Chapter 97: Wang Xinran’s Mother

After Ling Feng separated the two, the woman who had thrown the first punch suddenly sat down on the ground and began wailing loudly, pounding the floor with her fists. "This child’s life is ruined! Nobody should be treated like this!"

Ling Feng shouted sternly, "You hit someone and then claim you're the victim? Do you know what that is? Surveillance footage! Everything you’ve done is recorded clearly! You two, separate! If there’s anything to discuss, do it properly!"

Yang Meng watched Ling Feng’s authoritative demeanor and thought, “This guy was born to be a cop. His ability to stay composed is impressive.”

At least, that was how it appeared.

However, the woman who had initiated the fight did not get up. Instead, she cried even harder. "Fine! My daughter’s already been ruined by his family; my life’s over! Might as well throw me in jail too, so I can keep her company!"

The woman who had been slapped widened her eyes and retorted, "Don’t talk nonsense! Didn’t you hear what the police said? Your daughter was the one who bought the drugs! She’s the real culprit!"

As tensions flared again, Ling Feng barked, "Not done yet? Fine! Everyone’s going in! The kids have already been taken, so you might as well go with them! What? You want to make a scene? Look where you are! Right outside the police station—not some place for your family drama!"

The woman who had been slapped snorted coldly. "Hmph, I’m not stooping to argue with a shrew like you." Without another word, she turned and headed to the parking lot, getting into a Mercedes A-Class and driving away.

The others dispersed too, leaving the woman still crying on the ground ignored.

Soon after, a taxi pulled up to the police station. A middle-aged man stepped out and hurried over when he saw the woman crying. "Honey, what’s going on?"

Seeing him, the woman wept even harder. "You finally came, you old bastard! Your daughter’s been arrested! And I’ve been bullied! What good is your arrival now? I was blind to marry a man like you! My life’s miserable! I might as well just bash my head in right here!"

The man asked, "Enough, stop making a scene. Tell me exactly what happened. What about the kids?"

"You heartless man, and you still ask about your own child?" she sneered. "The kids have all been taken away!"

The man grew anxious. "If I didn’t work, what would you eat and drink? If you played less mahjong every day, I wouldn’t be this exhausted!"

"Are you saying you despise me?" The woman resumed pounding the floor, crying loudly again.

Yang Meng scratched his head and shot Ling Feng a look of deep sympathy. This cop seemed impressive, but 99% of his job was dealing with bizarre people like these. He had no time for petty family squabbles. He waved at Ling Feng, "Alright, I’m off, crazy man."

Ling Feng grunted and then said, "Yang Meng, wait! Leave me the motorcycle’s papers, so the traffic cops don’t bother you."

"Oh, nearly forgot!" Yang Meng opened his riding bag and rummaged for the vehicle registration. "You and the traffic cops are practically family. Why would they check on you? By the way, I have a riding suit here. Do you want me to bring it over, or will you buy your own?"

"I’ll buy my own. Yours is a bit big on me," Ling Feng replied.

"Here’s the registration. Or maybe I should just transfer ownership to you one day, since I don’t ride it much," Yang Meng offered.

Ling Feng chuckled. "What, trying to bribe a public official?"

Yang Meng flipped him the middle finger. "Just handle this mess already. I’m out. Call me if you want to go riding sometime."

"Get lost!" Ling Feng teased.

Satisfied by his friend’s calmness, Yang Meng relaxed. He’d been worried Ling Feng would break down after hearing about Liu Zhaoting, but now… well, the disguise was flawless.

Women are natural actors, but men? Men are born masters of disguise, especially when hiding their pain. Their performances are top-notch.

Just as he was about to leave, the woman who had been on the ground got up and blocked his way. "You’re Yang Meng? The one who caused such a stir over a stolen motorcycle worth twenty or thirty thousand?"

Yang Meng was stunned. Was he really that famous? Even middle-aged women knew him? He nodded. "Yeah, that’s me."

"Are you a delivery guy?" she asked further.

Yang Meng scratched his head. "I used to be, but haven’t done anything lately."

Suddenly, the woman grabbed his collar. But Yang Meng was wearing a leather riding jacket, so her grip slipped. She clutched his arm instead. "Finally found you, you heartless scoundrel!"

Yang Meng was utterly confused. He glanced at her equally stunned husband and quickly raised his hands. "Ma’am, explain yourself! My tastes aren’t that bad, are they?"

