Chapter 199: Support

“What are you all gathered around for?” a familiar voice called out.

The villagers watching the commotion called out, “Village Chief, Village Chief…”

Yu Xiangnian sneered, “Just in time, the Village Chief is here. Let him be a witness. Cheng Jingmo’s relationship with you all ends here!”

Mu Huanzhen looked at Cheng Huazi, who gave her a reassuring glance, signaling to stay calm and let things be.

“This is Cheng Jingmo’s home.”

With the Village Chief’s introduction, eight men started walking in, three of whom were dressed in green military uniforms and wore military hats.

Yu Xiangnian and Cheng Jingmo exchanged glances, both understanding each other: they didn’t recognize them, and they weren’t the ones who had called them.

The Cheng family was stunned. Those standing remained frozen in place, while those sitting jumped up in shock.

The Village Chief told Cheng Shuanzhu, “Guests have arrived. Move the tables and stools out.”

“Oh,” Cheng Shuanzhu responded and went to move the furniture.

Cheng Jingmo noticed from the military uniforms that the oldest man had a higher rank than him. He saluted, “Hello, Sir!”

The man looked at him and then turned his gaze to Yu Xiangnian, “So you must be Xiangnian!”

Yu Xiangnian: “…”

What’s with this creepy old man, acting so familiar right off the bat?!

The man walked over and said, “I’m your Uncle Yang! I heard from your father that you’re in Ping County, so I came to check on you.”

Not just heard, but it was specifically arranged by Yu Jiashun.

Yu Jiashun had called and said he was worried about his precious daughter being with her husband and wanted Commander Yang to look after her.

He added, “Hurry up! My daughter is the most important. Don’t worry about anyone else.”

Commander Yang understood perfectly. Yu Jiashun wanted him to back up his daughter and not show any favor to the son-in-law!

Yu Xiangnian, though not familiar with this Uncle Yang, trusted him since he was someone her father relied on.

Feigning warmth, Yu Xiangnian smiled brightly, “Uncle Yang, it’s you! My dad often talks about you. How’s your health?”

“Quite robust!” Uncle Yang glanced at Yu Xiangnian, “You look quite a bit like old Yu, but you’re much prettier!”

“Perhaps I inherited some of my mother’s good genes.”

Meanwhile, the Village Chief noticed that Mu Huanzhen was holding a kitchen knife to her neck.

The Village Chief’s brow furrowed as he asked Cheng Shuanzhu, “What’s going on? Don’t you know we have distinguished guests here?”

Cheng Shuanzhu ran over, took the knife away, and put it in the kitchen.

Mu Huanzhen stood there, still in shock.

Mainly because the three men in military uniforms had guns strapped to their waists, and she was scared!

The three men only spoke to Cheng Jingmo and Yu Xiangnian after entering, clearly there to support them.

Cheng Shuanzhu had already set up the tables and chairs in the courtyard, and the Village Chief invited everyone to sit down.

The Village Chief introduced the visitors, “This is our town’s head, this is the Ping County head, this is the city mayor, and this is the mayor’s secretary.”

The Village Chief emphasized, “This is the Western Theater Army Commander, and these two are his bodyguards and driver. Commander Yang and Comrade Yu’s father are old war comrades. Upon hearing that his comrade’s daughter is here, he came all the way from Su City to visit.”

The implication was clear: with such high-ranking officials traveling such a distance to visit Yu Xiangnian, it was evident how valuable she was to her family!

Commander Yang waved his hand, “Everyone, sit down. Don’t be formal. I’m here just to see the daughter of my old comrade. Her father and I were comrades in the same trench, bound by life-and-death loyalty. He used to talk about her so much that I could almost recite it myself! Now that I hear she’s here, I had to come and check on her.”

The Cheng family had never even met the county head, let alone these high-ranking officials.

What’s more, the earlier incident had left them shaken.

Everyone was seated as if they were tied to their chairs, afraid to move a muscle.

“Ah, ah,” Cheng Huazi awkwardly smiled.

Yu Xiangnian pretended to be apologetic, “Uncle Yang, we should have been the ones visiting you, but instead, you came to see us. I’m truly sorry.”

“No problem!” Commander Yang said generously, “I was worried you might not be comfortable here, so I brought some things from Su City for you. I’ll have Xiao Wang bring them in from the car later.”

“Thank you, Uncle Yang,” Yu Xiangnian sweetly replied, “But we’re actually planning to leave today, so please take these things back with you.”

“Leaving already? Are you unhappy here?” Commander Yang asked deliberately.

The Cheng family’s hearts were in their throats, hoping Yu Xiangnian wouldn’t say anything out of turn.

Yu Xiangnian nodded, “Yes, I’m not happy at all.”

The Cheng family felt their heads explode, especially Mu Huanzhen, who almost fell off her chair.

“Who made you unhappy?” Commander Yang slammed his gun on the table, “Whoever dared to upset you is disrespecting me!”

The Cheng family members jumped in their seats.

Although they knew Yu Xiangnian’s father was a leader, they didn’t realize he was such a high-ranking leader, able to send people from thousands of miles away to support her.

Looking at the officials, their attention was solely on Yu Xiangnian, barely acknowledging Cheng Jingmo.

No wonder the household was dominated by Yu Xiangnian; Cheng Jingmo was indeed lucky to be in such a position!

Zhang Hongli was inwardly crying for help, vowing never to cross Yu Xiangnian again.

Although Yu Xiangnian knew that Commander Yang was there to back her up, she didn’t want to air all her family’s dirty laundry and make things difficult for him.

She said, “I miss home, which makes me unhappy. But Uncle Yang, I actually have a request.”

“Go ahead.”

Yu Xiangnian said, “With the village and township leaders present today, we’d like to make an agreement with the Cheng family in your presence.”

Yu Xiangnian briefly described Cheng Jingmo’s miserable childhood and then asked Cheng Huazi, “Father, what I’ve said is all true, right?”

Cheng Huazi: “…”

He was so angry his lips were trembling, but he could only force himself to admit, “Yes.”

Yu Xiangnian continued, “Cheng Jingmo has sent a total of 3,560 yuan over the years. The little bit of gratitude the Cheng family showed him has been repaid in full with this money.”

“So, we want to make an agreement that no more money will be sent back in the future. We ask the village and township to witness this.”