Chapter 123: Weakness

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Min Nan didn’t expect to encounter Ma Kang at the entrance of the clinic, and for a moment, he had a bad feeling.

However, Ma Kang was somewhat pleased.

If it had been before today, Ma Kang would have seen Min Nan and just felt a headache.

To be honest, he wasn’t afraid of the workers who had been rescued from the mine causing trouble. He was afraid of Min Nan.

Though Ma Kang was the village committee secretary of Willow Village, his authority was limited to this small area. On the other hand, Min Nan was different. His father held a high position in the entire East District army, and Min Nan’s future achievements were likely to be on par with his father’s.

Therefore, even though Ma Kang didn’t like Min Nan, he didn’t dare to provoke him.

However, if Min Nan took issue with his actions and insisted on opposing him, there was nothing Ma Kang could do about it. He could threaten the workers, but he couldn’t do that with Min Nan.

Nevertheless, Ma Kang had never imagined that, just when he was troubled, fate would unexpectedly place Min Nan’s vulnerability right before him.

Even though Ye Ling didn’t acknowledge her relationship with Min Nan, Ma Kang knew that Ye Ling held a significant place in Min Nan’s heart the moment he saw Min Nan heading toward the clinic.

Considering the late hour, Min Nan had come specifically to fetch Ye Ling. He was willing to make this journey to pick up Ye Ling, and wasn’t that evidence of his feelings for her?

If it had been Ma Kang, he would, at most, remind his wife if she returned home late, but he certainly wouldn’t personally pick her up.

“Ah, young people, they just can’t resist the rush of hormones! ” Ma Kang thought.

A brilliant smile appeared on Ma Kang’s face. He waved at Min Nan, approached him with a leisurely pace, examined him from head to toe, patted his shoulder, and said, “Even heroes have a weakness for the charms of a beautiful woman. But, young man, you certainly have good taste! I, Old Ma, will eagerly await the day when I attend VOUr wedding!”

After Ma Kang had said these words, he walked past Min Nan.

Min Nan stared at Ma Kang’s departing figure in bewilderment.

Was this guy crazy?

However, after careful consideration of Ma Kang’s words, Min Nan felt that something was amiss. He briskly entered the clinic and found Ye Ling and Xu Lun sitting in chairs, both looking uneasy.

Min Nan’s heart skipped a beat, thinking that Chen Sits surgery had failed. After a moment’s hesitation, he said to Ye Ling, “You’ve done your best. Some things are beyond your control. Don’t blame yourself too much.”

Upon seeing Min Nan, Ye Ling was briefly stunned and then quickly explained, “No, the surgery was very successful. Chen Si’s leg doesn’t need amputation anymore. At most, he might walk with a slight limp in the future.”

It turned out the operation had been successful, and Min Nan heaved a sigh of relief. However, he soon realized the crux of the matter and looked at Xu Lun and Ye Ling, inquiring, “When did Ma Kang arrive? Did he see who performed Chen Sit s surgery?”

“I’m sorry,” Xu Lun said with a bitter smile. “I didn’t stop him, and I didn’t expect him to suddenly show up. However, when he left, he didn’t make things too difficult for Comrade Ye. He only asked Comrade Ye to write two thousand words of self-reflection.”

Min Nan’s heart skipped a beat, and he almost furrowed his brow.

As the village committee secretary, Ma Kang had no reason to make things difficult for Ye Ling. After all, he was the one who intended to cause trouble for Ye Ling!

When Min Nan learned that the village committee planned to cover up the mine incident, he wrote a report letter with his real name and intended to deliver it to the county.

In the letter, Min Nan also spoke on behalf of the mine workers, hoping that when the matter was eventually resolved, they wouldn’t be unduly burdened.

Most of these workers were poorly educated, and their families were impoverished. If it weren’t for their struggle to put food on the table, they wouldn’t have gone to such a distant and perilous place to work.

Min Nan also sympathized with the workers, but he understood that such incidents needed to be stopped immediately upon discovery. If they weren’t halted now, who could guarantee that a second mine wouldn’t appear near Willow Village? What if there was another mine collapse?

Even if an accident did occur, it might go unnoticed because those seeking profit would become more cautious due to the experience of the mine incident.

Min Nan knew he was the only one who could handle this.

Among those who knew the details of the mine incident near Willow Village, no one would dare to defy Ma Kang’s authority.

Even for Li Dong, whether he could be re-elected as village chief in the next term would depend on Ma Kang’s attitude toward him.

As for the workers, even if some disagreed, they would be unable to bypass Ma Kang’s surveillance to report the matter to higher authorities..