Back in Lanyuan Town, Wang Xiaofa got off the tractor and went home first. Then the tractor chugged up to Dacheng Street and stopped in front of the Fu family's house.
As soon as Fu Hong helped Grandma Fu off the tractor, Xiao Qinshi from next door heard the commotion, opened the door and ran out. When he saw Xing Zhaozhao and Fu Lan returning on the tractor together, he was both surprised and delighted: "Sister Xing, Sister Lan, you're finally back! That's wonderful!"
Hearing the noise, Grandma Qin and the former headmaster also hurriedly came out.
Seeing Fu Lan safe and sound, Grandma Qin couldn't help but wipe away her tears and said, "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back. I waited all day yesterday and didn't see you come back. I was worried that something had happened to you."
Xing Zhaozhao and Fu Lan exchanged a glance and smiled helplessly. The old lady was right; something had indeed happened.
Seeing the strange expressions on their faces, Old Mrs. Qin's heart skipped a beat, and she asked, "What? Has something really happened?"
Xing Zhaozhao jumped off the tractor, walked up to Old Mrs. Qin, and said, "Something did happen, but thankfully it was all resolved without any serious consequences." As she spoke, Xing Zhaozhao told Old Mrs. Qin the gist of the matter, deliberately avoiding some dangerous details so as not to frighten her.
Grandma Qin quickly exchanged a knowing look with the former headmaster: "No wonder."
Xing Zhaozhao glanced at Grandma Qin, then at the old headmaster, vaguely sensing that she might have overlooked something, and asked curiously, "What's wrong?"
Grandma Qin pointed to Lin Wan's house: "Yesterday, the provincial police suddenly came down and arrested people."
Xing Zhaozhao looked in the direction Old Madam Qin was pointing, and a thought flashed through her mind: "They're here to arrest Chen Dachuan?"
The old principal nodded, recalling yesterday's events with lingering fear: "He usually seemed like a very honest young man, but I never expected him to be so fierce when he got into a fight. He almost killed someone. When he was caught, he was still shouting that he was innocent. I don't know where he got the nerve."
"That's right," Grandma Qin continued. "He even threatened the police officers, saying that someone in his family was a high-ranking official in Beijing, and that the police officers should be careful not to get into trouble. I don't know if it's true or not, but even if it is, after something like this happens, they'd probably be too busy trying to clear themselves of the matter to go out of their way to get involved in this mess. It seems like they're a bit out of their minds."
Grandma Qin clicked her tongue in amazement and shook her head.
Xing Zhaozhao raised an eyebrow slightly upon hearing this. They really did have a relative who held a high-ranking position in the capital. She was also quite curious whether the Chen family would still get involved in this mess now that Chen Dachuan had suddenly gotten himself into such a huge mess.
"It's just so pitiful for their two children. They're so young, and their parents are suddenly no longer around," Grandma Qin sighed.
Xing Zhaozhao frowned slightly, glanced at Lin Wan's tightly closed door, and asked, "Are there only two children at home now?"
Grandma Qin nodded: "After Chen Dachuan was arrested yesterday, I was worried that the two children would be left unattended. When I went to check on them, I found that the two younger ones were taking good care of themselves. I don't know how their parents manage to be so responsible. However, at least for now, we don't have any food to eat. It's hard to say what will happen in the future. The neighborhood director has already contacted the Chen and Lin families. I don't know how they will be dealt with."
Xing Zhaozhao wasn't worried as long as someone could handle it.
"Come on, Xiaolan, let's go home." After helping Grandma Fu off the tractor, Fu Hong reached out her hand to Fu Lan.
Fu Lan looked at her home, which was now almost within reach, then at Grandma Fu and Fu Hong, but stood there, motionless.
Fu Hong frowned: "Xiao Lan?"
Fu Lan nervously twisted the hem of her clothes with her fingers. After a moment of silence, as if she had made up her mind, she looked at Fu Hong and said, "Sister, I don't want to go home for now."
Fu Hong was startled: "Don't want to go home? What do you mean?"
