In 1992, a mother, devastated by the tragic fate of her two daughters, uttered a heartbreaking statement: “If there is a next life, I don’t want children. It’s too exhausting!” The pain she carried was unimaginable. What could have led a mother to make such a sorrowful confession? This mother, Zhu Mingxin, had two daughters, one of whom tragically died, while the other was poisoned and left with severe mental impairment. Her daughter, Zhu Ling, was reduced to the mental capacity of a six-year-old due to the poisoning.
A Mother’s Painful Reflection
Over the span of just five years, Zhu Mingxin‘s family endured unimaginable pain. One daughter dead, the other left in a permanent state of mental helplessness. All Zhu Mingxin could feel was guilt and sorrow. What could a mother do, faced with such loss and unrelenting grief? Even worse, the perpetrators responsible for her daughters’ suffering and deaths were never caught, leaving Zhu Mingxin heartbroken and unable to move on. Every day, she looked at her second daughter, Zhu Ling, and wondered how she could ever find peace.
Late at night, when sleep wouldn’t come, Zhu Mingxin often dreamed of a happier time. She dreamt of the day Zhu Ling had been accepted to Tsinghua University. 
A Family’s Hopes
Zhu Ling had worked so hard and was accepted into one of China’s most prestigious universities, Tsinghua University. Her parents, despite their advancing age, embraced their daughter with pride. However, the joy of that moment was soon overshadowed by tragedy. The past few years had taken a heavy toll on her parents.
Zhu Mingxin and her husband, Wu Chengzhi, both had distinguished careers in the scientific community. He worked as an engineer for the National Earthquake Bureau (an agency under the Ministry of Emergency Management of China), while she was a graduate of the National University of Defense Technology. They were both respected professionals, yet their happiness was stolen from them by the shocking deaths and suffering of their daughters.
Sudden Tragedy Strikes
Wu Jin, Zhu Ling‘s older sister, had always been the star of the family, excelling academically and gaining admission to Peking University. Her parents were immensely proud. But their happiness was short-lived. One day, while the family was planning a vacation, the unthinkable happened. They received a phone call informing them that Wu Jin had gone missing.
Three days of searching in the wilderness produced no results, and the family was left to mourn their lost daughter, with the cause of her death shrouded in mystery. The authorities concluded that Wu Jin had fallen from a cliff, though her parents could not accept the possibility of suicide. Her death, ruled an accident, left the family devastated, and they could never understand why the circumstances of her death remained unclear.
A New Beginning and More Heartbreak
In 1992, Zhu Ling passed the university entrance exams and was accepted into Tsinghua University. Despite the overwhelming grief of losing her sister, she strove to excel in school and bring some semblance of happiness back to her grieving parents.
At university, Zhu Ling participated in the traditional Chinese music ensemble, winning multiple awards at the sports meet. She was talented in both the arts and athletics, gaining admiration from her peers. But despite her efforts, the shadow of her sister’s death continued to loom over her.
In December 1994, Zhu Ling began to feel unwell. Her condition worsened, leading to hospitalization and a diagnosis of poisoning, specifically heavy metal poisoning. The family was horrified to learn that Zhu Ling had been poisoned with thallium, a highly toxic substance. The authorities were alerted, but the investigation soon hit a dead end. The culprit remained unknown.
Unraveling the Mystery
The investigation focused on those who had access to thallium, and one suspect, Sun Wei, emerged. She had been Zhu Ling‘s roommate and had a history of conflict with her. But despite intense questioning, Sun Wei denied any involvement, and there was no conclusive evidence to implicate her. Shortly after the investigation began, Sun Wei fled abroad, escaping any further scrutiny.
A Tragic Conclusion
As Zhu Ling‘s condition worsened, her recovery became a distant hope. The poison had caused irreversible damage to her brain, leaving her with the mental capacity of a seven-year-old. For her parents, it was a second devastating loss, and they could only watch as their daughter’s life was shattered. Despite the incredible hardships, they clung to the hope that Zhu Ling would one day regain her health, but the odds were stacked against them.
Though the authorities never caught the responsible parties, the tragedy of two daughters, both victims of heinous acts, left a permanent scar on their parents. Zhu Mingxin, once full of hope, could only reflect on the painful journey she had endured, her heart shattered by the cruel twists of fate.
Conclusion
This case highlights the vulnerability of individuals and the profound impact of unresolved justice. It is a stark reminder of the importance of protecting life and ensuring that conflicts are resolved peacefully. For parents like Zhu Mingxin and Wu Chengzhi, the weight of losing one child and then witnessing another’s irreversible fate is too much to bear.(December 22, 2023, Zhu Ling passed away in Beijing, but the case remains unsolved.)
