A man in Handong: living off Zhong Xiaoai

Chapter 458 Qi Tongwei had already married Zhong Xiaoai.

When Sha Qiang saw that Han Chen was not only not angry that his wife Mary had run off with Chen Yongren, but was even smiling and inviting him to eat, he was surprised.

Is Brother Chen really that magnanimous? Or is it that Brother Chen has no idea that Mary may have already had a deep conversation with that kid Chen Yongren?

Forget it, there's no point in thinking about it now.

If Han Chen hadn't discovered it, then both I and Chen Yongren would be safe, and Sister Mary would be safe too. Wouldn't that be great? Everyone would be happy!

Thinking of this, Sha Qiang felt better.

"Brother Chen, shall I go eat now?"

Han Chen smiled and nodded.

"Go on! You've had a hard day!"

And so, Han Chen watched with a smile as Sha Qiang slowly disappeared from his sight.

Once Sha Qiang was completely out of Han Chen's sight, the smile on Han Chen's face suddenly vanished, replaced by an extremely cold expression.

Han Chen knew he was powerless to do anything about it. No matter how angry he was, he had to hold back because Chen Yongren was Ni Kun's son, and he couldn't touch him right now.

Therefore, the best way to handle this matter now is to pretend you don't know anything and let everything cool down.

In Jingzhou City, Handong Province, Chen Hai was standing in front of a hospital bed in a prison's designated hospital.

Chen Hai looked at Chen Yanshi, who was lying on the hospital bed with a haggard face, his face filled with sadness and worry.

Chen Hai took a deep breath and grabbed Chen Yanshi's hand.

"Dad, how are you now?"

Chen Yanshi was already somewhat weak and looked exhausted.

"Chen Hai, what are you doing now? Are you still at your hometown with your mother?"

Upon hearing Chen Yanshi's words, Chen Hai's expression turned grim, but he felt he should still tell Chen Yanshi the truth.

"Dad! I'm not back in our hometown anymore. After Mom went back, she got together with Uncle Wang from next door, and she's remarried him now. After that, she didn't want me to bother her at home, so she kicked me out..."

Hearing this, Chen Yanshi was almost furious. He lay on the hospital bed and let out a long, weak sigh.

“I knew it! She never comes to see me. Why did she suddenly decide to come to the prison to see me that time, and even sign divorce papers with me? I thought it was because she was afraid I would affect her, after all, she also receives a pension from her workplace. I never expected that she was afraid I would get in her way, and was planning to get married!”

Chen Hai looked at his father and nodded sadly.

"Dad, Mom has her own life to live, so please don't interfere."

Although Chen Hai said that, he was definitely bothered by it in his heart. After all, she was his mother, who abandoned his father and remarried when his father needed her the most.

Also because, without her mother marrying that Uncle Wang, she wouldn't have ended up wandering the streets and wouldn't have been reduced to scavenging for food in garbage cans.

Chen Hai wasn't against his mother remarrying, but couldn't the breakdown of their relationship be separated from the change in her status? Couldn't the freedom of marriage not be imposed on harming others?

Chen Hai felt heartbroken looking at his father's haggard appearance, even though he did not approve of his father's previous attitude and actions towards Qi Tongwei.

However, no matter how much of a scoundrel Chen Yanshi was, Chen Hai was very clear that he was still his father, and most importantly, his father loved him.

Chen Yanshi looked at his son and saw that he had changed from before; he had become dark-skinned and thin.

Looking at his son like this, Chen Yanshi couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache, and his eyes reddened.

“Hai Zi, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have treated Qi Tongwei like that. Now that I’m in there, I have more time to think about things, and when I look back, I always feel that I was too foolish back then! Tell me, why was I so stubborn and had to target a kid from the countryside?”

At this point, Chen Yanshi paused for a moment, then continued.

"Hai Zi, your father is also from the countryside. If I hadn't participated when I was young, I definitely wouldn't be where I am today. Thinking about it, I'm always criticizing others, but I've forgotten my roots. It's not that I didn't love your sister Chen Yang back then. She's my daughter, how could I not love her? It's just that at that time I felt that once a daughter gets married, she depends on her husband's family, so I wanted to leave all the money to you. So, my opposition to her being with Qi Tongwei was because I was afraid she would suffer in the future, not entirely because I looked down on that Qi Tongwei guy."

