Evening, 7 o’clock.

“Xiao Ze, Xiao Wan, your mother and I are going to your Uncle Zhang’s house to ask them to take Dabao and Xiaobao to the train station first thing tomorrow morning.”

After night had completely fallen and every household was eating dinner, Qiao Jiuru and Su Huaiyuan had already put on their clothes and were ready to leave.

Before leaving, she told her eldest son and daughter-in-law where they were going, so they wouldn’t worry at home.

Ever since she learned that her two sons would be sent down with them, Zhou Wanwan had been filled with worry and fear.

Now, hearing that they were going to inform the Zhang family, she looked hesitant and on the verge of saying something.

“Mom…”

“Xiao Wan, I know what you want to say. Having Dabao and Xiaobao go with us is the best choice. I’m even less at ease leaving them in someone else’s care.”

How could Qiao Jiuru not see the thoughts hidden in her daughter-in-law’s heart?! If she didn’t have the ancestral space from the Qiao family, hadn’t prepared so many supplies, and wasn’t absolutely certain, she would definitely have asked Zhang Hong and his wife to adopt Dabao and Xiaobao.

“Mom…”

“Xiao Wan, I have a plan. Just trust me. I won’t let Dabao and Xiaobao suffer. I love them just like how you love them.”

Zhou Wanwan wanted to say more but was interrupted by Su Ze, who even tugged her arm gently, signaling her to stop.

Qiao Jiuru sighed.

Now there was really nothing more to say, even the eldest son was only told a little.

Su Huaiyuan and Qiao Jiuru left the house quietly under the night, soon disappearing into the darkness.

“Su Ze, we are about to be sent down. You know how unbearable that place is even for adults, let alone Dabao and Xiaobao. I’m scared for them, scared…”

After the in-laws left, Zhou Wanwan couldn’t help but lower her voice and scold her husband.

She couldn’t understand why her parents-in-law could arrange for her younger brother-in-law and sister-in-law, but not properly arrange for her own two children.

“Xiao Wan, there are things Mom isn’t allowed to tell because the more people know, the greater the chance of complications.”

Su Ze was also helpless.

He didn’t know much either. He knew his parents didn’t dare tell him everything, fearing they might accidentally reveal secrets and make things worse for the family.

“You can’t even tell me?!”

Zhou Wanwan was stunned, feeling untrusted and a bit unhappy.

“Don’t talk about you. I only know a little. Xiao Feng and Hua Zhu don’t know much either. They only know the family was reported, that preparations were made, and why the family sent them away.”

“…You didn’t tell me.”

“What good would it do?! You’d just worry all the time! The more people know, the easier it is to slip up. Remember a few days ago I sent money, medicine, and packages with cotton clothes to your parents? It’s because I knew trouble was coming to our family, so I sent it deliberately. My mother said she’d leave some money, and in the future, would have someone send things to your family.”

“Really?! So that’s why. Why didn’t you say so earlier?!”

“Xiao Wan, think about it — even at times like this, my mother thinks about your family. Dabao and Xiaobao are her most beloved grandsons. To be blunt, my mother would rather not help your family than let Dabao and Xiaobao suffer.”

“Su Ze, I understand now.”

“So just rest assured. Although Mom didn’t tell me the whole plan, even if we suffer, our two sons won’t.”

On this side, Su Ze was reasoning with his wife, explaining their parents’ actions to ease her doubts.

Meanwhile, Qiao Jiuru and Su Huaiyuan didn’t go straight to Zhang Hong’s house but took a detour to find Xiao Lei at the black market.

“Uncle, Auntie, why are you here? Do you want to buy something else?!”

Xiao Lei was surprised to see them—not because of the trouble they were in, but because they had just bought two batches of supplies a few days ago. Why were they back so soon?

“It’s like this, Xiao Lei. We exchanged some sweet potatoes and potatoes before. Now we want to trade them for refined grains. Do you deal with that?”

“How much?”

“About a thousand jin of potatoes.”

“That much? All for refined grains?!”

“Yes, just rice and flour. But other than grains is okay too.”

“I’ll ask the boss.”

“Xiao Lei, thank you so much. Here are some samples for you to check.”

“All right, if the boss agrees, how do we contact you for the deal?”

“We’ll come to your black market around midnight. Then we’ll talk.”

“All right, I’ll go talk to the boss now.”

“Thanks, Xiao Lei.”

“No need to thank, it’s mutual benefit.”

Qiao Jiuru and Su Huaiyuan quickly settled the deal with Xiao Lei, then the two parties parted ways.

This time, Qiao Jiuru and Su Huaiyuan went straight to Zhang Hong’s house quietly.

When they reached the door, they heard the children laughing happily inside.

Hearing such joyful sounds, Su Huaiyuan and Qiao Jiuru froze, their eyes reddened, and their throats felt choked.

After a long while, they calmed their emotions, glanced at each other, then gently knocked on the door.

The knocking paused the laughter and chatter inside, then was heard again.

“Who is it?!”

Zhang Hong, just finishing dinner with his wife and playing with Dabao and Xiaobao, was interrupted during this happy moment.

Zhang Hong responded and opened the door.

When he saw who it was, he was surprised and happy, ready to step aside and let them in.

But then Qiao Jiuru and Su Huaiyuan made a gesture signaling that they did not intend to come inside.