Zhou Zhennan emerged from the kitchen and spotted Zhou Xiaohong lingering near the stairs.

"Xiaohong, what are you standing around for? Go get ready—your brother will be here soon."

Li Yunlan chimed in anxiously, "Yes, hurry up! See if we've missed anything. My mind's all over the place—I keep worrying I forgot something."

Xiaohong responded flatly and went upstairs to change.

After breakfast, Li Yunlan urged Zhou Zhennan to change into nicer clothes. She herself put on a dark red dress she hadn't worn in years, fastening a string of pearls around her neck. "How do I look?" she kept asking him.

Then, worried it might seem too flashy, she took it off and changed into something simpler. "No, we can't dress too well. Huai'an has suffered so much all these years. We shouldn't make him uncomfortable."

Zhou Huai'an arrived exactly at ten o'clock. He was mildly surprised to see the Zhou family lived in a two-story house—they were clearly well-off.

Zhou Bingwen's eyes grew moist as he watched Zhou Huai'an approach—composed, respectful, and direct. "Good... It's good to have you home," he said, voice thick with emotion.

He had the same face as Zhou Xiaocheng, but his presence was entirely different—more like a hardened soldier. Zhou Bingwen liked that.

Li Yunlan rushed over, emotionally overwhelmed, and took Zhou Huai'an's hands. "You're here! Where's your luggage? Aren't you staying tonight?" Her face fell slightly.

"Lin Zihao will bring my things later," Zhou Huai'an reassured her.

Relieved, she beamed and led him to the sofa. "Have a banana!" She broke off the largest one and handed it to him. "Go on, they're a rarity up north. Your father had someone specially get them for you."

As soon as he took the banana, she pressed a big apple into his hands. "This one is very sweet, you should try it!"

Before he could respond, she'd also given him red dates and a piece of sugar cane.

Zhou Huai'an was momentarily thrown back in time. He remembered being a boy, watching Wang Fenglan sneak dried dates or peanuts to Zhou Chang'an, Zhou Changyuan, and Zhou Xiaoli. Whenever he looked her way, she'd glare. "Ungrateful little brat. It'd be a waste on you. I'll break your hands if you steal any."

Back then, he'd secretly wished she'd see he wasn't a bad kid—that someday she'd slip him something too, with that stern yet caring look he never forgot.

As an adult, those memories had faded. But now, Li Yunlan's gesture brought it all back. It touched him more than he expected.

Seeing he hadn't eaten, she took the banana, peeled it, and held it to his mouth. "Here, try it."

He took a bite. It was sweet and soft—even sweeter than the bananas he'd had on the southern border. Xiaoxiao would like these, he thought.

Li Yunlan smiled, watching him. "Sweet?"

He nodded. "Very."

Her eyes welled up. She held his hand tightly. "You've suffered so much all these years."

She'd seen him many times before, but this was different. This was Zhou Huai'an coming home.

Her hair, shaved for surgery, was just growing back. The scar on her scalp was still visible. She looked fragile and tired.

"Try not to get too emotional," he said gently. "Your health comes first."

She nodded tearfully. "I'm just happy. I made chicken noodle soup for you—and fried fish, and braised pork."

Zhou Zhennan and Zhou Bingwen stood by, quietly watching, unable to get a word in.

Zhou Xiaohong, who'd planned to leave as soon Zhou Huai'an arrived, stayed when she heard Lin Zihao was coming. She knew she wasn't good enough for him now, but she couldn't help wanting to see him—even just a glimpse.

Seeing her parents fuss over Zhou Huai'an, asking about Lin Xiaoxiao and his work, treating him like treasure, she felt a knot of resentment. She sat silently in the corner, watching coldly.

Then Hu Yaozong showed up uninvited, bringing cigarettes and alcohol. Since the wedding was approaching, Zhou Zhennan couldn't exactly turn him away, though he pointedly avoided looking at him.

Hu Yaozong greeted everyone cheerfully, saving his biggest show of surprise for Zhou Huai'an.

"Big brother! When did you get back? I thought I was seeing things! It's great you're here—Uncle and Aunt must be thrilled."

Zhou Huai'an didn't stand, merely nodding slightly.

Unfazed, Hu Yaozong set the gifts on the table. "Grandpa, these are for you—Moutai and Daqianmen cigarettes."

Zhou Bingwen waved a dismissive hand. "Take them back. I don't drink or smoke anymore."

"Then Uncle and Big Brother can have them," Hu Yaozong insisted. "It's a celebration. You can serve them to guests."

Zhou Zhennan also refused. "We have everything we need. Please take them back."

Hu Yaozong looked ready to argue, but a sharp glare from Zhou Xiaohong shut him up. He awkwardly took a seat beside her.

The atmosphere, once warm, turned stiff.

Li Yunlan and the housekeeper busied themselves in the kitchen. Zhou Zhennan and Zhou Bingwen wisely avoided work topics, instead chatting about the customs and landscapes of the northwest.

"I spent three years in the northwest," Zhou Bingwen reminisced. "Not in Gansu—in Xinjiang.

Harsh conditions, but beautiful, open land."

Zhou Huai'an nodded. "We were stationed there during rotation. It's spacious, but underpopulated. A lot of land lies unused."

The three men fell into discussion about regional development and nomadic life—subjects Hu Yaozong knew nothing about. He sat like a fool, unable to contribute, but unwilling to leave. He'd come to find out why Zhou Huai'an was suddenly in Beijing.

Zhou Xiaohong watched him with contempt, cringing each time he forced an awkward laugh or tried to join in. She felt a deep pang of pity for herself—soon to be married to this man.

When lunch was served, Hu Yaozong made no move to leave. He shamelessly took a seat at the table and eyed the spread. "Auntie's cooking is famous around the compound. I've been looking forward to this."

Li Yunlan ignored him. She served Zhou Huai'an a bowl of noodles and placed both chicken drumsticks in his bowl before sitting down with a satisfied smile. "Eat, the broth has been simmering since last night."

Throughout the meal, Hu Yaozong was treated like an outsider. No one offered him food—not even Zhou Xiaohong, who sat beside him without a glance.