Chapter 6
A convoy of military vehicles parked neatly in front of our house, causing a commotion throughout the village.
Mark went out to greet them, smiling.
“Uncle, you’re finally here!”
Mark’s uncle got out of the car but didn’t acknowledge Mark. Instead, he ran to open the door for someone in the back seat.
A man with an imposing presence stepped out of the car.
“This is our base commander. He’s here to find someone in your village.”
Mark’s face was all smiles: “Hello, Commander! I’m the ranch foreman of Johnson Village. Who are you looking for? I know everyone here!”
Seeing that Mark apparently had enough influence to speak with a military commander, my parents trembled in fear.
Mark’s gang of troublemakers regained their confidence.
They crowded around Mark’s uncle and the commander, trying to curry favor.
“Sir, I want to file a complaint! This family is nothing but trouble. They got into college and forgot their roots, now they’re bullying us farmers! Please arrest them all!”
Tom stepped forward. Emboldened, Mark immediately had his men tie Tom up.
“It’s this guy! He was never honest when he was sent down to our village as an educated youth. Always had his nose in some fancy book. I bet he’s a capitalist sympathizer!”
“Dad!” Tom called out clearly.
Mark was stunned for a moment, then laughed again.
“Boy, it’s too late to be scared now. I’m telling you, even if you called me grandpa, it wouldn’t help!”
The commander snorted coldly: “So you want to be my father now?”
By now, Mark’s uncle had turned as white as a sheet.
“Commander Quinn, is this the young man you were looking for?”
The villagers erupted in shock, and Mark’s thugs were terrified.
“Boss, we’re sorry! It was all Mark’s idea!”
Tom led Commander Quinn into our ransacked house. Mark, sensing trouble, tried to run.
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The commander’s sharp eyes caught this, and he had his men stop Mark.
“Didn’t you want to file a complaint with me? Come in and tell me about it.”
Mark had lost all his strength and was carried into the house by several strong soldiers.
My family was also stunned. Tom was actually the son of a military commander?
How could we, simple country folk, be worthy of such a family?
My father hurriedly apologized to Commander Quinn: “Sir, we didn’t know Tom’s background. Our Sarah isn’t worthy of your family. Let’s call off this marriage.”
Commander Quinn didn’t respond, but Tom spoke up urgently.
“Dad, Father–in–law, Sarah and I truly love each other. When my family was falsely accused and I was in trouble, Sarah didn’t abandon me. How could I let her down now? Besides, she’s already given me a son!”
The commander’s expression softened.
“Where’s the child? Bring him to me.‘
I went inside and brought out Robert.
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Robert was already a year old, bold and unafraid of strangers. He looked remarkably like Commander Quinn.
The commander laughed heartily, then glanced at my swollen belly.
“Excellent! The Quinn family has only had one son for three generations. Now you’re pregnant again. How could we not accept such a fortunate daughter–in–law into our family?”
Tom hugged me and the child tightly.
“Sarah, I’m sorry. When my father was imprisoned, I didn’t dare tell you my true identity. I promise I’ll make it up to you and the children from now on.”
I leaned on Tom’s shoulder, pretending to be surprised even though I had known all along.
Tom then recounted Mark’s misdeeds.
Commander Quinn was furious: “This is a blatant disregard for the law, bullying fellow villagers, vandalism, attempted rape… Take him to the police station. The law will deal with him!”
Seeing they now had powerful backing, the villagers turned on Mark, one after another exposing his past crimes.
Mark and his thugs were taken away by the soldiers to the police station.
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Before leaving, Mark shouted desperately at me: “Sarah Wilson, you think you’ve climbed the social ladder this time? My uncle said the commander’s wife has already chosen a daughter–in–law. You’ll never be accepted into the Quinn family!”
