Chapter 215: No One Is Above the Law

Just as Zhang Dezhen was about to speak, he heard footsteps approaching. Turning around, he saw Captain Gao Jiefang and his wife.

Captain Gao glanced at the tightly closed door. “Village secretary, what are you doing?”

Seeing Captain Gao coming, Zhang Dezhen cursed inwardly, ‘I’ve been running around all day today and just got back to catch my breath.’

“I came to check on Luo Qiao.”

Qiao Lanlan said, “Secretary, you weren’t in the village this afternoon. The women’s lead came back and said the hospital suggested Luo Qiao be hospitalized for treatment. But this child, thinking she had no internal injuries, insisted on coming back to recuperate to save money.”

When they heard this, Zhang Dezhen could only say, “Ah, it’s all my daughter Qiaoyan’s fault for being confused. It’s because my mother-in-law fell today and I was busy taking her to the hospital for a check-up. Today Chunni and Dongyu stayed at Wang Village.

My son and I just returned to the village not long ago, feeling sorry for Luo Qiao, so we came over to check on her.”

A woman nearby who was at odds with Zhang’s family shouted, “Village secretary, you guys are really something. Never mind that Luo Qiao is a girl living alone, but you coming here in the middle of the night, isn’t that odd? There’s no reason to visit a patient empty-handed.”

Zhang Dongze’s face was now burning, and Zhang Dezhen wasn’t any better off.

Just then, inside the courtyard, Luo Qiao said, “Village secretary, whatever it is, let’s talk about it tomorrow. I’m in pain all over and just want to rest early.”

When they heard Luo Qiao’s words, Zhang Dezhen quickly spoke up, “Luo Qiao, Captain Gao is here too. Could you please open the door? I have a few words to say to you.”

Luo Qiao thought Zhang Dezhen was shameless. Despite her refusal, he still insisted she open the door.

Unable to avoid it, she decided to open the courtyard door and said, “Alright, come in and talk.”

But she didn’t invite them into the house, instead, she had them sit down in the yard.

After a moment of consideration, Zhang Dezhen said, “Luo Qiao, I understand today’s incident involving Qiaoyan was indeed out of line. But she’s still young. Could you please give her a chance for my sake? I promise she won’t cause trouble again in the future.”

Looking towards Zhang Dezhen, Luo Qiao asked, “If I had died today, what would you have done?”

Zhang Dezhen hadn’t expected Luo Qiao to counter with such a question instead of giving a straightforward answer.

He fell silent for a moment before responding, “Since it didn’t happen, why speculate so much? Don’t you think so?”

Luo Qiao retorted, “Village secretary, your words are quite casual. No wonder you raised a daughter like Zhang Qiaoyan.”

Zhang Dezhen felt the sting of Luo Qiao’s sarcasm. Already frustrated from begging and pleading all day, her mockery only added fuel to his fire.

He said with an unfriendly tone, “Luo Qiao, you should consider the situation. What Qiaoyan did was indeed wrong, but she’s still young. You’re about the same age. Can’t you give her a chance?

You’ll still live in Qingshan Village and interact with its people in the future. You need to be flexible.”

Luo Qiao thought to herself: ‘You no longer pretend now’, “Village secretary, I don’t quite understand what you mean. What Zhang Qiaoyan did wasn’t just a mistake but a violation of the law. You’re asking me to give her a chance, but I’m not the law enforcement agency.

I’m not a state official either. Even if I were, I couldn’t violate national laws. Everyone must be accountable for their actions. No one has the privilege to be above the law.”

This statement startled Zhang Dezhen. Luo Qiao had escalated the matter significantly.

Regaining some clarity in his mind from Luo Qiao’s words, Zhang Dezhen knew pursuing the matter regarding his daughter was likely won’t work. Persisting might even lead to his own downfall.

So he said, “I was confused. I apologize, Luo Qiao.”

Luo Qiao responded calmly, “It’s okay. As a cadre and village member, you must not break the law. Since you’ve come today, the hospital’s diagnosis was a minor concussion and multiple soft tissue injuries, suggesting hospitalization.

Money doesn’t grow on trees for anyone, so I came back early. I won’t be able to work for a while. I wonder how the brigade plans to arrange this?”

Captain Gao Jiefang, seeing the village secretary looking towards him, intervened, “Regarding your situation, we’ll convene a brief meeting among the brigade cadres shortly and provide you with an answer tomorrow morning. Is that acceptable to you?”