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Chapter 15: Tear-jerking
Do you really want a stepmother?
─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───
Madam Zhou fell silent.
Qin Feng couldn’t help but glance at his mother.
Seeing this, Madam Zhou subconsciously said, “Let me adjust. Before, when you were abroad, it was just your father and me, along with their family of four. Suddenly, asking me not to care for them... I’m not used to it.”
Qin Feng said, “Then get used to it slowly. Start with killing the chicken tomorrow.”
Madam Zhou nodded obediently but lost her spirit, completely forgetting to help Qin Feng mop the floor.
When they arrived at Qin Feng’s house, Madam Zhou sat down and couldn’t help but sigh repeatedly.
She was troubled by her daughter’s lack of understanding and worried that her daughter and son-in-law might start fighting when they got home. Then she thought divorce might be good; while young, she could still find someone decent. But then she considered that if she had two children, she’d probably have to find a man with children. It’s hard being a stepmother. Relatives and neighbors would mock Qin Ying for being dumped.
Gu Wuyi and Gu Qingkuang, the two brothers, planned to finish their homework before mopping the floor. When they saw her sighing and wiping tears, they didn’t dare move the mop or water basin, nervously glancing at Qin Feng.
Qin Feng waved at them.
The two brothers quietly tiptoed over.
Qin Feng took out a calligraphy brush.
The two brothers widened their eyes in surprise.
Qin Feng nodded.
The two brothers felt like crying. The school hadn’t even taught them calligraphy yet, and now they had to practice it. It was a pity that they treated him as their real father.
Qin Feng tapped the table with his bent middle finger, looking at them expressionlessly.
Gu Wuyi couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you supposed to be overseeing the assembly workshop?”
“I’ve been working overtime for several days in a row. Today’s my day off.”
Gu Wuyi, with a distressed face, went to pick up the brush. “When did you buy this?”
He didn’t know about it.
If he had known earlier, he would have stuffed it in the mouse hole.
"I used it before." Qin Feng looked at Gu Xiao'er.
—Any objections?
Gu Xiao'er quickly opened the ink bottle, glanced at his older brother, and thought: Is their adoptive father starting to look more and more like a real dad? Must be satisfied with the way things are now.
Gu Wuyi understood his brother’s look. A warm feeling surged in his heart, and the irritation of not wanting to practice calligraphy was instantly soothed. He sighed lightly. He had been living a good life for so long that he had forgotten how much he used to hope for an elder who would guide him like this, arrange his life choices, and be his life mentor.
Qin Feng, however, didn’t think that much. He just remembered how his schedule as a child was packed with Taekwondo, piano, calligraphy, and painting. Though he didn’t excel at any of them, he could impress people who didn’t know much about them.
During his time abroad, he even made quite a bit of money from piano and painting. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to buy a TV, refrigerator, fan, and washing machine so soon after returning.
Since he had only been back for half a year, it was impossible to save that much money just by not eating or drinking.
Having deeply realized that learning more would be useful in the long run, Qin Feng pretended not to hear the sigh and held Miaomiao, watching the two of them write for half an hour.
After the ink and brushes were put away, Madam Zhou’s tears had dried and stopped.
Qin Feng took the flashlight and walked his mother to the village entrance.
The next day at noon, Qin Feng sat down at the dining table as if nothing had happened, giving two chicken legs to the two older sons, and one chicken wing each to himself and Miaomiao.
Madam Zhou, initially upset that her granddaughters couldn’t have any, saw his behavior and she became angry and deliberately asked, "What will your father and I eat?"
“Chicken neck and chicken feet,” Qin Feng said bluntly.
Gu Wuyi handed over his chicken leg.
Qin Feng stopped him, “You eat. Looks like her daughter can't be relied on. You two eat more, grow taller. In the future, when they’re old and can’t move, you’ll have the strength to take them to the hospital and take care of them.”
Gu Wuyi couldn’t help but look at the two elderly people’s expressions.
Old Qin used to not believe that someone else’s children could be raised well. He raised the two children of the Gu family as a way to repay a debt, not expecting them to be filial him in the future.
After yesterday’s events, Old Qin no longer clung to blood ties so rigidly.
“Your dad’s right. Your grandmother and I are old. We can’t digest too much meat, and it makes us feel uncomfortable, blocking our chest.”
Gu Wuyi hadn't lived to that age in his previous life, so he didn’t know if what he said was true or not. He just turned to his father.
Qin Feng nodded. "Next month when the salary comes in, I’ll buy some milk powder and soy milk powder."
The elderly couple frowned together.
Qin Feng pretended not to hear and picked up a little chicken liver, placing it in the child’s bowl.
The child ate a bit but couldn’t help wrinkling his brows.
Qin Feng didn’t dare force him. "Let Daddy eat it." He picked it back into his own bowl and peeled the skin off the chicken wing, offering just the meat, afraid the chicken skin would smell and make the child gag.
The child thought his daddy loved him so much that he didn’t want to eat the meat himself. He grabbed the chopsticks with one hand, braced himself on the table with the other, stood up, and placed a big piece of meat in his dad’s bowl.
Qin Feng looked at the chicken breast and raised his brows slightly, thinking, giving him such a choking thing... no wonder he’s his son.
