Poverty Alleviation C22

Chapter 22

The new episode was a huge success!

Fans who had unfollowed before came back.

Even those who had uninstalled the app reinstalled it.

The personal social media accounts of several show guests also gained a significant number of followers.

Of course, the one who gained the most followers was Wei Sheng.

With his extraordinary cooking skills, he won over 800,000 wild girlfriend fans.

Netizens jokingly called him the “Supreme Commander of 800,000 Foodies.”

After all, these days, there are far more fairy-like girls who order takeout than those who can cook.

Since most people don’t like to cook, they couldn’t resist the idea of having a boyfriend who could. And well… a “cloud boyfriend” still counted as a boyfriend, right?

Watching Wei Sheng cook every day—wasn’t that basically the same as having a boyfriend cook for you?

Yes, every day!

The insane Wang Qun, in pursuit of higher ratings, forced Wei Sheng into a new role—

He had to film a cooking video every day and upload it to the show’s official account.

“Wait, Director Wang! I have a job with set hours!”

“My place is far from the TV station. It takes me over an hour, switching between the subway and two buses!”

“Where am I supposed to cook?”

Wang Qun stroked his chin and tossed out a single phrase: “Just wait!”

Wei Sheng immediately felt uneasy.

That phrase… did not sound reassuring at all.

Sure enough, Wang Qun returned shortly, bringing “good news”—

“I talked to your supervisor. While you’re filming the show, you don’t have to clock in. We’ll count your attendance as full!”

“From now on, you can leave work at 3 PM every day, go home, buy groceries, cook, and film. Think of it as working from home.”

“Oh, and keep this confidential—don’t spread it around!” Wang Qun reminded him in a low voice.

In a public institution like theirs, strict clock-in policies were enforced—even station executives had to follow them, let alone a newcomer like Wei Sheng.

If it weren’t for the show’s needs and the lack of a proper filming kitchen at the station, Wang Qun wouldn’t have made this exception.

“What about grocery expenses…?” Wei Sheng shamelessly stared at Wang Qun.

He had heard that their show had recently signed five advertisers in one go—they were practically rolling in money!

Surely, Director Wang had some extra cash to spare?

Wang Qun gave him an exasperated look.

Wei Sheng, unwavering, continued to stare.

If he had to buy groceries, cook, film, and edit the videos himself, shouldn’t he at least get reimbursed for utilities like gas and electricity?

His grandma had always taught him: Eating won’t make you poor, drinking won’t make you poor, but failing to budget will.

Money management meant saving up small amounts to make a fortune!

“Keep each meal under 200 yuan! Use it wisely!” Wang Qun begrudgingly approved a budget, handing him a slip to collect funds from accounting.

Wei Sheng happily took the money and immediately decided to invite three of his showmates, along with his new friend Han Zekai, over for dinner.

At this moment, he had no idea that the famous top-tier manager Zhou Mingxing had set his sights on him.

Last time, just one sentence from Pu Xiangdong had been enough to get him replaced—something that had left a lasting impression.

Wei Sheng thought to himself, There’s no such thing as a secure job forever. Otherwise, how did the mass layoffs of my parents’ generation happen?

When the times abandon you, they don’t send a warning in advance.

With that in mind, he figured it was best to have some personal leverage…

Anyway, Director Wang only required him to upload a short daily video on the show’s account.

But he never said Wei Sheng couldn’t stream live in the meantime!

At 3 PM, Wei Sheng hopped on the bus, switched to his personal social media account, and posted a livestream announcement—

“Livestream Alert: The Accountant Chef is here! Catch my stream at 4 PM—Warm Winter Whole Lamb Feast, let’s go!”

Since the show resumed, Wei Sheng’s account had been inactive, so fans were caught off guard by his sudden reappearance.

And when they saw the announcement—hey! Their new idol was going live?

But… why not stream in the night?

4 PM? Whatever, they could just mute their phones and sneak a peek at their desks. The boss wouldn’t notice, right?

Since it wasn’t rush hour yet, Wei Sheng finally got to experience a seated ride on the bus and subway. A commute that normally took an hour and a half was finished in just 40 minutes!

Wei Sheng currently lived at his grandpa’s house.

For groceries, he usually went to a nearby community market.

With 20 minutes to go before the livestream, his craving kicked in.

Since his mom wasn’t around, he quickly ran to a street food stall and ordered two skewers of fried gluten, one skewer of sausage, and a bowl of spicy wolf-tooth potatoes.

According to his mom, this stuff was “packed with hardcore food science and industrial tricks.”

