Chapter 2 The Box at the Door
"Mom, did you and Dad argue again?"
Yingying had been listening the whole time. She reached out and hugged me.
"Mom, do not be angry. Yingying will be good. I will not make you mad."
I lifted her into my arms.
"I am not angry. I will not waste my mood on someone like that."
"You said you were hungry. I will serve the rice. Go eat first."
"Okay."
She was always obedient and gentle, even though life with me had been hard.
I left early each day to sell goods at the market, so she spent long hours alone. She had learned to be independent early.
It hurt to think about, but there was no other choice.
After settling her at the table, I sat down to eat.
A loud knock sounded at the door.
No one was there when I opened it. Only a large box sat on the ground, red liquid seeping from one corner. A heavy black plastic bag rested beside it.
My heart pounded as I forced myself closer and opened the box. A child's body lay inside. The head was crushed beyond recognition.
I screamed and fell backward.
Yingying ran out.
"Mom, what happened?"
I covered her eyes.
"Do not look. Go back inside. No matter what you hear, stay in the room."
I locked her in safely, then called the police.
"Officer, someone left a body at my door."
The officer told me to stay safe and said they were on the way.
My hands still shook when they arrived, not from fear but from rage.
I already knew who had done this.
The officer asked if my family was all right.
I answered that we were fine, though the cruelty of it made my chest ache.
They asked if I recognized the child.
I said no.
Then I gave them the only lead I had.
At noon someone had called claiming my daughter was dead and offered money to settle privately. I had refused.
The officer's eyes widened.
"So the body is your daughter's?"
"No. I do not know who she is."
They asked me to return to the station for a statement.