Lü Zhigang glanced around the room, then smiled at Lin Xiaoxiao. "Sis-in-law."

Lin Xiaoxiao was surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"Just passing by," Lü Zhigang said lightly.

What a coincidence, Lin Xiaoxiao thought skeptically.

Ignoring everyone else, Lü Zhigang greeted Lin Xiaoxiao briefly before turning to Zhou Huai'an.

"How's the injury?"

"Mostly healed," Zhou Huai'an replied with a nod.

The two men then walked out of the room, clearly needing to talk in private.

Lin Xiaoxiao assumed it was work-related—something confidential—so no matter how curious she was, she knew better than to follow.

Lü Zhigang and Zhou Huai'an went downstairs to the small garden in front of the hospital.

Lü Zhigang's smile faded, his expression turning serious. "I found something out. Li Keda's brother-in-law has ties to the Zhou family in Beijing."

Zhou Huai'an looked puzzled. "Which Zhou family? What's their background?"

"The old Zhou patriarch is quite influential. His children are also very accomplished. One of his sons even served here in your county years ago—about thirty years back. His grandchildren are impressive too, especially one of his granddaughters—tough as nails."

Zhou Huai'an listened patiently. "What does that have to do with me? I don't know them."

Even though they shared the same surname, there was no connection. He'd never even been to Beijing.

Lü Zhigang also found it strange. The Zhou family wasn't extravagantly powerful, but they were well-respected—especially their children, who were often held up as role models in their circles.

They were known for their strong principles and integrity. Why would they hold a grudge against Zhou Huai'an?

Even if there were disagreements, they wouldn't resort to such vicious methods.

Lü Zhigang shook his head. "Anyway, the Zhou family has a very good reputation among those who know them."

Then he asked Zhou Huai'an, "You called and asked me to come early—did you find something new?"

Zhou Huai'an briefed him on what had happened to Zhou Chang'an.

Lü Zhigang looked skeptical. "You think the people who attacked Zhou Chang'an are the same ones who targeted you? Based on what?"

"Instinct."

Lü Zhigang raised an eyebrow, half-impressed, half-teasing. "That's your reasoning? Instinct?"

Zhou Huai'an ignored his tone and pressed for more details on Li Keda's brother-in-law's connections—besides the Zhou family, who else was involved.

Back in the room, with nowhere else to go—and eager to see how things played out—Lin Xiaoxiao sat on an empty bed near the window, ready for the next act.

It took Wang Fenglan a while to collect herself. She glared at Zhou Chang'an. "You worthless fool! Why gambling? Do we have a gold mountain at home for you to squander like this?"

Zhou Chang'an turned away, ignoring her.

Frustrated by his silence, she turned on Chen Qiaolan. "And you! Can't even control your own husband! What do you do all day? Why didn't you keep an eye on him!"

Chen Qiaolan, already seething, snapped back. "How could I watch him? I didn't even know he was sleeping around! You knew—his own mother! Did you stand guard while he was with her?"

That hit a nerve. Wang Fenglan lunged at her.

Chen Qiaolan didn't back down, fighting back despite her pregnant belly.

Before Zhou Changyuan could intervene, two thuds echoed—Chen Qiaolan landed hard on the floor, and Wang Fenglan fell backward, hitting her head on the corner of a bedside cabinet. She didn't get up.

Lin Xiaoxiao stared, wide-eyed. Did that just happen?

Zhou Changyuan rushed out to find a doctor.

Noticing blood on the floor, Lin Xiaoxiao followed as the medical team wheeled Wang Fenglan away. "Doctor," she said, "could you please test her blood type? Just in case she needs a transfusion."

The doctor nodded and took Wang Fenglan to emergency care.

When Zhou Huai'an and Lü Zhigang returned, they found both Wang Fenglan and Chen Qiaolan were now in treatment—one with a head injury, the other with pregnancy complications.

Zhou Huai'an massaged his temples. This family never stopped.

But Lin Xiaoxiao waited eagerly for the test results. She'd long suspected Zhou Huai'an wasn't really a Zhou—he looked nothing like them.

Why hadn't he ever wondered?

Zhou Huai'an noticed Lin Xiaoxiao by the door, alert and full of energy, and wondered how she never tired of other people's drama.

Lü Zhigang sighed and shot Zhou Huai'an a sympathetic look. What kind of family did you grow up in?

Wang Fenglan's injury wasn't serious. After a few stitches, she was wheeled back. As they passed, the doctor mentioned to Lin Xiaoxiao, "Type B."

Lin Xiaoxiao felt a thrill. If Zhou Mancang was type AB, he couldn't have fathered a type O child.

Unless he was type A!

Zhou Huai'an noticed her unusual excitement. "Why did the doctor tell you her blood type?"

Lin Xiaoxiao brushed it off. "She was bleeding pretty bad. They checked in case she needed a transfusion."

Zhou Huai'an didn't press further. Once Wang Fenglan was settled, he said to Zhou Changyuan, "We're heading out. Take care of them."

Zhou Changyuan, who hadn't had a chance to speak with him alone, quickly said, "Huai'an, can I talk to you for a moment?"

Zhou Huai'an paused. "Let's step outside."

He already knew what this was about.

Sure enough, once outside, Zhou Changyuan asked urgently, "Huai'an, are you really cutting ties? You don't have to send money, but... must you break away completely?"

Zhou Huai'an looked at him. "Elder Brother, thank you for that knife you gave me back then. Without it, I wouldn't have made it out of the wolves."

Zhou Changyuan fell silent. He too had overheard Zhou Mancang and Wang Fenglan's plan to abandon Zhou Huai'an in the mountains to save food.He'd stayed quiet, conflicted between not wanting Zhou Huai'an hurt and selfishly wanting more to eat.But in the end, he couldn't do nothing—he'd slipped Zhou Huai'an a knife.

Zhou Huai'an patted his shoulder. "Take care of yourself."

He called to Lin Xiaoxiao and Lü Zhigang, and they left.

As she passed Zhou Changyuan, Lin Xiaoxiao noticed the usually simple man had tears in his eyes. She felt a pang of surprise, then hurried after Zhou Huai'an.

Lü Zhigang drove, Zhou Huai'an sat in the passenger seat, and Lin Xiaoxiao relaxed in the back, watching as they left the county town behind.

The road grew muddy. In the distance, someone was waving, trying to flag them down...