Tang Hong En?
Chen Wang Da’s vague impression suddenly matched the name.
It was that Tang Hong En… He’d heard he’d become a high official in another province – why would he come to Seven Wells Village, and how did he know the Liu family? Chen Wang Da knew the Tian family’s trouble today would be hard to resolve. He was also annoyed with them and now refused to cover for them, explaining everything from start to finish.
Tang Hong En’s expression remained unchanged. Chen Wang Da recalled yesterday’s phone call – how could it be such a coincidence that Tang Hong En would visit Liu’s family today? Could these rural schemes have caught a leader’s attention?!
After listening, Tang Hong En said, “The state has issued marriage laws, but they haven’t been implemented in rural areas. Legal education still has a long way to go. If I hadn’t seen and heard it myself, I wouldn’t have known forced marriages still happened in modern society.”
Though Tang Hong En merely mused to himself without a harsh tone, the villagers felt their faces burning.
Chen Wang Da blushed. Rural people still handled things according to custom, preferring private resolution and mediation by respected figures. Chen Wang Da had always been that respected figure, but this time the Tian family, seeing great benefit, wouldn’t let go, sweeping Chen Wang Da’s authority aside.
But for Tang Hong En, matters that could be resolved officially never needed private mediation.
Everything he did had a legal basis – no one could find fault.
“Little Wang, find the local police station’s contact information. Have them send two officers to bring Tiger Tian in for questioning.”
Why bring him here? Tang Hong En couldn’t be bothered to see him.
Taking someone directly to the police station would make any troublemaker behave.
These people were getting bolder because they thought they could bully Liu Fen and Xia Xiao Lan for being women. They saw the Liu family as outsiders who couldn’t handle troublemakers. Tang Hong En had only called to send regards but heard about this situation. He’d canceled several Lunar New Year appearances, flown from Shenzhen to Commerce City, then driven all the way to Seven Wells Village in Anqing County – not to deal with some hoodlum.
Little Wang followed someone to make the call at the village committee office. Now others dared speak even less.
Who was this man?
It was New Year’s – even police officers needed rest. He could just order Tiger Tian’s arrest? Everyone looked to Chen Wang Da, who kept his eyes down, seemingly deferring completely to Tang Hong En’s arrangements.
Liu Yong hadn’t expected this approach from Tang Hong En either. It felt like the mayor had come specially to stand up for the Liu family – but how was that possible?!
Xia Xiao Lan thought the same.
She finally realized what felt wrong. Tang Hong En’s timing was too perfect, arriving just in time to solve their trouble. Grandmother Yu, usually unconcerned about food, had suddenly wanted mutton soup last night and suggested delaying lunch today – this must be connected to her.
Xia Xiao Lan had to admire the old lady. Not telling others was one thing, but shouldn’t she have warned her?
Grandmother Yu really could keep a secret, deliberately waiting for Tang Hong En to witness the scene!
Hearing the police arrest her father, Tian Xiao Yan forgot about licking her bowl clean and knelt before Tang Hong En. “Uncle, please don’t let them arrest my father.”
“They’re not arresting him – the police officers will just educate your father. Don’t you want your father to become better?”
Though Tang Hong En didn’t yell at the child, Tian Xiao Yan’s shoulders trembled.
Her father had promised that if he could go work with Liu Yong, he’d never hit her again. If the police took him away, what would happen to her and her brother?
“Xiao Yan, get up.”
Chen Wang Da frowned. This child’s knees were too soft – perhaps having succeeded once by kneeling, tasting its benefits, she quickly learned to achieve her goals through pleading on her knees. Tian Xiao Yan had no awl now and was quickly lifted. Elder Sister Chen had someone hold her continuously. Though Tian Xiao Yan squirmed, she couldn’t escape the adult’s embrace.
Tang Hong En beckoned to Xia Xiao Lan: “You couldn’t even handle this? Anyone can approach your mother just because she’s divorced – every Tom, Dick, and Harry thinking they have a chance?”
Xia Xiao Lan truly wanted to enjoy this New Year, celebrate happily, and then properly teach the Tian family a lesson. Besides grave-sweeping, she basically wouldn’t return to Seven Wells Village.
That had been her plan, but now questioned by Tang Hong En, she didn’t know how to explain.
“Mr. Tang, this isn’t Xiao Lan’s fault…”
Liu Fen became anxious – even a leader shouldn’t wrongly blame her daughter.
Liu Yong was also worried, “It’s all my fault. Please don’t criticize Xiao Lan.”
Everyone was confused by Liu Yong’s extremely cautious attitude toward Tang Hong En.
And earlier, when Tang Hong En said to notify the police for an arrest, Chen Wang Da hadn’t objected. Uncle Da cared most about face, always resolving things internally. In all these years, village conflicts had never even reached the township level, let alone involved the police!
Tang Hong En wanted to lecture Liu Yong but held back.
Liu Yong was different from Xia Xiao Lan – with so many people present, he needed to save Liu Yong’s face.
As for Liu Fen, she was originally a simple rural woman who had finally become confident. Tang Hong En feared frightening her and softened his voice:
“Comrade Liu Fen, I’m not blaming Xiao Lan. Don’t overthink it.”
Little Wang quickly returned from making the call. “Leader, it’s all arranged.”
Tang Hong En checked his watch. “Am I delaying everyone’s meal? It’s so late – let’s eat quickly.”
“Yes, let’s eat. Everyone, please sit down.”
After Tian Xiao Yan’s scene and Tang Hong En’s arrival, the New Year’s Eve meal was delayed from noon until past 1 PM.
During the meal, no one voluntarily sat with Tang Hong En. Grandmother Yu pushed Liu Fen, “You’re the host. Quick, take Xiao Lan to keep him company. Don’t let him feel neglected.”
Liu Fen had eaten with Tang Hong En several times and had considerable contact with him. She normally wasn’t nervous around Tang Hong En anymore, but today Mayor Tang seemed a bit fierce.
But if Liu Fen didn’t go eat with him, who should?
Grandmother Yu was right – this was Liu Fen’s home, she was the host.
Xia Xiao Lan finally confirmed it – Grandmother Yu was desperately trying to match her mother with Tang Hong En. What was the old lady thinking? Hadn’t she said to let things develop naturally?
Xia Xiao Lan guessed that this return home and Third Uncle Tian’s harassment had changed Grandmother Yu’s mind.
But changing her mind without discussing it – Xia Xiao Lan was caught completely off guard.
Grandmother Yu arranged for Liu Fen to sit beside Tang Hong En. The overwhelming strangeness wasn’t just noticed by Xia Xiao Lan who perceived Grandmother Yu’s intentions – the onlookers weren’t fools either. Women were especially sensitive to such things. Listen to how Tang Hong En spoke – he’d shown no warmth to Tian Xiao Yan, but his voice was so gentle with Liu Fen:
“Just sit here comfortably. You’ve prepared so many dishes and been busy all day. I don’t follow the custom of women not sitting at the table – men and women are equal. If women cook, men should wash dishes…”
All the men holding chopsticks forgot to eat. Such pretty words – would you roll up your sleeves and wash dishes later?!
How would we survive after you leave?
What man enters the kitchen?! For so many years, this wasn’t the custom!
Fourth Sister Chen elbowed Elder Sister Chen, winking at her.
– This man… how did he seem interested in Liu Fen? But how was that possible?!