Chapter 150: Chapter 150: Fang Zhihai Comes Knocking, Reactions from All Sides

“Old Tang called me first thing this morning, asking for my help. So here I am, rushing over without a moment’s delay.

Don’t worry, Xu Jianguo won’t be disturbing your lives anymore. Are you satisfied with this outcome?”

Xu Huaian was a bit confused—why was he being asked if he was satisfied?

“Thank you for mediating on our behalf,” he replied, feeling it was only right to express his gratitude, no matter what.

“As long as you’re satisfied.” Fang Zhihai took his agreement for granted, then immediately switched to the main topic.

“By the way, Old Tang mentioned you also suffered from some psychological issues after the war? Could you tell me more about your situation?”

Although Tang Zhenye had described it in dramatic terms, Fang Zhihai wanted to hear the details straight from the patient.

Xu Huaian quickly realized—so this was the friend the old commander had mentioned, the one whose son also suffered from post-war psychological trauma.

He instantly understood the old commander’s arrangement. His heart felt both a little bitter and a little warm.

He couldn’t let down his old leader’s trust, so he cleared his throat and answered seriously, “Yes, after a mission two years ago, I developed severe psychological problems. I lost control of my emotions and hurt people, which forced me to retire from the army.

After returning home, there were two more incidents in the following six months where I lost control and hurt people. My outbursts were so intense that even a dozen people couldn’t restrain me. To avoid hurting anyone else, I chose to isolate myself.

For over a year, I lived tied up. My emotional control got worse and worse, my mind became increasingly unclear, and I spent my days in a daze.

It wasn’t until my wife came into my life that things slowly started to improve.

Now, as long as I’m not severely triggered, I can basically control my emotions.”

His story matched almost exactly with what Tang Zhenye had said, so Fang Zhihai finally started to believe it.

“Xiao Xu, here’s the thing—my son is now experiencing the same symptoms you had in the early stages. Whenever he’s triggered, he loses control emotionally.

I’ve looked into this condition. There are a few cases in the army, but after these people leave the service, there’s no way to track what happens to them. You’re the only one I know of who’s actually improved.

I hope you and your wife can help me, for the sake of your shared background as soldiers. Will you?”

“In the future, if you ever need anything, I, Fang Zhihai, will do everything in my power to help.” Fang Zhihai could have used Zhong Luoning’s situation as leverage to force Xu Huaian to help him.

But instead, he appealed to their shared bond as soldiers—a point that struck right at Xu Huaian’s heart. How could he stand by while a comrade was in trouble?

On top of that, seeing this father’s deep love for his son, Xu Huaian really couldn’t say no.

You had to admit, Fang Zhihai might seem rough on the outside, but he was actually very thoughtful.

Xu Huaian hesitated for a few seconds, then sighed. “My wife does have some unique treatment methods. I’ll need to discuss it with her before giving you a definite answer, is that alright?”

Fang Zhihai wasn’t upset by his caution; in fact, it made him even more confident in Xu Huaian.

The more careful someone was, the more it showed the method might actually work.

Of course he’d let the couple discuss it first.

“No problem, Xiao Xu. I promise you, if you can cure my son, I’ll never refuse you any favor in the future—as long as it’s not illegal or against the law!”

Xu Huaian could only smile wryly.

Fang Zhihai personally drove Xu Huaian to the hospital to find Gu Qinghuan.

Gu Qinghuan was taking care of Zhong Luoning, who had already woken up. As soon as she woke, she asked about the situation at home, worried that her own troubles would drag down her cousin and cousin-in-law.

Gu Qinghuan reassured her, and only then did Zhong Luoning agree to rest.

Xiao Zhuo had already been picked up by his mother.

Earlier, Xiao Fengying had burst in with a huge box of chicken soup, only to find Xiao Zhuo sitting there perfectly fine, refusing to drink any. So she just gave the soup to Gu Qinghuan and dragged her son away.

On the way home, mother and son argued about Gu Qinghuan.

“Well, you brat, tell me honestly—did you save that patient just to get close to her cousin?”

“No wonder you never liked any of the girls I introduced to you. Turns out you like this type.”

Thinking back on Gu Qinghuan, Xiao Fengying grew more and more satisfied. The girl was not only pretty, but also polite, well-spoken, and cultured—much better than the girls she’d picked before. No wonder her son was interested.

In that instant, she’d even started thinking of names for her future grandchild.

