The Shi family didn’t know!

Guan Hue’e was also worried about this matter.

According to her thoughts, they should have revealed the truth when returning Shi Kai’s ashes to his hometown. That would have been the perfect timing – better to get the pain over with quickly. If the Shi family had to grieve, they would have done it all at once.

Guan Hue’e knew her son well enough – Zhou Cheng wasn’t someone who lacked responsibility, and this wasn’t something he would normally conceal. She wondered who had stopped Zhou Cheng from telling the Shi family the truth early on, explaining that everything Zhou Cheng was doing now stemmed from guilt and compensation… Now they were stuck in an awkward position. If they didn’t tell the truth, they feared the Shi family might learn it through other channels and end up hating Zhou Cheng completely.

But if they told the truth now, Shi Kai’s mother was about to have surgery – could she handle such emotional distress?

Guan Hue’e could now truly understand why Xia Xiaolan could think this far ahead for Zhou Cheng, and why it was important to choose a clever daughter-in-law.

How could someone lacking social awareness think of all these considerations?

“I know you’re thinking of Zhou Cheng’s interests, and you especially came from school. Don’t worry, I’m here at the hospital. We do need to tell the Shi family, and while revealing the truth now might hurt them again, leaving it unspoken would be like letting a wound heal on the surface while festering inside… I can handle this matter. We’ll tell them after the surgery. By then, even if they blame Zhou Cheng, at least the surgery will be done.”

At least Zhou Cheng had done something concrete for Shi Kai’s family, not just empty words.

Guan Hue’e felt she could resolve this matter. If someone had to play the villain, she was the most suitable choice.

Mother Shi’s son had sacrificed his life, allowing her son to live – Guan Hue’e was equally grateful to the Shi family.

From now on, whenever the Shi family needed help, Zhou Cheng should work tirelessly for them without complaint – after all, Shi Kai had sacrificed himself while Zhou Cheng lived. Guan Hue’e wasn’t jealous at all; sharing her son half with the Shi family was better than losing him entirely.

Xia Xiaolan didn’t need to be overly assertive. Guan Hue’e’s perspective and ability to handle matters weren’t inferior to hers. Since Guan Hue’e had everything under control, Xia Xiaolan wasn’t worried.

Xia Xiaolan remembered Zhou Cheng mentioning hiring a caretaker for the Shi family. “I think Zhou Cheng wants the Shi family to settle permanently in Beijing.”

“He’s making assumptions. It’s hard to leave one’s homeland – the Shi family might not be willing.”

Guan Hue’e was the first to find this inappropriate.

Relocating the Shi family to Beijing?

Everyone has relatives and friends, and after living in one place for a long time, adapting to the local climate and diet, making the decision to relocate an entire family isn’t easy. Xia Xiaolan’s family was a special case – her parents were divorced and cut ties with the Xia family, and relatives on her mother’s side were few.

The main factor was having the means. Xia Xiaolan’s family could move here, Liu Yong had also bought a house in Beijing, and relatives could gather together.

Not everyone had Xia Xiaolan’s ability to gradually influence an entire family to strive for better places… Missing relatives could be solved with a train ticket or even a plane ticket – that was Xia Xiaolan’s family’s current financial situation.

The Shi family couldn’t manage this.

Even after her eyes were treated, Mother Shi was nearly sixty years old.

Shi Ping had intellectual disabilities.

Wei Juanhong was a rural woman who had never traveled far.

Plus two young children.

Under these circumstances, asking the Shi family to relocate would likely put tremendous pressure on them.

“Auntie, I understand what you mean. We think we can help the Shi family, even support them financially, but they might feel they have to live cautiously under our scrutiny… This kind of help is like forcing a plant to grow, and it’s not equal.”

Xia Xiaolan felt this deeply. Earlier, Wei Juanhong had been very nervous speaking with her, only relaxing after she helped with the milk powder.

For the Shi family, Zhou Cheng’s actions indeed made them anxious and uneasy.