"Daddy can pick it up himself, hurry and eat."
The child obediently sat down.
Gu Xiao'er saw how obedient the child was and couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. He peeled a piece of chicken leg meat for him.
Without saying anything, Qin Feng grabbed it and threw it back into his bowl.
Gu Xiao'er was stunned.
Gu Wuyi reminded him, "Did you forget that Miaomiao isn’t used to eating meat yet?"
Gu Xiao'er immediately stopped trying to serve more.
The elderly couple saw that their son’s actions seemed full of anger, likely still upset with Qin Ying, so they didn’t dare speak any further. As a result, the whole meal was unusually silent.
Qin Feng was indeed angry, but it was intentional. He didn’t want his parents to think that yesterday’s encouragement for Qin Ying to divorce was just said in anger.
By evening, Qin Feng still had no expression. The elderly couple didn’t dare to provoke him and didn’t even dare to go with him to the staff residence. They were more certain than ever that Qin Feng genuinely looked down on Wang Genbao.
Everything he said yesterday was from the heart. If they still supported Qin Ying staying with Wang Genbao, Qin Feng definitely wouldn’t hesitate to drive them to the Wang family.
Kicking one’s parents out like that would be a scandal in the countryside, with relatives and neighbors gossiping behind their backs. However, since Qin Feng lived in the staff residence, his colleagues were more respectful than the villagers, and with no relatives around, no one would meddle in family matters that even an honest official would find difficult to judge.
After Gu Wuyi’s explanation, the elderly couple understood that their son had the capability, and the factory didn’t care about his private morals as long as he didn’t break the law. Besides, sending them to Qin Ying’s home didn’t mean they were abandoning them, nor did it violate public order and morals.
But if it really came to that, Qin Feng didn’t mind, but his parents, who cared about face, couldn’t bear it.
The elderly couple never thought about letting their daughter take care of them in their old age.
Qin Ying had been married to Wang Genbao for so many years, yet the elderly couple had never spent a night at the Wang family’s house.
Late at night, the elderly couple lay in bed, analyzing Qin Feng’s mindset and what he might do. They both agreed that from now on, when it came to their daughter and son-in-law, they would turn a blind eye.
They also worried that if Qin Feng stayed angry for too long, it might harm his health. The next morning, after breakfast, they went to the staff residence to see him.
They ran into Qin Feng, who was dressed in sportswear, at the gate, and they stopped, rubbing their eyes in disbelief.
Qin Feng wiped the sweat from his forehead, looked at his watch, and said, “It’s just seven o’clock. What brings you here so early?”
The elderly couple confirmed it was their son and couldn’t help but point at his clothes, “Why are you wearing such thin clothes? Aren’t you cold?”
Qin Feng replied, “Ran five kilometers. What do you think?”
Old Qin was stunned.
Madam Zhou couldn’t believe it, “Ten miles?”
Qin Feng nodded and wiped his sweat. “Have you eaten?”
“We have,” Madam Zhou answered instinctively, but couldn’t help asking, “Where did you run to?”
Qin Feng answered, “Ran along the road from the gate to the city and then came back.”
Madam Zhou’s expression instantly became difficult to describe. “...Really free!"
Qin Feng smiled but didn’t argue. She didn’t understand the purpose of physical exercise, and he couldn’t explain it to her. “Didn’t Dad want to go to the city?”
Old Qin said, “The department store isn’t open yet. I’ll go later. Are the kids up yet?”
“They should be,” Qin Feng said. Before going to bed last night, he’d let the two older sons sleep in. Probably not worrying about getting up early, but when Qin Feng woke up, he was concerned that Miaomiao, being a little child, might be cold and had buried himself in the covers, leaving Gu Wuyi to hold him without waking up. “Is there something you need to find him for?”
Madam Zhou said, “It’s not a big deal. I just wanted your dad to buy a few pounds of yarn, but I don’t know what colors Xiaoda and Xiao’er like.”
When Madam Zhou mentioned this, she couldn’t help but feel troubled again. With her son and daughter at odds like that, she wasn’t sure if her daughter would still be willing to knit sweaters for the little ones.
Qin Feng noticed his mom's worried expression, and as they entered the gate, he asked once they were a bit further from the gatekeeper, “Is it because there’s not enough money?”
Madam Zhou shook her head. “There’s still money. Originally, it was meant for your bride price—” Seeing her son frown, she quickly swallowed those words and voiced her concerns instead.
Qin Feng was speechless but wanted to laugh. “Is that all? I’ll find someone from the factory to help. At worst, I’ll buy them a couple of packs of candy.”
“What are you going to do?”
A curious female voice came over. The family of three looked in the direction of the sound and realized they had unconsciously reached a fork in the road. A few women were coming down the side street, just a few steps away from them, probably just coming out of the public restroom.
Qin Feng’s mind sparked, and he came up with an idea. Smiling, he said, “Knit sweaters and hats for the children. It's getting warmer day by day, so they don't need to wear cotton-padded jackets anymore."
“Those three? I have nothing to do in the evening. If they don’t mind that I don’t know many patterns, I can help knit.”