But Xiao Zhuo said, “Mom, what are you talking about? She’s already married!”

“What? Married? Oh no, son, don’t you dare mess around. You can’t go after a married woman.”

Xiao Zhuo rolled his eyes. He really didn’t know what his mother was thinking. He’d already said she was married, and yet she still imagined he’d try something. Did she really think he was that desperate?

“I can’t be bothered to argue with you.”

Xu Huaian told Gu Qinghuan everything about Fang Zhihai’s request.

Gu Qinghuan finally understood—so it was Tang Zhenye pulling strings, even sending such a big shot like Fang Zhihai to their door. She didn’t know his exact position, but anyone who could influence the Revolutionary Committee was definitely no ordinary person.

This was a favor worth earning.

Gu Qinghuan made a snap decision—she’d take this case.

They’d just have to discuss the treatment method.

Even though Fang Zhihai had already helped, Gu Qinghuan still planned to go ahead with her plan at the People’s Daily. With a two-pronged approach, surely Xu Jianguo would finally be brought down.

After what he’d done to Zhong Luoning, seeing him ruined and disgraced still wouldn’t be enough to vent her anger.

Gu Qinghuan needed to stay at the hospital to care for Zhong Luoning, and since it wasn’t convenient for a man to stay, Xu Huaian went home to look after the kids.

She specifically asked the doctor to move Zhong Luoning to a special care room, so she could have some peace and quiet.

The three- and five-person rooms were too noisy and made it hard to rest.

Thanks to Xiao Zhuo, the doctor quickly arranged it.

Zhong Luoning woke up hungry several times during the night, but she was still on a restricted diet. The doctor advised against any food, as eating would stimulate stomach acid and could worsen her gastric bleeding.

Gu Qinghuan used a cotton swab to moisten her lips with water, so she wouldn’t feel too uncomfortable.

After this ordeal, her stomach problems had gotten even worse, and Gu Qinghuan hated Xu Jianguo even more.

It wasn’t until morning that Zhong Luoning was allowed to eat some warm, liquid food. The doctor specifically warned against anything too hot or cold, as it could cause blood vessels to dilate suddenly and worsen the bleeding.

During her recovery, she could only eat easily digestible, semi-liquid foods—nothing too greasy, spicy, or hot.

Milk wasn’t suitable yet, but the millet porridge from the cafeteria was too watery and looked like it had no nutrition. So Gu Qinghuan secretly slipped into her space, cooked a thick, nutritious millet porridge in her villa, and brought it out once it had cooled to a warm temperature.

Luckily, there was no one else in their room, so no one noticed her porridge was different from the cafeteria’s.

Zhong Luoning only managed a few sips before feeling nauseous.

She was actually very hungry, and the porridge smelled delicious, but her stomach just couldn’t handle food.

Not wanting to waste her cousin’s efforts, she forced herself to swallow, but in the end, she couldn’t control her gag reflex and vomited everything onto the bed.

Like a child who’d done something wrong, she anxiously tried to get up and clean up.

“Huanhuan, it’s too dirty—let me do it!”

Gu Qinghuan gently held her hand down.

“Luoning-jie, there’s no need to be polite with me.” Gu Qinghuan helped her over to the small bed she’d used as a companion the night before, then stripped the sheets and asked the nurse for fresh ones.

Although Zhong Luoning was older, seeing her so frail and weak, as if she could collapse at any moment, made Gu Qinghuan unable to say a harsh word.

Besides, it wasn’t her fault.

“Huanhuan, I’m sorry for dragging you into this.” Zhong Luoning stared up at the ceiling, looking utterly defeated and hopeless.

Gu Qinghuan carried her back to bed, her heart aching as if a piece had been torn out.

She was already suffering so much, yet she still worried about being a burden to others. It was truly heartbreaking.

She was only twenty-eight—at this age, in later generations, she’d still be the apple of her parents’ eye.

“Luoning-jie, you have to hold on. Don’t forget, You Ran still has your parents, your uncle and aunt, your grandparents, and all of us—we’re all waiting for you to get better.

That scumbag will soon get what he deserves, and after that, only good days are ahead!”

Zhong Luoning stared blankly out the window. She was so tired, truly exhausted.

The double blow of physical and psychological torment had drained all her spirit.

After cleaning up, Gu Qinghuan went out and bought a copy of the People’s Daily. As expected, her article was featured on the front page.

