Chapter 59: Calling Her Sister-in-law Affectionately

Deputy General Tang sought out Zheng Tianle, the vice captain whose authority was second only to the captain, and explained the situation.

Zheng Tianle, recalling Tang’s usual way of handling things—never as arrogant as the other Taiwanese and always tactful—offered a kind reminder, “Lao Tang, you’d better stay out of this. Not only is coming to me pointless, but even if you found the village chief or the town leaders, none of them would dare get involved. I can’t say much more, but I’m sure you get the idea.”

Hearing this, Deputy Tang’s face paled. He probed, “Brother, is it really that serious?”

“If it wasn’t, would we be so cautious? Have you ever wondered why, as soon as Boss Chen caused trouble, our team members were already there? That’s no coincidence. I really can’t say more.”

The fight involving the security team had already escalated into abuse of power and even more serious issues. The severity had risen several notches. These were extraordinary times, and Zheng Tianle had no intention of getting himself burned, so he ended the call under the pretense of being busy.

Deputy Tang put down the phone and saw A Ping gritting her teeth, staring at the police car. He asked, “What’s wrong?”

A Ping instantly composed herself. “Nothing. Just waiting for you all to handle things. Seeing Deputy Jiang not coming over, I wanted to see what he meant by that.”

Seeing the crowd around, Deputy Tang signaled with his eyes and then headed toward the factory, with A Ping following.

They entered the executive lounge on the first floor of the office building.

Deputy Tang said, “In a bit, leave the factory and catch a taxi to tail Deputy Jiang and see where he goes. Let me know when you find out.”

A Ping pointed at herself in disbelief. “What do you mean? You want me to follow him?”

Deputy Tang explained, “Not to follow, just to know his whereabouts. Boss Chen’s issue is complicated. I’m going to see if I can pull some strings, and if I can’t, I’ll have to ask Deputy Jiang for a favor. I’m worried I won’t be able to find him when I need to.”

“With his personality, whether he’ll do me this favor or not is up to fate.”

Seeing Deputy Tang’s grave expression, A Ping asked doubtfully, “The driver said Boss Chen just had the idea but didn’t actually do anything. How could it be this serious?”

Deputy Tang shook his head helplessly. “It’s more serious than we imagined. Go on, do me this favor.”

A Ping wanted to comfort him, but remembering their delicate relationship, she hesitated and kept her words to herself.

To avoid causing unnecessary trouble for the dumpling shop, Wang Wenyu parked the car a hundred meters away and walked in with Jiang Fan.

It was just after the nearby factories had let out for the day, and Huang Guihua was busy serving food and pouring water for customers entering the shop.

Seeing them come in, she joyfully put down what she was doing and greeted them warmly, “Brother, beautiful sister, you’re here! Uncle and auntie are busy in the kitchen. What kind of dumplings would you like? I’ll have uncle make them first.”

Jiang Fan patted Huang Guihua’s head and said, “Don’t call her ‘beautiful sister’ anymore. Just call her ‘sister-in-law’ or ‘Sister Yu.’ Go about your work and don’t mind us. I’ll help out too. We’ll eat after the customers leave.”

Huang Guihua looked in surprise at Jiang Fan heading to the kitchen to help, then turned to Wang Wenyu. “Sister, are you really my brother’s girlfriend? Then why did you say you’d straighten him out the other day?”

Seeing how adorable Huang Guihua was, Wang Wenyu affectionately patted her head and teased, “Your brother needs to be straightened out, that’s why! Are you getting used to things here?”

Huang Guihua nodded earnestly. “I like it here, and uncle and auntie are so good to me. But my sister said, once she borrows an ID card for me, Sister Ping will help me get into Dafeng Factory.”

Seeing her expression dim at the mention of working in the factory, Wang Wenyu asked, “Is working in the factory not good?”

Huang Guihua hung her head, fiddling with the strap of the overalls Aunt Qiu just bought her. “I don’t want to leave here.”

“We’ll see what uncle and auntie say. If it’s not a burden for them, you can stay. If it is, I’ll find someone to teach you some skills, so it’ll be easier for you to get a job in the future.”

“Uncle and auntie want me to stay, but there’s nowhere to live. I’m staying in my brother’s rented place for now, but the rent’s due in less than twenty days, and I don’t want to trouble him.”

Seeing how considerate Huang Guihua was despite her difficult situation, Wang Wenyu smiled and comforted her, “Don’t worry about burdening your brother. He actually likes getting into trouble. Now that you call him brother, it’s only right for him to look after you. Since uncle and auntie like you, just stay. Leave the rest to me and your brother.”

