Actually, the Zhou family has always been wealthy. There have always been envious people, but because the Zhou family was so low-key before and didn't flaunt their wealth, people could only admire them quietly without much to say. After all, the Zhou family was so busy that they were almost impossible to track down, leaving no room for gossip.

But now things are different. Si Nian's arrival has brought others into the picture. She's from the neighboring village, and in this area, there aren't many families who can run a business. So when someone is wealthy, word tends to spread.

Now that Si Nian has married into the Zhou family, her own family has started to make money. If her family were from the city, people might not say much. But they happen to be from Linjia Village, the most economically deprived village nearby.

The two villages are close, and many people know the Lin family well. They know that the Lin family has many children and is quite poor. But now, with the connection to Zhou Yue Shen, the Lin family has started a business and made money. They're not just selling pastries anymore; now they're selling marinated meat too! Pastries were one thing—no one thought they were worth much.

But meat is different—it's how the Zhou family made their fortune. Now that the Lin family is getting into the same business, they're bound to make a lot of money too. People are noticing, and it's eating them up inside.

On top of that, seeing Zhou Yue Shen frequently taking Si Nian to the city only makes things more complicated for everyone. Zhou Yue Shen's previous wife didn't get along well with him, so people assumed that Zhou Lao Da was cold and unfeeling, not interested in women, and that marrying was just a way to take care of his children.

Even though people envied his wealth, they thought that sending their daughters to marry him would be like living as a widow, raising someone else's kids, so they naturally weren't willing. At first, they even thought Si Nian was out of her mind.

But now, seeing how Zhou Lao Da treats her, people are filled with regret. And with all the talk going around, once someone starts complaining, others chime in, and the gossip only gets nastier.

However, as they were getting more heated in their conversation, a mocking voice suddenly cut through the air from the side of the road: "Oh, isn't this the Liu family? Didn't your daughter go to learn how to make mung bean cakes from Nian Nian? What happened, couldn't figure it out?"

Everyone looked up to see Aunt Zhang, holding a basket on her arm, staring at them with a smirk on her face. The group instantly fell into an awkward silence.

The truth was, several families in the village had indeed sent their relatives to learn how to make pastries from Si Nian. But who would have thought that making those pastries would be so troublesome? Besides mung beans, you needed expensive ingredients like honey and white sugar.

They were so frugal at home that they wouldn't even eat sugar themselves, let alone use it for making pastries. Such extravagance was beyond them, and honey was even more costly, not to mention hard to find.

The method wasn't difficult, but getting the right ingredients was. So after going once, they gave up on learning. They assumed no one in the village would actually bother to make the pastries either, only to find out that the Lin family had started a business and was making money from it.

Of course, they regretted it, but they were too embarrassed to try and take the business away.

"I just heard you say that Si Nian is selfish, only teaching her family how to make money. I thought your family didn't get a chance to learn. Turns out you did, but couldn't figure it out, and now you're bad-mouthing her for making money. Do you even have a conscience?"

Everyone fell silent. They loved to gossip, but only in secret. Aunt Zhang lived close to the Zhou family—if this got back to Si Nian...

The woman who had been called out blushed with embarrassment. She defensively muttered, "What I said is true though. That's her own uncle's family, and she's making such a big fuss, completely disregarding family ties. It's only right that she should have taught her uncle's family too, isn't it?"

The others around her nodded in agreement.

Aunt Zhang let out a cold laugh. "She was willing to teach you all, but not her uncle's family. Isn't that because her uncle's family is too shameless? They showed up demanding ten catties of pork belly before, which was already disgraceful enough. But now, you're even worse—learning her skills and then turning around to defend people like that!"

In the city, at the Public Security Bureau.

Director Li was just about to head home for dinner when someone knocked on his office door. He frowned, his plans disrupted, and sank back into his chair.

"What is it now?" he asked, clearly irritated.

"Director, the Si family is here again. They're inviting you to their daughter's wedding."

"The Si family again? When will this end?" Director Li muttered, thoroughly annoyed.

The Si family had previously tried to pull some strings with him, but he hadn't paid much attention. After refusing them twice, they had stopped coming around.

But ever since he attended Zhou Yue Shen's wedding and ran into the Si family there, they'd started showing up at his office every few days.

Anyone who didn't know better might think they were close friends. Now, they even had the nerve to come to the bureau and invite him to their daughter's wedding. They must be out of their minds.

Director Li was full of impatience, but something crossed his mind. He asked, "Has there been any progress on the dowry investigation that Xiao Zhou asked us to look into?"

The person replied, "That's something Captain Li is handling. I'm not really sure."

The other person gave him a strange look as if to say, *How would I know if you don't know about something your own son is in charge of?*

Director Li suddenly remembered and slapped his desk. "Right, isn't that something my son is investigating? Go ahead and have him come over..."

Meanwhile, Si's father had been waiting outside the door for half an hour, his face growing increasingly green with impatience. Finally, Director Li emerged.

Si's father immediately put on a fawning smile. "Director Li..."

Director Li took a drag from his cigarette, walked over, and gave Si's father a pat on the shoulder. "Old Si, what's this? Your daughter's getting married, and you didn't tell me sooner?"

The familiar tone in his voice immediately drew the attention of those nearby. Zhang Cuimei's sister, Zhang Xiaoyun, also glanced over, her eyes full of jealousy.

*So, it turns out the Si family really does have a close relationship with the Director,* she thought, recalling the last incident.

If the Si family had such a good connection with Director Li, then why had Si Nian brushed her off every time she asked for help getting a promotion? It must be that Si Nian just didn't want to help her!

Zhang Xiaoyun was both frustrated and envious. She had already been feeling uneasy for days since she heard that Lin Sisi was marrying the young master of the Fu family, Fu Yang.