Was all this necessary for a teammate?

Were the Shi family already guessing the reason behind Zhou Cheng’s excessive enthusiasm?

Guan Hue’e smiled, finding it truly pleasant to communicate with intelligent people. Some new clerks in her unit weren’t as clever as Xia Xiaolan. It wasn’t just the new clerks – some people worked their whole lives remaining confused, never mastering the skill of reading between the lines. Even when leaders stated things directly, they could still mess things up, exhausting Guan Hue’e.

Xia Xiaolan didn’t cause such exhaustion; talking with her required little mental effort.

“The hospital can handle Mother Shi’s surgery. If it goes well, her vision should recover about eighty to ninety percent. I’m keeping an eye on things here, so you can attend to your matters. The two children need someone to help care for them – I’ve already asked Sister Zeng to find reliable relatives to help for a few days. You must be busy too, right? Besides school, isn’t your Beijing store about to open?”

Guan Hue’e remembered the clothing store was supposed to open in mid-March.

“Yes, it’s opening soon. My mother went to Yang City to stock up and should be back soon.”

Things were chaotic in Yang City, but fortunately, Aunt Li Fengmei was there too, and Chen Xiliang would help. Xia Xiaolan wasn’t worried.

At worst, it was close to Peng City, and since Uncle Tang was pursuing her mother, he would surely look after them a bit more, right?

Although Guan Hue’e said not to worry about the Shi family’s situation, Xia Xiaolan couldn’t completely step back.

This was Zhou Cheng’s matter, which naturally made it her matter too.

If she only shared the sweet moments with Zhou Cheng while avoiding trouble, she would be a fake girlfriend!

Zhou Cheng came out of the hospital room, “You came. Are you tired?”

Seeing her son’s eyes fixed on Xiaolan, Guan Hue’e felt a bit sour. For the Shi family’s matter, she, as his mother, hadn’t slept since last night, took leave from work this morning, and had been busy at the hospital all morning – wasn’t she more tired than Xia Xiaolan?

This was typical of having a wife and forgetting your mother!

Guan Hue’e wanted to feel bitter about it, but let it go – children grow up and leave their parents’ control, how long could she remain bitter?

Zhou Cheng would eventually have his own family, and being close wasn’t a bad thing. At least he hadn’t found someone who was all looks and no substance. Xia Xiaolan’s performance today greatly improved Guan Hue’e’s impression of her. If they could handle the Shi family matter well, when she and Zhou Cheng became husband and wife, they could face other challenges together!

In the hospital room, Wei Juanhong gently patted her child’s back, and just as Xia Xiaolan had guessed, she was pondering a question: What was Team Leader Zhou’s deal, being so good to the Shi family?

It wasn’t just Team Leader Zhou running around, bringing them from Botong County to Beijing – his girlfriend and mother were also revolving around the Shi family.

Wei Juanhong was both confused and uneasy!

Yet for the sake of her mother-in-law’s eye treatment, she didn’t dare express these thoughts.

…

“Leader, it’s noon, you should take a break.”

When Tang Hongen got absorbed in work, he again lost track of time. Secretary Peng couldn’t bear it anymore and reminded the leader it was lunchtime.

Stomach problems needed gradual care – people around needed to monitor and remind, and one needed to pay attention themselves.

After having surgery in Beijing, Tang Hongen indeed began taking his health more seriously. Previously, he had no choice but to focus entirely on work – what else could he do when he was all alone? But since last year, life has changed. First, he reunited with his biological son, and while their father-son relationship needed strengthening, it was better than not seeing each other at all.

Now Tang Hongen felt that besides work, other things in life were quite important too.

“Xiao Peng, attend the afternoon meeting for me and take good notes. I’m going to Yang City.”

Secretary Peng’s mind was in turmoil – this was what you called scheming. Someone like Xia Xiaolan was truly calculating, willing to use even her mother to climb the social ladder… With such frequent visits, if the leader announced one day that he had already gotten married, Secretary Peng wouldn’t be surprised!