Chapter 77: The Shrewish Wife

  As soon as the car stopped, Liu Jianjun opened the door and got out. The little Wei sitting in the middle jumped down quickly and ran into the yard.

  Leng Yun and Liu Jianjun exchanged a glance, both shaking their heads in some dismay. It seemed this child was really too shy and still had strong vigilance.

  Leng Yun got out of the car, gesturing to Xiao Wang to open the trunk and take out those small pieces of firewood that Si Wei treasured like a precious gem. Just as they were about to enter the house, they heard a shrill, harsh scolding voice: "You good-for-nothing, you've killed your father with your carelessness! And now you're going to bring disaster to our family, the Shuos? We don't owe anything to your Xu family! You're just a waste of food and clothing, always getting into trouble... How did I end up with such bad luck, raising a child like you, a jinx... What's that? You say you've collected firewood? Where is it? Still lying through your teeth, just like your mother...!" The scolding was accompanied by the sound of slapping and hitting.

  "What are you doing, hitting her? At this hour, aren't you going to cook yet? Do you want me to starve to death? Little Wei is still young, and she's so pitiful without a father or mother. As her uncle and aunt, it's our duty to raise her. Stop hitting, if you break something, not only can't we work, but we'll also have to spend money on medical bills." This sounds like the voice of Uncle Xiao Jiefang.

  "Xiao Jiefang, you get out of here!" That fierce and harsh voice scolded loudly: "You're such a useless thing, this house inside and out isn't all thanks to me taking care of it, just relying on you this good-for-nothing, can you even survive? Now I not only have to take care of you, but also help you raise this little rascal... Ah, you dare hit me? I'll fight with you!"

  Xiao Jiefang seemed to have also gotten angry, saying: "I just want to beat you up, Xiao Wei didn't let you raise her for nothing. The three thousand yuan consolation money given by the big boss in Hong Kong, didn't you take it? Others sent Xiao Wei to Xichang to study, as soon as they left, you used your niece from your wife's family to bring her back. And that two hundred yuan living allowance every month, didn't you also pocket it yourself? What more do you want?"

  "Oh my, you're so cruel and inhumane! I'm doing all this for the sake of our family. Oh my, you're still hitting me? Back then, didn't you agree to marry me just because my brother gave your family 1,000 yuan? Now you're speaking ill of me? Oh my, I'd rather die, these days have been unbearable..."

  Leng Yun's face suddenly turned gloomy, these uncle and aunt not only did not give warmth and care to the unfortunate child, but also changed their ways to occupy Xiao Wei's interests. Fortunately, he listened to his wife and son's words and came down, otherwise, he would not have known that there were such hidden feelings here, and this poor child would have suffered even greater misfortune.

  Leng Yun strode into the house, saw Xiaowei shrinking in the corner of the wall, looking at her uncle and aunt with a terrified expression, with a clear red palm print on her face, and several scattered footprints on her body. It seemed that she had been beaten by her aunt earlier. Her aunt was rolling around in the damp place in the courtyard, wailing loudly, while her uncle Xiao Jiefang sat there with an iron face, smoking a cigarette.

  Leng Yun glared at them coldly and rebuked, "You treat your own niece like this, can you be worthy of your deceased sister?"

  Xiao Jiefang and his wife Fang Qin were stunned, staring blankly at Leng Yunying. Looking at this person's attire, it didn't seem like someone from these mountains, and the tone of their speech was stern and authoritative. Neither of them knew how this person had arrived in their courtyard.

  Fang Qin stopped crying, quickly got up from the ground, wiped away her tears, and immediately regained her fierce appearance. She shouted at Leng Yun: "Where did you come from? Our family's affairs are none of your business, don't interfere. Get out of here, stop meddling in other people's business." Her scolding and gesticulating manner was that of a typical shrewish woman.

  "This is Mayor Leng, don't be rude there!" At this time, Liu Jianjun rushed in and stood in front of Leng Yunfei, pointing at Fang Qin and shouting, with a righteous and loyal appearance - such a good opportunity to perform, how could he let it go? Immediately after, Du Guoping and Xiao Wang also followed in and stood beside Leng Yunfei.

  Jian saw a few big men coming again, Fangqin was a little scared, took a few steps back, but still shouted fiercely: "Where are you all from? What do you want to do? Robbery! Come on, save me!" As for what Liu Jianjun said earlier about Mayor Leng, they didn't understand it at all. Even if they had heard clearly, they wouldn't have believed it. You're kidding, right? The mayor? A big official like the mayor would come to this mountainous area? If he's the mayor, I'm the provincial governor!

  It turned out that Xiao Jiefang seemed to have recognized Liu Jianjun, after all, he had just come a few days ago. He walked up and pulled Fangqin from behind, while pulling her, he also scolded her in a low voice: "Stinky woman, don't say anything, that's Secretary Liu from our village..." At the same time, he greeted Liu Jianjun and said: "Ah, it's Secretary Liu! How do you have time to come to our house? It's really a blessing. My wife and I are quarreling, this stinky woman doesn't understand things, never mind, never mind, Secretary Liu, don't mind."

