Chapter 24.1

Their father had been missing for a long time with no news. After his sister left, he closed the book and began to reflect on everything again. His mother’s illness, his brother’s death, and his father’s disappearance were all intertwined. If he could seek justice for his brother and find their father, perhaps his mother’s health would improve.

“What are you lost in thought about?” Luo Lan entered the room after washing up, reaching for the moisturizing cream. Noticing his heavy expression, she asked.

“I was thinking about my dad.”

“Have you gone to the place where he disappeared?”

“I’ve been there,” Zhou Qingshan sighed, confused as to why there was still no sign of him—alive or dead. “There were no results, not even a hint of a clue.”

“Then we have to ask the local police to investigate.”

“It’s been filed.”

“If they can find him and he’s alive, maybe it will help with Mom’s illness.”

As the two of them shared the same thought, Zhou Qingshan’s furrowed brow relaxed a little. He had been with his mother at the doctor’s office when they said her illness stemmed from heartbreak. His brother was gone for good, and there was no way to change that. But if they could add a new member to the family, it might bring some emotional support and healing.

Their father had been missing for so long. Their mother should have mentally prepared herself. Even if the news was bad, she would be able to accept it. Right now, he had to seek justice for his brother. If they could add a new family member, it would be even better. If that wasn’t possible, he’d find another way to make it happen.

He gazed intently at her, making her feel a chill. “What’s with that look? I’m not a piece of braised pork.”

“You’ve secured a job, I’ll go with you to your workplace tomorrow.”

Luo Lan perked up, running over to his side. “What position?”

“The Women’s Federation.”

“The Women’s Federation? What do they do?”

“Work related to women’s issues. I’m not entirely sure about the specifics. They probably do outreach among women and protect their legal rights. For example, if a woman is bullied, she can seek help from the Women’s Federation.”

“That sounds great. I can enjoy the gossip while working.” It’s like getting two salaries, it seems to be tailor-made for her.

“What gossip? Eating melon in this season can cause diarrhea; you should be eating apples instead.”

“Haha.”

“What’s so funny?”

She laughed so hard that she fell against him. The normally agile man was soft and easily overwhelmed in bed, showing no resistance and even cooperating willingly.

“Hmm—” All sounds were muffled in his throat, and the small room filled with intimate noises. The night was dark and silent, and after the clouds cleared and the rain stopped, they finally settled down to talk some more. Luo Lan was in high spirits and couldn’t sleep, pulling him to stay awake with her. Zhou Qingshan, with his good-natured temperament, lay beside her and kept her company.

“The Women’s Federation work often involves going to the countryside. Some people find it tiring, but I think it shouldn’t be a problem for you, right?”

“What’s tiring about that? By the way, if a man beats his wife, does that fall under the Women’s Federation’s jurisdiction?”

“Should be, right?” He wasn’t entirely sure. “But for things like that, it definitely depends on the woman seeking help. Otherwise, it’s considered a family matter. So, tomorrow, make sure to learn from the lady at the Women’s Federation and ask her lots of questions if you don’t understand. You’ve graduated from middle school, so you can write anything. Just learn the format from her.”

“Okay, got it.”

With good news in the family, both of them were very happy, and they went to bed a bit later than usual. The next morning, Luo Lan was the first to wake up, more excited than Zhou Junfang, who had to wake up early for school. When her sister-in-law came out of her room and saw her, she was surprised.

“Sister-in-law?”

“Good morning!”

“Morning.”

“You have to go to school, so hurry up!”

Seeing her sister-in-law so cheerful, Zhou Junfang felt uplifted and light on her feet. When their mother woke up, Luo Lan was already making breakfast, and the two of them chatted in the kitchen.

“Mom, do you really miss Dad very much?”

“I’m very worried. I just don’t know what happened to him, and it’s hard to relax with that uncertainty.”

“Good people have their protection. You should take it easy and wait. Maybe good news will come soon.”

“Did you hear that something happened with the Sun family yesterday?”

“Yeah,” Luo Lan didn’t hide her excitement. “Just wait, those who do bad things will eventually bring about their own downfall.”

“That boy from the Sun family likes to play dirty. People like him are so ruthless… I used to tell them to stay away from Minshan. I saw him pull tricks several times when they were playing together, tripping people or sneaking attacks during fights.”

“I’ve heard the neighbors say a lot of kids have suffered because of him.”

“Exactly! Which kid in this area hasn’t been bullied by him? Our dog went missing from the front yard, and some said he stole it. A few kids were grilling it out in the wild, and the dog’s skin was still there. They even saw him running back to his house on the little road when they chased after him. But his grandmother insisted he wasn’t home and wouldn’t admit it.”

