Chapter 27: Director Zhao ridicules people

Zhao Xinshan didn’t delve into the details. Instead, he began shooing away the onlookers outside. “Go, go, go. This has nothing to do with you. Stop squatting around here.”

One of the villagers tried to argue, “Team Leader, let us see what’s going on. We’ll find out sooner or later anyway.”

Zhao Xinshan remained cold and unyielding. “Is the courtyard a place for you to watch the commotion? Move along now.”

The crowd dispersed reluctantly, their faces full of regret.

Soon, the courtyard was left with only the three Wang brothers, the four men from the Pan family, Zhao Huahua and her mother, and Zhao Cheng.

Zhao Xinshan gave them a glance and called them into the office. “Come in and have a seat.”

The families either sat or stood, with the Wang family and the Pan family clearly divided into two camps.

Zhao Xinshan first turned to Pan Xiulian, nodding approvingly. “She’s a fine girl.”

Pan Xiulian couldn’t help glancing toward Zhao Ke. When their eyes met, she immediately forced a shy smile.

Zhao Xinshan lifted his enamel cup, took a sip of hot water, and said, “Such a good girl—if Lao San can’t marry her, it’ll be Wang family’s loss, as well as his.”

With even the Team Leader of Zhao Village’s Production Team speaking so highly, the Pan parents were visibly proud, their chins lifting slightly with a satisfied curve.

But then Zhao Xinshan’s tone shifted. “However, let me be fair. Both families bear some responsibility for this marriage dispute. That said, since the bride price was agreed upon, for the Pan family to cause a stir on the wedding day itself is indeed unbecoming.”

The Pan parents’ expressions froze.

Facing Zhao Xinshan’s stern gaze, Mother Pan felt a bit guilty but still forced herself to sound tough, though her tone betrayed her insecurity. “Why should my daughter marry Lao San with a lower bride price than Wang family gave for Lao Si’s match? It’s the Wang family who disrespected us Pan family first! If you, as the Team Leader, are going to take their side, we’ll leave right now. No need for further mediation.”

Before Zhao Xinshan could reply, Aunt Dong hastily countered, “You’re the ones who went back on your word! How does that mean we disrespected you?”

Mother Pan puffed up with confidence. “If you could mess up the agreement first, why can’t we?”

Aunt Dong retorted, “You’re the ones reneging on the deal! Isn’t that disgraceful?”

Zhao Xinshan slammed his enamel cup onto the table with a loud thud. “What’s all this noise for?”

The two women, like fighting roosters, instantly quieted down but kept glaring daggers at each other.

Zhao Ke lowered her eyes slightly.

In front of Zhao Xinshan, they didn’t dare argue, but in her presence, they were completely unrestrained.

If Zhao Xinshan had been sitting here earlier, they probably wouldn’t have dared to fight.

Though she understood it was normal for others to treat her lightly—having just taken the position of Women’s Director, being young and inexperienced—it still made Zhao Ke feel dissatisfied.

She wanted a peaceful and quiet life, so this shouldn’t have bothered her.

But it did.

Zhao Xinshan spoke again, this time addressing the Pan parents. “When did you hear that Wang Changhe’s family had agreed to give twenty yuan as the bride price for Lao Si’s match? Why didn’t you raise objections earlier? Why wait until the wedding day to make a scene?”

Mother Pan mumbled, “We only found out shortly before the wedding.”

As for why they waited?

Of course, it was to force the Wang family to hand over the money.

Wang Lao San was a tough case, and in such a situation, the Wang family would likely compromise to ensure the wedding went smoothly.

The Pan parents had been confident they could squeeze another ten yuan out of the Wang family, but they hadn’t expected Zhao Village’s Team Leader to intervene.

Mother Pan avoided Zhao Xinshan’s gaze and instead turned to question Wang Xiangquan. “You’re all brothers. How can you be so spineless, letting your future wife enter the household with a lower bride price than your younger brother’s match? What position will you and your wife have in the family in the future?”

Aunt Dong, afraid her third son would feel slighted, grabbed his arm and explained, “When your eldest and second brothers got married, the family didn’t even give any bride price. Over the years, the family’s finances have been tight, delaying both your and your younger brother’s marriages. Your father and I feel guilty about that, so we’re trying to do everything we can to make your marriage happen.”

Mother Pan replied sarcastically, “When I asked for ten yuan as a bride price back then, it was such a struggle. But now for Lao Si, it’s twenty yuan? And even a house to be built? You’re obviously favoring the youngest.”

Wang Xiangquan clenched his teeth tightly, his fists gripping hard.

Yesterday, he also questioned his parents, but no matter how he pressed, they wouldn’t explain why the Sun family’s demands were acceptable but the Pan family’s weren’t.

“Shut up!” Aunt Dong, flushed with anger, scolded Mother Pan sharply. “Stop stirring up trouble! I treat all my sons equally!”

