After four years of living alone after marrying far away, he went back to his parents' home and

After having a late-night snack, the family of three paid the bill and prepared to leave.

Outside, the courtyard was bustling with activity; the number of customers waiting for a table for a late-night snack had not decreased but increased.

When Lan Yujuan reached the corner, she deliberately stopped and glanced at the corner of the yard.

That direction is exactly where Liu Zhiyuan and his group were sitting.

Sure enough, the group at that table was still eating barbecue and drinking, showing no sign of leaving.

Just as she was feeling uneasy, an arm reached out from the side and took her hand.

"Don't be nervous, I'm here!"

In an instant, Lan Yujuan calmed herself down and indeed stopped panicking.

Then, the family of three walked confidently across the courtyard and headed straight out of the store.

As they passed by that table, a waiter even greeted them with a smile.

"Have you eaten? Take care, and welcome back next time!"

Chen Mo remained calm and nodded in response with a smile.

"Okay, sure."

Perhaps it was Chen Mo's voice that was too calm.

Or perhaps it was because Liu Zhiyuan and his group had drunk too much and their minds were becoming sluggish.

In short, Liu Zhiyuan and his group did not notice them until they left the courtyard and turned into the alley.

"Are you tired?" Chen Mo asked gently.

The three walked side by side, each holding their daughter's hand, slowly heading towards the hotel.

"Do you want to take a taxi back, or do you want to walk back like this?"

Lan Yujuan took a nap in the afternoon, having slept for most of the day and just having eaten a full meal, so she was feeling quite energetic.

She immediately laughed and said, "I'm fine with either of you!"

The little one was being led by his parents, swinging on a swing as they walked, and he couldn't be happier.

Upon hearing that they needed to take a taxi back to the hotel, she immediately panicked and began to whine and plead:

"Mom, I don't want to take a taxi, I want to walk home!"

Lan Yujuan bent down and pinched the little face, which was chubby and extremely cute. She agreed on the spot.

"Okay, then let's stroll back slowly."

Until I walked far away, so far that I could leave all the familiar faces I had just met behind me, I was completely forgotten.

Only then did Chen Mo pretend to be casual and turn around to glance at the distance.

Lan Yujuan didn't notice, but Chen Mo spotted it immediately: there were several people standing at the entrance of the late-night snack shop, watching the direction they left in.

Chen Mo wasn't very familiar with the others, but there was one named Liu Zhiyuan who left a deep impression on him after just one recollection!

Seeing him again this time, it was clear that he was like an unkillable cockroach, incredibly resilient.

At the entrance of the late-night snack shop, Liu Zhiyuan's old friends gently nudged him, pushing him from the steps onto the flat ground.

"Liu Zhiyuan, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and chase after them!"

"Exactly! If you don't pursue her soon, your wife will run off with some other man. I wonder where you'll be crying then!"

"Zhiyuan, don't blame us for not reminding you. With our circumstances, it's incredibly rare that Lan Yujuan has taken a liking to you and remained devoted to you for so many years!"

"Such a wonderful wife, if you miss out on her, you'll regret it for the rest of your life."

As Liu Zhiyuan listened to his friends' endless stream of well-meaning but ultimately selfless advice, his brow furrowed deeply.

He took a deep drag of his cigarette, threw the butt on the ground, stomped it out with his shoe, and tossed it into the ashtray by the roadside.

"What's the rush?"

"She's definitely bringing her daughter back to see her grandmother one last time, so there's no rush."

"My women, my flesh and blood, they are all mine! I will never allow them to wander outside!"

Not to mention, she was also seen hugging and cuddling with other men.

"However, this matter needs to be considered carefully and taken slowly."

"After they return to Xiahe Village tomorrow, that's my territory, and I'll be in charge!"

After Liu Zhiyuan finished speaking, he put his hands in his pockets and stared at the disappearing figure in the distance for a long time.

The people nearby looked at each other, and one of them, who was on good terms with Liu Zhiyuan, quietly approached and gently nudged him with his shoulder.

"Zhiyuan, do you already have plans for tomorrow?"

Liu Zhiyuan turned around, a cold smile on his face. "A plan? I'd say I have one!"

Fueled by alcohol, Liu Zhiyuan couldn't help but recount an interesting story he had encountered in Africa.

"I went to Africa on a business trip a few months ago to provide technical assistance."

"In Africa, I learned about a new plant that can be used to make tea for people by simply picking its tender leaves, drying them, and then steeping them in water."

"People who drink this water will become extremely obedient to those close to them in authority, doing whatever they are told!"

Upon hearing Liu Zhiyuan's words, everyone else immediately perked up.

"Wow, there are such amazing plants?"

"Zhiyuan, is it possible to get this? Is it legal?"

"Old classmate, you didn't secretly bring such a good thing back to China, did you?"

Emboldened by alcohol, Liu Zhiyuan was initially quite smug and arrogant.

After hearing those words, I was instantly terrified and broke out in a cold sweat, which sobered me up considerably.

So he quickly waved his hand and said, "I've only heard of it, I've never used it, let alone taken it back to my country."

"Don't take this seriously, I'm just telling you this as an interesting anecdote."

"Alright everyone, stop standing there! Let's go back to the courtyard and continue drinking. We won't leave until we're completely drunk!"

With Liu Zhiyuan's self-justifying explanation, the others did not pursue the matter any further.

After all, such a thing is certainly not something particularly honorable, and it may not even be used for legal purposes.

Since Liu Zhiyuan was tight-lipped, they decided not to meddle any further.

Before we knew it, it was Sunday.

Lan Yujuan and her family of three planned to go back to Xiahe Village in the morning, then return to the provincial capital in the afternoon, and take an evening flight back to southern Hunan.

Compared to the busy day before, Sunday morning was much more relaxed, and Lan Yujuan slept until she naturally woke up.

When she woke up, just as she was about to ask Chen Mo when she would meet up with Li Le, she realized that...

Unexpectedly, Li Le had already packed his luggage and was waiting in the living room outside the suite, taking care of the child while playing games.

After Lan Yujuan got up and tidied herself up, she came to the living room. Li Le immediately put down his phone, smiled, and stood up.

"Sister-in-law, I've packed my luggage and brought it all to the hotel."

"My brother specifically told me to come early today so I can go to Xiahe Village with you at noon."

"If you encounter anything unreasonable during your visit, be sure to call him immediately."

"He said that if necessary, he would personally lead the people of Lijia Village to Xiahe Village to demand an explanation for you!"