Free Web NovelChapter 25: Chapter 25: The Jerk of a Younger Uncle
Wang Hao ran all the way to Zheng Cailian’s house and saw her anxiously pacing in the yard.
"Cailian, what’s wrong?" Wang Hao asked with concern as soon as he entered.
Zheng Cailian looked at Wang Hao as if she saw a savior, her eyes lighting up before she threw herself into his arms.
With a sob in her voice, she said, "Haozi, Ya Ya might not be able to go to school."
"What happened? How can she not go to school out of the blue? Ya Ya hasn’t done anything wrong."
"It’s Ding Li, he came to make trouble a few days ago, and I drove him away. When he left, he threatened me, saying that if I didn’t give him some land, he would make sure Ya Ya couldn’t go to school."
As she spoke, Zheng Cailian’s eyes reddened, and tears uncontrollably streamed down her face.
Ya Ya is still young, and also a girl; she hopes her daughter can take the opportunity of education to leave the mountains and develop in the city, and maybe find a good family in the future.
Now, with their only hope about to be shattered, this Ding Li was preying on their vulnerability as a mother-daughter pair without anyone to depend on, relentlessly bullying them.
"Damn him, is that really what he said to you?"
Wang Hao was furious as he listened; this ungrateful Ding Li only knew how to pick on the weak.
"Yes, Ya Ya is just about to go to elementary school in town, and Ding Li is good friends with Hu Ge, a thug from the neighboring village. Hu Ge is a relative of the elementary school principal. Ding Li said that if I don’t hand over the land, he’ll make sure Ya Ya can’t go to school."
There’s no elementary school in Chen Village, and Ya Ya could only attend school in town. Going somewhere else isn’t an option because of regional restrictions.
"Cailian, don’t worry, I’ll take care of Ya Ya’s matter."
Wang Hao’s face was stern. Cailian was now his woman, and he would make sure anyone who dared to bully her would regret it.
Looking at Wang Hao’s resolute face, Zheng Cailian was deeply moved, but she was also worried that Wang Hao might do something foolish.
"Haozi, please don’t do anything rash. If Ya Ya really can’t go to school, it’s her fate. You mustn’t get into trouble yourself."
"Cailian, I’m going to marry you in the future, and that means Ya Ya will be my daughter too. From now on, with me protecting you and your daughter, let’s see who dares to bully you."
Wang Hao laid down harsh words, making his stance crystal clear. Zheng Cailian was moved to tears once again.
Wang Hao immediately embraced Cailian, tenderly stroking her hair with heartfelt empathy.
"Is Zheng Cailian home?"
At that moment, a shouting voice came from outside the door.
Wang Hao glanced toward the door and saw Xu Peng leading Village Chief Zhao Youquan coming their way.
"Oh, Wang Hao is here too?" ƒгeewebnovёl.com
It took a moment for Zhao Youquan to recognize him as he approached Wang Hao, given his age.
"What’s wrong? Is there a rule here saying I can’t come?"
Wang Hao replied sarcastically, already suspecting that Zhao Youquan’s visit wasn’t for anything good.
"What’s got into you today, sounding so aggressive? No matter what, I’m still your elder and the head of the village."
Zhao Youquan immediately felt slighted, clearly seeing that this youngster didn’t respect him.
"You still remember that you’re our village chief, huh? Siding with outsiders against your own people. Last time you covered for Zhou Mazi, what brings you here today?"
Wang Hao gave no quarter, saying what was on his mind.
The previous incident with Zhao Youquan helping Zhou Mazi was known by half the village, and now anyone would avoid mentioning land issues with him.
"Wang Hao, don’t spout nonsense. The village chief has always been committed to the economic development of Chen Village. Right now, the village is either left with women behind or filled with the old, weak, sick, or disabled. Who has the energy to farm? Now that we’re leasing the land to Zhou Mazi for fish farming, maybe we’ll even get a share of the profits in the future. Isn’t that good?"
Xu Peng seriously analyzed the situation with Wang Hao, meanwhile giving Zheng Cailian meaningful glances.
"I see that there are few honest officials nowadays. The village committee members have already been bought. Don’t bring up the land issue with me in the future or blame me for not being polite."