Eat one skewer a day, and soon you’d be lying in a coffin, with the whole village attending your funeral—ahem.

But whatever! Wei Sheng had loved starch-based sausages since he was a kid!

He even found pure meat sausages too chewy.

And fried gluten with wolf-tooth potatoes? Mmm…

Sitting by the food stall, he happily devoured his “Periodic Table of Elements Meal” and was revitalized for his livestream.

He placed his fully charged phone onto a handheld stabilizer, turned on the camera, and officially started his first personal livestream.

The previous livestream didn’t count—

That time, there were four of them streaming together.

“Hello, everyone! Good afternoon! I’m Wei Sheng, the chef who knows how to use an abacus, hahaha~”

“Welcome to my livestream! Today, I’ll take you all on a tour of the local market near my grandpa’s house, and tonight, we’re making a full lamb feast!”

Wei Sheng had grown up at his grandpa’s house and was a natural social butterfly, so he was already well-acquainted with everyone in the area.

He made his way skillfully to the butcher selling lamb. Before he could even speak, the butcher uncle pointed to the lamb ribs beside him.

“Wei Sheng, you’re off work pretty early today, huh? You’re in luck! I’ve got top-quality rib meat and soft cartilage from the front chest—perfect for soup or braising. Want some?”

Wei Sheng grinned and pointed at the neatly cut sections of lamb. “I’ve got guests at home tonight, planning to make a full lamb feast. Uncle Chen, give me two pounds of the best rib meat and two pounds of cartilage.”

“Also, I’ll take a whole hind leg—make sure it’s meaty. I’m roasting it.”

“And two pounds of cleaned lamb offal!”

“Give me two pounds of tender lamb neck meat too. I’ll use it to make lamb dumplings later.”

As Wei Sheng rapidly listed off his order, the viewers watching the livestream—many of them sneaking a peek at work—were practically drooling.

This guy was too evil!

Why did he have to stream at such an inconvenient time—4 PM?

And why a food livestream of all things?!

Didn’t he know that late afternoon was the hungriest time for office workers?

Lunch takeout had long been digested.

Dinner was still hours away.

And it was too late to order an afternoon snack…

AAAAHHH! I’M STARVING!

To make things worse, this ruthless food streamer left the butcher’s stall while his lamb was being cut—just to sample freshly fried oil dough cakes from the stall next door!

These oil dough cakes were a beloved local snack made from glutinous rice flour, with two classic fillings: red bean paste and brown sugar.

Freshly fried, they turned golden and puffy in the oil, and when eaten, one had to be careful, biting gently—

Otherwise, the molten filling could scorch your tongue!

Wei Sheng, ever the charmer, sweet-talked the vendor auntie as he ate, praising her skills and even joking that she should apply for intangible cultural heritage status.

Amused, the auntie ignored the protests of her other customers and stuffed an extra five cakes into his bag!

Normally, her oil dough cakes sold for one yuan each, with a deal: buy ten, get one free.

But because she liked Wei Sheng, she insisted on giving him five extra!

The customers in line were all green with envy.

And so were the viewers in the livestream.

“Oh my god! These oil dough cakes look so good! Are they only found in J City?”

“They exist in other places too, but most city breakfast stalls don’t sell them anymore. If you want some, you have to go to rural towns or hidden markets in old neighborhoods.”

“Ugh, I’m on a diet, and seeing fried food like this is making me lose my resolve!”

“Why?! Why did I open this livestream two hours before dinner?! I hate this!”

“I’m so hungry! Screw it, I’m ordering takeout right now!”

After getting his bag of oil dough cakes, Wei Sheng returned to the butcher, who had finished cutting his lamb.

With his groceries in hand, he wandered through the market, occasionally turning his camera to showcase the stalls.

This local market was different from large urban farmer’s markets—it was mostly run by elderly residents of nearby neighborhoods, selling homegrown produce to earn some pocket money.

They didn’t necessarily need the extra income.

Local netizens had even joked that some of these elderly vendors—who insisted on exact change down to the last cent—probably owned several urban apartments from past government relocations.

But perhaps because they weren’t dependent on selling vegetables to survive, they had a relaxed attitude. Since they ate their own produce, they never used synthetic fertilizers or pesticides with “Hextech” enhancements.

Wei Sheng had been coming to this market with his grandma since childhood. He knew exactly what seasonal produce tasted best—better than some of the vendors themselves.

This season was perfect for the first batch of water radishes, so he bought three pounds. He planned to keep a couple of the tender ones for a cold radish salad and use the rest to stew with lamb.

