Chapter 31.1

Luo Lan didn’t understand what dopamine and endorphins were. She only knew what made her happy and what didn’t. She was willing to invest in things that brought her joy, while things that didn’t wouldn’t bother her as long as she felt guilt-free.

She exchanged for two organza hair ties in pink and used them to braid Zhou Junfang’s hair. The organza was a lovely shade of pink, with a lifelike butterfly made of fabric on top. Zhou Junfang gathered her braids in front of her chest, gently stroking the butterfly, enchanted.

“Sister-in-law, this is so beautiful! Is it really for me?”

“It’s for you. The color and style suit you perfectly.”

“Thank you, sister-in-law.” The girl sweetly hugged her arm. “You’re so nice!”

Who could resist such a pretty girl being so adorable? Luo Lan was also quite good-looking, but she had always been an extroverted person. She liked to be straightforward and had never been one to act coy. Now, with such a charming little sister-in-law, she still treated her like a child, finding great delight in her presence.

The two sisters-in-law chatted for a while. When Zhou Qingshan returned, Zhou Junfang obediently left the side room. In the main room, she proudly showed off her new hair tie to her mother, who also admired its exquisite beauty.

“Where did you get this? I’ve told you before not to accept things from others.”

“It’s not from anyone else. It’s from my sister-in-law.”

“Oh, it’s from your sister-in-law.” Mother Zhou smiled. “Your sister-in-law spoils you too much. You need to be good to her and respect her. A sister-in-law is like a mother.”

“I know. I’ll listen to my sister-in-law.”

The little girl’s obedience made Mother Zhou very happy. But seeing her eldest daughter’s reaction made her worry. When she saw her go into the bedroom and close the door, she felt the urge to go in and talk to her, hoping to comfort her. Just as she was about to knock, her eldest daughter came out, about to step outside.

“Where are you going?”

“Nowhere.”

That response was nearly the same as not answering at all. Considering her mood, Zhou Junhui might have gone to a friend’s house to vent or gone out for a walk to clear her head. However, as they waited, evening fell, and when her son returned, her eldest daughter was still missing.

“Junhui went out and didn’t say where she was going. She hasn’t come back yet.”

“She’s off today, right?”

“Yeah, she’s not working today.”

“Do you know where her good friends or classmates live? I’ll go look for her.”

“I’ll go with you.”

Mother Zhou had already prepared dinner, so she quickly took off her apron and headed out with her son. The two left around seven and began checking nearby homes of Zhou Junhui’s friends and classmates, people she got along well with.

Meanwhile, Zhou Junfang was in the house, unsure of what had happened. Her stomach growled from hunger, so she went to the kitchen to find no one there. The girl called for her mother in the yard, and the old lady’s daughter from the house next door heard her and came out.

“This girl is really pretty. She was beautiful when she was little, and she’s even prettier now.”

Zhou Junfang knew there was a feud between their families, so she wasn’t foolish enough to butter them up. As her sister-in-law said, being overly friendly without cause usually meant trouble. So, she didn’t say anything but politely smiled and nodded at the woman.

She quickly turned and ran to Luo Lan, wrapping her arms around her. “I was so scared. She was like the wolf grandma!”

Luo Lan turned with a smile. “Who?”

“Sister Nanwu. I remember her, she used to live around here. Now that the old lady next door is bedridden, she can’t even speak. She was talking to me earlier, and her face was all fake smiles. She even praised me.”

As the girl spoke, she touched her arm and shivered a little, her adorable demeanor lifting Luo Lan’s spirits. “Are you hungry? If you are, go eat; you don’t have to wait for anyone.”

Zhou Junfang looked around. “Isn’t my brother here? Did he go out with mom?”

“Yes.”

“Is he looking for sister?”

“Exactly.”

“Sister is so thoughtless. She’s worrying mom.”

Luo Lan gently stroked her smooth braids. “That’s why our Junfang has to be good and not make mom worry.”

“Mm, I’ll be obedient.”

“Good girl, go eat. The porridge is on the stove, and the side dishes are on the plate. You can help yourself. There are a few steamed buns left from lunch. If you’re hungry, just eat one.”

“I won’t eat the steamed bun tonight. I’ll save it for my brother and you, sister-in-law.”

“One bun isn’t going to hurt. If you want to eat, just eat.”

“Thank you, sister-in-law, but I really won’t eat.”

After arranging for Zhou Junfang to eat, Luo Lan waited for her mother-in-law and husband to return. It was nearly ten when they finally came back, and Mother Zhou looked troubled.

“Mom, did you find her?”

Zhou Qingshan replied, “She might have gone looking for that man.”

“What should we do?”

“I’ll go look for her tomorrow.”

Mother Zhou sat there, tears streaming down her face. Luo Lan quickly handed her a handkerchief and poured her a glass of water. “Mom, don’t be upset. Young people are bound to make mistakes and take the wrong path. Let her experience this; it’s how they grow. When I was young, I wanted to climb a tree, but my mother wouldn’t let me. I ended up sneaking up and falling down, but I learned how to climb trees from that.”

“You were such a mischievous child.”

“Yeah, I was a handful too. The more experiences you have, the more you grow. Parents don’t need to worry too much; it’s not a matter of life or death. Even if that man doesn’t want to marry her, at most, she’ll just spend a night outside. In this weather, she might catch a cold but nothing serious.”

