On a weekend, with only a few police officers on duty at the bureau, everyone gathered around curiously when they heard Bureau Chief Yan had personally come to arrest a thief.
Hu Xiaohua, who spent his days pilfering, treated the police station like his second home and showed no fear.
As for Chen Meilan, he secretly sneered at her - what was she but a factory owner? Without Yan Zhao's backing, she'd be nothing.
But suddenly, Little Wang ran in and told Yan Zhao that Little Lang, Yuanyuan, and their mother wanted to ask him to release Hu Xiaohua so he could sell goods at Factory 271.
Hu Xiaohua, who had spent four full years following the same boss, always hoping to make it big but ending up in failure, stood there thunderstruck.
Not only did Chen Meilan not want him to go to jail, but she was offering him a job?
He figured it must be because she had connections to get the factory but couldn't handle sales herself. The marketplace was no place for a woman - even with Yan Zhao's backing, Chen Meilan couldn't manage sales. Was she coming to beg him to sell products?
Hu Xiaohua suddenly burst out: "Brother, no joke, in all of Xiping City, I'm the only one who can sell combs and condoms to monks! I can sell bras to young men and sanitary pads to old men - I really can sell anything!"
Yan Zhao turned to look at Hu Xiaohua: "Meilan runs a military factory."
"I know, Factory 271, the most prosperous factory in Xiping City. Look, I could even sell planes and artillery to farmers if you asked me to," Hu Xiaohua babbled frantically.
He was born for sales and marketing, truly capable of selling sanitary pads to old men and combs and condoms to monks. He loved sales and knew every factory in Xiping City like the back of his hand.
The workers at Factory 271 were all veterans, and he had some old connections with them. He'd seen them before - naturally simple-minded folks.
Once he got there, he'd teach them a lesson.
Let them see what a true talent who could thrive in today's society looked like.
Yan Zhao unclipped the keys from his belt but didn't remove the handcuffs, staring intently at Hu Xiaohua.
Under that stare, Hu Xiaohua's scalp began to tingle.
He used to steal in Jindong District, but Yan Zhao's men were fiercer than wolves, forcing him to move his operations to the train station.
Being from the same village, Hu Xiaohua thought he understood Yan Zhao - he was stubborn as a mule, known throughout the city for his rigid mindset, only interested in work and maintaining order. By rights, he shouldn't have been able to see through Hu Xiaohua's cunning.
But Yan Zhao's deep eyes seemed to pierce right through him. A hand that had once held machine guns and machetes suddenly gripped Hu Xiaohua's twig-like arm, causing searing pain, before twisting it.
With a click, Yan Zhao had unlocked the handcuffs.
But in unlocking them, he had also dislocated Hu Xiaohua's arm.
Anyone else might have fainted from fear rather than pain after having both arms dislocated by the police, but not Hu Xiaohua. Fighting through the pain, he kept saying: "Brother, thank you for dislocating these thieving arms of mine. Well done, brilliantly done, perfectly done! Brother, you truly are a magnificent, no, I mean, an excellent police officer!"
Yan Zhao twisted again with another click, popping Hu Xiaohua's arm back into place.
Looking at Hu Xiaohua's pain-contorted face, Yan Zhao turned his head to face the red characters on the hall wall: "Reform yourself and start anew. From now on, Meilan is willing to overlook your past and employ you, but if you truly want to be a good person, you must work diligently, take sales seriously, treat Chen Meilan like your own sister, and the veterans like your family. If you can't do that..."
"I can, Brother, I really can," Hu Xiaohua said, quick to read the wind.
"If you can't, you'll be back in jail," Yan Zhao said.
Hu Xiaohua nodded repeatedly: "Brother, you're my real brother, and Chen Meilan? She's like my mother."
Yan Zhao released his grip and patted Hu Xiaohua's back twice: "Go on, your sister-in-law is waiting."
"Don't worry, Brother. Sister-in-law isn't cunning like my sister or mother - she's honest and kind. But rest assured, from now on, I'll look after her," Hu Xiaohua continued flattering.
