Zhou Huan handed the pills to Dongzi and Big Radish. "Do you know any other households in the village with small children?"

Big Radish snatched the pills. "How could I not know? I'll take him. Let's go, man!"

Dongzi was acting like a little lamb at the moment; whoever said go, he turned and followed. Zhou Huan was inwardly pleased watching his brother being loved and managed; that was a good thing. Turning around, he saw the Village Head's haggard appearance, and a natural sense of kindness welled up in Zhou Huan's heart.

"Village Head, write down all the money you misappropriated from the villagers. See if your family can pay it back?" As he spoke, Zhou Huan handed the Village Head a piece of paper and a pen, letting him write it himself. Then, Yang Xiaoling tugged Zhou Huan towards the courtyard. After checking that no one was around, she placed two stools and sat down to talk with Zhou Huan.

"Brother Huan, can we believe what the Village Head said? He claimed his grandfather’s death had nothing to do with him, but where did my grandfather's injustice come from?" Yang Xiaoling was perplexed, wanting to vindicate her grandfather's case.

Zhou Huan smiled faintly. "Actually, this is quite simple. Let’s look at these two things together. The Village Head said he was forced, and by whom? He was forced by the Song Faction. To secure his position as Village Head, he had to pay tribute to several high-ranking county leaders, the one most eager to cause trouble being the Public Security Bureau. Since all current evidence points to the deepest ties between the Public Security Bureau and the Song Faction, our understanding makes sense: the Village Head wanted to save people like your grandfather, but he wanted to make some money. Your grandfather was an old revolutionary and certainly wouldn't do that. A dispute arose between two people, and as a soldier who had fought and killed, he struck the Village Head."

Saying this, Zhou Huan glanced back at the Village Head's room—seeing nothing amiss, he continued, "Of course, the Village Head didn't dare speak up. And you can see that the Village Head is narrow-minded and surely someone who dwells on problems, so he harbored resentment. One day, he mentioned this matter to a relative, and that relative sought out people from the Song Faction to cause trouble for your grandfather. After that incident, your grandfather took up photography; nominally, it was for photographing landscapes and mountains, but in reality..."

Yang Xiaoling handed Zhou Huan the camera. Zhou Huan flipped through it, examining it closely. "Look here. In every spot without a picture, see how many places we've been to? Often, security incidents occurred in these very places. I've already sent Xiao Li to investigate. So, your grandfather was obstructing the financial interests of the Song Faction and certain corrupt elements. As for the Village Head stealing your grandfather's prescription, that was likely due to his greed."

As they spoke, the Village Head emerged from the room holding a piece of paper. "Master Zhou, look. I've put my fingerprint on this paper. In the time I have left, I will work tirelessly to repay their money."

Zhou Huan glanced at the sum listed on the paper. Not counting goods, it amounted to several hundred thousand. A Village Head wouldn't earn this much in fifteen or twenty years. So, Zhou Huan smiled. "Let me ask you an honest question: how much of this money did you actually spend?"

"I spent it all," the Village Head stated firmly.

Zhou Huan chuckled. "It was probably spent in the hands of county officials, right?"

The Village Head blushed deeply; he truly found it hard to lose face, so he nodded. After a long pause, he admitted, "I only used twenty thousand of this money for my son's schooling. The family has less than a hundred thousand left. The rest was all..."

"Enough. Don't say any more. From now on, first give back your savings to the families facing the most difficulty. For the rest, as long as you testify in court and the matter is resolved, I, Zhou Huan, will help you repay it. I will also look after your family members. Your crime of bribery is quite serious." Zhou Huan wasn't exaggerating. There are national laws and familial rules; without rules, there is no order. Since the Village Head broke the law, someone was bound to arrest him.

The Village Head nodded. "Rest assured, I will turn myself in and beg for leniency!"

Zhou Huan immediately stopped him. "I can see you still have some kindness in your heart, but you have erred, and punishment is unavoidable. Here's what we'll do: you wait at home. Someone will come for you in due time. Rest assured about your family; my word, Zhou Huan's word, is binding. Also, don't even think about running. My spies surround your house. If they see you flee, the consequences will be dire. These fellows are bastards among the wandering spirits."

