With the new evidence in hand, they only needed to wait for office hours to report to the police chief and get official approval to arrest Wu Jinshui and formally initiate the case.

At this moment, the head of the local police station, Director Chang, came over personally after receiving a phone call. “Cheng Guang, Commander Fang has invited you and your family over for breakfast.”

Fang Chengguang was startled.

Why would the old man invite him over for breakfast at a time like this? It wasn’t a holiday, special occasion, or birthday—nothing particularly noteworthy.

It seemed out of place.

He had been suspecting that Wu Jinshui might be shielding Huang Xiangyu and wondered if someone was backing Wu Jinshui.

Although he knew his father wasn’t great on the personal front, his work was impeccable, and there wasn’t any indication of favoritism or misconduct.

Now, Fang Chengguang’s heart sank, and a surge of anger boiled up inside him.

“Did you say it was my father calling?”

Director Chang hesitated, “It was Commander Fang’s wife who called. She said that Commander Fang wanted you to come over for breakfast, and she didn’t sound very pleased.”

Director Chang was careful not to complicate matters and just relayed the message.

Fang Chengguang’s gaze turned icy. “Alright, I’ll head back now.” He resolved to deal with the breakfast invitation seriously.

Director Chang breathed a sigh of relief, relieved that Fang Chengguang wouldn’t throw a tantrum and refuse to go.

Fang Chengguang turned to Cheng Rushan. “Do you want to join me for breakfast at my place?”

Cheng Rushan glanced at him. “Are you scared?”

Fang Chengguang replied, “Am I someone who gets scared? The food at my house is really good.”

Cheng Rushan smirked, “Better than the food my mother makes?”

Fang Chengguang: “Your mother’s cooking really is unmatched.”

Cheng Rushan: “Let’s go.”

Since Fang Chengguang had mentioned his mother, Cheng Rushan couldn’t let him face the trouble alone, especially since the issue involved Jiang Lin.

Cheng Rushan had no intention of letting Huang Xiangyu off the hook.

Fang Chengguang emphasized: “I’m not avoiding going home. I genuinely want to treat you to a meal.”

Cheng Rushan: “I know.”

On the way back, Cheng Rushan drove, letting Fang Chengguang sit in the passenger seat to give him time to sort his thoughts and calm his emotions, and to consider how to handle the situation at home.

Although Fang Chengguang appeared calm, he was seething with anger.

Huang Xiangyu’s incident had resulted in his family being invited for a meal, which made it clear who was pulling the strings.

Had his father ever covered up for them?

This suspicion weighed heavily on his mind, and his thoughts plunged into the abyss of the past.

He hadn’t revisited these memories in a long time, but now it was as if a powerful force had suddenly dragged him back.

His mother had been a doctor at the military hospital.

His father was too busy with work, so she handled everything at home on her own.

During the time of the movement, they resolutely refused to hire a nanny to avoid mistakes, so everything fell on her shoulders.

She had to take care of the elderly and children while working, which eventually led to her becoming ill without realizing it.

By the time she felt sick enough to get checked, it was already too late.

In her final days, she was in great pain and longed for Fang Jianhua to be with her for that last period.

However, he was always busy with work and couldn’t even spend a whole day with her.

Even on her last birthday, he had to work.

Yet she still smiled and understood his work was tough and the situation was difficult, asking him and his sister not to blame their father.

How could he not blame him!

After their mother passed away, he hated Fang Jianhua deeply.

He blamed him for not caring about the family, which led to their mother’s illness becoming incurable.

If it weren’t for his sister mediating and smoothing things over between him and their father, he might have rebelled and run away a long time ago.

Just when he was thinking about forgiving his father, he found out that his father had remarried—to a young doctor from the military hospital.

Fang Chengguang felt disgusted.

He thought, “You’re not young anymore. If you want someone to be with, you could have married a rural woman or a widow. Why did it have to be a young female doctor from the military hospital?”

This woman, who wasn’t particularly beautiful but was gentle, considerate, and skilled at winning a man’s heart, claimed to be concerned about Fang Jianhua’s health.

She would act affectionate and persuade him to come home for meals instead of focusing on work.

The workaholic Fang Jianhua actually agreed and started coming home for dinner regularly, eventually even having breakfast at home every day.

Half a year later, the young doctor gave birth to a son, and Fang Jianhua was so happy he couldn’t stop smiling.