After hearing this, Mother Zhou visibly relaxed. She picked up her water glass and gulped it down. “Let’s eat.”

Exactly, Zhou Junhui was so stubborn that she wouldn’t learn her lesson without going through this. If she was determined to chase after him, let her do it. Witnessing his resolve would ensure she wouldn’t chase after him again.

Luo Lan thought this was a simple case of backing out of a marriage. However, the next day, when Zhou Qingshan arrived at the place, he found Zhou Junhui squatting outside the man’s house, crying. Neighbors said the man wasn’t home, and his family wouldn’t let her in.

“Let’s go home.”

“What am I supposed to do, brother?”

“What’s there to worry about? There are plenty of suitable matches out there.”

Zhou Qingshan dragged her away, and she had no choice but to follow. She kept looking back, crying like the sky was falling. Zhou Qingshan held back his anger as they walked through the streets and, when they got home, directly scolded her in the living room.

“Do you have any self-respect? The other party has made their attitude clear, so why are you still clinging on?”

Luo Lan frowned as she watched. She couldn’t understand why that family would let such a good match like Zhou Junhui slip away. The Zhou family didn’t mind that he was just a temporary worker, so why would he suddenly refuse to marry someone who cost him nothing?

Zhou Junhui covered her face and cried, not responding to her brother’s scolding. Mother Zhou also got angry and joined her son in scolding their daughter. At that moment, Luo Lan noticed marks on Zhou Qingshan’s arm.

She reached over to grab his arm, trying to pull up his sleeve, but he skillfully dodged her again. Luo Lan didn’t say anything, just stared at him. Are you hiding something from me? Am I an outsider?

She didn’t need to say much. With just her gaze, he conceded, pulling her out of the living room and back into the side room. Once inside, they sat down, and he remained silent, as if gathering his thoughts. Luo Lan patiently waited, sensing there might be a connection between the siblings’ issues.

“I might be sent to a farm to work in the fields and raise cows.”

“You’ve been reported?”

The man silently nodded, and she reached over to pull his clothes again. He covered himself to avoid showing her, offering her a helpless smile. “Sister Liu’s husband from your unit will also be sent away. Think about it carefully, if you want to get a divorce…”

“Zhou Qingshan,” Luo Lan glared at him. “What do you take me for? The saying goes, ‘Birds of a feather flock together, but when disaster strikes, they each fly their separate ways.’ I hate that phrase the most. As long as you haven’t done anything to betray me, I’ll stand by you through whatever you face. Don’t worry; I’ll take care of the household and look after Mom and Junfang.”

“Junfang—”

“It’s because of her, isn’t it?”

“Yeah. He’s using this to force us into submission.”

“That’s despicable. Someone like him is definitely not suitable for Junfang to marry.”

“I think so too. This incident with Junhui definitely has something to do with him. That silly girl, how can she be so stubborn?”

“Show me what he hit you with and what excuse he gave!”

But the man wouldn’t let her see, chuckling lightly. “It’s nothing, don’t worry. I’m tough. Taking a couple of hits isn’t a big deal.”

She pulled out some antiseptic. “Let me put some medicine on it.”

“I’ll do it myself.”

He didn’t want her to worry, so she sighed and let him tend to his own wounds. Turning around, she went into the main room to comfort her mother-in-law and persuade Junfang to eat, then pulled Zhou Junhui into their bedroom.

“Are you hiding something from us?”

Having been sobbing for a long time, her eyes were swollen and she was exhausted. But hearing Luo Lan’s question made her cry again. “Sister-in-law, what should I do?”

“What’s so serious that you’re crying like this? There are plenty of men out there.”

Luo Lan’s tone turned serious. Although it wasn’t a scolding, it made Junhui realize that her actions were off-putting. Why was she being so obstinate with that man? He clearly didn’t want her anymore for a reason, and someone was pulling strings behind the scenes. Her brother had analyzed the situation on the way back; why was she still crying her heart out?

“But… I might be pregnant.”

“What did you say?” Luo Lan was shocked, thinking she must have misheard. Zhou Junhui was bold enough to take such a risk? She couldn’t believe it.

“It was just that one time. But I haven’t had my period this month. It’s been half a month already.”

“I…” Luo Lan really wanted to slap her. How could she make such a foolish mistake without being married? “Have you been to the hospital?”

“No, I didn’t dare. But I’ve been feeling nauseous and can’t stand the smell of oil lately.”

“Let’s go to the hospital tonight. We need to confirm this before we can figure out the next step.”

“What’s wrong with the hospital? Is someone sick?” Mother Zhou heard this and rushed in, looking anxious.

“Mom, it’s nothing.” Luo Lan still wanted to keep it a secret.

“Don’t hide it from me. I know something’s going on. Just tell me, I’m fine. Whatever it is, we can handle it together. I promise I won’t cause you any trouble.”

Zhou Qingshan also entered the room, looking at his wife with concern. That man wanted to force them to yield, but Zhou Qingshan would never allow his sister to be with him. Was he the one behind Junhui’s troubles as well?

As close siblings, Zhou Qingshan and Zhou Junhui were only five years apart and had spent more than ten years together. Based on what he knew about his sister, even if she had a moment of infatuation, she shouldn’t be this devastated after being rejected by a man.

“Junhui, you tell us.”