Could money solve Zhou Yi’s problems?

If money could ensure Zhou Yi’s well-being, the Zhou family wouldn’t have opposed her relationship with Yuan Han so strongly.

Jiang Hong didn’t know what Zhou Cheng intended with this sum of money. Seeing her glance anxiously toward the ward, Zhou Cheng didn’t explain in detail:

“I need to discuss this with Uncle. Wait for him to tell you.”

Zhou Wenbing was at work on Sunday when Zhou Cheng visited him, immediately asking about sending Zhou Yi abroad.

“Your mother mentioned this earlier. From how you saw Zhou Yi today, is she capable of going abroad? Hmph, still accomplishing nothing at over twenty – sending her abroad would just waste national resources!”

Public sponsorship meant using state funds, and Zhou Wenbing felt Zhou Yi’s contributions didn’t merit this.

There was also advanced study abroad, but what school would accept Zhou Yi?

Self-funded study at a less prestigious university might be more realistic!

“Uncle, you shouldn’t say that. I’ve seen great improvement in Sister Zhou Yi these past six months. Mom said she only took maternity leave when her legs were too swollen to walk, just three days before giving birth. She’s performed well at work these six months. If you’re worried about wasting state resources and don’t want her using public funds, we can raise money ourselves to send her.”

How did overseas students live?

Ten thousand US dollars per year could cover tuition and living expenses!

On the black market, ten thousand dollars could buy a nice courtyard house.

At official bank rates, it was less than 40,000 Chinese currency.

Zhou Cheng thought it was reasonable.

If he didn’t resolve Zhou Yi’s situation, it would trouble Xiaolan after their marriage.

Following Zhou Cheng’s reasoning, Zhou Wenbing agreed that Zhou Yi had indeed improved.

At least she worked diligently now, unlike her previous lackadaisical attitude… though half this improvement was for Yuan Han, which deeply troubled Zhou Wenbing.

“Your suggestion has merit. Let me think about how to arrange it.”

Zhou Cheng then asked about Yuan Han’s ex-wife.

A vein pulsed on Zhou Wenbing’s forehead as he opened his desk drawer and tossed out a folder:

“See for yourself.”

Zhou Cheng frowned upon opening the first page.

It contained detailed records of Yuan Han’s background – his education, work history, and marriage date. Zhou Wenbing had kept this locked away, reviewing it countless times – a father’s concern for his daughter.

“Yuan Han’s ex-wife is called Ye Xiaoqiong—”

Zhou Cheng’s tone lingered. Zhou Wenbing was surprised, “You know her?”

Zhou Cheng turned to the last page, showing Yuan Han and Ye Xiaoqiong’s marriage certificate copy with their photos. Though blurry, Zhou Cheng had recently met Ye Xiaoqiong and remembered her clearly.

“Should be the same person I know. What a coincidence. You haven’t found Ye Xiaoqiong yet?”

Zhou Wenbing nodded, “My people traced her leaving her hometown. Someone saw her in Shanghai, then the trail went cold.”

Zhou Wenbing never believed Yuan Han’s story about his ex-wife leaving after hearing from overseas relatives. How could he not verify such overseas connections?

The investigation revealed the Yuan family’s despicable acts.

First, the Yuan family’s current house was Ye Xiaoqiong’s ancestral property that had been returned.

Shortly after this policy was implemented, Yuan Han married Ye Xiaoqiong. As spouses, perhaps due to her trust in Yuan Han, the returned property was put in his name.

A year after marriage, ownership was transferred to Yuan Han’s mother, severing Ye Xiaoqiong’s connection to her ancestral property.

Second, Yuan Han divorced Ye Xiaoqiong after Zhou Yi showed interest in him. Ye Xiaoqiong was five months pregnant then, with clear hospital records of induced labor. Neighbors confirmed seeing her visibly pregnant.

Zhou Wenbing angrily struck the table:

“Damn Zhou Yi’s stubborn heart! Before we could uncover all this, she’d already eloped with Yuan Han!”

When Zhou Yi next appeared, she was pregnant and returning home.

Then came the kneeling at her grandparents’ door, desperately insisting on marrying Yuan Han.

Even if this evidence was thrown in Zhou Yi’s face, she’d claim it was family slander against Yuan Han.

Zhou Wenbing’s veins bulged: “This Yuan fellow would abandon his flesh and blood to trap Zhou Yi. Even raising a parasitic lapdog for Zhou Yi would be less vicious.”

At five months, the baby was formed – it required induced labor to terminate.

Zhou Wenbing pitied Ye Xiaoqiong. Like Zhou Yi, she was naive, but while Zhou Yi had family support, Ye Xiaoqiong was an orphan with no one to defend her against Yuan Han’s predation.

“Of course, you couldn’t find Ye Xiaoqiong. After Shanghai, she went to Hong Kong. I met her in America working for Du Family’s second young master at Chengrong Group.”

But Ye Xiaoqiong couldn’t help Du Zhaoqi and disappeared from later negotiations. Zhou Cheng wasn’t sure of her current situation.

He explained how he knew her.

Zhou Wenbing connected everything:

“When you and Xiaolan rescued her from traffickers on the train, it must have been right after her abortion and divorce… Your good deed also accumulated karma for Zhou Yi.”

Though Zhou Yi’s naive pursuit of Yuan Han and Yuan Han’s power-hungry abandonment of his wife didn’t make Zhou Yi directly responsible for Ye Xiaoqiong’s misfortune, Zhou Wenbing still felt ashamed.

The ancient saying goes: a child’s lack of education is the father’s fault. Focused on work, he’d neglected family attention, and couldn’t blame Jiang Hong entirely for Zhou Yi’s poor upbringing.

Zhou Cheng was speechless at the coincidence!

“Sister Zhou Yi might not have believed this before, but she might now. Let’s first keep the Yuan family stable, find Ye Xiaoqiong, and let her tell Sister Zhou Yi herself. That should be effective.”

Zhou Wenbing agreed.

Previously they didn’t know Ye Xiaoqiong’s whereabouts; now they could contact her.

When Zhou Wenbing visited the hospital that afternoon, Jiang Hong showed him a bankbook:

“Look at this from Zhou Cheng. Can we accept such a large sum?”

Grandmother Zhou’s few thousand was already substantial.

Zhou Cheng’s 30,000 seemed too much to accept.

Zhou Wenbing felt mixed emotions. Zhou Cheng’s suggestion wasn’t casual – worried about their financial constraints, he’d provided funds for Zhou Yi’s overseas expenses.

“Keep it. It’s Zhou Cheng and Xiaolan’s goodwill. We can repay the favor at their wedding!”