Chapter 154: A Twist of Fate (Part 1)

The intense passion of moments ago had burned through their energy like the collision of positive and negative electrons, leaving Hou Weidong and Zhang Xiaojia temporarily drained of their hormonal fervor. They lay embraced, resting in the quiet aftermath. A fine sheen of sweat glistened on Xiaojia’s forehead; her face was flushed, her skin glowing with a soft luster. Hou Weidong lay sprawled on the bed in the shape of the Chinese character "Tai" (Great), though the final dot of that character—the symbol of his virility—was now soft and limp, a far cry from the fierce intensity of just minutes before.

After a brief rest, Xiaojia slipped into her pajamas and got up to pour some water. She turned on the music, letting the popular piano pieces of Richard Clayderman fill the room. Hou Weidong felt a profound sense of relaxation and warmth, both physically and mentally. An old saying came to mind: "A home is not a home without a woman." With sincere conviction, he said, "Let’s get married."

It was barely past May, yet the temperature had suddenly spiked to thirty degrees Celsius. The air conditioner hummed to life, and the cool breeze brushed against Xiaojia’s bare skin, causing her to shiver. She quickly tossed a towel over him and smiled mischievously. "Husband, are you proposing to me while lying naked on the bed? That’s not romantic at all." She sat down on the edge of the bed.

Hou Weidong stroked Xiaojia’s slender waist. "My romance is in my bones; I don’t need to put on a superficial show."

Xiaojia lay back down, resting her head on Hou Weidong’s shoulder. "Most women are emotional creatures. A single flower, a romantic dinner, a simple yet elegant wedding, a helping hand when getting into the car, a caring inquiry when sick—these are small things, superficial gestures. But it is precisely these tiny details that give a little woman a strong sense of happiness. I am a little woman, so I need these superficial gestures."

Xiaojia’s skin was incredibly delicate, possessing the texture of silk. As Hou Weidong’s fingers slid over her waist, he couldn’t help but make a mental comparison: "Although Xiaojia’s figure isn’t as voluptuous as Duan Ying’s, it is well-proportioned and carries a distinct Eastern charm." The thought of Duan Ying startled him. He quickly pulled his mind back to the topic of marriage. "Tomorrow, I will go to your home to propose to your parents."

Over the past three years, Hou Weidong had transformed from a penniless graduate into the Deputy Mayor of Qinglin Town. Regrettably, this was the Deputy Mayor of Qinglin Town in Yiyang County, not a township cadre in the city of Shazhou. The prestige was significantly lower. However, the apartment in the Xinyue Building in Shazhou, the housing at the Yiyang Shazhou Academy, the gravel quarry in Shangqinglin, the stone block quarry in Xingping Village, and the 20% stake in Jinggong Group were all real assets. These were the solid foundations that gave Hou Weidong confidence before his proposal.

At this time, Xiaojia’s mother, Chen Qingrong, had been laid off. Her workshop had originally been an auxiliary unit, and in the sweeping reforms of the state-owned factory, it was the first to pay the price. The factory, where she had worked hard all her life, had ruthlessly swept her out the door. Chen Qingrong, who had been strong-willed all her life, had shed many tears in secret. Thanks to Xiaojia’s support, she faced no financial difficulties, but the fact of being discarded by the system had become a shadow in her heart.

Compounded by menopause, her temper had grown quite short.

Thinking of the white hair on her mother’s head, Xiaojia felt a sudden pang of sadness. She turned over and hugged Hou Weidong. "Thank you for working so hard to earn money. Otherwise, my parents’ days would be very difficult."

She recalled a news story she had read in the newspaper that morning. "I read a report this morning about a family where everyone was laid off. One day, their school-aged child said, 'Dad, I really want to eat meat.' The father felt terrible. He went to the market and stood in front of the meat stall for a long time. Remembering his son’s words and the way he had swallowed his saliva, he grabbed a piece of meat and ran when the vendor wasn’t looking. He was caught, but when the vendor heard that the whole family was laid-off workers, he sighed and threw another piece of meat at him. The man went home and made braised pork. The family ate their fill. Watching his son’s round, satisfied belly, the man said nothing. That night, he jumped off a building."

By the end of the story, Xiaojia’s voice was thick with emotion, and her eyes were red.

Since entering 1996, small state-owned factories within Shazhou City had begun to go bankrupt one after another. It was said that the central government’s policy was to "grasp the large and let go of the small"—meaning they would only manage the large enterprises, while the small ones were left to sink or swim. County-level enterprises, in particular, had mostly fallen victim to the gunfire of the market economy. Hou Xiaoying, Duan Ying, and Chen Qingrong were all women who had become casualties of these county or municipal state-owned factories.

Hou Weidong comfortingly touched Xiaojia’s rounded shoulder. "Don’t worry. We are a family. If I have food to eat, your parents will have a meal too."

