To avoid the factory finding out, Lu Ming and his wife wanted to rent a house outside. Lu Cong helped find a house right at the foot of the hill near the Lu Hua Production Team, where there were osmanthus trees that could be picked, sun-dried, and processed at no cost.

The food factory also bought their osmanthus from the Lu Hua Production Team, which made Lu Ming and his wife very happy. They agreed immediately and went to lease the place themselves. The Lu Hua Production Team was close to the county town, so taking a walk there in the evening only took half an hour.

However, Lu Cong did not participate in making the pastries. He just lived in the rented house, claiming to help look after the place, which made Lu Ming and his wife even happier since everyone wants their little family to be free from outsiders.

Once Lu Ming and his wife’s time to come to the Lu Hua Production Team was set, the house became a temporary base for Lu Cong. He only needed to take people up the hill when Lu Ming and his wife came. Since they came voluntarily, no one ever left.

As for his accomplice, he hardly went to the base, only meeting Lu Cong a few times in private. They just got acquainted in this way. The accomplice was cautious; when he first met Lu Cong, he smelled the osmanthus scent on him and told him to change clothes before going out, not letting anyone trace the place, as only the Lu Hua Production Team in Huaixi County grew osmanthus trees.

After hearing this, Lu Cong was very cautious every time, washing and changing clothes before meeting his accomplice. But Yi Roujing became pregnant and had a keen sense of smell; she still caught the slightest osmanthus scent and thus pried open Lu Ming and his wife’s story.

Why did no one else have it, but only the four of them did? There had to be a connection.

"What about the found children? Why did they kill that security guard?" Yi Roujing asked about the things she was concerned about. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"The security guard had bad intentions. He saw children coming voluntarily and got the idea to sell them for money. They found out, so they silenced him," Xu Ancheng replied, "As for those children, having no families, they could only be sent to an orphanage."

"Fortunately, they hadn’t been taught by those people yet, they’re still normal children," Xu Ancheng said.

"Did those two confess?" Yi Roujing asked quietly.

"No," Xu Ancheng shook his head, "We still need to investigate in East Province; all of them came from there."

"Okay, you should sleep now, it’s over; the police will handle it later," Xu Ancheng coaxed Yi Roujing to sleep and then went to eat noodles himself.

After a good sleep, Yi Roujing got up to find Guo Xiangxiang already awake, helping Li Hongying in the kitchen, stoking the fire and assisting.

"Roujing, Mom made bone broth, how about breakfast with noodles in bone broth?" Li Hongying said with a smile as Yi Roujing walked in.

"Sure."

"Mom, I want some too." Ding Anmin came in without missing a beat, twitching his nose.

"None for you. This bone broth is to be taken to the hospital to see your older brother," Li Hongying replied, "If you want some, Mom will make it for you tomorrow."

Upon hearing it was to be taken to the hospital, Yi Roujing immediately thought of Guo Xiangxiang’s grandmother, "Mom, I won’t eat mine either; pack it up. I need to go to the hospital too, Xiangxiang’s grandma is hospitalized."

"Is it serious?" Li Hongying was quite surprised and asked for more details about Guo Xiangxiang. "I’ll go with Ancheng to the hospital later; you all go to work. Don’t worry about your grandma, I’ll take it."

Guo Xiangxiang was a bit embarrassed but did not refuse when Li Hongying spoke so sincerely and thanked her genuinely.

In East Province, at the provincial government compound, Dai Zhenhua spent three days on the train to get home, and upon entering, saw her mother watering the flowers in the yard with a kettle.

"Mom," Dai Zhenhua greeted, looking at Li Honghua, dressed in a turtleneck sweater with a wool scarf draped over the top, smiling.

"Zhenhua, you’re back." Li Honghua put down the kettle and was about to take the luggage from her, but Dai Zhenhua dodged her.

"Mom, I’m already so grown up; I can carry it myself," Dai Zhenhua said with a grin, "Are my brothers and sisters-in-law coming back tonight?"

Tomorrow was Saturday, and the day after tomorrow was the Double Ninth Festival. Every year for the Double Ninth Festival, the family would come home to celebrate together.

"Yes, they’ll be back. Go wash and get some sleep, and when you wake up, they should be here," Li Honghua said with a smile.

"Mom, let’s go inside to sit; your legs shouldn’t stand too long," said Dai Zhenhua, putting down her luggage and helping Li Honghua inside to sit down.

"Mom’s fine; it’s not cold yet," Li Honghua patted Dai Zhenhua’s hand, her eyes full of comfort, "By the way, your aunt mentioned a match; are you considering it?"

"Mom, I’m still young," said Dai Zhenhua.

"You’re not that young anymore; our Zhenhua is nineteen now," Li Honghua laughed, "It’s time to get married, then Mom has energy to help take care of your children."

Dai Zhenhua blushed slightly, thinking about the things she was investigating in Huaixi County and her father’s words. Dai Zhenhua gathered her thoughts and seriously asked Li Honghua, "Mom, do you want to meet the family?"

Li Honghua understood right away that her daughter was referring to her family, "They probably all think I’m dead. I’m not sure if going back would scare them."

Li Honghua smiled bitterly, "My parents weren’t great. The kindness of raising me ended when they sold me. It’s just your little aunt..."

Li Honghua sighed, "Why are you suddenly bringing this up?"

"Mom, grandma and uncle are in Huaixi County now," Dai Zhenhua said, "Huaixi County is big, but the Lotus Production Team is right there, and I’ve met the Li Family."

Li Honghua was stunned for a moment. So many years had passed, and those place names were unfamiliar to her, but the words "Lotus" she recognized. The place she was born and raised was called Lotus Village, though she hadn’t been to the county town in all her eighteen years of growing up and didn’t know its name.

"Li Family people?" Li Honghua remained somewhat calm, "How are they?"

"Your aunt severed ties with the Li Family," Dai Zhenhua said, "As for the Li Family, they remain the same, not worth associating with."

"Severed ties?" Li Honghua got a bit emotional, "How did she sever ties?"

"When your aunt got married, it was almost like being sold; they demanded a hefty dowry. After several years, she didn’t conceive, so they adopted a child. During the three-year famine, the Li Family tried to sell the child, so your aunt and uncle threatened Li Hongguang, demanding the child back."

Li Honghua’s face softened, her eyes a little red, "Is your aunt alright?"

"All these years, your aunt has never given up searching for you, Mom," said Dai Zhenhua, "Mom, do you want to meet her?"

Li Honghua was filled with conflicting emotions. To say she didn’t want to meet was a lie, but after so many years, she was nervous about what to say upon meeting. The so-called "the closer you are to home, the less courage you have" held true.