The waiting time was hard to endure, especially for a ‘disabled’ person like Su Xiaopei who found movement to be inconvenient and had nothing on hand to pass the time. Besides being in a daze, she truly didn’t seem to have much else to do.
There was movement outside the room door from time to time, which sounded like footsteps.
Su Xiaopei was a little nervous, unsure of what security was like here. But in just the two days she was here, she witnessed on one hand, someone who was kidnapped by mountain bandits, as well as someone who wanted to arrest said bandits on the other hand. So unfortunately, it seemed the security level was rather limited. Without Ran Feize present, she felt a little on edge being on her own, truthfully.
While thinking this, she heard the sound of footsteps outside once again. This time, it was much clearer and pronounced, and it stopped right outside the door.
Su Xiaopei sat upright, her intuition telling her it was not Ran Feize.
“Much thanks to Boss Song.” There is a soft female voice outside that sounded familiar.
“Please be at ease here, Miss.”
“This humble one won’t linger too long.” Humble and courteous words.
As soon as the words ‘this humble one’ came out, Su Xiaopei immediately recalled who it was- Tang Lian.
There was a knock on the door and Su Xiaopei dragged her two crippled legs over to open it. Tang Lian was indeed standing right outside.
She didn’t seem to be in good spirits, though she smiled politely upon seeing Su Xiaopei, “Miss.”
“Miss Tang.” Su Xiaopei hurried to reciprocate.
Tang Lian explained, “Sir benefactor came looking for me yesterday, saying Miss had no possessions with her, which is certainly inconvenient. I was quite rushed yesterday and therefore, was unable to find many garments- I’m truly apologetic.” She lifted the bundle in her hands. “I searched around today and found more clothing and supplies. I came to deliver them to Miss.”
Su Xiaopei was both amazed and grateful, and made haste to usher her indoors.
Tang Lian didn’t stand on ceremony. She entered and took a look around the small, dilapidated abode without saying a word. Seeing Su Xiaopei’s incapacitated legs, she quickly helped to sit her down.
Su Xiaopei was extremely embarrassed and asked her to have a seat as well though Tang Lian wavered a little before taking a seat on the bed.
“Is Miss much improved?” Tang Lian spoke up first.
“Much better, much better.”
“Have you recalled anything? Whereabouts does your family reside, are there any relatives?”
Su Xiaopei shook her head.
Tang Lian sighed and consoled her, “Miss mustn’t be anxious, all will be well.”
Su Xiaopei nodded and said her thanks repeatedly. Truthfully, she was a bit more concerned for Tang Lian than for herself. She had returned from being abducted and her psyche seemed to have worsened since yesterday. This meant that she had not received proper consolation or stress relief at home.
The traditional code of conduct in this world, whether they be cultural etiquette and custom or sociological and humanistic norms, was entirely different from modern society. Su Xiaopei knew she couldn’t use those same set of standards to analyse a person’s mental state or emotional condition but according to her limited knowledge of ancient culture, when women of this time period are faced with this situation, they often endure greater psychological pressure and sense of shame compared to modern women.
Su Xiaopei had to think over how to go about conversing with her.
“Has Miss Tang resided in this town since young?” She used a part of Tang Lian she was most familiar with as the point of departure. The subject was Tang Lian and the topic was extremely malleable.
“Uhn.” Tang Lian nodded. “My mother gave birth to me in this very town and our family’s shop has existed since my infancy. I have never once left here before.”
Su Xiaopei nodded her head and smiled, “Miss resembles Madam Tang very much.”
Tang Lian had spoken of her mother but made no mention of her father and brother so Su Xiaopei went along with her words and continued there.
“Resemblance?” Tang Lian smiled. “Miss’ words are very interesting. Everyone has said that my mother and I look alike.”
Tang Lian shared several things about herself as Su Xiaopei led her along with a calm and collected composure. She confided willingly, for which Su Xiaopei felt a little relief. When Tang Lian relaxed somewhat, Su Xiaopei slowly brought the topic around to her father. Tang Lian didn’t want to say much about her father at first, but Su Xiaopei circumvented it skillfully and talked about two other topics before circling back; it was in this manner that Tang Lian finally revealed something.