Early-season water radishes were incredibly delicious—stewed with lamb, they turned soft and sweet, without any fibrous texture.

“Granny, can I have those radish greens too? I want to stir-fry them.”

Wei Sheng pointed at the pile of radish leaves behind the vegetable vendor.

Those were a hidden gem!

The tender ones could be blanched, chopped, and stir-fried with cured meat and tofu—perfectly savory. Any leftovers would go great with porridge for breakfast the next day.

The old lady beamed at him, impressed by his knowledge, and even helped him pick out the freshest leaves.

“The tough ones are for feeding rabbits!” she chuckled.

After buying radishes, Wei Sheng picked up two bunches of baby bok choy (Type of Chinese Cabbage) for five yuan.

He bought a crisp lotus root for eight yuan, a bundle of green onions for ten, and two blocks of firm tofu for six.

Then he spotted a vendor selling homegrown sweet and sticky white corn. Upon hearing the price—just four yuan per pound with husks—he knew it was a rare find.

So he bought a whopping twenty pounds in one go, stuffing it into a giant bag!

“Xiao Sheng, how many relatives are visiting your house? Why did you buy so many groceries?”

Someone who knew him asked.

“Hehe~ Just a few friends from work. This glutinous corn is rare to find, so I bought extra to share with my colleagues.”

“Oh? Friends or a girlfriend?”

In the small marketplace, the uncles and aunties who had watched Wei Sheng grow up immediately started gossiping.

Wei Sheng, carrying his groceries and holding up his phone, fled in embarrassment.

The viewers in the livestream chat were laughing hysterically.

Serves him right! Making them drool over delicious food just before they got off work!

On the way home from the market, Wei Sheng passed by Grandpa Hu’s small supermarket.

Out of breath from carrying all the bags, he reached the store entrance and saw his mom squatting outside, teasing their cat, Rice Ball, with a large rooster tail feather she had picked up from somewhere.

Seeing her son, Hu Qianqian was surprised.

“Aren’t you supposed to be at work today? Why are you home so early?”

Wei Sheng set the groceries aside, rushed inside to grab a bottle of chilled mineral water from the fridge, and gulped it down.

After drinking half the bottle in one go, he finally caught his breath and explained that the show’s director had let him work from home.

Hu Qianqian’s eyes lit up. “That’s great! You can handle dinner for the next few days, so your grandma can take a break.”

Wei Sheng rolled his eyes.

Ever since her divorce, his mom had fully embraced a carefree lifestyle.

She didn’t do housework anymore—twice a week, she paid for a cleaning service to do a thorough cleanup.

She didn’t cook either. If there was food at home, she’d come back to eat. If not, she’d just order a rice bowl from the Sha County restaurant next door.

After eating, she’d drop off the dirty dishes at the restaurant, not even bothering to wash them herself!

If it weren’t for Rice Ball needing walks now and then, Wei Sheng seriously suspected his mom would have turned into a round ball by now.

That said, though she had gained a bit of weight, her face was now fuller, her skin was smooth and radiant, and she looked much better than when she was married.

Hu Qianqian had a petite frame—being too skinny made her look pitiful. Now that she had a bit more flesh, her face was full of collagen, and with her hair tied up in a ponytail and dressed in a black velvet tracksuit, she actually had a youthful vibe!

No wonder young women these days didn’t want to get married…

Wei Sheng shook his head in amusement but was genuinely happy to see his mom doing so well.

“Mom, I’m heading home to cook. My colleagues are coming over for dinner tonight. Close up early and come back to eat, okay?”

“Got it, got it. So naggy!” Hu Qianqian, still holding Rice Ball, grinned as she watched her son leave with his bags of groceries.

Who said a woman at her age, after a divorce, would be left helpless and alone?

She had her parents, a filial son, and now even a cat!

Financially free, stress-free—her life couldn’t be better!

Hu Qianqian was most grateful that her parents had seen through Wei Zhiyong’s true colors early on and had never let him find out about their family’s wealth.

She herself had been clueless back then.

It wasn’t until her divorce, when she moved back home, that her mother, worried she might waver and be tricked into going back, revealed a glimpse of their family’s assets to her—

Grandpa Hu and Grandma Hu only had one daughter, and they had spent their entire lives planning for her future.

They owned five properties in the provincial capital. Besides the three-story villa in this old neighborhood, the other four were rented out, bringing in nearly 20,000 yuan in rent every month.

