The secret meeting lasted no more than an hour and a half.

When Zhang Hong and Lu Baoguo left the Su family home together, it was already close to nine in the evening.

The two of them rode their bicycles out of the residential compound one after the other.

It was only when they were far from Beijing University that they pulled over by the roadside.

After propping up their bicycles, they each took out a cigarette and lit up.

Their brows were tightly furrowed, and both were feeling heavy-hearted.

“Old Zhang, I’m going to exchange more food and meat coupons these couple of days. If Xiao Ru’s family is really going to be sent down to the countryside, we need to start pulling strings now.”

“I’ll also exchange more malted milk and White Rabbit candies. See if we can get someone reliable to send them to Xiao Ru’s family. We also need to prepare more clothes, quilts, and shoes.”

“No wonder you brought so many things today. Hurry up and find a connection—we mustn’t let Xiao Ru’s family be sent to the labor farm.”

“Alright, we’ll split up and act separately.”

“By the way, I have to go on a business trip to Yangcheng in a few days. I probably won’t be back for a week.”

“You’re going on a trip at a time like this? Then Xiao Ru and I will be short one helping hand.”

“I don’t have a choice. At most I can delay it by one day. The matter over there is extremely urgent and can’t be handled by anyone else.”

Lu Baoguo hadn’t expected such a thing to happen right when he had to go on a trip.

Fortunately, they had early warning, and with early preparation and planning, they would make sure the Su family wouldn’t suffer any mishaps.

“What I’m most worried about are Dabao, Xiaobao, and Huazhu.”

“If it really comes down to it, Dabao, Xiaobao, and Huazhu can come to my house. I’ll take care of them.”

“Old Lu, I was thinking the same thing.”

“Alright, in a couple of days, we’ll talk to Huaiyuan and Xiao Ru about it.”

“Okay, let’s settle Huazhu first as Xiao Ru said, then find out who reported them and what their next move might be.”

…

The two of them talked for less than half an hour before riding off in different directions under the night sky to return home.

“Mom, did someone really report our family?!”

Su Ze was just starting to process it now.

He looked at his parents—who seemed utterly calm—with deep worry, still unable to believe it.

“Yes, Xiao Ze. Don’t panic or be afraid. Your father and I have already come up with a plan and made all the necessary preparations. Even if something happens to us, we won’t let anything happen to Dabao, Xiaobao, or your sister. The three of them are the very heart of our family.”

Fortunately, they had the bracelet space from the Qiao family. Without it, Qiao Jiuru wouldn’t be so calm or confident in her words right now.

At this moment, Su Huaiyuan was thinking the same thing. The couple shared such a deep understanding that with just one look, they could read each other’s thoughts.

“Son, your mom and I know what we’re doing. Just follow our lead. Tomorrow, withdraw all the savings you and Wanwan have stashed away. Over the next couple of days, prepare some supplies and send them to the Zhou family first. From now on, when sending things to the Zhou family, leave it to Uncle Zhang and Uncle Lu to handle.”

Su Huaiyuan patted his eldest son’s shoulder with a calm voice, as steady and composed as ever.

“Dad, Mom, we’ll listen to you.”

Maybe his parents weren’t the ones who pampered him the most, but they definitely doted on their two grandsons deeply.

His younger siblings now came after the boys in terms of priority.

Seeing how composed his parents were, Su Ze began to feel reassured.

“Good. Don’t tell Wanwan about this yet. The fewer who know, the better. The moment the other side realizes we know we’ve been reported, it could all go south. They haven’t taken action yet—they’re waiting for the right time. We must use this window to make proper arrangements.”

In the end, Qiao Jiuru and Su Huaiyuan decided not to tell their daughter-in-law for now.

They worried Wanwan wouldn’t be able to keep it a secret, and they still weren’t fully ready.

Su Ze nodded.

He understood.

His parents were right—time was tight, and they had to get at least one person out if they could.

In the outer room, Zhou Wanwan played with the two children, completely unaware of the crisis about to hit the household.

She hadn’t thought much about it at all—between the kids, work, and family, her mind was fully occupied. She hadn’t even noticed her husband acting oddly.

Around 3 a.m., just before daybreak, Qiao Jiuru and Su Huaiyuan quietly got up and went out.

Without saying much, the couple headed straight to the black market.

They had already scouted it out over the past two days and had a rough idea where the black markets were located.

The first one they visited was the closest to Beijing University, tucked away in a narrow alley.

Qiao Jiuru had actually been there once before.

Although it was still early morning, there were already people at the black market—mostly sellers, not many buyers.

Qiao Jiuru had a clear goal: she directly bought 50 jin of rice, 50 jin of flour, 30 eggs, and a big fat chicken.

Su Huaiyuan went to buy food coupons, meat coupons, sugar coupons, and industrial coupons. With money in hand, he actually managed to purchase dozens of jin worth of food coupons, 10 jin of meat coupons, 5 industrial coupons, and various other tickets more easily.

After buying everything, they didn’t linger.

Once they reached a deserted street, Qiao Jiuru quickly stored everything into her spatial bracelet.

Then they rushed off to the next black market, repeating the same shopping spree.

The couple was racing against time.

As they moved toward the third market, they popped energy pills from the spatial bracelet into their mouths.

By the time they reached the third black market, it was already past 6 a.m., and dawn was breaking. Bundled up in thick cotton coats, hats, and scarves that covered everything but their eyes and noses, they continued shopping.

As with the previous markets, they didn’t dare buy too much.

Besides more rice, flour, and eggs, they also bought more coupons and managed to snag a jin of fatty pork.

As before, they stored everything into the space once they were in a quiet place.

Then they rushed back to the residential compound on their bicycles.

Su Huaiyuan still had to go to class at the university.

On the way, the two of them stopped by a state-run restaurant to buy meat buns and steamed buns.

After letting Su Huaiyuan eat before class, Qiao Jiuru went home to take care of her grandchildren.