Chapter 7: Insight

At Ding Moqun’s home, Nurse Li had already laid out four dishes and a soup on the dining table. Just moments ago, Ding Moqun and Dao Yan had returned together, and as soon as they entered, Aunt Liu hurried to the kitchen to have Nurse Li bring out the meal.

Seated at the table, as Nurse Li served the food, Ding Moqun looked at Dao Ya with eyes full of concern and asked, “Xiao Ya, you were terrified today, weren’t you?”

Dao Ya let out a low grunt and coquettishly said to Ding Moqun, “Not really, but Uncle—”

“My sister went too far. She actually locked me and my brother-in-law up in Room 76. In that interrogation room, I was scared out of my wits!”

After speaking, Dao Ya snorted at Dao Yan. In response, Dao Yan silently ladled a bowl of soup, expressionless, and pushed it toward Dao Ya’s seat. “Routine procedure. Nothing happened to you either, so stop running to Uncle to complain every day.”

Seeing the two sisters about to bicker again, Ding Moqun hurriedly waved his hand and said, “Enough, you two argue every time you meet. Now, eat your meal.”

Then, Ding Moqun glanced at Zhao Xuan, who sat silently beside Dao Ya, sighed softly, and spoke again, “Ah Xuan, come to my study after dinner.”

Zhao Xuan was slightly taken aback. After looking at Dao Yan, he turned to Ding Moqun and replied, “Alright, Uncle.”

Dao Ya looked at Zhao Xuan with concern. Seeing him start eating without even glancing at her, she puckered her lips and quietly began to eat as well.

At this dinner table, both Ding Moqun and Dao Yan clearly noticed Dao Ya’s change in attitude toward Zhao Xuan. Usually, she would tease Zhao Xuan a couple of times during meals, but today she neither provoked him nor looked at him without worry in her eyes.

It seemed Zhao Xuan’s behavior today had a significant impact on Dao Ya.

Dao Yan felt a bit uneasy about this, while Ding Moqun smiled faintly. This was good—at least the household atmosphere could be a little more harmonious.

(Seems the son-in-law has passed the screening. This job of mine is really difficult. I hope he won’t blame me…)

(Stinker brother-in-law, you didn’t even look at me once. I was just about to thank you, but now, humph!)

(Zhou Mei still wants to conduct another screening on Zhao Xuan. It seems her suspicion hasn’t been dispelled by his explanation. Well, that’s for the best…)

Zhao Xuan ate silently, overhearing the inner thoughts of everyone at home.

Ding Moqun, on the other hand, was completely focused on eating, hearing nothing else.

Dao Ya’s words were all meaningless chatter with no intelligence value.

As for Aunt Liu, Zhao Xuan had previously suspected she might be a spy. But now it seemed she was only doing what Dao Yan or Ding Moqun had asked her to do.

Dao Yan’s remarks had also made Zhao Xuan more alert and prompted some self-reflection.

He had thought the matter today was over, but Zhou Mei was still clinging to him, wanting to conduct another screening.

What trick were they planning this time?

After dinner, in Ding Moqun’s study.

Only after Dao Yan left the office was Zhao Xuan called in.

Standing before the desk, Ding Moqun smiled and gestured for Zhao Xuan to sit.

“Ah Xuan, Xiao Dao has that temper. I hope you don’t take it to heart. You have a long life ahead together. As husband and wife, you mustn’t harbor resentment. What Xiao Dao did today was for work.”

Zhao Xuan smiled lightly and nodded deftly.

“I understand, Uncle. I won’t overthink it. Captain Dao must have her reasons.”

Ding Moqun’s lips twitched into a wry smile as he shook his head.

“Well, matters between you two will take time. It’s good to gradually build affection.”

“I called you here mainly to ask if you’ve adapted to life in Modu these past two months.”

Zhao Xuan answered Ding Moqun’s questions while activating his perception mode.

This time, he not only started psychological analysis but also enabled x-ray vision.

The reason: Zhao Xuan noticed a file on the desk in front of Ding Moqun. With Edith present, even without walking over, Zhao Xuan could see the words on the folder: Purge Plan!

Such a plan was obviously ominous.

(X-ray activated, document collection in progress, analysis complete, written summary prepared.)

“Sir, the contents of the Purge Plan have been acquired. Would you like to view it now?”

“No, wait until I’m back in my room.”

After responding to Edith, Zhao Xuan looked at Ding Moqun and said, “It’s alright, Uncle. I’m planning to apply for a teaching position at Shenjiang University. Staying home all day for too long does get a bit boring.”

(Hmm? University professor? Is he testing me or genuinely wanting to be a teacher?)

(But Ah Xuan is a top graduate returning home, majoring in foreign languages. Applying at Shenjiang University shouldn’t be a problem.)

(Haha, Xiao Dao’s screening is over, but mine has only just begun. Better keep him under my watchful eye.)

Hearing Ding Moqun’s inner thoughts, Zhao Xuan nearly lost his composure.

If he wasn’t mistaken, Dao Yan had screened him twelve times already.

Now that he was finally seeing some light at the end of the tunnel, Ding Moqun showed up, still uneasy about his identity as a returning student.

(After all, I do need completely trustworthy people at my side. Foreign-educated students might be worth a try.)

Zhao Xuan was grumbling inwardly about Ding Moqun when he heard the last thought. He took a deep breath.

Alright, since Ding Moqun thinks that way, rest assured, I will pass the screening.

“Ah Xuan, I’ve thought about what you said. The reason I hadn’t assigned you work before was that you just returned to the country, and I wanted you to adapt to life here first.”

“Now that you have settled in, as your uncle, I naturally want to take care of you. Teaching at Shenjiang University is good, but in this day and age, you need a special status to avoid being bullied.”

“Ah Xuan, what I mean is, I want you to work at Room 76. Think of it as helping your uncle. What do you say?”

Watching Zhao Xuan’s hesitant expression, Ding Moqun wondered if he was really set on becoming a teacher.

Shortly after Zhao Xuan left, Dao Yan returned to Ding Moqun’s office.

“Uncle, did he agree?”

Ding Moqun closed his pen, placed the signed Purge Plan into the safe, then said, “After much coaxing, he finally agreed. A hopeless case, insisting on becoming a teacher!”

Dao Yan laughed scornfully, “Uncle, if he wants to be a teacher, let him. With his personality, he really isn’t suited for Room 76.”

Ding Moqun shook his head with a smile.

“We’re family. I don’t trust the others at Room 76, but using family members gives me peace of mind.”

“Besides, he’s already passed your screening. Having him help me at Room 76 is good.”

Dao Yan shrugged. “Alright, if Uncle has decided, I won’t say more.”

“Uncle, I’m going out for a while. We can’t let the grasshoppers on Zhou Mei’s line run wild.”