The newspaper vendor said today’s paper was a hot seller—he’d already sold many copies.

The more he sold, the more he earned, and his face was beaming.

At the same time, many people were reading the paper.

Different classes had different reactions.

Ordinary people sympathized with Zhong Luoning’s ordeal, cursing Xu Jianguo as inhuman. They also criticized the Revolutionary Committee for protecting their own and believed that anyone who engaged in such immoral behavior should be publicly denounced.

Of course, all they could do was gossip and argue.

But those more involved saw something deeper—the times were changing.

The Revolutionary Committee’s power probably wouldn’t last much longer. A few years ago, no one would have dared to criticize them so openly.

On the surface, the article was about Xu Jianguo and Zhong Luoning, but it also reflected the shifting political winds.

Some shrewd individuals even saw an opportunity to use this incident to reshuffle the Revolutionary Committee.

Zhang Zhengyi was eating breakfast at home when he saw the article. He was so shocked he couldn’t finish his meal.

He hadn’t expected Gu Qinghuan to go this far, bringing everything into the open. Not only had she left Xu Jianguo nowhere to hide, but she’d also forced the Revolutionary Committee to give an explanation.

For him, this was both a golden opportunity and a huge risk.

With things as they were, he had no choice but to take his chances and fight for his own future."

"Chapter 151: The Outcome, Treating Fang Zhengping

At the same time, Chen Jiadong—who had been pressured by Fang Zhihai to severely punish Xu Jianguo—felt like a fish in water when he saw the news report. He was overjoyed.

Now, he could handle Xu Jianguo without offending anyone, and everything would fall into place naturally.

As for Zhang Jili, the director of the Revolutionary Committee, he was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. He never imagined that someone would blow this matter up into such a huge scandal.

He had only tried to protect someone, but now he himself was stuck in the mud. He regretted it so much his guts turned green.

The news story kept fermenting all day, and by evening, the outcome was clear.

Several charges against Xu Jianguo had already been established.

Adultery, illegal detention, intentional injury, assaulting people in public, using his position to harm others illegally—enough to land him in serious trouble.

Public shaming, big-character posters, and harsh criticism were inevitable. As for how many years of labor reform he’d get, that was still unclear, but with multiple charges combined, it would definitely be no less than ten years.

Zhang Jili, the director of the Revolutionary Committee, was also dragged out and put under strict investigation because of the news.

People like him were bound to have skeletons in their closets; it was only a matter of time before they fell.

Zhang Zheng and his backers delivered a fatal blow to Zhang Jili as well. It was likely Zhang Zheng would soon use this opportunity to rise even higher.

This was thanks to his strict self-discipline. Even though he was surrounded by corruption, he never dared to let his guard down.

As for Fang Zhihai, after reading the news, he found it quite interesting and suddenly became even more curious about Xu Huai’an’s capable wife.

Although he had promised Tang Zhenye to help deal with Xu Jianguo, all he could do was ensure Xu Jianguo received the punishment he deserved. As for the people behind the scenes, he couldn’t just deal with them as he pleased—there were too many involved, and pulling one thread would unravel the whole fabric.

But now, with this news report, its impact was even greater than his own words. It rallied everyone.

See? All those hiding in the shadows had come out to stir up trouble. Beijing was constantly reshuffling its deck, and who knew when things would finally be cleaned up?

Still, rooting out even one corrupt official was a good thing.

At this moment, Xu Huai’an and Gu Qinghuan were sitting in a car sent by Fang Zhihai, on their way to visit the Fang family.

To put it bluntly, they were going to help treat an illness.

Through various channels, they had learned of Fang Zhihai’s identity—he was the First Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee.

Gu Qinghuan had come fully prepared, bringing along some spiritual spring water.

The Fang family lived in a tightly guarded government compound. The courtyard wasn’t large, but it was a symbol of power.

Xu Huai’an and Gu Qinghuan remained calm, getting out of the car without looking around and walking straight into the courtyard.

Fang Zhihai was already waiting at the door.

“Xiao Xu, this must be your wife!” Fang Zhihai greeted them warmly.

“Secretary Fang, this is my wife, Gu Qinghuan. Qinghuan, this is Secretary Fang,” Xu Huai’an introduced simply.

Gu Qinghuan greeted him with a bright smile, “Hello, Secretary Fang. It’s a pleasure to meet you. This is a small gift, just a token of respect.”

