Chapter 61

Lu Jingyu is currently currying favor with Fan Xiang, who once had a debt of gratitude to Yan Xishan and has been a senior leader in the management department of Dongfang Group for a full thirty years since its establishment. Moreover, his son works at the city bureau, making Fan Xiang the true local snake in Jindong District.0

Although Chen Meilan snatched Lu Jingyu's project from Secretary Liu using Yan Zhao's connections, she isn't afraid of Lu Jingyu but is somewhat wary of Fan Xiang. This is because Fan Xiang has always been a character that could make all the nouveau riche in Xiping City tremble with fear, even in his past life. Yan Xishan's set of behavior methods that bend but don't break the law were learned from Fan Xiang.0

So when snatching the project, Chen Meilan was certain she could secure it and drive Lu Jingyu out of Dongfang Group, but her concern was that by grabbing the job and directly liaising with Secretary Liu Ming, she would bypass Fan Xiang and wouldn't give him any money. In this situation, she worried whether Fan Xiang would find ways to deal with her.0

Chen Meilan had secured the project, but to actually carry it out, she needed to be on full alert and couldn't afford even the slightest mistake. Otherwise, as the director in charge of outsourcing, Fan Xiang could kick her out at any time.0

However, with Lu Jingyu losing the project, given his nagging, monk-like personality, she knew he would certainly complain to Yan Zhao if she ignored him. He would try to reason with Yan Zhao, persuading him to make her withdraw from the project, pressuring her to back off through Yan Zhao.0

With the New Year approaching, this was a worrying point for Chen Meilan. She needed to make money because her current funds were far from enough to raise the children, but she didn't want to argue with Yan Zhao during the festive season.0

Early in the morning, the phone rang again. Chen Meilan thought it was Lu Jingyu and was ready to give him a good scolding, but when she picked up, Lu Jingyu let out a long sigh and said, "Meilan, I need to tell you something, but you absolutely can't tell anyone."0

...0

"Zhou Xueqin went south to sell coal, but just as she reached Jiangsu, the coal spontaneously combusted," Lu Jingyu said weakly, letting out a long groan before continuing, "She's strong-willed and doesn't want others to know about this incident. Can you please not tell anyone?"0

Chen Meilan felt a chill run down her spine. Although she was shocked at first, she wasn't entirely surprised.0

Coal that hasn't gone through the washing process has a lot of impurities and dust on its surface. During long-distance transport, it's sealed in coal trucks. While this is fine in the northern winter, the south is in its plum rain season. The heat from the coal can't dissipate, and being enclosed for a long time makes it prone to spontaneous combustion.0

This was why she had been pressuring Yan Xishan to ensure the washing process was done properly.0

In her past life, several coal bosses in Xiping City had been reduced to poverty when their coal spontaneously combusted while being transported south.0

Zhou Xueqin had already been stabbed over buying government bonds, and now her coal had combusted. Her road to sudden wealth seemed quite challenging.0

"Her stab wound hasn't healed, and I heard she's been running a high fever since arriving in the south. I need to go south now," Lu Jingyu paused for a moment before continuing, "I would have definitely competed with you for the Dongfang Group project if Xueqin hadn't been injured. But now that she's in trouble, I have to go south, so I won't fight you for it. However, I should let you know that Fan Xiang seems to really dislike you. He told me that even if you managed to snatch the job, he wouldn't let you have an easy time with it."0

In fact, when Fan Xiang heard that Chen Meilan had come to grab the project, he had sneered and said, "A woman wants to handle a construction project? Young people are too impulsive. Chen Meilan and Yan Zhao's marriage has been going smoothly, they haven't been taught a lesson by anyone yet. It's about time someone taught her one."0

Although Lu Jingyu and Chen Meilan were rivals when it came to their children's competition and making money from projects, they were still fellow townspeople when facing Fan Xiang, and there were countless ties between them.0

Even though Lu Jingyu was furious at Chen Meilan's lack of consideration, he still chose to tell her about Fan Xiang's plan to deal with her.0

Of course, Lu Jingyu wasn't an utterly wicked person. Since marrying him, Zhou Xueqin had been by his side through thick and thin, working hard to earn money for him. Now that she had fallen ill in the south, he had to go and save her, so he decided not to compete with Chen Meilan for the project anymore.0

With a click, Lu Jingyu hung up the phone.0

Just then, Yan Zhao came in with Yuanyuan and Little Wang, carrying a winnowing basket and a broom.0