Qin Feng had only been back for half a year and had been cooped up in the assembly workshop, with no time to interact with others. After thinking for a while, he finally remembered that she was Xue Qing, the wife of Wu Zheng, the team leader of the assembly workshop.
The couple had been married for many years and had no children, apparently by choice.
People of this generation choosing not to have children? Qin Feng couldn’t believe it for a second.
It was said that the couple had a good relationship.
But in nine out of ten cases, the problem probably lay with Wu Zheng, the team leader.
Even though he had never been married in his past or this life, whether in his past life or this life, if a woman couldn’t have children and the man didn’t divorce, it was either because they were too poor to separate or because the woman was far stronger than the man.
Thinking of this, Qin Feng couldn’t help but feel sympathy for her, and felt a little embarrassed to trouble her. “Would it be too much trouble to knit three sweaters and three hats?”
The woman next to Xue Qing said, “Children’s clothes knit quickly. If Engineer Qin is worried about the time, just let me handle the hats.”
Qin Feng didn’t recognize this woman. “Who are you?”
“I’m Feng Mai Miao. You can call me Aunt Feng or Sister Feng, whichever you prefer.”
Qin Feng suddenly realized, “You’re Accountant Zhao’s partner, right? Hello, Sister Feng, please excuse me for bothering you and Sister Xue."
“It’s no trouble.” Feng Mai Miao waved her hand nonchalantly. Noticing that Qin Feng was wearing a sports outfit that had changed color after washing, his face drenched in sweat yet still looking handsome, she couldn’t help but think it was a pity he hadn’t been born ten years earlier. “Engineer Qin, you should go home and change. It’s so thin; hurry up!”
Qin Feng replied, "Then I'll visit your house after my dad buys the yarn."
Feng Mai Miao laughed cheerfully, “What visit? We’re all colleagues from the same residence. You’re too polite.”
Qin Feng nodded, “I should.”
“No need.” Feng Mai Miao turned to Madam Zhou and Old Qin, “Don’t buy us any candy. Otherwise, you’ll have to find someone else.”
Madam Zhou was surprised. These people seemed cultured and distant from her, yet they were so warm-hearted.
But now that they had said it so clearly, she couldn’t refuse. She nodded, and when they got home, she asked Qin Feng if they could send some preserved eggs to them once they were done.
Qin Feng thought making preserved eggs was simple, but most of the people at the factory were too busy. Even on their day off, they barely had time to sleep or do housework.
“Just don’t make too many,” Qin Feng said as he washed his face.
Madam Zhou replied, “I have a plan for that.”
Qin Feng thought that when it came to social dealings, his parents were far more tactful and thorough than he was. “Well, you two sit and rest. I’ll go check if they’ve gotten up.”
“We’re up.” Gu Xiao’er poked his head out from upstairs. “Brother is helping Miaomiao get dressed. You don’t need to come up.”
Qin Feng didn’t stop his steps.
Gu Xiao’er couldn’t help but mumble, "How can I lie to you?"
“You wouldn’t dare.” Qin Feng glanced at him, then went to his own bedroom to change into a sweater and sweatpants.
Then he went to his eldest son’s room and saw that Gu Wuyi was wearing the same pants from yesterday and the day before. He told him to take them off and change into new ones.
Gu Wuyi was confused. “What’s wrong with these pants?”
Qin Feng said, “They’re dirty.”
“Where are they dirty?” The boy looked down and saw that they seemed clean enough.
Qin Feng said, “At the cuffs!”
The boy lifted his foot, noticing a bit of dirt on the cuffs of his pants, probably picked up in the village.
"Just tap it and it’ll come off."
Qin Feng glared at him.
The boy, who respected and liked him but didn't want to disappoint him, stopped talking nonsense.
Qin Feng quickly ripped off the bed sheets and bedding.
Gu Xiao’er couldn’t hold it in any longer: “You’re washing these? Didn’t you just wash them?”
“It’s been half a month.” Qin Feng reminded him.
Gu Xiao’er instinctively thought about it, then realized he had missed the point: “You wash them every half month?”
“Do you mean you wash them once a month?” Qin Feng replied.
Without thinking, Gu Xiao’er asked, “Aren’t they washed only when they’re dirty?” He looked at his brother.
In his past life, when Gu Wuyi had no money, he never used bed sheets or blankets. When he had money, he didn’t have the time, and the quilts would get moldy but he couldn’t clean them. Later on, when he had both money and time, he left it to the maid. As a result, he never knew when or to what extent the bedding should be cleaned.
Seeing his brother pursing his lips, Gu Xiao’er knew he couldn't count on him and turned to their father. "Aren’t you tired?"
“It’s not like I’m hand-washing them.” Qin Feng said as he picked up the clothes, bedding, and sheets. “Later, bring down your and Miaomiao’s stuff too.”
Gu Xiao’er looked at his brother.
Gu Wuyi placed the child on the bed, pulled off his jacket and pants, and changed him into a clean set of clothes.
“Well, you all changed, and I don’t, he’ll scold me again.” Gu Xiao’er shook his head and stripped off the clothes he had worn for three days. Just then, a shout came from downstairs. "You’ve only worn it for a few days, and you’re already washing it? You ruined good clothes."