They had already decided that once Wei Sheng’s job stabilized and he could use his housing fund, they would help him buy a place for his future marriage and gift him one million yuan to give his new family a solid start.

As for the remaining five properties, the small supermarket, and over ten million yuan in savings, those would all belong to Hu Qianqian.

A child should be raised by the one who gave birth to them.

While they loved their grandson, Hu Qianqian was their only daughter.

If Wei Zhiyong hadn’t been such an idiot—if he had treated Hu Qianqian as anything more than a free maid—he could have benefited from this wealth. At the very least, owning five properties in the provincial capital would have ensured a comfortable retirement.

But alas, some people were simply destined to miss out on a good life.

At the supermarket entrance, a customer walked in. Hu Qianqian picked up Rice Ball, wiped its paws with a wet wipe, and carried it to the checkout counter.

Across the street, Zhou Mingxing had been watching for a while.

He had learned that this supermarket belonged to Wei Sheng’s mother, so the friendly-looking woman with a round face must be her.

What he hadn’t expected was that Wei Sheng’s mom would look so young!

Zhou Mingxing had heard that Wei Sheng had gone home early, so he had planned to drop by and talk to him about the possibility of switching careers to become an entertainer.

But his ride-share car had been an electric vehicle, and it had died on the way!

Feeling unlucky, he spotted the supermarket and decided to grab something to bring along—only to coincidentally hear Wei Sheng call the owner “Mom.”

What perfect timing!

Zhou Mingxing wanted to recruit Wei Sheng as an artist under his management, and part of his visit was to assess whether his family would be easy to get along with or if there were any red flags.

In the entertainment industry, an artist’s family could sometimes be their biggest liability.

The entertainment industry is unlike other fields—sometimes, a celebrity’s career can be dragged down by their own family’s reckless actions.

If there was anything problematic about Wei Sheng’s family, no matter how talented he was, Zhou Mingxing wouldn’t dare sign him.

Forget about saying “the sins of the father should not be visited upon the son.”

If someone enjoys the privileges and benefits that their family provides, they also have to bear the consequences together. Fortune and misfortune go hand in hand—you can’t just push all the blame onto your family when trouble arises.

In ancient times, when an official committed a crime, even nine generations of their family could be implicated.

Watching Wei Sheng leave, Zhou Mingxing pretended to browse the store, selecting items while casually chatting with Hu Qianqian.

But just then, a man suddenly burst in from outside and yanked Zhou Mingxing away from the counter.

The force was so strong that Zhou Mingxing almost got thrown to the ground!

“Wei Zhiyong, what are you doing?!” Hu Qianqian shouted in shock and anger, quickly moving to help Zhou Mingxing.

But before she could, the furious Wei Zhiyong grabbed her arm.

Hu Qianqian cried out in pain.

Rice Ball, who had been lazily sprawled on the glass counter, perked up immediately. Someone dared to bully her mom? Unacceptable!

The fluffy fur on her body slowly bristled.

The next second, just as the two people were locked in a standoff, a furry blur shot out from the counter like lightning.

“Meow!” Rice Ball extended her sharp claws and slashed fiercely at Wei Zhiyong’s face!

Red scratches immediately appeared on Wei Zhiyong’s pale, bloated face!

“Damn cat! Get lost!” Wei Zhiyong roared, grabbing a broom and swinging it at Rice Ball.

“Rice Ball!” Hu Qianqian’s eyes widened in horror. She grabbed whatever was within reach and hurled it at Wei Zhiyong.

Noticing that Hu Qianqian’s attacks were uncoordinated, Zhou Mingxing frowned slightly. Glancing around, he spotted a few stainless steel pipes nearby. He picked up two, tested their weight, and found them to be perfect for a fight. He quickly moved to Hu Qianqian’s side and shoved one into her hands.

“Use this!”

Hu Qianqian was already too furious to care who had handed her the weapon.

She grabbed the steel pipe and swung it at Wei Zhiyong without hesitation.

By this point, the commotion had drawn the attention of the neighbors.

This was Hu Grandpa’s neighborhood, full of his old friends. Seeing his daughter being bullied, they weren’t about to stand idly by.

On the left, the owner of the Sha County restaurant rushed over, wielding a giant iron ladle.

On the right, the hairdresser didn’t dare grab scissors, fearing an accidental fatal injury, so he snatched up a tall barstool and charged forward.

Zhou Mingxing, trapped in the store, blinked. Then, as if by accident, he nudged a bucket of water over and kicked it toward Wei Zhiyong’s feet.