Yan Zhao asked, "Who was on the phone?"0

Chen Meilan thought for a moment and decided to keep the news about Zhou Xueqin's coal combustion to herself. There was no other reason except that she didn't want Little Wang to be unhappy during the New Year celebrations.0

While others celebrate New Year's Eve on the thirtieth day of the lunar month, Yan Zhao's family had to celebrate early on the twenty-ninth because he would be working six consecutive night shifts starting the next day.0

So today, he needed to put up couplets, clean the house, and welcome the ancestors in advance.0

Most importantly, Yan Zhao had to lead Little Wang, Yuanyuan, and Little Lang to make a phone call to his father, Yan Peiheng, who was in the capital.0

As the daughter-in-law meeting her father-in-law for the first time, this would also be Chen Meilan's first time speaking to her father-in-law on the phone.0

At this moment, Little Wang was quietly chatting with Yuanyuan: "I actually don't want to call grandpa."0

"Why not?" Yuanyuan whispered.0

How could Little Wang explain? During the years when his father was in the army, Zhou Xueqin's family had lost a lot of money in the woolen mill, and creditors were pursuing them fiercely. When Zhou Xueqin had nowhere to turn, she would call the capital to borrow money from Yan Peiheng.0

Every time she needed to borrow money, she would make the call and have Little Wang call out "Grandpa."0

Yan Peiheng would say nothing but would send the money over.0

There were probably some other things involved, but those were beyond the children's understanding.0

Little Wang had vaguely heard Zhou Xueqin mention that Yan Peiheng felt guilty towards Su Wen, but he didn't dare let Yan Zhao know, so when she asked for money, he would definitely give it.0

Of course, Little Wang would never tell his father about these things, nor would he tell anyone else. He hoped that the stern grandfather would like him, and he didn't want his father to argue with the stern grandfather. As much as he could, Little Wang hoped that the whole family could get along well.0

"It's okay, when the call connects, I'll talk to grandpa," Yuanyuan comforted Little Wang.0

Little Wang's uncle Yan Jun was abroad and had three sons, but they were foreign children that Yan Peiheng couldn't see.0

His second uncle Yan Wei and his wife had once had a son, but he died prematurely, and Yan Wei's wife had her tubes tied, so the couple had no children.0

Little Wang still remembered that when Little Lang was born, Zhou Xueqin and her mother had lamented, wondering why Little Lang couldn't have been a girl, as Yan Peiheng particularly liked little girls.0

If Little Lang had been a little girl, Yan Peiheng might have given them a large sum of money at once, allowing them to quickly pay off their debts.0

So grandfather should like Yuanyuan, right? After all, Yuanyuan is a little girl.0

The three little ones held hands. Yuanyuan was full of curiosity about her grandfather, Little Lang looked bewildered, and Little Wang was full of apprehension.0

However, just as Yan Zhao was ready to dial the capital, the home phone rang again.0

Chen Meilan thought it might be Lu Jingyu, but when she answered, the person on the other end said, "Hello, sister-in-law? It's me, Ma Bo. Can you put our Captain Yan on the phone?"0

After Yan Zhao finished the call, he put his pager in his pocket and turned, preparing to leave: "Just now, there was a car accident at Dongfang Group. One person was killed, and the driver who caused the accident has reported it. I need to go and handle it quickly."0

"During the New Year, someone got killed in an accident. Will that guy who was driving go to prison?" In Chen Meilan's view, killing someone while driving on the main road deserved execution.0

Yan Zhao put on his olive green jacket from the coat rack and said, "According to the Traffic Law, as long as it's not drunk driving, drug driving, or other dangerous driving, if the driver voluntarily turns himself in after hitting someone, actively sends the victim to the hospital for treatment, and sincerely compensates, the criminal responsibility can be waived at discretion. It would be a suspended sentence, no need for imprisonment."0

This was indeed the case with traffic accidents. Now there was still criminal responsibility, but in the future, when someone was killed in an accident, criminal responsibility would hardly be questioned. The two parties in the accident would only discuss compensation, it would just be about money.0

Now, with the increase of cars and trucks, traffic accidents were becoming more and more frequent.0

Chen Meilan was even considering discussing with Yan Dawei about taking turns to pick up and drop off the children starting from next semester.0

The school wasn't far, but there were too many cars, making the route to school too unsafe.0

"I'm leaving. Please take care of things at home for the next few days," Yan Zhao was about to go out when he suddenly turned back, staring intently at Chen Mei: "That videotape... should I leave it for you?"0