Gu Xiao’er couldn’t help but gloat, “Serves him right!”
Miaomiao looked at him curiously, then turned to his older brother, “Who serves?”
Of course, it was Qin Feng, who was being scolded by Madam Zhou.
However, the child couldn’t keep a secret, so Gu Wuyi didn’t dare tell the truth. “He deserves it,” he said, as he finished putting shoes on the child and picked up the not-so-dirty clothes. “Come on, let’s take it to Dad.”
“Wait for me!” Gu Xiao’er shuffled to catch up.
The sound of footsteps pounding down the stairs made Qin Feng frown. "Slow down!"
Gu Xiao’er dared not run, and Gu Wuyi didn’t dare carry Miaomiao either, worried that if he lost grip, they might both fall. He held his little hand and walked slowly.
Madam Zhou went into the house to find the laundry powder. When she looked up, she saw the three children walking shoulder to shoulder, so close they looked like siblings from the same parents. A wave of emotion filled her heart. Then, she couldn’t help but sigh. The three children together weren’t as old as her own daughter, and yet, her daughter was even worse off than the youngest of them.
What sin did she commit in her past life?
"Grandma, what are you looking at?" Gu Xiao’er spotted another step and immediately jumped down.
The thud startled Madam Zhou. "Nothing. Give me the clothes."
"I’ll put them in the washing machine." Gu Xiao’er avoided her and took the clothes from his brother.
Madam Zhou said, "Don’t put them in yet, wait until your dad boils some hot water and dissolves the laundry powder before putting them in."
Gu Xiao’er frowned, thinking it was unnecessary to be so troublesome.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his dad carrying the kettle from the kitchen. He quickly swallowed his words and went with his brother to the public restroom.
However, when they slowly came back from the restroom, both of their grandparents were gone.
Gu Wuyi asked curiously, "Grandma went home?"
Qin Feng replied, "She was worried your grandpa wouldn’t know how to buy wool, so she went with him. I asked them to get you some socks and underwear, so you can change every day."
The two brothers were stunned.
Qin Feng raised an eyebrow and deliberately said, "So moved that you can’t speak?"
Gu Wuyi’s mouth moved, wanting to explain that they were very clean and then wanted to mention how in his past life, only after having money did he start taking care of things like this. But the words stuck in his throat. He didn’t dare say them, and couldn’t bring himself to either.
Any explanation would just make him seem ungrateful.
Gu Xiao’er couldn’t help himself. "No wonder Grandpa and Grandma say you’re a show-off. You really know how to show off."
"Provocation doesn't work on me."
"Who said it was a provocation?"
"Are you saying you don't want to wash and are just making excuses?"
Gu Xiao’er was shocked. "We have to wash it ourselves?"
Qin Feng nodded. "Haven’t you always washed it yourselves?"
Gu Xiao’er remembered that ever since he and his brother became more familiar with Qin Feng, Qin Feng stopped being polite with them, and they were asked to handle small laundry items themselves.
"You... you’re not worried about washing the clothes out of shape?"
Qin Feng said, "Even if you don’t ruin them, after a certain period, they still need to be changed."
Gu Wuyi opened his mouth.
—How is it that his dad lives more refined now than when he was the wealthiest in his past life?
Seeing that both of them were speechless, Qin Feng took it as their agreement. "Wash your faces, brush your teeth, and have breakfast. After breakfast, I’ll wash the big things, and you can wash the small items. Once you're done, I’ll clean the shoes, and you can mop the floor."
Although Gu Xiao’er had already agreed with his brother last night to mop the floor this morning, after hearing Qin Feng’s arrangement, he didn’t want to go along with it anymore. "You sure know how to organize things."
"Isn't this your house? Are you mopping it for me?" Qin Feng countered.
Gu Xiao’er was left speechless.
In his past life, he had worked cautiously and diligently for years to finally have a home, but before he could even feel the warmth of it, the family fell apart.
Gu Wuyi wasn’t sure what to say either. His dad had a way of speaking that always seemed to hit the right note with them. It was as if he knew exactly what they wanted to hear, what would touch their hearts the most.
Qin Feng didn’t have mind-reading skills, but seeing their complicated expressions, he couldn’t help but ask, "Did I say something wrong?"
Gu Xiao’er smiled. "No, but I’m hungry."
"I’ll go serve the rice. The kettle doesn’t have water, so use the hot water in the thermos."
Without thinking, Gu Xiao’er said, "I’ll use the well water. It’s freshly pumped and still warm."
"Is that so?" Qin Feng glanced at him indifferently.
Wanting to avoid work, Gu Xiao’er quickly ran into the house to grab the thermos.
Breakfast today was the same as usual: porridge, steamed buns, and salted duck eggs.
Qin Feng wasn’t sure if the kids had gotten tired of eating the same thing, but he definitely had. If this continued, he would probably develop a case of anorexia.
"Dad, what are you thinking about?" Gu Xiao’er asked, looking at him curiously.
Qin Feng casually replied, "Work stuff."
Gu Wuyi asked curiously, "When will the test drive be?"
Qin Feng answered, "Soon. We’ll talk after breakfast."
Seeing that he wasn’t willing to elaborate, the two boys assumed he was keeping it a secret and didn’t dare ask further.
