Seeing everyone start attacking her elder daughter again, Wang Ying was furious that Nianyang had completely ruined her plan, and she cursed angrily, "You damn girl, what nonsense are you spouting? Who gave you permission to gossip about your sister like this? Are you trying to destroy our family?"
Nianyang looked at Wang Ying with disappointment and said, "Mom, the facts are already laid out in front of everyone, and you still think I’m talking nonsense? Or do you think even if my sister messes around with my fiancé, I should just keep quiet like a fool?"
"You!"
Wang Ying was exasperated, thinking she wasn’t a fool; this girl’s question was a trap. If she agreed, she would be admitting Nianyang’s accusations, but if she denied it, she’d be seen as unreasonable. No matter how she answered, it would lead to gossip!
Nianyang said sadly, "Mom, you’ve always favored my sister since we were young. I’m clearly the younger one, yet you always made me give in to her. I’ve been yielding for more than ten years, and now even my fiancé has been taken by her. If I don’t stand up and speak out, will I have to give up my life to her too? You’re only concerned about my sister’s reputation, but what about my rights?"
Wang Ying was so angry she was almost smoking, this damn girl had too sharp a tongue, leaving her speechless. Watching the villagers point fingers at her and Gu Youlan because of Nianyang’s words, Wang Ying trembled all over, increasingly regretting giving birth to Nianyang!
Zhang Jianjun walked over and sighed towards Nianyang, "Nianyang girl, I apologize on behalf of my reckless son, it’s our Zhang Family that has wronged you!"
Nianyang shook her head and said, "Uncle Mayor, this has nothing to do with you, you don’t need to apologize to me!"
Zhang Jianjun looked at the little girl who was obviously upset but pretended to be strong, feeling a wave of sympathy, and said righteously, "Nianyang girl, don’t worry, although Zhang Zhiqiang is my son, I’m not a corrupt person abusing my position. As the mayor, I have the authority to protect the interests of every townsperson. Today, I will definitely give you a public resolution!"
★
Zhang Jianjun kept his word and immediately arranged for the parties involved to go to the public meeting hall to properly handle this matter!
This was a common practice in the village; whenever the mayor had to hold a meeting or there was a difficult dispute, they would arrange to negotiate it at the meeting hall. If no solution could be reached, the villagers would vote to decide.
At the meeting hall, Zhang Jianjun sat in the main seat, Nianyang stood next to him, with the Zhang Family and Zhang Zhiqiang, now clothed, at the lower left, and Gu Youlan and the Gu couple at the lower right.
The other villagers cooperatively stood on both sides of the road.
"Nianyang girl, as the biggest victim of today’s scandal, I give you the power to express your thoughts. Tell me how you want me to handle Zhang Zhiqiang and Gu Youlan, and I’ll follow your wishes," Zhang Jianjun said.
Before Nianyang could speak, the ever-protective Wang Ying shouted, "Mayor, how can you let a little girl make the decision? This whole thing happened because Zhiqiang and Lanlan are young and impulsively tasted forbidden fruit. Although Zhang Zhiqiang is my younger daughter’s fiancé, they’re still not married, so it’s not like there’s some grave transgression!"
Gu Youlan spoke softly, "I know what my brother Zhiqiang and I did was wrong, but we truly love each other. His engagement to Yangyang was arranged by adults; he never liked Yangyang. We just couldn’t help ourselves!"
Gu Youlan really knew how to talk; with one sentence, she made it sound as if she and Zhang Zhiqiang were the true lovers, while Nianyang was the one intruding.
Zhang Zhiqiang had already realized that there was no salvaging his reputation in this situation, so he resigned himself to silence.
Zhang Jianjun said coldly, "Everyone shut up, I’m the mayor, and here I make the decisions. Nianyang girl, don’t be afraid, just say what’s on your mind!"