The next day, two cars departed from Hedong County.

One was Fan Zhenchuan’s vehicle, and the other was a car borrowed by Liang Bing’an from his workplace, carrying Liu Fang and Liang Huan.

In Fan Zhenchuan’s car, the driver was at the wheel, with Fan Zhenchuan and his mother in the back seat. Aunt Li remarked that Fan Zhenchuan looked sharp today, to which he responded indifferently, “Xiao Yu picked it out.”

Aunt Li’s face darkened. “You’re going to meet your future wife today, and you’re still mentioning Xiao Yu?”

Fan Zhenchuan found it strange. “She’s just a housekeeper. What’s wrong with her picking out clothes? I know you don’t like her, so I sent her away last night. Once your new daughter-in-law moves in, we can find a housekeeper more to your liking.”

Aunt Li repeatedly confirmed that he had indeed sent Xiao Yu away, and the wrinkles around her eyes relaxed considerably.

That made today’s meeting with the girl’s family worthwhile. Aunt Li’s main reason for wanting Xia Xiaolan as her daughter-in-law was to deal with Fan Zhenchuan’s mistress. Among all the women in the world, why did he have to get involved with a distant relative of the same surname?

“After sending her away, you’ll just bring her back. With Xiao Yu around, your son doesn’t even want to come home. Zhenchuan, I haven’t discussed your remarriage with Fan Han yet. After today’s meeting, we should find an opportunity to talk to him about it.”

Fan Zhenchuan showed little concern. “You decide.”

Fan Han was Fan Zhenchuan’s only son. Fan Zhenchuan used to dote on him, but after his mother’s suicide by poison, Fan Han came to view his father as an enemy. The father and son rarely met, maybe once every month or two. Fan Han lived at school most of the time, and Aunt Li, feeling sorry for her grandson, occasionally brought him to stay at the old house for a few days.

Fan Zhenchuan thought his son was worthless. Besides, he wasn’t even forty yet – he could remarry and have another child to raise properly, which would be better than dealing with the estranged Fan Han.

Fan Zhenchuan’s attitude made Aunt Li sigh.

Fan Han’s mother hadn’t been strong enough. After discovering Fan Zhenchuan’s affair with Xiao Yu, she committed suicide by drinking poison. Aunt Li felt sorry that her grandson had lost his mother, but she was also dissatisfied with her former daughter-in-law. What was the point of suicide? It only caused a rift between Zhenchuan and Fan Han. If she had been stronger, she could have driven Xiao Yu away, or at least turned a blind eye and maintained her position as “Mrs. Fan.” Wouldn’t everything have eventually belonged to Fan Han anyway? But now, her suicide had cleared the way for someone new. With Fan Zhenchuan remarrying and having more children, what place would be left for Fan Han in the Fan family?

Only she, as his grandmother, was left to look after the grandson she had loved for over a decade.

Liang Bing’an was driving, with Liang Huan chattering away.

“What will Fan Han’s father do to that person?”

Liang Bing’an found it puzzling. “Why are you asking about that? Liang Huan, you’ve been acting strange these past two days. Are you too focused on Xia Xiaolan’s boyfriend’s situation?”

As Liang Bing’an harbored doubts, Liu Fang took a closer look at her daughter.

Liang Huan’s cheeks showed an unusual blush, and Liu Fang pinched her arm twice. “You girl… what are you thinking about?!”

Liu Fang almost blurted out asking if Liang Huan had taken a liking to that man. It wasn’t impossible – after all, he was handsome, and wasn’t that why Xia Xiaolan refused to marry Fan Zhenchuan? Liu Fang couldn’t control Xia Xiaolan’s poor judgment, but if Liang Huan had also taken a fancy to him, it would be infuriating!

She had been so good to Liang Huan, giving her everything she wanted since childhood. While other children went hungry, Liang Huan was taking dance lessons.

After investing so much in raising her daughter, how could she fall for a poor man?

