sp the situation. 

If Secretary Liu was previously in euphoric shock over obtaining the mining permit, this time, he was completely bewildered by the extraordinary expressions between Expert Min and Mrs. Liu. Mrs. Liu’s eyes were full of endless affection, and Expert Min exuded infinite kindness. Like lovers—no, no, no! Secretary Liu internally berated himself for such a disrespectful thought. Like father and daughter? But Mrs. Liu was an orphan.

During the Cultural Revolution, ex-Secretary Fu saw a family of three from another province seeking refuge under the ginkgo tree at the village entrance. The man and ailing woman with a little girl looked pitiful, so he took them home to care for. Despite the doctor's utmost efforts, the couple eventually succumbed to their illnesses. The little girl was then adopted by ex-Secretary Fu and grew up to be the current Mrs. Liu. Her original home was in the city of Jincheng in Shanxi, where her family had once been wealthy but sparse in numbers. 

By Mrs. Liu’s generation, she was the only child. Despite the decline of her family’s fortune, she received a good education from a young age. Unfortunately, her family’s background made her a target during the Cultural Revolution. Her father couldn't bear the persecution and escaped to the East Village with his wife and child under the cover of night. The harsh conditions led to their demise in a foreign land.

Years ago, Mrs. Liu went back to Jincheng to see if she could pay respects to her ancestral graves. While wandering the village, she found her family’s old well still standing by the village entrance.

"My child, it was your visit that gave me hints about your whereabouts. They told me the general direction, and I scoured every village in the area. It wasn't until I tasted the seafood dumpling soup you made that I confirmed you were the poor child I was looking for," Expert Min said, tears streaming down his face.

Mrs. Liu went to her bedroom and retrieved a bundle from the bottom of an old cabinet. Unwrapping it carefully, she revealed half a wolf's fang. Expert Min, hands trembling, pulled out his half from his pocket. As they brought them together, the two halves connected magnetically, fusing seamlessly without a trace of the break.

Expert Min’s whole body trembled with excitement, almost passing out, and Secretary Liu had to catch him. Expert Min gently pushed Secretary Liu away and alternately cried and laughed with Mrs. Liu. Watching the two, Secretary Liu stood dazed and uncertain about what to do next. It wasn’t until they calmed down that he understood the history between Expert Min and Mrs. Liu.

The story began with Expert Min’s geological exploration in Taihang Wangwu Mountain in Shanxi Province. Expert Min, whose real name was Min Xiangxi, had

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