It turned out that the Tang patriarch had always favoured his son and cared very little of Tang Lian. After Tang Lian came back yesterday, although he uttered a few words of his relief at her return, he soon blamed and rebuked Tang Lian for being too careless. How could she have allowed herself to be in such a situation? He even brought over the Unit Elder and spoke harshly to his daughter in front of everyone. They then reported it to the government officials and made Tang Lian describe to the local authorities in detail where the mountain bandits were hiding and how she escaped so they could go to the mountains to apprehend them.
The feelings of loathing and antipathy were clear as Tang Lian said those words. Su Xiaopei took advantage of the situation and asked, “Then you told the local authorities?”
“I was too afraid so I can’t remember those memories clearly.” Tang Lian lowered her gaze.
Can’t remember clearly? This was one of the normal reactions to stress but Su Xiaopei felt that Tang Lian shouldn’t be exhibiting this symptom based on her condition. She didn’t pursue it further and redirected the topic back to herself, sharing how she was also the same. When she awoke on the tree that day, she couldn’t remember anything. It was fortunate that she encountered Ran Feize and Tang Lian.
Tang Lian also spoke of Ran Feize, explaining how she had become lost and afraid that the mountain bandits would catch up. Her fortunate encounter with Ran Feize was what allowed her to return home successfully.
Su Xiaopei nodded her head and continued on with a little idle gossip before leading back to the time in the mountains, mentioning how Ran Feize provided them food when they woke up. Tang Lian pondered over it, recalled the flatbread they ate that day, and found Su Xiaopei’s description of it quite amusing and nodded with a smile.
Su Xiaopei asked her once more, “Recall again, Miss, of when you were imprisoned on the mountains- what food was eaten, the place the bandits resided in, were there any trees or streams in the vicinity?”
Tang Lian closed her eyes and thought for a moment. She shook her head, “I really don’t recall anything.”
Su Xiaopei didn’t press the question nor change the subject, but quietly waited for Tang Lian to speak again. But Tang Lian was no longer interested in conversation, so she stood up, preparing to leave. Just as she was about to leave, she suddenly asked, “Have Miss any plans for the future?”
Su Xiaopei smiled, “With my legs incapacitated and my lost memories, I can’t go anywhere. I’ll tend to my injuries first, then make plans after.”
Tang Lian nodded. “Then Miss will be recuperating here? If I have time, then I will pay a visit to Miss again.”
Both exchanged a few more pleasantries, then Tang Lian left.
Su Xiaopei returned to her seat, thinking hard. She knew Tang Lian had lied. She had tested Tang Lian when they were conversing just now and confirmed the baseline of her memory recall. Her line of sight and facial expression as she reminisced over things in her childhood and Ran Feize were different from when she recalled the mountain bandits.
Saying she didn’t remember was a lie. She remembered what happened and might even know the bandits’ location, but she didn’t say anything. As a matter of fact, Su Xiaopei understood what this was; it wasn’t uncommon for victims to lie in their unwillingness to cooperate with an investigation or be reluctant to confront their recollections due to fear of retribution among other reasons.
Tang Lian had marked psychological trauma and after she returned home, not only did her stress not alleviate, it increased. Su Xiaopei wanted to help her. She was a kind-hearted young lady, and Su Xiaopei wanted to help her get through this mental crisis. Perhaps once she overcame it, she would be able to provide effective leads to bring the wicked to justice.
Ran Feize returned while Su Xiaopei was pondering over it.
Her spirit roused itself swiftly and she looked at him with a gaze full of fervent eagerness.
Ran Feize let loose a smile. “Miss’ eyes are shining, as if looking upon five taels of silver.”
“It would be even better if they were tangible.”
Ran Feize shook his head, “I’m afraid Miss will be disappointed. This matter was as I expected, notices were posted in all the neighboring cities, counties and towns. As the local authorities were unsure which exact direction this criminal would flee to, they distributed the reward offer based on a predicted route. The probability of him escaping to Shi’tou Town and being apprehended by me is really too uncertain.”
“How did they know of his characteristics and appearance? Was there a witness?”
