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Amidst the cheers, Zhou Ping was taken away. Upon hearing the news of her daughter’s arrest, Zhou Ping’s mother tearfully sought help from the village leader.
Seeing the commotion in the Zhang family courtyard, Zhou Ping’s mother was determined to rescue her daughter, not caring about anything else. She held on to the village leader, portraying her daughter as a virtuous woman, almost as if she deserved praise and admiration.
” Zhou Ping’s mother, you can ask the police to release your daughter. Why don’t you sleep on it and reconsider? Let me tell you, Old Zhang has already sold the house. The buyer has signed the contract. Your daughter will have to face the consequences. You think everyone is as easy to deal with as Old Zhang? You are truly blind to the reality,” the village leader stated firmly.
With such a significant incident occurring in the village, the village leader’s reputation was at stake. Unfortunately, Old Zhang was already in the hospital. If things escalated, the village leader would face criticism.
“What? The house is sold? That old man! Not only is he ill, but he also sold the house. I won’t let this slide,” Zhou Ping’s mother exclaimed.
Before Qu Zhaodi could finish speaking, she received a slap across her face from Zhang Hua, who glared at her furiously.
“If you dare speak another word, you’ll face the consequences. This is a communist society, not your personal domain. If you dare harm the parents of a military officer, what else are you capable of? Maybe even murder and arson. I’ll have the police thoroughly investigate your family,” Zhang Hua threatened.
Shocked by the slap, Zhou Ping’s mother was momentarily stunned. She then remembered her purpose for being there and collapsed in the courtyard, wailing. Wang Qian observed her without shedding a tear, recognizing the kind of woman who could raise a daughter like Zhou Ping was not to be trifled with.
Cong Tao, feeling displeased, retorted, “You, get out of my house. I just bought this place. Don’t you dare dirty my yard with your presence. You can sit there; that’s where your daughter sent her waste to our place. Go sit there. I have no objections. And while you’re at it, help me get rid of those pests. You should see where you’re seated.”
This quip from Cong Tao drew laughter from onlookers. Seeing his strategy failed, Qu Zhaodi left dejectedly.
“Uncle, Village Leader, the homeowner would like to invite the neighbors and you for dinner tonight. He also mentioned the need for everyone to take care of each other and communicate more. We’ll help clean up the house this afternoon and then I’ll find you later. The neighbors have also been told not to have dinner yet; there’s a special meal planned for tonight,” explained Cong Tao.
The surrounding neighbors pitched in to tidy up the yard and the house. Cong Fei and Yang Jian, holding the ammonium sulfate, generously offered to help at Zhou Ping’s house next door, under the guise of sharing blessings and hardships together. The neighbors who chipped in to assist couldn’t help but chuckle at the situation.
With everyone’s help, the house was swiftly cleaned, windows opened for ventilation, and the strong odors dissipated.
Qu Cungen and Mingcheng went out to buy some meat, while Mingyuan, Wang Xuan, Yang Nuo, and the children headed to the seaside for clam digging. They planned to enjoy their catch in the evening, with Yang Jian particularly intrigued by the activity.
Sitting in the yard, Zhang Hua took a deep breath, relieved after the trying times she faced for her maternal family. She expressed her gratitude to Wang Qian, acknowledging that without their help, the situation wouldn’t have been resolved quickly. She also reflected on her limited abilities in handling confrontations, feeling grateful for her nephews’ assistance.
“Wang Qian, I really want to thank you all. If you hadn’t come with people, we wouldn’t have been able to resolve this family matter so quickly. I don’t have many skills, just a knack for arguments. But when it comes to arguing with Zhou Ping, I can’t compete. Thankfully, with your help, our family has seen a brighter day,” expressed Zhang Hua.
Zhang Hua savored the fruits contently, while Wang Qian, with a smile, sat on a stool watching her. “Auntie, in the future, you and Uncle will have to handle the house-building matters. Our family will provide the funds for the house, and it will be for Grandpa and Grandma to live in. The house still belongs to Little Uncle. Whether he returns or not, at least he’ll have a home here. If it weren’t for that troublemaker, we wouldn’t be in this mess,” Wang Qian remarked.
Amused by her niece’s furrowed brow, Zhang Hua found Wang Qian’s already beautiful features enhanced by her innocent expression.
“Qianwian, once the house is built, whose name should we put on it, your dad’s or your mom’s?” Zhang Hua inquired.
After pondering for a moment, Wang Qian suggested, “Auntie, let’s put it under Mom’s name. It would be more appropriate and easier for the village leader to handle. After all, Dad is from outside the village, while Mom is a local girl. It would help us blend in better.”
Impressed by her niece’s thoughtful approach, Zhang Hua acknowledged that without Wang Qian, resolving the situation wouldn’t have been as smooth.
“Qianqian, let’s go help with the clam digging. There are too many children; we should go and check on them,” Zhang Hua suggested. She was concerned about the children who had come as guests and felt obligated to ensure their safety after they had stepped in to help during the challenging situation.
