Ye Changxing locked up Xiang Zhennan and Wen Xiya, and out of respect for Chang Le, he even gave them two steamed buns.

After Bai Wen'an's family, Ye Changxing and the others took Xiang Zhennan and Wen Xiya away.

The onlookers also left the courtyard and went home.

Wen Tong was heartbroken, her eyes were swollen from crying, and Wen An kept scratching his head.

Mr. and Mrs. Bai were sighing and lamenting in the room with Rui Rui.

Bai Xiaoyue listened to the commotion at home and knew that the group of people had left.

He asked Chang Le to light a fire and cook porridge, while he kneaded dough and made pancakes. Just as the meal was ready, Yan Ci walked in.

Bai Xiaoyue greeted him:

“Aci, you’re back just in time. You can eat at home with the two kids. I’ll deliver some to Wen’an and the others. They probably won’t be in the mood to cook.”

Yan Ci stopped her: "Wife, you eat first, I'll go with you later."

Bai Xiaoyue's hand was very cold next to Yan Ci's. She handed him a bowl of porridge and complained:

"Where have you been? Your hands are so cold. Quickly have a bowl of porridge to warm them up."

Yan Ci didn't say anything, took the bowl and swallowed the porridge in a few gulps.

Bai Xiaoyue said with heartache:

"Aci, eat slowly. Porridge won't keep you full. Have some more pancakes."

She also drank a bowl of porridge.

After the meal, Yan Ci carried a bowl of porridge, while Bai Xiaoyue carried a basket of scallion pancakes.

When the two entered Bai Wen'an's room, they found that, as expected, no one was in the mood to cook; they were sitting listlessly, and hadn't eaten yet.

Bai Xiaoyue hurriedly greeted the group:

"Father, Mother, Wen'an, Wentong, let's eat first!"

Wen Tong said, "You guys eat, I can't eat."

Bai Xiaoyue saw that Wen Tong's eyes were red and swollen, and knew that she was in pain.

He comforted her, saying, "Wen Tong, I know you're worried about Uncle Xiang and Aunt Wen."

But you still need to eat. If you starve yourself, who will try to save Uncle Xiang and Aunt Wen?

Wen Tong cried and said:

"Sister, I should have listened to you back then. I was wrong. I'm the one who hurt them."

Bai Xiaoyue touched her nose and said:

"It's not your fault. Who knew such a disaster would happen? You should eat first, and we'll think of a solution slowly."

Wen Tong said while eating:

"Wen'an, I want to see my parents. That person said they're going to criticize them tonight."

Bai Xiaoyue tried to stop him, but Yan Ci pulled her back and gently shook his head.

Bai Wen'an said to Wen Tong, "You eat first, I'll go with you."

After dinner, Bai's parents stayed home to take care of Rui Rui, while Bai Wen'an accompanied Wen Tong into the city.

Bai Xiaoyue asked Yan Ci:

“Aci, it’s so dangerous for Wen Tong to go to the city. Didn’t you see how fierce those people were today?”

Yan Ci pulled her into his house before saying:

"Things have already come to this, so let her go if we can't stop her! Wen'an is there to keep her company."

He asked Chang Le to play with Xiao Bai, and after going into the inner room, he carried his wife onto the kang (a heated brick bed).

"Honey, I didn't sleep well last night, and I have a bit of a headache. Will you stay with me and sleep for a while?"

Bai Xiaoyue was very anxious upon hearing this and touched Yan Ci's forehead with her hand:

"Your head hurts. Are you sick? Should you go to the hospital?"

Yan Ci hugged her tightly, squinting his eyes as he said:

"No need, I'll just sleep for a while, you stay with me."

Seeing that Yan Ci was truly exhausted, not ill, Bai Xiaoyue nestled in his arms and fell asleep.

My body had been tense since last night, but as soon as I relaxed, I fell asleep immediately.

Yan Ci opened his eyes and saw that his wife was fast asleep before he could finally fall asleep himself.

When Bai Wen'an and Wen Tong arrived in the city, Bai Wen'an first went to the Revolutionary Committee to find an officer named Liu Deming to inquire about the situation.