The gift Gu Qinghuan had prepared was similar to what she’d given Zhang Zheng and Xu Lei before.

Things like mountain produce, all grown with spiritual spring water—ordinary in appearance, but actually very beneficial to health.

Fang Zhihai accepted the gift naturally. “No need to call me Secretary Fang, that’s too formal. Just call me Uncle Fang. My son is about your age.”

“You’re too polite. In the future, when you come to Uncle Fang’s house, don’t bother bringing anything.”

Fang Zhihai couldn’t help but feel a sense of kinship and fondness for talented young people who knew how to behave appropriately.

Gu Qinghuan and Xu Huai’an obediently called him Uncle Fang.

“By the way, was that news article your handiwork, Xiao Gu?” Fang Zhihai asked casually.

Gu Qinghuan nodded a bit awkwardly.

“Haha, the new generation truly surpasses the old. You young people are impressive—really eye-opening,” Fang Zhihai said, clearly appreciative.

As soon as they sat down on the sofa, a graceful woman came out from the kitchen carrying two cups of tea and a plate of fruit.

Mrs. Fang naturally set the tea down on the coffee table.

“Old Fang, your guests are here? Aren’t you going to introduce us?”

Fang Zhihai quickly introduced them: “This is my wife, Comrade Ou Sumei. These two are the young people recommended by Old Tang—Xu Huai’an and Gu Qinghuan.”

Ou Sumei clearly already knew why they were here.

“Thank you both for coming. To be honest, ever since my son got sick, I haven’t had a good night’s sleep.

“Miss, I heard you have a way to treat his illness? What kind of method is it? If you can really cure my son, Old Fang and I will never forget what you’ve done for us.” She naturally steered the conversation, clearly unable to wait any longer.

Gu Qinghuan replied thoughtfully, “Auntie, could you tell me a bit more about the patient’s condition first?”

“Our Zhengping, after coming back from a mission half a month ago, suddenly hurt someone for no reason one day. After an examination, they said it was a psychological issue and he had to get treatment.

“These past few days, his temper’s gotten especially bad. He throws things at the slightest provocation, refuses to eat or drink, and locks himself in his room.

“We don’t dare mention his illness at home, and we go along with whatever he wants, but it doesn’t seem to help at all.

“We’ve seen several psychologists, and they all say we should spend more time with him.

“His father even turned down a lot of work to stay home with him, but it hasn’t helped. He doesn’t want to communicate with us, as if he’s living in his own world.” Ou Sumei looked worried.

“May I see the patient first? I need to understand his situation before I can offer the right treatment.”

“Of course!” Ou Sumei agreed readily. “But he always locks himself in his room these days. If he says anything rude, I hope you won’t mind.”

“It’s fine, I won’t mind,” Gu Qinghuan said, following her upstairs.

Xu Huai’an stayed downstairs to chat with Fang Zhihai. Sometimes, it’s best not to crowd a patient with too many visitors.

Ou Sumei led Gu Qinghuan to a room upstairs.

*Knock knock.*

“Son, we have guests. Can we come in?”

There was no response from inside. After waiting about two minutes, still no answer.

Ou Sumei spoke again, “If you don’t say anything, we’ll take it as your consent.”

She gently opened the door.

The room was a mess, with things thrown everywhere.

On the bed was a lump under the covers—presumably Fang Zhengping, curled up like an ostrich with his head under the blanket.

Ou Sumei gave Gu Qinghuan a helpless look.

Gu Qinghuan didn’t focus on Fang Zhengping, but instead looked around the room, searching for clues about his life and interests.

She quickly spotted a few Go (Weiqi) game records on the floor, with notes scribbled on them.

She whispered something in Ou Sumei’s ear.

Ou Sumei left the room, still a bit skeptical.

“You like Go?” Suddenly, a female voice broke the silence.

Fang Zhengping peeked out from under the covers, revealing his eyes, and saw Gu Qinghuan standing by the bed, looking at him.

The light seemed too bright, so he ducked his head back under.

Gu Qinghuan seized the moment. “I know a fun way to play chess. Want to try?”

Fang Zhengping poked his head out again, sizing her up. Maybe he thought she looked harmless, so he asked, “What kind of chess?”

He prided himself on knowing every kind of chess there was.

Gu Qinghuan replied gently, “Gomoku!”

Fang Zhengping had never heard of Gomoku, which piqued his interest.

