In a dilapidated, abandoned house east of the county town, a group of young troublemakers watched their pale-faced leader with nervous concern.

“Boss, are you sure we shouldn’t go to the hospital? Maybe we could at least find a barefoot doctor to take a look?”

When they had carried Hu Hai back, he had lost so much blood that he passed out once. They had originally planned to take him straight to the hospital, but when they reached the entrance, Hu Hai woke up and refused to go, no matter what.

Left with no other choice, they had brought him here instead.

Hu Hai’s face was not only deathly pale but also dark with fury. In all his life, he had never suffered such a humiliation. He would remember this debt.

“No,” he said. If he went to the hospital, that bitch would definitely find out and cause more trouble. “I’m not dying. Go get me some food, and keep your mouths shut. If Old Hu finds out, I’ll break your legs.”

“Old Hu” referred to Hu Hai’s father—clearly, their relationship was far from good.

The young thugs didn’t dare say another word and obediently did as they were told.

…

Hospital

Ye Zhoushan had stayed by the hospital bed all night. As the first light of dawn broke, he finally dozed off from exhaustion, but the slightest movement woke him again.

It was little Fuman stirring beside him. The little one frowned and whimpered—she needed to pee. The sweet girl had been so considerate of her parents the previous night that she hadn’t woken even once.

After helping his daughter relieve herself, Ye Zhoushan prepared a bottle of formula and fed her. Just as he finished, Zhao Weiguo arrived, bringing millet congee and coarse grain buns from the cafeteria.

“How is she?” Zhao Weiguo asked.

Ye Zhoushan shook his head. “No change.”

Zhao Weiguo patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry. She’ll wake up once she’s had enough rest. Here, eat something. You need to keep your strength up to take care of them both.”

Ye Zhoushan didn’t refuse. Though the food tasted like sawdust in his mouth, he finished the entire box of congee and two buns.

“Thanks for your help, Weiguo. Grandma Deng and the others are heading back today, right? Could you please look after them for me? I can’t leave here.”

Zhao Weiguo waved him off. “No need to thank me. It’s the least I can do. My grandma, Aunt Lin, and Uncle Lao Mo are going back—I’ll see them off. My mother will stay behind to give you a hand. Once I’ve taken them home, I’ll come back to relieve her.”

“There’s no need—” Ye Zhoushan began, but Ge Xiu, who had just arrived at the doorway, cut him off.

“It’s settled,” she said. “I’ll stay and keep an eye on things. Besides, there are plenty of people at home. It won’t matter if I take a break here. If I go back now, your uncle will never stop nagging me.”

Ye Zhoushan was at a loss for words. His eyes reddened as he fell silent.

His expression tugged at everyone’s heartstrings. Troubles truly never came alone.

Grandma Deng gently patted Ye Zhoushan’s head. “Don’t be afraid, child. Everything will be alright.”

“Mm,” Ye Zhoushan replied softly.

The others offered a few words of comfort as well before hurrying off. In these times, people couldn’t afford to take buses, so they had to walk. If they left too late, it would be dark before they reached home.

Seeing the bloodshot exhaustion in Ye Zhoushan’s eyes, Ge Xiu sighed. “Rest for a while. I’ll keep watch. It’ll be fine.”

Ye Zhoushan shook his head. “Auntie, I trust you to look after them. I need to go out for a bit. No matter what, I have to report this to the police.”

Ge Xiu suddenly remembered—amid yesterday’s chaos, it had completely slipped their minds. “You’re right. We must report it. Those little brats shouldn’t get away with this. Go ahead. I’ll hold down the fort—I promise nothing will happen. Leave Fuman here too. No need to make her suffer along with you.”

But little Fuman, who had been quiet until now, seemed to understand. She snuggled closer to her father and babbled urgently.

“Ah ah ah…”

【Go with Daddy! Find medicine! Fuman find medicine to save Mommy!】

Ye Zhoushan’s spirits lifted. Could his daughter really find medicine to save her mother?

