Chapter 368: Relief

"Alright Aihua, I can understand your feelings, and I understand your parents' difficulties even more. Let's wait until Brother Ping'an returns to discuss this matter."

Wang Xiaoling rubbed Li Aihua's head; in her eyes, Li Aihua was still that little girl from before.

"Mm, okay."

"Blehh," Lou Xiaoe made a face at Li Aihua from the side.

"..."

Li Aihua, who had just been comforted by Wang Xiaoling, instantly bristled. The two began another childish scuffle in the kitchen, and Wang Xiaoling could only helplessly press a hand to her forehead.

An hour later, six dishes and one soup were set on the table, with chicken, duck, fish, and meat all included.

"Sister Mingzhu, Uncle, Aunt, the meal is ready. Let's move to the dining room."

Li Aihua's hair was a bit messy at this moment, and her clothes had slight wrinkles; these were all left over from her recent battle with Lou Xiaoe.

"Aihua, did you and Xiao'e... again?" Zhong Mingzhu guessed the general situation as soon as she saw it.

"Hmph, no."

Zhong Dingbang was old and shrewd; from their simple conversation, he could guess part of the reason. It must have been that the two had fought, and it seemed Zhang Ping'an couldn't handle the relationships between them well either.

Thinking about it, it made sense. The women could all be called heaven-favored daughters, and by committing themselves to one man simultaneously, comparisons were inevitable.

"Uncle, Aunt, please sit. We only have these ingredients at home, so please make do," Wang Xiaoling said, interrupting Zhong Laotou's deep thoughts.

"It's already very good. Thank you for your hard work, Xiao Ling."

"It's nothing, nothing. We usually cook for ourselves anyway; today is just two extra pairs of chopsticks."

The four women accompanied them throughout, while the children ate and drank at another table. After the meal, Zhong Dingbang and his wife chatted with Zhong Mingzhu for a long time before leaving.

For the next few days, Zhong Dingbang and his wife came over every day; for this daughter who had been lost and found, they were afraid of losing her again.

In fact, Zhong Dingbang also came to intercept Zhang Ping'an. Ever since reuniting with his daughter, he had been constantly monitoring the movements of Zhang Ping'an's group, and it was today that he caught him off guard.

"Uh, this, it's all fate..."

In the car, Zhong Dingbang was noncommittal toward Zhang Ping'an's answer, still looking at him with an expressionless face.

"Uncle Zhong, the matter has already happened. If you have anything to say, just say it directly, sir." Zhang Ping'an couldn't do anything about this old man.

"Hmph, still 'Uncle Zhong'? We already have two children with my daughter, and I, the father, only found out after ten years." Zhong Dingbang understood the logic, but he was truly angry.

"Dad?"

"..."

Zhong Zheng'guo, in the driver's seat, had his mouth twitch. He hadn't expected this cheap uncle-in-law to really take advantage of the situation, but was that what his grandfather meant?

"Ahem."

Zhong Dingbang was also choked up. He hadn't realized before that Zhang Ping'an was so thick-skinned, and he couldn't continue his questioning.

After pondering for a long time, Zhong Dingbang reorganized his words.

"Forget it. I'm taking Mingzhu and the children back to stay for a few days. Go call them out."

"Okay."

Zhang Ping'an hurriedly agreed and slipped away as soon as he got out of the car. He really didn't want to face Zhong Laotou; the guy's gaze was too sharp.

"Grandpa, that Zhang Ping'an, he..."

"What Zhang Ping'an? That is your uncle-in-law."

"..."

Zhong Zheng'guo looked at his grandfather in a daze. You were the one who said you wanted to make things difficult, so why are you the first one to change your tune?

"Ahem, Zheng'guo, you saw it just now. He called me 'Dad', and your aunt only recognizes him. Now there are even two children. What can I do?"

"But Grandpa, that Zheng Family..."

Zhong Dingbang frowned. He had been a poor judge of character back then, and fortunately, Mingzhu hadn't agreed, otherwise he would have regretted it to death.

The current Zheng Zhiming was simply a piece of trash that couldn't be propped up. He hadn't known before, but because of Zhong Mingzhu, he felt guilty toward his old comrade-in-arms, which led him to pay more attention to Zheng Zhiming.

