"Xiang, please, I need your help!"

Ding Xiang was truly desperate. She knew that if she went home to ask her husband, he would just send someone to inquire—far slower than Nan Sheng's sources.

"My father was taken away yesterday. Can you find out where he is and if there's any chance to get him out?"

Nan Sheng feigned surprise. "Your father also works for the government? Was he implicated by Director Yi, or did he do something wrong himself?"

Ding Xiang flushed with shame but had no choice but to admit the truth. "My uncle—Director Yi—used to send things to our house sometimes. But I swear, my father has never done anything truly terrible!"

How many government officials could honestly claim to be incorruptible?

"Sister-in-law, I can ask around for you. But you know I’m just a small-town director. I might not be able to help beyond that."

Nan Sheng put on an apologetic face. She had no intention of getting tangled in the Ding family’s mess—they weren’t that close. A quick phone call to shut them up would suffice.

After a night of hitting dead ends, Ding Xiang didn’t dare ask for more. She hurriedly thanked her.

"Don’t say that, Xiang! Just getting any information is more than Shen Yu and I could hope for!"

Nan Sheng immediately called the county office. Secretary Cao was flustered when he picked up. "Director Nan?"

Cutting straight to the point, Nan Sheng asked, "Secretary Cao, a government employee surnamed Ding was arrested, right? Do you know where he’s being held?"

"I do. He’s being interrogated at the county office. Are you acquainted with him, Director Nan?"

If he could trade Old Ding for a favor from Nan Sheng, Secretary Cao would consider it a win. After all, the man’s crime—greed—wasn’t exactly irredeemable.

"Good. Thank you, Secretary Cao."

The line went dead, leaving Cao Guoxiang baffled.

Why did she hang up?

Why just a 'thank you'?

After ending the call, Nan Sheng looked up at Ding Xiang. "Sister-in-law, I’ve got the details. Your father’s still at the county office, but the city’s taking this seriously, so visits are restricted. Maybe you could ask the military district to intervene?"

Hearing her father was still in the county, Ding Xiang finally relaxed. "Ah, thank you, Xiang. I’ll go talk to Shen Yu right away."

Not long after Ding Xiang left, Cao Guoxiang called back. He’d waited and waited, but Nan Sheng hadn’t followed up.

"Director Nan, if you really want to pull him out, I can make an exception. Seriously!"

Before he could say more, Nan Sheng cut him off with a stern "Uphold the law properly." Furious, Cao Guoxiang ordered another round of interrogation for Ding Xiang’s father. If the man was useless, he deserved what was coming.

Ding Xiang went straight to the military district, asking someone to relay a message to Shen Yu: "Tell him I’ve gone home." The young soldier was puzzled—why was that worth mentioning?

Shen Yu rushed home on leave, but one look at his wife’s distressed face told him something was wrong.

"Ding Xiang, how’s your father?"

"Shen Yu, you have to help my dad!"

They spoke at the same time. Shen Yu urged his wife to explain the situation clearly—what exactly was happening, and how could he help?

"My father was taken for questioning yesterday. At least he’s still in the county. Can you ask the leadership to intervene? Maybe the military district could vouch for him?"

"Absolutely not!"

Shen Yu refused immediately. Even if his superiors agreed, it would tarnish their opinion of him.

"Your father took bribes—it’s not a capital offense. At worst, he’ll get labor reform. But if this gets out, it’ll hurt my career. Use money to smooth things over. Try to reduce his sentence."

Ding Xiang was speechless. Was her husband really washing his hands of her father?

"Shen Yu, that’s my father—your father-in-law! Are you just going to abandon him?"

Shen Yu sighed. "What else can we do? Make a scene and let the whole military district know your father was arrested for corruption? Have you thought about me? About the kids?"

If the situation hadn’t escalated, he might’ve found a way to suppress it. Now, it was too late.

Mention of the children gave Ding Xiang pause.

She knew—if the families on base found out, her kids would be humiliated. But money alone wouldn’t solve this. She had no connections!

On her way home from work, Nan Sheng pedaled leisurely on her bicycle—until Han Yongxiang suddenly jumped out from the roadside to stop her.

"You again?" What was wrong with this guy, popping up out of nowhere?

Han Yongxiang furtively pulled out a thick envelope, stuffed like a brick.

Nan Sheng glanced at it. Clearly, he was well-off—but so was she. She teased, "You’re under Lin Han’s command. You think I’d take your money? Save it for your future wife!"

Han Yongxiang flushed, embarrassed. He was used to roughhousing with his comrades but had little experience talking to women—let alone his superior’s wife.

Just as he watched Nan Sheng’s retreating figure with gratitude, she called back over her shoulder:

"Han Yongxiang, right? You’ve popped up twice today. When Lin Han gets back, I’m telling him to discipline you!"

Han Yongxiang’s vision darkened. "No, Sister-in-law! I’m going straight back to base—I won’t come out again!"

Two beatings in just a few days—what rotten luck.

At home, as expected, the living room was piled high with gifts—cigarettes, alcohol, tea, pastries. The table couldn’t hold it all, so some were left on the floor. No wonder the neighbors had mentioned how lively their building was today.

Sizhe said, "I didn’t know any of them. They knocked, left these things, and walked away. I just brought them inside."

Siqi, however, was thrilled. She crouched by the pile and asked eagerly, "Mom, can I eat some? I’m starving!"

Nan Sheng yanked her head back from the mountain of treats. "Starving? You’ve been packing on the pounds lately—time for a diet!"

Siqi ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‍flailed indignantly, still pinned. "Mom said just the other day I had baby fat! I’m not fat!"

Nan Sheng scoffed, lifting the little girl’s shirt to reveal a perfectly round belly.

"Tell me again—are you fat or not?"

Siqi yanked her shirt down to cover her tummy. Mom was so mean!