Yan Zhao let out a light sigh, watching the still-slick Hu Xiaohua, remaining silent.
Hu Xiaohua ran ahead while Yan Zhao followed, the handcuffs gleaming coldly in his hand.
...
At Factory 271, it was the weekend. Local workers had gone home, and most of those from out of town had gone shopping or looking for dates. The vast factory was clean and silent. Xue Mingfang, as production manager, had seen through worldly desires after being dumped by Liu Jingjing and now focused solely on work, reading in his dormitory.
Hearing about the arrival of a sales genius, he rushed downstairs so quickly he put his shoes on the wrong feet, like Cao Cao welcoming a guest without his shoes, eager to embrace and kiss the newcomer a hundred and twenty times.
However, upon seeing Hu Xiaohua, he immediately rolled up his sleeves, nearly throwing a punch.
"You bastard, you're that train station pickpocket! I'll beat you to death!"
"Brother, let's talk this through. I'm the guy who can sell condoms to monks!" Hu Xiaohua quickly raised his hands.
It turned out that when Hu Xiaohua was pickpocketing at the train station, it was Xue Mingfang and his fellow veterans who had chased and caught him. This was why Hu Xiaohua knew so much about Factory 271, and though he smiled on the surface, he harbored deep hatred.
For now, Hu Xiaohua was settled in this way.
Xue Mingfang personally found him a single dormitory room and got him bedding, sheets, a thermos, and slippers from the welfare office. Seeing how skinny he was, he even cooked him two packages of instant noodles.
As Hu Xiaohua wolfed down the noodles, Xue Mingfang's eyes shot daggers at him.
In any case, whether righteous soldiers or petty thieves, they were all Chen Meilan's men now.
After settling Hu Xiaohua, Chen Meilan needed to head home.
On the way, she needed to call Yan Xishan to give him a heads-up.
Because to handle Hu Xiaohua, she had slandered Yan Xishan.
People in their circles believed in revenge, and she worried Hu Xiaohua might harbor hatred for Yan Xishan and harm him later.
She made the call, and soon Yan Xishan called back: "Chen Meilan, come back quickly, I'm waiting for you at the village entrance."
Today, Yan Peiheng was at the Seventh Squad, specifically in what used to be Yan Xishan's home. Back then, Yan Xishan's father had been killed by the red five categories led by Yan Peiheng.
Officially, they were enemies. Yan Xishan must have gotten the news and come to check, and now he was in the village.
Fearing another argument when they met, Chen Meilan quickly explained about slandering him and wanting Hu Xiaohua to handle sales before he could hang up.
"Hurry back to the village, we'll talk in person." With a bang, Yan Xishan hung up.
Having Yan Peiheng stay in his house was one thing, and turning his good friend Hu Xiaohua against him was another. Having been married to him, Chen Meilan knew his temper and guessed Yan Xishan must be furious now, ready for a fight to the death. So when heading home, she insisted on driving herself and made sure Yan Zhao sat in the back.
As soon as they reached the village entrance, Chen Meilan nervously scanned ahead like a startled rabbit. Yan Xishan was in his red Xiali car, which had been parked but suddenly accelerated toward them the moment he spotted the Crown.
Meilan slammed on the brakes and simply closed her eyes.
Yan Xishan seemed ready to die with her.
Of course, reason prevailed - no matter how angry Yan Xishan was, he was just trying to scare Chen Meilan.
Just as the cars were about to collide, he hit the brakes and stopped.
Getting out of the car in his well-fitted western suit, gold-rimmed glasses, and large leather shoes, his face beaming brighter than Fei Xiang's, he stepped forward and yanked open the car door, starting to say: "Yan Zhao, I'm going to..."
But when he opened the door, he saw Yuanyuan's face: "Papa?"
"It's not good to curse in front of children," Yan Xishan quickly performed some stretching exercises and said, "Zhaodi, look at how well daddy exercises?"
But when he faced Yan Zhao again, his expression immediately turned cold, gesturing for him to follow.
