Chapter 28: The Unbearable Father

By four in the afternoon, Ma Lin had finally finished her work.

“Hello, I’m Han Chao’s wife,” Chen Yufeng said, eyeing Ma Lin’s military uniform with admiration. A female colonel with four stars—impressive.

“There’s something I’d like to discuss privately. Let’s walk and talk,” Ma Lin said. She took a few steps forward before continuing, “The first time I met Han Chao was when he enlisted. You probably know this—he was arrested for fighting and sent to a juvenile detention center. He was supposed to be sentenced, but Xu Yongyi happened to be at the detention center that day on business. He saw Han Chao and decided to take him out.”

Chen Yufeng hadn’t known this part, but she did know that when the authorities took Han Chao away, they had indeed said they were going to detain him.

Then, he came back as a soldier.

Xu Yongyi had saved him.

“I heard you have two daughters,” Ma Lin continued.

“Yes, one is named Tiantian, the other Mimi. They’re twins,” Chen Yufeng replied.

Ma Lin went on, “I also heard that yours was an arranged marriage. Han Chao has been on the battlefield and even worked undercover as a spy. He’s been through things most people can’t even imagine. He must have a lot of psychological issues. Being his wife—his military spouse—must be tough for you.”

This was interesting. Her view of Han Chao was the same as that of Commander Luo and Commander Ma.

While they acknowledged Han Chao’s abilities, they were still suspicious of him and didn’t fully trust him.

“We weren’t in an arranged marriage; we were childhood sweethearts,” Chen Yufeng corrected her.

Her firm stance in defending her husband surprised Ma Lin.

The reason Ma Lin was so interested in Han Chao was because of her ex-husband, Xu Yongyi. He had always been unwavering in his support for Han Chao, which led to many disagreements between them. Given that Commander Luo and Commander Ma both disliked Han Chao, Ma Lin naturally held a negative view of him as well.

As for Han Chao’s marriage and family, she had learned about them from Zhang Yanli.

She had been told that Han Chao’s marriage was arranged, that his wife—Chen Fanshi’s daughter—was uneducated, that she had given birth to two daughters, and that she secretly wanted a son.

Prejudice makes people blind. Ma Lin didn’t see lack of education as a crime, but she believed that those without education were more prone to mistakes—because they didn’t understand the law.

She added, “Even though you have daughters, you must invest time and effort in them, educate them fairly. You must believe that as long as parents are willing to teach, girls can be just as capable as boys.”

Chen Yufeng responded calmly, “I educate my daughters very well.”

Ma Lin seemed skeptical but didn’t argue. Instead, she continued, “Zhang Yanli and I are close friends. Recently, she helped Director Qin find a family to adopt a child. Strictly speaking, she acted against policy, but Director Qin and his wife heavily favor sons over daughters and frequently mistreat their daughter. So, in this case, the adoption wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Do you understand? Those who are determined to have sons will find a way to have them, no matter what.”

If a girl was born into a family that favored boys, and her adoptive parents treated her better, then the adoption wasn’t necessarily wrong.

Han Chao had arrested Zhang Yanli, and the military had punished her.

However, Chen Yufeng had also heard that Director Qin’s mother, in her desperation for a grandson, had once deliberately pushed her granddaughter into oncoming traffic. If the driver hadn’t braked in time, the girl would have died.

So, in a way, Zhang Yanli wasn’t entirely wrong.

Ma Lin continued, “Zhang Yanli and I are both from Tianjin. We grew up together and used to be the best of friends.”

She had repeatedly brought up Zhang Yanli, even mentioning the Director Qin situation.

Chen Yufeng understood now.

Ma Lin had called her aside because of Zhang Yanli.

Sure enough, Ma Lin finally got to the point: “Last night, Zhang Yanli reported something to me. She said that after the military detained Ma Shangbei, you used this as leverage to demand 30,000 yuan from Chen Fanshi. In exchange, you promised her that as long as Chen Fanshi paid up, you would help ensure the military gave Ma Shangbei a lenient sentence. Because of this, Zhang Yanli even sold a house to come up with the money.”

…

“You know, even if Chen Fanshi is your father, this matter involves extortion. If Zhang Yanli reports it to the leadership, our Military Affairs Office will file a lawsuit on her behalf. The military court will confiscate that money, and Han Chao will be expelled from the army,” Ma Lin added.

Chen Yufeng sighed inwardly—just as expected.

Zhang Yanli was not someone to be trifled with.

Right now, the military district had charged Ma Shangbei with attempted murder, which, under military law, meant a minimum sentence of ten years.

He was Zhang Yanli’s biological son, originally with a promising future, set to attend special training with the Hong Kong garrison.

But because of Han Chao, he was now detained and about to be sent to prison.

This case was already beyond saving, but how could Zhang Yanli possibly let it go?

