Chapter 111 : Worthless Face

Qian Haixia felt that the situation was far from as simple as Xu Chengwen made it sound. She had always had a favorable impression of Fang Xiaoluo and suspected that the Xu couple must have done something inappropriate.  

Still, even if there had been a misunderstanding, she was unwilling to get entangled in the Xu family’s drama.  

Xu Yaqiu had already drained everyone’s energy.  

As for the commotion Xu Zhigang and Zhao Lihong were causing, no one wanted to involve themselves further.  

Qian Haixia said, “Chengwen, listen, our family is connected to Yaqiu, not Xiaoluo. Ever since Xiaoluo left, we haven’t been in touch, not even a word. I wouldn’t even know where to find her. How about this, let Uncle Zhou look into it tomorrow. That way, you’ll have some clarity and know how to handle it. What do you think?”  

Xu Chengwen nodded in agreement, “Thank you, uncle, thank you, aunt.”  

From the side, Xu Yaqiu interjected angrily, “It’s always Fang Xiaoluo! She can’t stand to see us doing well. First, she takes my parents and me to court, and now she’s gotten us thrown into a police station. She’s determined to ruin our lives! She’s hiding in that military compound so we can’t even reach her!”  

Zhou Yanwen wondered if it had been Fang Xiaoluo’s group who had come back late that day, leading to Xu Zhigang and Zhao Lihong ending up at the police station.  

It was truly fitting. Xu Zhigang and Zhao Lihong deserved it. Perhaps they’d be better off staying locked away permanently.  

After exchanging thanks, Xu Xiaojie and the others prepared to leave, but Xu Yaqiu suddenly said, “Dad, Mom, I want to go back with them too.”  

Qian Haixia waved her hand dismissively, “Go on, and be careful.”  

After Xu Yaqiu left, Zhou Yanwen voiced his frustration, “Dad, Mom, I don’t want us to help them. Look at that family, they must have done something terrible!”  

Zhou Ping frowned thoughtfully. “Tomorrow, I’ll ask around and figure out the details. That way, I can find a reason to refuse them.”  

Hearing this, Zhou Yanwen felt relieved.  

Qian Haixia sighed deeply, “They say harmony in the family brings prosperity. Yet look at us, endless quarrels every day. When will it ever end?”  

Then she added, “By the way, wasn’t the factory supposed to allocate housing soon? I wonder how large the new apartments will be. If they’re small, I’ll just have Yanwen and Yaqiu move upstairs. Otherwise, I won’t last much longer.”  

Zhou Yanwen immediately protested, “I’m not moving!”  

Qian Haixia shot him a stern look. “Won’t you let your mother live a few more peaceful years?”  

Zhou Yanwen snapped back, “Why should Xu Yaqiu get the new housing while I don’t?”  

“If you’re not moving, then we will!” Qian Haixia retorted.  

The next morning, Zhou Ping began gathering information about Xu Zhigang and Zhao Lihong’s situation.  

Xu Yaqiu, meanwhile, had already arrived at work. The previous night, she had confidently reassured her siblings that Zhou Ping, as the factory director, had the authority and influence to resolve the issue with ease.  

To her, this was just a minor matter something Zhou Ping could settle with a few words to the right people.  

Xu Yaqiu dreamed of gaining admiration from Xu Chengwen, Xu Xiaojie, and the rest of the Xu family. She wanted to show them that she was indispensable and worth relying on.  

Seizing an opportunity during work hours, she sneaked out and headed straight to the factory director’s office.  

Seeing her approach, others did not stop her, allowing her to enter without issue.  

Zhou Ping, upon seeing Xu Yaqiu, let out a heavy sigh.  

“Yaqiu, I inquired about the matter for you. It’s not that we don’t want to help, it’s that we really can’t. Your parents kidnapped Captain Shen’s child, intending to use him to threaten the military family and force Fang Xiaoluo to drop the lawsuit. Now, the child has fallen ill, and his condition might be serious. This situation is no small issue.”  

Zhou Ping continued, “Yaqiu, I have to say, your parents acted recklessly. Fang Xiaoluo isn’t even their daughter anymore, how could they do this? And honestly, if your parents had treated Xiaoluo better when you first came home, or if you had been less scheming, don’t you think things might’ve turned out differently?”  

Xu Yaqiu, confused, asked, “But Dad, aren’t you the factory director? They’ll surely respect your position, won’t they?”

Zhou Ping secretly despised Xu Yaqiu for her stupidity. “What’s the value of face? They broke the law, do they even understand what that means?”  

Unwilling to back down, Xu Yaqiu argued, “But Fang Xiaoluo is still my parents’ adopted daughter, which makes her a relative. Does the law even apply to relatives?”  

Zhou Ping was fed up with talking to her. If it weren’t for his disappointing son forcing the marriage by making things irreversible, their family wouldn’t have been saddled with such a fool!  

“Relatives? Your whole family transferred your household registration the day you returned home. They’re no longer in your family registry, so how can they still be considered relatives?” Zhou Ping waved dismissively. “Enough. Go back to work. You can’t leave your station for too long. I can’t help with this matter.”  

He drove her out, leaving Xu Yaqiu stunned. She thought Zhou Ping was intentionally refusing to help her.  

He must be holding a grudge because she had quarreled with Zhou Yanwen, and now he was deliberately retaliating.  

What should she do? If she returned home empty-handed, she would lose all dignity, and the Xu family would no longer believe in her.  

—

Meanwhile, Fang Xiaoluo had stayed up the entire night with Shen Haiping.  

Though she tried to rest, her sleep was shallow. She kept waking up to check if Shen Haiping was feverish.  

Fortunately, the night passed peacefully. Shen Haiping slept soundly, occasionally talking in his sleep. Whenever Fang Xiaoluo responded, he would calm down and drift off again.  

At dawn, Shen Zheng woke up quietly. Seeing both Fang Xiaoluo and Shen Haiping sleeping peacefully, he dressed and left the room, carefully closing the door behind him.  

Initially, Shen Zheng planned to prepare breakfast himself, but Zheng Lanhua was already awake.  

As soon as she entered the kitchen, Shen Zheng quickly followed her. “Mom, don’t make anything elaborate, just some millet porridge and boiled eggs will do.”  

Zheng Lanhua gave him a sharp look. “Do I need you to tell me that?”  

Shen Zheng crouched to light the stove as Zheng Lanhua asked softly, “How are Xiaoluo and Haiping?”  

She had been so worried that she barely slept the previous night.  

Shen Zheng replied, “Haiping’s fine now, his fever is gone. But Xiaoluo hardly slept all night.”  

—

When Fang Xiaoluo woke up, the spot where Shen Zheng had been lying was already cold.  

She looked down to find Shen Haiping awake. To her surprise, his eyes seemed brighter and more focused than ever before.  

Was she imagining it? Cautiously, she called out, “Haiping?”  

Shen Haiping blinked and shyly responded, “Sister.”  

His little face flushed as he spoke.  

Fang Xiaoluo sat up abruptly. “Haiping, do you recognize me?”  

Shen Haiping nodded, gripping the quilt with his small hands. “Yeah.”  

Fang Xiaoluo’s heart raced. Had he improved all of a sudden? Had the recent ordeal jolted him into clarity?  

“How are you feeling now?” she asked.  

Shen Haiping touched his stomach and said, “I’m a little hungry.”  

Fang Xiaoluo immediately jumped out of bed. “That’s an easy fix. I’ll get you something to eat.”