After patting their bottoms and sending the children home first, Chen Meilan and Yan Zhao went into the abandoned coal yard.
Having driven a wedge between them and Hu Xiaohua, Chen Meilan was prepared to be scolded. After all, from now on, Hu Xiaohua would be like a time bomb for Yan Xishan.
However, Yan Xishan's calmness was terrifying at this moment. He first offered Yan Zhao a cigarette, and seeing him decline, lit one for himself. Then, flicking his ZIPPO lighter with a smile, he said: "Meilan, when we were married, I wasn't good to you. But I was poor then, I needed to make money, I was under pressure, I was being treated like a dog outside, I had anger inside me, and I could only vent it on you. You know that."
Chen Meilan nodded, while Yan Zhao stood with his hands on his hips, his expression already turning unfriendly.
But Yan Xishan wasn't afraid. He suddenly took two deep drags of his cigarette, then flicked the burning end right at Yan Zhao's face, lunging forward to grab his collar: "But I pray for Chen Meilan to live a long life, hoping that when I got money, she could live like a wealthy lady." Gripping Yan Zhao's collar, his face turned pale with anger: "Look at this living King of Hell, since marrying him, Chen Meilan, have you had a single peaceful day? Not only do you have to earn money to support yourself, but you also have to help his father with that damn military factory?"
Then he shouted: "Yan Zhao, do you know that Hu Xiaohua brings bad luck? His own father was doomed because of him! I went bankrupt because of him, and every boss he works with goes bankrupt - it's all because of his bad luck!"
He didn't give the married couple a chance to speak, pointing his finger at Yan Zhao's nose, then asking Chen Meilan: "You love him, right? Just because he's well-built and good-looking, isn't it? But do you know he doesn't love you at all? What does he love? Just like his father, he loves empty fame, he's arrogant, he just wants you to raise his children."
If he had insulted Chen Meilan directly, she could have argued back, but against these words, she had no rebuttal.
Yan Xishan continued with genuine emotion: "Just the fact that he let Hu Xiaohua be your sales manager shows he has bad intentions!"
Yan Zhao spread his arms, his clothes nearly torn by Yan Xishan, and tried to reason: "Xishan, don't talk about superstitious beliefs. Xiaohua is a good kid, and Meilan can handle him. If she can't, I'm here to help."
Yan Xishan took another angry breath, his teeth chattering with rage, suddenly getting close to Yan Zhao's face: "Chen Meilan was once my life, and she still is. If I hadn't been foolish enough to divorce her... Who the hell are you? What right do you have to use my precious one like a workhorse?"
Afraid he would say something worse, Chen Meilan pulled Yan Xishan away: "Get out of here."
Yan Xishan wouldn't fight with Chen Meilan, raising both hands and quickly saying: "You don't know this, but when Yan Zhao went to Chen Family Village for the matchmaking, he hadn't even gotten his divorce certificate from Zhou Xueqin. He only got divorced from Zhou Xueqin after he'd secured you as his next wife. Meilan, this man has no heart. If something happens to you, he'll find someone new tomorrow."
As the saying goes, first marriages are foot to foot, second marriages are each to their own.
Emotionally speaking, even without love, first marriage couples become family who depend on each other.
But second marriage couples are forever like thieves to each other.
Yan Xishan spoke with genuine concern, worried that something would happen to Chen Meilan. Her big wavy hair trembled with anger as she suddenly reached out and threw the lighter at Yan Zhao's head: "You just wait and see."
With that, he stormed off.
Well, Chen Meilan had expected Yan Xishan to get angry, but she hadn't expected him to get this upset.
"Let's go home," she said.
Yan Zhao picked up Yan Xishan's ZIPPO lighter and nodded.
At home, surprisingly, Qi Songlu was cooking.
Yan Sanye was playing chess with Yan Peiheng, while Yan Wei sat nearby, serving tea to the two elderly men.
As soon as Chen Meilan entered, Yan Peiheng handed the chess game over to Yan Wei, indicating he wanted to talk with her.