Already stumbling backward under Hu Qianqian’s assault, Wei Zhiyong failed to notice the water bucket. His foot slipped—

And he crashed to the ground, limbs flailing!

“Ha! Too bad you didn’t break your damn neck, you old bastard!” Hu Qianqian laughed heartily, hands on her hips, and spat at him.

Wei Zhiyong was utterly humiliated!

Gritting his teeth through the pain in his backside, he scrambled to his feet and looked around.

To his left stood the towering restaurant owner.

To his right, the hairdresser with a streak of golden-dyed hair.

And in front of him—his ex-wife, who had been dressing up more extravagantly ever since their divorce.

Wei Zhiyong’s chest heaved violently. He felt like a giant green hat was being shoved onto his head.

“Hu Qianqian! Good! Very good! You’re actually cheating on me?!”

Hu Qianqian stared at him in disbelief, as if she no longer recognized this man.

“Wei Zhiyong, has your brain short-circuited? We divorced ages ago! How the hell am I ‘cheating’ on you?”

“Divorced? Ha! Now I see why you were so eager to split up! Turns out your family already found you someone else! And not just one, by the looks of it! Hu Qianqian, you sure are living it up— OOF!”

Before he could finish, a giant durian came flying at him.

If he hadn’t dodged at the last second, he might have ended up in the hospital.

Hu Qianqian was so enraged that her vision blurred. She clutched the doorframe, nearly fainting.

Just then, the sound of sirens filled the street.

A police car pulled up in front of the store.

“Hu Qianqian! You actually called the cops on me?!” he shouted, dumbfounded, pointing a trembling finger at Hu Qianqian.

“Sorry, that was me.”

Zhou Mingxing limped forward and politely explained to the officers:

“I came in here to buy some cigarettes and alcohol before heading to a colleague’s house for dinner. But this man suddenly barged in and shoved me violently. I need to go to the hospital for a checkup and file an injury report.”

“Sir, I don’t care what issues you have with your ex-wife. I have no connection to her, nor do I even know her. But your actions have caused me significant harm, and my lawyer will be taking legal action.”

Hu Qianqian secretly cheered.

Wei Zhiyong stood there, completely dumbfounded.

He had come to Hu Grandpa’s store today to borrow money.

Because of that useless “son” of his, Wei Mian

During the divorce, both he and Hu Qianqian received 800,000 yuan each. His mother immediately took his share, claiming it was for Wei Mian’s future house and wedding expenses.

After Wei Mian lost his job at the GD Bureau due to a scandal, Wei Zhiyong thought he would finally settle down for a while.

But somehow, he had fallen in with a shady friend who claimed to have an inside info on investment funds through connections in the financial industry.

The friend had lured Wei Mian into investing with promises of quick profits, and for a while, he actually made some money.

Seeing how profitable this fund was, Wei Mian got excited. Just like his new friend had said—if he had around a million yuan as capital and had a relative manage it for him, he could easily make 200,000 to 300,000 yuan a year!

Even civil servants in the provincial capital didn’t make that much in a year.

Wouldn’t that mean he could just stay home and never work again?

Wei Mian had never liked working, and the moment he heard this, he was completely hooked.

But where would he get the money to invest? He usually just used his uncle’s credit card.

After thinking it over, he set his sights on his grandmother.

He knew that his grandmother had saved up quite a bit over the years, and she still had the 800,000 yuan that Wei Zhiyong got from his divorce. If he pooled everything together, there would definitely be a million.

Somehow, that little bastard sweet-talked his grandmother into giving him the money.

What happened next was predictable.

A high-ranking investment banking relative? A 25% annual return?

You were after the profits, but they were after your principal!

The entire family’s hard-earned savings—over a million yuan—was gone overnight…

When Wei Laoniang heard the news, she couldn’t catch her breath. She was rushed to the hospital, barely saved, but she had a stroke and was left paralyzed, unable to get up ever again…

Wei Mian was scared to death. He knew that over a million yuan was no small amount. That heartless bastard! He didn’t think about his grandmother at all. While the family was busy taking her to the hospital, he stole the money his parents had hidden and ran off!

Now, the family didn’t have a single cent left. Every month, Wei Zhiyong’s salary had to go toward paying off the credit card debt that Wei Mian had racked up.

Wei Zhiyong looked around helplessly. People had always said he was doing well in the city, but now that disaster had struck at home, he couldn’t even find a single friend to borrow money from.

Thick-skinned, he went to his boss for help.

