Zhou Qiqi rushed back to the factory, but before she could even eat anything, the gatekeeper called her over, saying that the things that Grandpa Zhai had asked someone to deliver had arrived.

She quickly went to greet them and sign for the package.

Good heavens! Old Master Zhai was truly sincere; he didn't utter a single falsehood.

Two heavy wooden crates were opened, and found to be packed full.

In addition to thick, hardcover books with foreign titles, such as "Child Psychiatry" and "Childhood Trauma," there are also a large number of bound papers and case study reports.

With so many foreign language documents, it's no wonder customs took so long to review them!

The overwhelming scent of ink and the profound sense of knowledge instantly calmed Zhou Qiqi down and made her feel more at ease. She no longer had the heart to stay in the factory.

She quickly found Zhang Guoqiang and briefly explained the situation.

Zhang Guoqiang's relationship with Zhao Damei is now stable, and he has become much more down-to-earth.

Upon hearing that it was something important for Zhouzhou's treatment, he immediately patted his chest and assured her that she could go back without worry, as he would be looking after the factory.

Seeing that the two large boxes were really heavy, he worried that Zhou Qiqi would have trouble carrying them, so he offered to take her there on his little tricycle.

Zhou Qiqi quickly waved her hand and declined.

That tricycle is already difficult to pedal with just one person on it, let alone with these two big boxes of books. I'm afraid it will take until dark to get home!

She asked Zhang Guoqiang to help her find some old strips of cloth used for bundling goods. The two of them worked together to secure the two large boxes to the back of her bicycle, one on each side.

After being secured, the bicycle seat was so heavy it almost crushed the frame.

Zhou Qiqi got on the bike and tried pedaling; it was indeed much more difficult than usual.

But at this moment, she was filled with hope for curing Zhouzhou's illness, and she felt like she had inexhaustible energy. Not only did she not feel tired, but she pedaled even faster than usual, rushing to the military dependents area.

As she approached the entrance to the residential compound, she spotted a striking figure in the distance, wearing a garish red dress, peering around her doorstep.

Who else could it be but He Wanrou?

Zhou Qiqi's heart skipped a beat, and she cursed her bad luck inwardly!

Just as I was figuring out how to get rid of this plague without causing a complete falling out, I never expected this.

Two soldiers, standing ramrod straight, appeared at the door of her house, like two guardian deities. They blocked He Wanrou's way and forcefully "invited" her away.

This sentry wasn't like Qin Peilan. When she was on duty, she was meticulous and showed no mercy. He was so strong that he pinched He Wanrou's wrist until it turned blue.

He Wanrou's face turned pale and then red, but in the end she didn't dare to argue and slunk away.

Zhou Qiqi was surprised. After parking the car, she asked and learned that Shen Huaichuan had specially arranged for her to come.

The purpose is self-evident: to prevent He Wanrou from having any further opportunities to entangle with or get close to her in-laws!

Thinking about it, it makes sense. If He Wanrou were to find another opportunity to change the medication, given her mother-in-law's current health, she would likely be in grave danger.

I was so focused on investigating the case and finding evidence that I almost overlooked the most important security issue. Fortunately, Shen Huaichuan was meticulous and thought of this in advance.

A warm feeling and a touch of emotion welled up in her heart; in some ways, the two of them really complemented each other.

When a couple works together like this, they are thorough in everything they do.

As she thought about it, she laboriously pushed the bicycle into the yard and parked it.

She was so busy all morning, first going to the regimental headquarters to find Shen Huaichuan, then going back to the factory, and only just got home now, it's almost 2 pm.

My parents-in-law are getting old and have a habit of taking a nap in the afternoon. They should be with Zhouzhou in the inner room at this time.

There's still about half an hour before Zhouzhou goes to class this afternoon, so she probably hasn't gotten up yet.

Unexpectedly, just as she was thinking this, the door to the main room suddenly opened, and her mother-in-law, Qin Peilan, poked her head out with delight, asking with a beaming smile:

"Qiqi? Why are you back at this hour? Is things not busy at the factory anymore?"

Before Zhou Qiqi could answer, Qin Peilan excitedly waved the spatula in her hand and said:

"You're back just in time! Mom just made sauerkraut fish! It's still warm! Come on! Come and try it!"

At this moment, her father-in-law, Shen Zhenbang, also came out of the house with a smile. Looking at his wife's impatient appearance, he shook his head helplessly and said to Zhou Qiqi:

"Look at your mother, she's so busy letting you try the fish that she doesn't even ask the kids if they've had lunch yet."

Zhou Qiqi rubbed her rumbling stomach and answered honestly:

"No, Dad! I've been running around all morning, my stomach is growling!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Zhenbang immediately laughed:

"That's great! You've come back just in time! Your mom not only made your favorite sauerkraut fish, but also stir-fried several large plates of onion and egg! She insisted that I taste the saltiness, and I've only been eating lunch for less than two hours, so I'm really stuffed. I was worried about what to do with all this food! Come and help me finish it off!"

Zhou Qiqi curiously went into the small kitchen and saw something!

Sure enough, there were two or three steaming bowls of pickled fish on the small stove, and three large plates of golden and glistening scrambled eggs with onions next to them!

Qin Peilan rubbed her hands a little embarrassedly and explained:

"I was thinking that I wouldn't be staying here for much longer, so I wanted to cook a few more meals for you while I still have time. My skills have gotten rusty from staying in the sanatorium for so long, so I need to practice more. Otherwise, I might end up cooking too much..."

Looking at her mother-in-law's slightly embarrassed yet loving eyes, Zhou Qiqi felt a warmth in her heart. She immediately rolled up her sleeves and said boldly:

"It's okay, Mom! I'm starving! I'll eat all this fish and eggs! Just smelling it makes me know it'll be delicious! I'll go get the bowls and chopsticks!"

Qin Peilan immediately beamed and readily agreed:

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!