Chapter 32.2

Zhou Junfang’s soft words instantly put Mother Zhou on high alert. After they got home and she inquired about what had happened, she couldn’t help but scold the classmate who had approached her daughter.

“What kind of era is this? Who can you trust? Junfang, we need to be more vigilant in the future. Don’t be so naive!”

Zhou Junfang nodded vigorously, fully agreeing. That man was indeed scary, with his fierce gaze and stubborn demeanor. Even after she had firmly refused him, he still had her classmate lure her out.

“What else did he say? You need to tell me everything.”

“He said he had a birthday gift for me and that he prepared food. He mentioned braised pork ribs and shrimp. Mom, what’s shrimp? I’ve never eaten it.”

“It’s similar to fish. My goodness, what on earth does he want?”

When Luo Lan learned about the incident later, she couldn’t help but feel annoyed. This mother-daughter pair was too naive and sweet. They had been told to be cautious but still fell for someone’s tricks.

“Once your brother gets back, we’ll send you to the countryside in a day or two.”

While the family waited for Zhou Qingshan’s return, they instead received news that he was being detained that night. Mother Zhou instantly felt weak, but her daughter-in-law helped her stay upright.

“Lan’er, what should we do?”

“Don’t panic, it’ll be alright. This current situation is something Qingshan can handle. We need to stay strong and not add to his troubles.”

This was the man’s way of exerting pressure on them. Luo Lan had prepared her strategy, which would take time to implement. She had discussed it with Zhou Qingshan, and they were in agreement.

“But—”

“No ‘buts.’ Have you cooked dinner? I’m going to take him some food.”

“Oh, oh, I’ve made some. The buns are already steamed and ready in the pot.” Mother Zhou hurriedly went to get a lunchbox to pack some food for her son. As she came out, she suggested to Luo Lan, “Why don’t I go with you?”

“No need. Mom, your son has faced many storms. Don’t worry about him, this little trouble is nothing.”

“Alright then.”

“You all eat first. Don’t wait for me.”

Having no opinion of her own, she listened to whatever Luo Lan said. They all knew this storm wasn’t a small matter, but since Luo Lan had said so, Mother Zhou believed her. With their son and daughter-in-law having a plan, it was best to trust them.

Luo Lan: System, do you have any medications for treating inflammation and wounds?

System: Yes, we have both topical and oral options. Which one do you need?

Luo Lan: I’ll take both.

System: Host, you’ve spent a lot of your points on the Zhou family. Don’t you think that’s a waste?

Luo Lan: Are you trying to sow discord here, System?

System: I’m just stating the facts.

Luo Lan: Exchange for the medicine.

System: Exchange complete. Please check your inventory.

Luo Lan rode her bike to deliver food to her husband. When she arrived, she discovered he had been wrongly detained for saying the wrong thing. He was currently locked up with the factory director. After she had spoken sweetly for a long while, she was finally allowed to enter.

“Just ten minutes, okay?”

“Sure.”

Zhou Qingshan was leaning against a broken chair, while a middle-aged man in his forties sat nearby with an injured face. Hearing the noise at the door, they both opened their eyes and looked over. Upon seeing who it was, Zhou Qingshan broke into a delighted and slightly smug smile.

“See? I told you someone would come to visit us today.”

The middle-aged man chuckled wryly and shook his head. He had been detained for many days and was hoping to see his wife, only to be met with disappointment each time. Perhaps he would soon be divorced. Maybe divorce wouldn’t be so bad. He was all alone anyway and would be free of worries. If he could endure, he would. If not, he would just give up.

“Where are you hurt?” She placed the items down and took out the medication. “This capsule is for internal use, an anti-inflammatory. This one is topical, also for inflammation and sterilization. Take off your clothes, and I’ll apply it.”

Zhou Qingshan stopped her. “I’m fine, it’s just a small injury. What about the factory director…”

The middle-aged man quickly reminded him, “Don’t call me that anymore.”

Zhou Qingshan readily changed his address. “Old Feng has a fever. His wound might be infected. I was worried about this. We can’t get any medicine in our situation, yet you’ve brought some.”

He didn’t ask where the medicine came from, and Luo Lan didn’t explain. She was beautiful, with bright features and a wild charm. She didn’t shy away as she reached up to check Old Feng’s forehead, and indeed, he had a fever.

“Where’s the wound? Let me take care of it.”

Old Feng felt a bit awkward. After all, this wasn’t a hospital. In a hospital, he could comfort himself with the thought that doctors were indifferent to gender, but here, he couldn’t quite relax.

Understanding as a fellow man, Zhou Qingshan stepped forward. “You turn around. I’ll help him clean it.”

“Okay.”

