Chapter Seventy-Three: Tao Fawen Has Been Arrested

King Serpent

Shale was forced to stay in the town’s People’s Hospital. The first visitor the next morning was Secretary Huang, who brought his wife along. She’d eaten the old hen Shale had gifted her, and it really seemed to have worked; her face now showed a healthy flush. Shale truly didn’t know how to address her.

Secretary Huang saw his embarrassment and burst out laughing.

“You call me brother, so just call her sister-in-law.”

“Sister-in-law, thank you for coming to see me.”

“You silly boy, why are you thanking me? I should be the one thanking you.” Secretary Huang’s wife was no longer young and her looks were quite ordinary, but there was a gentle, motherly warmth about her—her soft smile put people at ease. “I heard you were injured, so I made you some chicken broth. Drink it in a bit and let it help you recover.”

With that, she placed a thermos on the bedside table. Shale hadn’t expected the Secretary’s wife to personally prepare soup for him, and was deeply moved.

“Thank you, sister-in-law…”

“Oh, you and your thanks, there’s no need for so many.”

Secretary Huang paced around the room, and soon the hospital director arrived with two doctors in tow.

“Director Liu, you came just in time.” Secretary Huang grinned, joking, “Shale is my little brother. Take good care of him, use the best medicine if you must—he’s a little rich man.”

“Don’t worry, Secretary Huang, we’ll treat him well.”

The director smiled obsequiously.

“Secretary Huang, I don’t want to stay in the hospital. There’s a mountain of things waiting at home, and the program rehearsals—we need to hurry up. This little injury is nothing.”

Shale was getting anxious.

“Why all the fuss? Just stay put and stop complaining,” Secretary Huang glared at him, then turned to Director Liu, “Is his injury serious?”

“Well… It’s serious, but not too serious,” Director Liu replied, “He’s got bad cuts and bruises, but no bones or tendons are hurt.”

“In that case, if he wants to leave, let him go. Seems they can’t do without him for the rehearsals.”

“Alright then, I’ll prescribe more medicine. He can recover at home just the same.”

“Wonderful.”

Shale rolled over, eager to get out of bed, but the movement pulled at his back and made him gasp with pain.

“What’s the rush? Drink your chicken soup before you get up.”

Shale gave a sheepish grin and was about to drink when Secretary Tao entered, carrying a bag of apples.

“Secretary Huang, you’re here too?”

A smile appeared on Secretary Tao’s weathered face, but Secretary Huang kept a stern expression and said nothing. Shale quickly greeted him, not wanting him to feel awkward.

“Uncle Secretary, have a seat. I’m just about to be discharged.”

“Ah…”

“What do you mean, 'ah'? Old man, I left Shale in your care, told you to look after him, and look what happened! He’s badly hurt, yet he still worries about the rehearsals—does your conscience not trouble you?”

After Secretary Huang’s reprimand, Secretary Tao looked lost, standing awkwardly with a forced smile, unsure how to respond.

“Sit, sit, otherwise your son will accuse me of mistreating you,” Secretary Huang pressed him down onto the bed, “But honestly, your village has more than its share of troublemakers. The Taos are very, very dominant there—Downriver Village has never produced an official, and now that I’ve finally made Shale an assistant, he gets beaten up like this. What if he really became chief—would he even survive?”

He emphasized the word “very,” and sweat broke out on Secretary Tao’s brow. The Tao family’s dominance in Tashan Village was nothing new, but the higher-ups had never mentioned it before. Now, he truly had no words to defend himself. Secretary Huang watched him, then took out a cigarette and offered one.

Secretary Tao lit up but dared not speak.

“I think it’s time for things to change,” Secretary Huang said, exhaling smoke slowly. “That Director Tao Wen of yours is really out of line. He’s incompetent, yet bosses his wife around to stir up trouble everywhere, shouting and cursing—what kind of example is that? How can someone like that do a good job?”

He was giving Secretary Tao a warning.

“You’re right, Secretary Huang. I’ll find a way to change this.”