She gave Chen Fanshi thirty thousand yuan—that was a trap.

If not for Mimi’s unintentional reminder…

If not for her quick thinking in having Chen Fanshi sign a receipt…

That money would have been considered a bribe.

Chen Yufeng remained calm and asked Ma Lin, “Since you’re talking to me privately, I assume Aunt Zhang has some conditions and wants to settle this matter outside of court? What does she want? I’m listening.”

Ma Lin and Zhang Yanli had been childhood friends. After Ma Shangbei broke the law, Zhang Yanli had approached her for help, hoping to pull some strings. But after Ma Lin told her that the crime was too serious and couldn’t be covered up, Zhang Yanli didn’t press further.

However, just this morning, Zhang Yanli came to her, clearly upset, and told her about Chen Yufeng allegedly extorting thirty thousand yuan over this incident.

Zhang Yanli’s demand was simple—if Chen Yufeng returned the thirty thousand, she wouldn’t escalate the matter to the military court.

After settling it privately, they could still remain “one big family” and get along peacefully.

She also had another “small” request—she wanted Mimi to recognize Ma Jinfeng as her godmother. Not as an adoption, just as a godmother in name.

These conditions didn’t seem excessive at all. In fact, they sounded so reasonable that it was almost laughable.

Seeing Chen Yufeng listening intently, Ma Lin continued, “You are uneducated and lack parenting skills, while Ma Jinfeng’s husband is a professor who went into business, having worked in Africa before recently returning to China. I believe you’re not like Director Qin and his wife—willing to go to any lengths just to have a son. But the fact is, you lack education and knowledge. Letting your daughter have a godfather would give her access to better education. Yanli is thinking about your daughter’s future.”

Clearly, Zhang Yanli had given up on rescuing her son.

But she wasn’t giving up on Mimi.

The whole “godmother” idea was just a front. If given enough time, Zhang Yanli would eventually take Mimi and hand her over to Ma Jinfeng’s family.

According to the book, Ma Jinfeng and her husband were deeply superstitious. It was said that not only did Mimi’s facial features indicate prosperity for sons, but after Ma Jinfeng met Mimi, she coincidentally encountered a stroke of good fortune—she discovered that the mine she had leased contained not only coal but also gold.

Because of this, Ma Jinfeng became convinced that Mimi brought her luck. No matter how much it cost, she was determined to have her.

In the book, Mimi indeed brought Ma Jinfeng endless prosperity. Ever since the couple took Mimi in, their business thrived.

Out of respect for a military officer, Chen Yufeng said, “Director Ma, when my father gave me that money, he explicitly stated that it was compensation—both for my upbringing since I was a minor at the time and for the alimony owed to my mother after their divorce. I have a receipt. If you don’t believe me, I can go home right now and bring it to you.”

Since Zhang Yanli kept claiming that Chen Yufeng was uneducated and incapable of raising her children properly, the fact that she had requested a signed receipt contradicted that image—only someone with education and awareness would do such a thing. Moreover, if Chen Yufeng really had a receipt, Zhang Yanli wouldn’t have been so confident in accusing her of extortion.

Ma Lin suspected that Chen Yufeng was lying. She assumed there was no receipt and that Chen Yufeng was just stalling to rush home and have Chen Fanshi write one on the spot.

After all, Chen Fanshi was her biological father. If she asked, wouldn’t he comply?

Still, in the spirit of fairness, Ma Lin decided to give her a chance.

“Comrade Chen Yufeng, you come from the countryside and don’t realize the gravity of the situation. You’re trying to deceive me with lies. Originally, your Aunt Zhang planned to visit your home today and invited me as a witness to ensure a fair resolution. But since you’ve said this, I’ll go ahead and check that receipt now,” Ma Lin said.

“Then let’s go. We can head to my home right now,” Chen Yufeng replied with a warm smile.

Ma Lin’s condescending and pitying attitude irritated her. But the receipt and the money were right there—who was afraid of whom?

So Zhang Yanli wanted to settle things at her house?

Perfect. They could resolve everything once and for all.

She couldn’t keep letting Zhang Yanli hover over Mimi like this.

Ma Lin, naturally assertive and sharp, was the type who never held back. And since she fully trusted Zhang Yanli, she looked at Chen Yufeng and said, “Wait here. I’ll call a guard to drive us.”

Chen Yufeng had ridden in a car before, but this was her first time sitting with a female colonel.

The female colonel’s eyes were filled with both pity and doubt—she was, after all, Zhang Yanli’s best friend. But for a woman to climb to the rank of colonel in a military district full of powerful figures, it meant she wouldn’t bend the rules when it came to major issues.

Chen Yufeng had to show her the evidence.

It was just as well—Zhou Yafang and Wang Guoguo were arriving in the capital soon. It was time to settle the accounts with Chen Fanshi and his wife.

