Chapter Thirty-Five: The True Essence of a Mother's Love

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Before the taxi reached the Criminal Investigation Team, Lan Qian woke up. Upon awakening, she discovered that Zhuo Nan was not by her side, and her first reaction was that they had encountered danger. But why had she lost consciousness…?

The driver, flustered and at a loss, pulled over under Lan Qian’s formidable gaze and obediently explained what had happened. “Miss…”

“Who are you calling ‘Miss’?” Lan Qian’s lion-like roar echoed, silencing all around.

“Com…comrade,” the driver stammered, clearly intimidated by Lan Qian’s fierceness. He spoke haltingly, frightened out of his wits.

Lan Qian’s eyes narrowed, “Tell me everything, now…”

The poor driver, an innocent bystander, had merely accepted fifty yuan from Zhuo Nan to bring Lan Qian to the Criminal Investigation Team. Now, facing this terrifying woman, he regretted his earlier fantasies when Lan Qian was unconscious, his desires swiftly extinguished by her wrath—an extinguishing that might well last a lifetime.

“It was the young man with you who helped you into the car. He took fifty yuan out of your bag and gave it to me, telling me to take you to the Criminal Investigation Team. I swear, I did nothing else, and I didn’t take any detours…”

He helped me into the car—so where was Zhuo Nan? Lan Qian wondered, but Zhuo Nan had neither a pager nor a mobile phone, so there was no way to contact him. After pondering, she said to the driver, “Take me back to the place where you picked me up. Hurry.”

“Comrade, may I ask, how fast do you want me to go?” the driver asked cautiously.

Lan Qian, in a foul mood with nowhere to vent, snapped, “When I say fast, I mean fast. Less talk, I’m a police officer.” Her authority had been ignored in the nightclub, but the driver, upon hearing those four words, became as alert as a wound-up toy. “Yes, ma’am…”

He pressed the clutch, shifted into first gear, floored the gas pedal—a series of actions carried out with precision—and the car shot forward like an arrow released from a bow. Lan Qian hadn’t settled in her seat and collided with the backrest at the moment of acceleration.

After that jolt, she treated the driver even less gently. Our hapless supporting character, though he had a few lines, could not escape being berated…

When the car returned to the original spot, she found seven or eight police vehicles parked nearby, each emblazoned with the number 110. Clearly, something had just happened here. Lan Qian walked into the cordoned-off area, holding her badge, and found a young police officer. “Comrade, I’m from the Criminal Investigation Team. What happened here?”

The young officer glanced at her badge and replied politely, “There was a report just now—an armed brawl occurred here, apparently involving local thugs. Twenty-seven people were injured to varying degrees, one seriously and unconscious. The rest suffered mostly external injuries, a few with broken bones. But when asked what happened, they all claim not to know, as if they’ve never been here before.”

Though the young officer expressed his doubts lightly, Lan Qian became anxious. “Comrade, among the injured, is there a boy about fifteen years old, around one meter seventy-five?”

The officer smiled, “We haven’t checked specifically. Why don’t you go in and take a look yourself?”

Lan Qian nodded her thanks and walked inside. The ambulance had arrived, swiftly tending to the wounded and handing them over to the police. Lan Qian searched the area but found no trace of Zhuo Nan, confused—had he gone home? Was he uninvolved in this?

She knew she had to ask him directly, but it was already late and rushing to his home was inadvisable. After greeting the officers, she left, found a public phone booth, and dialed Zhuo Nan’s home.

Zhuo Wen Gang now worked night shifts every day, so only Wang Li Ru and the two children were at home. Zhuo Nan had come home late and was now showering. Wang Li Ru knew in advance that Zhuo Nan was with Lan Qian, so she was not worried.

The phone on the bedside table rang urgently. Wang Li Ru, lying in bed, picked up the remote and lowered the TV volume before answering. “Hello, who are you looking for?”

Lan Qian immediately recognized Wang Li Ru’s voice. “It’s…” But she hesitated. Calling her ‘Aunt’ would make Wang Li Ru sound old; calling her ‘Sister’ would muddle their family relationship, since she and Zhuo Nan were now like siblings.

Fortunately, Wang Li Ru spoke first. “Is this Officer Lan?”

“Yes, I’m Lan Qian…” Lan Qian breathed a sigh of relief. The intricacies of titles among their countrymen were truly troublesome.

Wang Li Ru laughed warmly. “Officer Lan, thank you for looking after Zhuo Nan. He’s home now, taking a shower. I’ll have him return your call shortly.”

