped me, crying, and then knelt before him, begging him to spare me. That monster arrogantly told me: either pay the debt immediately or offer someone in exchange, or my family would suffer worse than death. Seeing this, I finally understood why my mother cried so often. I ran out of the house, wanting to report him, but I was afraid my mother would never see anyone again if I did. So I stayed at school, avoiding everything, studying hard during the day and working at night to earn money. After the college entrance exam, the school wouldn’t let me stay, so I had no choice but to return home… Brother Xiaohua, I’m really scared. I worry that one day, while I’m asleep, that monster will violate me too…”

Fury surged through Kang Ning. He flung open the car door and stepped out briskly, but Shuyi clung tightly to his neck, refusing to let go, allowing his strong arms to pull her out with him.

The cool breeze helped him regain his composure. Holding the crying girl tightly, Kang Ning whispered into her ear, “Shuyi, trust me. I will avenge this for you, but you must focus on your studies. Leave everything else to me. Now, wipe your tears and stop crying.”

Seeing Kang Ning calm down, Shuyi slowly released her grip. “Brother, I promise. But you can’t go to prison for my family! I won’t let you take revenge. Once I receive my admission letter, I’ll report that monster myself. I absolutely won’t let him bully my mother anymore!”

Tenderly, Kang Ning brushed away the tears from her face. His heart ached at her fragile, sorrowful beauty. He cupped her face in both hands and asked softly, “Does that monster stay overnight at your house?”

Shuyi shook her head sadly. “He always leaves during the night. I think he’s afraid of being seen by the villagers. But his family is powerful. His sons are arrogant and bullying. No one in the village dares to cross them.”

“Alright,” Kang Ning said. “I’ll take you home for now. After everything with the farm stay settles down, call me immediately. I have an empty apartment rented in the city where you can stay temporarily. You can also review your lessons there. Once you get your acceptance letter, we’ll plan from there, okay?”

Still holding her face gently, Kang Ning reminded her earnestly, “Be especially careful these next few days. Stay calm and composed no matter what happens. Go to work tomorrow as usual. If anyone asks you anything, answer exactly as I taught you. Don’t let panic cause you to slip up — otherwise, even I could be in danger! If anyone tries to hurt you at home, run out and call me immediately. I’ll give you my number in a moment. Got it?”

Grateful tears welled up in Shuyi’s eyes again. “I got it. I won’t let anyone find out! Brother Xiaohua, why are you so good to me?”

Kang Ning gently wiped her tears away with his fingertips. “Because you’re a good girl — kind, beautiful, and full of promise. Now, let me take you home.”

“Mm,” Shuyi replied softly.

Kang Ning took a pen from the car, flipped up Shuyi’s sleeve, and wrote his phone number on her skin. Then, holding her close, they walked slowly toward her house, Shuyi clutching his waist as if afraid he might fly away if she let go.

When they reached the entrance to Shuyi’s home, the motorcycle was gone. Kang Ning motioned for silence, pointed to the door, and nodded at Shuyi. She released her hold, stepped forward a few paces, then turned back to hug Kang Ning’s neck again, pressing a grateful kiss to his cheek before reluctantly walking inside, glancing back every few steps.

After Shuyi entered and closed the door, Kang Ning’s figure flickered like a ghost, silently settling beneath her window. He listened closely as Shuyi and her mother exchanged a few words, confirming no third party was inside, then finally left with peace of mind.

Driving past the farm stay’s entrance, Kang Ning noticed the courtyard gate was still ajar, the silence inside complete except for occasional distant dog barks. Clearly, no one had come to help the three people lying injured on the ground.

Back at home, burning with righteous indignation, Kang Ning showered but found sleep elusive. Having spent over twenty years living a safe and happy life in the city, he had never imagined the rural countryside he thought so picturesque and simple could harbor such hardship and cruelty. Though he had read countless stories of suffering among society’s lowest tiers in newspapers and magazines, none had ever stirred in him such profound empathy and clarity as this night.

From his own unprovoked injuries, to brutal interrogations by the powerful, to fleeing for his life and the tragic death of Uncle Wang; from the helpless plight of the Yao people in Libo, to the resigned endurance of the lamb restaurant owner, to Luo Ming’s horrific mutilation, and Shuyi’s mother’s silent suffering — all these injustices taught Kang Ning many lessons. He knew those he had killed deserved no sympathy; even if he had to kill ten times over, he would do so without hesitation, despite knowing his lone strength was limited and could not fundamentally change the world through hardened resolve alone. Yet, as long as he could save a few innocent and weak souls through his efforts, he would bear this burden without regret.

In the bedroom, two kind and beautiful girlfriends of Kang Ning, still unaware of all he had endured, were peacefully dreaming. Filled with sorrow and frustration, Kang Ning slipped alone into the kitchen, fetched a case of beer, placed it on the dining table, popped the caps with his fingers, and silently drank bottle after bottle until all twelve were empty. Only then did he slump drunkenly over the table.