Chapter 102: Leaders Gather at the Xie Family Home

Under the Village Chief’s lead, the officials walked along the village’s main road toward the old Xie family residence.

Xu Zhiquan followed quietly behind, gentle and low-key.

Town Mayor Feng Wenjiang stood beside the senior officials and spoke:

“I’m ashamed to admit that as town mayor, I only learned of a new provincial team athlete here after getting a call from the city.”

“This is my dereliction of duty…”

This proactive self-critique was also a perfectly timed way to save face.

City Sports Bureau Director Gao Guangya laughed and said,

“Mayor Feng, you needn’t blame yourself. After all, Xie has been studying at First High in the city for years, not here in the town.

When she won the city games championship, we also failed to inform your town. That’s our small oversight…”

Feng Wenjiang smiled and exchanged compliments with Gao Guangya to patch things up, then deftly shifted the topic to praise Xu Zhiquan:

“Today we owe a debt of thanks to Mr. Xu for rushing over and overseeing the funeral arrangements at Xie’s home.

Otherwise, as mayor, I’d be utterly ashamed to face you leaders today.”

After he spoke, Feng gave a subtle nod to the Village Chief.

The Village Chief paused but understood instantly and said:

“Yes indeed, we owe Mr. Xu a great debt!

He arrived early this morning and got right to work—hiring the funeral troupe and arranging meals.

Our Village Committee also sent people to assist Mr. Xu…”

“Mr. Xu is truly a philanthropist without selfish motives, donating both money and effort. He sets a model for entrepreneurs in our town!”

Xu Zhiquan took over the conversation and said:

“You’re too kind, both of you.

Xie Bingran was my son’s middle school classmate. I already knew her family was in need.

This morning, when my son heard his only grandmother had passed away, he asked to come help.

I worried he couldn’t handle it alone, so I came along…”

Vice Mayor Wu Yongming, his expression amiable, finally spoke up:

“The Village Chief was absolutely right. Mr. Xu truly is an exemplary local entrepreneur.

Such generous selflessness is something all our city’s business leaders should learn from!”

At his words, a chorus of agreement rose up.

The Village Chief, standing by, heaped even more heartfelt praise on Mr. Xu.

Yet not long ago, he’d driven these people away by force…

Only now did the Village Chief and committee members realize from the leaders’ conversation that Xie Bingran had won the city sports meet, become a city star, and been selected for the provincial team.

They smiled along behind the officials but were stunned inside.

In all their decades, these village cadres had never been this close to city big-shots—never spoken face-to-face or shaken hands.

They never imagined it was all because of that inconspicuous girl from the village…

Behind the procession, villagers followed along, crowding to watch.

Private whispers about the Xie girl floated up, filled with astonishment.

To them, none of this seemed possible.

They remembered Xie as a frail, timid girl whose father was a convict and whose mother had run off long ago to live with her grandmother.

She often went hungry and had no warm clothes.

Yet in just a few years, barely seen in the village, she rose to become a city sports star, even earning the vice mayor’s personal condolences.

For this remote riverside village, it was surely the first time city leaders had come—yet all because of the Xie girl.

At the entrances to various alleys, villagers poked their heads out to watch and gossip.

At one alley stood Liu the Matchmaker.

She saw the group of big leaders approaching the Xie residence and overheard the rumors, her mouth hanging open in shock.

…

Xu Chen had already returned ahead of them to the old Xie residence.

On his way back, he bumped into Aunt Feng, the Women’s Committee Head, who’d arranged for villagers to set up a TV, a small freezer, and several tables and chairs.

They were placed against the back wall of the main hall.

It was likely per the Village Chief’s instructions—after all, seeing bare walls might leave a poor impression of the village and committee.

When the Women’s Committee Head saw Xu Chen, she gave him an awkward smile.

…

Before long, led by the Village Chief, the officials arrived at the Xie residence.

At the front hall table, the vice mayor and the sports bureau director’s two secretaries handed over two sealed condolence envelopes.

Mayor Feng Wenjiang, Chen Ming, and teacher Tian Fangfang also followed suit with their offerings.

The elderly clerk took his brush to register the names and wrote mourning couplets.

This scene made the previously unprepared Village Chief and his team feel a pang of embarrassment.

The leaders stepped into the courtyard where the band began to play a mournful folk tune.

Zhao Feng, Fang Tao, and a group of brothers restrained their usual swagger and stood obediently in the yard, Xu Chen among them.

Xu Zhiquan remained beside the officials and quietly explained,

“These are Xie Bingran’s classmates from First High. They rushed over this morning to help.”

Vice Mayor Wu nodded and turned to Chen Ming:

“First High has such a strong spirit among its students. I’ll call Principal Yang when I return—this is a model for other schools!”

Chen Ming bowed his head in agreement, though anxiety churned within him.

He knew well that these “Bing Ge” brothers were labeled “bad kids” at school.

Thankfully, they all looked so well-behaved now, like model students.

Originally, Principal Yang of First High was to personally accompany the leaders today.

But officials thought there were already too many people, so the secretaries coordinated, and only two of Xie Bingran’s coaches came from the school.

Under the Village Chief’s guidance, the officials entered the mourning hall.

According to ritual, Xie Bingran, in mourning garb, knelt on the ground.

Fang Tao and another student stood inside the hall, presenting incense to the leaders.

After each paid respects, the senior official personally stepped forward and helped Xie Bingran to her feet.

Xu Zhiquan stood outside, giving the band a subtle sign to stop, giving the leaders quiet to speak.

The leaders, kind and warm, spoke many comforting words to “Bing Ge.”

“Stay strong. Let us know if you need anything. Turn your grief into strength and train with peace of mind…”

Xie Bingran listened quietly with her head bowed.

Unsure how to respond, she followed Xu Chen’s instruction to nod occasionally.

…

Each leader expressed their condolences and concern, genuinely more thoughtful than the earlier Village Chief and committee.

Finally, Vice Mayor Wu spoke:

“Mayor Feng, Village Chief Guo, it’s no small feat for our city to produce an athlete like Xie Bingran. She is your town’s and village’s pride.

I only learned of her family’s situation this morning…

As vice mayor, I failed in my duties.

You, as town and village leaders, should have shown more care and support for a struggling family, especially for an outstanding youth who sets an example…”