Chapter 115:

Ding Minxiu walked out of the police station, squinting at the sunlight outside as if she had been reborn into another world.

She was finally free—after fifteen days in detention.

She had made it out. Ding Minxiu tried to force a smile, but the corners of her lips only twitched weakly, resembling more of a grimace than a grin.

How had she gotten caught?

The first two times, she had slipped away without a hitch.

She had been careful—maybe she shouldn’t have gone for a third time. The interval had been too short. They were on high alert now. If she had waited longer, they wouldn’t have been so vigilant, so watchful of nighttime movements.

Ding Minxiu felt utterly cheated.

Now, after being detained for so long, she had lost her job. Who knew how she would find another one? On top of that, she had to pay a hefty fine.

A total loss.

Too ashamed to show his face, Zhou Changshou hadn’t come to pick her up. The only one waiting for her was Zhao Qiaoniang. Zhao Qiaoniang’s hair, once streaked with black, had now turned almost entirely white. The dark, puffy bags under her eyes made her look at least five years older.

Ding Minxiu froze for a moment, dazed. When had her mother aged so much?

Time had flown by.

After a brief trance, she snapped back to reality and scowled. “What are you doing here? Come to laugh at me?” Her voice was sharp and shrill.

Zhao Qiaoniang looked at her, tears streaming down her face. “Daughter, can’t we just go home and live a proper life?”

The words “proper life” stabbed at Ding Minxiu’s heart. A proper life?

How could she possibly have a proper life now?

Her life was in shambles—and whose fault was that?

If no one knew, it might have been bearable. But if word got out that she had been detained, people would gossip. How could she ever live normally again?

Once they were far enough from the police station, Ding Minxiu spat out, “Did you ever beg Yu Xiang’an for help? Such a trivial matter, and she still called the police! The world is so unfair!”

Zhao Qiaoniang choked back a sob.

Ding Minxiu sneered, “You just stood by and watched me get arrested. Is this how a real mother acts?”

Zhao Qiaoniang whimpered, “If I weren’t your real mother, I’d be your stepmother. Sometimes, you make me so angry—maybe you’re the one who’s my stepmother. I warned you not to go. Did you listen? Now look what’s happened. What more do you want? If you keep this up, nothing will happen to them, but what about you? You’ve abandoned your family, abandoned yourself.”

Ding Minxiu stomped her foot. “How have I abandoned my family? How have I abandoned myself? I’ve done everything I was supposed to! My grandson is already a few years old—how could I not care about my family? If it weren’t for them, why would I have come here to work? Wouldn’t it have been easier to just stay home and laze around?”

Zhao Qiaoniang regretted it deeply. If she had known, she would have stopped her. “You need to think carefully about what to do next.”

If only they could turn back time.

Zhao Qiaoniang’s mind wandered.

Back to before her daughter had gotten involved with Zhou Boyang.

She would have rather sent her daughter to the countryside.

When it came to the future, Ding Minxiu was at a loss.

What was she supposed to do now?

The reason Ding Minxiu had suddenly done something so reckless was simple: Zhou Boyang had lost his job. The meatpacking plant had shut down. Misfortune never came alone—Zhou Tianyou, who had always been lazy, skipping work more often than not, had been forced into early retirement with a lump-sum severance.

Overnight, the burden of supporting the family fell entirely on Ding Minxiu.

Before, the household had relied on Zhou Boyang and Ding Minxiu’s wages, supplemented by Zhou Changshou’s pension and Zhao Qiaoniang and Zhou Tianyou’s meager incomes. Now, all of that was gone.

Zhou Changshou and Zhao Qiaoniang were too old—no one wanted to hire them, afraid they might collapse on the job.

Now, Ding Minxiu was the only one bringing in money.

Zhou Changshou’s pension had been converted into a one-time payment.

Devastated, Zhou Boyang had shut himself indoors. Ding Minxiu’s son and daughter-in-law, who should have been working to support the family, stayed idle at home, constantly asking her for money.

When Ding Minxiu urged them to find jobs, they refused—her daughter-in-law claimed she needed to take care of the grandson, while her son insisted on finding another “iron rice bowl” job. But in this economy?

