Luna’s sample was worn by Wang Ming Ming on stage. Though not exceptionally beautiful, Wang Ming Ming had an enduring appeal. The dress suited her well, and she carried herself with the proper star presence.
Xia Xiao Lan’s thoughts weren’t on Wang Ming Ming herself, but rather on the potential impact of Wang Ming Ming appearing in Luna’s sample design. By the time the entire Gala ended, it was nearly 2 AM. Most citizens with televisions had likely stayed up until then. Tang Hong En was arranged to stay in an empty room at Xia Xiao Lan’s house.
While Xia Xiao Lan’s family had experienced some small ripples this Spring Festival, New Year’s Eve had passed peacefully and could generally be considered enjoyable. For the Tian family, however, New Year’s Eve was spent in fear, completely devoid of any festive atmosphere.
The fat meat they’d nearly gotten to taste had slipped away – they hadn’t even gotten a taste before bringing trouble upon themselves. While playing the ruffian often achieved their goals, such tactics depended on who they were dealing with. The Tian family had kicked a steel plate this time, leaving Tian Da Long feeling as if his foot was broken.
The township head personally had a “heart-to-heart” with Tian Da Long, telling the Tian family to keep a low profile this year, stay home, and avoid wandering around the village. The leaders weren’t unreasonable, but if you relied on their reasonableness to constantly push boundaries, what else was there to say?
Anyone could see these were troublemakers playing the ruffian. The Tian family was forbidden from appearing before Tang Hong En and the Liu family. How to avoid people in the same village? The only solution was to forbid the Tian family from leaving their house!
As for Tian Hu’s arrest, since it was New Year’s, no resolution had been reached yet. This kind of vermin, who stole to buy alcohol, would surely have a record of petty theft if thoroughly investigated. In a year of strict crackdowns, the police station could keep Tian Hu locked up indefinitely.
Tang Hong En only said to handle it according to law – how to deal with Tian Hu would require careful consideration of the appropriate measures.
“Ah Fen’s luck is…” Not every household had a television, so those without gathered at homes that did, watching the Gala while chatting. This year’s Gala wasn’t lacking in entertainment, but people’s attention was more focused on the events at Xia Xiao Lan’s house.
Just the events of New Year’s Eve would give them years’ worth of conversation!
The villagers now judged Tang Hong En to be an official even higher than the county head, though exactly how high, they didn’t know.
“The Liu sisters both have good fortune. Didn’t Liu Fang also marry an official, some bureau chief in Hedong County?”
“Shh, Liu Fang’s husband was stripped of his position, he’s not bureau chief anymore!”
Hedong County wasn’t far, and as Fan Zhen Chuan fell from power, many Hedong County officials were dismissed for investigation. The news gradually spread, reaching Qi Jing Village.
“Stripped of position? Why?”
Must have made mistakes, what else could it be? What a question to ask.
But someone immediately laughed, “Being stripped of position isn’t scary. With this official Ah Fen found, couldn’t he just say the word and get Liu Fang’s husband reinstated as an official?”
Village folk didn’t understand organizational appointments; they just knew Tang Hong En was powerful. If they became family, they’d surely help each other.
Chen’s Fourth Sister-in-law cracked sunflower seeds and sneered: “That’s what Liu Fang wishes. She hasn’t associated with her natal family for years. After marrying into the city, her nose went up in the air. Would Ah Fen help her? Last New Year’s Eve, Liu Fang came back – I saw it as a weasel paying New Year’s respects to chickens, nothing good intended. This year she didn’t come back – must have failed at whatever scheme she was plotting!”
True enough. After Liu Fang married into Hedong County, she never helped her brother or sister. Previously, Liu Yong and Liu Fen had lived in poverty.
She did come back last year but ended up arguing during the reunion dinner.
If Liu Fang hadn’t gone to cry at their parents’ graves on the second day of the New Year, Liu Yong probably wouldn’t have acknowledged her.
By rights, having resumed contact with her natal family, she should have returned for the reunion dinner today, but she was nowhere to be seen.
Had they fallen out again?
Chen’s Fourth Sister-in-law disliked Liu Fang’s arrogance. Hearing her husband was no longer bureau chief, she took some spiteful pleasure in it.
“The Liu family visits the graves every second day of the New Year. We’ll see then if Liu Fang returns!”
…
Whether to return to Qi Jing Village for grave sweeping – Liu Fang was still hesitating over this.
After Liang Bing An’s dismissal, the Liang family’s circumstances greatly declined.
Liu Fang had never worked, and the family’s income depended entirely on Liang Bing An. Though they had some savings left, the work-assigned housing was reclaimed, and the family of four moved in with Liang’s parents.
Once they moved in, there was no end in sight to their stay.
The Liang elders doted on their grandchildren and pitied their son, so they had no objections. What they couldn’t stand was Liu Fang, who constantly broke dishes and pots, forcing Liu Fang, now middle-aged, to become a shop assistant.
She certainly lacked the patience for customer service and treated customers poorly.
Fortunately, most state-owned shop assistants were like her, so Liu Fang didn’t lose her job. Such an unskilled position naturally didn’t pay well, far below Liang Bing An’s previous salary.
Besides his salary, Liang Bing An also had a grey income.
Liu Fang’s living standard had dropped dramatically. Previously an official’s pampered wife, she now worked days at the state-owned store and did housework after returning home. She could no longer spend freely on herself or maintain her appearance as before. In less than a year, she looked several years older.
Liang Bing An still hadn’t recovered his spirits.
In his situation, he could only work at private township businesses that didn’t check personnel files. After all, having been an official, Liang Bing An did have management ability.
Otherwise, he could only become an individual merchant.
But Liang Bing An couldn’t bring himself to accept either option. How could a former bureau chief open a shop? If he met acquaintances, how could he face them?
Liu Fang couldn’t do anything about Liang Bing An; the couple would argue whenever this came up.
Unable to rely on her husband, she placed her hopes on their daughter Liang Huan’s success. Liang Huan still had a chance to change their fate. After Liang Bing An’s dismissal, the Liang elders still knew some people and sent Liang Huan to study at Anqing No. 1 High School… having produced a top scorer in the college entrance exam, Anqing No. 1 had become legendary in several surrounding counties.
The Liang family’s New Year lacked any joyful atmosphere, and Liang Huan’s final exam results left everyone without a smile.
“With grades like these, can you even get into university?”
Liu Fang thought of the family’s misfortune, how her wages all went to Liang Huan, trying not to let her daughter feel the pinch, maintaining Liang Huan’s previous living standard – and how was Liang Huan repaying her?!
“I just can’t study well, I won’t take the college entrance exam!”
She had wanted to study seriously, determined to surpass Xia Xiao Lan. But she couldn’t help getting distracted in class. Everywhere she went, people mentioned Xia Xiao Lan and Liang Huan couldn’t calm her mind.
“Why scold her? Huan Huan is so smart, it must be Anqing No. 1’s poor teaching. If it’s not working, we should transfer her back to Hedong.”
Liang Huan’s grandmother immediately stood up to protect her, giving Liu Fang a headache.
With family matters in shambles, Liu Fang’s days were frustrating. She hadn’t mentioned visiting her natal family to Liang Bing An, but he brought it up first: “You should still go back for grave sweeping on the second day. The one who ties the bell must untie it. You make the first gesture, and since you’re sisters, the relationship will gradually improve.”
Bow her head to Liu Fen and Xia Xiao Lan?
Liu Fang nearly bit her lip bloody, the humiliation too strong – she couldn’t do it!