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Chapter 20: Persuasion
Daddy, I really like it!
─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───
Qin Feng noticed that she didn’t want to answer, so he went along with her words, “Just out for a stroll on the weekend, buying a few things along the way.”
Wang Meijuan saw the lunchbox and asked, “Buying a lunchbox?”
Qin Feng nodded and made something up. “Yeah, for eating at the cafeteria.”
Just then, he noticed a bus pulling up. “The bus is here.”
Wang Meijuan glanced at it and said, “That bus goes to the outskirts of town. My home is in the west of the city. A few years back, I heard from your sister that you were abroad. Why are you back?”
“I was studying abroad.”
Wang Meijuan nodded. “I know.”
“I was sent abroad on a government scholarship.”
Wang Meijuan nodded again. “Yeah, I know that too.”
Qin Feng suddenly didn’t feel like talking to her anymore.
A government scholarship and staying abroad? What kind of person would that make him?
Not to mention his parents in this life, even his money-obsessed parents from his past life would come back to beat him up if they knew.
“No matter how good it is abroad, it’s still not home,” Qin Feng said with a touch of sentimentality.
Wang Meijuan shook her head, clearly unable to understand him. She didn’t want to keep the conversation going either — they were speaking different languages. “Recently, I went to look for your sister. Why was no one home?”
Qin Feng frowned slightly. His sister was still in contact with someone like her?
But on second thought, if his sister ended up divorcing Wang Genbao, he’d rather see her spending time with Wang Meijuan every day.
“She’s been selling cakes on the street near home lately.”
Wang Meijuan asked, “She quit her job?”
Qin Feng nodded. “Did you need something from her?”
“Just a small matter,” Wang Meijuan replied. Seeing her bus arrive, she quickly said, “I’ve got to go. Uncle, Auntie, I’ll drop by your house sometime!”
With that, she hopped onto the bus.
Old Qin gave Qin Feng a tug on the arm.
Qin Feng looked at his father in confusion.
What’s up with the old man now?
“What did she mean just now when she asked why you came back?” Old Qin frowned as he asked.
Qin Feng almost laughed. “She meant exactly what you’re thinking.”
“Staying abroad? Wouldn’t that mean the country wasted its resources on you?” Old Qin wondered if his mind was muddled due to old age. “How could she think like that?”
Qin Feng smirked. “Maybe she thinks even the air abroad is sweeter.”
Uncle Zhou turned to his nephew.
—Isn’t it?
Qin Feng felt a headache coming on.
Madam Zhou couldn’t hold back and scolded her older brother. “Didn’t you hear Xiao Feng say just now that foreigners bully us?”
Old Qin added, “Have you already forgotten the Eight-Nation Alliance invasion?”
Uncle Zhou suddenly remembered — the scenes from his childhood, when he had seen Japanese soldiers.
Just then, Qin Feng noticed their bus arriving and helped the three elders board first.
Their mood on the bus ride back was completely different from when they came.
Earlier, they had been tense, excited, worried, and expectant. Now, their hearts were as still as an ancient well.
The journey was long, and the bus ride was dull. By the time the three of them got off, they all looked a little drowsy.
Qin Feng was pleased to see this. It meant they didn't take that family to heart.
However, thanks to his uncle’s fiery urgency earlier, even the gatekeeper at the staff residence now knew that Qin Feng had gone to a matchmaking meeting at the Binhai Grand Hotel that morning.
Seeing Qin Feng return at noon, the gatekeeper was certain. “Engineer Qin, didn’t work out?”
Qin Feng nodded. “The girl’s condition was that if we got married, I’d have to arrange jobs for her brother and sister-in-law.”
The gatekeeper shook his head right away. “That won’t do. People like that stick to you like snot — hard to shake off and disgusting.”
Qin Feng glanced at his parents and Uncle Zhou.
— Did you hear that?
Uncle Zhou felt ashamed. “It’s all my fault for being too hasty and not looking into things properly. It won’t happen again.”
The gatekeeper couldn’t help but chime in, “Still planning to matchmake? With Engineer Qin’s qualifications, if he’s willing, the female comrades in our factory would be lining up for him to choose from.”
Uncle Zhou laughed, thinking the gatekeeper was exaggerating.
Seeing his words doubted, the gatekeeper was displeased and raised his voice. “You don’t believe me? Before Miaomiao showed up, our factory director was planning to introduce him to the district chief’s daughter!”
Upon hearing this, all three elders were stunned, their heads spinning as if they were dreaming.
The gatekeeper looked at Qin Feng.
— Didn’t they know?
Qin Feng shrugged.
