Xu Qian took Jiang Hong to a small clinic nearby and applied some medicine for bruises and sprains to treat the bruising on her body.
Meanwhile, Zhang Heng used the time to buy a cup of hot tea, two bottles of mineral water, a pack of cigarettes, and a lighter from a nearby vending machine. He put the cigarettes and lighter in his pocket, then gave the hot tea to Jiang Hong when he returned to the clinic.
She accepted it and thanked him repeatedly.
Xu Qian took one of the bottles of mineral water, unscrewed it, and took a sip. "Is he really your husband?"
Jiang Hong lowered her head at that and quietly murmured an affirmative.
"Has he always abused you like this?"
Before Jiang Hong could say anything, the elderly Chinese doctor beside her spoke up. "Yes. This is already the third time she's come here this month."
"Then why don't you call the police or get a divorce?" Xu Qian frowned.
"Because her younger brother works for her husband. If she gets divorced, her brother will lose his job too." The old doctor was clearly very familiar with Jiang Hong's family situation. Perhaps he had advised her to divorce before as well.
Jiang Hong raised her head and forced a somewhat strained smile. "I'm fine. I'm used to it. And thank you for today. You're all good people, willing to stand up for me even though you don't know me."
"What are you talking about?" Xu Qian froze for a moment and took off her glasses. "It's me, Xu Qian. Your former tenant. We met when I rented the place two years ago. You weren't married then."
"Really?" Jiang Hong looked bewildered.
"What, you don't remember? Two years ago, you let me leave my luggage at