Ou Sumei came in at just the right moment with a chessboard and pieces. Previously, she’d worried her son might use the board to hurt himself, so she’d removed all sharp or dangerous objects from the room.

Gu Qinghuan politely asked Ou Sumei to fetch them two glasses of water—just plain water.

Seeing her son actually pull back the covers and talk to someone, Ou Sumei instantly gained more confidence in Gu Qinghuan.

“Alright, alright.”

Ou Sumei went downstairs. Fang Zhengping, still wrapped in his blanket, refused to get up. Gu Qinghuan, sensing his embarrassment, stepped outside the room.

Inside, she heard the rustling sounds of someone getting dressed.

Gu Qinghuan breathed a sigh of relief. As long as he was willing to get up, that was a good sign. What she feared most was no reaction at all.

As long as there was a response, she could tailor her approach.

Fang Zhengping seemed to be in the early stages of his illness—still able to react, so his condition wasn’t too severe.

Ou Sumei came upstairs with the water and saw Gu Qinghuan standing at the door, a bit confused. Hearing movement inside, she realized her son had actually gotten up.

She was amazed.

“Auntie, could I have some time alone with him?”

“No problem, no problem.” Ou Sumei quickly handed her the tray with the water and happily ran downstairs to tell Fang Zhihai the good news.

“Old Fang, our son got up! Xiao Gu is amazing—she actually got him out of bed and talking!” She was filled with hope.

Fang Zhihai was delighted too. It showed that Gu Qinghuan really had some skills.

Xu Huai’an also quietly breathed a sigh of relief. When they came, they hadn’t been sure what to expect, but it seemed Gu Qinghuan was handling things well.

There was no sound from inside, so he must have been getting ready.

Before entering, Gu Qinghuan discreetly added some spiritual spring water to both glasses.

Sure enough, Fang Zhengping had tidied himself up and was sitting upright.

She hadn’t noticed before, but now that he was out from under the covers, Fang Zhengping was actually quite handsome. He’d inherited his mother Ou Sumei’s features—bright and striking. A buzz cut really is the ultimate test of good looks.

Because of his illness, there was a hint of gloom between his brows, but it didn’t detract from his handsomeness.

Fortunately, he didn’t take after Fang Zhihai."

"Chapter 152: Sense of Crisis, Treatment Plan

Gu Qinghuan let out a soft laugh, set the glass of water down beside the table, and took a sip.

She then sat down across from him and began by explaining the rules of Gomoku.

Fang Zhengping immediately felt like he’d been tricked, looking at her with a constipated expression—this was such a childish game.

“Come on, you won’t know if you can do it unless you try,” Gu Qinghuan said, making the first move.

Fang Zhengping had no choice but to follow.

In the first round, Gu Qinghuan completely wiped the floor with Fang Zhengping—he lost before he even realized what had happened.

It wasn’t that he was bad at board games; on the contrary, he was quite good at Go. It was just that his mind hadn’t switched over to the rules of Gomoku, and he fell right into Gu Qinghuan’s trap.

Gu Qinghuan flashed a triumphant smile. “Want to go again?”

Fang Zhengping gulped down some water, wiped his mouth, and said, “Again!”

He never thought he’d be so stubborn about winning back a game he’d just lost.

Maybe it was because Gomoku seemed so simple that losing made it even harder to accept.

He didn’t realize it, but he was already caught up in Gu Qinghuan’s game, his whole attention focused on Gomoku.

In the second round, he kept reminding himself of the rules, and played much better than before, but in the end, he still lost—unable to guard against her tricks.

Gu Qinghuan could tell he’d already switched gears, and he’d improved a lot this round. If she didn’t have a head full of Gomoku strategies, she might have lost.

Back in school, during breaks, her deskmate loved playing Gomoku with her—it was a fun way to pass the time and keep their minds sharp.

Thanks to her deskmate’s obsession, she’d learned all sorts of “formations”—Lightning, Plum Blossom, Thunder, Swallow, Inverted Triangle, Moon—so now she could win easily.

Seeing Fang Zhengping’s frustrated look, she secretly laughed to herself.

Gotcha, didn’t I?

“Ahem! One more round?” Gu Qinghuan teased.

Fang Zhengping’s mind was now filled with Gomoku moves—he was practically buzzing with excitement.

“Let’s go again!”

In the third round, Fang Zhengping went first, playing cautiously and almost trapping Gu Qinghuan. Luckily, she pulled out the Azure Dragon formation and managed to turn the tables.