“I asked about this. The investigator said no one witnessed the criminal in the act during the previous few times. He is a habitual criminal, perpetrating one crime per city with ferocious and brutal methods, and without making a mistake or leaving a living witness. But during the incident in Yun Sha County, a young miss of the Liu family was attacked in her own private room. At the critical moment between life and death, Miss Liu struggled and rushed out of her room shouting, which attracted the attention of helpers. The criminal escaped.”
“In other words, Miss Liu is the sole survivor and witness?”
“According to the investigator’s words, it is so. The investigator also said that the perpetrator fled to Ning’an City and successfully committed another crime before escaping. According to the route, the direction is heading towards this vicinity. Hence, the local government is offering the reward in various cities and counties, hoping to find a lead.”
Su Xiaopei nodded and asked, “Since it was one incident per city without making any mistakes nor are there living witnesses, then there must be some kind of unique marker within the criminal act that allowed the local government to confirm these incidents were perpetrated by the same criminal.”
“Correct.”
“What is the indicator?”
“Didn’t ask”, replied Ran Feize as if it was a matter of course, “The investigator surely won’t share such confidential information from the case with just anyone so casually. You didn’t see the throng of people crowding the entrance to the government offices, all of whom reportedly have clues to claim the reward. In the end, all of it was mere hearsay that caused confusion. It was not easy to retrieve such information through conversing with the investigator.”
“But with incomplete information, how is an arrest possible? Should I hope that he will ostentatiously walk by the citizens who are eager to claim those five silvers?”
Su Xiaopei’s words made Ran Feize cough as it suggested that Su Xiaopei herself was the very person eagerly looking forward to earning those five silvers.
Su Xiaopei pursed her lips and didn’t deny it. “Warrior, there is always a point of origin for any serial criminal. The perpetrator made attempts and practiced time and again in order to form a well-developed method of committing crime and increase self-confidence. His approach and objective are patterns and clues to be found. To catch him, it is vital to go back to the source starting with his criminal mentality: know who he is, why he is this way, what he is thinking, who the target for his criminal act is….”
Su Xiaopei halted as she said this and watched Ran Feize.
Ran Feize was listening to her with his arms crossed and an expression showing only partial comprehension.
“Warrior, we can still catch this criminal, we only need to make a deeper inquiry.”
“Miss may not recall her memories, but the mind is still bright.”
Su Xiaopei jolted, rubbed her head, then acted dumb. “Well that… though I don’t remember what happened, my talents and abilities remain.”
Ran Feize dry coughed again, “Miss’ talents and abilities leave quite the impression.”
Su Xiaopei flushed, knowing that he was pointing to her clumsy hands and even more useless legs, so as for her ability and life skills- they were completely useless. Su Xiaopei didn’t dispute him over this and only said, “Anyhow, to put it briefly, Warrior mustn’t simply give up like this. We need to ‘add oil’* and have this criminal apprehended.”
[T/N: 加油- This simply means to ‘add oil’; this is a colloquial term of encouragement, kind of like ‘adding fuel to an engine in order to keep going’ type of imagery. It’s equivalent to the Korean ‘fighting!’ cheer.]
“Add oil?” No matter how bizarrely Su Xiaopei spoke, it could be said that Ran Feize was able to understand eighty to ninety percent of it; through guessing and piecing things together, their communication could be considered relatively smooth. As to what this ‘add oil’ meant, however, he truly couldn’t make heads or tails of.
“Uh, that is- it’s a term of encouragement from my hometown.”
“Is Miss remembering?”
“Just some things, for an abrupt, miraculous moment.” Su Xiaopei felt she shouldn’t reveal too much. It would be disastrous should he think that she had some kind of mental illness and cast her aside.
“Warrior, such a heinous, criminal rapist* cannot be allowed to remain free. Consider those powerless young women who were murdered; justice must be brought to public light.” Su Xiaopei hastily redirected the topic. This Ran Feize was a man with a great sense of justice so if she pushed forth via this angle, then he would surely be incited to actively participate in this matter.
[T/N: 采花贼- literally translates to ‘a thief who deflowers’ with ‘deflowering’ pertaining to a woman’s virginity or innocence.]
“Hm, Miss is kind-hearted.”
“Indeed, indeed.”
“Without those five silvers, would Miss still care about it?”
“…….”
Su Xiaopei choked and finally squeezed out a, “Silver taels and justice are both equally important.”
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