“Who believes that?” Mother Pan sneered sarcastically. “The first two got married years ago, and Wang Lao San has been slaving away for them, even raising their kids. You mean to tell me he couldn’t scrape together twenty yuan? Even if asking for more money on the day of the wedding is bad form, your family’s behavior is plain for everyone to see.”

Wang Xiangquan lowered his head and refrained from blaming his parents in front of others. Instead, he pleaded with Pan Xiulian in a low, humble voice, “Xiulian, I know I’ve let you down, but I promise I’ll treat you well in the future…”

Pan Xiulian’s wrist was tightly held by Mother Pan. She could only glance at Wang Xiangquan before lowering her head again.

Disappointment flashed in Wang Xiangquan’s eyes.

Mother Pan snapped at him, “If I had known your family was so biased and you were such a coward, Xiulian’s father and I would never have agreed to you two dating in the first place!”

“Who’s biased?” Aunt Dong anxiously turned to Zhao Xinshan. “Team Leader, didn’t I borrow ten yuan from you yesterday for the bride price? That money, we’re going to pay.”

Hearing this, Mother Zhou, who had been listening quietly, immediately objected, “No way!”

Mother Zhao quickly chimed in, “I don’t agree either.”

However, Mother Pan wasn’t pleased with this sudden concession. She spat heavily, “Let me tell you, we don’t even want it anymore! Do you think my Xiulian can’t find someone better off than your family?”

Pan Xiulian’s eyes brimmed with tears as she anxiously called out, “Mom~”

Mother Pan glared at her. “With a biased mother-in-law like this, you won’t have a good life if you marry into their family!”

Aunt Dong, now panicking, blurted out, “I never agreed with the Sun family! It was only because Dong Ni’er promised me she’d return the money after the wedding that I pretended to agree!”

The room fell into a stunned silence.

No one expected that behind the seemingly finalized marriage of Wang Lao Si and Dong Ni’er, there was such a twist.

Wang Xiangquan looked at his younger brother in shock. So their parents hadn’t explained because they were afraid Sun Dama would find out?

Wang Lao Si, Wang Xiangping, crouched down in pain, covering his head.

Aunt Dong realized what she’d just said and turned pale.

She had let it slip. Her fourth son’s wedding was likely doomed…

Mother Pan was left in an awkward position, opening and closing her mouth without knowing what to say.

She had been relentless in accusing the Wang parents of favoring Wang Lao Si, but if what Aunt Dong said was true, wasn’t the one being favored actually Wang Lao San?

Zhao Siye, his family of three, and the Zhou family were also speechless.

This… what kind of mess was this?

Zhao Ke and Zhao Xinshan exchanged glances, both frowning slightly.

The Wang family’s handling of this matter was truly unacceptable.

Since the Sun family hadn’t been called before, they couldn’t avoid calling them now.

Zhao Xinshan instructed Zhao Cheng, “Go call the Sun family over.”

Zhao Cheng acknowledged and ran out. Within a few minutes, he arrived at the Sun household.

Standing outside, he called, “Uncle Sun, Aunt Sun, Dong Ni’er, the Team Leader wants you to come over.”

Aunt Sun, who had listened to the Wang family’s commotion all night, felt a bit guilty and hadn’t dared to join the crowd at the courtyard today.

Now that the Team Leader was summoning them, Aunt Sun wondered if it was about the twenty-yuan bride price they’d demanded. She asked Zhao Cheng, “Cheng Zi, how’s the mediation between the Wang and Pan families going?”

Zhao Cheng couldn’t help glancing at Dong Ni’er. “You’ll find out when you get there. I can’t explain it.”

Feeling uneasy under his gaze, Dong Ni’er lowered her head nervously.

Zhou Xiuli, who was feeling better physically, overheard their conversation. She came out and joined them as they headed to the courtyard together.

A few minutes later, the group arrived at the office.

The atmosphere inside was tense and strange.

Aunt Sun scanned everyone’s expressions and asked, “Team Leader, what’s the matter calling our family here?”

Of course, the explanation wasn’t something Zhao Xinshan, the Team Leader, would deliver himself.

Zhao Ke used only a few sentences to clearly explain the necessary details to Aunt Sun.

When Aunt Sun first heard what was said, her immediate reaction was disbelief and outrage. “How could that be possible? Dong Ni’er wouldn’t do such a thing.”

Everyone else remained silent. Aunt Dong and her husband avoided Aunt Sun’s gaze, and Dong Ni’er, terrified, began sobbing.

Lao Si, Wang Xiangping, looked ashamed and murmured, “Auntie…”

Aunt Sun’s face darkened bit by bit. Suddenly, she rushed forward and started hitting him. “You worthless brat! How could you disgrace my daughter like this, huh? I’ll beat you to death!”

“Why are you hitting my son?”