After losing three times in a row, Fang Zhengping was completely hooked. He was good at Go, yet this simple Gomoku had him losing three times in a row—how interesting.

Anyone who’s played Gomoku knows that, while it seems childish, it’s actually addictive—the more you play, the more you want to play.

This was exactly what Gu Qinghuan wanted.

In fact, her goal wasn’t to beat him, but to help him come out of his emotional shell, do something he enjoyed, and temporarily forget his troubles.

Plus, with the “special” water she’d given him, he should sleep well tonight.

Just as Fang Zhengping was raring to go for another round, Gu Qinghuan stood up and patted her pants. “Uncle Fang and Auntie are still waiting downstairs. Let’s stop here for today.”

She really didn’t dare keep playing—Fang Zhengping’s Go skills meant he’d soon figure out her strategies and beat her, which would ruin the effect.

What she wanted was for him to feel unsatisfied, to keep thinking about the game, so he could break free from his negative emotions.

With the help of the spiritual spring water, the treatment would be even more effective.

Fang Zhengping felt like he’d been left hanging at the worst moment.

He was a bit resentful, but since she was a guest, he had to accept it.

“Will you come again next time?” Though he wasn’t in great spirits, he knew Gu Qinghuan was there at his parents’ request.

Gu Qinghuan thought for a moment. “If your treatment goes well, I will.”

Fang Zhengping stood up. “Next time, I’ll definitely beat you!”

Gu Qinghuan smiled. “I’ll be waiting.”

The two of them went downstairs one after the other, startling the three people in the living room—especially Fang Zhihai and his wife.

It was the first time since Fang Zhengping had been discharged half a month ago that he’d come downstairs on his own, and he looked in pretty good spirits.

Fang Zhihai was moved to tears—real men don’t cry easily, unless truly heartbroken.

Ou Sumei’s eyes lit up as she looked at Gu Qinghuan—this girl was amazing.

It was clear Gu Qinghuan really had some skills, and the couple hurried over to greet them.

Xu Huaian watched the two come down the stairs, and a strong sense of crisis welled up in his heart.

The way Fang Zhengping looked at Gu Qinghuan was like a hunter eyeing his prey. Xu Huaian remembered how he himself had slowly fallen for her during his own treatment.

And Gu Qinghuan had said she admired soldiers.

In many ways, Fang Zhengping was just like him—a soldier, suffering from post-war psychological issues.

But Fang Zhengping had even better conditions: loving parents, a good family background, and good looks.

A lot of thoughts flashed through Xu Huaian’s mind. He hadn’t even secured a relationship with Gu Qinghuan yet—he couldn’t allow anyone to ruin things.

At that moment, he regretted agreeing to help treat Fang Zhengping.

Gu Qinghuan had no idea what was going on in Xu Huaian’s mind and secretly flashed him a peace sign.

Xu Huaian forced a smile.

Next came dinner. The Fang family’s housekeeper’s cooking was pretty good, and Gu Qinghuan was happy to enjoy a meal she didn’t have to prepare.

It was rare for Fang Zhengping to come downstairs for a meal, so Fang Zhihai and his wife kept their attention on him, noticing that his mood seemed especially stable today and that he had a good appetite. Their approval of Gu Qinghuan grew even more.

Actually, it was mostly thanks to the spiritual spring water. While Gu Qinghuan’s distraction technique was good, it wouldn’t have worked so quickly on its own.

The couple’s attitude toward Gu Qinghuan did a complete 180—they were much warmer than when she first arrived, constantly urging her to eat more.

Even Fang Zhengping spoke up for once. “Comrade Gu, the sweet and sour pork is really good.”

“Really? Let me try.” Gu Qinghuan picked up a piece. It was pretty good, but not amazing.

Overall, the meal was average—not particularly delicious, but of course she wouldn’t say so. It’s a kind of unspoken rule among Chinese people—not embarrassing others is a virtue.

“Mm, it’s quite good. Tasty.”

Fang Zhengping’s lips curled up—he was in a good mood.

Their interaction nearly made Xu Huaian die of jealousy. He also picked up a piece of sweet and sour pork, pretending it was no big deal.

“I have to say, compared to Huanhuan’s cooking, this sweet and sour pork still falls a bit short.”

His words were a bit passive-aggressive, carrying several implications: first, that Gu Qinghuan was “his”; second, that Fang Zhengping’s recommendation wasn’t that great; and third, that he often got to eat Gu Qinghuan’s cooking.