The two had met a few times before, and Liu Deming was still very enthusiastic:

"Secretary Bai, what brings you here today?"

Bai Wen'an: "Officer Liu, I'd like to ask you about something."

Liu Deming: "What's up?"

Bai Wen'an: "I'd like to see Director Zeng, but I don't know if he's here?"

Liu Deming: "Director Zeng went to the countryside today and hasn't come back yet."

Bai Wen'an: "Then I'll come another day. Sorry to bother you."

After saying that, he got up and left.

As he walked, he pondered, wondering where Zeng Daming had taken his father-in-law and mother-in-law, since Zeng Daming had not returned to the Revolutionary Committee.

I was so focused on walking with my head down that I bumped into someone.

He looked up and saw Ye Changxing. He quickly grabbed him and asked:

"Changxing, what about the people you brought back today? Did they say where they'll be criticized and denounced tonight?"

Upon seeing that it was Bai Wen'an, Ye Changxing pulled him to a secluded place before speaking:

"Uncle Bai, there will be no criticism session today. Our Director Zeng was injured on his way back to the city today."

Bai Wen'an was very agitated: "You're injured? How badly? Is your life in danger?"

Ye Changxing: "His life is not in danger, he just injured his knee."

Bai Wen'an was somewhat disappointed: "Oh."

Ye Changxing advised, "Uncle Bai, you should go back first. It's not good to wander around outside. Director Zeng doesn't have time to criticize people right now."

Bai Wen'an nodded and then asked Ye Changxing to take care of the two elderly people.

Bai Wen'an felt that although Zeng Daming was not dead, his injury was a very gratifying thing.

He hurriedly ran to tell Wen Tong the good news.

When the couple returned home, it was already dark. Bai's mother cooked dinner for them.

After the meal, the two of them went to tell Bai Xiaoyue the good news.

Bai Xiaoyue said with great regret:

"What a pity, it truly proves that evil lives on for a thousand years."

Yan Ci asked his wife, "Do you want him dead?"

Bai Xiaoyue shook her head:

"Even if he dies, there will still be people to carry on this world. His death is of no use."

She shook her head and sighed for a long time before she realized what she was doing and asked:

"Aci, what do you mean? You did Zeng Daming's injury?"

Yan Ci just looked at her without saying a word.

Bai Xiaoyue's eyes widened, and her voice stammered:

"You mean, you mean, when you said you were going out to take a look?"

Seeing that his wife was nervous, Yan Ci patted her on the back.

Bai Xiaoyue suddenly jumped up:

"Oh dear, he's not dead. What if he comes to identify you?"

Yan Ci quickly pulled his wife into his arms:

"Don't panic, it's alright, he didn't see what I looked like."

Yan Ci then told his wife how he dealt with Zeng Daming.

After saying that, he further explained:

"I didn't tell you last night because I saw you were worried and I didn't want to add to your burden. I didn't mean to hide it from you."

Bai Xiaoyue knew that Yan Ci was taking risks to do these things behind the scenes for her sake, and she was very grateful.

She held Yan Ci and said:

"Aci, I'm sorry, it's all because of my family's problems that I've dragged you down."

Yan Ci patted his wife's head and said:

"Fool, we're husband and wife, don't say anything that could implicate us."

The two embraced quietly for a long time before Bai Xiaoyue, having recovered her senses, said:

"With Zeng Daming injured, things should calm down for a while now!"

"Aci, do you think he might release Uncle Xiang and Aunt Wen out of fear?"

Yan Ci said, "Wife, we have done what we can. The outcome is up to fate."

Bai Xiaoyue nodded: "I believe that God will make the best arrangements."

...

After Wen Tong returned home, she paced around her room several times before speaking to Bai Wenan:

"Wen'an, go ask Captain Ye and ask him to come to the city with us tomorrow to inquire about our parents."

Bai Wen'an said, "Can't we ask my uncle?"

Wen Tong said, "My uncle is getting old and is related to us, so it would be better to ask Captain Ye for help."

Bai Wen'an was persuaded by his wife, so he took half a pound of brown sugar from home and went out.

Wen Tong and Wen An went out and went directly to the educated youth courtyard.

Before she could even climb over the wall, she found two people whispering in a corner.