EIP 89

The eldest and youngest sons of the Zhou family were both in the hospital. One battling a severe illness, the other mourning the loss of a loved one. All the family’s business matters had fallen onto Xiao Fu’s shoulders, leaving him unable to return home for days. Even when his child fell ill, he couldn’t spare the time to visit the hospital. His clothes were wrinkled, his eyes darkened with fatigue, and his mind clouded from overwork. He managed accounts, dealt with affairs, and answered endless phone calls, pushing himself to exhaustion.

He thought this relentless grind would continue for some time, but to his surprise, the office door opened, and the aroma of coffee and breakfast filled the room. Only then did Xiao Fu notice the aches spreading through his entire body. Zhou Jun, holding a cane, walked in and placed the specially bought breakfast on the table, offering a simple word of gratitude for Xiao Fu’s hard work.

It was hard-earned appreciation. Xiao Fu wiped his face and looked at Zhou Jun.

Zhou Jun appeared well-rested, his energy restored. Dressed in a three-piece suit and carrying a cane, he exuded the refined elegance of his past. While this was undeniably a good sign, his overly polished appearance seemed almost suspicious. However, he didn’t explain much, simply urging Xiao Fu to take a break, assuring him that he could handle things from here. Xiao Fu didn’t argue. He called in his assistant to coordinate with Zhou Jun, gave a few final instructions, and headed home to rest.

Mr. Shi provided new information. He revealed that Governor Yong had secretly visited a heavily guarded residence several times. The property was highly secure, but Mr. Shi’s people had uncovered some intriguing details. The trash contained large amounts of medical waste, and the previously unoccupied residence had only recently been inhabited.

The timeline aligned suspiciously well with the period when Governor Yong had dispatched people to search for Yong Jin. Zhou Jun was deeply grateful for this information and reciprocated by meticulously organizing and sharing intelligence on the German dealings. Soon, Mr. Shi’s subordinate, Bai He, called to discuss the specifics.

It was then that Zhou Jun made another request. He needed manpower to storm the residence and rescue Yong Jin. He was convinced Yong Jin was being held captive there. Otherwise, why would there be no contact, not even a single phone call, despite the swirling rumors outside?

Bai He refused, stating he couldn’t agree unless Zhou Jun provided something equally valuable in return. A businessman through and through, Bai He wouldn’t risk a loss. Zhou Jun, however, had little left to offer. Any further involvement would risk exposing him to his German counterparts.

As he hesitated, Bai He called again with urgent news. It seemed Governor Yong had discovered someone investigating the residence. Overnight, the place was cleared out, its occupants disappearing without a trace. The lead had gone cold.

When Zhou Jun received the call, his mind went blank. It took him a long while to hang up. Now, whether Yong Jin was alive or not, there was no way to confirm it.

If Governor Yong had truly sent Yong Jin away, would they ever meet again? Perhaps. After all, even Governor Yong couldn’t control Yong Jin forever. Besides, his actions had already made one thing clear. He had given up on his son.

If there was no news of Yong Jin in a year, what about ten years? Would he still love him by then, or would time slowly erode his feelings, leaving only faint memories? Zhou Jun hated his hesitation for the first time. If not for that brief moment of indecision, perhaps he would already be reunited with Yong Jin.

But regret was useless. The only option was to find another way. Zhou Jun turned to his connections among all walks of life, trying to buy information with money. However, though the money flowed out freely, the valuable leads were scarce. Time slipped away, and Governor Yong made new moves.

A man named Yong Quan had publicly acknowledged his lineage, claiming to be the governor’s second son. His age was similar to Yong Jin’s, but no one had seen his face. It was said Governor Yong was grooming him in private, planning to host a grand banquet soon to formally introduce this second heir. Zhou Jun read about it in the papers. Governor Yong had been making headlines lately, first with victories during the war and then with a string of triumphant returns. The photographs of him were full of pomp and glory.

As spring turned to summer and the weather grew stifling, Zhou Jun finally made up his mind to cooperate with Mr. Shi. He negotiated with Bai He, requesting a guarantor to back him. Only with Mr. Shi’s support did he dare to dive deeper. Once the deal was struck, Zhou Jun arranged a ship to travel to Germany for a week. The journey went smoothly. Using the Zhou family’s textile business as a front, he disguised the shipment as imported fabric and successfully delivered the goods to Mr. Shi’s contacts.