Aunt Dong immediately rushed over to protect her son, pulling Aunt Sun away.

Aunt Sun grabbed her hair, cursing her, “You heartless wretch…”

The two women tangled together, pulling each other’s hair and scratching each other’s faces.

Uncle Sun, who had always been quiet and endured the shame of not having a son, was now too angry to hold back and joined in to help his wife attack Aunt Dong.

The Wang family was clearly in the wrong. None of the Wang men could lay hands on Aunt Sun and Uncle Sun, so they had no choice but to push into the fray and separate the fighting parties.

Wang Xiangping placed himself in front of Aunt Sun and Uncle Sun, taking not only a few blows from his own mother but also getting hit by the Sun couple.

Dong Ni’er cried, “Stop fighting, please stop…”

The Zhou family, the Pan family, and Zhao Siye’s family, seeing how things had escalated, didn’t know whom to side with and just stood awkwardly at the sidelines.

Zhao Xinshan, who had served as the Team Leader for years, rarely encountered situations where people openly disregarded him. Enraged, he shouted, “Enough already! Stop fighting!”

Aunt Dong reluctantly stopped, leaving only Uncle Sun and Aunt Sun still hitting the Wang family.

But as they continued, their blows slowed, and eventually, Aunt Sun slumped to the ground, crying loudly, “How could anyone be treated so unfairly…”

Dong Ni’er hurried over to help her. “Mom, please get up…”

“Smack!”

Aunt Sun slapped her hard across the face.

Dong Ni’er froze, holding her cheek as tears streamed down her face.

Wang Xiangping was startled and quickly pulled Dong Ni’er behind him. “Auntie, hit me instead. Don’t hit Dong Ni’er. It’s all my fault.”

Aunt Sun refused to even look at him, her face filled with disgust. She stared coldly at Dong Ni’er and asked, “Do you really have to marry him?”

Dong Ni’er silently wept.

“Good words can’t persuade a stubborn ghost. From now on, marry whoever you want—I’ll act like I don’t have a daughter anymore.”

“Mom?!” Dong Ni’er was stunned, her voice trembling as she panicked, “Mom, don’t do this… Mom~”

Aunt Sun grabbed Uncle Sun and turned to leave, as if she really didn’t care about her daughter anymore.

Zhao Ke, watching coldly, finally spoke up, “Aunt Sun, Uncle Sun, don’t be in such a hurry to leave.”

“What’s the point of staying? So people can laugh at me?” Aunt Sun’s tone was cutting. “Ha! Before, whenever someone said my family was full of worthless daughters, I was ready to fight them. Today, I give up!”

“And to think someone would degrade themselves like this…”

Aunt Sun choked up as she spoke.

Zhao Ke sighed inwardly and helped her and Uncle Sun sit down on the side. Then she turned to Dong Ni’er and asked, “Why did you secretly promise Aunt Dong to return the money?”

Dong Ni’er sobbed, “I just didn’t want both families to end up completely at odds. I… I also felt bad for Si Ge being caught in the middle…”

Zhao Ke: “…”

Feeling bad for the man?

“Why don’t you feel bad for your parents? Haven’t the hardship education sessions at the Production Team taught you anything? Are you so eager to suffer that you’re dragging your parents down with you? Haven’t they endured enough suffering for your sake?”

Dong Ni’er didn’t dare talk back, crying so hard she was gasping for air.

Wang Xiangping, feeling sorry for her, stood in front of Dong Ni’er. “Zhao Ke, if you’re going to scold someone, scold me. Dong Ni’er only did this for my sake…”

“Address me as Director Zhao. Why are you acting so familiar?”

Wang Xiangping froze, then lowered his head. “Director Zhao.”

Zhao Ke asked him, “Did you tell Dong Ni’er to do this?”

Dong Ni’er quickly raised her head. “No, no! I only told Aunt Dong after talking to Si Ge. Si Ge didn’t agree.”

Zhao Ke turned to Wang Xiangping, her tone sharp. “And after you disagreed, what did you do to make it right?”

Wang Xiangping… did nothing.

Zhao Ke reached out and shoved him. “Feeling proud, are you? Having a girl this naive, willing to throw herself away for you?”

Wang Xiangping stepped back and shook his head. “I’m not…”

“Not?” Zhao Ke shoved him again. “Then you’re just gambling on luck, aren’t you? Thinking once you get her home, even if people find out, they can’t undo it, right?”

Wang Xiangping staggered back another step, unable to deny it.

Zhao Ke shoved him harder, making him stumble. “Do you have any sense of responsibility? Are you poor in both money and heart?”

Wang Xiangping’s legs hit a stool, and he barely managed to steady himself, his shame so overwhelming he wished he could disappear into a hole.

Everyone in the room fell silent.

Even Wang Xiangping’s parents, cowed by Zhao Ke’s aura, didn’t dare speak.