“Looks like the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

“He’s the only grandson in the family, spoiled by his grandmother since he was little. If he ever got into trouble while playing outside, his grandma would stop the other kids on the road and make them let him hit back. Minshan is the same age as him, and I always warned him to keep his distance.”

As she spoke, her voice lowered, almost to herself. “Minshan’s incident—none of those kids were involved. That’s what the school and classmates said.”

The kitchen was small, and Luo Lan was right beside her, so she naturally overheard. She gently patted her shoulder to comfort her: “Mom, let the past be the past. Minshan would definitely want you to live well.”

“Why did it have to happen? How could a fall cost him his life? And where is his father?”

Luo Lan didn’t know how to respond, hoping that one day, when her mother learned the whole truth, she could let herself go. This wasn’t her fault.

“Stop blaming yourself. Even if you had gone to talk to the parents of those classmates, the outcome wouldn’t necessarily have changed. Those kids could have just retaliated even more. They’re already sixteen or seventeen; they’re troublesome teens, and no parent can control them forever. Parents can’t always protect their kids.”

After another attempt to comfort her, her mother let out a long sigh. Soon, Zhou Qingshan got up and came in. She pretended to ask her mother for help with something to subtly send her away, then quietly discussed it with her husband.

“Tell Mom the truth. Otherwise, she’ll keep blaming herself.”

“I’ll wait until I can get that kid locked up, then I’ll tell her.”

If she finds out her son died because someone did something underhanded, and that person hasn’t been punished, it could really hurt her. Hearing her husband say this, Luo Lan nodded in agreement.

“Do you need my help?”

“No need. You just started at your job; the interpersonal relationships are complicated, so focus on your own work.”

“Will you take me there?”

“Of course. I’ll accompany you to complete the onboarding procedures and take you to your workplace.”

After finishing breakfast and seeing that her mother-in-law was in good spirits, they left the house with ease. At her workplace, Zhou Qingshan helped her with the onboarding procedures. A lady in the HR department joked that he was a good husband.

“Usually, he seems aloof, but he’s surprisingly considerate. Don’t worry; I’ll take good care of her while you focus on your work.”

“Thank you, Sister Liu.”

“No need to be so polite.”

After Zhou Qingshan left, Luo Lan was assigned her position by Sister Liu. It was a regular desk with a wooden chair, one for each person in the office.

“This is our job description, take a look at it first. Today, we’ll be going out to do outreach. Are you going to stay behind, or come with us?”

“I’ll follow the leader’s arrangements.”

‘Not bad. This woman has quite a high emotional intelligence.’ Sister Liu smiled quietly, just as several people entered the office. Two women and a man. Luo Lan’s eyes widened in surprise; she didn’t expect the Women’s Federation to have male staff.

Sister Liu was the oldest, probably around forty. The two younger women were in their thirties. The three of them had probably been chatting before they entered, and as they walked through the door, their conversation ended.

The man had been talking to one of the women, bending down slightly to face her. He was tall, with a gentle expression, wearing a Zhongshan suit, and stylishly had a pen tucked into his pocket.

“Don’t worry, it’s just a small issue. I’ll help you sort it out.”

“Thank you, Director.”

Oh my, Luo Lan felt goosebumps from the woman’s sultry voice. It was rare to see someone so coquettish in this era, almost like a national treasure in a zoo.

The man who had been called “Director” walked into the office, and as soon as he looked up, he was drawn to Luo Lan, who was standing in the corner. At that moment, Sister Liu was right next to her, but in his eyes, there was no one else.

Her hair was as black as ink, styled into two braids that were pinned up at the back of her head, with the ends adorned by a handkerchief and a few stray strands adding to her overall liveliness. She had an oval face with delicate skin and expressive features. She wore a printed shirt made from smooth, shiny fabric that seemed to absorb sunlight and glow when backlit.

“Director, this is our new colleague. Luo Lan, twenty-four years old.”

Sister Liu’s words jolted him from his daze, and a big smile immediately appeared on his face. Without a hint of superiority, he stepped forward and extended his hand.

“Hello, hello. I’m the director of our Women’s Federation, my surname is Liu.”

Luo Lan, having grown up in the countryside, didn’t understand the custom of shaking hands, but she had seen others do it in the city. She hesitated for a moment but then politely extended her hand. When she touched the hand of this unfamiliar man, she quickly withdrew it.

“Hello, Director.”

Before she could feel his grip, he had already let go, and a flicker of disappointment flashed in Director Liu’s eyes. “I’ve seen your photo. You’re even prettier in person.”