Madam Zhou snapped out of her shock and quickly asked, “When did this happen?”
“The day before Miaomiao came,” Qin Feng explained. “The factory director mentioned it to me. I originally planned to arrange a meeting over the weekend. But once Miaomiao showed up, it didn’t seem appropriate anymore.”
At that moment, Qin Feng went silent. He hadn’t planned to attend that meeting anyway — he’d been figuring out how to turn it down when Miaomiao suddenly arrived.
Uncle Zhou was speechless, his mouth agape in disbelief.
The gatekeeper, confused by Uncle Zhou’s reaction, asked Qin Feng, “What’s wrong with your uncle?”
“He thinks that with my three kids, I’m lucky if anyone would even consider marrying me.”
Although Uncle Zhou didn’t think exactly that way, he was worried that Qin Feng’s age would make it hard for him to find a suitable partner.
Hearing this, the gatekeeper didn’t know how to respond.
Madam Zhou turned to Qin Feng and asked, “Did you go with us today because you were worried your father and I would nag you if you didn’t?”
Qin Feng chuckled. “If I hadn’t gone and told you that the district chief’s daughter wanted to marry me, you wouldn’t have believed me.”
Old Qin shook his head repeatedly. “No way. Our family doesn’t match up to theirs.”
Qin Feng smiled and didn’t argue. He had expected that his father would say exactly that once he found out. “Uncle, don’t blame yourself. And you don’t need to worry about me.”
He glanced at the big road nearby and said, “Even though this side is just a street away from Wuli Village, my situation is the complete opposite of the young men in the village. Over there, the older a man gets, the harder it is to find a wife. But for me? The older I get, the more in demand I am.”
Uncle Zhou couldn’t believe it, not one bit.
The gatekeeper had an extremely good impression of Qin Feng. First, Qin Feng could have stayed abroad, but he chose to return. Second, he took his job seriously and never used his good looks to mess around with young girls or married ladies. Third, ever since the two Gu brothers had been under his care, they had been cheerful every day, always well-dressed and tidy. Their life was even better than that of kids with both parents.
The gatekeeper was worried that such a good engineer would be ruined by his uncle. “Engineer Qin’s Uncle, what Engineer Qin said is all true. Let me tell you this — even if Engineer Qin weren’t so good-looking, even if he were average-looking, by the time he’s fifty, he could still marry a woman in her twenties or thirties. And those women might not even care about his money — they’d just want him for who he is.”
Uncle Zhou gave Qin Feng a thorough look from head to toe. He was handsome, like one of those charming guys in movies. But still — fifty and still able to find a young wife? That sounded ridiculous.
“They’d want him because he’s older?” Uncle Zhou asked skeptically.
The gatekeeper nearly rolled his eyes in frustration.
Qin Feng grinned. “They could want me for my charm, can’t they?”
“What’s charm?” Uncle Zhou asked instinctively.
Qin Feng suddenly didn’t feel like talking to him anymore.
The gatekeeper, after taking a breath, explained, “Let me put it this way. In another ten years or so, when the Gu kids are off to college or living in high school dorms, Qin Feng will basically be kid-free. He’ll still be only thirty-six by then — and at that age, he could easily marry a fresh graduate in her early twenties.”
Old Qin’s throat felt dry.
In the village, if there was an unmarried man still single at thirty-six, the whole family would walk around with their heads hung low in shame.
“You’re not tricking us, right?” Old Qin asked cautiously.
“Why would I trick you?” The gatekeeper replied. “If you don’t believe me, just wait a few more years. Who knows, maybe the factory director will introduce him to the mayor’s daughter.”
The three elders turned to look at Qin Feng.
Qin Feng just smiled and said nothing.
Seeing his reaction, the three of them couldn’t help but believe him.
Finally finding her voice, Madam Zhou asked,
“So, all those times you joked with us about not being in a hurry to marry, you really weren’t in a hurry?”
Qin Feng replied with a faint smile, “You are my mother.”
The underlying meaning is, do I need to lie to you?
Madam Zhou turned to look at her husband.
Old Qin hesitated before asking, "So... does this mean we won’t interfere in your marriage anymore?" As soon as he said it, he glanced at his brother-in-law.
Uncle Zhou didn’t dare to meddle anymore.
His nephew was too capable — he couldn’t keep up.
Qin Feng asked with a smile, "When my aunts and cousins ask about my marriage, what are you planning to tell them?"
Uncle Zhou, who wasn’t close with the Qin family’s other relatives, decided to pretend he hadn’t heard the question. He had no intention of getting involved any further.
Qin Feng turned to his parents.
