Lu Zhigang looked surprised. "What a coincidence. What's Deputy Director Zhang's full name?"

"Zhang Zhongyi. He's also from the capital. Three years ago, he and Zhou Xiaoming both fought in the C Campaign. I was there too, but we were in different military regions, so our paths never crossed."

Lu Zhigang felt there was more to Zhou Huaian's tone. "What, you don't suspect Zhou Xiaoming was trying to harm you even back then? Or that he already knew about his background? If that's the case, the guy is truly sinister."

After a moment, he reconsidered. "But Zhou Xiaoming is pretty average. After leaving the army, he was assigned to a dead-end job. If he were that clever, he wouldn't have ended up in such a poor position."

Zhou Huaian didn't agree. "It could just be a facade—a way to lower everyone's guard."

Lu Zhigang thought it over. "That makes sense. So what are you going to do?"

Before Zhou Huaian could answer, the office door swung open without warning. Zhou Xiaoling bounded in with a cheerful smile. "Big Brother! I heard you were back, so I came to see you. Having lunch together? I heard the canteen is serving stewed meat today. I can get a portion for you!"

Lu Zhigang watched, amused. She really didn't see herself as an outsider—acting as if there had never been any distance between her and Zhou Huaian.

Zhou Huaian felt a headache coming on. "That won't be necessary."

Zhou Xiaoling waved it off. "It's no trouble! The canteen staff know me. They're always worried I'm not getting enough to eat and give me extra."

Lu Zhigang chuckled. "You certainly make yourself at home. Shouldn't you be on your break right now?"

Zhou Xiaoling shot him a glare. "None of your business." She then turned eagerly back to Zhou Huaian. "Big Brother, you went to the city, didn't you? To see your wife? Did you bring her a gift?"

Zhou Huaian frowned. She was certainly... loud.

Completely unaware, she chattered on. "Big Brother, next time you go, you have to bring a gift—even if it's just wildflowers picked from the roadside. Girls love romance! Take her to see a movie, go shopping at the department store..."

Despite having no real dating experience herself, she was doing her best to be helpful. "And if you're short on money, I have savings. I've saved up quite a bit over the years."

Zhou Huaian remained silent, though he was listening.

Lu Zhigang snorted. "You call him 'Big Brother' so affectionately. Don't forget, Zhou Xiaoming is also your brother."

Zhou Xiaoling paused, then shrugged. "What does that have to do with anything? He's my biological brother. If Zhou Xiaoming isn't happy about it, that's his problem. I called him 'big brother' for twenty-five years. Now it's my real brother's turn. You have to be fair, right?"

Lu Zhigang gave a thumbs-up. "Interesting logic."

Only Zhou Xiaoling could come up with something like that.

She hmphed and turned her attention back to Zhou Huaian. "Big Brother, I might go to the city in a few days. Is there anything you want me to bring Sister-in-Law? Let's have lunch together! We should go now, before the meat runs out."

Zhou Huaian was getting a headache from the noise. "You go ahead. I still have some work to finish."

Zhou Xiaoling immediately nodded obediently. "Okay, finish your work. I'll save you a seat in the canteen—just come find me." She skipped out happily, completely unfazed by his cold demeanor.

After hearing about what Zhou Huaian had been through, she'd been furious—wishing she'd been there to stand up for him. So even if he was distant, she felt it was understandable. Her second brother had told her that family shouldn't keep score—you just do what you feel is right.

And right now, she wanted to be good to her big brother.

Lu Zhigang watched her bounce out and had to admit, "I have to say, Zhou Xiaoling is more clear-headed than I expected."

Zhou Huaian didn't respond, his thoughts drifting. He was still considering Zhou Xiaoling's words—maybe he should bring Lin Xiaoxiao something next time he went to the city....Lin Xiaoxiao had been busy these past few days. She'd written and mailed her English self-introduction, and was now waiting for a reply.

Her daytime classes were intense. They were cramming years of university-level material into three months, forcing everything down like swallowing dates whole.

Especially pulse diagnosis and auscultation—without modern lab tests, doctors here had to rely on feeling pulses, listening to lung sounds, and examining tongues to identify issues. For someone like Lin Xiaoxiao, who was used to wielding a scalpel, it was a challenge, and it gave her a new respect for the doctors of this era.

An Xiuyu's baby still cried every night, often for two or three hours. Lin Xiaoxiao adapted by napping when she could and studying under a streetlamp in the yard when the crying started.

She couldn't understand why An Xiuyu wouldn't listen to the doctor—why not take the baby out for some sun? Or give it proper nutrition?

The hospital even had cheap vitamin supplements. Why not use them?

But An Xiuyu refused, convinced that "all medicine is poison." She insisted there was nothing wrong with her child—that it would outgrow it.

Sitting under the lamp, Lin Xiaoxiao sighed and rubbed her forehead. It had been five days since she'd last seen Zhou Huaian. Maybe she should find time to go see him?

The weather was warming. The trees lining the streets were tinged with green, tender buds beginning to sprout. Here and there, a few wild apricot trees had quietly begun to bloom.

Lin Xiaoxiao had fully adapted to life here. She could eat coarse grain buns and boiled cabbage with hardly any oil without complaint. She no longer felt anxious about not earning money—everyone around her seemed content and driven.

It was so different from the frantic, suffocating pace of modern life, where getting off work on time was a luxury. No wonder people were always nostalgic for the past.

Life might have been poorer back then, but people were happier.

Lin Xiaoxiao found herself infected by this attitude. She felt energetic every day, counting down until she might receive a reply, and counting down until her next day off, when she could visit Zhou Huaian.

Finally, after two weeks of classes, they had their first break.

An Xiuyu packed her things and headed home with her baby. Li Guiling kindly offered to walk her to the bus station. Noticing Lin Xiaoxiao also heading there with a bag, she asked curiously, "Where are you going? I didn't know where your in-laws live."

Lin Xiaoxiao didn't mind. "Hongqi Town."

Li Guiling gasped. "Why did you marry into such a remote place?"

Hongqi Town was in the poorest county of Longbei City—a dry, barren mountain village practically cut off from the world.

Lin Xiaoxiao didn't explain what Zhou Huaian did for a living. She just smiled fondly. "I think Hongqi Town is quite nice."

The three chatted as they walked to the station. What surprised Lin Xiaoxiao, however, was who she saw standing at the station entrance: Li Yunlan, accompanied by an elegant, distinguished-looking middle-aged man.