Chapter 521: Who’s The Murderer? (1/2)
Shen Lijuan frowned, ”When I looked at this photo at the time, I thought it was him, so I said yes. But I just suddenly realized that it doesn’t appear so.”
”So is that yes or no?”
”I don't know!”
”You clearly saw him...” Xiaotao stood up excitedly, but I motioned for her not to interrupt.
”I'm sorry,” Shen Lijuan bowed her head.
When I asked her what happened after that, she explained that my grandfather wanted to send her home a few days later. He warned her against telling anyone what happened for fear she would never be at peace for the rest of her life.
Naturally, she wouldn’t dream of mentioning her experience to anyone. My grandfather then took her to the hospital for an examination. During that time, in the 1990s, a middle-aged man in his fifties taking a young woman for a physical examination certainly attracted a lot of contempt and suspicion, but Grandpa didn't care.
Fortunately, she wasn’t pregnant nor did she have any venereal diseases.
Grandpa sent her home and made up a bunch of lies, saying that Shen Lijuan was previously kidnapped. She was reluctant to part with such a kind man because he didn't look down on her at all. Additionally, she had a very strict family.
When she returned home, she suffered discrimination and criticism from her family for a period of time. They looked at her differently, as if it was her fault for being kidnapped and raped! Whenever her father got drunk, he insinuated she was a whore nobody wanted who had no self-respect. Shen Lijuan felt as if he had twisted a knife into her heart each time.
The incident itself and her family’s attitude left her with severe psychological trauma. She couldn't go to school at all, and eventually dropped out.
In the second year after that, her father died in a drunk driving accident and her mother remarried. Finding her stepfather rather strange, Shen Lijuan couldn't stay any longer so she went out and looked for work.
During that difficult period, she suddenly recalled Grandpa’s phone call after he left. He told her she could contact him if she needed help.
Thinking she would give it a shot, she called Grandpa. After hearing about her predicament, Grandpa immediately remitted a sum of money to her every month for ten years. The money helped her through the most difficult times so she could finally build a life for herself.
Therefore, Grandpa was just like a beacon in her life, no less than her God.
Teary-eyed, Shen Lijuan turned to me, ”By the way, how is your grandfather doing?”
”He’s well,” I lied. “He’s now retired at home, listens to opera and gardens. He’s always been strong and healthy.”
”No, no, in fact, we’re doing quite well,” I refused. “Now that you’re pregnant, you need the money, so keep it! When I return, I’ll tell Grandpa that you’re doing well. He’ll be happy to hear that.”
Shen Lijuan smiled and stopped insisting.
”By the way, where was your school located?” I asked. “Do you remember where you were kidnapped?”
She asked her husband for a map to show it to me. The school where she went to school was Liangchuan No.3 Middle School, and the place she was kidnapped was a small road behind the school. On the left of the road was the back wall of the school and on the right was a string of stores. There was a store selling spicy soup at the intersection. At the time, the whole street was dark except for that store, which left a strong impression on her.
“May I have this map?” I asked.
”Sure thing!”