Tian Jing had been listening intently to the sounds of the village committee meeting ahead.
The deputy leader's voice, following Zeng Jingrong's, startled her, prompting her to quickly return to the house to put on makeup. Even if everyone knew the truth, a pretense was still necessary.
This was a principle of officialdom.
After applying a touch of makeup to appear weak, Tian Jing sat back in the living room and asked her mother-in-law to boil water, as guests were expected soon.
Mother Li placed Xuan Xuan in the east side room and asked Yu Ziyu to watch her.
Li Weibo had already been called away by his brother-in-law and elder brother. With what had happened to his father, it was impossible for him to remain at home with his wife and children with peace of mind.
Yu Ziyu had no objections, telling him to contribute where he could, as she and their son were well cared for by many people and her husband need not worry.
Seeing her grandmother put Xuan Xuan down, Yu Ziyu was surprised. Her grandmother, who even skipped cooking, was now willing to let Xuan Xuan go?
Mother Li smiled, "Your mother put on a pale face for herself and asked me to boil water, saying guests were coming."
Yu Ziyu pursed her lips and smiled, "Pretending to be sick is hard work. Please take good care of her."
Mother Li nodded, "You take good care of Xuan Xuan."
"Don't worry."
...
The deputy leader and his entourage reached the steps of the courtyard when Li Zhengguo caught up to them, "Team Leader Meng, Director Wan."
Wan Zhongshan turned around and then introduced to the deputy leader beside him:
"Deputy Leader, this is Comrade Li Zhengguo, the husband of Team Leader Tian."
The deputy leader extended his hand, "Hello Comrade Li Zhengguo, I'm sorry you've been put through this."
Li Zhengguo shook his hand, "Hello Team Leader Meng, I am not wronged because I have family."
The deputy leader's grip on Li Zhengguo's hand tightened for a moment, then he shook it firmly before letting go, "Haha, good, that's well said."
Li Zhengguo gestured, "Team Leader Meng, Director Wan, please come in."
The deputy leader and Wan Zhongshan stepped onto the stairs, leaving two men to guard the entrance while the rest followed the three into the front yard.
Two men were left by the second gate, four were dispersed in the inner courtyard, and the last two stood by the living room door.
As the deputy leader and Director Wan entered the main living room, Tian Jing quickly stood up, "Director Wan."
Wan Zhongshan nodded with a smile, "Team Leader Tian, this is Comrade Meng Fanwen, the deputy leader of the poverty alleviation leading group. He came personally to express his concern for your health."
Tian Jing extended her hand, "Team Leader Meng, thank you for your trouble. I'm fine."
The deputy leader paused slightly upon seeing Tian Jing's appearance and then understood why this Team Leader Tian was willing to hide away in this mountain village.
With such beauty, without the protection of power, it would inevitably bring disaster. Even those with exceptional skills could not contend with families with deep foundations.
It was rare to have a heart that was content with ordinary life, otherwise, the past twenty to thirty years in the capital would not have been so stable.
His hand briefly clasped Tian Jing's and then let go, "I've heard a lot about Team Leader Tian's reputation, and today I finally have the chance to meet you, only to find you unwell."
Tian Jing gestured towards the sofa, "Team Leader Meng, please sit. My health is fine; it's just that there was a mishap during my cultivation, and it will take some time to correct it."
As the deputy leader sat down, Mother Li entered with a tea tray. He immediately stood up, "Elderly lady, thank you for your trouble."
"No trouble, no trouble," Mother Li beamed, "It is our honor that you can visit our humble home."
Wan Zhongshan, hearing Mother Li's footsteps, had already stopped and turned. At this moment, he reached out and took the tea tray from Mother Li's hands.
Mother Li smiled kindly, "You are Director Wan."
Wan Zhongshan nodded, "Aunt Li, you still remember me? This is my superior, and also Team Leader Tian's superior, Team Leader Meng."
Mother Li's gaze then turned to the deputy leader, "Hello Team Leader Meng! Will you stay for dinner tonight? I'll make you some special dishes from Kushan."
