I even bought two houses in Jinan. That's why I had this trip to Jinan – because of the trouble caused by the houses.

Uncle Wang was furious. "If it weren't for this matter, you definitely wouldn't have come to our door. You child, you're already middle-aged, yet you're acting like a stranger to us. Do you think your uncle is old and useless?"

"Uncle, what are you saying? If I thought like that, would I have called you right away last night? We're locals in Jinan, we can't let ourselves be taken advantage of."

"But this matter is resolved, it's all over now. I was just worried that you and that guy surnamed Duan might have had some kind of conflict, so I came over specifically to explain it to you in detail."

Uncle Wang was actually just trying to scare Chen Hong, and Chen Hong knew that. Uncle Wang only had one son, and they had always treated her like their own daughter.

Chen Hong was worried that Uncle Wang might have some connection with the man surnamed Duan. Uncle Wang would be retiring in two years, and she was afraid that he might cause trouble.

Uncle Wang said to Chen Hong, "I didn't see the man surnamed Duan today, but I called him before I left work."

I asked him if he had a relative, a woman surnamed Liu, who was going to buy a school district house in a certain community, but he denied it, saying he didn't have such a relative.

I didn't say anything more; we just understood each other without saying a word. It's alright, Chen Hong; as long as it's something done behind the scenes, he wouldn't dare do anything.

Besides, we're standing upright and sitting properly, your uncle doesn't have any leverage over us, and there's nothing between us at work.

Chen Hong said solemnly, "Uncle Wang, Uncle Liu, there's something I need to tell you. This time I investigated the people surnamed Liu and Duan; their affair has been going on for over ten years."

The man surnamed Liu received four houses and two cars from the man surnamed Duan. Moreover, Liu's parents and two younger sisters all went from being farmers to becoming government officials.

This is definitely not a trivial matter. Uncle Wang lives in the same neighborhood as him and they often run into each other. You should stay far away from someone like that in the future.

Uncle Wang nodded, "You little girl, don't worry about it, just relax!"

"Your uncle has never been greedy or corrupt in his life; no one can cause him any trouble. By the way, what did you give me? Don't try to bribe your uncle!"

Chen Hong laughed, "Who would bribe us with fruit and fish? Uncle, if you think it's too cheap, just say so. Next time I'll come to eat empty-handed, and see if you feel bad about it then?"

The three of them chatted about their father's and brother's recent situation. They learned that their brother had bought a minivan and was now driving a taxi, which gave him a stable income. Uncle Wang and Uncle Liu were both happy for their father.

At their age, they don't value money or status; what they care about most is their children's future and happiness. As long as their children are safe, successful, and have bright futures, they can retire peacefully.

Chen Hong was quite at ease with the two of them. In her previous life, Uncle Wang and Aunt Wang were still in good health until Chen Hong was reborn.

Uncle Wang and his wife were honest and upright people who never flattered or fawned over others. Uncle Wang worked in the bureau-level position for more than ten years until his retirement, and was never promoted again.

Fortunately, honest people are rewarded. The elderly couple worked peacefully and steadily throughout their lives and are now enjoying a peaceful retirement.

The son and daughter-in-law are both ordinary civil servants, earning neither high nor low salaries. They never compete for anything and live a simple, ordinary life.

However, Uncle Liu and his wife were in poor health. Uncle Liu was so busy with work that he didn't even have regular mealtimes, and he developed stomach cancer after retiring.

She endured the torment of chemotherapy for five or six years and underwent two major surgeries. Before Chen Hong's rebirth, her elderly parents had already passed away, neither of them living past seventy.

That evening, Chen Hong returned to the hotel, lay on the large bed, and thought about her past life.

She has reminded Uncle Liu and Aunt Liu to pay attention to their diet and go to the hospital for check-ups on time, hoping that the two elderly people will be healthy for the rest of their lives and will not suffer from cancer again.

I called home that evening, and my son's innocent voice came through the receiver, expressing his longing for his mother.

Having been away from home for over a week, Chen Hong was missing her family and her son. She decided to go home to see her parents tomorrow and then head straight back to Rongcheng.

Chen Hong never expected that just as she had perfectly resolved the matter and was sleeping soundly in the large bed of the XX Hotel, someone in a suite less than fifty meters away from her in the same hotel was talking about her.

At midnight, in a luxurious suite two floors above Chen Hong's house, Liu was taking a shower in the bathroom, while Duan, shirtless, was enjoying a cigarette under the dim light by the bedside.

Smoke rings billowed from his mouth. Duan Moumou squinted his eyes, his face full of contentment.

A cigarette after sex is better than being a god; this is the most enjoyable moment for him after every sexual encounter.

He was intoxicated by the afterglow of his lovemaking, and the sound of running water from the bathroom next door stirred his no-longer-young body, making him restless again.