"You underestimate me. I am a man too; I will naturally take responsibility for my mistakes. However, I must remind you: you need more substantial evidence. You must make the Song Faction confess, or you will face greater difficulties." The Village Head's words this time were serious, which greatly relieved Zhou Huan's mind.

Leaving the Village Head's house, Yang Xiaoling asked Zhou Huan, "Did you really place so many wandering spirits outside the door?"

"Where? Are you tired from burning paper money every day? He's reached this point; whether he runs or not is meaningless. Let him enjoy a couple of days of peace at home!" Talking as they walked, they returned to Yang Xiaoling's old house. Seeing her grandfather's military uniform still neatly laid out on the kang, Yang Xiaoling couldn't help her eyes welling up with tears.

"Brother Huan, why did the Village Head return the uniform? I still don't trust him!" Yang Xiaoling remained suspicious that the Village Head was the one who harmed her grandfather.

Zhou Huan comforted Yang Xiaoling. "Relax, Zhou Huan doesn't misjudge people. Your grandfather's uniform was taken back when the Village Head came to steal things. He must have been guilty, afraid of being seen. Precisely because of this, he accidentally knocked over your grandfather's uniform. So, he washed and folded it neatly and placed it on your grandfather's kang. Killing a soldier from before the Liberation is going against the state; he wouldn't do such a thing."

Convinced by Zhou Huan's words, Yang Xiaoling finally calmed down. "Brother Huan, let's put away Grandpa's uniform and burn it later along with his remains."

Zhou Huan nodded. Then he and Yang Xiaoling tidied up the room. It wasn't until the next day that they realized Wang Xiaohe had been stalling Bureau Chief Li at the Public Security Bureau for days. Zhou Huan was anxious, but he knew that to completely free Xiaohe, they needed to extract confessions from those two scoundrels of the Song Faction. But those two were craftier than monkeys—how could he get them to confess? He fell into deep thought.

Just then, his phone rang. It was Xiao Li calling, bringing a glimmer of hope to Zhou Huan.

"Master Zhou, the two from the Song Faction have confessed, and the fingerprint analysis from the photos is complete. This fingerprint belongs to..." The voice on the other end paused.

Zhou Huan made a decisive move. "Wait for me, I'm coming back immediately to find you. Things have reached this point; it’s time to give the deceased an explanation."

Immediately, Zhou Huan packed his things and summoned over a dozen ghost soldiers from the Yama King's retinue with a handful of talismans. "You all help me watch the Village Head, ensure his safety, and also make sure he stays home quietly. I owe Yama King a favor, and I will repay it when I see him again."

The dozen ghost soldiers nodded repeatedly, smiling as they said, "Our boss said that anything concerning Master Zhou Huan is his business. If you need anything, just give the order, and we will follow through."

This scene truly bewildered Yang Xiaoling. Finally, Zhou Huan snapped her out of it with a clap of his hand. The two of them brought Dongzi and Big Radish, and the four took a cab. They first went to where Zhou Huan had hidden his car to retrieve it. Then, Dongzi took Yang Xiaoling and Big Radish back to the inn. Zhou Huan picked up Hong Kun and headed straight for the military guesthouse where Xiao Li and the others were stationed. Upon meeting Xiao Li, Zhou Huan was immediately ushered into a private room.

"Master Zhou, we can't touch Bureau Chief Li. Although the two from the Song Faction have confessed, a call just came from above: Chief Li cannot be moved. We must wait for instructions from higher up; he will likely be transferred... This matter..." Xiao Li looked very troubled but clearly wanted to resolve the case.

Zhou Huan understood the situation instantly. He only said one thing: "It's a pity your Sister Wang wasted so many days on them. If he isn't punished severely this time, more serious matters might arise in the future. If the official path cannot resolve this, then it depends on his fortune whether he survives. Know this: Heaven also has a Heavenly Way, and karma will not deviate in the slightest. What is about to befall him—the cause has already appeared, and the consequence is unavoidable!"