His boss was annoyed with him. Upon hearing that his elderly mother was hospitalized, he just had the office follow protocol and send over a 500-yuan condolence payment.

That was all. Public funds didn’t just fall from the sky.

As for Wei Zhiyong hinting that the company should organize a fundraiser for him?

Ha! There are several adults in your family, all with working limbs. Even if you had to work in a factory screwing in bolts or delivering takeout, surely you could support one elderly person?

There are so many people in society who truly need help. Why should everyone pitch in to support your family?

Unable to get a loan from work and with no friends to turn to, Wei Zhiyong had no choice but to seek help from Hu Qianqian.

He knew she definitely hadn’t spent the 800,000 yuan yet!

She had made it clear long ago that that money was for buying a house for Wei Sheng.

But wasn’t Wei Sheng already living in a house?

Besides, that was his grandmother in the hospital! As her own grandson, Wei Sheng couldn’t contribute a single cent?

However, before he could even ask for money, Wei Zhiyong was taken to the police station.

Zhou Mingxing was no ordinary person.

Someone thriving in the entertainment industry wouldn’t have simple connections.

And he hadn’t lied to the police—Wei Zhiyong had indeed pushed him hard, causing him to twist his ankle!

Hu Qianqian, feeling deeply guilty, didn’t spare a second thought for her ex-husband. She closed up her supermarket and took a taxi to the nearest traditional Chinese medicine hospital, where she busied herself registering Zhou Mingxing, paying fees, and getting medicine.

If not for Zhou Mingxing secretly helping her out today, who knows how badly she would have suffered?

At the Hu household, when they heard that Hu Qianqian had nearly been beaten by her ex-husband and was now at the hospital, Wei Sheng, who had just finished cooking, was shocked.

He didn’t even eat his meal. The whole family immediately rushed to the hospital.

And when they arrived—hey! There was a familiar face?

“President Zhou, what happened?”

Seeing Zhou Mingxing’s ankle wrapped up like a giant rice dumpling in bandages, Wei Sheng couldn’t help but glance at his mother.

“It’s my fault. Your father came to the store causing trouble, and this gentleman stepped in to help me. Huh? Xiao Sheng, you know each other?” Hu Qianqian only now realized that her son had called out Zhou Mingxing’s surname so naturally.

“President Zhou is the general manager of the entertainment company our TV station invested in,” Wei Sheng explained with a wry smile. “Mom, didn’t I tell you that some colleagues from the station were coming over for dinner today? I also invited President Zhou…”

So her benefactor was actually her son’s boss?

Hu Qianqian felt both grateful and guilty.

This was the first time her son had invited colleagues over for dinner after starting work. One of them was even his boss.

And what happened?

The man had kindly visited her store to buy something, only to nearly get beaten up!

All because of that damn scumbag Wei Zhiyong!

Hu Qianqian had always prided herself on being a dignified ex-wife. Even after divorcing, she had never badmouthed her ex-husband in front of her son.

But now, she didn’t want to hold back anymore!

Hearing the nonsense his father had spouted, Wei Sheng was completely speechless.

When his mother had wanted to live a good life with him, his father hadn’t cherished it. Instead of enjoying a stable life, he insisted on dragging the entire family into supporting those lazy, freeloading relatives back home.

Now that she refused to keep sacrificing herself and had left peacefully, without even demanding years’ worth of emotional compensation, Wei Sheng thought his mother had already been more than fair to his father.

So where did Wei Zhiyong get the confidence to think his mother still loved him?

Upon hearing that his daughter had almost been beaten by that punk Wei Zhiyong, Hu Yuanzheng’s eyes flashed. He grabbed two packs of Zhonghua cigarettes from his shop and slipped them into his bag, preparing to go have a little chat with some retired officials he had recently gotten to know.

He had a particular topic in mind—exposing the moral decay of certain government employees.

Especially those like Wei Zhiyong, who had no respect for women’s rights!

Even after the divorce, he still ran to harass his ex-wife and ended up being detained by the police!

A morally corrupt person who bullies the weak—does someone like that deserve to stay in the system and be expected to serve the people?

Zhou Mingxing had only sprained his ankle, but Hu Qianqian insisted that Wei Sheng rent a wheelchair for him from the hospital. So, the group wheeled the injured Mr. Zhou back to the Hu family home for dinner.

On the way, when Hu Qianqian heard that Zhou Mingxing was also divorced and raising a child, with his daughter boarding at school most of the time, she couldn’t help but feel sympathy.

“Mr. Zhou, if you don’t mind, why don’t you stay at our place for a few days and recover before heading back?”