The “iron rice bowls” were the ones disappearing the fastest.

Private companies were more reliable—at least they paid on time.

Crushed by the weight of her family’s situation, Ding Minxiu had grown increasingly bitter, especially after hearing how well Yu Xiang’an was doing. In a moment of desperation, she had acted out.

This time, after her arrest, no one except Zhao Qiaoniang had come for her. She had lost her job. She still had some savings, but how long could that last?

This ordeal had finally opened Ding Minxiu’s eyes to the kind of person her beloved son truly was.

Her heart turned to ice. Not a single one of them—not even her own son—had come to see her or even called.

How could she ever rely on him in her old age?

Disillusioned, Ding Minxiu fell silent for the rest of the journey.

What was there to say?

She had vented. Now, she needed to think seriously about what to do next.

Her future—what would become of it?

Back home, Ding Minxiu stared at her reflection in the mirror and carefully tidied herself up.

Her beauty was still there.

She had no choice but to plan for herself. None of her family could be relied upon—she could only depend on herself.

She wasn’t that old yet.

Zhao Qiaoniang watched her movements and sighed in relief.

She didn’t know why, but it seemed her daughter had come to her senses.

Ding Minxiu went to a doctor to improve her health, found a new job, and dressed more elegantly.

Zhao Qiaoniang stayed in their rented home, managing the household chores. In her spare time, she collected scrap to earn a little extra money. It might not have been glamorous, but it wasn’t bad income.

This was enough. Zhao Qiaoniang was content. Why did her daughter keep fixating on the Yu family? They were strangers now. All she needed was a stable job and a peaceful life.

But then, her daughter dropped a bombshell—she was pregnant.

Pregnant? What did that mean?

She hadn’t seen her husband in ages. Whose child was this?

The thought made Zhao Qiaoniang’s vision swim, and she fainted.

When she came to, the dim light made her wish it had all been a nightmare. But no—it was real.

Her daughter sat by the bed, expression resolute. “Mom, I’m not lying. This child isn’t a Zhou.”

Zhao Qiaoniang’s head spun again, but this time, she was already lying down. She had heard it once already.

After taking several deep breaths, Zhao Qiaoniang clutched Ding Minxiu’s hand, trembling. “Child, what have you done? You can’t keep this baby!”

Ding Minxiu shook her head. “Mom, don’t you see? My son is unreliable. If I depend on him, I’ll end up on the streets when I’m old.” Her expression darkened. “I have to think about my own future. Look at the Zhou family now—I can’t carry them anymore. They’re all living off the two of us.”

Zhao Qiaoniang opened her mouth but couldn’t speak.

Ding Minxiu seemed to know what she wanted to ask. “Mom, of course I love my son. But just pretend you don’t know about this. Cover for me if they ask. Tell them I’m too busy with work to come back. As long as I send money on time, they won’t suspect a thing.”

Zhao Qiaoniang was stunned—this was premeditated.

Why?

Ding Minxiu’s voice cracked. “Mom, I’ve finally realized—if I don’t look out for myself, who will? You? Mom, I know you care, but can you give me a better life? No. Zhou Boyang can’t. My son can’t. When I was in jail, no one came. Not even a phone call. Mom, my heart is frozen.”

She turned away, quickly wiping her tears.

“Don’t stop me. If you do, you might as well kill me. At my age, conceiving this child wasn’t easy. This baby is my future.”

She pulled out a gold bracelet.

It was plain, with only one notable feature—it was massive.

“The father gave me this. If I deliver the baby safely, he’ll give me an apartment and a sum of money.”

Zhao Qiaoniang’s eyes widened.

Ding Minxiu smiled, tears tracing her lips. “He wants a child, so I’ll give him one. He might not care about me, but he won’t ignore his own blood. This baby will support me in my old age.”

A strange light flickered in Ding Minxiu’s eyes. “Now, let’s pack up and move somewhere else. Don’t worry about living expenses—he’s already given me money. We’ll eat well, stay healthy, and bring this child into the world safely…”

*

The weather had been lovely lately, so the family decided to go hiking—to enjoy the scenery and give their eyes a break.