Then, Chen Yanshi sighed deeply and touched Chen Hai's face with red eyes.

"Hai Zi! You've suffered so much, and so has your sister. What are you two doing now? Is your sister Chen Yang married?"

Seeing his father like this, and especially after hearing what he had just said, Chen Hai took a deep breath.

"Dad, I've been appointed as the deputy county head of Jinshan County. I've come to say goodbye before taking office."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yanshi's previously dark and gloomy eyes suddenly lit up.

What?! My own son, Chen Hai, is going to be the deputy county head of Jinshan County?

I remember Chen Hai telling me before that he couldn't continue his studies at university and had dropped out.

He had already dropped out of university, so how did he find a job and become the deputy county head of Jinshan County?

This child is so promising!

Chen Hai looked at his father, Chen Yanshi, and continued speaking with a sad expression.

"You don't need to worry about my sister. She's still with Governor Qi (Wang Haohao) and doing very well."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yanshi's eyes widened.

"Hai Zi, what did you say?! Qi Tongwei is now a vice governor? What kind of vice governor is he in charge of? And why is your sister still by Qi Tongwei's side? Didn't he marry Zhong Xiao Ai a long time ago?"

Upon hearing his father's words, Chen Hai's eyes widened in surprise.

No wonder the people from the provincial government were all calling Zhong Xiaoai "Madam" this morning; it turns out that Zhong Xiaoai really is Qi Tongwei's wife.

Needless to say, his older sister must have become Qi Tongwei's concubine and constant companion, just like that pretty girl with some language difficulties.

I had already guessed it, but I was still shocked to receive confirmation.

How could her sister, Chen Yang, who was Qi Tongwei's ex-girlfriend, accept her as a mistress?

Chapter 459 Qi Tongwei asked me to be the deputy county head

Chen Hai felt overwhelmed by the amount of information. He took a deep breath to calm himself down.

However, how could his own father know that Qi Tongwei and Zhong Xiaoai were married?

He seemed unaware that Qi Tongwei had become the governor of Handong Province; his knowledge of the matter appeared to be stuck on the time when Qi Tongwei was the deputy director of the Handong Provincial Police Department.

"Dad, Qi Tongwei isn't some vice governor in charge of any particular area; he's been the governor of Handong Province for a long time!"

Upon hearing Chen Hai's words, Chen Yanshi almost performed a medical miracle, sitting up directly from his hospital bed.

He could hardly believe his ears, his mouth agape as he looked at Chen Hai.

"Hai Zi! What did you say? What did Qi Tongwei do? What about Handong Province? The governor?! The official one?"

Chen Hai nodded, then looked around the room and realized there was indeed no television.

"Dad, don't you watch TV in there? I heard Hou Liangping went in too? Didn't you see him? Didn't he tell you about Qi Tongwei's current situation?"

Chen Yanshi waved to Chen Hai.

"I fell ill not long after I arrived here, and I've received several critical condition notices. I don't know if God is taking good care of me or not wanting me, but I've pulled through each time. Back in cell 633, there were newspapers and television, and we were regularly organized to watch them for ideological education. But after coming to this designated hospital, I rarely have the chance to see newspapers and television anymore; I'm basically cut off from the world."

With that, Chen Yanshi sighed and continued.

"Hou Liangping is a scoundrel with no official rank. Before I came in, I was a bureau-level cadre, so the prison I'm in is definitely not the same one as Hou Liangping's. We'll never see each other."

As he spoke, Chen Yanshi pointed out the facilities in his room to Chen Hai.

"Although I don't have a TV here, and it's the designated hospital in the prison, you see, Hai Zi, it's still different when I'm sick. I still have a private room! If I hadn't been the executive deputy chief prosecutor of the Handong Provincial Procuratorate before I came in, and hadn't held a position at the bureau level, I definitely wouldn't have this kind of treatment. If Hou Liangping had been sick, he would have died long ago. A prisoner, how could the hospital give him so many resources to save him?"

Chen Hai was unsure whether to be happy upon hearing Chen Yanshi's words.

This old man is already imprisoned, yet he's still so content. If my own father, Chen Yanshi, had been so easily satisfied back when he was outside, and hadn't bothered with those expensive paintings, flowers, and rare birds, he wouldn't have ended up in this situation.

If they don't offend Qi Tongwei, their old man will actually be fine.

