I am a historical film director in the entertainment industry.

"It's good that you didn't suffer any losses. As the old saying goes, 'A good start prevents a hundred bad ones.' If anyone dares to bully you, as long as it's not illegal, you can fight back. The villagers and I all support you," said Mr. Cheng.

As a countryman, he didn't understand any grand principles; he only knew one thing: if someone bullies you, you must fight back.

Cheng Sheng wholeheartedly agreed with his father's words. He remembered when he was young, a conflict arose between his village and the neighboring village. The village chief led all the men in the village to cause trouble in the neighboring village. His father went there that time too. If it weren't for the township government's intervention, the two villages would probably have started fighting.

If he were really bullied outside, given his father's current reputation in the village, he would probably lead the villagers to find Wu Baige and fight her.

"Son, it's been almost a year, have you found a girlfriend yet?"

After washing the dishes, Cheng's mother came out and asked.

"I don't plan to date for the next two years; I want to stabilize my career first," Cheng Sheng said.

"What kind of talk is that? You're a billionaire now, and your career isn't stable yet? Listen to your mother, find a girlfriend first." Cheng's mother rolled her eyes at Cheng Sheng.

"Yes, it would be best to bring it back for us to see next Chinese New Year," Mr. Cheng also agreed.

Cheng Sheng was overwhelmed by his parents' insistence on him finding a girlfriend.

"I saw on the news that many female celebrities like you, is that true?"

With a gossipy mind, Cheng's mother asked.

Cheng Sheng was extremely helpless; he never expected that one day his mother would be reading gossip about him.

He was so embarrassed that he was digging his toes into the floor.

“Mom, the news online is all fake. Those reporters are just making things up to get attention and trend on social media,” Cheng Sheng explained.

"Whether it's real or fake, you have to bring one back to me tomorrow, or you won't be able to come home."

Alright! With that, Cheng's mother made the final decision. Cheng Sheng opened his mouth, but didn't even have a chance to object.

Do you know why your mom insists you bring a girlfriend home?

Seeing Cheng's mother leave, Cheng's father smiled and said.

"why?"

Cheng Sheng was also curious, since his mother had never pressured him to find a girlfriend before.

“You know Duanliu, who is two years younger than you!” Cheng’s father said.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Sheng recalled a chubby boy who had been his playmate. The two had gotten along well when they were young, but Cheng Sheng later discovered that the chubby boy actually enjoyed betraying others.

No one has a good impression of someone who likes to backstab others, and Cheng Sheng is no exception.

Therefore, the two became estranged from junior high school onwards. In addition, Cheng Sheng went to high school in the county town, while Duan Liu did not continue his studies but went out to work. After that, the two never saw each other again.

"Why are you talking about that chubby kid?" Cheng Sheng asked.

"He brought a wife back in June, and his parents have been showing her off all over the village since then. Your mother is just envious," Mr. Cheng explained.

This is actually the case!
That guy Duanliu actually managed to find a wife.

Not only is he overweight, but he's also not very good-looking.

"He's making a lot of money outside."

If someone has neither good looks nor talent, the only way they can bring home a wife, besides deception, is by making money. Only then will women stay with them.

If he were lying, the chubby guy would never do that; all that's left is to make money.

"What do you mean by making money! I heard from others that his wife was bought from someone in the mountains," Mr. Cheng said dismissively.

"What! You bought it?"

Cheng Sheng was stunned.

Duanliu has been working away from home for so many years, surely he has at least some legal awareness?
This person is completely ignorant of the law!
According to Chinese law, if the "wife" purchased is a trafficked woman, then the act of purchasing herself constitutes a crime.

According to regulations, trafficking in women refers to the act of abducting, kidnapping, buying, selling, transporting, or transferring women for the purpose of selling them.

Therefore, buying trafficked women is one of the crimes stipulated in this law.

Even if the purchased woman voluntarily lives with the buyer, it does not change the criminal nature of the purchase itself.

Because the act of purchasing violates women's personal freedom and contributes to the crime of trafficking in women.

If the purchased "wife" is not a trafficked woman, but rather a marriage or cohabitation relationship entered into voluntarily by both parties, further analysis is needed. If both parties are single and voluntarily enter into a marriage or cohabitation relationship, then this behavior generally does not constitute a crime.

However, if one or both parties already have a spouse and then marry or cohabit with another person, it may constitute bigamy.

"Dad, has anyone in the village investigated this matter?" Cheng Sheng asked seriously.

Cheng Sheng, a village official, has also been in contact with the village and is considered quite capable of getting things done. If this rumor is true, the village officials will definitely investigate.

“We’ve already sent someone to investigate where Duanliu works, and we’re just waiting for their reply!” Mr. Cheng said.

"Sigh! I hope Duanliu is a girlfriend she found herself. If she was really bought, she might be sentenced to prison."

Although he didn't like Duanliu, Cheng Sheng didn't want him to go to jail.

knock knock!

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

"Who is it?"

Cheng's father called out.

"me!"

"village head!"

Upon hearing the sound, Mr. Cheng exclaimed in surprise.

"I'll open the door."

After Cheng Sheng finished speaking, he quickly went to open the door.

"Ah Sheng! Have you eaten dinner yet?"

Upon seeing that it was Cheng Sheng who opened the door, the village chief smiled and said.

"You've eaten, village chief, come in and sit down."

Cheng Sheng said enthusiastically.

"Call me village chief," the village chief corrected.

"Hey, I'm used to it." Cheng Sheng smiled.

In many modern places, the title of village chief has been gradually replaced by 'village director', but in some traditional villages, people still habitually refer to the person in charge of the village as 'village chief'.

Cheng Sheng has been calling him that since he was a child, and he's basically used to it. He can't change it even if he wants to.

Even everyone in the village is pretty much the same.

"Village chief, here you go."

Cheng's father took out a cigarette and handed it to the village chief.

The village chief didn't stand on ceremony and took the cigarette, but he didn't smoke it; instead, he hung it behind his ear.

"Village chief, are you here to see me? Or are you looking for Xiao Sheng?"

"Please sit down, village chief," Cheng's father asked.

Cheng Sheng also poured a cup of hot water for the village chief and sat quietly to the side listening.

"Sigh, the village sent people to Huadu to inquire about the Dragon Boat Festival a while ago, and now they've investigated it thoroughly. I really don't know what to do, so I wanted to discuss it with you and Ah Sheng," the village chief sighed.

Cheng Sheng and his father exchanged a glance. They had just been discussing the Dragon Boat Festival when the village chief came looking for them, and it was about the Dragon Boat Festival.

"What exactly happened?" Mr. Cheng asked.

"That girl was bought during the Dragon Boat Festival."

"Bought? Was the girl willing or forced?" Cheng Sheng frowned.

If the marriage is entered into voluntarily, then such behavior generally does not constitute a crime, but if it is forced, then Duanliu will be in big trouble.

Judging from the village chief's expression, he seemed to be more forced into it. (End of Chapter)