Wu Tao Wen Guan

Chapter 357 Pained for His Daughter

The village committee of Luofeng Village.

In the empty courtyard, the indistinct sounds of Peking Opera singing could be heard.

Wu Lei lay on the single bed where he usually rested, his legs crossed: "I am like a bird in a cage with wings that cannot be spread.

I am like a tiger away from the mountain, left alone.

I am like a goose from the south, lost and scattered.

I am like a dragon in shallow water, stranded on the beach."

Humming along to a classic opera from "Si Lang Tan Mu" on the radio, a wave of melancholy surged into his heart.

After several days of high-intensity labor, Wu Lei's cholecystitis had successfully recurred, and he could only stay at the village committee to keep watch.

He couldn't afford to not have it recur!

Tian Mengyao led the villagers, setting an example by working tirelessly at the construction site.

Wu Lei, as the village chief, was also incredibly busy, returning home every day with a sore back and legs that felt like they would break.

What's more, ordinary people get paid for their work, receiving their wages daily. But he, in order to show his loyalty, like Tian Mengyao, did not take a salary.

Having worked for free for several days, he felt both resentful and unable to bear the physical strain. He used his illness as an excuse and refused to go to the construction site anymore.

"Why are young people so clueless, so foolish?"

Thinking of Tian Mengyao rolling up her sleeves and working hard, Wu Lei felt a pang of discomfort.

In all his years, he had never seen a village official suffer more than the common people. Now, he no longer expected anything from Tian Mengyao, only hoping that she would finish her stint and leave soon so he could have a more leisurely life.

"Is this the place?"

"Why is no one here?"

"Aunt Chen, I'll go ask."

Chen Wan'er and Bai Jing arrived at the village committee. They were first surprised by the dilapidated state of the houses, and then, after looking around and seeing no one, they became puzzled, wondering if they had come to the wrong place.

Wu Lei quickly got up and hurriedly turned off the radio.

He had heard a woman's voice and thought Tian Mengyao had returned.

After hearing two people speaking outside, he peeked out and, confirming it wasn't Tian Mengyao, breathed a sigh of relief.

"Ahem, who are you looking for?"

Wu Lei put on his shoes, pushed the door open, and asked.

"Oh, there's someone here."

Bai Jing turned around and asked, "Grandpa, is Tian Mengyao here?"

Wu Lei frowned. Did he look that old?

He suddenly remembered that with the recent sun and wind exposure, he did indeed look older.

"Secretary Tian is at the medicinal herb planting base."

Wu Lei pointed in the direction of Luofeng Mountain, his gaze cautiously examining Chen Wan'er.

She had an indescribable aura about her, which, based on his experience, could be called authority.

"Who are you to Secretary Tian?"

Wu Lei asked.

Chen Wan'er stepped forward a few paces and replied with a smile, "I am Mengyao's mother, Chen Wan'er. I came specifically to find her."

"Ah?"

Wu Lei's eyes widened instantly.

Secretary Tian's mother!

That meant...

No wonder she had such an air of authority!

Wu Lei immediately put on a fawning smile. "Hello, Madam. Secretary Tian is not here. Shall I lead you? It's over there on Luofeng Mountain. The road isn't far, just a bit difficult to walk."

"Don't call me Madam, it sounds strange."

Chen Wan'er's brow furrowed slightly. "You can call me sister, or just my name."

"That wouldn't dare,"

Wu Lei said with a plastered smile.

Bai Jing felt a wave of nausea.

She was straightforward and detested insincere people. Wu Lei's smile reeked of such insincerity.

"Grandpa, everyone from the village committee is at the medicinal herb planting base. Why are you staying here?"

"I, I have cholecystitis, but I can still guard the door for Secretary Tian."

Wu Lei dared not offend this young girl either.

Perhaps her father was also an important official in some region, someone he couldn't afford to displease.

He quickly urged, "Let's go now. I'll lock up."

Along the way.

Wu Lei chattered incessantly, praising Tian Mengyao to the skies.

Bai Jing would occasionally scoff, deliberately finding fault, almost embarrassing Wu Lei several times.

"Jingjing, that's enough."

Chen Wan'er rolled her eyes.

Tian Mengyao was her biological daughter, and Bai Jing had been with them since childhood. Logically, the two girls should be close. However, the reality was the opposite. They were like natural enemies, always bickering whenever they met.

Chen Wan'er had tried to mediate countless times but was helpless against them.

"Aunt Chen, I'm not wrong. Others might not know, but I know Mengyao best."

Bai Jing skillfully drove the car along the rugged mountain road.

"Say less,"

Chen Wan'er shot Bai Jing a stern look.

Bai Jing then grudgingly stopped talking.

On the mountainside of Luofeng Mountain.

The roar of machinery echoed through the forests and fields. Excavators, spewing black smoke, used their hard steel claws to break through rocks, reshaping the ancient mountain terrain.

In the terraced fields opened up nearby, figures were scattered like ants.

Some were repairing the ridges, some were digging holes and burying soil, and others were carrying water.

Toot toot toot...

A tractor laboriously climbed up from the valley floor. Tian Mengyao steered, occasionally looking back to ensure the water tank lid wouldn't fall off.

"Madam, it's over there."

The arrival of the luxury car did not attract much attention.

Secretary Tian had many connections, and leaders often came down for inspections, so the villagers were used to it.

"Water's here!"

Tian Mengyao's voice was hoarse but filled with joy.

She drove the tractor to the edge of the field and wiped the sweat from her forehead.

Chen Wan'er stared blankly at her daughter in the distance, murmuring, "Is that my daughter?"

She never dreamed that her pampered daughter would be driving a tractor.

"Wow~ Am I seeing things?"

"Is that really Mengyao?"

Bai Jing rubbed her eyes, her eyes wide. "How did the delicate girl become like this?"

Tian Mengyao picked up a large water cup and drank it down in gulps.

Suddenly.

Her pupils contracted, and she let out a "puff," spraying water everywhere and coughing, patting her chest.

"Bai Jing!"

"What are you doing?"

Tian Mengyao's little face turned red with anger as she pointed at Bai Jing, who was taking photos of her with her phone.

"Mengyao, how are you? Let me see."

Chen Wan'er stumbled forward, her heart almost shattering.

When had her daughter ever suffered like this?

Why was it like this!

Why was it like this!

At that moment, a deep sense of regret welled up in Chen Wan'er's heart.

"Mom, why are you here?"

Tian Mengyao was a little embarrassed.

"How could I not come?"

Chen Wan'er grabbed her daughter's arms, her lips trembling as she spoke, "You come home with me. You and your father, what kind of harebrained idea was that? How could he harm his own daughter like this?"

"Mom, it's nothing,"

Tian Mengyao felt a warmth in her heart and said softly, "Doesn't everyone else do this? They have it harder than me."

"It's different, you..."

Chen Wan'er held onto her daughter's arms, refusing to let go. "You come home with me right now."

"Mom, don't let people laugh,"

Tian Mengyao struggled, wanting to get away.

"Laugh at what? You driving a tractor in the countryside is the biggest joke!"

Chen Wan'er refused to let go.

"Let's talk about it when we get back. Let go of me first."

Tian Mengyao pleaded earnestly.