The treatment of a bureau-level official in Xia Kingdom is definitely better outside than inside.

Chen Yanshi looked at Chen Hai beside him and continued.

“Before I came in, when I was still at the Provincial Procuratorate, Qi Tongwei had already married Zhong Xiaoai. He didn’t report it to the higher-ups at the time. I only heard about it from others before I came in.”

Chen Hai nodded. Since this was what his father, Chen Yanshi, had heard from others before he came in, and he had also seen it with his own eyes in the provincial government office building this morning, it should be true. Zhong Xiaoai should be Qi Tongwei's wife.

Chen Yanshi looked at Chen Hai, smiled, and said.

"Hai Zi, since Qi Tongwei has achieved his current position thanks to Zhong Xiaoai, don't distance yourself from him because of me. The governor of Handong Province still carries considerable weight in Handong. You're now the deputy county head of Jinshan County, and your sister Chen Yang is also by Qi Tongwei's side. Try to spend more time with him; frankly, he's practically your brother-in-law! Although the governor of Handong Province can't directly decide the promotion or demotion of officials, his words still have some influence, and their weight isn't insignificant!"

Her own father said that Qi Tongwei got to where he is today because of Zhong Xiaoai? What kind of time is this? How can her own father, Chen Yanshi, still look down on Qi Tongwei? Governor Qi achieved his success through his own abilities. Zhong Xiaoai is just a woman who works as a beauty livestreamer by Qi Tongwei's side, selling products every day. What help can she possibly be?

But one thing is strange: why didn't I see Qi Tongwei's secretary in his office today?

Logically speaking, Qi Tongwei is the governor of Handong Province. How could such a high-ranking leader not have a secretary?

How come Zhong Xiaoai, Qi Tongwei's wife, is selling products in the office?

Furthermore, now his own father has actually said that Qi Tongwei is practically his brother-in-law.

Back when Qi Tongwei was a young man from the countryside eating cornbread, he was completely unwilling for his older sister to become his fiancée.

Now that Qi Tongwei has become the governor of Handong Province, and his own sister has become his concubine, has he, with his rigid and old-fashioned way of speaking, actually agreed to it?!

If only we had known this would happen, why did we do it in the first place? They say never underestimate a young man's potential. If my grandfather, Chen Yanshi, had thought more highly of Qi Tongwei back then, things wouldn't have ended up like this today, would they?

“Dad, my position as deputy county head was decided by Governor Qi with just a word! And Governor Qi got to where he is today through his own efforts, how can you say it's because he received help from Zhong Xiaoai?”

Upon hearing his son Chen Hai's words, Chen Yanshi's eyes widened in surprise.

"Hai Zi, you're saying Qi Tongwei made you the deputy county head of Jinshan County with just one sentence? Qi Tongwei got you this deputy county head position? He made it happen with just one sentence? That's an exaggeration, isn't it? Did he recommend you to the provincial party secretary, Zhao Lichun?"

With that, Chen Yanshi let out a long sigh of relief.

"I've been in there for so long that I don't even know if Zhao Lichun is still the provincial party secretary of Handong Province. Hai Zi, since you're making a living in Handong Province, you can't be confused! We won't talk about whether Qi Tongwei is capable or not, but he definitely owes his success to Zhong Xiaoai!"

Chen Hai was still completely confused by his father's words.

Since even his own father, Chen Yanshi, acknowledged that Qi Tongwei was capable.

So why insist on linking Qi Tongwei's success to Zhong Xiaoai's help?

Chapter 460 Following Qi Tongwei to the Ministry

Chen Hai looked at his father and thought that his father might be too stubborn and prejudiced against Qi Tongwei, which was why he kept saying that Qi Tongwei's success was due to Zhong Xiaoai's help.

"Dad, my position as deputy county head was decided by Governor Qi. The current Party Secretary of Handong Province is still Zhao Lichun. Today, I overheard Zhao Lichun calling Qi Tongwei in Governor Qi's office, asking him to arrange for his secretary, Li Dakang, to be replaced."

Upon hearing Chen Hai's words, Chen Yanshi almost performed another medical miracle and sat up instantly.

Why would Zhao Lichun call Qi Tongwei and ask him to arrange work for his secretary, Li Dakang?

If someone else told me this, I would definitely think that they were lying to make fun of this old man.