Chapter 346: with translation of chapter title

Heaven seemed to be venting its anger, the rain grew heavier and heavier.

Bean‑sized raindrops hammered the windshield like a hail of bullets; despite the wipers working hard, the road ahead remained invisible.

The whole world was submerged in a chaotic curtain of rain.

Given that my wife was in the car,

For safety's sake, Lin Dongfan reduced the speed to 10 km/h, crawling along.

Passing a pastry shop, Chu Lingxi suddenly craved: "Honey, I want that silky‑smooth chocolate taro paste."

"Approved."

Lin Dongfan quickly turned the steering wheel and pulled the car to the side of the road.

Chu Lingxi beamed like a queen blessed with three thousand favors, flashing two charming dimples: "Honey, I feel a mighty imperial aura about you."

"Your taste is spotless, my love—wait for me in the car."

Lin Dongfan opened the car door, unfolded his black umbrella, stepped out—nowhere to plant his foot. He felt the ground beneath him was no longer the mundane world but the road to the Yellow Springs.

The water pooled at the curb was somewhat deep, murky yellow, with a layer of withered leaves floating on top.

The drainage system of Wuzhou's old town.

It deserves a five‑star negative review!

After only ten minutes of downpour, the streets turned into rivers; I wonder if his father‑in‑law, seeing this, would feel ashamed and reflect—after all, he is the big boss of Wuzhou.

Helpless, Lin Dongfan took off his leather shoes, rolled up his pant legs, and stepped out barefoot.

He braved the rain and ran straight to the pastry shop.

Not far from the pastry shop—just twenty‑odd meters away—a plain‑clothed girl sheltering from the rain at the small eatery's entrance was suddenly yanked down the steps by a blond‑haired youth.

The girl tumbled helplessly into the heavy rain.

She was soon drenched to the bone.

Her name was Xu Yue, 24, a volunteer teacher from Wushi Village in Liangshan Town.

Three days earlier, after the old principal was beaten to death, over a dozen village children had dropped out of school. Xu Yue had come to town today intending to report the situation to the Education Bureau.

It turned out to be a wasted trip.

She loitered outside the Education Bureau all day, not only failing to see any officials but also becoming a thorn in the side of certain people.

The one who dragged her down the steps was the village chief's son—Yuan Qiang.

"What's culture got to do with anything? Is teaching village brats more important than my getting rich? In Yuan Qiang's world, Xu Yue is practically asking for death!"

Yuan Qiang didn't even notice the torrential rain.

The van was parked at the curb, its door wide open; to haul Xu Yue aboard, he treated her not as a person but as a dog, hauling her by force.

He spat curses: "Ma lei gebi, you've already forgotten how Principal Yuan died? Dare come to town stirring trouble—wait till I get you back to the village!"

"Let go of me!!!"

Xu Yue was both shocked and furious, her hair soaked into a tangled nest.

Yet her eyes still flashed an unyielding stubbornness; she struggled hard, unable to shake off Yuan Qiang's relentless grip, so she bit down hard on his arm.

"Damn!"

Hitting women was nothing new for Yuan Qiang.

When his arm bore a bloody bite mark,

Yuan Qiang shoved Xu Yue away and then kicked her in the stomach.

Already frail, Xu Yue could not withstand such violence; she collapsed instantly, and the onlookers at the eatery's door dared not lend a hand.

"You beasts who devour people without spitting bones! I refuse to believe there's no place for justice…" Xu Yue struggled to her feet, pulled out her phone to call the police.

Yuan Qiang suddenly snatched her phone and slammed it hard to the ground.

With a "crack!" the battery flew out; though it was a cheap flip‑phone, it was Xu Yue's hope.

When the phone broke, Xu Yue's hope shattered as well.

Xu Yue instinctively cried out for help: "Please, somebody call the police… ah!" Before she could finish, Yuan Qiang lunged forward and seized her hair.

He forcibly dragged her toward the van.

This scene of violence.

It was somewhat heart‑wrenching.

An aunt sheltering from the rain at the eatery's door muttered under her breath: "What sin have we committed to treat a person like this?"

A nearby uncle sighed: "That's how the world is now—bully the weak, fear the strong; if it were a six‑foot‑tall guy, see if this blond punk would dare lay a hand."

The two lamented, but neither dared to intervene.

Just then, the restaurant owner's wife, having just finished calling the police, rushed out to intervene: "Let go!" Being a woman with little strength, she was shoved aside by Yuan Qiang's angry hand, nearly wrenched her back.

The owner's wife was about to step forward again to stop him.

Yuan Qiang pointed at the owner's wife and warned: "This is none of your business—don't meddle! She's my wife, cheating on me behind my back; am I not allowed to manage it? Get out of my way!"

That shout left the owner's wife stunned—was this just a lovers' quarrel?

Xu Yue collapsed into frantic struggle, shouting: "Don't listen to his nonsense—I'm not his wife, I'm a volunteer teacher…"

But it was to no avail.

Yuan Qiang clung fiercely to her hair, hauling her toward the vehicle: "You slut, sneaking around with other men behind my back—of course you won't admit it!"

The surrounding onlookers, as if they'd just gotten fresh gossip, began to criticize Xu Yue.

The owner's wife likewise dared not intervene further.

Just as Xu Yue despaired, a police car wailed "woo‑woo" into view; the owner's wife breathed a sigh of relief—she was the one who had called the police.

The leading officer was called Wang Hu, a big‑headed, big‑eared man.

Outside the vehicle, the rain poured down.

Wang Hu didn't want to get out of the car; he lowered the window to look, and when he saw the aggressor was Yuan Qiang from Black Stone Village, he had no interest in getting out.

Wang Hu knew full well about the goings-on in Black Stone Village.

Wang Hu put on an act of cluelessness, sitting in the car and shouting at Yuan Qiang: "What are you doing?"

"Officer Wang, you came just in time." Yuan Qiang didn't loosen his grip on Xu Yue's hair, even arrogantly dragging her to the police car: "My wife's been cheating on me behind my back; isn't it legal for me to bring her home?"

"I'm not his wife!"

Xu Yue's tears mingled with the rain.

Despite her desperate struggle, it was useless—she couldn't even lift her head, and Yuan Qiang kept yanking her hair hard.

When everyone around thought Wang Hu would get out of the car to intervene,

Wang Hu, however, remained seated in the car and said nonchalantly: "This is your family matter; go home and settle it, don't brawl in the street."

"Thank you, Officer Wang."

Yuan Qiang kept pulling Xu Yue's hair, dragging her toward the minivan.

And he shouted all the way: "Slut! Did you hear what the officer said? This is a family affair! Even an honest official can't settle household matters—come with me!"

"Beast, who's your wife? Let go of me!"

Xu Yue tried to pry his hand open, but couldn't; instead, Yuan Qiang pulled harder, almost tearing her hair out.

Is there really no place for reason in this world?

Xu Yue cried out in anguish: "Officer, I really am not his wife. I came to the Education Bureau to report the village's situation. This beast is assaulting people—you can't just ignore it..."

"Report your mother! If you're cheating, just admit it, quit making excuses—get moving!"

The more Xu Yue explained, the harder Yuan Qiang struck.

All the way, he dragged her by force!

Soon he had Xu Yue at the minivan's door, forcibly shoving her inside.

Sitting in the police car, Wang Hu seemed not to hear Xu Yue's accusations; he simply reminded Yuan Qiang: "Hurry up and leave, don't cause trouble here."

"Stop!!!"

Just as Xu Yue collapsed, heart as dead as ashes, Lin Dongfan—holding a black umbrella in one hand and a Western-style pastry in the other, barefoot—walked over.