Zhou Huaian had zero interest in becoming Hu Yaozong's brother-in-law. His gaze was cool and detached. "When is Zhou Xiaoming's execution scheduled?"

Hu Yaozong's heart skipped a beat. He had no idea why Zhou Huaian would suddenly bring that up.

He let out an awkward chuckle. "I'm not really sure. I heard the final verdict has been passed. My sister hasn't been well, so we haven't dared to ask for details. Who would've thought Zhou Xiaoming could be so cruel... tearing your family apart like that. And my sister is a victim too. It's those poor children I feel for—what's to become of them?" He sighed, putting on a convincingly sorrowful expression.

Suddenly, Zhou Huaian changed the subject. "You've been to Longbei before."

Still caught off guard by the previous topic, Hu Yaozong blurted out, "How did you know?"

He immediately realized his mistake—Zhou Huaian had tricked him. Backpedaling quickly, he stammered, "I mean... I've never even left Beijing. How could I have been to Longbei? Never." He forced a laugh. "The farthest I've been is Tianjin. I would've liked to come out here, but back then we weren't allowed to travel freely. No family here either, so... no reason to come." He rambled on, trying to cover his slip, his insides churning with anxiety. Would Zhou Huaian buy it?

The man seemed calm on the surface, but his mind was likely deeper than the ocean.

Hu Yaozong didn't know Zhou Huaian well, but he could tell this man was every bit as sharp as Zhou Xiaocheng—maybe even more cunning.

What kind of monsters was the Zhou family producing?

Zhou Huaian didn't press further. "True. This is a poor, remote place. Not many outsiders come here looking for work, let alone city folk."

Except, of course, those educated youth who had no choice but to be sent down.

Hu Yaozong nodded eagerly. "Exactly! Brother, I've heard a lot about you. You're really something—a true role model for all of us."

Zhou Huaian remained expressionless. "I was just lucky to survive."

Hu Yaozong didn't know how to continue. Back in Beijing, he'd heard that the Zhou family's recovered son grew up in the countryside—uneducated, inexperienced, and only getting by on brute courage.

Now it seemed those rumors were completely wrong.

He laughed stiffly, changing the subject with forced enthusiasm, once again inviting Zhou Huaian to bring Lin Xiaoxiao to his and Zhou Xiaohong's wedding in Beijing.

Meanwhile, Lin Xiaoxiao and Zhou Xiaoling were squatting outside the post office, enjoying melting ice pops while waiting for it to open. Zhou Xiaoling was there to collect her wages.

Lin Xiaoxiao had developed a taste for the ice pops here—full of real fruit flavor, without artificial sweeteners or heavy perfumy notes. They tasted pure and honest. Too bad no one sold them in the family compound; you could only find them in town, pushed around on carts insulated with thick quilts.

Between licks, Zhou Xiaoling vented about how disgusting Hu Yaozong was. "He had a thing for my sister since way back. Once, he almost forced himself on her—can you believe it? He was only eighteen or nineteen. He even showed me and my sister those shameless books! I hit him in the head with a brick."

"Gave him a huge gash. He had to get stitches. His parents brought him to our house demanding an explanation, but my mom wasn't having it. She said, 'A grown man gets his head busted by a young girl, and he has the nerve to come crying to his parents?' She told them to gather everyone in the compound and ask why I hit him."

"My mom beat me a lot, but when someone showed up at our door with their kid, she'd always find a way to make them leave ashamed. Then she'd turn around and beat me again afterward."

Lin Xiaoxiao couldn't help but laugh. "Just how much trouble did you get into as a kid?"

She felt a touch of warmth, though. Li Yunlan sounded like a good mother—fiercely protective when needed, but never sparing the rod when the kids deserved it.

Zhou Xiaoling sighed. "Back then, we all had our gangs. The kids from the Air Force compound didn't mix with us and always picked fights. We couldn't just take that. And there were these local hooligans who'd harass my sister—of course I had to protect her."

Sometimes, though, it was just her impulsive nature—someone would mouth off, and she'd already have bloodied them.

She knew Li Yunlan didn't beat her for fighting, but because she was afraid she'd lose and get hurt.

Or worse, that someone would ambush her, stuff her in a sack, and throw her in the river.

So she often told Zhou Xiaocheng to keep a close eye on his little sister and make sure no one bullied her.

Listening to Zhou Xiaoling's stories, Lin Xiaoxiao felt a hint of nostalgia. "Your childhood sounds so lively. Really colorful."

Zhou Xiaoling nodded. "It was fun. I'd wake up and go out playing until my mom hunted me down with a stick. She'd search the whole compound with that rod before I'd finally go home." She giggled at the memory.

Lin Xiaoxiao compared it to her own childhood—Zhou Xiaoling was definitely more rebellious. Lin Xiaoxiao had never been left alone since birth; her parents were always worried she'd be snatched by traffickers. She never had the chance to run wild like Zhou Xiaoling.

Zhou Xiaoling chewed on the wooden stick of her ice pop, squinting under the blazing sun. "I wish we never had to grow up. Then my second brother wouldn't have had his accident, my mom wouldn't be like this, and my sister wouldn't be fooled into marrying Hu Yaozong. I'm sure that bastard has something on her. I can't let her marry him just like that."

Lin Xiaoxiao agreed, but Zhou Xiaohong refused to talk.

And honestly, she didn't feel that sorry for her. She'd brought it on herself.

When the post office finally opened, Zhou Xiaoling excitedly collected her pay. Happily looping her arm through Lin Xiaoxiao's, she said, "When we get the chance, let's go to the city to buy clothes. I'll get you a wool coat—I've seen people wearing them, and they look gorgeous. Not sure if they sell them in Longbei, though."

Arm in arm, they chatted all the way back. At the guesthouse entrance, they unexpectedly ran into Lin Zihao. Dressed in his army uniform and strikingly handsome, he stood out immediately.

Lin Xiaoxiao gasped in surprise; Zhou Xiaoling had already pressed her lips together and gone quiet.

Lin Zihao saw them and nodded at Lin Xiaoxiao. "Is Huaian inside?"

"Yes," she replied. "But I heard the roads were washed out. How did you get here, Brother Lin?"

He glanced at Zhou Xiaoling, who had gone still as a quail. "I came over the mountains on foot. Took a bit longer."

As he walked into the courtyard, Zhou Huaian emerged from one of the rooms upon hearing the voices.

In the adjacent room, Zhou Xiaohong peered through the window. The moment she saw Lin Zihao entering the yard, the color drained from her face. She even stood up abruptly, visibly agitated.

What was he doing here? And he knew Zhou Huaian?

Hu Yaozong didn't recognize Lin Zihao, but the sight of the uniform made him nervous. He puffed out his chest, trying to act natural as he watched Zhou Huaian and Lin Zihao greet each other.