After listening to Skinny Monkey's encouragement, Tang Guohong's eyes flickered. "Let's go scout it out first and see if what that woman said is true."

"Hey, big brother, I'm going right now."

When the skinny monkey saw that his older brother had agreed, an uncontrollable surge of excitement rose on his face.

In the afternoon, he secretly wandered around Liuhuai Lane by himself.

After squatting for two days, the skinny monkey had basically figured out Li Yueniang's daily routine and the number of people in her family.

Inside the ward, the three of them lowered their heads and whispered among themselves.

"Brother, she is indeed an old woman of considerable age."

"I pretended to be a scrap collector and asked a child for information."

"Her son used to be a very famous doctor, her wife is a university professor, and she has a grandson and a granddaughter. Her family is very well-off, but indeed, none of her relatives are around."

"It seems like I've been living alone since last year."

"All day long, I either go out to buy groceries, take a stroll in the alley, or stay at home alone."

"I heard from people around there that she has a relative who is an official."

"I reckon it's at that nurse's house."

Tang Guohong inquired carefully, "What kind of families live around here? Have you found out?"

"I asked, and on the left was an old lady with a young girl. The girl works at some company because she leaves early and returns late."

"On the other side lives a large family of more than ten people. It's a mess, and they don't get along well with their neighbors. They don't seem like the type to meddle in other people's business."

Tang Guohong had a plan in mind: "It's best not to run into them. Pick a time when the old woman isn't home and go in to search."

"Brother, that alley is so crowded, with doors right next to each other. During the day, the alley is full of kids running around and residents sitting at their doorways chatting."

"It's not good to make a move during the day, I think nighttime is better."

“We’ll sneak in at night. What’s an old lady afraid of? If something really happens, no one will find out.”

"Brother, there's no time to lose, shall we go and investigate tonight?"

"Third brother, are you alright all by yourself in the hospital?"

"What could possibly happen to me? Big brother, you and Skinny Monkey be careful."

That evening, Li Yueniang simply cooked a bowl of clear soup noodles. While she was eating, a head poked out from the courtyard wall.

"Grandma Li, Grandma Li."

"Oh, Wenjing?"

Guo Wenjing smiled and said, "Grandma is eating."

"My grandma fried some dough balls today and asked me to bring you a few."

As she spoke, Guo Wenjing leaned over the half-high wall and handed over a small plate.

Li Yueniang didn't hold back either. She and Old Guo next door got along well and often talked badly about him together. They were like sisters.

"This is too kind of you. You go to so much trouble to fry some dough balls and then bring them to me."

Li Yueniang took the plate, went back into the house, poured the contents into her own bowl, and called out to the outside, "Wait a minute, I'll get you a bundle of salted dried beans. Your grandma said she wanted some yesterday."

As Li Yueniang emptied the jars, she spoke loudly to Guo Wenjing outside, "Daughters are the best, daughters are so thoughtful."

Guo Wenjing smiled and said, "Grandma Li, are you thinking about making porcelain?"

"Has she written to you? How is she doing over there? When will she be back?"

When Su Qingci went to the countryside, Guo Wenjing insisted on going with her, but Grandma Guo strongly objected. Guo Wenjing also thought that her maternal grandmother was the only one left at home, so she had to give up.

She was reluctant to part with her best friend and tried to persuade Su Qingci several times, but Su Qingci couldn't say anything at that time. She only said that she wanted to step out of the ivory tower and go to the grassroots level, so as to contribute her meager strength to the construction of the motherland.

At first, she was angry that Su Qingci hadn't written to her, but later, when the Su family had an accident, she vaguely understood that her good friend had a reason why she had to go.

"I wrote a letter."

Li Yueniang lowered her voice and said, "They said he's working in a small town in the south and isn't farming in the countryside anymore."

She said she was fine and told her family not to worry about her.

"Oh, right, I heard from your grandma that you like to eat dried fruit, here you go."

"Oh, I don't want it, you keep it for yourself."

"Take it. Don't think I don't know. You've been hanging around the wall every few days trying to chat with me and bringing me things, just to see if I'm doing well!"

“Your grandma is such a miser, such a stingy little thing, she would never give me noodles to eat.”

Li Yueniang smiled as she spoke.

Guo Wenjing blushed. "Grandma Li, what are you saying? This is what my maternal grandmother asked me to give you."

"You two are the same. You're so close, you're like brothers, yet you still get angry and quarrel every few days. You're really like old children."

"Who would be on the same side as her? That toothless old woman is the worst."

"Tell her that she has to apologize to me by tomorrow at the latest, or I'll break off all ties with her."

Guo Wenjing said helplessly, "Last time, it was because Grandma said your insoles weren't sewn tightly enough."

"The time before last, it was because you laughed at Grandma and she lost a tooth. The time before that, it was because you went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy tofu without calling her."

"And this time? What did you two argue about this time?"

Li Yueniang's face darkened. "She used up all the paper I had stuffed in the hole in the wall when she went to the toilet, so there was none left when I needed it."

"That's all?"

"Maybe my grandma just forgot to bring it that day, and she used it but didn't have time to put it back for you."

"Who said that? She admitted it herself, she did it on purpose..."

The two were talking while leaning against the wall when suddenly a large head with a long face popped out from the side.

"Fine, let's break up then. Who's afraid of who?"

"With your awful temper, I've had enough of you. You're the one who wants to break up with me, not the other way around."

"Shameless! We're about to break up, and you're still eating my steamed buns. Give them back to me."

"If you don't pay me back, I'll break off all ties with you and still eat your noodles. I'll make you furious."

"I spat into it when I fried it, so you can eat it."

"I don't believe you for a second. You want me to give it back to you? I'm not giving it to you."

"Pah!"

"Sigh~"

Grandma Guo was furious when she saw Li Yueniang turn around and go back; she hadn't even finished speaking!

"Li Yueniang, you good-for-nothing! Every time we argue, you run away halfway through. You're a deserter!"

"You're just bullying me because you talk fast! I haven't finished speaking yet!"

"You better come out here and die right now... That's what I hate most about you... You heartless old woman... You deserve it..."

Li Yueniang slammed the door shut, humming a tune as she peeled garlic and served noodles, in an incredibly happy mood.

That old woman is infuriating.

Night fell, the moon was full and round, and the entire Willow Lane was bathed in its cold moonlight. The surrounding area gradually quieted down.

Only the faint chirping of insects and barking of dogs could be heard from afar.

Two figures darted out from the shadows, using the low earthen wall as leverage to flip over and enter the courtyard.

One of them cautiously observed the surroundings and remained on guard, while the other pulled out a small knife and poked it through the crack in the door. In no time, the bolt was removed.

With a slight creak, the door opened, and the two tiptoed inside.