"Meilan just got back, she hasn't had her afternoon nap today, she needs to rest. Whatever it is, we can talk about it in the afternoon," Yan Zhao said.
After all that Yan Xishan had said, Yan Zhao didn't know how to explain, but Chen Meilan looked very upset. Thinking carefully, what Yan Xishan said was true - Meilan's second marriage wasn't better than her first. In her first marriage, at least she could stay at home peacefully, just short on money.
Now she was overwhelmingly busy, and all the major household expenses came from her earnings.
Yan Zhao wasn't good at explaining things, he just wanted Chen Meilan to get some good rest, guessing she must be feeling very upset right now.
But Yan Peiheng didn't know his son and daughter-in-law were in a mood.
Instead, he thought his son was being like himself in his younger days, unreasonably and shamelessly protective, showing favoritism toward his wife.
"What's wrong with not sleeping for one day? I'm sixty years old and never take afternoon naps on weekends," Yan Peiheng said angrily. "If you're the weak one, go take a nap yourself. Meilan is like me, she's strong and doesn't need rest."
How did a normal conversation turn into personal attacks?
So Yan Zhao asked Meilan: "Do you want to rest? If you do, I'll ask Dad to leave?"
"No need, you go do your things, I need to talk with Dad," Chen Meilan said.
With Yan Peiheng standing right there, Yan Zhao couldn't say more, so he left.
Yan Peiheng still wanted to discuss with Chen Meilan about who should lease Factory 291, and about how the Lease Contract issued by the military logistics department included a clause that Yan Peiheng had added: all military factories cannot be controlled by foreign capital, and the legal representative must have Hua Country citizenship.
Although the old man didn't know about how Gu Xiao had almost gained control of Factory 271, as a soldier of Hua Country, he had this awareness and consciousness, not wanting foreigners to have controlling shares.
Chen Meilan read through it carefully and quite admired her father-in-law. By not allowing foreign control, people like Gu Xiao would have no opportunity from the start.
Yan Peiheng then handed the Contracting Agreement to Chen Meilan: "Currently, the most sincere candidate is this comrade Yu Xiaoqiao. She offered the highest earnest money, and her company has the highest registered capital. Look, here's her bank deposit certificate, showing a full 500,000."
The contracting fee for Factory 291 was 300,000.
After taking over, just like Factory 271, the plant would need renovation, raw materials, market development - all of these required money.
Whoever had more money in their account would find it easier to do business, and the leaders would favor them when deciding who to lease the factory to.
In her previous life, Chen Meilan was just a housewife, only learning to do business in this life.
Yu Xiaoqiao, on the other hand, was a business veteran of decades - they weren't even in the same league.
However, with memories from her previous life, she felt obligated to help Yan Peiheng if she could.
As for Factory 291, from a personal perspective, because Yu Xiaoqiao would later produce toxic milk powder, she didn't want the military district to contract it to her, just as instinctively as she didn't want Yu Xiaoqiao to marry Xiong Dapao, even though she couldn't interfere.
She suddenly remembered something and said: "By the way, Dad, a bank deposit slip is just proof of deposit, it doesn't mean Yu Xiaoqiao actually has 500,000 in her account. Why don't you have them check her bank transaction records?"
Xiong Dapao did have money - Gu Xiao had invested a full million in him.
But after importing new equipment from abroad and hiring several technical engineers from Malaysia at high salaries to conduct detoxification experiments for paint, that money was mostly spent.
500,000 wasn't a small sum - where would Yu Xiaoqiao get such money?
Even the most corrupt high-ranking military and political officials in the country couldn't embezzle that much money in this era.
So Chen Meilan suspected that the other party might have fabricated fake bank records, trying to get something for nothing.
If this could be proven, Yu Xiaoqiao would lose her qualification to contract Factory 291.
Yan Peiheng promptly said: "Alright, tomorrow I'll have Secretary Mao send someone to the bank to investigate this matter." Then, he changed the subject, pointing outside the window: "Meilan, that young lady seems quite nice."
While Chen Meilan and her husband were out, lunch was prepared by Qi Songlu.