As soon as he said it, Gu Qinghuan wanted to die of embarrassment—why did he have to say that in front of the Fang family?

He wasn’t usually so tactless.

Fang Zhihai just thought Xu Huaian was being honest—he’d eaten plenty of good food, and the housekeeper’s cooking was just so-so.

Ou Sumei, being a woman, easily saw through Xu Huaian’s little scheme, but didn’t call him out. After all, the two of them were there to help her son.

In her eyes, her son had high standards. She’d introduced plenty of wealthy, beautiful girls before, and he’d ignored them all—so there was no way he’d fall for Gu Qinghuan. Xu Huaian was just worrying for nothing.

She was a little uncomfortable, but didn’t say anything.

Fang Zhengping hadn’t expected Gu Qinghuan to be married already. Xu Huaian’s declaration of ownership left him a bit disappointed, and he said nothing more.

The atmosphere grew a little awkward.

Ou Sumei quickly tried to smooth things over. “Really? Xiao Gu can cook too? Xiao Xu, you’re making me hungry just talking about it. Next time, you’ll have to let us try your cooking.”

Gu Qinghuan nodded awkwardly. “Okay, Auntie.”

Xu Huaian hadn’t expected his words to cost his wife an extra meal. He cursed himself for his big mouth, feeling both awkward and annoyed.

He didn’t know what was wrong with him today—why he was so uptight.

A deep-seated sense of inferiority was at work.

Fang Zhengping was an only child, from a good family, loved by his parents, and good-looking. Xu Huaian, on the other hand, was unloved by his parents, from the countryside, and had nothing.

Comparing the two, even he found himself lacking.

Because of Xu Huaian’s awkward comment, everyone fell silent, and the meal ended quickly and awkwardly.

After eating, Fang Zhengping rushed upstairs to study Gomoku.

Losing three times in a row had fired up his competitive spirit.

Gu Qinghuan then discussed Fang Zhengping’s condition in detail with Fang Zhihai and his wife. At the moment, he was in the early stages of psychological change—more like depression.

Thanks to her experience with Xu Huaian and Zhong Luoning, Gu Qinghuan had learned a lot about treating such conditions.

She developed a treatment plan tailored to Fang Zhengping’s situation. Not only would she assist, but the Fang couple, as his parents, should also participate to help their son recover.

“His condition isn’t too serious yet. I have a few suggestions for you.

Apart from when he’s sleeping, try not to let him be alone—at least one person should be with him.

And by ‘with him,’ I don’t just mean being in the same room, but actually engaging with him. For example, you can go for walks together, go cycling, practice military boxing, or just chat.

You can even travel—visit nearby cities, experience different local cultures, keep him busy, and don’t let him idle.

Getting out of the house and experiencing new things will do him a lot of good.

If possible, let him do some light physical work, or help out around the house as much as he can.

If he’s out of work for too long and is coddled like a baby, he’ll only doubt himself more and question his own value.

So giving him some tasks is actually helpful for his recovery.

Also, if he has any hobbies, encourage him to pick them up again. Immersing himself in things he enjoys is much better than letting his mind wander.

I noticed he likes Go—you can play with him more and gradually get to know what he’s thinking.

In short, this is a long-term process. That’s all I can tell you for now.

Of course, I’ll also drop by from time to time to check on his progress.”

After listening, Ou Sumei felt enlightened.

“You’re right. We’ll stick to it.

But, could you come by more often these days? Lao Fang is usually busy, and I’m worried I can’t handle it alone,” she said apologetically.

“Auntie, here’s the thing—my cousin is in the hospital with a stomach bleed and needs someone to take care of her, so I probably can’t come every day.

How about this: if you have time, you can bring Mr. Fang to my place, and I’ll also visit whenever I can. Does that work?”

“Well, alright then,” Ou Sumei agreed.

Gu Qinghuan also took the opportunity to say her goodbyes.

As she was leaving, Ou Sumei gave her some health supplements.

“You said your cousin has a stomach bleed, so I prepared some nourishing herbs for you to take back—they’re especially good for women,” Ou Sumei said thoughtfully.

She insisted, so Gu Qinghuan had no choice but to accept.

Fang Zhihai had his driver take them home."

"Chapter 153: Acting Out of Spite, Walking Alone at Night, Encountering a Criminal