The excitement began.

Chen Wangda knew someone like Tang Hong’en wouldn’t do anything without purpose.

Keeping everyone, including himself, at Liu Fen’s house was for this moment – to completely resolve this farce. Tian Big Brother misread the situation, coming to demand answers from Chen Wangda, but really to pressure the Liu family.

Resolving village conflicts internally had been Seven Wells Village’s tradition for years.

But Chen Wangda, after receiving a whole afternoon of legal education from Tang Hong’en, was in a difficult position. Tang Hong’en greatly respected veteran comrades and cared about rural grassroots work. He had been talking with Chen Wangda continuously, and now with Tian Big Brother barging in, Chen Wangda felt compelled to speak:

“Resolve what? You know very well what terrible things Tian Hu did. Your whole family ran off to White Brook Temple, thinking no one could find you in the village, making young Tian Xiaoyan kneel in the snow – who were you trying to bully?”

As soon as Chen Wangda finished, the villagers all started talking at once.

All criticizing the Tian family’s cruelty – on such a snowy day, a young girl could have frozen to death, or at least gotten sick – who would be responsible?

“That’s just bullying!”

“Trying to make Brother Yong soften up…”

Tian Big Brother’s expression became unnatural, “Third Brother said Xiaoyan wasn’t feeling well and didn’t want to go to White Brook Temple. How would we know she’d come kneel at the Liu house?”

Didn’t know?

Maybe the idea came from Tian Hu, but Tian Big Brother definitely approved – otherwise, why would the whole family brave the snow to attend the temple fair?

They wouldn’t spend money on anything else, but vegetarian meals cost 50 cents per person. The Tian family had over 20 members – they wouldn’t waste money like that.

Liu Yong stepped forward and sighed, “The child is pitiful. Xiaoyan held an awl to her throat, saying if I didn’t agree to let Tian Hu go to work, she’d keep kneeling in the snow. Who knows what you’ve been teaching children, making them do such things? Today I might agree to let Tian Hu go to Shenzhen, but tomorrow when something else displeases your family, who knows whose doorstep Xiaoyan will kneel at next? This behavior is completely wrong!”

Only after Liu Yong’s words did others suddenly realize the implications.

Liu Yong had been forced to agree to take Third Brother Tian to Shenzhen.

If this incident just passed, would the Tian family use this method in the future to grab others’ fields, occupy others’ houses, or borrow money without repaying?

The voices criticizing the Tian family grew louder.

“Uncle Da, Tian Hu didn’t control his daughter well. We’ll properly teach that child when we get back. For such a small matter, you shouldn’t have let the police arrest him, right?”

Tian Hu was taken away at the White Brook Temple fair. The police had pushed him to the ground, asked for his name and household registration address, and then arrested him without another word. The temple fair was crowded – how could they not meet some acquaintances? Word spread quickly, and many people were saying Tian Hu had committed a crime. The Tian family was pointed at and whispered about at the fair, completely humiliating Tian Big Brother, who slunk back home with his family.

“I made the police report. Looking for Village Chief Chen won’t help.”

When Tang Hong’en spoke, the villagers cleared a path. Tian Big Brother saw an unfamiliar face speaking Mandarin – an outsider. Oh, had he come to stand up for the Liu family?

Before he could speak provocatively, Chen Wangda had several people hold him back:

“Mind your attitude in front of the leader!”

What kind of leader?

Not just Tian Big Brother was curious – everyone present was curious. Even Chen Wangda didn’t know Tang Hong’en’s current position.

Tang Hong’en didn’t need to speak directly with someone like Tian Big Brother. An inexperienced farmer normally couldn’t get close to Tang Hong’en. But today he had decided to be conspicuous all the way, and to do so with reason and evidence, so he didn’t mind:

“How to raise children is parents’ business, but child abuse is the state’s business. Making a child kneel in the snow until demands are met – everyone heard about this. Besides child abuse, there’s also the crime of harassing women. Comrade, do you think the police were right to arrest Tian Hu?”

Though Tang Hong’en spoke softly and didn’t curse, the Tian family didn’t dare argue.

Whatever words passed through Tang Hong’en’s lips, everyone listened carefully – this was his natural authority.

Of course, his status added weight. Chen Wangda had called him a leader, and though the Tian family couldn’t tell what kind of leader, Tian Big Brother didn’t dare speak carelessly.

Tian’s Second Sister-in-law’s eyes darted around. Relying on being female, she could play dumb if she misspoke:

“What kind of leader takes sides with the Liu family? Kneeling and not getting up was Xiaoyan’s secret doing. My brother-in-law just wanted to marry into the Liu family – he didn’t get physical, how is that harassment!”

Tian’s Second Sister-in-law thought she spoke cleverly. Without the sharp-tongued Xia Xiaolan speaking up, she usually worked as a matchmaker and was good with words.

But for some reason, though she proudly refuted Tang Hong’en, the villagers’ looks were indescribable.

As Tian’s Second Sister-in-law felt uneasy, Tang Hong’en wasn’t angry but asked pleasantly:

“Madam, do you know my surname?”

Tian’s Second Sister-in-law shook her head, “How would I know…”

What’s so great about a surname? The Tian family was confused about how a surname could indicate someone important.

Chen Wangda thought, that if the Tian family wanted to dig their own grave, he couldn’t stop them.

Tang Hong’en said leisurely:

“You see, you don’t know me, I don’t know you, I only know the Liu family – so of course I should take their side, right?”

After the double hit of “women cook, men wash dishes” and “dating with marriage in mind,” Tang Hong’en delivered another classic line – he only knew the Liu family, so, of course, he should take their side!

Little Wang was already numb.

Following the leader for four or five years, thinking he was a confidant, he didn’t understand the leader at all, did he?

Hit after hit, Little Wang had no choice but to passively accept the leader’s new image.

Li Fengmei listened intently from inside – this is why he’s a leader, his words were so pleasing to hear! Even if Tang Hong’en wasn’t a state official, with such speaking ability, would he worry about finding someone to remarry?

Li Fengmei felt her sister-in-law Liu Fen had incredible luck after leaving the Xia family.

Her daughter was successful, and now Mayor Tang had taken a liking to her – who says you can’t find a good man for a second marriage? Liu Fen might just be blessed!

Liu Fen worried that Mr. Tang speaking this way might affect his reputation.

Xia Xiaolan, like other villagers, was stunned by Tang Hong’en’s righteous statement. With Tang Hong’en’s sophistication, if he put just a little effort into pursuing a woman, how long could her mother resist?!

Several cars stopped at the village entrance. Seeing the large jeep with its roof covered in snow, they knew they hadn’t come to the wrong place. Trudging through the snow into the village, they saw many people gathered at Xia Xiaolan’s door.

Looking closer, there stood Mayor Tang.

The person walking in front was emotional:

“Old leader, you came back to Yu Nan without telling me?”

Nobody knew who this person was.

Chen Wangda glanced over and recognized someone at the back – it was County Director Fang from An Qing.