As he spoke, Wang Hao clenched his fists tightly, the bones making a cracking sound.
Zhao Youquan had witnessed Wang Hao’s power that day and, afraid of a head-on confrontation, turned around to call inside, "Today I’m not discussing this with you. Zheng Cailian, come here, I need to talk to you."
Zheng Cailian walked forward, trembling, "Village chief, what do you want with me?"
"Let’s talk inside the house."
Xu Peng, afraid that Wang Hao would interfere, gestured for Zheng Cailian and Zhao Youquan to enter the house, making it awkward for Wang Hao to follow.
Zheng Cailian invited the two men in, poured tea for them, and asked them to sit down, but Wang Hao followed them in.
"Wang Hao, what are you still doing here? This isn’t your business; you should leave."
Seeing Wang Hao enter, Zhao Youquan got nervous, thinking it best to send him away before discussing the matter.
"What’s wrong? It’s not like it’s anything shameful. Sister Cailian and her daughter already have it tough. If the village is treating her unfairly, I can be a witness here."
At these words, Zhao Youquan’s expression instantly cooled. Wang Hao was really determined to oppose him to the end!
"Village chief, it’s fine, just speak," Zheng Cailian insisted, feeling more assured with Wang Hao’s presence, gaining more confidence.
"Here’s the situation. Ding Li came to me yesterday, demanding an explanation and wanting his land back." ƒrēewebnovel.com
So Zhao Youquan really did come over to speak on Ding Li’s behalf.
"You see, he just wants to reclaim some land. After all, you’re family. Your husband has been gone for so many years, and now as a widow and orphan, your home needs a man to support it, right?" Xu Peng chimed in sympathetically, as if everything was for the sake of Zheng Cailian and her daughter.
"That Ding Li is a bastard, fighting and gambling, squandering his family wealth, and he cut ties with his family early on. Now he has the nerve to come back? He’s been mooching off me for years, lazy and good-for-nothing. How would he ever farm the land?"
Having reached her limit of tolerance, Zheng Cailian harbored deep hatred for Ding Li, who had harassed her for money over the years and even threatened her over Ya Ya’s future.
Now, these people were pleading for such a troublemaker, surely having received some benefit from him. This time, Zheng Cailian was determined not to agree.
"If you claim to have severed ties, then produce the relevant proof. If you can’t produce anything, then we’ll divide the land, and there will be no objection from the village committee," Zhao Youquan said firmly.
Zheng Cailian, a genuine rural woman, didn’t know about any such documents.
Zhao Youquan was certain Zheng Cailian couldn’t produce any proof, obviously just trying to put her in a difficult situation.
"I don’t think the village committee is being fair here. It’s clear that Ding Li is bullying them. What evidence do you have that he’s entitled to any land? And even if it’s a matter of land distribution, it’s not supposed to be theirs, right?"
Unable to listen any longer, Wang Hao slapped the table and said, his gaze firmly fixed on Zhao Youquan.
Zhao Youquan knew that his family had the most land in the village, and if the land really was to be distributed per capita, it certainly wouldn’t come from Zheng Cailian’s family.
"Wang Hao, you better mind your own business. Village affairs are not your concern," Zhao Youquan chastened, trying to use his authority to overpower Wang Hao.
But Wang Hao was unswayed, looking over the village chief’s head as if he saw a vast green pasture, and couldn’t help laughing, "I think the village chief should look after himself and his family first, haha...."
Baffled by the remark, Zhao Youquan touched the top of his head, found nothing, scoffed, and left with Xu Peng.
Watching the two men leave, Wang Hao clenched his fist, "Looks like this Ding Li really needs a good lesson."
Zheng Cailian’s tense heart also eased, grateful for Wang Hao’s presence that day, as she would have lacked the courage to face the village chief on her own.
She sighed; the house indeed needed a man, otherwise they would just be bullied.
Wang Hao seemed to read Zheng Cailian’s thoughts, took her into his arms, and comforted her, "Don’t worry, from now on, leave these household matters to me, and I’ll make sure no one dares to bully you two again."
Zheng Cailian nestled into Wang Hao’s sturdy chest, listening to his words, and nodded lightly.
"I believe you!"