"Take it away, quickly take it away," Chen Meilan said immediately.0

What did he think she was, spending New Year's Eve alone at home watching adult films?0

On New Year's Eve, of course, the whole family would watch the Spring Festival Gala together. With Yan Zhao absent, the entire family squeezed onto the round kang bed to sleep.0

On the first day of the New Year, the children could play to their heart's content. Chen Degong and his wife had gone back to their hometown, and the construction site was on holiday, so Chen Meilan could also take a good rest.0

However, Little Wang was never one to sit still. Recently, he had made a lot of money selling cassette tapes, and yesterday Chen Meilan had given them each ten yuan as New Year's money. Little Wang said nothing but bought some blank tapes and urgently had Yuanyuan record several popular new songs the night before.0

Songs like "Follow Your Feelings," "Grandma's Penghu Bay," and "Love Song 1990."0

These songs had just been released, and people didn't know who the original singers were, they just thought they sounded good.0

Moreover, during these few days around New Year's Eve, people from Dongfang Factory, Ximei Factory, and all the big factories were on holiday and out and about, so his tapes had sold out completely.0

It was shocking to learn that Little Wang had saved up exactly 172 yuan just from selling Yuanyuan's tapes, making him incredibly wealthy now.0

However, during the New Year period, Third Sister-in-law Huang was also about to give birth. Chen Meilan didn't know what to give as a gift, so she took advantage of these few free days to prepare to sew a couple of small clothes for the newborn baby to wear.0

"Dad!" Yuanyuan exclaimed from outside, "How come you're here? Quick, come in and sit down."0

Chen Meilan thought Yan Zhao had returned and her heart leaped with joy for a moment, but when she saw Yan Xishan's figure through the window, she sat back down.0

Yan Xishan wore a brown woolen overcoat, a black fedora, shiny leather shoes, and a white shirt, looking as handsome as if he'd just stepped out of the television. He pulled out a few red envelopes from his pocket, first offering one to Little Wang, but saying with a smile, "Call me dad and I'll let you hear it."0

Little Wang wouldn't call him that, no matter how big the red envelope was.0

Yan Xishan opened the envelope: "This is US dollars, you've never seen it before, right?" he said, then handed the envelope to Meilan: "Here, it's US dollars from a friend, take it and have fun."0

Yuanyuan was the happiest when her real dad came. She busied herself finding twisted cruller and fried dough for Yan Xishan, wanting him to take some home to eat.0

Chen Meilan didn't accept the red envelope, instead she had to ask Yan Xishan about some matters at the mine.0

The issue of spontaneous combustion of coal from Zhou Xueqin's group of nouveau riche would be collectively concealed by the coal bosses who had gone south due to involving many debts. The coal bosses in Xiping City probably wouldn't know about it until much later.0

But the fact proved that unwashed coal was too easy to combust spontaneously.0

If Yan Xishan really wanted to do coal business, he couldn't be careless about this aspect.0

Yan Xishan hadn't been to Yanguan Village for a long time and wanted to have a good chat with Chen Meilan. Just as he walked to the window, intending to talk more, he suddenly saw Little Wang crouching behind Meilan with something black and hollow in his hand – it was actually a gun barrel.0

Yan Zhao was a police officer who carried a gun, so they had such things at home. Yan Xishan was terrified and immediately raised both hands: "Yan Xiaowang, don't play with guns, put it down quickly, be careful of misfires."0

Little Wang suddenly shouted: "Then call me dad and let me hear it!"0

Yan Xishan was scared out of his wits: "Alright, alright, you're my father, okay?"0

Little Wang bit his lip with his canine teeth, his hand resting on Meilan's shoulder, and there was a sudden 'pop'.0

Yan Xishan covered his head with his hands, bent over, and let out a miserable cry. His beautiful felt hat fell to the ground.0

Little Wang and Little Lang burst into laughter: "Haha, uncle got scared!"0

It turned out to be a toy gun that shot out sparks, just like a cheap lighter.0

Yan Xishan was about ready to come in and hit someone.0

Chen Meilan glared at them for a long time. Little Wang sheepishly handed the lighter to Chen Meilan and said, "Uncle Yan, I'm sorry."0

Yuanyuan saw her father looking so disheveled and was certainly unhappy. She picked up his hat, dusted it off thoroughly, and tiptoed to put it back on her father's head. Then she looked at her father with a worried expression.0

After thinking for a moment, she knelt down and kowtowed to her father: "Dad, I'm giving you New Year's greetings. I wish you good health and a long life. You must stay healthy, okay?"0