He wanted to ask more, but with Ge Xiu present, he had to hold back.

Holding his daughter tighter, he said, “No need. Fuman was badly frightened yesterday and can’t bear to be away from me right now. Auntie, please just keep an eye on her mother for me.”

Ge Xiu didn’t press further. Little Fuman had cried so desperately yesterday that it was understandable she’d be scared.

“Alright then, go quickly and come back soon. Don’t tire the child out.”

“Okay.”

Ye Zhoushan couldn’t wait to leave. As soon as he found a secluded spot, he asked his daughter, “Fuman, my treasure, can you find the medicine—”

“…”

“Can you find the medicine—”

“???”

Little Fuman blinked her big, round eyes, looking puzzled at her father.

【What is Daddy saying? Fuman didn’t hear.】

Ye Zhoushan sighed helplessly. He guessed that his ability to hear his daughter’s thoughts was something she couldn’t be aware of.

But it was alright.

“Sweetie, Daddy needs to go find the police uncles first, so they can catch the bad guys who hurt Mommy and Fuman. Then we’ll look for the medicine to save Mommy. Sweetie, do you know where the medicine to save Mommy is?”

The little one waved her hands and feet excitedly.

“Ah ah ah…”

【Know, Fuman know! In the mountains! Fuman saw! Save Mommy, beat bad guys, Daddy protect!】

Ye Zhoushan looked toward the mountains outside the city. Was there hope there?

As long as there was hope, that was enough.

“You really are Daddy’s treasure.”

His steps felt lighter as he walked.

When they arrived at the police station, it turned out that the officer handling their case was Qi Quanxu, the same one who had dealt with the Zhou family case before.

Qi Quanxu was a stern-looking man in his thirties with a square jaw and an upright demeanor. He was surprised to see Ye Zhoushan. “Comrade Ye, what brings you here? Is it about the situation on the mountain in your village, or the Zhou family matter?”

The mountain matter referred to what Ye Zhoushan had discussed with Zhao Qianjin. The police station had received word from the commune the previous night, and colleagues had been sent early that morning to investigate.

Ye Zhoushan shook his head. “Neither. This time, it’s another matter where we need your help, Comrade Officer.”

After hearing Ye Zhoushan’s account, Qi Quanxu couldn’t help but sigh inwardly at the man’s streak of bad luck. His gaze fell on the fair, chubby little girl in Ye Zhoushan’s arms—this must be the daughter he’d thought might not survive. She looked quite lovely, though a bit small. He remembered his own son being a hefty lump at birth, while this little one was so tiny she’d be easy to miss if you weren’t paying attention.

As a fellow man, he felt for Ye Zhoushan’s struggles.

“Please go over the details again for me. I’ll take a statement. Do you know what the perpetrators looked like? Have you seen them before, or has anyone else?”

Ye Zhoushan shook his head. “I only heard descriptions from the aunties who helped. I haven’t seen them myself.”

Qi Quanxu reassured him it was fine. “I’ll call a colleague later and have him take statements in your village. How is Comrade Lan doing? What did the doctor say?”

Ye Zhoushan repeated the doctor’s prognosis.

Qi Quanxu carefully noted down all the details. “Once Comrade Lan wakes up, we’ll need to take her statement. Please notify us then, Comrade Ye.”

Ye Zhoushan agreed.

Qi Quanxu added, “The Zhou family’s verdict will be out soon. Barring any surprises, Wang Juying, the main instigator, will get three months. Zhou Erlang, involved in gambling, will receive a different sentence, but no more than a year. The others were just accomplices, guilty of verbal abuse without physical harm, so they’ll only receive ideological education—about half a month. Since the fire was started by Comrade Lan herself, her injuries were largely due to the blaze. As for compensation, it won’t be much—a hundred yuan at most—and the Zhou family likely can’t pay.”

The matter of money would probably lead to more drama later.

It was within expectations, but Ye Zhoushan still felt resentful. What good was locking them up for a short while?