They chose a nearby mountain and set off early, just as dawn was breaking, to avoid the crowds.

But they weren’t the first ones there. Some had arrived even earlier.

Since they were here to relax, they took their time, chatting as they walked, stopping whenever they saw something interesting. Lin Yining had brought a camera and snapped photos of anything noteworthy.

Because of their leisurely pace, more and more hikers overtook them.

Many were parents bringing their children out for a weekend getaway.

The peaceful surroundings were soothing. Even Lin Chuanbai and Yu Xiang’an, usually busy, found themselves unwinding. At some point, the family split into two pairs—the twins ahead, and the couple holding hands behind.

Glancing back and seeing their parents like that, the twins: “…”

They suddenly felt full. Better keep climbing to work it off.

By noon, the four of them finally reached the summit at a leisurely pace. Yu Qingshan hadn’t wanted to come—he’d seen enough mountains in his lifetime and preferred staying home to watch TV or listen to storytelling.

Since he wasn’t interested, they hadn’t pushed him. Yu Xiang’an had prepared lunch in advance. Lin Chuanbai found a flat spot and spread out a picnic blanket. Lin Yihong unshouldered his backpack and took out the drinks.

Lin Chuanbai unpacked the food—mostly lightweight items like sandwiches, pan-fried dumplings, siu mai, cake, and some fresh fruits and vegetables to balance the meal.

As they ate, a familiar voice called out nearby: “What a coincidence!”

It was Lei Ming, accompanied by his wife and daughter. He explained with mock exasperation (though his eyes were full of fondness), “My daughter insisted on coming to see the flowers. What else could I do?” He was utterly wrapped around her little finger.

Yu Xiang’an smiled. “I brought my kids out to relax too.”

Lei Ming studied the tall, slender teenagers. “They’re in their last year of high school, right?”

Yu Xiang’an nodded. “Yes, seniors.”

Lei Ming sighed. “Time flies. But they shouldn’t study too hard—they need breaks too.”

The two had grown close over the years, not just as business partners but as friends.

Since the Soviet Union’s collapse last year, Lei Ming had been even more grateful he’d withdrawn his investments early.

Some things were best avoided. Thanks to his foresight (and Yu Xiang’an’s advice), he’d escaped unscathed and continued his business smoothly.

He glanced wistfully at Lin Yihong and Lin Yining. Both were nearly adults. He had married late, so his daughter was still young. If she had been older, he might have joked about arranging a marriage—Yu Xiang’an would make a wonderful mother-in-law.

Yu Xiang’an offered, “Have you eaten? Join us?”

Lei Ming waved her off. “Thanks, but we booked a spot already. Don’t want to intrude.”

Their picnic was carefully portioned—adding three more people would leave them short. Polite as the offer was, he couldn’t accept. There were no proper restaurants on the mountain, just snack stalls. They’d have to descend for a real meal.

As Lei Ming walked away, Lin Yihong murmured, “Uncle Lei is so tall and strong.”

He flexed his own arm. Still in his growth spurt, he wondered if he’d eventually bulk up like that.

Right now, he admired that kind of towering, muscular build.

Lin Chuanbai overheard and eyed his lanky son. The boy took after him but had traces of his mother’s delicate features—he could have been a model or actor. Yet here he was, yearning for a bodybuilder’s physique.

The mental image of his son’s refined face on a hulking frame was… jarring.

Lin Yining piped up, “Should we take the left or right path down? Left is longer but passes by the lake—we could go boating. Right is just stairs and trails. Which one?”

Yu Xiang’an shrugged. “Up to you two. Your dad and I are fine with either.”

Today was about the twins’ relaxation.

Lin Yining decided, “Let’s go left, then. I want to row a boat.”

No objections.

They meandered to the lake, rented a boat, and let Lin Yihong and Lin Yining take the oars. Lin Chuanbai and Yu Xiang’an sat back, enjoying the ride.