“After all, you’re alone at home, and your housekeeper is a woman—it might not be convenient for things like bathing. If you stay with us, Wei Sheng can help take care of you.” As she spoke, she nudged Wei Sheng.

Wei Sheng: “……”

Oh boy! When did his mom secretly get certified as a social butterfly?

But thinking about it, Zhou Mingxing did get injured while saving his mother, so Wei Sheng naturally had no objections. He quickly offered, saying that since his next recording session was still a few days away, he was currently only working half-days. He could easily stay home in the afternoons, record his videos, and take care of Zhou Mingxing at the same time.

Zhou Mingxing’s mouth twitched slightly.

He had only sprained his ankle, but the way Wei Sheng and his mother were talking made it sound like he had broken his leg.

However… staying at the Hu family home for a few days to observe Wei Sheng’s family up close didn’t seem like a bad idea?

After drinking a bowl of rich yet not greasy lamb soup, Zhou Mingxing, under the astonished gazes of his colleagues, nodded slightly apologetically and said to Hu Qianqian, “Then I’ll trouble you. It’s just bad timing—my housekeeper is on leave for a few days, attending a wedding back home. Sigh~”

“It’s no trouble at all! I’m usually home with nothing much to do anyway.” Seeing that he liked her son’s lamb soup, Hu Qianqian quickly stood up and served him another bowl.

Zhou Mingxing felt like he had been twitching the corners of his mouth a lot today.

In his industry, especially at his age, maintaining a non-greasy appearance required strict body management. When he had no evening engagements, he would usually ask his housekeeper to prepare a low-calorie meal.

He had never eaten this much before!

But there was no helping it—Wei Sheng’s cooking was just too good!

At first, he had assumed that Wei Sheng was just serving up some home-cooked dishes. But after taking a couple of bites, he realized that while the presentation was simple—some dishes were even served directly in stainless steel bowls—the taste was just as good as the private kitchens he frequented.

The ingredients were incredibly fresh. The lamb was slaughtered that very day, and the vegetables on the table had the unmistakable taste of homegrown produce.

In just a short while, Zhou Mingxing had already finished a whole bowl of lamb soup, eaten several pieces of braised lamb with radish, and enjoyed the chestnut-braised chicken. The chicken was clearly free-range, and paired with freshly peeled chestnuts, the flavor was incomparable to pre-packaged meal kits.

If not for maintaining his image, he would have happily ladled two big spoonfuls of lamb and radish stew over his rice. He had loved this dish when he was younger!

Unfortunately, his ex-wife hated any strong-smelling ingredients—lamb, scallions, cilantro—none of it was ever allowed in their home, not even by the housekeeper.

Back then, Zhou Mingxing had believed that such a clean, sophisticated lifestyle was what “high society” should be like.

But now, sitting in this old but cozy house, eating fragrant stir-fried lamb with scallions and sipping hot lamb soup seasoned with pepper and cilantro, he suddenly felt that his old notions of “high society” were rather ridiculous…

At the Hu household, the family enjoyed a warm and lively dinner.

Meanwhile, at the police station, since Wei Zhiyong’s younger brother and sister-in-law were stuck at the hospital, he had no choice but to give his workplace’s contact number.

Even at that moment, he still thought the worst outcome would be some embarrassment at work. After all, plenty of couples had minor disputes and sought mediation from their employers.

But he never expected that once his workplace got involved, the situation would spiral out of his control…

He and Hu Qianqian were already divorced. They were no longer husband and wife. His disturbance at her store, at best, could have been considered a personal dispute.

But unfortunately for him, Zhou Mingxing had gotten “injured.”

And Zhou Mingxing’s lawyer was no pushover!

No one knew what methods they used, but suddenly, Wei Zhiyong’s act of causing trouble at the supermarket turned into “suspected provocation and disorderly conduct.”

That was a criminal charge!

Though the final verdict was still pending, the incident had already caused a major stir. Several retired senior officials from the YC Bureau personally called the director to demand a resolution. As a result, the YC Bureau refused to bail Wei Zhiyong out. Instead, they held an emergency meeting and made a decision—

Wei Zhiyong was fired!

When this news reached Grandpa Hu, he was already tipsy, lying back in his recliner on the rooftop, leisurely fanning himself with his family’s heirloom palm-leaf fan.

Did that brat Wei Zhiyong really think that just because he was old, he couldn’t do anything to him?

Being older actually gave him the chance to meet and befriend powerful people from different social classes!

