The courtyard was packed with people.

When there wasn’t enough space in the courtyard, tables were set up on the street – after all, Grandmother Yu’s house faced the street.

When Xia Xiaolan and her companions returned, they were immediately invited inside.

Xu Zhongyi had no time to entertain the neighbors – he was already avoiding officials trying to secure his investment.

He had a favor to ask of Xia Xiaolan and Liu Fen!

“The old lady is advanced in age and unwilling to change her current lifestyle, but I still hope she’ll go to America. The medical care there is better, but whenever I bring it up…”

He’d nearly gotten another beating with the walking stick.

That stick wasn’t for walking – it was for enforcing family discipline.

Before finding Xu Zhongyi, Grandmother Yu had thought of nothing but him.

Now that she’d found her son, she found fault with everything he did.

“Take Aunt Yu to America?”

Liu Fen was the first to express reluctance.

All good things must come to an end, and their relationship with Grandmother Yu had started as merely tenants and landlords. Initially, the mother and daughter had rented Grandmother Yu’s house; later, Grandmother Yu had rented their courtyard house in Beijing… Somewhere along the way, the boundaries had blurred, and deep feelings had developed. Now Xu Zhongyi wanted to take Grandmother Yu away.

What could Liu Fen do?

No matter how close they were, she was Xu Zhongyi’s mother, not hers. After twenty years of separation, how could Liu Fen object to their reunion?

But she truly couldn’t bear to part with Grandmother Yu.

Xu Zhongyi wanted her to convince Grandmother Yu, but Liu Fen was too emotional to speak.

Seeing her mother’s expression, Xia Xiaolan understood everything.

Taking Grandmother Yu to America immediately seemed too rushed.

“Uncle Xu, perhaps you should give Grandmother Yu time to adjust. You’re planning to build a museum in Shangdu, which will require more than just money – you’ll need to travel back and forth. There’s no need to rush her to America. Besides, why must it be America? Why not Hong Kong?”

Grandmother Yu was quite modern.

Language wasn’t the issue – the old lady simply didn’t want to go so far away.

Xia Xiaolan thought Hong Kong would be a good compromise.

The medical care was good, and Xu Zhongyi could still look after her.

However, Xu Zhongyi firmly shook his head. “It can’t be Hong Kong – it’s too small, with no privacy. Every move would be under scrutiny. Having the old lady in Hong Kong would be my weakness.”

He could now use his real name.

But he still couldn’t completely shed his identity as “Master Qiu,” and even gradually distancing himself would take years… Moreover, Xu Zhongyi didn’t want to let go. Dealing in antiques wasn’t the most respectable business, but once someone had tasted power, it was hard to completely relinquish it.

Xu Zhongyi wasn’t a saint.

He couldn’t feel secure starting over empty-handed at this point.

He had used Du Zhaohui’s “weakness” to secure his cooperation, and he feared others might do the same to him. Not just Grandmother Yu – he wouldn’t allow Xu Changle or Tina to stay in Hong Kong long-term either!

This made things difficult. Seeing his firm stance, Xia Xiaolan could only agree to talk with Grandmother Yu.

She wasn’t confident about convincing her:

“You know how strong-willed Grandmother Yu is. No one can make decisions for her, but I’ll try my best to persuade her.”

Someone came looking for Xu Zhongyi, and he couldn’t refuse. Once again, only the three of them remained. Liu Fen’s eyes were red with emotion, and even Xia Xiaolan felt uncomfortable.

They understood the logic.

But emotions weren’t easily overcome by reason. Zhou Cheng moved closer and said softly:

“Are you reluctant to part with Grandmother Yu? Then don’t change anything – keep living together. Can you manage what others think? Your comfort is most important. I don’t want you or Aunt Liu to be sad. While Uncle Xu’s thoughts matter, Grandmother Yu’s feelings are more important. Go talk to her now, be open, and ask her opinion.”

Xia Xiaolan couldn’t help but smile at Zhou Cheng’s words:

“Don’t be silly. Someone as strong as Grandmother Yu wouldn’t admit to being attached to my mother and me.”

Zhou Cheng looked at her silently until she realized it herself.

Of course – it was precisely because Grandmother Yu was so strong that she couldn’t express her reluctance to part. Otherwise, why would she refuse to go to America after reuniting with her son after twenty years?

Liu Fen’s eyes were still red, “Xiaolan, shall we go ask her?”

They might as well ask – what harm could it do?

How would anyone know what others truly felt if everyone kept their feelings bottled up?

Not far from Grandmother Yu’s house was Hu Yongcai’s home.

Grandmother Yu’s long-lost son Xu Zhongyi had returned home, apparently successful abroad. He was hosting grand feasts for neighbors, with district officials coming to offer congratulations – it was quite lively.

Previously, when Grandmother Yu lived alone, her temperament had been odd, and people had resented a lone elderly woman occupying an entire courtyard, avoiding contact with her.

Only Hu Yongcai’s family had managed to maintain communication with her.

Now that Xu Zhongyi had returned, Grandmother Yu had become popular. Neighbors and even distant acquaintances were rushing to her house, but Hu Yongcai, who had helped arrange Xia Xiaolan’s rental, felt too awkward to appear.

Hu Yongcai’s wife was puzzled:

“Old Hu, we haven’t been trying to curry favor, so why can’t we even go for a meal? We haven’t seen much of Xiaolan and her family these past two years since they’re not in Shangdu, but I don’t think they’re the type to forget friendships. Everyone’s rushing to Aunt Yu’s house, yet you’re completely calm, refusing to go and not letting me go either!”

She wouldn’t let this go until she got an explanation!

Hu Yongcai stammered, “Why should we join the crowd? If you want to see Aunt Yu and the others, wait until they’re less busy.”

Nonsense – after this, they wouldn’t even be in Shangdu anymore.

Hu Yongcai’s wife glared at him.

As the couple was at an impasse, a gentle female voice called from outside: “Is anyone home?”

She called while knocking on the door.

Hu Yongcai’s wife opened the door to find a young woman in her twenties with delicate features.

Probably still nursing a baby, her chest was notably full, stretching her clothes tight. Hu Yongcai’s wife recognized her:

“Little Fan, what brings you here?”

She had come bearing packages large and small, making Hu Yongcai’s wife quite uncomfortable.

Little Fan’s cheeks were flushed, “Sister, about that favor I asked last time… My family’s situation is difficult, I had no choice but to come ask.”

Little Fan seemed very embarrassed, dropped off the items, and ran away before Hu Yongcai’s wife could refuse.

Hu Yongcai didn’t recognize her, “Who was that woman? She didn’t even explain anything before leaving these things. How can you accept items of unknown origin?”

“Oh, she’s that Little Fan I told you about. What do you mean unknown origin? She’s just looking to find work through connections. Little Fan’s quite pitiful – her family’s very poor, she had to marry an older man who has to support his nephew, plus there’s a cruel mother-in-law, and her baby isn’t even weaned yet. Isn’t she unfortunate?”