The lake wasn’t large, with only four boats in total. At that time, there were no safety measures in place, such as dedicated lifeguards standing by. There was just an elderly person collecting fees over there. Even if he knew how to swim, if an accident occurred, his physical strength likely wouldn’t be sufficient to help.

Two of the four boats had been rented out, one was far from them, and another was not too far ahead. It appeared to be three young people around the same age as Lin Yihong and Lin Yining.

Lin Chuanbai glanced casually, then frowned and patted Yu Xiang’an’s arm. “Does that look familiar to you?”

There were three people over there—one boy and two girls.

Yu Xiang’an: “Which one are you referring to?”

Lin Chuanbai: “The one in the blue clothes.”

Yu Xiang’an blinked. Her eyesight was good, so she could see clearly even from a distance. She narrowed her eyes, trying to recall. “I do feel like I’ve seen her somewhere. Where was it?”

Another acquaintance?

Lin Yihong and Lin Yining also looked over, but they didn’t recognize them.

Yu Xiang’an suddenly remembered. “I know who that girl is. She’s the daughter of Director Huang from the Health Bureau. I think her name is Shanshan. The boy with his back to us must be her brother, Aimin.”

Lin Chuanbai also recalled. “Then the other one must be his niece. I remember their family adopted his younger brother’s daughter.”

Yu Xiang’an nodded. Now that they recognized them, they didn’t plan to do anything further. They continued leisurely enjoying the lakeside scenery.

Lin Yihong was rowing the boat, facing that direction. Right before his eyes, it seemed like an argument broke out among the three. With a splash, the girl in blue fell into the water.

Immediately, screams erupted from their boat. Huang Aimin quickly reached out to pull Huang Shanshan up, while gripping the edge of the boat tightly with his other hand. But the boat swayed violently, and with another splash, he too fell in.

Yu Xiang’an then heard desperate cries: “Help! We can’t swim!”

Lin Chuanbai immediately took the oar from Lin Yihong and rowed toward them, while Lin Yihong stood up, ready to act. All four members of their family knew how to swim.

As they approached, Yu Xiang’an called out from the boat to reassure the two in the water. “Someone’s coming to help you. Don’t panic. When they reach you, relax your body. Don’t be afraid, kids. You’ll be fine.”

Some drowning victims, in their panic, might cling desperately to their rescuer, risking dragging both under.

Lin Chuanbai maneuvered behind Huang Aimin, while Lin Yihong went to Huang Shanshan’s back. Lin Yining stayed at the other end of the boat to maintain balance. Yu Xiang’an extended an oar for them to grab, pulling them up one by one.

All three on that boat were landlubbers—none knew how to swim. The one who hadn’t fallen in could only scream helplessly. Coming out here on a boat was truly reckless.

Since there were no towels or spare clothes on board, Yu Xiang’an took out their picnic blanket. Huang Shanshan’s wet clothes clung too tightly to her body.

“Thank you,” Huang Shanshan gasped, having swallowed several mouthfuls of water. Her face was deathly pale from fright.

Without further delay, they turned back toward shore.

Yu Xiang’an asked, “How did you get here? By car?”

Huang Aimin, recovering fastest, replied, “We took a taxi.”

Yu Xiang’an nodded. “Alright. You need to change out of those wet clothes immediately, or you’ll catch a cold. If you don’t mind, you can use the spare clothes in my car. They might not fit perfectly, but they’re better than soaking wet. I know your father, Director Huang. We met once at a wedding banquet. You were with him then, so I recognized you, though you probably don’t remember me. My name is Yu Xiang’an.”

Huang Aimin indeed had no recollection.

Yu Xiang’an took out her mobile phone. “You can call home if you’d like.”

He hesitated, then accepted the phone. “Thank you, Auntie.”

He called his father, confirming that they knew each other and briefly explaining the situation. Only after hearing his father instruct him to go change clothes did he agree, following them down the mountain to change.

Even though they changed quickly, Huang Shanshan still sneezed several times. Yu Xiang’an advised, “Make sure to drink something warm when you get back to ward off the chill.”

