Sun Yuhou's treat

Seeing Sun Shaoping quickly regain his composure and arrange his family's affairs, Zhao Dongchuan secretly nodded. He was indeed the protagonist. Hmm, he could consider taking advantage of him in the future.

Shaoping also left two bottles of eye drops and pain relievers, instructing Lanxiang to give his grandmother the medicine and eye drops. Lanxiang, who was quietly carrying a pig slop bucket, ready to go out and feed the pigs, nodded quickly upon hearing Shaoping Brother's instructions.

Then Zhao Dongchuan took Sun Shaoan to his house and lent Sun Shaoping the bicycle locked in his yard.

Sun Shaoping was not unfamiliar with it, as he and Jin Bo used to take turns riding it when they went home from school together.

Sun Shaoping quickly rode off on the bicycle, carrying the bedding he had prepared for his brother-in-law, Wang Manyin, and disappeared into the dusty yellow earth.

Zhao Dongchuan did not concern himself with the subsequent events. He could only wait for the situation to unfold. The more he interfered, the more likely it was to cause a chain reaction, which might lead the situation to deviate from its original course.

Normally, this matter itself did not require his involvement, and Wang Manyin could still be released, just not as quickly. To complete his task, Zhao Dongchuan merely revealed the method in advance to speed up the process, without changing the essence of the matter.

The next day, before dawn, Zhao Dongchuan was asleep when he heard a "ding," and the system prompt sounded:

"Ding, congratulations, Host, you have completed the task and received 2 lottery chances. The Host can start the lottery at any time."

Zhao Dongchuan woke up in a daze. It seemed that Wang Manyin had been released, but logically, he should have been released last night. Why was it delayed until this morning? He wondered what had happened in between.

Zhao Dongchuan got up and washed as usual, with "porridge" simmering on the stove. He practiced Five Animal Frolics and, after breakfast, still had time, so he sat on the kang doing exercises.

He was working on a chemistry problem about molecular chains when he heard familiar footsteps outside the door.

"Dong Ge, are you in?" The person didn't knock but walked directly into the room. It was none other than Sun Shaoping.

"Shaoping, you're here. How did things go?"

"Your method worked really well! I hadn't gone far from the village entrance when I ran into my brother."

"My brother agreed with your method after hearing what happened, so I led the ox back, and my brother rode the bicycle to the county to find Sister Runye!"

"Later, in the evening, my brother came back and said the matter was settled!"

"This morning, that scoundrel was released. Now the whole family is at home!" Sun Shaoping said with a smile.

"It's just a pity for my sister; her eyes are all swollen from crying. This scoundrel's own reckless behavior has brought no peace to our whole family," Sun Shaoping said, his expression showing indignation.

"It's good that he's back. Have your brother keep him in line from time to time. Wang Manyin is most afraid of your brother!"

Shaoping was truly furious. With such a brother-in-law, his eldest sister's life was practically ruined.

Zhao Dongchuan was temporarily powerless regarding such family matters. If Wang Manyin himself didn't change his ways, no amount of outside persuasion would work, and he might just run off again inadvertently.

"Oh, right, Dong Ge, my father invited you to our house for dinner tonight to thank you for helping us so much."

"I didn't help much, just offered some advice. The main thanks should go to Runye. Without Runye taking Shaoan to find her Second Uncle, the advice would have been useless," Zhao Dongchuan said, waving his hand quickly.

"You must come! This time, not only did you help us, but you also brought us things. We must treat you to a meal. Please don't despise our family for being poor and not having delicacies."

"Your bicycle is still at our house. You can ride it home after dinner," Sun Shaoping said.

Since Sun Shaoping had said so much, not going would be disrespectful and would make him lose face, so he decided to go.

Zhao Dongchuan thought to himself.

"Alright, then I'll come tonight. Before I come, let's agree: the things are to thank your father for his kindness and cannot be returned. Also, don't prepare a big feast because of me, or I won't eat. Just treat me as you normally would and add an extra pair of chopsticks for me."

"Alright, I understand. I'll go back and tell my brother and my father. We'll wait for you tonight."

"Then I'll head back now," Sun Shaoping said, and he went home.

After tidying up for a while, Zhao Dongchuan also went to work. He saw Sun Shaoan, and the two of them exchanged knowing nods and greetings, without saying much else, just dividing tasks and working.

After work, the two walked together. Shaoan said, "Dongchuan, thank you for what you did about my scoundrel brother-in-law!"

"I just offered some advice; I can't take all the credit. Actually, you yourselves could have thought of it. There's no need to be so polite!" Zhao Dongchuan said with a smile as they walked, and then they each returned home.

Upon arriving home, Zhao Dongchuan packed a bit of brown sugar bought from the market as a gift. He couldn't just eat their food for free today. The items he gave last time were to repay Old Man's "life-saving grace." This time, since they were inviting him, he couldn't show up empty-handed, especially since their family's financial situation was not good; their life was a mess.

When he arrived at Old Man Sun's house, dinner was already cooked, and the whole family was there. Mao Dan and Gou Dan, the two children, were running around in the yard, with Lanxiang calling out to them. Wang Manyin hadn't gone inside; he was sitting by the firewood, smoking. When he saw Zhao Dongchuan enter, he paused, then immediately got up and offered him a cigarette.

"Brother, thanks! Otherwise, I would have died somewhere. That place was simply not fit for humans. Here, have a cigarette," he said, pulling out a pack of Daqianmen with only a few cigarettes left and offering one to Zhao Dongchuan.

"I did it for Sister Lan Hua's sake, she was so pitiful. I don't smoke, though," Zhao Dongchuan said, gently pushing it back.

Wang Manyin wasn't annoyed; he just gave a sheepish smile, knowing his own faults. He often said he was Guanzu Village's broken pot; no matter what others said, he simply lived his own way.

Hearing the commotion outside, Old Man Sun Yuhou and the two brothers, Shaoping and Shaoan, also came out to greet him.

"Zhao Wa, you're here! Come in quickly."

"You're here!" Shaoan also called out, offering him a seat, and Shaoping greeted him while carrying dishes.

The room was packed with people; even Sun Yuting was there, apparently having heard the news and come to freeload. He and his wife were both the village's "poor progressives" who didn't live well and often came to his brother Sun Yuhou's house for meals when they had no food.

"So many people welcoming me! When did I become so popular!" Zhao Dongchuan said jokingly.

"You helped my brother-in-law, which means you helped our whole family. Our entire family is grateful!" Shaoan said.

Sun Yuting, his face beaming with smiles, said, "If Wang Manyin became a convict, how could I be a Party Branch Committee member? My work couldn't even begin, so of course, I have to thank you."

"When I was pushing dirt with that scoundrel, I was so ashamed I wanted to jump into a crack in the ground," Old Man Yu Hou said, his brows furrowed into a knot.

On the table were some vegetables from their private plot, potatoes, and sweet potatoes, with a few specks of minced meat. A trace of oil floated on the vegetable soup, and a plate of yellow steamed buns was also served. It was much better than usual.