At 10 p.m., Zhou Fugui lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

Lately, for some reason, Zhou Fugui has been feeling uneasy. Today, after hearing Zhou Meimei mention that incident from back then, Zhou Fugui's anxiety intensified.

Meimei has no sense of propriety when it comes to talking. If we let her keep spouting nonsense, her whole family might be wiped out one day.

The one who tied the knot must untie it. While Meimei is at home, we need to get her sister-in-law to speak up and put an end to Meimei's hopes.

Thinking of this, Zhou Fugui sat up abruptly and began to put on his clothes with a rustling sound.

"Old man, aren't you tired staying up so late?" Ding Ermei complained.

Ding Ermei slept well during the day today, but her sleep quality wasn't very good at night.

Just as I was drifting off to sleep, I was woken up by the noise of Zhou Fugui getting up.

"I'm going to the brigade leader's house," Zhou Fugui said in a deep voice.

"It's so late, the captain and the others should be asleep by now, right? Can't you go find them tomorrow?" Ding Ermei yawned and said.

"It's urgent, I can't wait." Zhou Fugui quickly dressed, got out of bed, and pulled up his shoes before leaving.

The more Zhou Fugui thought about it, the more uncertain he felt. He needed to find someone to give him advice.

The autumn nights are still a bit chilly.

Zhou Fugui put on a coat, and the wind blowing against his exposed skin gave him goosebumps.

At this time, most people in the village were already asleep.

I don't know whose dog it is, but it barks incessantly at the slightest noise.

Zhou Fugui remained silent and, under the dim moonlight, stumbled his way to Zhou Dazhu's house.

Zhou Dazhu opened the door himself.

"Uncle Fugui, it's so late, why aren't you sleeping at home? Is there something you need?" Zhou Dazhu was taken aback when he saw Zhou Fugui.

"Dazhu! I need to talk to your mother about something," Zhou Fugui said with an awkward smile.

"My mom's asleep, come back tomorrow!" Zhou Dazhu said, his face long and unhappy.

Zhou Dazhu's father, Zhou Fugen, passed away three years ago. Zhou Dazhu's mother, Tian Shanhua, is sixty-five years old this year. Although she is a bit old, she is still a nimble and capable old lady when she is dressed properly.

Zhou Fugui is sixty years old this year, so he's an old man.

It's a bit inappropriate for someone to come to Zhou Dazhu's mother's house in the middle of the night.

“Dazhu, I have something urgent. Go tell your mother, and if she says she won’t see me, I’ll leave right away,” Zhou Fugui said stubbornly.

Zhou Dazhu couldn't help but roll his eyes.

"Uncle Fugui, it's too late today, why don't you..."

Zhou Dazhu was about to ask Zhou Fugui to come first thing tomorrow morning when, before he could finish speaking, the light in Tian Shanhua's room came on.

“Dazhu, who’s here?” Tian Shanhua asked.

"Mom, it's Uncle Fugui. He said he has something urgent to tell you." Zhou Dazhu had no choice but to tell the truth.

"Dazhu, let your Uncle Fugui in," Tian Shanhua instructed.

"Okay, Mom." Zhou Dazhu had no choice but to move away from the doorway.

In the Zhou family, Tian Shanhua's authority was not to be challenged.

No one in the Zhou family dared to disobey Tian Shanhua's words or decisions, including Zhou Dazhu's father, Zhou Fugen.

After Zhou Dazhu became the brigade leader, he acted arrogantly and domineeringly in the village.

However, once he got home, Zhou Dazhu still had to listen to his mother.

The Zhou brothers separated their family ten years ago, and their parents now live with their eldest son, Zhou Dazhu.

"Uncle Fugui, I'll make you a cup of tea," Zhou Dazhu said as he escorted Zhou Fugui to the door of Tianshan Flower House.

"No need, Dazhu, I'm not thirsty. I'll just say a few words to your mother and then leave." After saying that, Zhou Fugui turned around, went into the house, and closed the door.

Zhou Dazhu, who was locked out, was furious.

He said he was making tea for Zhou Fugui, but it was just a polite gesture. In reality, he wanted to take the opportunity of serving tea to listen to what Zhou Fugui and Tian Shanhua had to say.

Although his mother could never be interested in Zhou Fugui, she still had to be careful.

Zhou Fugui was unaware of Zhou Dazhu's thoughts, but even if he had, Zhou Dazhu wouldn't have cared.

Making a move on Tian Shanhua? Does he have a death wish?

Tian Shanhua was no ordinary woman; she was a Kuomintang secret agent codenamed "Man-Eating Flower."

However, Zhou Dazhu and his brothers, as well as Zhou Fugen, probably did not know that Tian Shanhua had such a "glorious" past.

"Speak! What urgent matter do you need me for?" Tian Shanhua asked when she saw Zhou Fugui enter the room with his head down and looking preoccupied.

"Sister-in-law, Meimei is back today." Zhou Fugui hesitated for a moment before saying, "She believed the marriage agreement you mentioned before and isn't very satisfied with her current life. Sister-in-law, could you find a chance to talk to Meimei tomorrow and tell her that the marriage agreement you mentioned before was just a joke?"

“Fugui, it’s understandable that Meimei wants to live a good life. My previous suggestion has always been effective. As long as Meimei is willing to marry into the family, she can choose any of my brother’s sons.” Tian Shanhua glanced at Zhou Fugui and said with a smile.

Don't think Tian Shanhua can't see it; Zhou Fugui has been trying to erase his past as a petty spy for the past few years. He's determined to break free from her control and live a normal life.

She had warned Zhou Fugui before that once he joined them, there was no turning back.

"Sister-in-law, really, there's no need. Meimei is already married, and she and her husband have a good relationship." Zhou Fugui was startled and quickly waved his hand.

Zhou Fugui knew that Tian Shanhua was deliberately boasting about the wonderful life abroad in front of Zhou Meimei in order to drag Zhou Meimei into her scheme.

After Zhou Fugui tried to stop her, Tian Shanhua then tried to send Zhou Meimei abroad as a means to control Zhou Fugui.

Zhou Fugui definitely cannot let this happen.

Zhou Meimei would be better off staying in China and working as an assembly line worker than living abroad as a "rich housewife" without freedom!

Over the years, Zhou Fugui has regretted countless times that he shouldn't have agreed to join the White Party when he was half-starving, just for a bowl of sweet potato rice from Tian Shanhua. He shouldn't have agreed to join Tian Shanhua's spy organization for a job. Most importantly, he shouldn't have listened to Tian Shanhua's lies and taken that child home to raise as his own. Poor thing, his real mistress lost her life to make way for that "troublemaker"...

“Fugui! I know you want to extricate yourself, but many things can’t be extricated just because you want to. Even I am not in control of my own destiny!” Tian Shanhua sighed and said.

"Sister-in-law, I didn't. I just feel that I should bear the consequences of my own actions. I hope you won't say those things in front of Meimei and the others in the future. The children are young and can't resist temptation." Zhou Fugui said with a bitter smile.

"Fugui, are you blaming me for bringing you into the organization back then?" Tian Shanhua asked.

"How could that be? Sister-in-law, if it weren't for the bowl of sweet potato rice you gave me back then, my parents and I would have starved to death," Zhou Fugui said with an embarrassed smile.

Zhou Fugui still doesn't understand why Tian Shanhua would choose him.

Although he has some cleverness, he's just an ordinary person. He's not outstanding at anything.