By then, Huang Aimin had fully regained his composure. He bowed deeply. “Thank you, Uncle and Auntie. If not for you, my sister and I don’t know what would’ve happened.”

Yu Xiang’an smiled. “It’s nothing. I’ll drive you home. Your parents must be worried sick.”

She couldn’t help but think how fortunate it was that they all knew how to swim. If her own children had fallen in and couldn’t swim, she’d have been terrified.

Director Huang was indeed frightened out of his wits. He rushed home immediately after the call and was already waiting at the gate when they arrived.

His two children, neither knowing how to swim, had fallen into the lake. If not for the timely intervention of nearby rescuers, the consequences could have been dire.

He only had these two children—both precious to him.

Given the circumstances, there wasn’t much to say. After dropping them off and exchanging a few polite words, Yu Xiang’an and her family left.

Once in the car, with only themselves around, Lin Yihong spoke up. “Mom, before Huang Shanshan fell in, I think her cousin pushed her.”

Yu Xiang’an paused. “Pretend you didn’t see that. It’s their family matter. We shouldn’t interfere.”

Lin Yihong: “I know. The siblings will speak for themselves.”

He had no intention of getting involved, though he couldn’t help feeling a bit unsettled.

Lin Yining widened her eyes. “Brother, are you saying her cousin pushed her on purpose?”

Lin Yihong: “Whether it was intentional or not is hard to say. But think about the consequences. Even if it wasn’t deliberate, it was reckless. If something serious had happened, even if she was fine, she wouldn’t come out looking good.”

The next day, Director Huang visited their home with gifts to express his gratitude. He even presented an honorary banner to Lin Yihong’s class, making no attempt to downplay the incident.

Instantly, everyone in the class learned that they had a young hero among them—something that would undoubtedly benefit Lin Yihong in the future.

Later, after school, Director Huang hosted a banquet nearby, inviting the entire family.

Casually, he remarked, “Children—sometimes it feels like we owed them in a past life, and now we’re repaying it in this one. Always worrying about them. Since you were close by, did you happen to see how they fell in?”

Lin Yihong shook his head. “We only looked over when we heard the splash. Maybe they slipped?”

Director Huang chuckled. “Most likely.”

He raised his glass. “Here, let me toast you. I truly can’t thank you enough. This drink is just a small token. In the future, if there’s anything I can help with—within the bounds of discipline, of course—I’ll do my best.”

He was setting clear boundaries—this was a significant favor, and he would repay it, but only within legal and ethical limits.

Yu Xiang’an raised her glass in return. “Director Huang, we’re law-abiding citizens. We’d never ask you to violate any rules. Feel free to supervise us—I’ve always acted with a clear conscience.”

For a food business, maintaining a good relationship with the Health Bureau was crucial. If they decided to nitpick—claiming hygiene standards weren’t met or inspections were inadequate—operations could grind to a halt.

Yu Xiang’an wasn’t seeking special treatment. As a chef, she took cleanliness seriously.

She didn’t need him to turn a blind eye, but with this goodwill established, anyone trying to exploit bureaucratic red tape to cause trouble would find it harder.

Petty officials could be the most troublesome—that was just how things worked.

Back at home, Lin Yining asked Yu Xiang’an, “Mom, do people ever give our business a hard time on purpose?”

Yu Xiang’an answered without hesitation. “Of course. It’s been happening all along.”

Lin Yining’s eyes widened. “What?! Who dares bully you?”

Yu Xiang’an: “When I first opened the restaurant in the special economic zone, there were people who dined and dashed, planted cockroaches or flies in their food, or even faked food poisoning for compensation. These things are unavoidable. Those with connections higher up wouldn’t mess with me—out of respect for your grandparents’ status, if nothing else. But some people only care about their immediate gains. If they see a business doing well, they’ll try underhanded tactics. It’s impossible to eliminate entirely. That’s why I asked your grandfather for retired soldiers to help guard the place. If troublemakers show up, they can be tossed right out onto the street.”

Lin Yihong and Lin Yining: “…”

They stared at their mother in stunned silence. She had just casually dropped something rather shocking.