They finished breakfast quietly. Qin Feng washed the pots and dishes, while the boys each took on a task—wiping the table and sweeping the floor.
The little one noticed his brothers weren’t asking for help, so he went to the kitchen to assist Qin Feng.
The kitchen not only had fire but also knives, so Qin Feng didn’t dare let him stay for long. "Go find your little socks and put them in the basin," he instructed.
The obedient child immediately ran upstairs.
Gu Wuyi quickly said, "They’re outside in the yard."
The child ran outside with his short legs.
Gu Xiao’er couldn’t help but say, "He really likes helping out."
Hearing this, Qin Feng shook his head. A four-year-old knows what kind of work? It was probably something the old monk taught him—when you’re at dad’s house, you should be obedient and help out.
Thinking of this, Qin Feng sighed and couldn’t help but feel sorry for the little one.
He quickly washed the dishes, poured the pot water into a bucket to save for later use in feeding the pigs, wiped his hands casually, and then went out.
The clothes soaking in the washing machine were about done, so Qin Feng pulled out the plug, started the washing machine again, added some well water, and took a towel to the main room.
The little one followed him closely.
Qin Feng thought for a moment, took the plastic flowers out of the vase, wiped them, and handed them to the child. "Help Daddy hold these."
Finally finding a use for himself, the little child happily nodded vigorously.
Qin Feng, using his clean hand, patted his little head. "Go sit on the couch and wait for Daddy."
Gu Wuyi came in with the mop and said, "We just need to wipe the table."
Qin Feng replied, "If you can still move after cleaning the floors upstairs and downstairs, from now on, you can clean the tables, chairs, and cabinets too."
Gu Xiao’er couldn’t help but glance at him, thinking, who does he think he’s talking to?
Qin Feng pretended not to notice. With these little brats, actions speak louder than words.
As expected, after cleaning the living and dining rooms, the two brothers sat down on the floor.
The little one, thinking it was fun, also plopped down on the floor.
By this time, Qin Feng had already wiped down the wardrobe and was getting ready to hang the clothes. He went to find the clothes rack and saw Gu Xiao’er looking exhausted, like a lazy dog. He couldn’t help but laugh. "What’s wrong?"
Gu Xiao’er instinctively turned his head and saw Qin Feng smiling at him, instantly feeling annoyed and not wanting to talk to him.
Qin Feng, amused, asked, "Did you clean upstairs too?"
Gu Xiao’er covered his ears with his hand.
Gu Wuyi got up from the floor.
Gu Xiao’er stared at his brother with wide eyes.
Gu Wuyi cleared his throat. "The homework the teacher assigned isn't done yet. I plan to write it first, and clean upstairs this afternoon."
Gu Xiao’er paused, then quickly nodded when he understood.
Qin Feng almost wanted to remind them that the homework had already been done last night.
But no matter how young the child is, he still needs face.
For example, when he was young, every time his parents caught him, he would get angry and embarrassed.
"Well then, write your homework first. Upstairs isn’t very dirty, no rush."
Gu Xiao’er immediately got up and ran upstairs.
Qin Feng was about to say something about the "mop," but before he could, he saw Gu Wuyi pick up Miaomiao and follow his younger brother.
Seeing the mop and cloth thrown on the ground, Qin Feng helplessly took them to the yard and washed them with the water used for rinsing clothes.
Then he hung up the bed sheets and blankets on the clothesline. Noticing there was still an empty line, Qin Feng decided to take out his and the children's bedding to dry.
A colleague walked by the door, saw the yard full of drying clothes while Qin Feng was still brushing shoes, and couldn't help but stop to ask, "Engineer Qin, did you wash all these?"
Qin Feng looked up and saw a colleague from the processing workshop. Since he wasn't a stranger, he nodded in acknowledgment.
The male colleague couldn't help but give a thumbs-up. "You’re really something."
Qin Feng glanced at the washing machine. "It’s its credit."
"Well, it still needs to press the water back and forth," the male colleague walked over and noticed the shoes Qin Feng was cleaning were very small. "Are these for Wuyi and Qing Kuang?"
Qin Feng nodded.
The male colleague added, "No wonder Master Gu, before he passed, preferred to entrust them to you instead of letting his daughter take care of them."
Qin Feng smiled. "The cotton shoes are thick. They can’t clean them well. After a few days, when they switch to single shoes or sandals, I’ll let them clean them themselves."
"That’s true. Otherwise, you’d be too busy." The male colleague noticed a small stool by the door and took it to sit next to Qin Feng.
Qin Feng's brows twitched. Something was up.
"Not busy?"
The male colleague was momentarily stunned, realizing Qin Feng was asking him. He smiled and said, "Not busy."
Qin Feng didn’t believe him and didn’t respond.
The male colleague wasn't familiar with Qin Feng, and since he has a PhD, he didn’t want to say anything wrong or be laughed at, so he hesitated to engage with him. After sitting for five minutes in silence, he couldn't stand it anymore and got up to leave.
"Dad, why is he here?"" Gu Xiao’er, who had heard the conversation earlier and was curious, leaned against the window, listening closely, but didn’t catch anything.
Qin Feng replied, "Who knows?"