Such poor judgment, just like that country girl Xia Xiaolan. Liu Fang didn’t dare voice these thoughts, fearing Liang Huan might confirm them.

“Huan Huan, you’re different from those country girls. You can’t disappoint your parents’ expectations.”

Liang Huan’s cheeks burned. “Mom, what are you talking about? I don’t understand!”

Yes, he was handsome, different from the boys at school. Liang Huan had never met anyone like him. If he had a family background like Liang Han’s, she would have fallen for him completely. But he was just an ordinary person, and she despised herself for even thinking about it. She wasn’t like Xia Xiaolan – a rural resident with no job or education, who would be marrying up with such a man.

Liang Huan’s feelings were complicated. She wanted the Fan family to put Xia Xiaolan in her place today, yet she worried about what Fan Zhenchuan might do to Xia Xiaolan’s boyfriend… Her mother was right – she was different from country girls and couldn’t let an ordinary man bewitch her.

Besides his looks, what could he offer her?

Liang Huan straightened her posture.

In these matters, her views aligned with Liu Fang’s. Could you eat feelings? When choosing a partner, she would find someone with excellent conditions, a hundred times better than Xia Xiaolan’s boyfriend!

The cars arrived at the Municipal Party Committee Guest House.

Fan Zhenchuan was familiar with this place, as he often came to the provincial capital for meetings.

Liang Bing’an ranked slightly lower; his position didn’t require frequent trips to the provincial capital. While the guest house wasn’t particularly luxurious, it was certainly dignified and solemn. Liu Fang muttered, “Who are they trying to intimidate by choosing this place?”

“Don’t speak carelessly. Leaders come and go here frequently.”

In the provincial capital, they became aware of their lower official status. Xia Xiaolan was quite clever – meeting at the Municipal Party Committee Guest House meant Fan Zhenchuan couldn’t just forcibly take her away.

Fan Zhenchuan had never interacted with Xia Xiaolan, but from his life experience, he didn’t think women’s thoughts were worth considering. What did women know? They were good at petty tricks and jealousy, but when it came to serious matters, they were shortsighted despite their long hair!

Fan Zhenchuan lightly supported his mother, accompanied by the driver and the Liang family of three.

Just as they entered the guest house, Fan Zhenchuan ran into an acquaintance.

“Old Fan, here for a meeting today?”

“No meeting, just some personal business.”

After chatting briefly with his acquaintance, a female server approached. “Excuse me, are you Mr. Fan Zhenchuan? Your friends have reserved a private room upstairs.”

Fan Zhenchuan maintained his propriety at the Municipal Party Committee Guest House – he wouldn’t dare approach the female servers here, no matter how attractive they were. Besides, he hadn’t secured Xia Xiaolan yet, and he wasn’t interested in these servers anyway.

Aunt Li was displeased – why did they send a female server to guide them? Shouldn’t Xia Xiaolan’s family be waiting downstairs?

They were country folk, with no sense of propriety. If Xia Xiaolan weren’t so pretty, they wouldn’t even consider marrying into a rural family. No wonder the Liang family still looked down on Liu Fang after all these years. Aunt Li glared at Liu Fang, leaving her confused.

“Be careful on the stairs. Liang Huan, why aren’t you being more attentive?”

Liu Fang wanted to help Aunt Li, but being in a mood to find fault, Aunt Li brushed her off.

Liu Fang, thick-skinned as ever, told her daughter to help instead.

Aunt Li did like Liang Huan, and besides, how harsh could she be with a young girl in public? She allowed Liang Huan to support her up the stairs. At the private room’s door, which was slightly ajar, still, no one waited to greet them. Aunt Li’s expression soured.

Fan Zhenchuan pushed the door open to find a table full of dishes but no people.

“Let’s wait inside. This meeting is quite interesting today.”

Liu Fang didn’t understand what was interesting about it. She entered last, and just as she stepped in, the female server closed the door behind them. Click, click – it was locked from the outside!