  Fang Qin was pulled by Xiao Jiefang, just about to explode to show her status in this family, when she heard Xiao Jiefang shouting "Liu Secretary", and her heart was also shocked. That spirit immediately disappeared without a trace, and she stopped crying and making trouble. She smiled at Liu Jianjun and said: "Ah, it's Secretary Liu, it's all my fault for being blind to the situation. I'm used to playing with Jiefang, no other meaning. Secretary Liu, you're a big man, don't take it seriously. Come on, hurry up and sit inside, it's cold outside, come have a cup of hot tea."

  For them, a village branch secretary is already an official who can be arrogant and domineering. For the mountain people with a stronger sense of official position, the township party committee secretary is already an unimaginably high-ranking official. Moreover, having just done something as outrageous as "switching the crown prince", they naturally felt a little guilty when Secretary Liu came to their doorstep.

  Who would have thought that Liu Jianjun didn't even glance at them, but instead stared eagerly at Leng Yunfei, waiting for her instructions. Leng Yunfei also seemed to have not noticed them, and coldly snorted as she walked past the couple, stopping in front of Xiao Wei, squatting down, gently stroking her slightly swollen face, and asked with a pained expression: "Xiao Wei, does it hurt?"

  It seemed that she had felt the true feelings and heartfelt concern of Leng Yun, and Xiao Wei nodded slightly, but her eyes inadvertently swept to her uncle and aunt, and a hint of fear and dread flashed across her face, and she shook her head again.

  "Alas!" Leng Yunying sighed softly, feeling a deep sense of sorrow. The little girl in front of her had suffered an unjust disaster, and although she herself was not legally or morally responsible, she still couldn't shake off the feeling of guilt. She had thought that the girl would be able to live well with her relatives, but it seemed that she hadn't thought as deeply or far ahead as her son Xiao Han. How shameful!

  He gently said to Xiaowei, "Xiaowei, are you willing to go with your uncle? From now on, your uncle's home is your home. Your uncle will let you go to school, wear nice clothes, eat delicious food, and have brothers to play with you, making you happy all the time."

  Xiao Jiefang and Fang Qin stared at each other, wondering who this person was, being so reckless. If he hadn't come with Secretary Liu, they would have thrown him out long ago. However, if he had come from the city to adopt Little Wei, that wouldn't be bad either. When the time came, they could open their mouths wide and maybe even make some extra money.

  The only worry is that although they no longer want to raise Xiaowei, this burden, if Xiaowei leaves, what about the money given by the Hong Kong boss? What about the 200 yuan living expenses every month? What if the niece from her mother's side who impersonated her and went to school gets exposed? If they have to spit out the money they've already gotten their hands on, it's better to take their lives.

  Why don't we probe the bottom first?

  The couple did have an understanding, exchanged a glance with each other, and both understood what it meant.

  Xiao Jiefang gently asked Liu Jianjun: "Secretary Liu, who is that person?"

  Just now, in a moment of urgency, he said that was Mayor Leng, but later on, there were also some regrets. This Mayor Leng didn't say whether or not to reveal his identity, and if he took the initiative to say it wrong, making Mayor Leng unhappy would be a big trouble. Fortunately, they seemed to have not heard clearly, so Liu Jianjun finally put down this stone in his heart. But now they asked again, and he didn't know how to answer.

  Fortunately, at this time, Du Guoping beside him directly helped him answer: "That is the mayor of the city who is in charge of the overall work of the city. We are from the government."

  "Mayor?" The couple gasped, their legs weakening as if it was a struggle to stand. The two words "mayor" were too far-fetched for them, and they never thought that today he would appear in their own home, let alone in this manner. Looking at him, their gaze changed instantly, filled with shock, apprehension, unease, worry, and confusion. The idea of taking advantage of him had vanished into thin air.

  Who is Mayor Lingyun? Although they are in a mountainous area, they also know.

  Taihe Township has no resources, the only one is an iron mine belonging to the original Xichang Mining Company. Most of the workers in the mine are from nearby areas. Recently, the Faraway Company's acquisition of Xichang Steel Factory and Mining Company was a hot topic, and the miners were overjoyed. When they returned home, they boasted to their neighbors about how they would soon be part of the Faraway Company, thanks to the steel factory and Mayor Leng's good fortune. This made their already envious neighbors even more jealous, and before long, every household in the surrounding villages knew about it!

  Xiao Jiefang's elder brother, Fang Qin's elder brother was also a miner inside. After seeing Leng Yunhui return once from afar, they all made it a topic of conversation and boasted about it for a long time. That expression, how proud he was! He spread the word that Mayor Leng was incredibly amazing, the embodiment of justice and righteousness, surpassing even the likes of Kou Zhun and Bao Gong in operas. He had authority, yet cared for the people and accomplished many great deeds, truly a rare good official.

  Today's second update is delivered

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