Chapter 124

Qiao Qingqing had come to the Public Security Bureau of her own volition to provide a statement about what had transpired. Her testimony as the victim would be instrumental to their investigation. Although there was no specific legislation at the time regarding the "crime of undermining a military marriage," the protection of military marriages had begun several years prior. "Given that the current circumstances, while egregious, have not resulted in extreme consequences, it is highly likely that they will be sentenced to several years of detention." Officer Zhang Feng expressed deep sympathy for what Qiao Qingqing had endured, but this was the reality of the situation. The "egregiousness" referred to the premeditated, group-based nature of Zhou Hongjun’s actions; the "severity" referred to the actual outcome—had Qiao Qingqing been physically harmed or murdered, those men would certainly be facing the firing squad. As the "hooliganism" law had not yet been enacted, the fact that such a penalty was even being considered was entirely due to Qiao Qingqing's status as the spouse of a military officer.