CHAPTER 552: CHAPTER 547: THREATS (SECOND UPDATE)

Luo Dahu heard the words, then gave Luo Zhiming a fierce glare, before flipping Luo Dashan’s eyelids to take a look. Seeing that it did seem quite serious, he then said to Qiu Xiu, "We should get big brother to the hospital. I’m afraid the local barefoot doctor can’t handle this."

Luo Dashan initially kept silent. Later on, remembering that Zhou Yunmei had not left any money at home when she left, he said with an awkward expression, "Dahu, I think I’ll not go to the hospital. Just let the barefoot doctor take a look. The hospital is too expensive."

"Big brother, I’ll cover the cost," Luo Dahu said, then turned to Qiu Xiu, "Qiu Xiu, go back and get some money."

Qiu Xiu nodded, then went back.

Luo Zhiming and Luo Dashan helped Luo Dashan to get dressed, preparing to go to the hospital.

Over here, Xu He and Zhou Yunmei arrived at the provincial city that afternoon. As soon as they reached the city, Zhou Yunmei said she was going to call Luo Honglan, to have Luo Honglan find them a place to sleep and also to check on how the engagement arrangements for tomorrow were going.

But Xu He grabbed hold of her, "Do you really think we came to the city to attend to Honglan’s wedding? Don’t forget our real business here."

Zhou Yunmei knew indeed what the main purpose of their visit was, but she figured that Luo Zhiyong must be working right now, and she couldn’t disturb his job no matter what—it was essential not to jeopardize Luo Zhiyong’s employment.

She said, "Then what do we do? I can’t find Zhiyong right now; he’s at work."

Xu He knew the importance of Luo Zhiyong’s job as well and didn’t suggest disturbing him. Concerned that Luo Zhiyong had made himself clear during his last visit home that he wouldn’t come out this time, she thought for a moment then said to Zhou Yunmei, "I know; you call him and tell him to come to see us after work. If he doesn’t want to come out, just say we will go see Ruirui and Yaoyao instead. I guarantee that will get him to come immediately."

Zhou Yunmei thought it was a good idea and immediately said, "Alright, we’ll say that."

When Zhou Yunmei called Luo Zhiyong, he was in the office. As soon as he picked up the call and heard Zhou Yunmei’s voice, his heart sank, sensing that Zhou Yunmei must have brought nothing good.

He asked straight away, "Mom, where are you calling from?"

Zhou Yunmei could tell it was Luo Zhiyong’s voice on the other end, and she was really happy, "Zhiyong, it’s you, that’s lucky. It’s you who answered the phone; I was afraid someone else would pick up and they wouldn’t understand what I’m saying."

Luo Zhiyong didn’t respond to her remark and continued to inquire, "What’s the matter, why call all the way from home?"

"I didn’t call from home, I’m in the provincial city."

Upon hearing that she was already in the provincial city, Luo Zhiyong furrowed his brows tightly, "What are you doing in the provincial city?"

"Isn’t Honglan getting engaged? I came to handle some of those matters," Zhou Yunmei started to say that she had also planned to check on Ruirui and Yaoyao, but Xu He gestured to her to stop.

Xu He had been listening closely to the phone the whole time, catching every word Luo Zhiyong said clearly.

Hearing that, Luo Zhiyong hurriedly asked, "Did you come by yourself? Where’s Dad?"

"Your dad..." Just as Zhou Yunmei was about to say that Luo Dashan was sick, Xu He immediately gestured for her to stop, and Zhou Yunmei quickly changed her statement, "It just so happens that there was something important in the village that only your dad could handle, so he sent me over. Come to the train station now and pick me up."

Luo Zhiyong couldn’t see Zhou Yunmei’s expression over the phone and didn’t suspect much, but as soon as he heard that Luo Dashan hadn’t come, he had no intention of meeting Zhou Yunmei and directly said, "Just go back the way you came, I can handle Honglan’s engagement on my own."

As soon as Zhou Yunmei heard this, she became unhappy, "Zhiyong, how can you talk to me like this? I’ve come all the way from home to the city. I’m a stranger here; it wasn’t easy."

"Didn’t I make myself clear last time I was at home?" Luo Zhiyong remained indifferent, speaking calmly, "You live your life, and don’t come to the city to find me if it’s not necessary. I’m busy with work and don’t have that much time to deal with your matters."

Xu He, listening on the side to Luo Zhiyong’s attitude, knew that things couldn’t be clarified over the phone in one go, so she signaled Zhou Yunmei to make a threat.

Zhou Yunmei understood and said sternly, "You won’t come out, is that it? Then I’ll just go to Fang Pingying’s house to find Honglan, and I might as well visit Ruirui and Yaoyao while I’m at it since I haven’t seen the two of them for a while now."

Luo Zhiyong knew Zhou Yunmei was threatening him. He knew that even if Zhou Yunmei really went to Fang Pingying’s place, she likely won’t gain any advantage, but he couldn’t let Zhou Yunmei go and cause trouble for Fang Pingying anymore.

He got divorced precisely to let Fang Pingying and her three sons live peacefully.

Therefore, he would have to resolve the family matters himself. After a moment of silence, he asked Zhou Yunmei on the phone, "Where are you?"

Zhou Yunmei purposefully said, "I’m at the train station now, but if you’re not coming, I’m thinking of finding a guesthouse near Pingying’s old place to stay, and maybe have Honglan come and see me in the evening."

Upon hearing this, Luo Zhiyong immediately said, "Stay at the train station, I’ll be right there."

After Zhou Yunmei hung up the phone, Xu He asked excitedly, "Did he agree to come?"

Zhou Yunmei nodded, "He agreed."

"Good." Xu He’s expression was extremely excited at this moment. The dream she had harbored for many years was about to be realized that night; how could she not be excited?

Seeing her like this, Zhou Yunmei asked with some concern, "Xu He, you’re not planning to do ’that’ tonight, are you? Zhiyong is already so indifferent to me, I think this might not work out."

"Don’t worry about whether it will work out or not; I have my own ways," Xu He thought for a bit, then urged Zhou Yunmei, "Also, give Luo Honglan a call, tell her to come out. If she refuses, use the same approach we did on Luo Zhiyong to pressure her. I’ll go ahead and reserve a room at the guesthouse."

Zhou Yunmei couldn’t figure out what this had to do with Luo Honglan and asked in confusion, "Why do we need Honglan to come?"

Xu He didn’t want to reveal the specific details to Zhou Yunmei and simply said, "After all, we promised Dad back home to take care of Honglan’s engagement. We have to at least ask her to come out."

With that, Xu He hurried off to book a room, leaving Zhou Yunmei to quickly make the call to Luo Honglan.

Zhou Yunmei thought Xu He’s words made sense. Although their main purpose wasn’t really for Honglan’s engagement, since they had come, they definitely had to follow through, at least to have something to report back to Luo Dashan.

So, she immediately called Fang Pingying’s house.

The call was coincidentally answered by Luo Honglan. These days, Fang Pingying was busy preparing the finances for buying land and was rarely home, leaving Luo Honglan to take care of the two kids, with Li Yuchun occasionally coming over to help.

As soon as Luo Honglan heard Zhou Yunmei’s voice over the phone, she immediately wanted to hang up, but Zhou Yunmei quickly said, "Honglan, if you dare hang up, I’ll go straight to Fang Pingying’s house and make a scene. I really want to ask her what skills Fang Pingying has, to have my daughter not even recognize her own birth mother."