Grandma Fu, who was standing to the side, immediately turned pale.
Xing Zhaozhao, who was talking to Grandma Qin, turned her head in surprise.
Fu Lan looked at Xing Zhaozhao resolutely and asked, "Can I stay at your house for a while, Sister Xing?"
Xing Zhaozhao glanced at Grandma Fu's ashen face, then smiled and said, "Sure, you can stay as long as you want."
Grandma Fu's face immediately turned even uglier. She looked coldly at Fu Lan and said, "Get down and come home with me."
Fu Lan stood on the tractor, motionless.
"Get down right now and come home with me, or you'll never come back again," Grandma Fu said sternly, raising her voice.
Fu Lan bit her lip, stubbornly standing there, still not moving.
Grandma Fu was so angry that she trembled all over: "Fine, very well, since that's how it is, I'll pretend I never had a granddaughter like you." After saying that, she turned around and went back home, slamming the door shut with a "bang".
After a moment of silence outside, Grandma Fu suddenly opened the door again and yelled at Fu Hong, who was still standing there in a daze, "She doesn't want us anymore, what are you still standing there for? Come back here."
Fu Hong hesitated for a moment and looked at Fu Lan.
Fu Lan sniffed and turned her head away, refusing to look at her.
Fu Hong looked hurt and turned back.
Grandma Fu pulled Fu Hong home, and before she could stop herself from glaring at Xing Zhaozhao again, she slammed the door shut.
Xing Zhaozhao: "..." Okay, it was still her fault. Even after such a thing happened, the old lady didn't know to reflect on her actions at all.
However, Xing Zhaozhao didn't care. No matter how much she glared at her, it wouldn't hurt her. So what?
Grandma Qin shook her head helplessly at Grandma Fu's stubborn appearance. She looked at Fu Lan, who had tears in her eyes, and comforted her, "Your grandma is stubborn and proud. She can't get over it right now. I'll find a chance to persuade her. Don't be sad. Go to Zhao Zhao's place and take good care of yourself. Don't think about those things."
Fu Lan nodded: "Thank you, Grandma Qin."
Since Fu Lan wasn't going back, Xing Zhaozhao got back on the tractor, said goodbye to Grandma Qin, and the tractor chugged away, ready to leave.
Just as they reached the street corner, Fu Hong's voice suddenly came from behind: "Wait a minute."
Xing Zhaozhao turned her head and saw Fu Hong chasing after her, so she immediately called out to Da Han.
Fu Hong caught up and stuffed a bundle into Fu Lan's hands: "I packed a few clothes for you." As she spoke, she also stuffed a roll of money into Fu Lan's hand, a very thick roll of money, "No one is well-off these days, we can't eat Sister Xing's food for free."
Fu Lan looked at Fu Hong with red eyes, her voice choked with emotion: "Sister..."
Fu Hong wiped away her tears hastily: "Why are you crying? Just stay with Sister Xing and relax. I'll come visit you when I have time."
After saying that, Fu Hong looked at Xing Zhaozhao and said earnestly, "Thank you so much, Sister Xing. If it weren't for your help this time, and if something had really happened to Xiaolan, I would never forgive myself for the rest of my life. Thank you."
Fu Hong bowed deeply to Xing Zhaozhao before turning and leaving.
The happiest person was Gao Qingshan when Fu Lan was going to stay with Xing Zhaozhao. On the way back, he was smiling like a fool.
Xing Zhaozhao shook her head repeatedly as she watched, and couldn't help but say to Fu Lan, "Why don't you reconsider? This child is too foolish."
Fu Lan was in a much better mood now, and she looked at Gao Qingshan with a smile, saying, "No need, I think it's fine."
Gao Qingshan laughed even more foolishly.
Xing Zhaozhao shook her head speechlessly. Oh no, this child's gotten even dumber.
Gao Qingshan, that silly kid, wasn't finished. When Xing Zhaozhao got home, she realized that she was the one who was finished; her little Hongling was ignoring her.
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