Chapter 33: Turning Point, Retreating to Advance

Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Turning Point, Retreating to Advance

That’s right. There was no longer a place for them back home in Jincheng City. If she went back now, Zhao Nuanyue didn’t have the ability to protect herself and her younger brother.

Staying here, where there was food to eat, was the best possible outcome for now.

"Yes, you’re right. For now, staying here means we’ll have full bellies and warm clothes. That’s already pretty good. It won’t be too late to go back when I’m older." Zhao Nuanyue looked at the impossibly handsome man.

"Alright then, it’s a deal," Hua Yusen said. He was facing a lot of problems; sometimes, he might not be able to look after the old man. With Zhao Nuanyue’s help, he could handle many unexpected situations.

"Deal!" Zhao Nuanyue extended a delicate hand to shake on it with Hua Yusen.

Seeing her determined expression, Hua Yusen gave a faint smile. A playful look entered his eyes as he, too, reached out and took the small, delicate hand offered to him.

The little hand was as soft as he’d imagined, but the calluses on her palm and fingers told him that this young woman had endured great hardship in Nianqiao Village.

As her hand was enveloped by his large, warm one, Zhao Nuanyue’s heart gave an unexpected flutter. However, she knew that based on his age, the Hua Yusen of this time already had a fiancée.

’In my past life, I was passively forced into being a plaything for many men, destroying many families in the process, but that was never my intention. Now that I have a chance to start over, I mustn’t repeat the mistakes of the past.’

She had no interest in another woman’s man. She would find a man of her own, one who would love her.

After her rebirth, Zhao Nuanyue had two main goals. The first was to protect herself and her brother, to see them both grow up safely. The second was to find a man she loved—and who loved her back—to live out her life with in happiness.

It would be difficult, but that made it all the more challenging. Happiness never just falls into your lap; you have to constantly strive and fight for it.

Their agreement settled, the two went their separate ways and returned to the Dragon King Temple.

Alone in her bed, Zhao Nuanyue tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Today might have been a major turning point in her life.

The road ahead was long and fraught with difficulty, but Zhao Nuanyue was filled with confidence. The light would come, eventually.

When she woke the next morning, she heard a commotion in the village.

The despicable and shameless Wang Dadan was not pleased. He stormed into the village center to confront Miao Dahai. "Your handling of this work is completely wrong!"

Hearing this, Miao Dahai glanced up at the arrogant Wang Dadan. Instead of losing his temper as he usually did, he spoke slowly, "You should know better than I do what the orders from above are."

"But everything’s fine, isn’t it?" The incredibly arrogant Wang Dadan dropped his bluster, a cold smile playing on his lips as he looked at Miao Dahai with provocation.

Miao Dahai cursed inwardly. He knew exactly what Wang Dadan was up to, going behind his back to the commune.

’He just wants me to make a mistake. If I don’t act strict and proactive enough, that bastard Wang Dadan will report to the county that I’m not taking my work seriously.’

’That Wang Dadan is rotten to the core.’

’The original plan is out the window.’

’But there are ways to deal with scoundrels,’ Miao Dahai mused silently. ’I have my own methods for handling this son of a bitch.’

Miao Dahai said, "The higher-ups want them to undergo ideological education. We have chores in the village now. Wouldn’t having them do the dirty, exhausting work be an even more effective form of re-education?"

"How could that possibly work? How can physical reform compare to ideological reform? We must viciously reform their very thoughts, so they don’t harbor the slightest bit of resentment!" Wang Dadan declared self-righteously, puffing himself up like a bantam rooster.

Miao Dahai was stunned. This Wang Dadan was completely devoid of humanity.

Those old folks were older than Wang Dadan’s own parents. This was nothing short of pure torment.

Just as Miao Dahai and Wang Dadan were trading barbs, the quick-tongued Li Guihua rushed in from outside. "This is bad, this is bad! The new arrivals have high fevers! They’ve already fainted! If they don’t get treatment, they’re not going to make it!"

Wang Dadan glanced at Li Guihua and smirked, thinking they were making a big fuss over nothing. ’Still,’ he thought, ’it’s nice to see them worried.’

"You’re all so timid. Those people aren’t going to die that easily!" Wang Dadan laughed.

Miao Dahai shot Wang Dadan a look of deep dissatisfaction.

Li Guihua glared at him. "Wang Dadan, since you put it that way, this is on you now. If anything happens to them, it’s all your fault. Miao, let’s go. We won’t get involved."

"Guihua, you’re right. I’m washing my hands of it too. We’ll leave it all to Wang Dadan and see what he does. If those people die, it will have nothing to do with us. It’ll be entirely his responsibility."

Wang Dadan was dumbfounded. He had brought these people here specifically to cause trouble for Miao Dahai and Li Guihua. If they refused to get involved, how could he ever find fault with them?

"Hey, wait! Miao Dahai, Li Guihua, you can’t just wash your hands of everything! This is village business, after all. You’re village cadres, how can you just walk away?" Wang Dadan said hurriedly. He had to get them involved. Only then could he muddy the waters and find some weakness to exploit in Village Chief Miao and Li Guihua.

"A minute ago, you were accusing us of being nosy busybodies with ulterior motives! Now you want us to get involved? What are you really after? Are you trying to dig a trap to frame us honest folk?" Li Guihua shot Wang Dadan a sideways glance, her contempt for the man, who was full of nasty tricks, plain to see.

"Hey, I’m just looking out for our village, aren’t I?" Wang Dadan put on a smarmy grin. "We’re all from the same village; we should be thinking about our fellow villagers and what’s best for the community. Alright, alright, you two are so enlightened. Now hurry up and come with me to see what’s going on!"