Yan Xishan had to maintain relationships by giving out a lot of money during holidays. Even with Fan Xiang, who desperately wanted his life, he still had to give the money he was supposed to.0

In front of anyone else, he was the one who had to kneel and kowtow. Only this little girl would kowtow to him, and only she truly hoped he could live a healthy life.0

He crouched down to look at his daughter and reached out to pat her little head: "Darling, you know, right? You're the one I love most in this life, and also the one I've let down the most."0

"Eat more twisted cruller and fried dough, drink less alcohol, you're too thin," Yuanyuan handed the packed New Year goods to Yan Xishan, then turned to glare at Little Wang before whispering, "My brother isn't bad, he's just naughty. Don't be angry."0

As Yan Xishan turned to leave, he waved to his daughter, and she waved back: "Goodbye, Dad."0

After Yan Xishan left, Chen Meilan gave Little Wang and Little Lang a lecture, and she also confiscated the lighter that looked like a handgun.0

She would have to wait for Yan Zhao to come back and see if he would allow them to play with it. If Yan Zhao didn't allow it, she couldn't let them play with it.0

It was too scary.0

The children watched the rebroadcast of the Spring Festival Gala on TV, laughing heartily at Zhao Lirong's comedic performance of smashing pots.0

Just then, the phone rang, and Chen Meilan answered it.0

"Meilan, Xiaomei is actually quite pitiful," It was Yan Xishan again. He had just left, why was he calling again?0

Xiaomei being pitiful had nothing to do with Chen Meilan.0

Chen Meilan was about to hang up when Yan Xishan continued: "She's wearing a fake belly, staying in that clinic, and now she's telling me she's about to give birth. Fan Zhenhua's wife leaked a lot of ultrasound information about pregnant women at the provincial hospital to her. Xiaomei is now preparing to steal a son for me from somewhere. I really can't keep up the act anymore, and I don't want her to commit a crime. So, I'm thinking of giving her 30,000 yuan to keep her quiet, then discuss with her that we'll say the baby was miscarried and that'll be the end of it. What do you think?"0

All of Yan Xishan's money was in Yuanyuan's account. He was saying all this actually intending to use Yuanyuan's money to pay off his mistress.0

Claiming to love Yuanyuan, yet wanting to use Yuanyuan's money to pay off his mistress?0

Chen Meilan felt she had done absolutely nothing wrong in taking back the shares back then.0

"Do whatever you want, but you won't get a single cent of Yuanyuan's money to give to other women. If you really care about Xiaomei, go earn money yourself to support her, support her for life!" Chen Meilan said, then hung up the phone.0

Soon after, Yan Xishan called again.0

And as soon as he spoke, he asked: "Chen Meilan, do you know how much compensation a driver has to pay if they kill someone in a car accident?" After a pause, he added: "30,000 yuan, that's all my life is worth to the bastard."0

Recently, Fan Xiang and his son were planning to deal with someone, also a small-time nouveau riche who, after making it big, stopped listening to Fan Xiang, refused to give Fan Xiang the money he was supposed to, and even planned to report Fan Xiang.0

Fan Xiang hired someone, and just yesterday, they directly ran over the target with a car, killing him. Then they entered the compensation process. Because the driver showed a good attitude in admitting fault and wasn't drunk driving or driving dangerously, he only had to pay 30,000 yuan in compensation, was detained for one night, and was released today.0

So if Yan Xishan didn't obey, and Fan Xiang found out, his life would also only be worth 30,000 yuan.0

And this kind of behind-the-scenes operation really existed in the 1990s.0

"Yesterday? Was it the incident where someone was run over behind Dongfang Group?" Chen Meilan became interested after hearing this.0

Yan Xishan paused: "How do you know about that?"0

How did Chen Meilan know? Wasn't it this case that Yan Zhao went to handle yesterday?0

Fan Xiang, that local snake, Chen Meilan hadn't encountered in her previous life, but she knew of his insidious cunning.0

Yan Xishan had been suppressed by Fan Xiang all his life, unable to raise his head.0

As a leader of the city's Public Security Bureau, instructing others to run people over with cars – wasn't that enough of a crime to warrant execution?0

Since Yan Xishan knew about it, why didn't he report it?0

"You think it's that easy? Even if I report it, it doesn't mean Yan Zhao will be the one to investigate. Don't overestimate Yan Zhao's power. Fan Zhenhua is his superior, and the connections at the top are intricate. If he moves against Fan Zhenhua, do you think Fan Zhenhua's connections will just sit idly by? Aren't you afraid Yan Zhao might end up dead?" Yan Xishan continued.0

