Rebirth 77: From Beachcombing to Becoming a Tycoon and Spoiling My Wife

The tractor slowly drove out of the district compound, winding its way up the mountain.

The mountain road was rugged and bumpy, and the vehicle was jolted violently, shaking up and down and swaying left and right. The people sitting in the vehicle were also jolted up and down.

Halfway up the mountain, a straight and flat dirt road suddenly appeared before us.

Zhang Ning pointed to the dirt road and whispered, "Master, if you go straight from here, you'll see the village behind the mountain."

"Okay!"

The tractor driver nodded in response, twisted the throttle, and the tractor turned and steadily drove into the straight dirt road.

After driving smoothly for nearly half an hour, a mountain village nestled against the hillside and beside the water slowly came into view. Wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys above the village, and thin wisps of white mist rose and drifted away, creating a scene full of the warmth and life of everyday life.

A clear river flows through the village, its waters gurgling. On both banks, rows of closely connected old mud-brick houses are scattered, layer upon layer, following the contours of the land.

Yang Bai looked at the village behind the mountain. He had only been here once in his life, when he came to buy Zhang Ning.

In its previous life, this place was rated as a national 4A-level scenic spot and was also transformed into an ancient city, with many hotels and restaurants located here.

Tourism is highly developed, making it a cultural and tourism calling card for Anshan City.

But that's a story for later. Right now, we have to face Zhang Ning's family.

"Master, this is enough. We'll walk on our own."

Zhang Ning was about to get off the bus when she said that.

The tractor driver shook his head. "No need. You're friends of the Party Secretary's daughter. If I drop you off here, I'll get scolded when I get back. Where do you live? I'll take you to the end."

Zhang Ning thought for a moment and then sat back down to give directions to the tractor driver.

The tractor from out of town was extremely conspicuous in this almost isolated mountain village.

The villagers walking on the road all noticed it.

"Where did this tractor come from? It doesn't look like the ones in our village."

"The person behind me looks familiar, but I just can't remember who it is."

"Oh, isn't that Old Zhang's daughter? She married someone from another place. The one next to her is probably her gambling husband."

"I heard they were divorced a long time ago, why are they still here with you?"

"I bet they're here to freeload off the banquet."

They were all talking about it; they all knew about Zhang Ning's marriage to a gambler.

After all, Zhang Ning was a famously beautiful girl in the surrounding area, and many men dreamed of marrying her, but she ended up marrying a gambler.

Soon the tractor crossed the small bridge and arrived at Zhang Ning's house.

Before you are three earthen houses surrounding a courtyard.

Two "double happiness" characters were pasted on the door, and many people dressed in red came over to offer their congratulations.

In this remote and impoverished area, villagers who can build houses like this are considered to be in relatively good condition.

However, they emptied their pockets to build all of these houses, simply because their son wanted a grand house to get married.

That's why Yang Bai was able to marry Zhang Ning for only twenty dollars back then; you could say he got a bargain.

There's a table by the door for receiving gifts.

Yang Bai took out two one-yuan bills and placed them on the table.

"Yang Bai, son-in-law, will give one yuan. Zhang Ning, daughter, will give one yuan."

In those days, in the poor and remote countryside, giving five or two mao was considered a lot, so giving a dollar was considered quite a show of respect.

Coming here to draw a clear line with them is one thing, but we can't lose face.

"Zhang Ning? You're back?" the old man who received the gifts greeted him, then called into the house, "Old Zhang, your daughter is back."

A lean, middle-aged man strode out of the house. His brows were cold and hard, his face showed impatience, and his gaze swept straight out.

Upon recognizing Zhang Ning, he immediately darkened his face, speaking harshly and sternly.

"Zhang Ning? Get over here and help wash the dishes!"

He is Zhang Ning's father, Zhang Fu.

He had always treated Zhang Ning like a servant, ordering her around and behaving her like a beast of burden at the village entrance.

The slightest dissatisfaction often results in physical violence.

Zhang Ning was startled by his reprimand and her whole body trembled slightly.

"Father, I..."

Yang Bai took her hand and stood in front of Zhang Ning.

"Father-in-law, you are Zhang Ning's father. I will now call you father-in-law."

"We were invited here as guests, not to be ordered around by you."

"Haven't you all made Ningning do enough for her all these years?"

Zhang Ning looked up at the man who was protecting her, her heart filled with warmth.

"Ha, I didn't expect you, you gambling addict, to show up too. You're divorced from Zhang Ning, and you still call me father-in-law? You're not welcome here, get out!"

Zhang Fu pointed to the door, his eyes showing no politeness whatsoever.

Yang Bai sneered when he heard him drive away the guests.

"Leave? Okay, Ningning, do you want to leave too?"

He didn't come here for this lousy banquet; his purpose was simply to make Zhang Ning sever ties with them and disown their family.

They can come and cause a scene at the banquet tonight; why put up with this humiliation here?

Zhang Ning nodded calmly and replied softly, "Okay, I'll go with you."

When Zhang Fu saw that his daughter was about to leave with Yang Bai, a fierce look instantly welled up in his eyes.

He immediately turned around, grabbed a thick wooden stick from the side of the yard, rushed to Zhang Ning, and grabbed her arm tightly.

It exerted tremendous force and refused to loosen its grip even slightly.

His eyes were bloodshot, and he threatened in an extremely fierce tone, "If you dare to leave today, I'll beat you to death!"

In a flash, Yang Bai's eyes turned cold, and he quickly raised his hand to grab Zhang Fu's wrist, which was tightly gripping Zhang Ning's, applying slight pressure with his fingertips.

An excruciating pain instantly swept through Zhang Fu's body. His face contorted in agony, and a fine layer of cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He trembled violently from the pain.

"Who are you going to kill?" Yang Bai's voice was deep and cold, carrying an extremely strong sense of oppression.

Zhang Fu gritted his teeth, enduring the excruciating pain in his wrist, and spoke slowly and deliberately, his tone harsh and furious.

"Yang Bai, get out of here! My daughter has already divorced you, this has nothing to do with you!"

Yang Bai's eyes grew even colder, and his grip tightened without diminishing. Fortunately, he hadn't let Zhang Ning come alone, otherwise, who knows how much more this family would have tormented Zhang Ning. He spoke in a cold voice.

"It has nothing to do with me? Haven't you heard of the saying 'a day as husband and wife is worth a hundred days of kindness'? I'm here today to protect Ningning from being bullied in the slightest."

He spoke sharply.

"Get out of my way! Also, return the two yuan each of our wedding gift money to Ningning."

Zhang Fu's heart sank when he heard that the gift money was two yuan.

Almost no one in the village could afford such a large gift. If he had to return the two yuan after he left, wouldn't that be a huge loss?

In addition, Zhang Ning must stay. Now that she is divorced, people will come to see her at night, so we can't just let her leave.

Zhang Fu released his grip, his expression remaining cold and hard.

"Alright, take out two yuan as a gift, as a token of your goodwill, but you can't put it at the main table, to avoid bad luck."