She was a local from Xiping City and had only made Saozi noodles for lunch, Qishan style, which particularly suited Yan Peiheng's taste. The old man had eaten three bowls and was still feeling full.
"You want me to play matchmaker for Second Brother, don't you?" Chen Meilan could tell from the old man's expression that he wanted Qi Songlu as his daughter-in-law.
Yan Peiheng said, "Your second brother says he quite likes that young lady, and mentioned she's your employee. Help your brother out - it's time he had a family."
Chen Meilan immediately replied, "Second Brother used to do everything around the house, but look at him now - sitting comfortably playing chess in the courtyard, not lifting a finger. What do you think his attitude towards Mi Lan is?"
The old man had a personality just like Yan Zhao's - the type to act swiftly and decisively.
"Yan Wei!" the old man shouted. "Go make dinner in the kitchen!"
"I'm playing chess with Third Uncle," Yan Wei had learned to be lazy and was quite enjoying it.
"Yan Wangqi, you go play chess with your third uncle," said Yan Peiheng.
Little Wang, who had just been ordered by Yan Zhao to do horse stance under the sandbag, was delighted at the chance to play chess instead.
The young man bounded over and bumped his second uncle right off his seat.
Yan Wei walked into the kitchen with a smile, saw Qi Songlu picking green beans, and asked, "Need any help?"
"No," she replied.
Yan Wei lazily sat down on a stool, quite content.
Just because Qi Songlu had rejected his proposal last time, he wasn't worried. He believed Chen Meilan would definitely help arrange their marriage.
He thought marrying Qi Songlu was just a matter of time.
But just then, Qi Songlu suddenly said, "Oh right, your ex-wife Mi Lan called me a few days ago. She said you proposed eight times before, and during your ten years of marriage, she had breakfast in bed every day. She also said she wants you back for remarriage. When are you leaving?"
Yan Wei jumped up in shock.
Mi Lan was in the capital now, with no income and living quite miserably. She often called to pester him, wanting to remarry.
But ever since Yan Wei met the hardworking, kind, and gentle Qi Songlu, he finally understood what a good woman should be like. Now he absolutely detested Mi Lan and would never remarry her.
But how did Mi Lan get Qi Songlu's phone number?
Was she crazy? How could she tell Qi Songlu about their private life?
No wonder Qi Songlu rejected his proposal and had been so cold towards him.
It turned out Mi Lan was behind all this.
Now Yan Wei didn't dare be lazy anymore. He obediently went to fetch water and wash vegetables, as well-behaved as a rabbit.
While Yan Wei suddenly became industrious, Yan Zhao had been working non-stop since arriving - sweeping the courtyard, doing laundry for the children, and even making sure to clean Chen Meilan's car spotlessly.
With the men doing the work, the women could relax. Qi Songlu had seen how efficiently Yan Zhao worked before.
But feeling he was especially diligent today, she went to the bedroom and asked Chen Meilan, "Boss Chen, what's going on with Bureau Chief Yan today? He's working unusually hard."
What else could it be - he'd been scolded by Yan Xishan today.
In fact, Chen Meilan knew that Zhou Xueqin had used custody of the children to force Yan Zhao to date her, only getting the divorce certificate after he agreed.
And Yan Xishan was angry because he worried Hu Xiaohua would bring misfortune to her.
But in reality, during the 1990s, most nouveau riche died from their inability to handle their sudden wealth.
Hu Xiaohua was too capable - he could make bosses rich, but it was their inability to handle their wealth that caused their downfall.
Yan Zhao didn't believe in superstition - he sought out Hu Xiaohua to help him, which Chen Meilan could understand.
Yan Xishan said her remarriage would bring her more hardship, which was true. But for Chen Meilan, who had been a frustrated rich housewife her whole previous life, having money and a career while enduring some hardship was better than anything else.
Yan Zhao was working as diligently as a robot vacuum today because he thought she was angry, trying hard to make up for it.
Chen Meilan wasn't actually angry, but she was happy to let Yan Zhao do more work, so she said nothing.
