Chapter 259 Zhou Xiye's Confusion
Zhou Xiye was somewhat surprised that Jiang Zhizhi was home: "Didn't you go to school this morning?"
Jiang Zhizhi nodded: "Yes, I took the morning off to accompany my mom home and get some clean clothes."
Although Cong Meilan didn't know what Fang Hua and the others had gone through when they returned, just the fact that the two of them came back so quickly with a big bag of clothes meant that it must have been an unpleasant experience.
She readily agreed, saying, "You can stay here and wait for Xiye to go to school. Zhizhi will also stay here. Our place is quite convenient, except for the toilet and shower, which are not as convenient as your compound. It's also close to school."
Zhou Xiye hummed in agreement, said nothing more, and picked up Liangliang, who was clinging to his leg and wouldn't let go: "Want to go eat? Let's go together?"
Fang Hua and Cong Meilan led Mingming ahead, whispering as they talked about how she would deal with Zhou Chengzhi when she got back.
Cong Meilan kept saying that he deserved it.
Zhou Xiye was carrying Liangliang, who didn't want to walk, and Jiang Zhizhi reached out and grabbed his arm, urging him to slow down.
After putting some distance between himself and Fang Hua and the others, he whispered to Zhou Xiye, "How is it? Did something unexpected happen?"
Zhou Xiye frowned: "Tan Songlin hanged himself at home last night. All the projects he was involved in have to be suspended, as they may have been leaked."
Jiang Zhizhi exclaimed, "Tan Songlin, isn't he in the same research group as Li Simin? Didn't he know Sun Xiaoyue? He... no way, how could he commit suicide?"
"He smoked Jingmen brand cigarettes, he was of medium height, which perfectly matched the descriptions of the two people before him. Also, the phone call yesterday was from Sun Xiaoyue, and he committed suicide that night..."
Jiang Zhizhi immediately sensed something was wrong: "He's a scapegoat!"
Zhou Xiye felt a chill in his heart. He was surprised by this result, but it was also reasonable. How could someone who could spend twenty years planning be exposed so easily?
Jiang Zhizhi was somewhat indignant: "Then... what about Sun Xiaoyue? As the last person to make the call, shouldn't she be investigated?"
Zhou Xiye shook his head: "She was investigated, but there was nothing wrong with her. Her phone conversation with Tan Songlin was also recorded. Sun Xiaoyue said she wanted his help, and Tan Songlin said not to contact him again. After all, calls to the research group are monitored, so they won't say anything useful."
"Tan Songlin also wrote a suicide note, in which he confessed that he had feelings for Sun Xiaoyue that went beyond platonic love, that he had been unfaithful to his family, and that he later sold the data to outsiders for money..."
“He implicated someone, and after investigation, it was confirmed that this was true. Sun Xiaoyue’s matter became less important, and the higher-ups ordered that this matter be put to rest and not to be publicized.”
Jiang Zhizhi exclaimed, kicking at the snow on the roadside: "Is that all? What about Sun Xiaoyue..."
Zhou Xiye had also been puzzled before, but Song Dong comforted him: "You've been in the border region for many years and don't understand the complexities of the capital. Besides, your personality is black and white, so it's normal that you can't stand these things, but that's just how reality is."
"You have to endure it even if you can't. Forcing a result won't do you any good, either for yourself or Uncle Zhou."
For the first time, Zhou Xiye felt frustrated; the things he disapproved of would not come to a conclusion.
Seeing that Zhou Xiye was silent, Jiang Zhizhi noticed that Liangliang in her arms was also very well-behaved, lying quietly on Zhou Xiye's shoulder while the two adults were talking.
She suddenly realized that if she couldn't accept it, Zhou Xiye's personality would be even less able to accept it.
He was too upright and could not tolerate the intricacies of officialdom; he was intolerant of such injustices.
Therefore, he would probably feel even more distressed if he heard about the spread of darkness that he was powerless to stop.
She quickly reached out and took Zhou Xiye's arm, smiling broadly, "It's alright, as long as we live well, let them do whatever they want."
She then tugged at his arm again: "Look at us now, don't we look like a family of three? In the future..."
Before he could even say it, he chuckled to himself, "In the future, if we have children, you'll carry them when we go out."
It felt as if a weight had suddenly been lifted from Zhou Xiye's heart, and he felt a sense of relief, a smile appearing in his eyes: "Okay."
It seemed like I suddenly understood. Song Dong was right. There are many unfair things in this world, and sometimes you have to wait for an opportunity.
Seeing him smile, Jiang Zhizhi's smile deepened: "And another thing, we just do what we want to do, and leave the rest to karma. Who cares what lies ahead? Just forge ahead."
As she spoke, she walked around to Zhou Xiye's front and waved to him: "Let's be incredibly happy, make our business thrive, and make those people furious."
...
When they arrived at the roast duck restaurant, Fang Hua and Cong Meilan insisted on paying the bill.
Cong Meilan wouldn't let Jiang Zhizhi and Zhou Xiye come closer: "It's not a good look for you to be all arguing here. I'm treating you today, but you can treat me later, it's the same thing. Besides, it's not easy for Xiye to come back, and we haven't invited you over for dinner yet."
"Today, this meal is on me. If you don't agree, then don't stay at my house tonight."
Since things had come to this point, Fang Hua couldn't say anything more. He stopped Zhou Xiye and Jiang Zhizhi, saying, "Alright, let your aunt treat you to dinner today. We'll treat them to dinner later. It's all the same."
Cong Meilan was satisfied: "That's right, there's no reason for you to pay when you come to our house."
During the meal, Liangliang clung to Zhou Xiye, insisting on sitting next to him and asking him to roll up some roast duck for him. He was very sweet, calling him "Uncle" repeatedly.
Cong Meilan looked at him with amusement: "Liangliang misses his father. Seeing Zhou Xiye and Xiao Nan wearing the same clothes makes him feel a sense of familiarity."
Cong Meilan has three children. Her eldest son is a soldier in Northeast China, where his wife and children are. Her second son is a daughter who married a naval officer and went to the south with him.
The third son and his wife are both military reporters, working in Beijing, but they travel frequently for work, so Cong Meilan is the primary caregiver for their two children.
Fang Hua smiled as she looked at the child sitting between Zhou Xiye and Jiang Zhizhi. Then she looked at Zhou Xiye and Jiang Zhizhi, one patiently rolling up a roast duck for the child, and the other gently wiping the child's mouth with a handkerchief. The thought of wanting Jiang Zhizhi to have a child resurfaced in her mind.
Cong Meilan was still thinking about how to deal with Zhou Chengzhi: "Fang Hua, let me tell you, this time we must not be soft-hearted. We must make Zhou Chengzhi think carefully about how this family has been kept afloat."
"Isn't it all his fault that Nishino's younger siblings couldn't be saved? I think he's getting more and more confused."
Fang Hua interrupted with a smile: "Sister-in-law, don't worry, I know what I'm doing this time."
Cong Meilan was still heartbroken: "You... you've raised Xiaochuan for so many years, and he's still so disheartening. How can Guofeng and his wife live with themselves?"
Fang Hua's expression changed: "Why bring them up for no reason?"
Cong Meilan was taken aback, looking at Zhou Xiye and Jiang Zhizhi: "Didn't you tell them?"
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