Chapter 39.2

As she spoke, she couldn’t help but feel a bit regretful. Should she really be decisive about getting a divorce? If she did, that position as the director of this generation would probably be hers.

But, even now, she still couldn’t gather the resolve to take that step. She was afraid of making a misstep and feared the consequences of making a wrong move in life.

Luo Lan bought a pound of pig head meat, sliced thin by the chef and flavored with garlic and vinegar. Taking a bite filled her mouth with flavor. Sister Liu ate several bites before stopping, glancing at Luo Lan’s rosy cheeks, feeling a mix of emotions.

“Sister, do you think I should get a divorce?”

“Life’s path is for you to walk. No one can tell you what’s best.”

“What about you?”

“Me?” Luo Lan didn’t give her empty platitudes but instead described her situation honestly. “My husband’s salary goes to me, and you can see how my mother-in-law treats me. It’s not any worse than treating her own daughter.”

“You’re lucky.”

Still talking about luck at this stage, Luo Lan sighed and offered her some advice. “Here’s what you should do: tell your mother-in-law that your husband’s situation requires money to manage. Otherwise, he’ll suffer and endure hardships.”

Sister Liu paused for a moment before realizing: “Get the money out, take the initiative.”

Luo Lan didn’t speak, and Aunt Liu suddenly became excited. “Sister, it’s all thanks to you! How did I not think of that?”

Luo Lan smiled and gave her two pieces of pig head meat, “Eat up, a full stomach is necessary for the fight.”

“Yeah. Even if I don’t get a divorce, I must seize the initiative.”

That evening, after eating her fill, Sister Liu returned home with renewed determination. After years of working for the Women’s Federation, she spoke convincingly, hitting the right nerves with her mother-in-law, who, feeling pity for her son, shed tears and handed over her long-saved money.

“You’re not trying to trick me, are you?”

“If you’re afraid I’ll deceive you, then don’t care about me. If your son gets worn out, you’ll just have your money to live on. Let me tell you, a daughter-in-law has no obligation to provide for her mother-in-law.”

The elderly woman, having only one son, cried on the kang. “Why is my life so bitter?”

Sister Liu thought to herself, the tables have turned. Now it’s your turn to say that. “Hurry up and decide. Once this time passes, people won’t wait for you. The cow pen is full of cow dung, and your son is probably sleeping in it today.”

After the old woman cried a bit, Sister Liu stood by to let her vent her emotions. Once she finished crying, she gritted her teeth and made up her mind, “Here, take it.”

The old woman was already fearful, and the news she had gathered indicated a serious situation. An illiterate woman like her was intimidated into complying. Her son was her lifeline. She couldn’t afford to lose him.

After hearing Luo Lan’s advice, Sister Liu successfully obtained her mother-in-law’s savings book. Looking at the numbers, she couldn’t help but smile. Great! From now on, she wouldn’t have to live on scraps anymore. With her son away, and no money in her mother-in-law’s hands, she would have her mother-in-law behaving like a meek lamb in front of her.

As expected, the old woman soon lost her spirit entirely. The next morning, she took the initiative to cook and spoke to her daughter-in-law with more respect.

Sister Liu was overjoyed and cleaned the office proactively at work, filled the thermos with water, and brewed a cup of dried mulberries for Luo Lan. The purple-red tea looked very appetizing. She had heard it was rich in anthocyanins. She didn’t know what anthocyanins were, but she instinctively felt they were good for health.

“Did it work?” Luo Lan asked quietly as she walked in and saw the situation.

“It worked. Sister, you’re truly amazing; this move hit the nail on the head.”

With their spirits lifted, Sister Liu took the initiative to handle the rural work. Luo Lan was left alone in the office, where she glanced through the old files and checked her points. Sure enough, they had increased. The system hadn’t shortchanged her this time.

Luo Lan: I feel like you’ve been slacking off lately.

System: You’ve been dealing with family matters. The novelty has worn off.

Luo Lan: I’m just doing a family-related job. My daily life involves ordinary women. What else would I be dealing with?

System: With so many points, what do you plan to do with them?

Luo Lan: I haven’t thought about it yet.

System: I’ve already thought of something for you.

Luo Lan: Oh, let’s hear it.

System: You’ll find out later.

In the afternoon, when Luo Lan returned home from work, she saw a man standing at the door of her house. The man was about fifty or sixty years old, dressed neatly and cleanly.

“Who are you looking for?” Hearing her voice, the man turned around. She suddenly felt that he looked familiar and quickly realized who he was, pointing at him but unsure how to express it.