For instance, the people he practiced Tai Chi with every morning, played chess with, and drank tea with—all of them were retired officials from the system.

Sure, they had stepped down from their positions, but their connections and influence remained strong.

Otherwise, why do you think news reports about “visiting and honoring retired officials” appear every year on the Double Ninth Festival*?

That being said, both Grandpa Hu and Zhou Mingxing shared the same thought—kicking Wei Zhiyong out of his job and sending him back to his hometown was enough. There was no need to actually send him to prison.

Although he really wanted to… Wei Sheng absolutely could not have a father who had been to prison!

Wasn’t he always concerned about his family back home?

Well, now it was perfect—without the constraints of work, this “filial son” could finally return to his hometown to take care of his bedridden mother and support his younger brother’s family.

Hu Yuanzheng felt that he was truly kind!

Wei Zhiyong received the Hu family’s letter of understanding, but he lost his job at YC Company. When he walked out of the detention center, he felt dazed, suddenly unsure of where to go.

There was no way he could go back to Hu Qianqian’s place—he had been scared out of his wits.

Stumbling back home, he suddenly remembered that his mother was still in the hospital!

Thinking about his dwindling bank balance, Wei Zhiyong couldn’t bear to hire a car, so he transferred between multiple buses before finally arriving at the county hospital, only to find his mother alone in the hospital room.

“Zhiyong, you’re finally back! Mom only has you now!”

“That heartless bastard Wei Zhifei! And his wicked wife! They’re no good!”

“They—They hired a caregiver for me and then ran off!”

With her slurred speech, Wei’s mother continued cursing her younger son and his wife.

With a loud boom, Wei Zhiyong felt like his head was about to explode.

At this moment, he had no idea that his real suffering was only just beginning.

Wei Zhiyong had once naively believed that after graduating from college, entering the system, securing a government job, and marrying a city woman, all he had to do was help his family live a good life.

But in the end, his wife and child left, his brother’s family disappeared, and all that was left was his bedridden, paralyzed mother.

What had he done wrong?

Wei Zhiyong couldn’t figure it out!

But the hospital’s overdue payment notices didn’t give him time to sit and ponder.

Without his stable salary of over ten thousand yuan a month, Wei Zhiyong had no choice but to arrange for his mother’s discharge and take her back to the village.

When they arrived home, Wei Zhiyong almost coughed up blood!

That bastard Wei Zhifei! While their mother was hospitalized, he had sold all their grain, two pigs, and more than a dozen chickens!

And when Wei Zhiyong stepped inside, he saw that the TV, refrigerator, air conditioner, and washing machine—all the appliances he had bought for the house—were gone!

If he wasn’t sure that the house’s locks hadn’t been tampered with, he would have called the police right then and there.

Not a single grain of rice was left in the house. Helpless, Wei Zhiyong swallowed his anger, took what little money he had, and bought a sack of rice from a neighbor. Since he assumed their vegetable garden still had produce, he didn’t buy any vegetables.

But when he carried his basket to the garden, he found that the weeds were taller than he was!

Where were the vegetables? There weren’t even any wild greens growing in this barren patch!

“Zhiyong? What are you doing in the garden?” A neighbor, who was watering their own vegetables, saw Wei Zhiyong standing dumbfounded at the entrance with a basket in hand and immediately burst out laughing—

“Your family’s garden has been abandoned for years!”

“Your mother always said you were earning tens of thousands a month at your job, so why would you need to grow vegetables? Vegetables are cheap in the countryside—only one yuan per pound. Your family stopped farming ages ago!”

Wei Zhiyong forced a bitter smile, awkwardly pulling out five yuan from his pocket to buy some vegetables from his neighbor.

When he got home, he discovered that the electricity bill hadn’t been paid for a long time, and the water pump wasn’t working.

His mother, meanwhile, was still in the house, slurring curses at the top of her lungs.

As the evening chill set in over the mountain village, the biting wind cut through him like knives. Dressed in only a white shirt, Wei Zhiyong was cold, hungry, and exhausted. Finally unable to hold it in any longer, he slumped to the ground in the courtyard, clutching his head, and let out a few anguished cries.

Had he really been wrong all these years, helping his family live a better life?

(End of Chapter)

—

—The Double Ninth Festival (Chongyang Festival) falls on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. Traditions include climbing mountains, appreciating chrysanthemums, drinking chrysanthemum wine, wearing cornelian, ancestor worship, and eating Double Ninth Cakes. It is also Senior’s Day, promoting respect for the elderly.