Seizing the lull, Wu Fenglan quickly pulled her daughter aside and whispered the question.

Zhang Yang had just mentioned that his mother passed away ten years ago and his father was merely a civil servant. Back then, she had felt pity for the boy, having lost his mother young, thinking it must have been hard for his father to raise him alone.

She had assumed Zhang Yang's father was just an ordinary worker, like herself.

But clearly, that wasn't the case now. Zhang Yang's father possessed an undeniable aura, a quality that immediately signaled he was no ordinary person.

And then there was Mi Zhiguo's reaction. Wu Fenglan knew her husband well; she rarely saw him so visibly flustered. In her eyes, Mi Zhiguo was somewhat out of sorts today.

"Mom, Uncle Zhang is the top leader of the Provincial Party Committee!"

Michelle glanced at Zhang Keqin and murmured the words very softly.

"The top leader of the Provincial Party Committee!"

Wu Fenglan froze, momentarily stunned. She understood the sheer weight held within those few words.

Forget the Provincial Committee; even the County Party Secretary commanded immense respect from everyone at home—people flocked to follow him wherever he went.

Above the County Secretary were the city leaders, and then the City Party Secretary.

Above the City Party Secretary were the provincial leaders, whose ultimate chief was the top leader of the Provincial Party Committee.

Wu Fenglan dared not calculate the chasm separating her status from that echelon.

It was only then that she understood the expressions she had seen on the faces of the hospital staff when they met Zhang Yang's father, and why her own husband had been so visibly unsettled.

Even she, upon hearing the revelation, felt her body weaken, nearly collapsing.

Before, she had only thought Zhang Yang was excellent and capable, earning his own money while studying, but perhaps from an average family—certainly no better off than them. Now, she realized they weren't just surpassed; they were looking up at a status they couldn't even begin to fathom.

By the bedside, after hearing Mi Zhiguo’s words, Zhang Keqin offered a slight smile and gently shook his head.

Mi Zhiguo was too nervous, though he understood why. He himself had once been a county leader, and at that time, provincial leaders seemed like deities watching from above.

Zhang Keqin spoke quietly with Mi Zhiguo, sticking to casual conversation and inquiring about his recovery.

He was here today in the capacity of a future in-law; he would not discuss work matters.

After about ten minutes, Zhang Keqin rose to take his leave, urging Zhang Yang to take good care of them and assuring them to call him anytime if they needed anything. Finally, he invited the Mi Zhiguo family to have a meal together once Mi Zhiguo had recovered.

This was, essentially, his formal invitation for a family dinner.

Having seen to these matters, Zhang Keqin departed. His schedule was demanding; a visit to the hospital was difficult, and he had pushed aside other work to come.

It wasn't until Zhang Keqin left that Zhang De let out a heavy sigh and sank into a nearby chair.

He felt completely drained, yet his heart still hammered rapidly, mingled with an intense excitement.

The truth was, Zhang Keqin hadn't even spoken to him directly, but his excitement stemmed from today’s discovery. Only now did he learn that Zhang Yang’s father was this man. Establishing a connection with Zhang Yang was by no means less valuable than securing a relationship with Su Zhantao.

At the same time, he intensely envied Mi Zhiguo.

To become in-laws with Secretary Zhang—that was a blessing earned through generations.

How foolish Mi Zhiguo had been to initially reject Zhang Yang as a son-in-law, aiming instead for an alliance with Yu Wenwu. Thinking back now, it seemed laughably inept. Fortunately, that plan hadn't materialized, or Mi Zhiguo would be consumed by regret.

Mi Zhiguo had luck on his side, but for Zhang De, things weren't bad either.

He was the only one who now knew this secret. He felt a surge of relief for being in Changjing and visiting Old Mi.

Henceforth, he needed to manage his relationship with Mi Zhiguo much better. By clinging to Mi Zhiguo, he effectively clung to Secretary Zhang’s influence. If Zhang Yang and Michelle truly married, Mi Zhiguo’s future would undoubtedly shine brilliantly.

The position of Executive Deputy County Head was practically guaranteed; even County Head or County Party Secretary now seemed within reach.

Since he was the only one aware of this, and given his already decent relationship with Mi Zhiguo, he was confident he could leverage this advantage for greater benefits. Adding frosting to the cake is nice, but being a lifeline in a blizzard is better. His past efforts could be considered a form of 'sending charcoal in snowy weather.'

After Zhang Keqin left, Mi Zhiguo remained on the bed in a daze.

Zhang Yang’s father—his in-law—being the top official of the Provincial Party Committee. This news was too sudden, too utterly unexpected.

He still felt a sense of unreality, like he might wake up and find the entire encounter dissolved into illusion.

But reality persistently asserted itself: this was not a dream; this was fact.

Moments later, he recalled his own attitude toward Zhang Yang the first time the young man visited their home.

The memory brought a cold sweat to his brow. Thankfully, he hadn't behaved too aggressively back then, or this in-law relationship might not only have failed to materialize but could have brought disaster upon him.

The Provincial Party Secretary—a casual remark expressing dissatisfaction with him in front of others, and his career would be over.

Following this wave of lingering fear, Mi Zhiguo soon became quite exhilarated.

By the same token, if others knew his in-law was the Provincial Party Secretary, his standing would instantly change. Forget county leaders; even city leaders would hesitate to cross him lightly.

