Chapter Twenty-Eight: Forced to the Police Station

Xiang Yu was lucky; she managed to flag down a motorized tricycle on the road and paid fifty cents for a ride. However, the motorcycle Xiang Fuqiang and his wife were riding was faster, so they reached the town shortly after she did.

Xiang Fuqiang was puzzled as to how Xiang Yu had made such good time. Upon spotting the tricycle from their village, he realized what had happened and hurried over to ask about her whereabouts. The driver pointed the way, saying, "I think she went toward the police station. What's wrong? Hasn't Xiang Di been found yet?" He assumed the Xiang family was coming to report their daughter missing. Xiang Fuqiang waved him off, offered no further explanation, and rushed away with Li Meilan.

Xiang Yu was indeed at the police station. "I want to report a crime. My parents tried to sell my sister, forced her to run away, and now they are domestic-abusing me."

The two police officers frowned, one saying sternly, "Young lady, you must be responsible for what you say. We will hold you accountable if you waste police resources."

Xiang Yu looked at them with unwavering resolve. "You can begin taking my statement. I am responsible for every word I say."

The two exchanged a look; the fact that she knew to request a formal statement suggested she was serious. Still, they remained skeptical. The older one crossed his arms and said, "Go ahead, tell us."

Xiang Yu stood tall. She knew that in rural areas, parents forcing their daughters into high-priced marriages and abusing their children was not uncommon. No one usually stepped in to intervene, and even the police often dismissed such matters as mere "family affairs." But she understood that if she treated this as a grave matter, it would become one—it would force a discussion on legality and compel the police to intervene in the actions of Xiang Fuqiang and Li Meilan.

With a serious expression, she began to recount the family's ugly history. Her words were precise, concise, logical, and well-founded. The officer uncrossed his arms, his expression turning grave.

Before she could finish, they noticed Xiang Fuqiang and Li Meilan sneaking around, peering through the window. The officer opened the door and barked, "What are you doing? Why are you skulking about?"

Xiang Fuqiang flinched. "Inside... that is my daughter."

The officer squinted, coolly sizing up the couple. Both were decent-looking, somewhat plump, and wore faces full of servile smiles, yet they appeared cowardly. It was a miracle they had managed to produce such a courageous and clever daughter. "Come in."

Xiang Yu saw the couple enter and cast a cold, sharp glance at them. *Let's see you reach for a club in front of the police now.*

Xiang Fuqiang and his wife didn't know exactly what Xiang Yu was doing there, but they knew it boded ill for them. They dared not speak as they entered.

The older officer questioned them, "Your younger daughter claims you arranged a marriage for your elder daughter, intending to sell her for a 260,000-yuan dowry to a man ten years her senior with a tainted reputation. Is this true?"

Xiang Fuqiang tucked his head further into his shoulders, too terrified to answer.

Li Meilan whispered in protest, "It wasn't an arranged marriage. We even let them meet."

The officer’s voice boomed, "And did your eldest daughter consent?"

Xiang Fuqiang played dead, while Li Meilan stammered, "She agreed at the time. We had already set the engagement date with the man’s family... but then, after one night, she listened to some nonsense from others and became unhappy... but she never said she wouldn't marry him... then she just left without a word... we don't know what to do... the groom's side is still waiting."

Shifting all the blame, these shameless people were only brave when bullying those beneath them.

Xiang Yu delivered the final blow: "They listened to gossip, claiming I was the one who helped my sister run away. As soon as they got home, they picked up a thick club, intending to beat me black and blue. I’m sixteen and about to take my middle school entrance exams. If I go to school bruised and swollen, I'll be a laughingstock. If I'm too fragile to handle the shame, who knows what I might do? If I don't go, I’ll have to drop out, which means they are violating the nine-year compulsory education law and preventing me from graduating."