She won't clear her name; she'll throw away all the scum.

He's going to die, how is he going to go back to sleep?

He walked over and knocked on Chen Xiangbei's window, but the man was sleeping like a log and didn't respond at all.

Chen Xianghong's room is next to his parents' room. If he knocks on it, he will definitely wake his parents up, and then he will probably be scolded and won't be able to sleep all night.

He steeled himself and prepared to strike, knowing he'd still get yelled at.

"Chen Lao Er, what are you doing outside?" A voice rang out, and he turned around to see that it was Hu Jie who had returned.

"Brother Hu, my mom changed the locks but hasn't given me the key yet, so I can't get in," Chen Xiangnan replied with a wry smile.

"Oh, I just got back from the factory. If you really can't make it, come to my place for the night." Hu Jie put his arm around his shoulder. "Anyway, there's no woman in my house. Yingying is probably sleeping with Aunt Yin. It'll be good for us brothers to keep each other company."

Chen Xiangnan was overjoyed. "That's perfect! To be honest, I was just wondering whether I should sleep outside the courtyard for the night."

"Even though it's summer, there are still a lot of mosquitoes outside. Come with me for a bite and a drink later. I only got to the factory tonight, and the canteen staff have all gone home and I haven't eaten yet."

The two of them went back and chatted while drinking some liquor from another province. They talked until they couldn't stay awake any longer before going to sleep.

When Chen Xiangnan woke up, it was already broad daylight. Hu Jie was able to rest for the day, so he slept until noon, just like him.

He got up and opened the door, and saw his two children, Lingling and Hu Yingying, sitting in the courtyard, whispering to each other.

Hu Yingying spotted her father standing behind Uncle Chen at a glance and was overjoyed.

"Dad, when did you come back?"

Hu Jie chuckled, picked her up, and playfully poked her cheek with his unshaven stubble. "It was too late last night, so I didn't call you."

Chen Lingling ran over too, "Dad, you're dead meat! Grandma scolded you when we were eating breakfast this morning!"

That wretched little darling, she brought him terrible news as soon as he woke up.

"What did your grandma say?"

Chen Lingling mimicked her grandmother's words, hands on her hips, "That brat, the second son, didn't come back all night. He's all grown up now, think he's all that? Go ahead and never come back, huh? When we need him, he disappears without a trace, but when we don't, he's always around. That damned brat!"

After she finished speaking, she smiled and said, "Dad, that's what Grandma said. I have a very good memory."

Chen Xiangnan touched his nose. "Did Grandma say anything about what Dad needs to do?"

Chen Lingling said in a childish voice, "I don't know."

"Then I'll go find your grandma!"

Chen Lingling: "Grandma's gone to work~"

Where is Auntie?

Chen Lingling: "Auntie went to buy groceries."

Is Grandpa still in the hospital?

Chen Lingling: "I was there at breakfast, and then Uncle Wang helped me take it to the hospital."

Chen Xiangnan finally realized what his mother wanted him to do: take his father to the hospital.

"What about your uncle? He didn't come back yesterday either?"

Chen Lingling pointed to her house and said, "My uncle is a lazybones. Grandma can't wake him up no matter how much she calls him. She says he's pretending to be dead and she'll give him a good beating when he gets back."

Chen Xiangnan had a plan in mind. "Lingling is really amazing. She can remember so much."

Chen Lingling immediately raised her head and said, "Of course, I'm very smart."

"Second brother~ Waaah, I missed you so much, Mom's here to see you." A melodious voice rang in their ears. Chen Xiangnan almost thought the second brother was calling him, and turned his head faster than anyone else.

He turned around and realized that there was a group of people he didn't recognize standing outside the compound.

Turning around, he found Hu Jie staring blankly, unable to come to his senses.

He nudged Hu Jie with his elbow, "Yours?"

Sister Hu nodded, handed Hu Yingying, whom she was holding, to Chen Xiangnan, and then walked over.

"Mom and Dad, eldest brother and sister-in-law, what brings you here?"

The old man leading the group said impatiently, "What are you talking about? Why can't we come? Have you forgotten your roots now that you've settled down in the city?"

Hu Jie: No, I just visit you during holidays and festivals.