He only wanted to drive Ning Lu and her mother out as quickly as possible.
In fact, Ning Tie Dan was afraid that after expelling them, they would eventually find a way to report the matter to higher authorities. As the families of martyrs, Ning Lu and her mother would definitely be protected.
But the problem right now was that Ning Tie Dan, together with the villagers, would never allow Ning Lu and Yan Bingqin to leave the village peacefully.
Ning Lu once again wanted to act…
Yan Bingqin staggered over and held her daughter’s hand.
Ning Lu looked at her. Yan Bingqin was also overweight now; over the past year, for some reason, both mother and daughter had been steadily gaining weight.
Even so, Yan Bingqin remained very beautiful. Her eyebrows were like willow leaves, naturally elegant without any need for makeup. Her almond-shaped eyes were gentle, her features refined and soft, yet carried a hint of firmness.
Ning Lu had inherited her mother’s beauty.
Yan Bingqin looked at her with affection.
“Lu Lu, it’s my fault,” she said softly. “I thought, for your father’s sake, we shouldn’t destroy the Ning family. I never expected them to be so vicious.
Thank you for saving me, but this time… let me protect you.”
After saying that, she looked firmly at Ning Tie Dan.
“Are you trying to avoid the police out of kindness—or because you’re afraid? Only you know the truth.
Five years ago, before the land was distributed to households, the village grain storage was robbed. Two thousand jin of grain disappeared.
That year, sixteen people in the village died. A newborn from the Li family starved to death because there was no milk. The youngest son of Wang San died after a week of fever because they had no money for treatment and was too weak from malnutrition…
All of this happened right under your watch as village chief, and yet you did nothing!
You led everyone to search for the thief—but no matter how hard you searched, you couldn’t find him, because the thief was you!
If you don’t believe it, go check the cellar at Ning Lao Da’s house. The baskets used to store the grain are still there!
Last year I discovered this secret. It was Ning Lao Er who knelt before me and begged me not to expose it. He said he would force the village chief to compensate the families of the dead. Let me ask everyone—did any of you ever receive compensation?”
The moment these words fell, Ning Tie Dan immediately roared in fury:
“You’re talking nonsense!!”
But the villagers didn’t even need to think—they believed her instantly.
Because that year’s winter, the hunger, the freezing cold, and the deaths of their loved ones were unforgettable.
A group of people rushed forward, grabbing Ning Tie Dan and shouting:
“Village chief?! Did you really steal the grain?! My mother died because of you!!”
“You damn murderer! My son died that winter! You saw it and did nothing!”
“Search his house! Go check his cellar!”
Ning Xingde, Ning Tie Dan’s son, tried to run home to destroy evidence.
Ning Lu kicked him hard in the back.
The villagers beat the village chief, others rushed to search his house, and some ran to report the case immediately.
Ning Tie Dan was beaten until he was in agony, still desperately shouting:
“No! I didn’t steal anything! Help! You idiots! You’re breaking the law!!”
The whole village was in chaos.
Ning Lu was genuinely shocked. She helped her mother up.
“Mom, you’re amazing!”
Yan Bingqin picked up a broken urn lid from the ground, her expression dim.
“Lu Lu, let’s go home first. Wait until the police arrive and handle everything properly.”
Soon, the police arrived.
Two major cases were handled: the village chief’s grain theft, and his abuse of the martyrs’ family and seizure of their property, which had caused Yan Bingqin and her daughter to fall into the river.
Now the entire village was furious at Ning Tie Dan, and everyone came forward to testify against him.
He still tried to argue, but the police sternly said:
“As a village chief, you’ve acted lawlessly. Your crimes are serious—you must be taken in for investigation!
Also, Ning Tie Gen is a martyr. Instead of taking care of his wife and daughter, you tried to seize their land and house? We will investigate the entire Ning family!”
Ning Tie Dan’s wife Wei Xiaomei, along with his children Ning Xingde and Ning Yue, all wanted to plead for him—but the entire family was taken away.
The police also reassured Yan Bingqin:
“Don’t worry. Martyrs’ families are protected by the state. We will handle this properly. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, come to us anytime.”
Yan Bingqin nodded.
She was already starting to develop a fever after all the commotion.
Ning Lu gave her medicine and helped her rest, then went out alone.
The Ning Lao Da family had been taken away, and the villagers were now angrily condemning Ning Tie Dan, so all rumors about Ning Lu’s mother and daughter naturally collapsed.
Lin Anguo, meanwhile, was pacing anxiously at home.
His mother lay on the bed and said:
“Ning Yue may be good, but her father is probably finished as village chief. Stealing grain is a serious crime—he might even go to prison!
Ning Lu may be fat, but she’s capable. She knows how to take care of people.
Son, if Ning Lu comes to apologize, tell her we need money—five hundred yuan for medical treatment.
Her father’s pension was a thousand, right? We’ll take five hundred first, and after you marry her, we’ll slowly take the rest.
If you don’t like her, just starve her for a few days after marriage and she’ll lose weight quickly. Or after getting the money, find her fault and divorce her, then use the money to buy a job and marry someone from town…”
Before she finished speaking, Ning Lu arrived.
Lin Anguo immediately stood up.
A little nervous, but still forcing a stern expression, he said:
“What are you doing here? My house doesn’t welcome people like you! Let me tell you, don’t even think about marrying me!”
Ning Lu kicked over the flimsy gate of the Lin household.
Bang!
She lifted the gate panel and smashed it toward the roof.
Tiles rained down in pieces.
Lin’s mother screamed in terror.
Lin Anguo, furious, rushed forward and grabbed Ning Lu’s arm:
“What are you doing, you fat madwoman?! Let go of me!”
Ning Lu turned, grabbed his neck, and slapped his face several times.
“Can’t speak properly? If you can’t, I’ve got plenty of strength to teach you.”
Lin Anguo felt like he was about to be beaten to death.
He couldn’t understand it—didn’t she used to like him? Didn’t she say he was educated, different from other village men, and even promised to support him through school?
Why was this woman going back on her word?
His mother rushed over screaming:
“Let go of my son!”
Ning Lu released Lin Anguo, then grabbed the frail old woman and threw her onto the roof.
She slid down and crashed into a pile of junk, nearly fainting.
Lin Anguo, panicking, tried to get up, but Ning Lu stepped on him again.
“Lin Anguo, I’ll give you one last chance. Think carefully about what you should do. Otherwise, you know the consequences.”
Lin Anguo, terrified, stammered:
“Ning Lu… if you do this, I will never marry you! And this is illegal! I can report you…”
Ning Lu laughed.
“You filthy used-up cucumber, a useless failure who can’t even pass exams—what right do you have to marry me?
Report me? Go ahead.
Your gate? I chopped it from the mountains.
Your roof? I climbed up and repaired it myself.
Inside and outside your house—tell me, what haven’t I fixed?
Today, either we settle accounts clearly—or one of you dies.”