"Is he trying to introduce a stepmother to you?"
Qin Feng raised his head and asked, "You really want a stepmother?"
Gu Xiao’er quickly pulled back.
Qin Feng was satisfied.
He found the washboard, took the shoe soles, and rubbed the shoe uppers on the washboard a few times. After rinsing with clean water, they looked as good as new. Then he used a shoe brush to clean the inside, rinsed them again, and left them on the windowsill to dry.
At this time, the yard was too wet to look at.
Qin Feng moved the washing machine inside and was about to tidy up when he saw his parents rush in, looking as if they were being chased by wolves, moving so quickly that it was hard to believe they were over fifty years old.
"What happened?" Qin Feng quickly helped his parents.
Old Qin said, "The aunt of Xiaoda and Xiao’er came."
"They can come if they want." Qin Feng let go of them and continued cleaning the water on the floor.
Old Qin grabbed the broom. "They're not coming with good intentions. It’s like we owe her tens of thousands of yuan."
Qin Feng chuckled. "If they’re not here with good intentions, why are you rushing back to report to me?"
Madam Zhou said, "They came by bike. We were on the bus and saw them. They’re faster than us."
Qin Feng stopped, noticing that she was holding a bag. "Is that the yarn? Take it upstairs first."
Madam Zhou nodded and was about to go upstairs when she looked up and saw two little heads peeking out.
Gu Wuyi, seeing he had been spotted, directly asked, "What does she want again?"
If Madam Zhou and Old Qin knew, they wouldn't be so anxious.
The elderly couple shook their heads and looked at Qin Feng.
Qin Feng couldn't think of why they had come either.
Over a month ago, before Engineer Gu passed away, he transferred the house to Qin Feng, intending to leave the rosewood furniture inside to his daughter, Gu Xue. The two boys absolutely disagreed. Though Engineer Gu didn’t understand why they hated Gu Xue so much, he was too weak to figure it out, so he added a clause to the will that everything in the house, including the furniture, would belong to Qin Feng.
Old Engineer Gu earned a high salary, and after covering the expenses for his son and grandson, nearly half of it was left. He wanted to give the salary to his daughter.
However, the two brothers still disagreed.
No matter how others tried to persuade them, it was useless.
Although the two brothers were the antagonists in the book Chief Lawyer, they weren’t the main characters, so there was little mention of their childhood. Qin Feng didn’t realize anything unusual about them and mistakenly assumed they had always disliked their aunt, just because the book didn’t have Qin Feng making decisions for them. In the end, their aunt benefited from the situation.
Qin Feng recalled that in the book, Gu Wuyi hadn’t even finished middle school, and he thought Gu Xue was two-faced. Not wanting to make things easy for her, he took the savings book and had the factory director who wrote Engineer Gu’s will with him change the deposit term to ten years.
The two brothers were satisfied, while Gu Xue was furious. Since Engineer Gu passed away, she hadn’t visited and even vowed not to acknowledge Gu Wuyi and Gu Qingkuang as nephews. She said that if they were bullied by Qin Feng, they shouldn’t come looking for her.
Qin Feng looked at the two boys. “Did she come while I was away?”
Gu Wuyi shook his head.
Qin Feng turned to his parents. “Did she ever come to you?”
Madam Zhou was puzzled. “Why would she come to us? All of Engineer Gu’s things are here, and the money is in the bank. If you don’t go, no one can take it out.”
Qin Feng said, “That’s strange.”
Old Qin suddenly had a thought and shook his head repeatedly. “No, no, it’s impossible.”
Qin Feng asked curiously, “What did you think of?”
“Your aunt could find time to visit your sister, and she could also go to see Gu Xue, right?” Old Qin paused, then continued, “But if your aunt had gone to see them, she would have come yesterday.”
Qin Feng smiled. “I wouldn’t have thought of it if you hadn’t mentioned it. My aunt might not have that much influence on her own, but what if she teamed up with Wang Genbao?”
The elderly couple’s expressions changed drastically, and they both exclaimed, “Impossible!”
“I beat him until his face was black and blue and even got my sister to divorce him. He wanted to do business, but I didn’t help him. I cut off his livelihood and made an enemy of him over his wife. Isn’t it normal that he would go to Gu Xue and say a few things?” Qin Feng added.
Gu Xiao’er couldn’t help but say, “You still went easy on him.”
Old Qin glared at him. “Don’t speak for now. Xiao Feng, what should we do now?”
Madam Zhou anxiously asked, “Should I go find the factory director?”
“It's hard for an honest judge to settle family disputes. What use is the factory director?” Qin Feng disagreed. “When the factory director helped write Engineer Gu’s will, she kept shouting that the factory director and I tricked Xiaoda and Xiao’er and fooled Engineer Gu. If we bring the factory director here, she’ll probably start scolding him too.”
The will was written at the Municipal People's Hospital.
The elderly couple wasn’t there and didn’t know the specifics. They only heard from the people in the staff residence that day that Gu Xue had been so angry she almost wanted to kill her two nephews, then went with Old Gu to the hospital.
Madam Zhou said, “Then should I go find someone in the village?”
Old Qin shook his head. “She’ll say we’re bullying her because of our power. Besides, she’s still the aunt of Xiaoda and Xiao’er.
