The game of power begins with the police officers at the local police station.

His legs went numb from kneeling, so he staggered to his feet and handed the agreement to Wang Yanhong's father.

He said with a forced smile, "Brother, please take a look at the agreement."

Wang Yanhong's father took the agreement, glanced at it, and, not recognizing some of the characters, called out, "Yanhong, take a look."

Wang Yanhong took the agreement, read it carefully, and found no problems. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, and she threw the agreement on the ground.

"The old house originally belonged to us; do we need you to give it to us?"

Wang Yanhong's mother said angrily, "We agreed that whoever supports the parents will own their things. You've been working away from home for years and haven't come back. Have you ever contributed a single penny or a drop of water?"

Did you contribute a single penny to our parents' funeral expenses? We paid for everything, and you still have the nerve to come back and fight for the house.

My son-in-law is the deputy director of the local police station; I can get him to send them to jail.

The second aunt grew anxious and cried out, "Brother, say something! They are your own brother and nephew!"

Wang Yanhong's father sighed and said, "Forget it, we should have a broader perspective. We won't pursue their criminal liability."

Wang Yanhong looked at her father: "Perspective? Having perspective on this kind of person is just being naive. If you don't pursue this, I will."

"Yan Hong, we're all family. You have a job and you're away from home, so you can't always be by our side."

If anything happens, we'll still have to rely on your older brother.

Besides, I'm the eldest son in the family. If I send my younger brother and nephew to jail, the villagers will gossip about me behind my back, and I won't have the face to see my parents after I die.

Don't act impulsively; be broad-minded. Tell Chen Shi not to pursue the matter further and to release them.

Auntie smiled broadly: "My eldest brother has a broad mind and a great vision. No one in Gaipai Village can compare to him."

Wang Yanhong snorted coldly: "You have a broad mind and a generous heart. If you want to talk to Chen Shi, then I don't care. I won't interfere in your affairs from now on."

She stormed out of the ward, her eyes brimming with tears.

Auntie looked displeased: "Brother, look at you, you turn around and leave just because you said something you didn't like. What will we do if something happens in the future?"

Wang Yanhong's mother roared, "Who are you to criticize my daughter? Get out of here! I don't want to see you!"

"Brother, you see, my sister-in-law still treats me like an outsider."

Wang Yanhong's father said in a low voice, "Go back. Yanhong is still confused. We need to give her some time. Once she has thought things through, she will talk to Chen Shi. After all, we are family, and blood is thicker than water."

Second Auntie repeatedly said yes.

Wang Yanhong has been having a lot of bad luck lately. Her father had an accident, and with final exams approaching, she had taken more than half a month off. The class she was teaching did very poorly on the exams. The vice principal talked to her, but out of consideration for Chen Shi, he didn't say anything harsh. However, she was still upset.

He was competitive throughout his life. He was always first in his class when he was in school, and when he started working, the class he led was also first in his class.

She knew what her father was thinking. If her second uncle and cousin were really held criminally responsible and sent to jail, her father would feel guilty for the rest of his life.

Kind-hearted people always think of others first, no matter what happens. Even if someone hurts them, they will still consider the other person's feelings.

She struggled with the decision for a few days, but eventually let it go. As long as her father was happy, anything was fine.

My father was very traditional. He had no son of his own, but he always treated his cousin as his son, hoping that his cousin would visit his grave after he passed away.

Wang Yanhong found it ridiculous that someone would care whether anyone would visit their grave after they've already died.

Can't I visit his grave myself? After I pass away, who will remember whom? Why think so much? Is it meaningful?

She read a foreign writer's account of Chinese people, who spent half their lives preparing for old age and death, without living in the present.

My constant refrain is that I need to prepare for getting old.

If you can't even live well in the present, how can you expect to live to old age? It's hard to say whether you'll even live to old age.

Unable to disobey her father's orders, Wang Yanhong took out a piece of stationery from the drawer and wrote a letter of understanding to her second uncle and cousin.

She was a very good writer and was known as a talented woman in school. In about ten minutes, she wrote a letter of understanding, signed it on behalf of her father, pressed her fingerprint on it, and put it in her bag.

This semester is over. This is my last day working at school, and then it's my summer vacation.

She picked up her bag, went home after get off work, and bought groceries to cook dinner.

Tonight I'm going to cook a few of my signature dishes: braised prawns, pork ribs with vinegar, and steamed carp.

After buying the groceries, I went back and started preparing the dishes, waiting for Chen Shi to return.

While others dislike cooking, she enjoys it. Watching Chen Shi eat the food she makes is also a pleasure.

People's sadness and happiness cannot be synchronized; what you find joy in may be sadness in others.

What makes you sad may be seen as happiness by others. Everyone is different; people are the most complex beings.

Chen Shi pushed open the door and came in. He smelled a delicious aroma and said with a grin, "What delicious food are you making? I can smell the aroma from the doorway."

"Come and see for yourself, you'll know."

Chen Shi arrived at the restaurant and swallowed hard when he saw the delicious food on the table.

"Yan Hong, your cooking skills are getting better and better. If I eat like this every day, I'm going to gain weight."

"If I fatten you up, no one will want to take you away from me."

She stood up, went to the refrigerator, took out two bottles of ice-cold beer, and poured two large glasses full.

"Let's have one tonight."

Chen Shi sat down, enjoying beer and prawns—it was simply fantastic.

The two drank four bottles of beer. Chen Shi was so full that he rubbed his stomach.

Wang Yanhong looked at Chen Shi: "I have something to tell you."

"What is it?"

"My dad has decided not to pursue criminal charges against my second uncle and cousin." She took out a letter of understanding from her bag and handed it to Chen Shi.

Chen Shi looked at Wang Yanhong with astonishment: "What are you thinking? Your second uncle and cousin almost beat your father to death, and you can forgive them?"

He couldn't understand, but he still reached out and took the letter of understanding.

"It's a long story. Ultimately, blood is thicker than water. My dad didn't want to send his younger brother and nephew to jail, even if they were to beat him to death."

Chen Shi couldn't help but chuckle; what a pushover.

"Even with your letter of understanding, and with the case already submitted to the Public Security Bureau for investigation, you're going to jail; it's just a matter of how much you'll be sentenced to."

Wang Yanhong pleaded, "Chen Shi, please help me. I can't let my second uncle and cousin go to jail. Otherwise, my father will feel guilty for the rest of his life."

My dad is a victim. He won't get a medical examination or hold them accountable. I know you can do that.

Chen Shi took a deep breath. This was really asking for trouble. He could do it himself, but he would owe someone a favor.

Who am I? I'm just Wang Yanhong's boyfriend. Even if we get married, my father-in-law won't pursue the matter. If I insist on pursuing it, it would be like a dog chasing a mouse, meddling in other people's business.

"You guys decide, I'll handle it."

Wang Yanhong stood up, hugged Chen Shi's head, and kissed him on the cheek.

I love you to death.

"There's something else I need to tell you. Mengmeng and I have made plans to go on a trip to Northwest China this summer to relax."

How long will it take?

"It can take anywhere from a week to ten days to half a month, or even a month."

"Then what should I do?"

"What? What should we do?"

"It's a physiological problem," Chen Shi said with a mischievous grin.

"Solve it with your hands!" Wang Yanhong couldn't help but burst into laughter.