But the woman turned to her husband. "Honey, help me grab him! He’s the one who used to date Nuan Nuan—the guy who just played with her feelings and dumped her!"

Yang Meng burst out laughing. Looking at the two, it dawned on him: these were Wang Xin Nuan’s parents?

"Well, well! So you’re the one who toyed with my daughter’s feelings!" Wang Xin Nuan’s father rolled up his sleeves and threw a punch at Yang Meng’s face.

But did he land the hit? Yang Meng caught the fist and twisted it down. "Ouch, ouch, ouch! Let go!"

He frowned. "Can’t you talk this out? Fighting outside the police station?"

People inside the station had heard the commotion and came outside. Ling Feng told Yang Meng, "Meng Meng, let go."

Yang Meng released his grip and spread his hands. "I don’t get it. Is this really the police station? Why do these two just throw punches at each other?"

"This child’s life is ruined!" Wang Xin Nuan’s mother suddenly howled again, startling Yang Meng. He wasn’t prepared for that. But her husband showed no surprise, as if used to it.

Yang Meng’s guess was right: Wang Xin Nuan’s parents were notorious eccentrics in their neighborhood.

Wang Xin Nuan’s father, Wang Shouzhi, was a long-haul truck driver and the team leader of a logistics company.

Although truck drivers in the country generally earn less than 8,000 yuan monthly due to oversupply, considering the labor and risks, few earn high wages. Insiders joke, “If you want money, you have to be willing to risk your life.”

But Wang Shouzhi earned over 10,000 yuan monthly. As a highly skilled and experienced driver, he saved the company significant costs—fuel, vehicle wear and tear, and he was adept at dealing with petty theft and cargo pilferers. His salary often exceeded 12,000 yuan, and with some minor private side jobs, he could make 20,000 yuan a month.

Still, the job was tiring. To earn more, Wang Shouzhi drove himself, working over ten hours daily. The loneliness and fatigue of the road were no joke.

His wife, Zhang Yunfang, had been his colleague at a factory. Among many suitors, she chose Wang Shouzhi because he was a driver with a good income. At that time, factory drivers often earned well, supplementing their income with side jobs during work. After the factory restructured, Wang Shouzhi quit and became a full-time driver. He came of age during the country’s rapid economic growth, when truck drivers’ incomes were relatively high.

So when Zhang Yunfang had children, she quit work to become a full-time housewife.

Over the years, with inflation soaring, it got harder to support the family on Wang Shouzhi’s income alone, especially after Wang Xin Nuan started school.

Zhang Yunfang didn’t care much. She played mahjong with neighbors daily, indifferent to her husband’s hard work outside, and never tried to help ease his burden. She just expected him to bring money home.

Worse, she looked down on him, constantly telling their daughter to marry a rich man, not a “useless hard worker” like her father. With such indoctrination, it was no surprise Wang Xin Nuan acted out.

Wang Shouzhi rarely stayed home anyway, less so now—he had someone else on the side. Their marriage was long dead in name only. Wang Xin Nuan was the last tie between them.

Zhang Yunfang wasn’t worried. After all, Wang Xin Nuan inherited her good looks. She believed it was better for her daughter to marry rich than to study hard. As long as Wang Xin Nuan married a wealthy husband, she could live the high life.

Recently, news came that Wang Xin Nuan was dating a delivery man, which infuriated Zhang Yunfang. Even if the man spent money on Wang Xin Nuan, she considered it unacceptable.

Fortunately for her, Wang Xin Nuan broke up with Yang Meng, obeying her mother’s wishes.

What Zhang Yunfang didn’t know was that the real reason for the breakup was Wang Xin Nuan’s affair outside, caught red-handed by Yang Meng. Otherwise, Zhang Yunfang would have tried to keep Yang Meng around.

But just days later, news exploded: Yang Meng’s motorcycle, worth tens of thousands, had been stolen, causing a citywide uproar.

He was just a delivery guy—where would he get money for such an expensive bike?

Connecting the dots with how he was willing to spend on Wang Xin Nuan, Zhang Yunfang imagined Yang Meng as a wealthy young man living incognito, so she urged her daughter to reconcile.

That day, with their conversation reaching that point, how could Wang Xin Nuan admit to wanting to get back together? Instead, in her version, Yang Meng became a scoundrel who played with her feelings and then discarded her.

And the most ridiculous part? Her parents actually believed it.

"Officer, I want to file a complaint! This man toyed with my daughter’s feelings!"

—End—