“You’re Zhou Qingshan’s father?”

The man nodded. “Yes. Where’s his family? I was just going to ask the neighbors. Are you the new neighbor?”

“I’m your daughter-in-law.”

“Ah?” The man’s gaze fell on her belly, and it seemed that during his absence, not only had his son gotten married, but he was about to have a grandchild as well. Double happiness filled him, and he didn’t know what to say for a moment.

She stepped inside, and after pouring a glass of water, she began to talk about the family situation. It was then that the man learned that his wife had suffered a mental breakdown due to a series of calamities.

When his younger son had the accident, he was still around, but he had doubts about the school’s explanation. However, due to work, he had to go on a business trip and had asked someone to investigate. To his surprise, he had been away for so long, but thankfully, his eldest son had returned. Everything had been clarified.

“I’ll go check on Minshan.”

“Eat first. After you eat, I’ll accompany you.”

“I’ll get my meal from the cafeteria, just give me the lunch box.”

“There’s food at home. Mom made plenty before she left. I just need to heat it up.”

She had heard from her mother-in-law that her father-in-law didn’t know how to cook well. But the fact that he could suggest getting food from the cafeteria instead of asking her, the pregnant daughter-in-law, to cook showed he was a decent person. At least he could understand women. That was good. It meant they could get along.

“I’ll heat it myself. I can manage that.”

“Luo Lan, I picked some acacia flowers. Do you want some?”

The neighbor’s wife from next door came over with a basket and, upon seeing the man, gasped in surprise. “Uncle, you’re back…”

Since they lived in the same courtyard, they naturally recognized each other. Zhou Shichang laughed heartily. “I’m back!”

The neighbors were curious when they learned that the missing neighbor had suddenly returned, so they came over to visit. Zhou Shichang recounted his recent experiences.

“I was rescued by a fishing family, but when I woke up, I couldn’t remember anything. That place was on a remote island, which is why I couldn’t contact anyone sooner.”

“Oh, Auntie has worried so much during this time. Thankfully, the children were all filial. That’s how she managed to get through it.”

“It’s my fault, it’s my fault.”

Zhou Shichang repeated those four words many times, his eyes filled with guilt. At a time when his family was facing such great difficulties, their pillar of support was absent. One can only imagine how much his gentle and kind wife must have suffered.

Although he was back home, he spent the night sleepless. Only in the morning did he feel a bit dazed. He woke early, replaced the coal in the kitchen, and heated the rice. Luo Lan also got up.

“Dad, you need to report to the unit today, right?”

“Right, I have to go back to work.”

“Go wash up. I’ll take care of heating the food.”

They weren’t very familiar with each other, so their exchanges were brief but necessary. After breakfast, they both went to work. In the afternoon, Zhou Junhui and her husband learned about the situation and hurried over.

Seeing their father, who had been missing, back safely, Zhou Junhui rushed into his arms and cried out loud, releasing all the grievances she had held inside. Her father gently patted her back, his eyes glistening with tears.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. Dad is back now.”

“Dad,” Zhou Junhui wiped her tears, still looking incredulous. “I’m not dreaming, am I?”

“No, Dad is really back.”

His daughter had married, and his daughter-in-law was pregnant. Returning home this time, he was filled with emotion. He had a good son. His eldest had taken on the responsibility of the family during a critical time.

“Thanks to my sister-in-law.” Zhou Junhui sat down and explained, “My brother was locked up, and thankfully, my sister-in-law is capable. Otherwise, that person could have ruined our family.”

Because of her own mistakes, she omitted some details when speaking. But even what she did mention made Zhou Shichang break out in a cold sweat. He hadn’t expected so many things to happen to the family during his absence.

“You must treat your sister-in-law well. She’s a blessing for our family.”

“Do I need you to tell me that? I’m on good terms with my sister-in-law now. By the way, I’ll go cook. When Mom and my brother come back tomorrow, we’ll have a reunion dinner. Mom will be so happy to see you.”

As Zhou Junhui went to cook, Zhou Shichang walked back and forth in the room. Knowing about the changes that had occurred while he was away made it feel like he had stepped into a different world. If it weren’t for his son and daughter-in-law pulling things together, their family would have been shattered.

His unit had expressed their condolences and retroactively paid him six months’ salary. If he had returned to find his youngest daughter in a bad situation, his wife mentally unstable, and his son locked up, what good would those condolences have done?

“Thankfully, thankfully.”