When they got home, the children were all very happy, and Zhang Hongmei was also pleased. She couldn't let her own emotions affect the children.

Anne and Daniel sat with them on the kang (a heated brick bed), while the other five played chess in Liu Jingze's study.

The three elderly men, Gu Chuanming and his companion, stood by and watched the game. They didn't usually adhere to the principle of "a gentleman doesn't speak while watching chess," but seeing the children's relentless moves, they simply couldn't follow their train of thought. They couldn't offer advice; they just couldn't understand it.

Even so, they were happy, because this was their excellent child.

Daniel was already too old to cling to Zhang Hongmei, so he sat close to her.

“Mom, can my brothers come to our country? Should we go back and talk to my godfather?” Annie asked with a smile.

"I think it's better to wait until they're adults. If possible, it would be better for them to go to university abroad. But that's not very likely."

Daniel held Zhang Hongmei's hand and asked, "Mom, shall we go back to the capital tomorrow?"

“Yes, go back and call your dad and ask him when you’re coming back. Once you have the specific time, you two sisters can leave.”

“Mom, I’ll come see you again next year.” Daniel leaned his head on Zhang Hongmei’s shoulder.

"Okay, Mom feels really bad that she can't come to see you."

“Mom, we understand. As long as we can see each other, that’s fine,” Annie said with a smile.

Hu Aifen came in and said, "Annie, what do you want to eat tonight? Grandma will make it for you."

"Grandma, I can eat anything, everything you cook is delicious."

Hu Aifen was happy; how could she not be happy when the younger generation praised her?

"Grandma, how about we have wontons for dinner?"

"Okay, let's have wontons and make some pancakes for them."

"I've gone to prepare it, it's pork with scallions."

It was past five o'clock in the evening, and it was already dark. Dinner was ready, and the family sat down together.

"Grandma, you even added sesame oil?" Zhang Ruifeng praised Hu Aifen with a smile.

"That's right, Grandma specially exchanged the sesame oil with someone else this year, isn't it fragrant?"

"Mmm, it smells so good. Grandma is the best."

The family had just finished eating when they heard a knock on the door.

It turned out that Da Shan's father had brought a group of people, all of whom were city staff members.

Zhang Hongmei felt quite embarrassed; looking back, she realized how naive she had been. But since she was already there, there was no going back.

The villagers all heard the car. So they all put down their bowls and chopsticks and came out. No one knew what to feel; most felt a sense of shared sorrow.

Zhang Xingguo stopped Zhang Hongmei, saying that he should step in.

The staff didn't recognize Zhang Xingguo. After all, he had only worked in the city for two years, and he had been gone for more than ten years. They were all unfamiliar faces.

The two who came this time were the head of the Public Security Bureau and the head of the Civil Affairs Bureau. They both knew that the Madam had come, and they guessed Zhang Xingguo's identity when they saw him walking over.

"Greetings, Commander!" The two bowed respectfully, showing the courtesy due to juniors.

"Please don't stand on ceremony, gentlemen. I'm so sorry to have asked you to come here. Let's go to the brigade headquarters instead."

"Yes!" The two of them naturally had no objections. They nodded to Gu Chuanming and Zhang Hongmei, knowing that these were Madam and Chief Gu, even though they hadn't spoken yet.

The children were also in the yard. The two of them were even more respectful. It was an honor to meet the leaders' family today.

Everyone went to the brigade headquarters together, including Hu Aifen, who was helping the old lady.

The villagers all gathered at the brigade headquarters. Da Shan's father sent someone to fetch Wang Laoshuan's family.

After an afternoon of this, the family grew increasingly frightened, feeling as if each day was an eternity. The elderly couple sighed and lamented in their room, wondering how they would survive after leaving Liujiatun.

The second and third sons' families were just packing up their own things, cursing as they did so. They truly hated the troublemakers in their homes.

The third brother and his wife came over. "Second brother, look, eldest brother hasn't said a word. How about this, the two of us will take on the 8,600 yuan. If they want to leave, let them leave. As for Mom and Dad, they can do whatever they want. If they stay, our two families will support them. But this house has no share in them; it can only belong to the two of us."

I don't know what they're thinking. What else could they possibly want if they left Liujiatun? I'd be willing to endure famine. If you don't want to come with me, Second Brother, then my wife and I will stay."

The second brother and his wife agreed to the third brother's suggestion. "Okay, let's both families go together. That's perfect. We won't have to keep trying to kick us out."

The four of them then discussed it together and decided that if they really couldn't get through today, they would go with their plan.

Zhang Mingxia and her husband were also in the room. "Big Tree, do you think they can really kick us out?"

"How would I know? Aren't you quite capable? If you're going to leave, then leave. Going to your mother's village is fine too."

"That's right, we can still get five hundred yuan."

The couple has already figured out how to spend the five hundred yuan. It's theirs; there's no share for anyone else.

The second and third sons' families cooked dinner downstairs. They gave each of the elderly couple a bowl, and the rest were taken upstairs for the six of them, including the two children, to eat.

The three members of the family heard the noise and were waiting for them to call them for dinner, but they waited and waited and no one came to call them.

It was almost six o'clock, and there was still no movement. Having no other choice, Wang Mingxia went out to check and immediately started yelling and cursing.

The two families upstairs had finished eating and cleaned up when they heard the cursing. Not to be outdone, the two sisters-in-law rushed downstairs and started hitting her. No matter how strong Wang Mingxia was, how could one person be a match for two?

When Da Shu saw his wife being beaten, he wanted to rush over, but was stopped by his two younger brothers. "Have you two rebelled?"

"Who do you think you are? If you keep spewing such foul language, I'll teach you a lesson."

Da Shu was a coward; he really didn't dare to do it. It was Cheng Zi who rushed over and patted the two aunts.

The house was now in complete chaos. Wang Mingxia was being beaten by the two men and had no chance to fight back. However, the two men were careful and only hit the fleshy parts of her body, so her face was unharmed.

Neither Wang Laoshuan nor his wife came out. Their eldest son and his wife, whom they always cherished, had caused such a huge mess today, and were about to lose their home. How could they not be angry?

When the villagers came to call them and saw the scene, they all shook their heads. This family...

"Hurry up, the city's Public Security Bureau is here and wants your whole family to come over."

The fight stopped, and the elderly couple came out. "Dazhi, have people from the city really come?"