The Tempting Road to Becoming an Official

"Okay, okay, I'm coming right back, I'm coming right back,"

Jiang Yuchan said urgently, her hand cupping the receiver.

Chen Fang knew her call was about to end and hurriedly stepped away from the door.

No sooner had he found his stance than Jiang Yuchan tidied up the phone, trying to muster a very normal expression and said, "Ah Fang, there's a bit of an issue at my sister's store, I need to go handle it. Someday when you're free, I'll treat you to a meal."

"Sure, Yuchan sister, you go take care of your business first."

"Mm, now that you're working in Fuguang Town, we'll have plenty of time to meet."

After they made a little more small talk, Jiang Yuchan took her leave.

Standing by the window, Chen Fang saw Jiang Yuchan start jogging away as soon as she left the office building; it was clear that she was really panicking.

Once her figure had disappeared,

Chen Fang also hurried down the stairs.

He followed in the direction Jiang Yuchan had gone.

He had probably only walked forward for about thirty or forty meters,

when a store called "Hongqing" Groceries appeared before him.

The store wasn't big.

It was about thirty square meters.

Inside, there were several shelves filled with all sorts of merchandise.

It wasn't the city convenience store or supermarket he had imagined but just a place selling everyday household items.

Seeing this store,

Chen Fang felt a little sad.

In his memory, Jiang Yuchan was a stylish city beauty.

Back when she was a nurse in her early twenties, she was youthful and beautiful, surrounded by numerous admirers like stars around the moon. Yet, who could have imagined that in just seven or eight years, she would become a rural housewife?

Just as he was about to leave quietly,

suddenly, a clanging noise came from inside the shop.

It seemed that something had been knocked onto the floor.

Then, a man's voice roared, "You slut, not properly watching the store during the day, dressing up like that to seduce other men, see if I don't beat you to death."

No sooner had the words ended,

than a series of slap sounds followed.

Chen Fang could tell, it was the sound of a stick striking a body.

He was just about to rush in,

when a stocky man staggered out from inside the store, looked up at Chen Fang standing at the doorway, and, humming a tune, walked away.

This person, Chen Fang had seen before.

Though so many years had passed, he still remembered him.

It was none other than Jiang Yuchan's husband, Cui Hongqing.

At that moment,

a figure appeared from the back room.

Chen Fang quickly ducked to the side, afraid of being seen by Jiang Yuchan.

After all, nobody wants their awkward moments exposed in the sunlight.

She had changed into different clothes, her fashionable coat gone, replaced by an oversized T-shirt that she may have worn for many years.

Perhaps because of the recent scuffle with Cui Hongqing,

the neckline was pulled down, revealing half of her rounded flesh.

She fixed her shirt and then started to re-arrange the goods scattered on the floor back onto the shelves, one by one.

As she attempted to place a basket on the highest shelf, she found herself unable to reach.

After several unsuccessful attempts,

"I'll do it."

A man's voice came through.

Jiang Yuchan turned around sharply, only to see Chen Fang take the basket from her hands and place it on the shelf.

"Ah Fang."

Seeing Chen Fang, Jiang Yuchan appeared flustered.

"Wait a minute, sister... sister will go change clothes," she said.

As she turned to leave, Chen Fang grabbed her hand and said, "Yuchan sister, I saw what happened just now."

Jiang Yuchan looked shocked for a moment,

then her face fell into dejection.

He pulled up a small stool for him and said, "Please, have a seat."

"Yuchan, does he treat you very badly?"

Chen Fang asked.

As Jiang Yuchan tidied up, she let out a sigh and said, "It's been so many years, I don't really care anymore. My parents opposed our relationship from the start, but I was stubborn and even fell out with them over it. Now that life has turned out this way, it's my own fault."

There was another layer to the story?

Chen Fang really didn't know.

"Does he hit you often?"

Chen Fang asked.

Jiang Yuchan adjusted the loose strands of her bangs, smiled and said, "I'm used to it. He goes mad every time he drinks."

"Let's go to the police station, and I will stand up for you."

Upon hearing this, Chen Fang was livid with anger.

He abruptly stood up and said.

Jiang Yuchan patted Chen Fang's arm and said, "It's no use, it won't solve anything. Don't worry about me, you've just arrived in Fuguang Town, don't waste your time on me."

"Yuchan, I've said it since I was a kid, when I grow up I'm going to protect you. Don't you remember? Is there anything you can't talk to me about?"

Chen Fang said angrily.

Jiang Yuchan was stunned for a moment.

She hadn't shed tears while being beaten.

But upon hearing Chen Fang's words, she could no longer hold back.

She suddenly threw herself into Chen Fang's arms and began to cry loudly.

Jiang Yuchan said that marrying Cui Hongqing was the biggest mistake of her life.

When Cui Hongqing had money, he was decent to her, basically compliant. Back then, Jiang Yuchan was young, beautiful, and fashionable, while Cui Hongqing was unremarkable. Being able to marry such a wife, he cherished her greatly.

The change started several years ago.

At that time, Cui Hongqing's business was getting worse and worse.

After going bankrupt, they could only return to their hometown.

Because they were busy with business in previous years, they didn't have children. After returning to their hometown, her in-laws were urging them to have a child, but despite trying for several years, there was no sign of pregnancy for Jiang Yuchan.

That's when the treatment of the family towards her changed, they never showed her a nice face again.

They would often mock her for being a 'chicken that can't lay eggs' and said aside from eating, she was of no use.

In the countryside, the idea of continuing the family line is still very strong.

Since Jiang Yuchan couldn't have children, she naturally lost her status in the family.

In the past two years, Cui Hongqing often stayed out and each time he came back, apart from taking money, he would spew his drunken fury at her. She heard from others that he had started an affair with the widow Chen from the butcher's shop and they openly lived together.

She told her in-laws about this situation, but to her surprise, they mocked her even more for being barren and said it was no wonder the man had run off.

Hearing her tragic experiences.

Chen Fang felt very upset as well.

He clenched his fists and said, "Yuchan, I'll take care of him for you."

"No!"

Jiang Yuchan clung to Chen Fang.

She said, "Ah Fang, don't provoke him, he's a madman, capable of anything. His cousin is a police officer at the station, they won't arrest him, so it's useless, utterly useless."

"Sis, have you forgotten? I'm the mayor, I rank higher than the head of the police station, what's there to be afraid of? Don't worry about it, leave it to me."

Just as Chen Fang was about to leave.

He heard Jiang Yuchan let out a gasp, then her body staggered and she nearly fell to the ground.

Seeing her frown in agony, Chen Fang quickly asked, "Yuchan, what's wrong?"

Jiang Yuchan clutched at her chest and said, "I don't know, it just hurts so much."

"Don't move, let me take your pulse."

After saying this.

Chen Fang placed his fingers on Jiang Yuchan's pulse.

He carefully pondered for a moment.

He said, "Your body seems very normal, there's nothing particularly wrong."

Despite his words.

Jiang Yuchan's pain did not subside in the slightest.

Chen Fang pulled away her hand that was covering her chest, but through the clothing, he could see no abnormalities.

"Sis, take off your clothes, I'll examine you."

Chen Fang could no longer concern himself with etiquette and said to Jiang Yuchan.