What kind of question was this?

Liu Fen had never faced such a question before.

Nobody mentioned Xia Dajun to her anymore. Since that man’s disappearance during the New Year, Liu Fen thought about him less and less. Only idle people let their minds wander – Liu Fen’s life was now fulfilling, and she was no longer that bullied village woman from Dahe Village.

Liu Fen was now worldly.

Previously, Liu Fang thought she was the most successful in the Liu family. Now, how did the old Liu Fen compare to Liu Fang?

She’d been to Beijing, and even visited Hua Qing Garden.

She’d made several trips to Yang City.

She’d even been to the Special Zone twice.

Having traveled far and wide, and able to source goods from Yang City, what did Liu Fen have to fear?

She feared those memories she didn’t want to recall.

Feared that today’s life was just a dream.

Tang Hongen’s question was difficult to answer because she’d never considered it!

Tang Hongen felt awkward himself, realizing his question was putting someone in a difficult position. But focused entirely on work, he had little interaction with women, and besides Liu Fen, he knew no other divorced women.

He regretted asking as soon as the words left his mouth. Tang Hongen felt he was taking advantage of an honest person – he shouldn’t make such mistakes.

“I apologize, this question was thoughtless, I shouldn’t have…”

“Mr. Tang, let me think about it.”

Liu Fen hadn’t considered this question before, but she felt she would need to eventually. Xia Dajun was only missing, not dead. What if he suddenly appeared before mother and daughter one day?

She didn’t want to reunite with Xia Dajun.

In the village, many seemed to think it natural for men to beat their wives when drunk, but from village to provincial city, Liu Fen learned the outside world wasn’t like that at all!

Take Hu Yongcai and his wife, the couple Liu Fen knew best.

Hu Yongcai worked in procurement at Shangdu’s Municipal Committee Guesthouse, surely earning more than his wife, but did he dare raise his voice at home? Forget hitting – even groundless scolding would meet his wife’s resistance. Grandmother Yu said men and women contributed equally to the family, women weren’t sold as cattle to the in-laws – what right did men have to raise their hands?

That was the old society. Even the servant girls bought by Grandmother Yu’s family would grow distant if beaten and scolded without reason.

“People have thoughts, people aren’t animals. Even animals hold grudges. If people remember food but forget beatings, they deserve to be bullied to death!”

Liu Fen’s thoughts had changed from before.

As her contacts and environment changed, she certainly changed too.

She seemed to gradually sort out her thoughts.

“Mr. Tang, if Xiaolan’s father returns, I’ll keep my distance, and I don’t want Xiaolan associating with him… I don’t know if Xiaolan will listen to me, but that’s how I feel.”

Liu Fen’s tone was firm.

If Xia Dajun was only bad to her, Liu Fen could just keep her distance.

But Xia Dajun wasn’t good to Xiaolan!

Xia Dajun loved Xia Ziyu more than his daughter, and now that Xiaolan was successful, he’d come back to claim her as his daughter.

Even someone as honest as Liu Fen felt indignant, wanting to ask – on what grounds?

When Xiaolan cracked her head and lay dying in the hospital with no one to save her, where was Xia Dajun? Later, when he returned from the river embankment work, she waited for him to stand up for Xiaolan… how did he act then?

As Liu Fen grew more indignant, Tang Hongen’s mood became heavy.

When Tang Hongen asked for reasons, Liu Fen casually mentioned two incidents, then summarized:

“He didn’t fulfill his responsibilities as a father!”

Liu Fen couldn’t have said such words before – reading books had helped her progress.

Tang Hongen’s heart sank completely.

Was this how divorced women thought?

Tang Hongen’s silence made the atmosphere heavy. Liu Fen wasn’t one for small talk – how could she lighten the mood? Tang Hongen looked up to see Liu Fen’s anxious face. Ah, what was he doing, frightening Comrade Liu Fen! Tang Hongen’s serious expression could be intimidating – the air of someone “in power” sometimes made others afraid to speak.

When Tang Hongen was distant, even Hong Kong businessmen like Liu Tianquan dared not approach.

“It’s not as serious as you think. It’s just my matter, consulting your thoughts. I was hasty in my anxiety but meant no disrespect to Comrade Liu Fen… Let me put it this way, my current situation might be similar to your ex-husband’s. I wanted to know how women think in such situations.”

Understanding came, but not with good results.

Tang Hongen explained patiently because Liu Fen was helping – why should he frighten her?

Liu Fen was confused, then suddenly realized – Mayor Tang’s situation was similar to Xia Dajun’s, meaning Mayor Tang was also divorced?!

When a high-ranking leader suddenly revealed such private matters, Liu Fen didn’t know how to react!

Tang Hongen hadn’t thought much about it.

Though a leader, that didn’t mean he should be above the masses. Liu Fen wasn’t his employee or subordinate – wasn’t it normal to share his personal matter after abruptly asking about hers?

It was equal respect!

Liu Fen struggled with the knowledge of the leader’s private matters, feeling very uneasy.

Moreover, since Tang Hongen spoke from a divorced man’s perspective, perhaps her earlier words weren’t quite right.

Tang Hongen had Wang drive Liu Fen back. Before leaving, Liu Fen finally managed to ask:

“Mr. Tang, did you beat your wife?”

“…No.”

“Do you love your child?”

Tang Hongen nodded with a bitter smile, “In my heart, yes, but I haven’t had the chance.”

Liu Fen relaxed, “Then it’s different. Your… ex-wife won’t prevent you from contacting your child.”

Saying “ex-wife” put great pressure on Liu Fen – she hadn’t imagined high-ranking leaders could face marital problems just like common people.

On the last day of National Day, Student Ning Xue hadn’t returned to school.

Xia Xiaolan couldn’t delay anymore and bought some fruit to visit Zhou Cheng’s home.

Last time with Zhou Cheng leading, she easily entered the compound. This time alone, she faced registration and questioning. Knowing Zhou Cheng’s house number didn’t help – they couldn’t let any stranger run to leaders’ homes unannounced, could they?

Xia Xiaolan was about to leave things at the security office when Auntie Zeng from Zhou Cheng’s home came out and brought her in.

“Miss Xia, please sit. I’ll get you some water.”

Auntie Zeng bustled about, making Xia Xiaolan feel awkward.

Though still the National Day holiday, busy people like Zhou Guobin rarely had complete breaks. With Zhou Guobin busy, Guan Hui’e wasn’t much better – today her work unit called her back for an urgent matter.

So, this visit wouldn’t involve facing Zhou Cheng’s parents?

Don’t say Chairman Xia was scared – she didn’t want another confrontation with Guan Hui’e, given their last unpleasant conversation.

Xia Xiaolan sat briefly before preparing to leave, but Auntie Zeng insisted she stay for lunch. Just as Xia Xiaolan managed to leave, Guan Hui’e was walking home chatting with a middle-aged woman – they ran right into each other!