When the two arrived at the seaside, they found Yang Nuo and the others happily playing, their baskets filled with the day’s catch.
“Wang Qian, you’re finally here. Do you think we have enough for dinner tonight?” Xiaomei, uncertain about the dinner guest count, expressed her concerns.
Wang Qian took a look and reassured her, “Xiaomei, we have enough for dinner. Let’s gather some more for ourselves. Tonight, I’ll take you all crabbing. It’s a rare opportunity for you to visit, so I’ll make sure you have something special.”
Excited at the mention of crabbing, Cong Yu and the others were eager to join, their mouths watering at the thought.
Meanwhile, Zhang Hua and the children continued their clam digging at the seaside, ensuring there would be enough for everyone, especially for the city kids who seldom had such opportunities.
Upon their return, Mingcheng and Qu Cungen had bought the meat, and Cong Tao, trying to act the part of the host, was advised by Wang Qian and Mingcheng to maintain the facade without giving anything away.
“Wang Qian, you still don’t trust me? Acting the part is no problem for me, let alone this minor act. Don’t worry, we’ll all be fine. It’s just playing host. Today, I’ll play the role well,” Cong Tao assured, confident in his acting skills.
Yang Nuo jokingly warned him, “Bro, you better play your part well today. The future of this house depends on you.”
With everyone bustling around the yard and kitchen, even the neighbors joined in to lend a hand, creating a vibrant atmosphere of cooperation and camaraderie.
“Zhang Hua, what’s your father’s plan for the future? Will you continue building a house or consider moving out?” inquired the neighbor, concerned about the well-being of the elderly father.
“Uncle Sao, we plan to build a new house for my father, but this time, it’s my sister’s family who will provide the funds. This way, it relieves everyone’s worries. After selling the house, my eldest brother and the others won’t have any reason to care anymore. If they still harbor any thoughts, they’ll have to consider if my nephews agree. Those four children are not to be trifled with. If Zhou Ping continues with foolish acts, she might end up in prison,” Zhang Hua explained.
As they conversed, Zhang Wei, who had been working outside, returned home. Witnessing the commotion and hearing about his wife’s arrest by the police, he stormed into the yard angrily.
“Zhang Hua, what have you done to your sister-in-law? Hand over my wife now!” Zhang Wei demanded, his frustration evident.
Zhang Hua, looking coldly at the somewhat unfamiliar man, couldn’t help but feel a sense of estrangement. This person had grown up with them, shared the same mother’s milk, yet now seemed like a stranger.
“Zhang Wei, do you have the audacity to step into this yard? Look at the despicable acts you’ve committed. Let me inform you, your wife has been taken away by the police. If you have the guts, go demand her release from them. Remember, what goes around comes around. You know deep down the immoral deeds you’ve done. Be prepared for the consequences, as your son will learn from you,” Zhang Hua asserted firmly.
“I’m telling you, our father has sold this house, and the new owner is there. You better stay away from this yard in the future. Don’t dirty their place with your corrupt intentions. Beware, they are not to be messed with. If you cause trouble again, don’t say I didn’t warn you,” Zhang Hua asserted firmly.
“You…” Zhang Wei was cut off as soon as he entered the house by Zhang Hua, pointing at her in frustration.
“What about me? I may not be the most filial, but at least I haven’t done what you’ve done. You treat your own father like this. In the future, who would dare associate with you? Let me tell you, I don’t consider you my relative anymore. Don’t you point fingers at me, or I won’t hold back either,” Zhang Hua retorted, not letting Zhang Wei get a word in.
Unable to argue back effectively against Zhang Hua, Zhang Wei stormed out in a fit of anger. Wang Qian gestured a thumbs up to Zhang Hua, “Auntie, well said. People like that deserve to be scolded. They won’t know their place until they get a good scolding.”
The neighbor, Uncle Sao, chimed in agreement, “Exactly, people like that deserve to be scolded. Otherwise, they won’t even know who their own mother is. They might think they sprang out from between the rocks.”
After preparing dinner, Mingcheng and Qu Cungen invited a family over for a meal. The Zhang family set up three tables – one for the children and two for the adults. Thanks to their private funds, Mingcheng and Wang Qian managed to cover the expenses.
“Everyone, as a newcomer here, I’m still learning the customs. I invited you all here today to witness the purchase of this house and to seek your help in looking after my grandmother, who will use this house for her retirement. Since she’s currently in the city and I’m often busy, I’ll need Untie Zhang’s family’s help in caring for her. I appreciate your assistance and thank you all for being here. Cheers,” Cong Tao expressed gratefully to his guests.
Wang Qian stifled a laugh on the side, surprised that Cong Tao managed to maintain his composure and deliver his words confidently. “He really didn’t falter in front of everyone. His speech was quite impressive, resembling a respectable figure,” she mused.