So she told Qi Songlu, "It's nothing. You go rest too, and don't be too nice to Yan Wei. That man is..."
"Desperate for attention," Qi Songlu finished with a smile before turning to leave.
However, by evening, Chen Meilan gradually felt something wasn't quite right. No matter how poor Yan Zhao was at expressing himself, after Yan Xishan had tried to drive them apart like that, he should at least show her some affection. Plus, she had been pretending to be angry and hadn't left the room all day.
She thought Yan Zhao should be worried and anxious today.
But when he came back after washing up, why did he look so happy? What was there to be happy about?
The man got into bed, lifted the covers, and crawled in.
She was pretending to be angry, but not only was he unafraid, he couldn't hide his joy. Chen Meilan felt uncomfortable. She wanted to argue, but needed a reason first, so she casually said, "Bureau Chief Yan, you seem quite happy today."
Yan Zhao sat on the edge of the bed, smoothed out the pillowcase Chen Meilan had wrinkled, looked at her for a moment, and said solemnly, "I fully accept Xishan's criticism today."
His attitude was quite sincere, making it impossible for Chen Meilan to start an argument. She just made a noncommittal sound.
Then Yan Zhao continued, "I know you love me very much, and you love my children too. This love has made things very difficult for you. But trust me, I won't let you down like my father did."
Chen Meilan was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized why Yan Zhao was so happy today - during the argument, Yan Xishan had pointed at her and mentioned why she loved Yan Zhao.
And Yan Zhao had believed it.
He actually thought she truly loved him that much!
Chen Meilan thought to herself that these men must have some misunderstandings about women.
After suffering so much in her previous life and being hurt by two men like that, how could she possibly love another man again?
Wasn't money better? Wasn't having a career better?
But she had never seen Yan Zhao so happy before, so she could only go along with it. She patted the pillow and said softly, "Let's sleep."
This wife, gentle as water - in Yan Zhao's eyes, she was both shy and charming, both gentle and moving. And who would have thought she would love him and his children so deeply?
"You can handle Hu Xiaohua, right?" He lay down, suppressing the excitement in his chest and said, "If not, I'll use force again."
Chen Meilan said with certainty, "I can."
Just to show Xiong Dapao that Factory 271 could operate without him, Chen Meilan had to handle Hu Xiaohua.
After all, mountains may fall, waters may dry up, and people will age - in the end, one must rely on oneself.
Especially women.
As for Yan Xishan, he spent several days at work unable to eat or sleep, distracted and anxious. He worried that Hu Xiaohua would bring misfortune to Chen Meilan. He knew better than anyone that while Hu Xiaohua was capable, he looked down on Meilan completely. She couldn't possibly handle him. If something happened to her, if she was hurt or worse, what would happen to Yuanyuan? If Meilan ended up bedridden, he would definitely put aside past grievances and take care of her, even cleaning up after her - for the rest of his life.
Because she was the mother of his child, the woman who had stayed with him through poverty when he couldn't even afford underwear.
But he was still angry, worried that Yan Zhao might quietly find someone else if something happened, and Meilan would be devastated and heartbroken.
He wasn't afraid of anything else - just of Meilan being heartbroken.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. Yan Xishan was so impulsive he even considered just running Hu Xiaohua over with his car.
But then he thought about how Hu Xiaohua had once been his brother, had stuck his neck out for him - if he really killed him, wouldn't that make himself worse than an animal?
Maybe he should run over Yan Zhao instead?
If he killed Yan Zhao, maybe he and Meilan could return to how things were before.
He had money and fame now - wouldn't that be good?
However, this crazy, unreasonable idea disappeared without a trace after one phone call.
Today, the People's Congress Organization Committee officially notified him that Yan Xishan had been selected as a new delegate to the People's Congress.
He would be able to enter the Great Hall of the People's Congress, representing farmer entrepreneurs in congressional meetings!
Immediately, he forgot all about Chen Meilan and Yuanyuan, happily going off to enjoy his fame and glory.