“Wife, do you have a knife?”

“What do you need a knife for?” She didn’t refuse outright but asked while quickly purchasing a fruit knife from the system.

“Some areas of his wound are festering. We need to remove that to help it heal.”

“Oh, got it. Here, I just happened to eat some fruit at noon, and I forgot to put the knife away.”

Zhou Qingshan was indeed a tough guy. He was quick and decisive. He handed Old Feng something to bite down on, and in just a few moments, he had cleaned the wound efficiently. Using iodine for disinfection, he wrapped it up with gauze. Two capsules of amoxicillin were placed in his mouth, followed by a sip of water. All of this was done in one smooth motion.

Old Feng was in so much pain that he couldn’t even cry out, and before he knew it, the medicine was in his stomach, along with a steamed bun. Although his wound still hurt, the aroma of the bun momentarily masked the pain. Taking a bite of the bun, the fragrance of the locust flower wafted up, making him forget the pain for a moment.

“Delicious! I haven’t had such good food in a long time.”

Despite being in a shabby room, Zhou Qingshan showed no signs of despair. His face was a bit pale, and Luo Lan guessed he must have been injured too. But he refused to let her see or even speak of it, insisting he was fine.

“Don’t worry, I really am okay. I survived worse injuries before. This little thing is nothing. It’s just that since I’m not home, I need you to look after Mom and the girls.”

“We’re family, you don’t need to say that.”

After leaving them the medication, Luo Lan was urged to leave. As she walked out, she couldn’t help but glance back at the man several times. He had been following that Director Xu multiple times. Was he a loyal henchman or just a partner?

“Hey, big brother, where’s the restroom?” she casually struck up a conversation.

“Oh, over there. Go west for over a hundred meters, then head north, and you’ll see it,” he replied. As a man, he didn’t hold back his appreciation. Upon seeing such a beautiful woman, his tone softened. Director Xu seemed to prefer the cute girl, but he thought she was far more enticing.

“Would you like me to show you?”

“Thanks, that would be great.”

To her surprise, the man genuinely led her to the restroom. Along the way, Luo Lan smiled brightly and engaged him in friendly conversation. “Did my husband just get a reprimand, or is he going to be sent down?”

“That’s hard to say. He’ll probably be sent down. He was…”

The man paused, “Zhou Junfang is your sister-in-law, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Zhou Qingshan is the type who doesn’t heed warnings. You should advise him not to go against our boss, there’s no good in that.”

“Who is your boss? Seems pretty fierce.”

“Our director comes from a family with eight generations of pure, hard working farmers.”

“That sounds familiar. My family is also generations of impoverished farmers.”

“However, you need to have some methods to get things done. If you only think about yourself, that won’t work. You need to know how to cater to others… Ah, I’m saying too much.”

“Is your boss temperamental?”

“Like the weather in June.”

June is known for its sudden changes. The man’s words revealed some dissatisfaction with his boss, indicating he could be a useful ally. After some friendly banter, Luo Lan left him a pack of cigarettes— a rare commodity in this era.

“Wow, I didn’t expect you to have such good stuff.”

“Please take care of my husband for me. He’s a bit thick-headed. I hope he doesn’t end up in serious trouble.”

The man hesitated for a moment but still agreed. “Alright.”

“Then I’ll take my leave. Goodbye, big brother.”

“Come again, little sister.”

She was establishing connections to prepare for future events. After returning home, she reassured her mother-in-law that everything was fine, and her mother-in-law nodded, seeming to genuinely believe her. As a woman who hadn’t worked in decades, she had no idea how serious the situation outside really was. This way, it was easier to manage, preventing her from being overly anxious and sick, which would require care.

As the head of the family, Zhou Qingshan bore the brunt of the pressure. He could handle it, making it easier for Luo Lan to act. After quietly waiting for five days, Zhou Junhui had fully recovered, eliminating a significant threat.

Hearing Zhou Junhui tell her that news, she sighed in relief. Zhou Junfang’s arrangements were also finalized, and that weekend, she and her mother-in-law would take her sister-in-law to the countryside.

Luo Lan rode her bike, with Zhou Junhui and Zhou Junfang each carrying one person. On the way, Zhou Junfang was curious about everything. The crops in the fields had already been harvested, and some land was already being plowed.

“Sister-in-law, what are they doing?”

“Planting wheat. Winter wheat needs to be sown; otherwise, it’ll be too late when it gets cold.”

“Oh, so they need to plow the fields before the ground freezes, right?”

“Best to do it that way.”

“Why’s that?”

“That way, they won’t need to plow again next year, conserving moisture and ensuring a good germination rate.”

“You really know a lot, sister-in-law.”