The people inside were all dumbfounded. What did this mean? Had they been kicked out? But there was nothing they could do. They couldn't go anywhere else now; the people here were simple and honest, and whatever Zhou Yuanqing said, given his erratic behavior, wouldn't have much of an impact. They'd just wait for news here.

Helpless, they had no choice but to forcibly take Zhou Yuanqing away.

“Hongmei, let’s go to your great-grandmother’s house.”

"Yes, my aunt just came over and told me, Uncle, let's go together."

Zhang Hongmei and Wang Hongxi arrived at Liu Changhe's house. It was already past three in the afternoon. The old lady was sitting in the yard. When she saw Zhang Hongmei come in, she glared at her and said, "You good-for-nothing coward."

"See, you start scolding me as soon as I get back. Besides, where have I ever been a coward?"

Zhang Hongmei pouted and sat on the small stool next to the old lady.

The old lady no longer bothered with her, looking at Wang Hongxi and saying, "That's right, that's how it should be. But the cafeteria should still send someone to deliver food to them. We don't need any more food, but we can give them whatever we eat. No need for that."

"If I find out about the mistress, what should I do about patriotism?"

"It's alright. Since things have come to the public, I'll handle it. You don't need to worry about it."

"Yes, I understand. I'll go back to the cafeteria and let them know."

"Okay, go ahead."

After Wang Hongxi left, the old lady tapped Zhang Hongmei's forehead, stood up, and went into the house. Zhang Hongmei quickly followed behind her.

The mother and daughter sat on the kang (a heated brick bed). Zhang Hongmei took off her shoes, sat down on the kang, and leaned against the pile of quilts.

"Grandma, let him live, right?" Zhang Hongmei asked softly.

The old lady sat with her legs crossed, looking at Zhang Hongmei. "What do you think?"

“Grandma, when I first learned the truth, I wanted to kill him, and I was confident I could succeed. But after meeting Zhou Shixiong, I started to waver. It’s only right that a murderer should pay with his life and a debtor should repay his debts.”

However, the aftermath of Zhou Yuanqing's death will be very troublesome and may cause unrest. I am not afraid on my own, at worst I will just get myself involved, but many people will be implicated in the future.

Today, I saw Zhou Yuanqing's terrified expression at my doorstep, and I suddenly felt that death might actually be a blessing for him.

Although I brought a knife with me when I went up the mountain, I didn't attack him when I saw him suddenly go berserk in the cave. Maybe I was afraid, or maybe I was overthinking things. In any case, I didn't do anything in the end.

Before coming here, I told Zhang Shouyi that I wanted Zhou Yuanqing to live, because I was afraid he or Gu Chuanming would get into trouble. But when I heard him repeatedly and nonsensically talking about his inappropriate thoughts about my mother, I suddenly calmed down. The cruelest thing in the world is to desire something and not be able to have it.

Suddenly, I didn't feel so resentful anymore. For someone like him, born with a silver spoon in his mouth, living a life of madness is perhaps a form of revenge.

The old lady patted Zhang Hongmei's head and said, "You've grown up and matured. I'm quite pleased that you can think like this."

"It's alright, leave the rest to me. Zhou Shixiong has to give me some explanation, right? He's just staying silent like this, as if I'm dead."

"Grandma, don't make things difficult for me."

"Hehe, there's nothing difficult about it. It would have been fine if I hadn't known, but now that it's out in the open, I can't back down."

"Grandma, will I seem unfilial for doing this?"

"Girl, what is filial piety?" The old lady kept trying to soothe Zhang Hongmei.

Zhang Hongmei looked at the old lady with a blank expression, her mind in turmoil, and she had no idea what to say.

"Girl, don't be confused. Think about why your parents sent you back when you were five years old?"

"They're afraid I'll be in danger."

"Yes, so if they knew there was danger, why did they only send you back?"

Zhang Hongmei fell into deep thought, "That was their love for me."

"If you can understand this, why are you still confused?"

"But I feel sorry for them. I'm also afraid that people will think I'm unfilial, knowing that I didn't avenge my parents' murderers."

“Hongmei, you’re being narrow-minded. Why do you care so much about what others think? Do you want to live according to what others think?”

Furthermore, they love you so much because they want you to live a good life. They sent you back so you could stay away from all the trouble and controversy.

Yes, the love that parents have for their children is the most righteous and selfless in the world.

"Grandma, I understand. I will live a good life and not let my parents down."

"Good, it's best if you can think it through yourself. That's the greatest way to be filial to your parents."

"Grandma, how do you think Zhou Shixiong will resolve this matter?"

"Zhou Shixiong is the smartest person I've ever met. His thinking is extremely rigorous. I don't even know what he was thinking when he did this."

Zhou Shixiong couldn't possibly be unaware that your parents' deaths were caused by his grandson. Given his character, it's impossible that he let Zhou Yuanqing come over. I think the most likely explanation is that he abandoned Zhou Yuanqing.

Zhang Hongmei frowned, feeling that this matter was not so simple.

"Hongmei, what's going on with Gu Chuanming?"

"Oh, he's recognized me as his godfather, and he's given me all his property and all his power. But there's a condition: one of my children will have the surname Gu. I might not even get married, so where would the child come from?"

I wanted to refuse at the time, but I wasn't given the chance. In the end, I also developed feelings for him, so I agreed.

"Hmph, that old man is cunning. Aren't you afraid he'll interfere with your marriage later?"

"Hehe, no one can interfere with my marriage. Besides, if they want me to marry someone, it has to be someone I like, right?"

I don't have anyone I'm interested in right now. So you're all thinking about this too early.

"That old man is no ordinary person. Let me tell you, he didn't run for office. Otherwise, Zhou Shixiong's position might not have been his."

"Hehe, is that so? I really didn't see that coming. I always thought he wasn't at all reserved in front of Zhou Shixiong."

"Hehe, with his stubbornness, he's never reserved in front of anyone."

"Grandma, do you still have wheat flour? I want to eat dumplings." Zhang Hongmei suddenly changed the subject, letting bygones be bygones.

"Yes, your auntie has already prepared the dough."

"Okay, I'll head back now. There are still two people at home. Also, I brought you some good food. I'll go back and get it. Ugh. I don't know when I'll suddenly leave. I should just share the gifts I brought back with everyone."

Also, I brought back 300 jin of rice. 100 jin each for you and my third uncle, and I'm thinking of putting the rest in the canteen. I'll go up the mountain again; if I find any wild game, we can all have some meat.”

"Alright, go ahead. You've always been incredibly lucky. You might actually make a good harvest. The wheat harvest is coming soon, so you'll be able to have a nice meal. That's great."