Reborn in the 1980s: Nine Stunning Beauties Get Pregnant Before Marriage

Yang Dahai, his head bandaged, stood beside Xiao Zhou: "Jin Mancang, stop pretending to be a good guy. Your villagers stole trees from our village, caught red-handed, and you still dare to bring a gun and cause trouble?"

Jin Mancang chuckled. "Stealing trees? Yang Dahai, you can't just say things like that. It's true that Boss Jin went up the mountain to cut down trees, but which side of the mountain is it? Our two villages have been fighting over it for years, don't you know?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Dahai's anger flared up again: "Bullshit! The boundary marker has been there for decades, are you people from Jinjiatun blind?"

Jin Mancang slowly began, "That boundary marker was secretly moved by your Shimen Village, wasn't it? If we really want to get to the bottom of this, let's have a proper discussion."

Standing in the middle, caught between two sides, Xiao Zhou said, "Stop arguing! This isn't the time to talk about the boundary marker. Boss Jin and his men are being held captive, and you've brought guns. What are you trying to do? Resist law enforcement with violence?"

Jin Mancang glanced at Xiao Zhou: "Comrade Xiao Zhou, we're not here for you. We're taking the man away today. As for the tree theft, we'll deal with it as appropriate later. But we can't keep him here indefinitely; that's illegal."

Chen Yongqiang, gun in hand, walked over and said, "Whether it's legal or not is none of your business in Jinjiatun!"

His voice drew the attention of people on both sides.

Jin Mancang sized up Chen Yongqiang: "You must be Chen Yongqiang? I heard you put in a lot of effort today."

"So what if I am?" Chen Yongqiang stopped three steps away from him, his gun barrel not raised, but his hand was on the trigger guard.

"It's a fact that Boss Jin stole the trees; we were caught red-handed. It's also a fact that the people from Jinjiatun came to cause trouble and beat our village chief. Now you've brought guns—what, are you trying to kidnap someone?"

A man carrying a musket stepped forward from behind Jin Mancang: "Who the hell are you talking to?"

"Step back." Jin Mancang raised his hand to stop them.

"Young man, I know you're working for the village. If you think Boss Jin stole trees, you should pay compensation, we'll accept that. But you've locked him up for a whole day and night, what kind of 'lawsuit' is that?"

"Secretary Jin, illegal logging is no small matter. How to handle it will be decided when the Forestry Bureau and Director Li arrive tomorrow." Chen Yongqiang had no intention of releasing the man. It was a rare opportunity to catch him; if he were released, they would never be able to find him again.

Jin Mancang's face darkened: "So, you're not planning to release them tonight?"

"It's not that I won't let go, it's just not the right time yet," Chen Yongqiang said, refusing to budge an inch.

Jin Mancang sneered, "So you think you can lock people up like that?"

Chen Yongqiang didn't respond to that question, but turned to Xiao Zhou: "Comrade Xiao Zhou, you're from the police station, so you tell me, can or can this person be released in this situation?"

Xiao Zhou was held there, carefully considering his words before speaking: "Secretary Jin, according to procedure... this matter of illegal logging does indeed require the forestry department to come and assess the losses. If we release Boss Jin and his men now, and then they can't be found later, I won't be able to explain it to them."

Jin Mancang stared at Xiao Zhou for several seconds: "Comrade Xiao Zhou, are you taking their side?"

"I'm not taking sides, I'm just following the rules," Xiao Zhou said, forcing himself to speak, though he himself felt his words lacked conviction.

The men behind Jin Mancang began to stir again. The one holding the musket moved forward, and the muzzle of the gun slightly tilted in their direction.

Chen Yongqiang gripped his hunting rifle tightly. He knew that whoever softened first would lose.

Although the opposing side had more guns, Shimen Village was in the right, and with the police present, they weren't intimidated at the scene.

Chen Yongqiang was confident, so he took two more steps forward, forcing the people of Jinjiatun to retreat.

At this distance, if a fight were to break out, he could simply raise his shotgun and point it at the other person's forehead.

"Secretary Jin, I respect you as an elder, but let me tell you something else. Times have changed, and the things Jin Lao Er did won't be so easily resolved."

Chen Yongqiang knew that a crackdown was about to begin in 1983, and village bullies would be a key target for rectification.

Jin Mancang clearly hadn't expected Chen Yongqiang to suddenly say such a thing.

"What do you mean by that?"

Before Chen Yongqiang could speak, Xiao Zhou seized the opportunity to smooth things over: "Village Chief Jin, let's leave it at that for today. The man is under my watch, nothing will happen. When Chief Li arrives tomorrow, we'll handle it according to procedure."

Jin Mancang ignored Xiao Zhou and kept his eyes fixed on Chen Yongqiang: "Young man, there's something behind your words."

Chen Yongqiang shook his head: "I didn't mean anything by it, I just wanted to remind you. You know better than I what kind of reputation Jinjiatun has had in the surrounding villages over the years. If this continues, your position as village chief will be in trouble..."

Jin Mancang's expression changed. He stared at Chen Yongqiang for a long while, then finally turned around and waved his hand: "Let's go."

The men carrying muskets looked at each other, but still followed him out of the village.

After everyone had walked away, Zhu Zi from the brick kiln came over and asked, "Brother Yongqiang, what did you mean by what you just said? Why did Jin Mancang leave after hearing that?"

"We'll talk about it later," Chen Yongqiang said without explanation.

He walked back with his gun in his hand, but he knew very well that in a few months, the crackdown would begin.

At that time, those who are used to running rampant in Jinjiatun will probably suffer a setback.

Chen Yongqiang managed to suppress the arrogance of Jinjiatun.

Regardless of tomorrow's outcome, Shimen Village will no longer need to fear the people of Jinjiatun.

The villagers involved in this matter didn't say it aloud, but they all admired Chen Yongqiang.

"That kid Yongqiang, he's usually quiet, but he really comes through when it counts," Zhu Zi muttered, watching Chen Yongqiang leave.

"That's right, look at him standing there just now, he actually blocked that old bastard Jin Mancang."

"Anyone else would have started arguing with those people long ago. He didn't argue; instead, he talked them away."

Several villagers started chatting.

Chen Yongqiang returned to the thatched hut, where a room full of people were watching television.

Even Ding Wanru was there tonight. Seeing Chen Yongqiang return, she immediately asked, "Brother Yongqiang, you didn't get into another fight with the people from Jinjiatun, did you?"

"No!" Chen Yongqiang replied, first hanging his shotgun on the wall. "With the police here, the people in Jinjiatun won't dare to cause trouble anymore."

Ding Wanru stood up: "It's good that you're alright, then I'll head back now."

She was worried that Chen Yongqiang would get hurt, which is why she had been waiting there. Although she didn't say it aloud, Chen Yongqiang understood.

"I'll see you out." Chen Yongqiang then walked out with him.

The two left the thatched hut one after the other, and Chen Yongqiang escorted Ding Wanru to the crossroads.

Ding Wanru glanced back at him, and seeing that there was no one else around, she threw herself into his arms.

"I was so worried. Don't get into fights impulsively in the future."

Chen Yongqiang raised his hand and placed it on her back: "It's okay! I know what I'm doing."

Ding Wanru looked up: "What sense of proportion? Those people were carrying guns. I was watching from afar, and my heart was pounding in my chest."