The Fan Xiang father and son were typical black society members with protective umbrellas, but with this kind of black society, whoever moves against them ends up in trouble.0

This was also the reason for Yan Xishan's distress.0

He couldn't keep up the act in front of Hu Xiaomei anymore. He couldn't accept that child, but he also didn't dare to break free from Fan Xiang's control.0

He could report the case, and if Yan Zhao took it, he would certainly investigate.0

In the past, Yan Xishan wouldn't have worried about anything else. He would have used Yan Zhao's integrity and intolerance for injustice to bring down Fan Xiang, and that would have been the end of it.0

But now Yan Zhao could very likely face retaliation, even lose his life.0

Yan Xishan owed Yuanyuan so much. The more the child loved and protected him, the more ashamed he felt.0

Yuanyuan not only loved him but also loved Yan Zhao. Yan Zhao was also his childhood friend. In today's dark society, with collusion between officials and businessmen, and rampant criminal forces, Yan Zhao was an upright person. He didn't want anything to happen to Yan Zhao.0

After listening to Yan Xishan's litany of woes, Chen Meilan let out a cold laugh: "Don't act so sanctimonious. If you choose to report it, Yan Zhao will surely find a way to investigate the case. As for money, keep dreaming. I won't give you a single cent."0

In his previous life, Yan Zhao had risen to become the Chief of Police in the capital city. Hadn't he eliminated numerous criminal organizations?0

She had never heard of Yan Zhao or his son facing retaliation.0

So he must have his own wisdom in handling his work.0

Fan Xiang had become so brazen as to order someone to hit people with a car, endangering lives. Even if Yan Xishan didn't say anything, Chen Meilan would definitely tell Yan Zhao about this.0

As for Yan Xishan, no matter how pitiful he sounded, Chen Meilan wouldn't let him use a single cent on his own.0

If he truly loved Hu Xiaomei, he should find a way to get money for her himself.0

Shortly after hanging up the phone, Teacher Huang came into the yard: "Meilan, I need your help. My third sister-in-law said her belly feels tight on and off today. She might be going into labor. We need to get to the hospital quickly. Could you call an ambulance for us?"0

During the New Year, it was impossible to hire a car, pregnant women couldn't ride in motorized tricycles, and buses were packed like sardine cans.0

The third sister-in-law was also an older mother, about to give birth. Calling an ambulance to go to the hospital was the best choice.0

"Go back and prepare the hospital bag quickly. I'll call right away," Chen Meilan said.0

"Alright." Teacher Huang said, turning to leave. He then took out three one-yuan notes from his pocket and placed them in front of Little Lang, Little Wang, and the others: "Here, some New Year's money."0

"In the new year, I wish Teacher Huang good health and safety, and for Third Sister-in-law to give birth to a lovely, cute, chubby baby girl," Little Wang immediately blurted out, taking back the money.0

Teacher Huang was amused and gave him a thumbs up: "Yan Xiaowang, every word you say hits the mark."0

"It will all come true, I guarantee it," Little Wang said, raising his hand.0

Yuanyuan and Little Lang were about to politely decline, but now they had to take the money and join in with well-wishes.0

Yuanyuan frowned at her brother and couldn't help saying, "Brother, you're the most money-loving person I've ever seen."0

"No, the person you love most, your own father, is," Little Wang said proudly. "But in the future, I'll definitely be richer than your father, so don't like him. He's just a bastard."0

Yuanyuan pouted at her brother and gave him her one yuan as well, saying softly, "That's not true. The person I love most is Mom."0

Little Lang also gave his money to Little Wang: "Brother, I love you the most."0

Little Wang immediately gave Little Lang a smacking kiss.0

Chen Meilan hung up the phone and looked at Little Lang, whose cheeks were distorted from his brother and sister's kisses.0

Suddenly, a thought crossed her mind: During the New Year, when there were fewer doctors and nurses in the hospitals, she had once heard someone say that people took advantage of the holiday to sneak into hospitals and steal babies.0

She hoped Hu Xiaomei wouldn't get desperate and try to steal a baby from the hospital in the next few days!0 Searᴄh the novёlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Fan Xiang had become so brazen as to deliberately attempt murder. Yan Zhao would surely deal with him.0

Hu Xiaomei was just a small pawn, despicable but also pitiful.0

Hopefully, she would pull back from the brink and not do anything foolish.0