Shi Yang agreed as he hung up the phone, almost immediately, the phone rang again, Zhao Meimei’s anxious voice came through: "Brother! Where are you?" 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Shi Yang quickly said: "Sweetheart, don’t worry, listen to me, I’m already at the airport now. In about half an hour, I should be boarding, and I’ll probably arrive home at around ten tonight. I promise I’ll bring your dad back safely. Things aren’t as severe as you think, okay?"

Zhao Meimei shouted in a panic: "How come you didn’t tell me earlier about such a big issue? How is my dad really? What’s going on? When did he leave?"

"Brother, are you going back home alone? Is it safe? Will there be any problems, should I go with you? I’m worried about you."

Zhao Meimei was truly anxious, when she saw the message, she was completely stunned. How could her little aunt be involved in a multi-level marketing scam? It seemed impossible.

Among her three aunts, her little aunt was the gentlest and most reserved. Such a gentle person, who usually spoke softly, would follow others into a multi-level marketing scam, chase people everywhere to sell her things, and scheme against those closest to her. It was simply unacceptable.

Shi Yang was concerned about Zhao Dazhuang while also worrying about Zhao Meimei. He comforted her over the phone: "Meimei, listen to me, things aren’t as serious as you imagine. Besides, I’m here. What in this world can’t I handle? I will definitely bring your dad back safely. I’ll probably have to stay for two days after I go back home. You should go straight to your mom after school in the afternoon."

Shi Yang reassured her: "Your mom is definitely particularly worried and stressed. Be understanding and spend more time with her. If school gets in the way, see if you can ask Zhang Jiahui for leave. Help around the house more, assist your mom with some tasks. Once I’m there and have news, I will definitely inform you. Don’t panic, don’t be afraid, I’ve got it all covered, understand?"

Zhao Meimei felt slightly reassured by Shi Yang’s guarantees: "Brother, you must take care too, if things don’t work out, just call the police, please be very careful."

Shi Yang replied: "Don’t worry, I’ll contact you once I get there. When you go home, remember to pack some food from the restaurant to bring back. Your mom is not in a good mood, don’t let her cook."

"Okay, I got it." Zhao Meimei said: "Brother, without you, what would I do?"

Shi Yang clenched the phone, his palms sweating, his expression somber and worried, yet his tone remained calm: "Don’t worry, it’s going to be okay."

...

What’s the deal with this? Zhao Dazhuang, who’s been kind to everyone for half his life, never expected to be tricked by his own sibling.

Zhao Dazhuang went back home alone, without informing anyone. If something really happened, there wouldn’t be anyone to alert the others. If that really happened, what should be done?

Everyone knows the people involved in these scams are cunning, constantly changing locations. If they truly manage to get someone locked up, one wouldn’t know where to start rescuing them.

If Zhao Dazhuang really got into trouble, Liu Xiue and Zhao Meimei couldn’t endure it, Zhao Meimei would be utterly heartbroken and distressed...

While waiting to board the plane, Shi Yang endlessly considered various possibilities in his mind. Eventually, he even started to blame himself. When Zhao Dazhuang first mentioned the issue, he couldn’t grasp its importance. Instead, he was occupied with the renovation of the early education center. If anything were to happen to Zhao Dazhuang, he would carry guilt throughout his life. What a mess this was!

No news had been received from the hometown side, Zhao Meimei stayed at home with her mom, anxiously waiting for the phone to ring.

In the city, they were anxious and helpless, while the hometown was completely chaotic.

When Zhao Meimei’s eldest aunt heard the news, she hurriedly sent her husband to the airport to pick him up, and meanwhile, she dashed to Zhao Meimei’s little aunt’s home.

Coincidentally that day, Zhao Meimei’s little aunt and her husband were both at home. One was lounging on the sofa, the other squatting on the balcony, each contacting their downlines, encouraging them to recruit new members, confidently speaking on the phone using the brainwashing rhetoric they initially fell for, indoctrinating their downlines.

When Zhao Meimei’s eldest aunt knocked on the door, it was her little uncle who opened it, with a surprised look on his face he greeted her: "Big sister? Why are you here? Come, have a seat inside."

Zhao Meimei’s eldest aunt directly shoved him aside, just as Zhao Meimei’s little aunt was coming in from the balcony after hearing the commotion. Before she could even greet her, she was already slapped hard across the face by Zhao Meimei’s eldest aunt,

With fury, Zhao Meimei’s eldest aunt yelled: "Have you lost your mind chasing money? Dazhuang is your brother, your own brother, and yet you set him up. Are you even human? Today, I’ll beat you up for mom and dad! Let’s see if you’ll have the face to meet mom and dad after dying!"

Within Zhao Dazhuang’s family of four children, Zhao Meimei’s eldest aunt had always carried the authority, and all the younger siblings obeyed her during childhood and even more so when their parents were no longer around.

Even though Zhao Meimei’s little aunt had been brainwashed by the scam, subconsciously she still respected and feared her elder sister. She didn’t resist even as she was beaten, she just covered her face and cried, constantly calling: "Big sister,"

Zhao Meimei’s little uncle couldn’t stand by while his wife was being beaten. He quickly attempted to help. When he reached out to pull Zhao Meimei’s eldest aunt, coincidentally as she swung her hand to hit the little aunt, the pull caused Zhao Meimei’s eldest aunt to lose her balance and stumble, falling onto the ground. The little aunt, dazed from being hit, realized too late what was happening, and it was too late to reach out to help.

Zhao Meimei’s eldest aunt hit the coffee table, split her head open, bleeding profusely.

While Zhao Meimei’s eldest aunt was being sent to the hospital by her little aunt and husband, Zhao Dazhuang’s plane arrived at the hometown, just as Zhao Meimei’s second aunt mentioned over the phone. The airport was surrounded by layers of fans chasing stars, Zhao Dazhuang squeezed out of the crowd after much difficulty, narrowly brushing past the little uncle and second aunt sent for pick-up.

Zhao Dazhuang left the airport and first took a taxi to Zhao Meimei’s eldest aunt’s house. He thought this matter wasn’t small, so he should notify his elder sister at least. Planning to call ahead, he realized his phone was lost when he reached into his pocket. Even searching all over his bag showed the phone truly was gone. Without other options, he decided to go directly to Zhao Meimei’s eldest aunt’s house.

He didn’t expect no one to be home at Zhao Meimei’s eldest aunt’s house.