**June 6, 1996**
**Kecong's Sixth Birthday**
*Lin Plantation - Dining Hall, Evening*
"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to Kecong, Happy Birthday to you!" sang Xuefen, celebrating her son Kecong's birthday.
Kecong, with a bright smile, blew out the candles and clapped joyfully. Xuefen presented him with an adorable teddy bear.
"Xiao Cong, happy birthday. This is your gift," Xuefen said warmly.
"Thank you, Mummy," replied Kecong gratefully.
"You're such a good boy, Kecong! Look at how clean your clothes are! Have you made new friends?" Xuefen inquired.
"I have some new girlfriends, Mum. I don't play with those guys anymore. I'm a good boy, and I will always listen to Mummy," Kecong assured her.
Gently patting his head, Xuefen said, "That's my boy! Mummy loves you so much!" Tears welled up in her eyes.
"Mummy, don't cry! I'll always be your best lovable boy!" Kecong said with a comforting smile.
Wiping her tears, Xuefen said, "Alright, Mummy won't cry. Let's enjoy our meal."
After dinner, Xuefen tucked Kecong into bed. Half an hour later, Daqiang returned home and began to assault Xuefen. The noise woke Kecong, who ventured into the hallway...
"Daddy, why are you hurting Mummy?! Please stop! If you must, hurt me instead!" Kecong pleaded tearfully.
Daqiang grabbed Kecong's hair, slamming his head against the table, causing his forehead to bleed.
"Wonderful! It's my son's birthday, so I'll give you a special gift! Let's go to the storeroom!" Daqiang exclaimed menacingly.
"Daqiang! Please, don't do this to him! He's only six years old!" Xuefen cried out.
Daqiang dragged Kecong to the storeroom and mercilessly whipped him with a belt, leaving bloody marks on his hands and legs. Daqiang then committed unspeakable acts against Kecong, violating and brutally harming him.
Later, Daqiang struck Kecong's left hand with a baseball bat and opened the storeroom door.
"What a night! He's perfect for prostitution!" Daqiang said with twisted delight.
Xuefen slapped him hard, screaming, "You monster! How could you do this to your own son? He's just a child!"
"Mum... Mummy, it hurts... so much," Kecong said weakly before fainting.
Seeing her son in such a horrific state, Xuefen dressed him and rushed him to the hospital with the help of their neighbor, Mrs. Yan.
"We must get him to the People's Central Hospital immediately!" Mrs. Yan urged.
Within ten minutes, they arrived at the hospital, where Kecong was taken into emergency surgery. Xuefen anxiously paced, clenching her fists, while Mrs. Yan tried to comfort her.
"Fen, take a seat. This will take time," Mrs. Yan advised. "I'll get some food for us," Mr. Yan added.
Four hours later, the doctor emerged from the emergency room.
"Doctor! How is my son?!" Xuefen asked frantically.
"Who did this to him?! He's only six! Have you contacted the police?" the doctor demanded angrily.
"It was... his father. A drunkard and gambler. But don't worry; I'll take him far away from that monster," Xuefen replied.
"He's a poor child. His left fingers are shattered, beyond repair. We're also concerned about potential psychological trauma from the assault. Recovery will take months," the doctor explained.
**Two Weeks Later**
Xuefen took Kecong out of the hospital, packed their belongings, and left the plantation. They moved to the city to live with her sister, Xue Er, near the Shanghai Bund. Xue Er worked at a nightclub, and Xuefen enrolled Kecong in a local primary school. However, due to his disability and fear of others, he struggled to make friends. Though he smiled outwardly, he remained deeply scarred inside.
Determined to support his education, Xuefen worked at the nightclub, while Kecong secretly took on jobs as a milk and newspaper delivery boy, often facing challenges due to his disability. Over time, he mastered cycling, becoming proficient in his work.
At ten, Kecong excelled academically but suffered from chronic gastric problems. His meals often consisted of a single packet of milk for breakfast and lunch, with sparse rations for dinner.
**June 6, 2002**
On his twelfth birthday, Kecong went shopping with Xuefen and Xue Er. While browsing for a gift, he spotted his father, Daqiang, working as an assistant manager at the mall. Panicked, Kecong ran into a disabled toilet, followed by Daqiang.
Inside, Daqiang taunted him, recalling past abuses. Despite Kecong's pleas, Daqiang again subjected him to horrific acts. After the assault, a distressed Kecong visited a pharmacy for cream to treat his injuries.
When Xuefen called, Kecong downplayed his encounter, returning home quietly. There, he tried to cleanse himself of the trauma, only to be discovered by Xue Er, who realized the truth and apologized for unwittingly leading him to his father.
A confrontation ensued, with Xuefen pulling down his pants to reveal the fresh injuries. Anguished, she demanded to know why he allowed the abuse to continue, forgetting the damage done to his hand.
**End of Chapter 2**