“There’s no rush, these things take time. But I’ve already heard Tao Wen was involved in Shale’s beating. Chief Xie from the police station is investigating. Alright, you two talk—I have a meeting to attend.”

Secretary Huang frowned, gave Shale a few more instructions, and left with his wife before Secretary Tao could speak. Only then did Secretary Tao breathe a sigh of relief.

“Uncle Secretary, thank you for visiting me.”

“Ah, Shale, I really let you down. Even Secretary Huang scolded me…”

“Don’t take it to heart, Uncle Secretary. Secretary Huang is a good man. He scolds me too sometimes, but it’s nothing. He doesn’t bother with those he dislikes. None of this is your fault.”

“You rascal, you have a point.” The old man brightened. “I really don’t know what luck you’ve run into—everyone seems to like you, and I do too; you’re clever and resourceful.”

The old and the young were chatting cheerfully when the door opened again. This time, it was Tao Wen, also carrying fruit. Secretary Tao’s face darkened as soon as he saw him.

“What are you doing here?”

Secretary Tao’s tone was icy.

“Uncle, I came to visit Shale… I only heard about the trouble this morning. Those three damned brats have caused a huge mess.”

“Director Tao, I hardly deserve your visit,” Shale replied coldly, making no effort to be polite. “Heh, I’m not dead or crippled—disappointed?”

Tao Wen’s face drained of color, his eyes flashing darkly with anger barely contained.

“Shale, how could you say that? I came with good intentions, but you take it the wrong way.”

Shale’s face hardened, but he remained calm.

“Your good intentions are too much for me. If I accept them a few more times, I might not even know how I died.”

“You—”

Tao Wen’s face was livid, torn between acting out and holding back. Just then, a hearty laugh rang out in the hallway—Xie the Cannon was arriving, his booming voice preceding him.

“Shale, feeling better?”

Hearing that voice, Tao Wen visibly quivered.

“Brother Xie, I’m much better.”

The door swung open and Xie the Cannon strode in with three officers. He nodded to Secretary Tao, then fixed his gaze on Tao Wen, the smile vanishing from his face.

“So you’re Director Tao Wen?”

“Yes… Chief Xie, hello.”

At his confirmation, the three officers seized his arms. The handcuffs gleamed in the light as they clicked shut around his wrists.

“What are you doing? What law have I broken?”

“You incited others to assault a village official. Isn’t that grounds enough?”

“I did no such thing!”

“Take him away—let’s hear his explanation at the station.”

Xie’s face was cold as he spoke, and the officers immediately led Tao Wen out. Then, Shale saw Xie’s broad, cheerful grin return.

“Old Secretary, lunch is on me today—don’t go home.”

Secretary Tao still looked a little downcast, but managed a smile and shook his head.

“Thank you, but I’m heading into the county to see my son.”

“Oh…” Xie’s laughter boomed, “You’re visiting Tao Bao? Good kid, that one.”

Secretary Tao had three daughters and one son. The youngest, Tao Bao, had been Shale’s classmate as a child. Not much of a student, he hadn’t made it into high school, but now worked as an auxiliary officer at the county police bureau.

“Chief Xie, you know my boy?”

A flicker of pride shone in Secretary Tao’s eyes.

“Heh, to be honest, it was my favor that got your boy into the force, but it was your brother, Shiren, who asked. He and I go way back.”

Tao Shiren was Secretary Tao’s younger brother, working as a clerk at the county police bureau.

“Thank you, Chief Xie. My brother never mentioned it—I’m sorry I haven’t thanked you properly. Someday, come to my house; we have a hen that’s been laying for four years.”

“No need for that, Secretary Tao. I didn’t tell you for thanks—Shiren’s already thanked me enough. Still, when I visit Tashan Village, I’ll be sure to try your famous old hen.”

Now Secretary Tao was truly happy, all gloom swept away. Getting closer with Chief Xie promised many advantages in the future. Knowing that his elder brother was the bureau chief, he realized that with this connection, his son might one day become a full police officer. For him, that was the real matter of importance.