Fang Chengguang couldn’t stand it anymore and grew increasingly distant from them, eventually moving out.

This caused a major rift between him and his sister, with whom he used to have a good relationship.

He didn’t want to keep in touch with her anymore.

Of course, he didn’t tell Cheng Rushan everything, only mentioning details that would appear in the files.

Cheng Rushan wasn’t one to pry into other people’s secrets, so he didn’t ask about what wasn’t shared.

When they arrived at the courtyard, Cheng Rushan said to Fang Chengguang, “I’m going to change clothes.”

Fang Chengguang teased him, “It’s not like we’re going on a blind date.”

Seeing Fang Chengguang’s mood so gloomy and his smile so forced, Cheng Rushan said, “I want to go back and check on my wife.”

Fang Chengguang: “Understood. I’ll go take a shower and change clothes.”

They drove the Jeep to the courtyard gate.

Wen Sheng, Da Bao, and Xiao Bao were planting flowers under the south wall.

They were inserting a few cuttings of roses, which would bloom into large flowers, and planting a couple of large morning glories.

By summer, the area would be filled with a riot of flowers, making everything so beautiful that it would make people forget their worries.

Wensheng sang opera while working, practicing his singing skills.

When they saw the car, they immediately ran inside.

Wensheng shouted, “Mother, Father is back!”

Fang Chengguang went straight to his room to get some clothes and then took a shower.

After changing into clean clothes, he went to the back to greet Jiang Lin and the others.

Jiang Lin: “Have you eaten?”

Fang Chengguang: “Not yet.”

Yan Runzhi: “I saved some food for you. Come and eat.”

She brought out breakfast from the pot.

This season’s custom was to make large, thin pancakes, whether they were baked on a griddle or steamed in a pot.

They were delicious rolled with eggs or vegetables.

There was also a porridge made from mixed grains with brown sugar, which was sweet.

Fang Chengguang looked at the fresh bean sprouts, shredded potatoes, and Malan head, along with Yan Runzhi’s homemade egg and minced meat sauce, and sat down to eat breakfast without any inner conflict.

Cheng Rushan: “…”

It was already 8:30.

Jiang Lin rolled pancakes for Cheng Rushan, and Yan Runzhi rolled them for Fang Chengguang.

Seeing Yan Runzhi about to add scallions to the pancake, Cheng Rushan reminded her, “Mother, Chengguang will be going home later, so don’t put scallions in it.”

Fang Chengguang asked, “Why don’t you eat? How about eating it with some scallions and garlic? Is it flavorful enough?”

Cheng Rushan didn’t respond.

Jiang Lin laughed and said, “It’s okay. Just eat some peanuts or tea leaves afterward, and brush your teeth.”

Fang Chengguang was really hungry and ate heartily.

He felt his gloomy mood lift a bit.

Dabao and Xiaobao brought over the shepherd’s purse and bitter vegetables they had picked from the garden. “Dip them in sauce. They’re very fresh. Grandma loves them.”

Fang Chengguang said, “I don’t like bitter vegetables. They’re too bitter.”

Wensheng agreed, “I don’t like them either. They’re really bitter.”

Xiaobao asked, “Grandma, why do you eat them?”

Yan Runzhi smiled and explained, “Bitter things help to clear heat. If you’re feeling frustrated, eating some bitter vegetables can help immediately.”

She noticed Fang Chengguang was smiling, but his eyes still showed irritation and a hint of gloom.

She understood that feeling—it can make you sick if you keep it bottled up for too long.

Jiang Lin cut off the roots and gave some bitter vegetables with sauce to the two of them.

Neither of them ate willingly.

Cheng Rushan looked at her with a hurt expression and said, “Dear, can I have some too?”

His frustration was different from Fang Chengguang’s; he just needed his wife.

Jiang Lin laughed and fed him a few pieces, saying, “These were picked by Wensheng and Dabao and Xiaobao. Don’t waste them.”

In the end, the two of them ate a stomach full of bitter greens.

Wen Sheng and Da Bao Xiao Bao offered random advice, suggesting they rinse their mouths, brush their teeth, and eat candy, but none of it could dispel the lingering bitterness.

At this moment, Fang Chengguang, let alone being angry or frustrated, might as well have transcended and become a Buddha.

Seeing Cheng Rushan enter the bedroom, Jiang Lin followed him in. “You haven’t slept all night. Go get some rest.”

Cheng Rushan reached out, pulled her close, and pressed her against the wall, then leaned down to kiss her.

