Jiang Chen was taken away.
As soon as Wen-xian heard the news, she immediately called Zhao Liang.Zhao Liang hired a lawyer for Jiang Chen.
In the end, Jiang Chen was sentenced to three months in prison, all his earnings were confiscated, and he was fined an additional 400,000 yuan.His entire bank balance was seized.Since he couldn't afford the fine, his Dodge SUV was also confiscated.
The sentence was harsh.The punishment was brutal.
Three months later, on a certain day, Jiang Chen was released from prison.
On the way home, the first thing he did was call Wu Feng.He was most worried that Wu Feng and Zheng Qiang might have been implicated in the medicinal wine business.
But after several attempts, the calls wouldn't go through.Zheng Qiang couldn't be reached either.
Jiang Chen had a pretty good idea of what that meant—something must have happened to them too.
He called Wu Feng's company, Jiangcheng Health Products Trading Co.Someone at the other end answered and told him the company had already shut down.When he tried to ask for more details, the person hung up on him.
Jiang Chen was nearly certain now: Wu Feng and Zheng Qiang had been caught up in the trouble.Because of him, they were suffering too.
His heart ached.
Jiang Chen didn't want to call anyone in Taohua Village.He was a recently released convict now. It was shameful. He didn't want to be a laughingstock among the villagers.
The bus stopped at the entrance to the village.Jiang Chen got off and walked to the clinic.
There, pasted on the clinic door, were two strips of red-lettered white paper—official seals.
Looking closely, he saw they were joint enforcement notices from the Municipal Drug Administration, Municipal Health Bureau, and the County Agricultural Supervision Team.
Jiang Chen sat down powerlessly on the big rock beside the door.The sky was slowly growing dark.
It was over. Everything was over.
His only means of livelihood was gone.Why didn't this world leave a way out for people trying to do good?
There were so many people selling medicinal liquor. Even the big pharmacies were openly selling Viagra—how was that not illegal?
It had to be Xu Peng's doing.Fine, Xu Peng. As long as I, Jiang Chen, am still alive, this isn't over between us.
But now what?
He had completely lost his way of making a living.How could he still have the face to marry Wen-xian?
There was no meaning left in it all.
He was a grown man—how could he just sit at home and be supported by his wife?
No. He had to leave.Go to the city and find work.
Jiang Chen looked toward Wen-xian's house.
From afar, the little home was lit up, warm yellow light spilling from the window.
That had once been the safe harbor of happiness he dreamed of.How he longed to live there with Wen-xian, eating the meals she cooked, holding her as they slept, raising a child together…
But all that now seemed like a dream.
Wen-xian, I'm sorry.It's not that I don't love you.It's that I no longer deserve to.
Jiang Chen stared silently at that warm light, two lines of tears sliding down his face.
"Goodbye, Wen-xian."
He turned around and walked toward the edge of the village.
Just as he reached the village entrance, suddenly, from behind came the sound of hurried breathing, then a voice cried out:
"Is that you, Jiang Chen?!"
Jiang Chen turned around.
Under the moonlight, Wen-xian was running toward him, bathed in silver glow, breathless.
"Jiang Chen!"
She shouted and threw herself into his arms without a word.
Her arms clutched him like iron, her soft body pressed against his like silk, holding him tightly.
Her sweet, fragrant lips sealed his own.She kissed him fiercely.
The kiss lasted for two full minutes before she pulled away, tears streaming down her face as she looked up and cried:
"Jiang Chen, why didn't you come home? I waited for you every day. I knew you would come back for me…"
Jiang Chen didn't know what to say.
Her body was so soft, it drained him of all strength.He didn't want to let her go.He wanted to hold her like this forever.
"Jiang Chen, what did I do wrong? You really want to leave all alone?"
She sobbed.
Jiang Chen reached out and gently wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes. "Wen-xian, it's not that I don't miss you. I thought about you every single day in prison. But… the situation now…"
"What about now? You're the same you as before."
"No, Wen-xian. I'm not. I have no job, no path forward. I'm just a drifter now. I don't deserve to be with you…"
Wen-xian stood up straight and said,
"Shut up."
Then, afraid she'd hurt him, she gently touched his face and said softly,
"To be with you is the greatest blessing I've ever received. To cook for you, to do your laundry, to sleep beside you, to give you children, to serve you—what more could I ask for in this life? If you're worried that I'm divorced—"
"Wen-xian, I don't care! I don't care at all! I love you so much…"
Wen-xian suddenly burst out laughing through her tears.
"Now that's more like it. What are you waiting for? Come home and eat."