After getting ready, Zhao's mother pulled Liu Man out the door. If it weren't for the wrong season, she would have worn a vest. When they met at the alley entrance, Zhao's father sighed inwardly that he had miscalculated! As expected of the head of the Zhao family, she was very meticulous and directly showed off her granddaughter-in-law.

When the neighbors found out that this was Zhao Aiguo's girlfriend, they were all shocked! Well! As long as the Zhao family likes her, as long as Zhao Aiguo likes her! Because the weather wasn't warm, after showing off for a short while, Zhao's mother pulled Liu Man back home. The two sat on the kang (a heated brick bed) and chatted affectionately, with Liu Man singing Suzhou folk songs for Zhao's mother.

Zhao's mother was delighted; it sounded so nice! However, before she could enjoy her happiness for long, footsteps sounded outside the door. "Grandma Zhao!" Upon hearing this, Zhao's mother's head buzzed, and she saw Yang Xiaofu come in.

Because Zhao Aiguo had rejected her so firmly, leaving her no room for negotiation, she was furious and lost her temper many times. She'd been busy with work lately, thinking she'd try again when she had more free time, hoping Zhao Aiguo wouldn't catch on. But then, out of the blue, he found a girlfriend! She wanted to see who could steal him away! And then she saw Liu Man sitting on the kang (heated brick bed), looking like a white steamed bun. Tears welled up in her eyes. "Zhao Aiguo, you bastard! You're serious!"

"This is Zhao Aiguo's girlfriend?" Yang Xiaofu was utterly devastated. What the hell was wrong with him?! Zhao's mother smiled and said, "Xiaofu! Let me introduce you. This is Aiguo's girlfriend, Xiaoman, and this is Aiguo's classmate, Xiaofu!"

Yang Xiaofu stomped her foot in anger, snorted, and ran away. When she got home, her mother saw her daughter and immediately understood. "Xiaofu, why don't you just let it go? What's so great about Zhao Aiguo? He's just a bit good-looking, but he's not the best-looking. There are plenty of people better than him!"

Yang Xiaofu wiped away her tears and said, "I'm not angry that he didn't choose me, it's that this bastard really likes white steamed buns! He really looks like his grandma! He has bad eyesight!" With that, she went back into the house.

Liu Man immediately understood upon seeing Yang Xiaofu that she was a patriot! Then, looking at Zhao's mother, the latter smiled and said, "Xiaoman, don't misunderstand. They've known each other since childhood. The relationship between these two is all about fate. It's just a pity that they don't click. Xiaofu is also a straightforward girl."

Liu Man smiled and nodded, "Grandma, I know!" But she still felt a little disappointed. Li Qianqian and Xiao Fu were both stunning beauties, and she felt inferior in their presence. Grandma Zhao noticed this and turned to hand Liu Man a photo album. "There are countless kinds of flowers in the world! That's why there are so many beautiful things. You like peonies, he likes roses—it's a matter of personal taste. Every flower has its own admirer. So, that's what it means to be destined for each other!"

Oh, right, you haven't seen what Aiguo looked like as a child, have you? Come take a look! He's not as good-looking as he used to be.

Liu Man's interest was piqued. He took a picture of Aiguo as a child and laughed. It turned out Aiguo was quite chubby as a child! Zhao's mother laughed and said, "It was nice to be a little chubby back then, but he just grew thinner and couldn't gain any more weight. Now he's so busy with work that he's gotten even thinner! Let me tell you, a person needs to be a little chubby; chubby means good fortune! Whether the family prospers or not depends entirely on whether the wife in charge of the household is chubby or not!"

Liu Man grinned, and the two chatted for a while. When Zhao Dahu and Wei Shu returned, they each gave Xiao Man a red envelope. After receiving Xiao Man's gift, they ate dinner, chatted for a bit, and then went to sleep.

As for Wang Fang, who was arrested, she was making a huge fuss. But when the police contacted the Zhao family to verify the information, Zhao Yunxiang's mother took the phone and said directly, "We don't know her. She's a despicable woman who only harms my son. You should arrest this Fang girl and teach her a lesson! ... Yes, Li Qiuxiang saved my Yunxiang before. We gave her that house voluntarily. Two thousand yuan? That's not true!..." She had to grit her teeth and praise Li Qiuxiang while enduring the disgust!

When Wang Fang learned of the outcome, she was furious! Why had she done this? Now that she was in detention, she was in serious trouble and would lose her job. Only then did she realize the danger! But it was too late!

The mother and daughter were even miraculously on the same page. Qi Zhifang had just been released from prison, carrying three large bundles and a set of bedding, and stood bewildered at the gate of the detention center. How was she going to carry all these things? Where would she go to live without a house? She learned from the police that Xiao Hu was hospitalized, but how was she going to get to the hospital with all this stuff?

Just as she was wondering what to do, a car slowly drove by and stopped in front of her. She looked up and the car window slowly rolled down, revealing a face that was both strange and familiar. Apart from a scar on his forehead and a few more wrinkles, everything else was the same. This did not make him look old; instead, it added a touch of wildness and maturity to his appearance!

The people in the car stared at Qi Zhifang for a while before asking, "Are you Sister Fangzi?!"

Qi Zhifang's heart seemed to be pulled back twenty years. Xiao Dai, it was her Xiao Dai! Tears welled up in her eyes. Dai Shiliang got out of the car and said, "Sister, what are you doing here!"

Qi Zhifang opened her mouth. Yes! Why was she here? She had once imagined such a wonderful day: on a pleasant evening, with her hair neatly combed, her makeup perfectly done, and her clothes appropriate, she would meet Xiao Dai again, exchanging greetings of "Hello, long time no see!" Then, they would eat Western food at Lao Mo's, reminiscing about the hardships of the past years… But now, after being brutally attacked, their reunion was in front of a detention center. How could things be so different? It shouldn't be like this!

Qi Zhifang's mind went blank. She stammered for a long time, not knowing how to smooth things over. Her face turned bright red, and she said, "What are you doing here?!"

Xiao Dai got out of the car, smiled, and said, "I'm here to cooperate with the police in solving a case, to be a witness! And you? What are these things?"

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