After chatting for a while, Lu Yuan noticed it was getting late and suggested leaving. However, Zhou Qi invited him, "Hey, if you're not busy, how about we have a drink at my place later? My wife should be back soon, and I'll have her bring some food and drinks with her!"

Lu Yuan had never met Zhou Qi's wife, so he had no objections. However, Hei Zi immediately shook his head and refused when he heard that they were going to eat at his house: "Come on! You only have this much money. You should just stay put! Don't cause trouble for yourself! Besides, if we really eat at your house later, you'll probably have to kneel on a washboard tonight. Don't waste your washboard!"

Zhou Qi felt embarrassed by Hei Zi's words, but he still insisted, "She wouldn't dare! I'm still the one who calls the shots in this family! Besides, it was thanks to the two of you that my wife was rescued last time. If it weren't for you two, I really don't know what I would have done in the future! My wife also wants to meet her saviors!"

As he spoke, he pulled Lu Yuan and the other man into the shack. Because he was afraid of waking the two children, Lu Yuan tiptoed in. But when the light was turned on, he saw two big eyes blinking at him.

"Cough cough... How did you two wake up?" Zhou Qi looked at the two children with a doting expression.

"Dad, we heard you talking outside, so my brother and I stopped sleeping." The older child said in a childish voice, reaching out to pat the little boy's head and tucking the blanket in, showing remarkable thoughtfulness.

"Xiaoyun is such a good girl, quickly call them uncles, these two uncles are our family's saviors!" Zhou Qi quickly told the child to greet them.

"Alright, Lao Zhou, don't make things difficult for the child. Little one, get some rest. Uncle will come to see you and your brother another day, okay?" Seeing how sensible this older sister was, Lu Yuan felt a pang of heartache. He didn't want to stay here so late at night. This time, he came empty-handed without bringing any snacks for the children. Lu Yuan planned to come and visit again next time.

"Uncle, I'm fine. I'll take good care of my little brother and won't let him bother you!" Xiaoyun still looked at Lu Yuan with her big, bright eyes.

These words made Lu Yuan even less willing to stay. The children were so sensible and knew not to disturb the adults, while they, as adults, were still disturbing the children's rest, which made Lu Yuan feel guilty.

Zhou Qi then spoke up as if it were the most natural thing in the world: "Yes, Lu Yuan, Hei Zi, you two wait here for a while, I'll call the child's mother and ask her to come back!"

Lu Yuan sighed, and then could only find a place to sit down.

...

Half an hour later, the noise outside grew quieter and quieter, and Zhou Xiaoyun could no longer stay awake and fell asleep. Looking at this five-year-old child who was so mature, Lu Yuan felt that Zhou Qi was not even as sensible as a child.

However, it was not appropriate for him to interfere in other people's family affairs. Lu Yuan and Hei Zi sat on the only two chairs in the house, drinking plain water, while Zhou Qi made another phone call to urge them to hurry up.

A short while later, a noise came from outside the door, and then a woman wearing a black headscarf walked in.

Upon seeing Lu Yuan and his companion in the shack, the woman quickly put on a smiling face and placed the package in her hand aside.

"Oh dear! I'm so sorry, gentlemen. We were stopped for a while on the way, so we were delayed. Here, this is some liquor I just bought on the way. I'll get you some snacks to go with it!"

The woman removed her headscarf, revealing an aged face. Although she was only in her early thirties, she looked almost forty.

Lu Yuan had met the other party before when he rescued the gold mining team from the rift valley, but the situation was urgent at the time, so they didn't exchange many pleasantries.

Then a series of events followed. This was the second time Lu Yuan had seen her, but he never expected that she would look so old.

"Ahem! Sister-in-law, don't bother. I brought some food with me. Just eat a little and chat!" Lu Yuan quickly said.

Zhou Qi, standing to the side, casually stopped Lu Yuan, saying, "Alright, Lu Yuan, don't be shy. It's no trouble at all to prepare a couple of hot dishes on such a cold day! But I really have to thank you for the food you just brought over, otherwise I really wouldn't know how to entertain you!"

Upon hearing Lu Yuan mention that he had brought food, a look of surprise immediately appeared on the woman's face. She glanced to the side and indeed saw a black bag on the table.

"No trouble at all, I'll go and get it!" With that, the woman picked up the black bag from the ground and went into the next room.

After a while, the woman brought in two small dishes. Since there were only two chairs in the room, Zhou Qi had to find two iron buckets outside, turn them upside down, and sit on the table as stools. His wife was on the bed, putting the child to sleep.

Zhou Qi raised his glass, his face flushed, and said, "So much has happened lately. If it weren't for you two, I probably would have lost my family and my life. This first glass is to thank you both for saving my life!"

After saying that, Zhou Qi tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp. The 58-proof liquor went down his throat like a tongue of fire, and Zhou Qi frowned.

"Alright! I only helped you because I consider you a brother, I didn't ask you to thank me! If you're being so formal, be careful I really won't consider you a brother anymore!" Lu Yuan said, holding up his wine glass.

"Stop with all that nonsense. Know your own limitations. I won't mention the desertion incident anymore. If there's a chance in the future, I'll let you know. Don't embarrass me again!" Hei Zi was straightforward and said what he meant. After saying that, he didn't care whether Zhou Qi liked it or not and drank the wine in his glass in one gulp.

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