Gu Wuyi happened to come downstairs and overheard this. As soon as he stepped out of the living room, he said, “Don’t worry about us. Although we’re young, we know who’s good to us.”
Qin Feng smiled. The kid’s not big, but his words are grand, almost like an adult.
“Not afraid I’m pretending?”
Gu Wuyi used to be afraid, afraid of Qin Feng’s hypocritical demeanor. “Even if you’re pretending, you don’t have to make us change our underwear and socks every day, right? If we wear them for a month without changing, no one will know.”
Qin Feng ruffled his little head. “That’s all I need to hear. Go upstairs with Miaomiao. Leave her to me, so you won’t have to worry.”
Gu Wuyi shook his head.
Qin Feng said, “No matter what you say, Gu Xue will turn it into something I instigated.”
Gu Wuyi hesitated.
Qin Feng gave him a push and glared at Gu Xiao’er.
—Do I still need to tell you guys?
The two brothers immediately took Miaomiao upstairs.
Although Miaomiao didn’t understand what was going on, seeing his grandparents’ strange expressions, he avoided his brothers and rushed over to hug Qin Feng’s leg. “Daddy!”
Qin Feng glanced over at his mother.
Madam Zhou said, “Miaomiao, go upstairs with Grandma. Your dad is going to deal with the bad people, and you’ll just be in the way here.”
The child immediately thought of Wang Genbao and thought he was back. He quickly extended his little hand.
Old Qin said, “They should be at the gate by now. They came together, so what can we do?”
Gu Xue and her husband were about the same height as Qin Ying and Wang Genbao—around 1.6 meters for the woman and just over 1.7 meters for the man.
Qin Feng, at 1.8 meters tall, had trained in Taekwondo in his past life and had fought many foreign bullies in the country, gaining a lot of experience. He could easily take down Gu Xue and her husband by himself.
However, they were not Qin Ying and Wang Genbao. If he were to beat up Gu Xue and leave her bruised, she would dare to go to the police.
Qin Feng wasn’t good at arguing with women, either.
After thinking for a moment, he asked his father to go back and fetch two things to avoid running into Gu Xue directly. Instead, they would go out the back road.
When Old Qin heard the two things Qin Feng mentioned, he thought it was a bit ridiculous.
But seeing Qin Feng's determined expression, even though Old Qin had no idea what was going on, he decided to trust his son.
The truth was, Old Qin wasn’t good at arguing with women either. As a teacher, he had to set an example, and in recent years, he couldn’t even bring himself to say a single swear word.
As soon as Old Qin left, Gu Xue arrived at the door.
Qin Feng pretended not to see her and turned the quilt over to hang it out to dry.
Seeing that she was ignored, Gu Xue’s anger flared, and she shouted, “Qin Feng!”
Qin Feng had no choice but to turn toward her.
The neighbors were also startled by her loud shout and came out of their homes.
Gu Xue often visited before, and the neighbors knew her well, greeting her with smiles: “Gu Xue’s here?”
Gu Xue, holding back her anger, nodded at the neighbors and turned to Qin Feng: “I heard you have a son?”
Qin Feng turned sharply toward her: “How do you know?”
“Never mind that.”
Qin Feng, upon hearing that, couldn't be bothered to beat around the bush. “Wang Genbao told you, right?”
Gu Xue’s face changed slightly. Her breath caught, and the anger she had disappeared somewhat, making her lose some of her confidence.
But she still hadn’t realized: “So what if he did? Shouldn’t you be telling me about the child?”
“Who do you think you are?” Qin Feng mocked.
Gu Xue was caught off guard.
Her husband couldn’t help but say, “We’re giving you a chance. Don't be shameless!"
Qin Feng laughed angrily: “I’m already shameless, so what?”
The couple was left speechless.
Was this really Qin Feng?
Wasn’t he the returning PhD graduate?
Qin Feng raised an eyebrow: “No more to say? If not, get lost. I don’t welcome you here.”
Gu Xue couldn’t hold back and snapped, “This is my home!”
“The householder is me,” Qin Feng didn’t mind reminding her.
Gu Xue shot back, “You lied about that!”
Qin Feng sneered, “The law recognizes it. If you don’t like it, go to court and sue me."
If Gu Xue could have sued him, she wouldn’t have been silent for a month.
Seeing that threatening Qin Feng didn’t work, and that Qin Feng wasn’t playing along with their words, her husband shifted tactics, trying a softer approach: “Qin Feng, we’re doing this for your own good. Now that you have your own biological son, if you keep raising Da Bao and Er Bao, which woman would dare to marry you in the future?”
Upstairs, Gu Xiao’er couldn’t help but grab his brother’s arm.
Seeing this, Madam Zhou whispered, “Don’t listen to his nonsense. Your dad is so busy that he doesn’t even have time to sleep, so where would he find time to look for a partner? If he really wanted to, would anyone else even have a chance?” She glanced at the little one in her arms.
Gu Xiao’er relaxed.
That’s right.
If Qin Feng really wanted a wife, with his looks and education, how could Miaomiao’s mother possibly have abandoned him at a temple?