The deputy leader was about to refuse when Wan Zhongshan agreed,
"Aunt Li, I'll stay for dinner. I want to eat the braised pork. As for the deputy leader, he can stay if he wants."
The deputy leader glared at Wan Zhongshan helplessly, then said to Mother Li, "Then we'll trouble you, elderly lady. We have quite a few people with us."
"No problem, no problem," Mother Li waved her hand joyfully, "We have many helpers at home too. You all sit and talk, I'll go call people back to help with the cooking."
As Mother Li spoke, she quickly left the living room.
When Zeng Jingrong saw the two men standing at the entrance of the courtyard, he gestured to the three people behind him, "You all shouldn't go in."
Zhou Chengbian nodded, "If you need anything, just call me."
"Alright," Zeng Jingrong replied, and as he stepped onto the stairs, he encountered Mother Li coming out.
"In-law, where are you going?"
"Jingrong?" Mother Li's smile remained unchanged, "I'm going to call people back to help with the cooking. Team Leader Meng and Director Wan are staying for dinner, you should stay too."
"Okay," Zeng Jingrong said happily, "In-law, I want to drink the pheasant soup."
"Don't worry, you'll have it," Mother Li said, waving to him, "You go and keep the guests company."
She ignored the two men at the courtyard entrance and stepped down, spotting Zhou Chengbian who was about to turn the corner. She called out,
"Chengbian, go call Xiaomai and Damai back to help. We have guests, and I'm going to call your aunt and your other aunt."
"You got it!" Zhou Chengbian replied excitedly. The fact that the deputy leader would stay for dinner was a source of pride for the Li family.
...
Zeng Jingrong entered the living room, saluted the deputy leader, and then shook hands with Wan Zhongshan.
After Wan Zhongshan was transferred to the poverty alleviation leading group, he became a department-level official, equivalent to a division commander, a rank comparable to a senior colonel. He was of the same rank as Zeng Jingrong, the captain of the special service team.
The two had collaborated before, and now that they met again, their clasped hands refused to let go.
"It's rare for us to meet outside of our work."
"Yes, I didn't expect to meet here, in this manner."
With Zeng Jingrong and Wan Zhongshan present, the atmosphere in the living room became lively.
Shen Jianrong, who was collecting and folding clothes in the backyard, was very surprised upon returning to the front yard and seeing the people in the yard and living room.
She recognized the leading figure, but he did not recognize her.
After Tian Jing introduced them, the deputy leader smiled cordially. How could he not know the Yu and Shen families, the in-laws of the Li family?
Seeing the deputy leader's smile, Shen Jianrong became less reserved and directly complained to him about the darkness in the local area.
The deputy leader nodded in agreement with her words and assured her that no one would be allowed to bully his people.
Satisfied, Shen Jianrong went to the east side room to take her grandson.
An awkward silence fell in the living room.
Zeng Jingrong asked the deputy leader if he wanted to go out for a walk and take the opportunity to see the greenhouses in Kushan.
The deputy leader smiled and nodded, "We should indeed go and see the perseverance and determination of Comrade Li Zhengguo in those years."
Li Zhengguo and Wan Zhongshan accompanied him.
Mother Li returned with the family to cook. Seeing them go out, she was a little anxious. Upon hearing that they were going to the greenhouses in the west, she quickly asked her eldest daughter-in-law to go and pick some fruits and vegetables.
Ouyang Meihua followed the group, carrying two baskets from the front yard warehouse, "Why are you visiting the greenhouses without baskets?"
The deputy leader turned and asked with a smile, "Is there a special reason?"
Ouyang Meihua shook her head, "No special reason. Once you taste the fruits and vegetables from the greenhouses, you'll understand why I brought baskets. Feel free to pick them, I'll pay!"
The deputy leader smiled, "We have quite a few people."
Ouyang Meihua said nonchalantly, "What does it matter if there are many people? It's about whether you can carry them away. Did you all drive a large truck?"
The deputy leader laughed heartily, "Haha, that's true."