Chapter Seven: When It Rains, It Pours

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By the time they arrived at the police station, Lin Ke was completely stunned.

“Officer, what happened to Dou Peng?”

“Just call me comrade,” a policeman said, confirming the relationship between Lin Ke and Dou Peng. He advised, “Try to talk some sense into your boyfriend. He got into a fight with someone and is refusing to cooperate. The other party is eager to settle this amicably. If Dou Peng insists on refusing mediation, we will have no choice but to handle it formally.”

Dou Peng, while delivering food, was stopped by a resident outside the elevator in a housing complex, who said delivery workers were not allowed to use their elevator.

The resident’s tone was harsh, and the two argued fiercely. The resident cursed Dou Peng with foul language and spat at him.

In a fit of anger, Dou Peng pushed down the older resident, who was then taken to the hospital. The resident has now been diagnosed with a fractured coccyx and has been crying at the police station.

On Dou Peng’s side, a group of fellow delivery workers were outraged and nearly caused a scene until the police persuaded them to disperse. If it weren’t for their understanding, the situation might have escalated further.

“Luckily, the fracture isn’t severe. Otherwise, you wouldn’t even have the chance to mediate. You’re a grown man—can’t you think about the consequences of your actions?” the policeman reproached.

Dou Peng was still fuming, “I told you, I didn’t push her on purpose! I just wanted to get into the elevator, and she blocked me. I only pushed her away! If I wanted to hit her, she’d be dead by now!”

The officer’s face hardened, “You talk about hitting people—do you realize if you win, you go to jail, and if you lose, you end up in the hospital? Don’t you care about yourself or your future generations?

“The surveillance footage clearly shows she fell after you pushed her. The hospital confirmed the fractured coccyx.

“If it weren’t for her family insisting on mediation, you’d have to apologize at least. If this went to a formal assessment, it would at least count as minor injury. Could you take the responsibility if it were worse?”

“I haven’t done anything wrong, so why should I apologize? Delivery workers aren’t second-class citizens. Why shouldn’t I be allowed to use the elevator?”

The policeman was about to speak again, but Lin Ke quickly intervened, “Sorry, officer, comrade, it’s all our fault.

“Dou Peng didn’t do it intentionally. He was just anxious because I told him yesterday I didn’t have money to pay rent. It’s my fault—I can’t earn money, so he worries for me.

“He’s not a bad person. We just graduated recently and don’t have much experience. Please don’t hold it against us.”

As Lin Ke spoke, she kept bowing repeatedly. The policeman sighed, “I understand your situation and the difficulties delivery workers face, but that’s no excuse for violence.”

“Yes, it was a moment of impulse. He knows he was wrong and won’t do it again. I will definitely talk to him seriously.”

Lin Ke’s phone rang twice, but she hung up both times. She looked like a well-behaved girl being lectured, making it hard to get angry at her.

“Forget it. No need to apologize to me. I’ll take you to meet the other party so you can properly apologize and resolve this. Don’t tarnish your future. And tell your friends—friends support each other, not cause trouble!”

Dou Peng refused to cooperate, so Lin Ke faced the other party’s family alone, bowing and apologizing profusely.

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The injured woman’s daughter understood her mother’s misconduct and insisted on mediation. After Lin Ke’s long apologies, much of the woman’s anger dissipated, and she did not make things too difficult.

Lin Ke searched all her electronic wallets and combined the small amount she could withdraw from the “Breaking Cocoon” app, finally managing to cover the woman’s medical expenses.

When they left the police station, the officer earnestly lectured Dou Peng again, urging him not to act impulsively next time and to appreciate his girlfriend.

But they hadn’t gone far before Dou Peng shook off Lin Ke’s hand.

“Mind your own business.”

Lin Ke was furious, “How can you say that? You got taken to the police station—you’ve caused a huge mess!”

Dou Peng turned angrily, “What do you mean ‘taken to the police station’? We were just mediating and being questioned! I didn’t do anything wrong!

“Why do they insist on mediation? She started it and even threw the first punch! Why should the weaker one always be right? She’s got osteoporosis—whose fault is that? If worst comes to worst, we should both be detained!”

Lin Ke thought he had lost his mind, “How can you think like that? Aren’t you afraid of a criminal record? How will you find a job without a clean record? Your immediate family won’t even be able to take civil service exams!”

“Administrative detention doesn’t leave a criminal record. At worst, it’s just a mistake. You don’t know anything!”

Dou Peng stormed off, and Lin Ke called out, “Dou Peng!” but he didn’t stop.

“Where is everyone? Drinking!”

Dou Peng went to contact his friends, while Lin Ke’s phone started ringing incessantly. She stomped her foot in frustration but eventually answered, “What is it?”

Her tone was harsh; the two hours at the police station had drained her completely. On the other end, her younger sister Lin Yun was initially stunned, then shouted with anger.

“What’s your attitude? Lin Ke, you went to university and think you’re better than us? Haven’t called home all month. Do you even remember who paid for your education? You don’t send money home, Dad’s back pain is acting up again. The doctor says he needs surgery. We…”

Before she could finish, their mother interrupted with a muffled scolding tone, “Ke’er, don’t listen to your sister’s nonsense, it’s nothing serious.

“You just started working and need to spend money. Mom doesn’t expect money from you—we just worry you’re too tired. Have you finished work? Have you eaten dinner?”

Lin Ke worried, “What’s wrong with Dad’s back?”

“Nothing! Your dad’s old injury doesn’t need surgery. The doctor doesn’t know what he’s talking about; he just wants you to spend money.

“How are things with you? Is it cold? Mom wants to sew you a new padded jacket since you finish late and the nights are chilly. But Dad says you’re in the big city and don’t need such things.”

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Lin Ke’s eyes stung with tears.

She wasn’t an ungrateful person, but now that she was in this state, she was ashamed to call home.

Besides the fake job she pretended to have found, she had nothing worth telling her parents.

The neighbors must be mocking her parents again for raising a loser and an ungrateful daughter.

Her mother had given birth to two daughters and suffered much scorn. When Lin Ke was a child, she mischievously climbed a mountain to pick fruit and got stuck in a tree. Her father broke his back trying to rescue her.

Though not paralyzed, he had limited mobility for years, couldn’t farm, and had to make money doing handicrafts.

Since Lin Yun called, it meant Dad’s back injury must be serious and could no longer be delayed. Before Lin Ke went to university, doctors had warned that without surgery, paralysis was likely.

But Dad had still given all the family’s money to send her to college, afraid she’d be looked down on if she took poverty loans.

“Mom, it’s nothing. I’m fine! The company provides uniforms for every season. Big companies don’t make you buy your own clothes, so don’t worry about that.

“It’s almost the end of the year. When I get my year-end bonus, I’ll send money home. Then please take Dad to have the surgery. Even if it doesn’t help, don’t delay it. Your daughter’s a university graduate and will make more and more money. Our family has everything we need!”

After rambling on for a while, Lin Ke finally hung up.

She took a deep breath, wiped away the moisture from her eyes, and picked up her phone to call Dou Peng but only ended up opening the link on the “Breaking Cocoon” app.

The world had never given her the freedom to choose.

She confirmed the contract signing for Monday at 8:00 a.m.

When she got home and stood outside her door, she looked at the barbecue stall downstairs for the first time and walked over.

“How much for a skewer of lamb?”

The scar-faced man still looked fierce. “20 yuan per plate, no less.”

Lin Ke glanced at the last few coins left in her WeChat wallet. “Two plates, please.”