Xia Xiaolan and Tang Hongen would need to tell the truth.

Tang Hongen was also deeply sighing with emotion.

If that male corpse was confirmed to be Xu Zhongyi, they would have wished they hadn’t left the country.

Although life was difficult in China, the chances of survival were higher than in a foreign land.

“They wanted to protect their assets and took most of their valuables abroad, but didn’t realize that wealth attracts greed. Without sufficient power, it’s like a child carrying gold through the marketplace – others will naturally have designs on it!” Tang Hongen commented.

He wasn’t saying that Grandmother Yu’s family had been too greedy back then – that wealth rightfully belonged to the Yu family, and it was natural to be reluctant to let it go.

However, compared to money, life was more important… Now it was too late to say anything. The past couldn’t be changed; they could only try their best to remedy the situation.

“I’ll talk to her about it. Don’t worry about the paperwork. Once she decides on the date to go abroad, I’ll let you know. If needed, I can have your mother accompany her to America. Your mother has been worried about you suffering in America anyway.”

Old Tang was always thinking about pleasing her mother. Xia Xiaolan noticed that since she went abroad, these two mid-life partners had grown even closer, not at all like the cautious relationship typical of couples who married later in life.

“It would be great if my mother could come. Grandmother Yu has always liked my mother, and if the results are bad, my mother can comfort her. I’m doing well here. I just told Professor Mao the other day that I won a school architectural design award with a prize of over ten thousand dollars. You don’t need to worry about me going hungry or cold here. Everything’s convenient in America when you have dollars.”

Neither Liu Fen nor Tang Hongen knew about the 10 million Hong Kong dollars from Du Zhaohui, and Xia Xiaolan wasn’t planning to tell them yet.

Hearing that Xia Xiaolan had won an award just two months after arriving at Cornell University, Tang Hongen was quite interested and asked for details.

Xia Xiaolan explained the whole story of the C.W. Architectural Design Competition, emphasizing Zhou Cheng’s bravery in confronting the gunman at the awards ceremony. “…That’s what happened. Uncle Tang, please don’t tell my mother about the gunman part. I don’t want her to worry!”

So it was fine to tell him?

Wouldn’t he worry?

Tang Hongen knew well this wasn’t just preferential treatment. It was clear that since Zhou Cheng went to America, the two of them were sweet on each other again, and Xiaolan was eagerly trying to improve Zhou Cheng’s image in his eyes!

“What use is a man who wouldn’t save you when you’re in danger?”

Though he said this, Tang Hongen was quite satisfied with Zhou Cheng’s actions. It would have been truly unfortunate if she had ended up with someone who spoke sweet words but ran away at the first sign of danger, leaving Xia Xiaolan to cry alone.

Xia Xiaolan also mentioned running into Song Minglan in New York where she was studying, though she didn’t mention the party incident.

“Isn’t Song Zhicheng part of the research group Zhou Cheng is with? Don’t worry about the Song family’s affairs. Just treat them normally as long as they don’t bother you. If they deliberately cause trouble, don’t hold back – give as good as you get. They might be young and ignorant, but you don’t need to be perfect in everything… If anything exceeds your capabilities, just let me know!”

Tang Hongen had always felt indebted to Old Song, not because Old Song demanded repayment, but because of Old Song’s great kindness to him, for which he naturally felt respect and affection.

But he didn’t owe anything to the Song family members.

Moreover, what favors had Xiaolan received from the Song family that she should always yield to them?

If Song Minglan could excuse her actions as “young and ignorant,” then Xia Xiaolan was even younger – might as well use that excuse too.

“Yes, I understand. Uncle Tang, please take care of yourself and don’t work too much overtime!”

Xia Xiaolan could feel Tang Hongen’s concern in his words.

Tang Hongen had always treated her as a close junior relative, and after marrying Liu Fen, he treated her even more like family.

He wasn’t encouraging her to cause trouble but rather showing his support.

They wouldn’t start trouble.

But if others came to bother Xia Xiaolan, there was no need to be afraid!

After hanging up with Xia Xiaolan, Tang Hongen looked at the calendar on his desk.

His last trip to Beijing was just over ten days ago when Zhou Cheng hadn’t yet gone to America. Originally, he and Liu Fen had agreed that without disrupting his work or her business, he would visit Beijing once a month, and they would meet when Liu Fen came to Yangcheng for stock.

He had already been to Beijing this month, so the next visit should be in May.

But this was a special situation.

He couldn’t explain everything well over the phone, so he’d better make another trip to Beijing.

Mayor Tang didn’t have much trouble convincing himself and asked his secretary to book tickets right away.

Secretary Peng knew the leader’s preferences, and as a new secretary, he was quite shrewd – you couldn’t offend the mayor or his wife. When the mayor said he wanted to go to Beijing, booking tickets had to be done promptly!

Tang Hongen arrived at Shichahai that evening.

He arrived just in time for Liu Fen and Grandmother Yu’s dinner.

Liu Fen was surprised to find Tang Hongen when she opened the door after hearing a knock.

“Why didn’t you even call?”

His return was so sudden.

She and Grandmother Yu were having a simple dinner – if Tang Hongen had called ahead, she could have prepared some dishes he liked.

Tang Hongen hung up his bag himself, seeing two small dishes on the table where Liu Fen and Grandmother Yu were eating braised meat noodles.

“It was a last-minute decision to come back. I wanted to surprise you. Don’t worry about preparing anything for me, just sit down and eat, or your noodles will get soggy. Is there any braised meat left? I’ll make myself a bowl!”

Tang Hongen made Liu Fen sit down.

Liu Fen still followed him to the kitchen.

Grandmother Yu didn’t say anything.

While Tang Hongen was trying to spare Liu Fen the trouble, they were weekend spouses, and even just talking in the kitchen together was an intimate moment. Grandmother Yu wasn’t foolish – how could she call Liu Fen back at such a time?

When Tang Hongen finished cooking his noodles, Liu Fen’s noodles had indeed gotten soggy, but Tang Hongen wasn’t fussy – he simply switched bowls with Liu Fen.

Liu Fen’s face was red as she ate the noodles, wondering if it was unhygienic since she had already eaten from that bowl…

Her red face must be from the heat – it was almost May, yes, that must be it!

Tang Hongen was quite diplomatic – though he had something on his mind, he waited until after dinner to bring it up.

If he had mentioned it right when he arrived, how could Grandmother Yu have enjoyed her braised meat noodles?

When he finally brought up the American matter after putting down their bowls, Grandmother Yu almost dropped her bowl:

“Has Xiaolan found Zhongyi?”

Tang Hongen gestured for Liu Fen to steady the old lady.

“Please don’t get too excited. We can’t be certain if it’s Comrade Xu Zhongyi, but Xiaolan says she found some items that look like Yu family belongings. She can’t confirm it herself and needs you to go identify them in person. Please consider when you’d like to leave. Don’t worry about the international travel procedures – I’ll have someone handle them for you.”

Grandmother Yu didn’t know what to do with her hands and feet.

When to leave?

Of course, the sooner the better!

She kept mumbling her son’s family’s names, clearly still very emotional.

Liu Fen was concerned about her health and spent the night sleeping in Grandmother Yu’s room, leaving Tang Hongen to do his own sighing that night.