Chapter 345: Forced Abortion

"Brother Tan, is there news from Yan Jing? What did they say? Did Zhou Ming do something again?"

In the luxurious bar suite of the Golden Splendor Nightclub in Nanjiang, Tao Guoling, upon seeing Tan Qianjun receive a phone call from the capital, asked urgently, oblivious to the noisy music outside the suite. Since the Nanjiang nightclub had been shut down, Jiang Chunhua's Golden Splendor Nightclub had naturally taken over as the most luxurious nightclub in Nanjiang.

Seeing Tao Guoling's anxiousness, Tan Qianjun frowned. Jiang Chunhua, noticing Tan Qianjun's expression, said to Tao Guoling, "Guoling, don't worry. Brother Tan will tell us if there's anything to say."

"I know I'm a bit reactive right now, but I really want to know what's going on in the capital," Tao Guoling continued, "Please, Brother Tan, you must tell me. Otherwise, I won't be able to focus on anything."

Tan Qianjun, angrily slapping the table, pointed at Tao Guoling, ready to yell at him but eventually just sighed and said, "Alright, today Zhou Ming did something very strange. After leaving Zhongnanhai, he went to the Capital Garrison Army base in Tong County."

"Zhou Ming went to the Garrison Army base? What did he go there for? Is he looking for trouble with the troops again? But that doesn't make sense! Isn't that place related to your family, Brother Tan?" Tao Guoling asked, puzzled by Zhou Ming's actions. Tan Qianjun shook his head, equally confused. Tao Guoling then asked, "So who did Zhou Ming meet there?"

"He met with Colonel Du of the Garrison Army and talked for a long time with a captain named **," Tan Qianjun said.

"Colonel Du? If I'm not mistaken, isn't he Du Peng's cousin? Maybe they were discussing something. But who is **?" Tao Guoling asked, still baffled.

"From what I've heard, ** is the most formidable soldier in the Garrison Army," Tan Qianjun replied.

Tao Guoling was even more confused: "Formidable? How formidable? Can he fight dozens of people at once? Even if he could fight a hundred, so what? Is he planning to have the troops' special forces come to Nanjiang? That sounds like a story from a novel."

In contrast to Tao Guoling's wild speculations, Jiang Chunhua was more cautious and said, "Brother Tan, no matter what, it's pointless to guess here. Since he met with **, let's just deal with this matter first."

Tan Qianjun nodded and said, "That's what I was thinking. I heard ** is currently under disciplinary action and is dealing with some personal issues. His wife seems to be pregnant with a second child, which might be against the regulations. The military's political officers are considering whether to inform the local family planning authorities. We should make the decision for them and give him a heads-up."

Jiang Chunhua clapped his hands and said, "Alright, Brother Tan, I think this approach is very good!"

However, Tao Guoling frowned and said, "Brother Tan, I have no objections to what you're doing, but I still say, if Zhou Ming isn't dealt with, he will always be a threat."

"Guoling, I'll say this one more time. Our most important task right now is not Zhou Ming, but how to manage our own affairs. Do you understand?" Tan Qianjun said sternly. 

Tao Guoling, unafraid, insisted, "Sorry, Brother Tan, I don't understand. I only know that as long as Zhou Ming is alive, I won't be able to focus on anything else!"

Tan Qianjun slapped the table again, telling Tao Guoling he was hopeless, and left the suite with Jiang Chunhua.

---

Yinshan is an ordinary county in the Central Plains and the hometown of Captain ** from the Capital Garrison Army. Xitun Village is a remote village in the mountainous area of western Yinshan County, with a population of a few hundred. Due to its location in the hills, the village is neither too big nor too small. It is said that Yue Fei, a famous national hero who fought against the Jurchen invasions, was born here.

Of course, those ancient events are hard to verify, but Xitun Village is well-known in Yinshan County, not for its attractions or economic development, but because it is a remote area where many people who want to avoid family planning inspections hide. They wait until their children are born before going out.

This has led to a high number of pregnant women in the village, creating a unique development path for the village. It is an example of how special environments can lead to special developments.

In China, there is a preference for having sons, and this belief is even stronger in rural areas. Thus, the local government sometimes turns a blind eye to the situation in Xitun Village out of humanitarian concern.