Jiang Lin’s eyes widened: It tasted bitter!!!

Cheng Rushan chuckled and pecked her lips again. “You made it yourself.”

So, she had to eat the bitterness she created herself?

He kissed her once more, then let her go. “I’ll go with Chengguang to have breakfast at his home. We’ll see you at noon. We don’t know when we’ll be back.”

Jiang Lin: “You’re going to Fang Chengguang’s home? Because of Huang Xiangyu?”

Seriously, breakfast?

She didn’t believe that Fang Chengguang, who needed to go home for breakfast, had just eaten a meal of pancakes and vegetables at her house!

Cheng Rushan nodded. “They’re related.”

Jiang Lin didn’t press further. “Then go on. Chengguang is waiting for you.”

Cheng Rushan went outside and told Yan Runzhi he was leaving, then headed to the outer courtyard.

Fang Chengguang glanced at him. “Still bitter?”

Cheng Rushan: “Bitter? I’ve eaten wild greens for two months—bitter, sweet, sour, spicy, toxic, non-toxic. It’s nothing.”

Fang Chengguang: “……”

For Fang Chengguang, this breakfast was very satisfying.

He no longer felt resentful, and the bitterness and warmth of the vegetables seemed to soothe the frustration that had been weighing on his heart.

He was completely calm now and wouldn’t let anger affect his mood.

He could rationally go home and have a proper talk with Huang Shurou.

He truly envied Cheng Rushan, who had endured many hardships yet remained kind and gentle, inherited a strong will, had a talented wife who kept his heart soft despite his coldness, and two cheerful children who brought joy to his life.

A life like this seemed perfect.

He viewed the past sufferings as necessary trials to achieve this fulfillment.

If he could have such a fulfilling life, he would be willing to endure tenfold or even a hundredfold of hardships, even the darkest abyss, just to keep his mother’s warmth.

In the military compound, there was a special area with standalone small brick buildings, three stories high, in a blend of Chinese and Western styles.

It was said to be from the Republican era.

High-ranking officials like the commander, deputy commander, and political commissar lived there, with their own guards and patrolling soldiers.

The Fang family lived in the westernmost building, a simple three-story red brick house.

Currently, the Fang family home only had Fang Jianhua, Huang Shurou, and their youngest son, Fang Chengyu.

The eldest daughter, Fang Chengxia, had moved to the hospital dormitory after falling out with her brother and rarely came back now.

In the past, on holidays or every now and then, Huang Shurou would invite Fang Chengguang to come back for a meal, but he generally ignored her.

Even if she had Fang Jianhua intervene, Fang Chengguang wouldn’t make the effort to attend unless there was a compelling reason.

He wouldn’t show up for things like matchmaking or meals.

Early this morning, she received a panicked call from her family.

Her younger brother and his brother-in-law had been detained by the police station. She was immediately alarmed.

After inquiring, she learned that this time her brother wasn’t at fault.

He had simply gone to the provincial capital for a social event and ended up in a conflict with classmates.

But being detained by the police station seemed excessive.

Worried that her brother might have been harmed, she felt deeply distressed.

Her brother had never suffered or been beaten in his life; even a small bump would make him cry.

Being detained by the police was a serious concern.

In Huang Shurou’s mind, her brother was still the pampered little boy who was afraid of pain and would cry easily.

She called the police station directly, only to find out that Captain Sun and his team were handling a case and weren’t available.

She had to wait until daylight to call again, but Sun Kai Xuan said Fang Chengguang had filed the report personally, so they had to be cautious and couldn’t release anyone casually.

When she found out Fang Chengguang was involved, she immediately assumed it was a deliberate attack against her, targeting her brother.

She subtly asked Fang Jianhua to invite Fang Chengguang over for a meal.

When the duty officer went to find him, he reported back that Fang Chengguang was not at the compound and had gone out.

Huang Shurou then called Director Chang.

She looked at the clock; it was already nine o’clock and Fang Chengguang still hadn’t returned?

She smiled and said, “Xiao Lian, go check on why Chengguang hasn’t come back yet.”

The housekeeper Xiao Lian sent someone to check and came back to say that Fang Chengguang had already returned and had gone to the dormitory first.

Huang Shurou turned to Fang Jianhua, who was reading the newspaper on the wooden sofa, and said with a smile, “Chengguang hasn’t been back for a long time; it’s only right to wait a bit.”