Back home, Zhou Yan’s health remained stable, and the eldest sister-in-law frequently visited him. Somehow, the Rong family had allowed her to do so. One day, Zhou Jun brought some supplements to visit his brother and found his sister-in-law already in the ward.

She greeted him warmly, her smile gentle. Her belly was now round and heavy. She was due soon. The sunlight filled the room, casting a soft glow as Zhou Jun entered. His brother’s hand was resting lightly on his wife’s stomach, gently stroking it as if communicating with their unborn child.

The sister-in-law’s demeanor was serene as she and Zhou Yan discussed potential names for the baby. Zhou Jun was drawn into the conversation, suggesting a few names of his own, all of which were promptly dismissed by his brother. Zhou Jun laughed helplessly, “In the end, it has to be you, the father, who decides. You don’t like anything I say anyway.”

Zhou Yan seemed in high spirits, likely fueled by the thought of his child on the way. Knowing she shouldn’t stay out too long, his sister-in-law prepared to leave. Her family’s servants soon arrived to escort her home carefully. Before she left, Zhou Yan called out, “Lan Zhi, take care of yourself and rest well at home.”

She frowned, but Zhou Yan reassured her firmly, “Don’t worry. No matter where you are when the time comes, I will be there. I promise to be with you when you give birth.”

His certainty eased her worries, and she nodded before leaving the room. Once she was gone, Zhou Yan’s expression shifted to one of solemnity. Turning to Zhou Jun, he said gravely, “If I’m not around when the baby is born, and your sister-in-law struggles to remarry while raising the child, take the child in. If she wants to stay with the baby, let her. Either way, there’s no pressure from our elders, and the extended family won’t interfere with them.”

Zhou Jun quickly shook his head at his brother’s words. “Isn’t the new medication working well? Don’t rely on me. You have to hang in there yourself. Entrusting your woman and child to your little brother, what kind of nonsense is that? No matter what, you have to stay strong for them.”

He hated hearing his brother speak with such a tone. What Zhou Jun wanted most was for his brother to fight for his family, for his unborn child, and for his life.

Zhou Yan, watching his younger brother’s anxious reaction, sighed as he leaned back against the hospital bed. He thought about giving Zhou Jun a gentle reprimand, urging him to settle down and start a family. But the words stayed stuck in his throat. He knew all too well how devastated his brother had been after Yong Jin’s death. Still, the dead couldn’t return, and Zhou Jun couldn’t remain alone forever.

Eventually, Zhou Yan relented, saying with a soft sigh, “As long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters. Whether it’s a man or a woman, I won’t object.”

Zhou Jun outwardly agreed, nodding with a faint smile, but the truth was that his dealings with Mr. Shi hadn’t ceased. Once a connection was established, it was difficult to sever. Mr. Shi had promised to continue pursuing leads on Yong Jin, and Zhou Jun, through Bai He, maintained the pretense of legitimate business dealings. Beneath the surface, however, he had entered the murky waters of arms smuggling.

Of course, Mr. Shi wasn’t relying solely on Yong Jin’s case to push Zhou Jun into dangerous territory. Under his network and influence, Zhou Jun managed to land several lucrative deals, significantly boosting his financial standing. In the arms trade, he also took a cut, ensuring his own gain.

With a powerful backer like Mr. Shi, Zhou Jun’s fortunes quickly turned. Xiao Fu, who handled much of the Zhou family business, noticed the stark difference. Previously, deals that had dragged on for days without conclusion were now closed swiftly. Machines that had lain idle for months were now running nonstop. In fact, there were so many orders that it became difficult to keep up with the workload.

When he approached Zhou Jun to ask about the sudden change, Zhou Jun simply responded with a cryptic smile, refusing to elaborate. Understanding the boundaries, Xiao Fu refrained from pressing further, but he couldn’t shake the sense that Zhou Jun was changing.

It wasn’t just the family business thriving. It was Zhou Jun himself. The once carefree, slightly naïve young master was gone. In his place was a man with decisiveness and ambition, someone with a clear vision and the means to achieve it. He was growing into the same commanding figure his elder brother had once been.