His future was set for brilliance. The promotion to Executive Deputy County Head seemed certain, and positions he hadn't even dared to consider before were now within his grasp.

Zhang Yang and Michelle walked Zhang Keqin out together and returned a little while later.

Seeing Zhang Yang return, the way the others looked at him shifted once more.

Especially Mi Zhiguo, whose expression was now a tangle of emotions: slight excitement, a touch of elation, and a deep sense of reverence.

"Zhang Yang, I truly—I never imagined!"

Mi Zhiguo spoke first, addressing Zhang Yang. He left his sentence unfinished, but the implication was clear to everyone.

Mi Zhiguo had never conceived that Zhang Yang’s father was Zhang Keqin.

"Uncle Mi, please rest assured and focus on your recovery. There won't be any more trouble here at the hospital!"

Zhang Yang smiled faintly. With Zhang Keqin having made an appearance, he was certain the hospital staff would not dare to act foolishly or shield that unscrupulous doctor again.

If they did, this hospital would surely face a massive internal shakeup.

"Yes, I believe you, I absolutely believe you!"

Mi Zhiguo nodded repeatedly. Of course, he believed Zhang Yang. Unless the hospital staff were complete fools, they would certainly receive much better treatment going forward.

As he thought this, his expectation instantly materialized.

Not long after Zhang Keqin’s departure, Qiao Chen himself came to offer apologies and condolences, even volunteering to move Mi Zhiguo to a superior ward—one quieter, more comfortable, and more conducive to recovery.

However, Mi Zhiguo declined the offer. The current room was fine, and money could secure its upkeep; they weren't lacking funds.

Moving to another ward was out of the question. Even if he didn't consider his own reputation, he had to factor in Zhang Keqin’s influence. He couldn't allow the perception that he was seeking special treatment simply because Zhang Keqin had visited, thereby damaging his standing.

By this point, Mi Zhiguo had fully accepted the reality of having a Provincial Party Secretary as his in-law.

Sun Liang’s affair had merely been an interlude, and Zhang Keqin's visit an unforeseen event; afterward, everything settled back into normalcy.

Su Zhantao called Zhang Yang that afternoon, inviting him out for dinner that evening.

Zhang Yang had been unavailable the previous day, so they hadn't called him. Hu Bin had treated them to a meal, but since they didn't communicate often, they lacked much common ground—it wasn't as good as being with their own close circle.

After a moment's thought, Zhang Yang agreed.

Su Zhantao and the others had all helped out today, and moreover, they had specifically come to visit his future father-in-law; he should show his gratitude.

Dinner that night was a small affair. Only a few of them attended; Wu Zhiguo and Chang Feng were still occupied with other matters.

Chang Feng was currently busy dealing with the issue of Niu Qian, the Political Commissar at the Police Sub-bureau. Niu Qian’s multiple charges had been formalized and submitted to the prosecutor’s office.

Next would come the indictment and the court’s verdict. Given his string of crimes, a standard sentence would ensure he avoided the most severe punishment.

He had committed too many atrocities; daring to use open violence within the police station suggested the extent of his madness and hinted at the misdeeds he had committed previously.

Time moved on, and Mi Zhiguo’s recovery was remarkably swift.

With Zhang Yang’s assistance, Mi Zhiguo was able to get out of bed and walk on the third day—a feat his attending physician hailed as miraculous.

Five days later, Mi Zhiguo was nearly as good as a normal person, just waiting for the stitches to come out before he could go home to continue recuperating.

Mi Zhiguo was utterly surprised by this rapid progress.

Within those five days, the hospital also delivered an update regarding Sun Liang.

Sun Liang was dismissed from the hospital the very next day. Subsequently, the Disciplinary Inspection Commission stepped in, quickly uncovering several instances of wrongdoing during his tenure.

More victims were found to testify against him, meaning he would definitely face imprisonment.

However, his situation was slightly better than Niu Qian's. His charges did not involve homicide; he would serve a few years in prison and have a chance to restart his life, unlike Niu Qian, who would likely never see the outside again.

On the eighth day, despite the hospital’s repeated pleas for him to stay, Mi Zhiguo followed Zhang Yang’s advice and completed the discharge procedures.

During these eight days, Zhang De visited every day and made a great effort to help on the day of the discharge.

Many people from Lieshan County also came, bringing numerous gifts. County Party Secretary Zhou even sent someone to pay respects, though he did not come in person.

Zhang De felt it was better that Secretary Zhou hadn't come. If he had, he would have learned of Mi Zhiguo’s connection to Zhang Keqin. Now, Zhang De could exclusively utilize Mi Zhiguo's accrued resources and seize the opportunity to deepen his own relationship.

There were many gifts. After all, Mi Zhiguo was a Deputy County Head; representatives from several of the units he oversaw, as well as colleagues from the County Government, had come.

With so many items, Zhang Yang simply brought Long Feng’s Hummer around; its large capacity made loading convenient.

Many gifts were mundane—instant noodles and beverages were common. These items weren't heavy, and they managed to load everything in just a few trips before heading home.

They returned to Zhang Yang’s villa. Mi Zhiguo needed a few more days of recovery, which Zhang Yang would oversee. If he insisted on leaving now, the subsequent recovery period would be significantly longer.

This time, Mi Zhiguo did not object to Zhang Yang's invitation. This was his future son-in-law; staying a few days was perfectly acceptable.

Moreover, he wished to make a full recovery as soon as possible; nobody enjoyed nursing an injury indefinitely.