"You shrew, you're still alive? I'll live a long time to come."
"Of course, a thousand-year-old tortoise or a ten-thousand-year-old turtle."
Zhang Hongmei chuckled, easing the tense atmosphere.
"I didn't come here to argue with you. People from Liujiatun are tough, but people from Zhanggezhuang aren't bad either. Are you trying to make our two villages enemies?"
"Who do you think you are? To represent Zhanggezhuang? If you really could, then you'd only have a deep-seated grudge."
Zhang Hongmei came over and supported the old lady's arm. "This matter started because of me, but I won't bring shame to our village, Grandma, don't worry."
"It's alright, you're still a child. No matter what happens, your great-grandmother and great-uncle will take care of you. Our child won't go out and be bullied." The old lady patted Zhang Hongmei's hand to comfort her.
It was so heartwarming; Zhang Hongmei's eyes welled up with tears.
"You want to invite us as guests, huh? Come on, let's go be your guests. If the food isn't good, this old woman will flip the table!" With that, she lashed out at the old man who had spoken earlier. The old man, startled, scrambled to the side. Everyone from Liujiatun followed the old woman.
Seeing several people running towards them from afar, Liu Jianguo and his friends were recognized as they approached. "Mom, what happened? Who hit you?" Liu Jianguo tugged at his mother's clothes.
"Mom's fine. The person who hit me will only be worse off than me. Are your dad and the others here too?"
"Yes, Grandma and Grandpa are here too. I was worried you'd get bullied, so I came over first. They'll be here soon."
The people of Zhanggezhuang knew immediately that this was no laughing matter. Who was that old lady? She was an anti-Japanese war heroine, someone whom even city leaders bowed and scraped before, a hero whom soldiers would visit every year.
Just then, several old men from Zhanggezhuang came over, supported by others. Watching them walk, Zhang Hongmei felt tired just looking at them.
Meanwhile, an oxcart, followed by dozens of people, also came along in a long procession. Everyone made way for the oxcart.
Liu Maocai breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that his wife was alright. He handed the ox reins to Liu Jianguo and said, "Keep an eye on the oxcart, don't startle your great-grandmother."
"Zhang Hongqi, have you completely lost all shame? What? I heard you're going to keep my wife here as a guest? You have to tell me? I'm here, so tell me. I want to hear how you're going to keep my wife here as a guest. Are you afraid I won't come and you'll hold her hostage?"
"Liu Maocai, don't push your luck. It was just a heated argument. Weren't we unable to persuade your wife to come?"
"You wouldn't dare, would you? Everyone knows that I, Liu Maocai, dote on my wife. To lay a hand on my wife is to slap me in the face. I've already been slapped in the face by others. Am I afraid of bullying people?"
The older folks from Zhanggezhuang later said, "Young man, don't be so impulsive. Deal with things properly."
"It's rare for me to go out today, so why doesn't the person hosting this act like they're hosting someone at all?"
"Of course, we should let the old lady sit at home. Please come in." The old man who had spoken earlier clicked his tongue when he saw the old lady in the car. What brings this sage here?
"I'm old and useless now. I came here today to pick up my good-for-nothing granddaughter-in-law. I heard she was asked to stay as a guest. There are no women in the house who can manage without the children. Is there some young man who wants to host a dinner party? Please give this old woman some face and let her go back. I'll stay."
Zhang Hongqi and his wife were completely bewildered. What was going on? Why had the whole village come? Wang Hongying was truly scared.
"Auntie, don't embarrass us. The child is just being immature, but he is, after all, the village chief of Zhanggezhuang."
"So you have an official position, and I can't speak up because I don't have one? Well, there really isn't anyone in Liujiatun who deserves that position. Maocai, go home and come back to speak when you have an official position!"
"Mistress, everyone is equal now, meaning we can all speak to the Chairman." There's a reason Liu Mao was valued by the old lady. This is quite the smooth talker.
"Auntie, I'm kneeling down before you! Zhang Hongmei and Hongqi, what are you standing there for? Why don't you bring your wife over here and kowtow to your mistress?"
"Don't do that. What kind of nonsense is this, kowtowing on a holiday? I didn't bring any red envelopes today. Besides, this is a new society now. We can't have feudal remnants. We can't kneel."
Zhang Hongqi pulled Wang Hongying over and bowed deeply, saying, "Second wife, I was wrong. I shouldn't have spoken without thinking, and I shouldn't have bullied a woman."
"Hmm, I heard you were having an affair with Hongmei's father, but I've never even met you. You didn't even see your good friend's brother die.
"Forget it, forget it, what's the point of talking about that now that the person's dead? But I have to tell you, my Hongmei won't accept your son as her son-in-law, so you two shouldn't dwell on this anymore. Don't say these things again; a woman's reputation is very important."
The more than one hundred people in the two villages were shocked when they heard this. Did Zhang Hongqi want to recruit his son?
These words made the old men in Zhangjia Village blush with embarrassment.
Liu Maocai came over and said, "Zhang Hongqi, tell me how to resolve this matter? Aiguo is gone, so don't worry about his daughter. Last time you two went to his house, you brought up the matter of finding a son-in-law, but Hongmei denied it herself. That won't do. It's up to us elders to talk to you about it."
Zhang Hongqi was so ashamed that he lowered his head and remained silent. But inside, he was filled with intense hatred.
"Auntie, look, it's already noon. Hongqi did something wrong, so let him apologize to you. How about we do him the honor of having lunch at his house?"
"That won't do. So many of my grandchildren and great-grandchildren have come, and I'm just an old woman who's half-buried in the ground, getting food while they watch over me?"
"Go, go. We'll slaughter a pig later and treat my aunt to dinner. As for the fight between the two women, let Hongqi's wife apologize to her niece-in-law. And about this little girl, this kind of problem will never happen again."
“Nephew, this is not your place to say it. It should be the official who says it.”
Having no other choice, Zhang Hongqi repeated what the old man had just said.
The old lady nodded in satisfaction and said to her family, "Since our relatives from Zhanggezhuang are so sincere, let's not stand on ceremony and go to their house as guests."
Wang Hongying objected. Her family only raised two pigs. They slaughtered one at the beginning of the year, and this one was kept to sell for money to help her eldest son find a wife. Besides, this pig didn't belong to her family. Zhang Hongqi's family hadn't divided their assets yet, and his two younger brothers also had a share in the pig.
"Sir, I disagree. I apologize, but why are you killing my pig?"
"Then the village chief will be replaced."
"It's not up to you."
"Just wait and see."
Enraged, Zhang Hongqi slapped Wang Hongxi hard across the face in front of so many people, yelling, "Get out of here! When did it become your turn to speak?"
"Grandpa, don't listen to its nonsense. I'll go back and make arrangements right away. I still need you to look after things here."
"Go ahead, a virtuous wife brings fewer troubles to her husband, and you should take up what you need to take up."
Zhang Hongqi dragged the stunned Wang Hongying back to prepare.
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