After Fang Heng recovered from his illness, he remembered his promise to take care of the Zhou family for Zhou Siran, so he paid a visit to the Chengyuan Marquis Manor.
Upon learning from Steward Chen that the Zhou family had been sent to tend a charcoal shop, he thanked the steward and went to observe the shop from a distance. He saw Mother Zhou cursing while working, while Zhou Lingran and Zhou Suiran occupied the counter, busy collecting payments. Fang Heng did not rashly intervene, but he kept an eye on the shop whenever he was on his patrol rounds.
Twice out of every three visits, he would witness Tang Jingyan arguing with the Zhou family, often to the point of involving innocent customers who had come to buy charcoal. Business at the shop grew increasingly dismal. Tang Jingyan blamed the lack of customers on Mother Zhou, leading to yet another round of shouting. Fang Heng shook his head in silence; he didn’t know what to say. One party was Zhou Siran’s fiancée and his own benefactor of sorts, while the other was Zhou Siran’s own kin—how could he easily take sides?
Chapter 234