Hearing Wang Wenyu’s approval, Huang Guihua beamed, “Thank you, Sister Yu.”

“Calling me Sister Yu isn’t as close as calling me sister-in-law. From now on, call me sister-in-law. Don’t tell your brother it was my idea or he’ll get a big head.”

“Thank you, sister-in-law!”

Jiang Fan came in carrying three plates of dumplings and set them down for the customers. Looking at the two of them, he asked, “What are you two talking about? You look so happy.”

Wang Wenyu glanced at him and said disdainfully, “Mind your own business and get back to work.”

At noon, all the factories had just one hour for lunch and rest, so this was the busiest time for the dumpling shop.

Seeing Huang Guihua running around serving dishes and clearing tables by herself, Wang Wenyu took over serving and pouring water.

Some passersby who hadn’t intended to eat dumplings, seeing the elegant Wang Wenyu busy in the shop and thinking she was a new waitress, came in just to get a closer look at her beauty.

After the factories’ lunch break ended, the dumpling shop finally quieted down.

Uncle Qiu brought out a big plate of dumplings, Aunt Qiu a small pot of pork stew with vermicelli, and the five of them sat around a table.

Aunt Qiu had met Wang Wenyu before, but it was Uncle Qiu’s first time.

Uncle Qiu saw how friendly and orderly Wang Wenyu was, and took a liking to her immediately. After hearing Jiang Fan introduce her as his girlfriend, he couldn’t help but compare her to Hao Meng. Both girls were outstanding, and he felt a bit sorry for Hao Meng.

After the introduction, Uncle Qiu would occasionally glance at Wang Wenyu, lost in thought, and she remembered that Jiang Fan first came here with Hao Meng in the middle of the night to escape the cold, which was how they’d met Uncle Qiu.

Remembering Jiang Fan’s history with Hao Meng and how he’d once taken advantage of her, Wang Wenyu couldn’t help but pinch him hard in the uninjured side under his arm.

“Ouch! What was that for?”

Jiang Fan, with one hand behind his neck trying to eat, whined at the forceful pinch. He put down his chopsticks to rub the sore spot, but dropped them on the floor, bent to pick them up, and banged his head on the edge of the table.

Clutching his head, Jiang Fan looked at Wang Wenyu with innocent eyes. “I didn’t do anything. Why are you pinching me?”

Wang Wenyu pursed her lips. “You know perfectly well what you did, don’t you? Still have the nerve to ask.”

Everyone at the table laughed at Jiang Fan’s flustered antics and pitiful look.

After lunch, Jiang Fan wanted to rent a cheap place close to the dumpling shop.

But Wang Wenyu insisted on renting near Baisha Commercial Street, where the buildings were three to five stories tall, the environment was better, and the tenants weren’t as complicated as those in the old village, even if the rent was higher.

Considering Wang Wenyu’s beauty, Jiang Fan agreed.

From the dumpling shop, it was just over a mile along the highway toward Humen to reach the commercial street. The security team’s office was located nearby as well.

Passing the security office, Jiang Fan paused, peering inside, wanting to ask if his senior was really working there. But after causing trouble here just recently, he was too embarrassed to go in and ask.

The security office had three storefronts: two with glass sealed off for the captain and vice captain’s offices, and the remaining one was the entrance and the only passage to the holding cells in back.

Seeing Jiang Fan stop, Wang Wenyu teased, “What are you thinking? Want to go in and start another fight?”

The men inside, seeing Wang Wenyu at the door, grew tense, thinking she was there to stir up trouble. They didn’t know how to handle her and took careful note of Jiang Fan at her side, memorizing his face in case of further incidents.

Jiang Fan frowned and said, “The other night during the fight, I had a feeling one of the security guys was my senior.”

Wang Wenyu, having heard from Li Jiuguan that Jiang Fan had come to Dongguan to seek out a senior he’d never met, asked, “But you’ve never seen your senior. How could you have a feeling?”

Jiang Fan pointed to his ribs, explaining, “This was exactly where I got kicked by the guy I suspect. He used a side kick, exactly the way the old man taught me.”

“People who use side kicks always have to turn their bodies, which makes their stance unstable—a flaw in combat. The old man drilled into me that when using a side kick, you must protect your lower ribs at that moment, and after the kick, you have to turn quickly. He made me practice that turn for two months, and I still haven’t reached his standard.”

“The other night, when that security guy kicked me, he kept one hand covering his ribs. The old man said that move was invented by his own teacher—it protects the ribs, and it lets you combine the kick with an attack called ‘Scooping the Moon from the Sea.’ Since it’s an original move, most other martial artists wouldn’t know it.”