…

Back at home, today was the first full day Han Chao had spent at home with his reunited family.

Tiantan was well-behaved and obsessed with dancing and singing. She could play by herself just fine.

In fact, Han Chao barely had to watch her—just responding occasionally and giving a little praise was enough.

Mimi, on the other hand, was much more mischievous. Normally, Chen Yufeng kept her in check, but today, with no one watching over her, she was even wilder than usual.

Next door, Zhao Wu, a first-grade student, had weekend homework—he had to memorize the poem “Spring Dawn.” Standing by the wall, he stammered and stuttered through it, on the verge of tears, struggling to get it right.

Mimi had never learned the poem before, but after hearing him recite it a few times, she had already memorized it.

Unable to resist, she said, “Brother Zhao Wu, you’re so slow! ‘Spring slumber knows not dawn has come, everywhere the birds sing on. Last night’s wind and rain, how many blossoms fell again?’ I already memorized it! How come you still can’t? Want me to help you study?”

Captain Zhao had a fiery temper. He immediately smacked his son on the head with the book. “You blockhead! A five-year-old girl is smarter than you? You’re a disgrace to your father!”

Adults say things casually, but children take them to heart. Humiliated, Zhao Wu grabbed a bamboo pole meant for hanging clothes and, taking advantage of his height, reached over the wall and knocked it against Mimi’s head.

Mimi got mad too. She grabbed her own family’s bamboo pole and swung it back at Zhao Wu.

But Zhao Wu quickly jumped onto the wall and made a face at her. “Haha! You’re too short! You can’t reach me!”

Chen Yufeng’s clothes-drying pole was shorter, and Mimi was small with little legs. She chased after her brother, swinging her pole, but no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn’t hit him.

“You mean brother!” Mimi pouted, bouncing on her tiptoes with the bamboo pole in hand.

Perched on the wall, Zhao Wu tapped Mimi’s head over and over. “Shorty! Tiny legs! Ugly girl! Dark-skinned girl!”

Mimi was furious. She bounced like a spring, trying to reach him with her pole, but no matter how hard she jumped, she just couldn’t land a hit.

Just then, her father, who had been busy in the restroom, came out, scooped her up, and placed her on his shoulders.

At that moment, the sky felt closer, the world felt wider, and riding on her father’s shoulders, Mimi finally reached Zhao Wu.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

She knocked her bamboo pole against Zhao Wu’s head, making a satisfying clanking sound.

Zhao Wu had long known that Uncle Han was a quiet man who spoke little but had a heavy hand—especially when it came to protecting his own.

But Zhao Wu didn’t want to admit defeat. He quickly jumped onto the eaves and ran along the rooftop. “Can’t catch me! Haha!”

If Han Chao got serious, things would get troublesome. He carried his daughter out of the courtyard, chasing Zhao Wu all the way to the wall of his house. When he saw Zhao Wu climbing a tree, he turned to Mimi and asked, “Want to climb up after him?”

“Daddy, he already lost. Let’s stop chasing him,” Mimi giggled, rocking back and forth on her father’s shoulders with laughter.

Just as Ma Lin and Chen Yufeng stepped out of the car, they saw Han Mi riding on her father’s shoulders, waving her bamboo pole triumphantly as if returning from a victorious battle.

Mimi was already mischievous, and with Han Chao backing her up, it was like trouble squared.

Chen Yufeng was so furious her eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

Ma Lin, on the other hand, was an old acquaintance of Wang Guoguo.

She just didn’t know yet that Wang Guoguo was still alive.

But she had a strong prejudice against Chen Yufeng, Han Chao, and their entire family.

And now, instead of disciplining his child properly, Han Chao was helping Mimi fight?

A mischievous daughter and an even more indulgent father—how could Ma Lin not mock them?

She already looked down on Chen Yufeng. Now, she probably outright despised her.

But then, Ma Lin suddenly turned to Chen Yufeng and asked, “Han Chao actually lets his daughter ride on his shoulders?”

Chen Yufeng scoffed in frustration. “He’s a man. He spoils the child too much.”

“No, no. I’ve heard that rural people tend to favor boys over girls and look down on daughters. But what Han Chao is doing is right. Girls should receive the same level of care and attention as boys. Why is it that boys can hit girls, but girls can’t hit back?”

Then Ma Lin added, “I don’t know about Han Chao in other aspects, but in this regard, he’s absolutely right.”

So, Han Chao spoiling his daughter and helping her fight was actually the right thing to do?

Of course, this was just a small matter. Ma Lin had come to see Chen Yufeng’s receipt.

She was worried that Chen Yufeng didn’t have one and would try to pull some tricks.

She even said, “There’s nothing inconvenient at your house, right? I’m a woman, and I’m also a soldier. I won’t snoop around. Please come in with me and find the receipt in my presence.”