Thinking about this, Gu Xiao’er lay back on the bed, crossing his legs, and then he heard his father say, “Then I won’t look for anyone.”
Gu Xue’s husband was taken aback.
Gu Xue didn’t believe it: “Are you sure?”
"Fine," Qin Feng nodded in agreement. "A written agreement works. But you also need to give me one, cutting ties with Wuyi and Qingkuang. No matter whether they live or die, whether they're poor or rich, it has nothing to do with you."
Gu Xue blurted out, "Why should we?"
"Why?" Qin Feng retorted.
Gu Xue opened her mouth, "We’re worried about them."
Qin Feng replied, "I’m not worried about them. I’m worried that if I raise them well, you’ll come along and reap the benefits. I sacrificed my marriage, and you give nothing. How can such a good thing happen in the world?"
The couple was left speechless.
Qin Feng turned to the neighbors and colleagues who had gathered to watch, "Don’t you think this is reasonable?"
Although these people were more familiar with Gu Xue, when it came to relationships of closeness, they were still closer to Qin Feng. They all nodded in agreement.
Seeing the situation wasn’t in her favor, Gu Xue immediately said, "It’s useless to talk. Where are Da Bao and Er Bao? Bring them out. I want to ask them what they think."
"They're out playing," Qin Feng said.
Gu Xue responded, "Then I’ll wait for them to come back."
Qin Feng nodded, "You can wait, but don't wait at my house."
Gu Xue couldn’t believe he was being so resolute.
"This house has my name on it, and I don’t welcome you," Qin Feng raised the broom in his hand. "You can come in, but I wouldn’t mind calling the police and saying you trespassed and caused trouble."
Gu Xue spat at him, then dragged her husband out.
Her husband had never been so humiliated in his life. He angrily pointed at Qin Feng and said, "Just you wait!"
Qin Feng waited. He even moved a chair under the white magnolia tree in the courtyard and sat there waiting.
After a while, it wasn’t the two brothers he was waiting for—it was Old Qin who showed up.
The neighbors, who didn’t dare speak up before, quickly waved him over, signaling him to come and intervene.
Old Qin instinctively glanced at Gu Xue and her husband. Seeing that both of them were unharmed, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Through the iron fence, Qin Feng saw his father’s expression and couldn’t help but find it both amusing and frustrating. What kind of person does he take me for?
Gu Xue suddenly stood up. "Uncle Qin—"
Old Qin instinctively stepped back.
Gu Xue froze, her expression becoming rather complicated.
Old Qin spoke directly, “I wasn’t around when Old Gu passed away. If you have something to say about you and Qin Feng, tell it to him.” Then, he walked past her and headed toward his son, handing him something.
Gu Xue turned to her husband. What was he holding?
Her husband shook his head and whispered, "He wouldn’t dare lay a hand on us. I wish he would."
As soon as he finished speaking, one of the items wrapped in cloth was revealed.
Both of them were surprised—it was an erhu.
Qin Feng handed it to his father and even gave up his chair for him. "It’s been a few years since you played, hasn’t it?"
Old Qin shook his head. "I still play during festivals. Sometimes, when someone in the village has a wedding or a funeral and there aren’t enough performers, they’ll call me over. So, do you want me to play Horse Race? Or something else?"
"Horse Race would be too kind to them." Qin Feng glanced outside, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Blind Ah Bing!"
Old Qin nearly lost his balance. "You—you—are you serious?"
“Can’t do it?”
Old Qin glared at him. “Are you underestimating your old man? Back in the day, I was part of a performing arts troupe—”
"Spare me the ‘back in my day’ stories." Qin Feng deliberately teased him.
Old Qin choked for a moment and growled, "You—you just wait!"
Then he immediately pulled out his erhu and got into position.
The neighbors, curious about the commotion, couldn’t help but ask, "Engineer Qin, your father knows how to play the erhu?"
Qin Feng glanced at his father and said, "With his height and looks, he's not much different from anyone else. The only reason he managed to marry my mother—who’s half a head taller than him—is thanks to this little talent."
Old Qin's hand trembled for a second. Fury surged through him as he glared at Qin Feng.
Qin Feng, not entirely at ease, added, "Watch your erhu, not me."
Old Qin was breathing heavily.
This brat… Today, he’d show him who’s boss!
Closing his eyes to recall the melody, Old Qin channeled all his anger into his playing. The sorrowful tune he played tugged at the heartstrings, leaving the listeners on the verge of tears.
The curious neighbors couldn’t bear it anymore. Goosebumps rose on their arms. "Engineer Qin—"
"It’s not for you to hear," Qin Feng said, looking straight at Gu Xue and her husband. "It’s for them. My dad won’t stop until they leave. Next up is 'Bitter Flowers' and 'Longing for You'. Even if his playing isn’t perfect, it’ll make you want to cry—and ruin your mood for the whole afternoon."
One neighbor couldn’t help but comment, "Aren’t you harming yourself just to spite them? Killing a thousand enemies at the cost of eight hundred of your own?"
Qin Feng shook his head. "Not at all. I grew up listening to this stuff. I’m used to it."
"But we’re not used to it!"
Unfazed by the melancholic tune, Qin Feng smiled faintly. "Then let Gu Xue get lost!"
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