“No need, really, I just wanted to check if he was home. Knowing he’s safe puts my mind at ease,” Lan Qian replied politely. With Wang Li Ru at home, it wasn’t convenient to ask Zhuo Nan much. She decided to let it go for tonight and find him at school tomorrow instead. With that plan in mind, she said, “It’s fine, please rest. I’ll hang up now.”

Wang Li Ru was momentarily startled, then replied, “Alright, thank you, Officer Lan.”

“You’re welcome. Goodbye…”

“Goodbye…” After hanging up, Lan Qian clenched her small fist and muttered fiercely, “Zhuo Nan, tomorrow I will get to the bottom of this.”

Meanwhile, Wang Li Ru set down the phone, puzzled. She sensed Lan Qian had something to say but couldn’t bring herself to speak. No, I must have Zhuo Nan call her back… With that thought, she got out of bed and left the bedroom, just as Zhuo Nan emerged from the bathroom in oversized shorts. Seeing his mother, he smiled, “Mom, why aren’t you asleep yet?”

Wang Li Ru put on a stern face. “Be honest, did you upset Officer Lan? She just called to ask about you and seemed to have something on her mind.”

Zhuo Nan had anticipated Lan Qian would call. That woman was impulsive; if she couldn’t figure something out, she wouldn’t sleep well. But he was prepared with an excuse. “Mom, how could I upset her? She’s a police officer—I’m afraid she’ll arrest me.”

Wang Li Ru smiled gently and pulled Zhuo Nan to sit beside her. “You’re always so glib. But honestly, Lan Qian is quite wonderful—beautiful, kind-hearted. If you have the ability, bring her home as a wife.”

Zhuo Nan’s mouth was agape, as if it could hold three eggs, his face darkening. “Mom, I’m only fifteen. Isn’t that a bit early…”

Wang Li Ru wouldn’t have it. “Fifteen? In ancient times, boys your age were already fathers, children fetching soy sauce for the family. Study hard, get into college, and then pursue Lan Qian—it won’t be too late.”

“Mom, Lan Qian is twenty-two. She’s seven years older than me…”

“You haven’t heard? They say a woman three years older is like holding gold, seven years older is like holding a diamond,” Wang Li Ru argued slyly.

Zhuo Nan looked innocent, thinking, “I’ve heard the first part, but the second seems like something Mom invented.”

“Mom… you’re unbelievable…” Zhuo Nan replied helplessly, his cheeks tinged with red.

“Naughty boy, are you shy? The girl might not even want you.” Seeing her son’s bashful expression, Wang Li Ru pulled his head into her embrace. In truth, Zhuo Nan wasn’t shy about Lan Qian, but rather embarrassed by Wang Li Ru’s attire. At home, she always treated him like a child and dressed without much care—a simple cotton nightgown, its neckline stretched wide from frequent washing, and nothing worn underneath. Sitting down, Zhuo Nan was taller than her, and though he couldn’t see everything, he glimpsed whiteness and the deep divide. That was why he felt awkward and blushed, but Wang Li Ru misunderstood, thinking he was shy about Lan Qian and treating him even more like a child, holding his head to her chest.

“Heavens, spare me. My mind is full of mischief…” Yet the softness felt comforting to Zhuo Nan; at this moment, there was not a single improper thought. Having lost his mother early, Zhuo Nan had never experienced true maternal affection. Though Wang Li Ru did her best to embody the role, she was ultimately not his birth mother. In that instant, Zhuo Nan felt, so this is what a mother’s embrace is like—warm and forgiving…

At first, Wang Li Ru felt nothing when she pulled Zhuo Nan’s head to her chest, but as his head rested there, she realized that he was growing up and this might not be appropriate. Looking down, she saw Zhuo Nan with his eyes closed, seemingly asleep. In that moment, Wang Li Ru was reminded of Zhuo Nan thirteen years ago—then not yet two years old—sleeping in her arms just like this…

“Silly child…” Wang Li Ru finally decided to wake him; if he really slept like this, he’d catch a cold. She gently nudged him, “Nan Nan, wake up. Go to bed.”

Zhuo Nan had no idea how he’d managed to fall asleep—it was incredible. Was this the power of maternal love? “Sorry, Mom, I nodded off…” He scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

Watching his silly gesture, Wang Li Ru smiled. “Go on, don’t catch cold…”

“Alright, I’ll go to bed. You should sleep early, Mom.” Zhuo Nan smiled.

“Mm, good night.” With that, they stood and each went to their rooms. Nothing was said about what had just happened, and neither seemed to feel it was inappropriate. But in truth, tonight’s events profoundly altered Zhuo Nan’s outlook on love.