**'s wife is named A Xiu, and she is in Xitun Village waiting to give birth. Unlike other women who come here just to avoid family planning inspections, she is a local from Xitun Village. This morning, she carried a basin of clothes to the river, where the old village chief saw her and hurriedly said, "A Xiu, you're already seven months pregnant. You mustn't overexert yourself!"

The old village chief then asked his wife to take the basin from A Xiu. A Xiu declined, saying, "Uncle, it's alright. The doctors at the hospital said I need moderate exercise, which is good for the baby."

The old village chief insisted, "Moderate exercise is fine, but since you're here, it's my duty to take care of you. If you get exhausted, I can't explain it to **. At my age, I can't handle a few hits from that military man."

"Uncle, don't say that. It won't be like that. Besides, you know I'm not the type to sit idle. I'd feel bad if my sister-in-law had to wash clothes while I just watched," A Xiu said with a smile.

"Alright, you can both go wash clothes, but don't overdo it," the old village chief reminded.

"Thank you, Uncle. Don't worry," A Xiu said, handing the basin to her sister-in-law and heading towards the river with her.

The old village chief shook his head. A Xiu was a good child, but she was also very stubborn. Since returning to Xitun Village, she had never troubled anyone, living alone in a long-unoccupied small house and doing all the housework herself. She never complained, bearing all the hardships alone, which made the old village chief feel very regretful.

This was a very ordinary scene in Xitun Village, but no one expected that a square van and a dark green jeep from the local police station would drive towards the village, creating a tense atmosphere. The van was recognized as the county's family planning enforcement vehicle.

The two vehicles drove into Xitun Village, causing chaos.

"Bad news! The Family Planning Commission and the police are here!"

Someone shouted this, breaking the previous calm. All the pregnant women waiting to give birth immediately panicked, rushing to their homes to lock the doors, fleeing the village, or standing in confusion.

The vehicles stopped at the village entrance, and the police officers and family planning officials rushed into the village.

The old village chief, standing at the door, greeted them, "Hello, county officials. I'm not sure why you're here in Xitun Village. Please come in for tea and a meal."

The leading family planning official waved impatiently, "No need. We're looking for **'s wife, A Xiu. I know she's here."

Hearing his niece's name, the old village chief's heart sank. "County leader, why are you looking for A Xiu? She doesn't seem to have done anything against the law."

"Whether she has or not, she knows herself. We received a report that she violated the national policy by having a second child. We…"

Before the family planning official could finish, someone shouted, "Found her! She's over here!"

The family planning official glared at the old village chief and sneered as he led his team over. There, A Xiu and another woman stood, confused and frightened by the approaching officials.

The family planning official took out a photo, compared it with A Xiu, and then looked at her belly, saying, "A Xiu, you've violated the national policy by having a second child. According to county regulations, you need to pay a fine of fifty thousand yuan immediately."

"But I don't have any money!" A Xiu protested.

"Then you must undergo a forced abortion."

The family planning official said this and proceeded to grab A Xiu. At first, she didn't react, but when she realized what was happening, she started struggling and screamed, "No! You can't take me! I don't want an abortion! My baby is already seven months old. What you're doing is a crime, it's murder!"

"Nonsense! The policy is to have only one child. If you violate the policy, you must undergo a forced abortion. We are enforcing the law! Damn it! You rebellious woman, you don't know who you're messing with!"

The family planning official scowled at A Xiu, but didn't expect her to suddenly bite him. In pain, he released his grip and slapped her, causing A Xiu to fall to the ground. The official, still enraged, kicked her twice.

"Please don't kick my belly, don't harm my baby!" A Xiu cried out in pain, desperately protecting her stomach.

The old village chief, unable to watch any longer, stepped forward and offered a cigarette to the official, "Leader, please, she's just a young girl who doesn't understand. Don't be so harsh. Give us some time, and we'll take her to the hospital ourselves."

"No way! Look at the bite marks she left, this is resisting the law. Today, I'll make sure she gets an abortion!"

The family planning official raised his foot to kick A Xiu's belly. As she saw the approaching shoe, A Xiu let out a heart-wrenching scream, "No!"