Zhao Xinshan said nothing either, letting Zhao Ke handle the situation.

Zhao Ke didn’t keep focusing on Wang Xiangping and Dong Ni’er. Instead, she turned to the Pan family. “If this twenty yuan wasn’t an issue to begin with, and the Wang family’s bride price remains unchanged, are you still willing to go through with the marriage?”

The Pan family exchanged uncertain glances. Mother Pan hesitated and stammered, “W-we’ll still proceed…”

Zhao Ke frowned. “Either proceed or don’t. Why are you hesitating?”

Father Pan and Mother Pan looked at each other again before Father Pan quickly said, “We’ll proceed.”

But Zhao Ke countered, “I’m the Women’s Director of Zhao Village. Logically, I should be protecting the people of our village, but I advise you to reconsider this marriage.”

Not just the Pan family—everyone in the room was stunned.

“Zhao Ke, how can you say that?” Aunt Dong was anxious. “It’s better to break a temple than to ruin a marriage. Isn’t what you’re doing cruel?”

Zhao Ke retorted sharply, “Cruel? Am I as cruel as you? Is this how you treat people? And call me Director Zhao—don’t make me keep reminding you.”

Aunt Dong was momentarily speechless, then reluctantly corrected herself. “Director Zhao, my in-laws have agreed to the marriage. How can you say such things?”

“Zhao Ke.” Zhao Xinshan spoke up disapprovingly. “When handling disputes, you should mediate to reconcile, not push for separation.”

Zhao Ke took a deep breath.

Reconcile, not separate?

A fake smile appeared on Zhao Ke’s lips as she once again gently asked the Pan family, “Do you still want this marriage?”

So… proceed or not?

The Pan family didn’t dare say a word.

Aunt Dong jumped in, “Proceed, of course, we must proceed.”

Zhao Ke ignored her and instead asked Wang Lao San, Wang Xiangquan, “What do you think?”

With Lao Si’s earlier experience as a cautionary tale, Wang Xiangquan thought hard for a while before cautiously saying, “I want to live a good life with Xiulian—not because I’m getting older and feeling envious of others with wives and children warming their kang, but because I genuinely like Xiulian. I want to marry her. If I can’t marry her, I won’t look for anyone else.”

“Forget ten or twenty yuan, even a hundred or two hundred yuan for a bride price—Xiulian is worth it. Whatever I earn in the future, I’ll give it all to Xiulian. I won’t let her suffer even a bit, and no one will bully her.”

“If I can’t live up to that, I deserve to be beaten to death. Everyone here can bear witness.”

As a grown man, Wang Xiangquan had never said such sappy words before. His face turned red, his neck flushed, and it looked like smoke might rise from his head. He had no idea what he was saying, but he spoke faster and with increasing determination.

Pan Xiulian was deeply moved. “Xiangquan…”

Wang Xiangquan grasped her hand. “Xiulian…”

Zhao Ke rolled her eyes at them, her expression betraying no satisfaction or dissatisfaction.

But she didn’t say anything more, and Aunt Dong joyfully started calling Father and Mother Pan “in-laws.”

Dong Ni’er looked at the pair with envy, then turned expectantly toward Wang Xiangping. “Si Ge…”

Wang Xiangping, awkward and tongue-tied, realized that anything he said now would fall short. So instead, he dropped to his knees with a loud thud in front of Uncle Sun and Aunt Sun.

“Uncle, Aunt, you’ve watched me grow up. I know I haven’t done enough, but please give me a chance to prove myself. From now on, I’ll treat you like my own parents and be as filial as I can.”

After speaking, he kowtowed several times, the sound loud and clear.

After Zhao Ke had berated them earlier, Aunt Sun and Uncle Sun had vented some of their frustration. They wanted to help him up but found it hard to swallow their pride.

Zhao Ke, with a cool tone, said, “Why not just marry into their family? Then it’d be official.”

Uncle Sun and Aunt Sun’s eyes lit up at the idea.

Aunt Dong shrieked, “No way!”

Wang Changhe was equally firm. “My son will never marry into another family.”

Zhao Xinshan’s voice carried a warning edge. “Zhao Ke…”

Zhao Ke looked back at him. “Uncle, I can’t meddle in others’ marriages, but with the Wang family’s situation—overbearing parents, heavy family burdens, and strained sibling relationships—it’s only a matter of time before it all falls apart. My job can’t revolve around them every day.”

It was a fair point. The Production Team wasn’t there to cater to a single family.

Zhao Xinshan’s expression darkened as he turned to Wang Changhe. “What do you plan to do? Your family’s actions embarrass even me. Give us an answer.”

Sweating nervously, Wang Changhe wiped his hands on his pants. “Team Leader, I’m just a rough man. Can you give me some advice?”

After a moment of silence, Zhao Xinshan said, “Split the family.”