Once he started paying attention, it was bad; he found out about all the filthy things Zheng Zhiming had done—selling supply permits, hanging out with scoundrels, and messing around with women. As for the previous matter of hiring a killer, he didn't know.

"Hmph, you know what kind of person that Zheng Zhiming is. It's just that old Zheng doesn't know if he's truly muddled or just unaware."

"Let's not talk about them. There's no need to deliberately hide it; your aunt's return home can't be kept secret anyway. As for your uncle-in-law, don't tell outsiders yet."

"Okay, Grandpa."

Zhang Ping'an returned to the Back Courtyard and found Zhong Mingzhu.

"Mingzhu, Dad is waiting outside. Pack up and take the children back for a few days. I'll find time to come pick you up."

"Dad?"

Hearing this form of address, Zhong Mingzhu's heart leaped with joy. She knew that her old-fashioned father had accepted Zhang Ping'an.

"Mm, okay."

Zhong Mingzhu packed a few changes of clothes, kissed Zhang Ping'an twice, and left with the children. Zhang Ping'an shook his head with a smile, carrying the suitcase behind them.

"I'll come pick you up in a few days."

In front of the Jeep, Zhang Ping'an waved goodbye. These words were not only for Zhong Mingzhu but also to convey his determination to Zhong Laotou.

"Mm, okay."

As the Jeep drove away, Zhang Ping'an turned back to the Siheyuan. In the car, five-year-old Wanqing asked curiously:

"Mom, where are we going? Why didn't you bring Dad along?"

"We're going to Grandpa's house, which is also where Mom grew up. Haven't you always been curious? You'll see it this time."

"Mm."

"Wanqing, when we get to Grandpa's house, shall Grandpa make you a wind chime out of bullet casings?" Zhong Dingbang's stern old face was now smiling like a chrysanthemum.

His eldest daughter, Zhong Yan, had three sons, so Zhong Dingbang cherished this only granddaughter immensely.

"Mm, okay, thank you, Grandpa."

"Wanqing is such a good girl."

Half an hour later, in the Zhong Family Courtyard, the three siblings Zhong Zhennan, Zhong Zhenbei, and Zhong Yan had already learned from Mother Zhong that their younger sister was still alive, and they were all waiting in the main hall at this moment.

As the sound of brakes rang out, the three siblings all walked out of the main hall and saw their younger sister, Zhong Mingzhu, getting out of the car at a glance.

"Little sister..."

Zhong Yan had lived almost entirely in guilt for these past ten-plus years; whenever she dreamed of her little sister struggling in the seawater, her heart felt as if it were being twisted by a knife.

"Big sister~"

When the two sisters met, there was another bout of weeping in each other's arms, and the two brothers, who held real power, also felt a sourness in their noses as they stood to the side.

"Big brother, second brother."

"Mm, it's good that you're back, it's good that you're back."

"Come, let's go into the house first and talk," Zhong Dingbang said, holding one child in each hand.

"Mm."

After everyone's emotions had stabilized, the eldest, Zhong Zhennan, looked at the two timid children and spoke hesitantly:

"Dad, these two children are..."

Just now, Mother Zhong had only said that Zhong Mingzhu was still alive and had not mentioned Zhang Ping'an or the children.

"They are Mingzhu's children, Wei Xia and Wanqing. These are your eldest uncle, second uncle, and eldest aunt."

"Hello, eldest uncle, second uncle, and eldest aunt."

"Good, good, good."

"Then, brother-in-law, he..."

Zhong Zhengguo squeezed over to their side and whispered a few words, and both of them looked at their father in disbelief.

"Ahem, it's enough that you know about this matter; don't speak of it to outsiders."

"Oh, oh, okay."

In the evening, Wanqing was arranged to stay with Zhong Xiaoai, Wei Xia was with Zhong Jianshe, and Zhong Mingzhu was pulled away by Zhong Yan to stay together; the two of them chatted until midnight.

It was only then that Zhong Yan learned that the brother-in-law was actually Zhang Ping'an; after all these twists and turns, it had returned to the starting point.

"Little sister, you and Ping'an are truly fated."

Other than that, Zhong Yan really could not find a suitable reason for how they could meet again in Xiangjiang after being separated for four or five years.

"Mm, I didn't expect it at the time either, but I also believe this is heaven's arrangement."