The next morning, Chu Wuyan arrived in Jiangcheng.

After meeting Lin Xiaoxiao at the guesthouse, he went to the Tail-Cutting Association.

After Director Zhao was dismissed, someone from Beijing came to take over the matter.

This man is the son of the director of the Beijing Tail-Cutting Association. He is only twenty years old and has been working under his father for three years. He has been influenced by certain ideologies since childhood.

His methods are even more ruthless than his father's.

He is expected to become the next leader of the Beijing Tail-Cutting Association after his father retires.

"Third Brother Chu, it's been a long time." Zhuang Ying leisurely took a sip of tea, and when Chu Wuyan walked in, she smiled and pointed to the seat opposite her, "Sit down."

He didn't even move his buttocks.

Chu Wuyan pulled out a chair, sat down calmly, and crossed his legs. "The ancients said that one should look at someone with new eyes after three days of separation. Today I finally understand the meaning of that saying."

They were actually both from Beijing. He lived in the military compound, and Zhuang Ying lived in the government compound. They were from the same circle, so it was common for them to run into each other.

Zhuang Ying seemed oblivious to the joke in his words, and said to herself, "What wind blew you to Jiangcheng?"

Chu Wuyan smiled and said, "Stop trying to fool me. Take care of my sister's matter properly, so that when we meet in Beijing in the future, we can still talk to each other calmly."

They even tried to pin baseless accusations on his Lin Daiyu. Were they just taking advantage of her good temper?

If it weren't for the fear of implicating Qin Yushen's work, he estimated that Lin Xiaoxiao would have already rushed back to Beijing.

Where would we be now, staying in Jiangcheng to deal with them?

The Lu family...

A strange emotion flickered in Chu Wuyan's eyes.

"When did Comrade Lin become your sister?" Zhuang Ying paused in her tea-drinking, her eyes flashing.

It's not uncommon in Beijing for Lin Xiaoxiao to have a good relationship with the Chu family, but for Chu Wuyan to openly call her "sister," their relationship must be more complex than it seems.

Chu Wuyan said matter-of-factly, "She's my grandfather's personally recognized goddaughter, my father's goddaughter, what else could she be but my sister?"

Old Master Chu personally recognized it...

Zhuang Ying's eyes darted around, and she made a decision within three seconds. "Oh dear, look at the mess this has made. It's all the fault of the people below for not understanding the situation properly. My sister almost got blamed."

He patted his chest and assured him, "Don't worry, Third Brother, I'll handle this perfectly for you."

Chu Wuyan was satisfied. "Very good. Consider this a favor our Chu family owes you."

They even brought up the topic of human relationships.

Anyone with a normal mind knows how to choose.

A hint of joy flashed in Zhuang Ying's eyes. She got up, took a cup, and poured a cup of tea for Chu Wuyan. "Third Brother, you're too kind. Come, come, have some tea."

The two chatted over tea for a while.

"It's getting late, I'll be going now." Chu Wuyan glanced at his wrist.

Zhuang Ying reached out her hand, "Let's meet again when we get back to Beijing."

Chu Wuyan nodded, took two steps, then suddenly stopped and turned back, "Give me a list of the people who spoke to your father."

"This..." Zhuang Ying looked troubled.

Chu Wuyan saw a hint of greed in his eyes and curled his lips into a smile, "Third brother, how could I possibly mistreat you?"

It's so refreshing to talk to smart people.

Zhuang Ying smiled, "I'm relieved to hear you say that."

"I need to go back to Beijing to get the list from my dad. It will be delivered to you within a week at the latest."

Chu Wuyan glanced at him expressionlessly. "We're all in the same circle. Let me remind you, don't lose sight of the bigger picture."

Zhuang Ying was stunned for a moment, but quickly came to her senses.

Meeting Chu Wuyan's gaze, she said, "I have kept Third Brother's teachings in mind."

Everything that needed to be said has been said; what they do next is their business.

Chu Wuyan raised an eyebrow, thinking to himself that this guy was no simple character either, and might actually surpass his father in the future.

They're all a bunch of venomous snakes.

Once Chu Wuyan's figure had completely disappeared from the office, Zhuang Ying immediately picked up the phone and dialed a number.

"Dad, the Chu family has made their stance clear; they want to get involved in this matter."

He then recounted the relationship between Lin Xiaoxiao and the Chu family.

I don't know what the person on the other end said, but Zhuang Ying's face was full of arrogance. "Dad, I told you you have to accept that you're getting old, but you didn't believe me. You're not as decisive as you were a few years ago."

"So what if it's the Chu family? Haven't we taken down plenty of powerful figures already?"

"You can leave this to me. I guarantee that we'll let them fight it out while we, the fishermen, reap the benefits."

"Send a message to the Lu family and see what terms they can offer."

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

After hanging up the phone, Zhuang Ying looked up, her eyes filled with ambition.

Over the next two days, Lin Xiaoxiao met up with Sister Wang and the others at a state-run restaurant and prepared some small gifts for them.

When Sister Wang and the others learned that Lin Xiaoxiao was pregnant, they all said they wanted to make clothes for the baby in her belly.

Once it's done, I'll send it to Lin Xiaoxiao in Beijing.

This was their heartfelt gesture, and Lin Xiaoxiao did not refuse.

As for Sun Yuan, unfortunately, she took leave to go back to her parents' home.

We'll have to reschedule for later.

After Lin Xiaoxiao finished going through all these social connections, good news came from the Tail-Cutting Association: they had ruled out the father-daughter relationship between Lin Xiaoxiao and that couple.

The two were sent back to the western province, where they were met with even more tedious labor.

The deadline was extended in response to their escape.

"Sister Lin, have you packed your things yet?" Chu Wuyan came upstairs to help Lin Xiaoxiao carry her things.

Lin Xiaoxiao had very few belongings; she carried a shoulder bag and a few sponge cakes she bought from the supply and marketing cooperative, intending to eat them on the way.

When Chu Wuyan came to Jiangcheng, he also drove a car, not a Jeep, because driving a Jeep would be too ostentatious.

He borrowed a Santana from a friend; it looked a bit old, which is why it wasn't conspicuous.

"Let's go, back to Beijing." Chu Wuyan started the car.

Lin Xiaoxiao, sitting in the back, watched him prepare to turn around and head towards Beijing, and said, "Drive along this road to Guangzhou."

"What did you say?" Chu Wuyan thought he had misheard and asked again.

"To Guangzhou," Lin Xiaoxiao said succinctly.

Chu Wuyan glanced at her in the rearview mirror and, seeing that she didn't seem to be joking, turned the steering wheel back and actually drove down the road.

On the way, he asked, "An urgent mission?"

"Okay." Lin Xiaoxiao nodded, her expression calm. "After going to Guangzhou, we'll smuggle ourselves directly to Hong Kong."

Smuggling?

Chu Wuyan immediately realized that their mission was clandestine and they didn't even have a proper identity.

“What about the others?” he asked.

Lin Xiaoxiao: "Guan Shan and Guan Yue went to Gangcheng from Guangzhou yesterday, we need to hurry."

Chu Wuyan hesitated, as if he wanted to speak.

As if sensing his hesitation, Lin Xiaoxiao looked up and asked, "Is there a problem?"

"I'm fine," Chu Wuyan said. "The main thing is that you... are you pregnant? Is your Qin Yu really at ease?"

Lin Xiaoxiao touched it and said, "It's not a big problem."

It was less than five months, and her bones were so slender that you couldn't tell she was pregnant if she wore slightly loose clothing.