I recently saw a news report, and my heart feels blocked up. Not long after the Spring Festival, a violent incident occurred in Pingdingshan, Henan. An adult man and his wife carried out an extremely cruel beating of a 15-year-old girl. They smashed her face with bricks and struck her with their shoes—the whole process is truly shocking.

The motive was actually very simple—an argument triggered by a collision involving an electric vehicle. Such matters are, in principle, nothing out of the ordinary; they can be resolved through negotiation or by reporting to the police. But after the elderly man continued to insult the girl and the girl fought back, everything completely got out of control. After one phone call from the elderly man, his son and daughter-in-law rushed over. Instead of handling it calmly, they became even more vicious and attacked the girl and even the people trying to mediate. Those methods are really hard to describe—“vicious” is the only word that fits.

It is said that the girl is currently in a semi-unconscious state, with her eyesight and hearing seriously affected. A 15-year-old child, just like that, has been ruined. Watching something like this, it’s hard not to feel furious. But besides anger, we also need to figure out one thing—what price these perpetrators should pay.

According to the Criminal Law provisions, if someone intentionally injures another person’s body and causes “light injury” or above, criminal responsibility must be pursued. In this case, the girl has a cracked bone ridge over her eyebrow. If the assessment determines it constitutes “light injury” or above, the perpetrators will face imprisonment of up to three years, criminal detention, or public surveillance. Not only that, if someone randomly beats another person in a public place with such serious circumstances, they may also be charged with the crime of provoking trouble and creating disturbances.

What’s most crucial is that when adults commit violence against minors, the law requires strict punishment. As adults, the perpetrators faced a child; not only did they not show the restraint that should have been exercised, they instead preyed on the weak with brute strength. The subjective maliciousness is extremely great, and the social harm is serious. The law must make them pay in order to effectively deter other potential offenders.

Fortunately, the local public security authorities responded quickly and have already taken criminal coercive measures against the suspects. This reflects the judiciary’s “zero tolerance” attitude toward crimes that harm minors.

This incident also reminds us that when facing evil acts, besides anger, we must stay calm. It’s not about compromise, but about using a clear mind to ensure the wrongdoers pay the price they deserve. Every time someone speaks up, every time evidence is presented, and every time reconciliation is refused—these all compress the space in which violence can survive. Only by ensuring that violent acts come with high costs and severe consequences can we truly curb the spread of evil.

Violence is never a way to solve problems. The rule of law is the foundation for maintaining social order. Hope that every child can walk calmly in the sunshine.