Bringing up such harsh realities on a beautiful night was a bit of a mood killer. Therefore, after the last two sentences, Hou Weidong deliberately made a small joke to lighten the atmosphere.

Xiaojia felt warm inside. "It’s enough that you have this heart. I don’t need great wealth or honor; I just want peace and safety."

Speaking of which, she couldn’t help but think of Bu Gao. In terms of wealth, although Hou Weidong was considered wealthy, his assets were dwarfed by Bu Gao’s. In terms of education, Bu Gao had graduated from a prestigious university, surpassing Hou Weidong. Yet, being with Hou Weidong made her feel particularly happy and at ease. It was not just love, but a deep, familial affection—something Bu Gao lacked.

The two discussed diamond rings, wedding dresses, banquet halls, and other details. As their conversation grew more intimate, they embraced again.

Hou Weidong stared at the ceiling, his mind wandering. He thought about his past indiscretions with prostitutes and secretly vowed, "I will never do such rotten things again." But then he thought of the respectful, exceptionally gentle woman at Hanhu Lake, and his resolve to keep that vow wavered. Then he remembered Duan Ying’s plump, fair body and wondered, "What if Duan Ying comes looking for me?"

While he was lost in these chaotic thoughts, the mobile phone on the table rang out sharply. Hou Weidong had been tormented by his phone calls recently, but he still picked it up. Seeing that it was Su Yajun’s number, goosebumps instantly rose on his skin.

Although the call crossed countless field ridges and roads, Su Yajun’s breathless, alcohol-laced voice came through clearly. "Mayor Hou, good news. Two people died today."

Hou Weidong nearly fainted. Two deaths were not good news. But he quickly reacted. "Did they pay?"

Su Yajun was usually a calm person with few words, but today he was chatty. "Mayor Hou, these two families were incredibly eager to pay. While waiting for me in the office, the whole family was nearly going crazy with anxiety. When they saw Cheng Yilin collect the money, they walked out smiling."

After hanging up, Hou Weidong saw that the strong measures had indeed yielded results in the funeral reform work, and he felt quite pleased. However, the happiness was tinged with a strange taste. The people of Qinglin Town were not wealthy; ordinary farming families could rarely come up with five thousand yuan. Most had scraped together the money for traditional burials. But the land occupation fee was stipulated by the County Government’s Sixth Order, and the specific fee standards were collectively researched by the township government. As the divisional leader in charge, Hou Weidong had no choice but to follow these requirements.

He comforted himself in his heart: "I am just an executor. There is no need to feel uneasy."

Xiaojia noticed Hou Weidong’s shifting expression after the call and asked with concern, "Is something happening at the town?"

Hou Weidong briefly explained the funeral reform situation. Xiaojia comforted him, "The state’s major policy has its reasons. It is to save precious land resources. I heard that near Shazhou, the cost of a traditional burial is over ten thousand yuan, much more expensive than in Qinglin."

Xiaojia usually did not interfere with matters at the Shangqinglin stone quarry, and Hou Weidong rarely discussed specific details with her. This time, the comprehensive cooperation with Li Jing was a major event. As a family member, Xiaojia should be informed. However, since the matter involved Li Jing, it was troublesome. The photos sent by Ma Gui previously had not caused a major wave, but they had left a shadow in Xiaojia’s heart. Whenever there was an opportunity, Xiaojia would tease him about it. Hou Weidong had tried to bring it up several times, but thinking that he was going to the Zhang family to propose tomorrow, he feared that mentioning it today might cause trouble, so he held back.

The next morning, Hou Weidong specially chose a relatively formal short-sleeved shirt. He stood in front of the mirror for a long time before he was satisfied.

At eight o’clock, the two left and took a taxi to Xiaojia’s home.

The taxi driver had dark circles under his eyes and looked extremely exhausted. Seeing a beautiful woman get into the car, he forced himself to perk up. He had been driving all night, and business had been excellent. He had run two long-distance trips and had barely rested. He had earned more than three hundred yuan extra, which went entirely into his own pocket. So, although he was tired, he was happy in his heart.

Xiaojia noticed him yawning constantly. "Driver, please drive slower."

No sooner had she spoken than the taxi rushed headlong toward a large truck. With a loud bang, they rear-ended it.

Hou Weidong and Xiaojia were both sitting in the back seat and did not suffer serious injuries. Xiaojia’s wrist was bruised and swollen high. Hou Weidong, in protecting Xiaojia, had hit his forehead against the taxi’s steel guardrail, resulting in a large, hanging bump.

"This is too unlucky today. We won’t go home," Xiaojia said with a mournful face. Then she added, "Husband, you must be careful when driving. No drinking and driving, no driving while fatigued, no speeding. Do you hear me?"