After a moment of thought, Madam Zhou said, "If anyone asks, I’ll tell them to find you a wife themselves — someone beautiful, gentle, virtuous, and a college graduate."
"They’ll think you’re deliberately making things difficult for them," Qin Feng chuckled. He didn’t care what people said about him. The reason he accompanied his parents to the matchmaking meeting today wasn’t because he couldn’t refuse them, but to help them let go of their worries. Even if they stopped pressuring him directly, they’d still secretly worry — maybe even lie awake at night, unable to sleep.
Only when they could face the gossip from relatives and neighbors without concern would Qin Feng be honest with them: Finding a partner depends on fate. Live well in the present.
As for women... Honestly, he wasn’t interested at all.
Sure enough, his words caused Madam Zhou to look uncomfortable.
Qin Feng shifted his gaze to his father.
Old Qin took off his hat and scratched his head repeatedly — clearly frustrated.
Qin Feng then asked, "Dad, if Uncle offered to trade his sons and grandkids for me, would you agree?"
"Not a chance!" Old Qin blurted out.
Qin Feng chuckled. "Exactly. So, since you already have grandkids, does it really matter whether I get married or not?"
The gatekeeper shook his head immediately.
But Uncle Zhou couldn’t help saying, "Still, it doesn’t look good to stay unmarried."
Qin Feng frowned. That was the phrase he hated the most. He turned to his mother. "Mom, do you want me to marry someone like Aunt?"
Madam Zhou was so startled that she shivered.
Qin Feng burst out laughing.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Madam Zhou shot him a glare.
Qin Feng quickly sobered up and said, "Actually, I’ve always wanted to be honest with you both: A person’s energy is limited. Forget about taking care of kids — just my job alone takes up nearly all of my energy. I really don’t have the strength to look for a partner, let alone have another child. If a baby keeps crying every night, I’d end up sleeping in the office out of frustration. What’s the difference between having a wife and not having one?"
The gatekeeper nodded in full agreement. He glanced at Uncle Zhou and remarked, "Only people like you, who have nothing better to do all day, think it’s unbearable to be without a wife."
Uncle Zhou’s face darkened. He snapped, "You don’t have a wife?"
The gatekeeper nodded.
Uncle Zhou retorted, "Then what are you talking about? That’s just someone who’s full not understanding the hunger of someone starving!"
The gatekeeper turned to Qin Feng. "Are you starving?"
Qin Feng knew exactly what he meant but chose to play along. "I wouldn’t say I’m starving. I’ve still got a few kids to take care of."
Uncle Zhou was left speechless.
The gatekeeper added, "You, sir, just don’t know how to enjoy life. People like me read the newspaper, sip tea, plant some vegetables, grow flowers, and chat with birds. When visitors come, we help them find whoever they’re looking for. On weekends, we catch up with old friends. Life’s good! Only people with too much time on their hands would bother worrying about their kids and grandkids."
Old Qin nodded in complete agreement. "Kids have their own blessings to figure out."
Uncle Zhou couldn’t help but glare at him.
Whose side are you on?
Clearly, Old Qin had already chosen the gatekeeper’s side.
And it wasn’t just him. Madam Zhou, who had once casually mentioned that not having a daughter-in-law might not be so bad, also felt the same way deep down.
But when they left home, they saw that every family had a daughter-in-law, and those without one were talked about all day long, so the old couple began to waver.
Seeing that the timing was just right, Qin Feng clasped his hands in a gesture of thanks toward the gatekeeper. "Thanks a lot."
The gatekeeper returned a respectful salute. "You’re welcome."
Old Qin helped his son deal with his brother-in-law and wanted to say something too.
Before he could open his mouth, the gatekeeper cut in, asking to learn the erhu from him.
The words on Old Qin’s lips had to be swallowed back. Instead, he said, “Let’s talk about it this afternoon.”
· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·
Back home, Qin Feng didn’t see the kids and felt uneasy.
He went upstairs and saw the three brothers huddled together, cheek to cheek, sound asleep. The radio was playing soft, sentimental music. Qin Feng smiled helplessly.
He pinched Xiao’er’s cheek, and the boy opened his eyes and asked, “Is it dawn?”
Qin Feng was momentarily stunned before chuckling, “It’s noon.”
Xiao’er pushed his hand away, turned over, hugged Miaomiao, and lay on Miaomiao’s back to continue sleeping.
Suddenly, he bolted upright.
Qin Feng was startled, “Had a nightmare?”
“You’re back?!” Xiao’er exclaimed in surprise.
Gu Wuyi was woken up by the commotion.
Miaomiao was curled up in his arms, and when he moved, Miaomiao woke up too.
The little one blinked sleepily, saw his father, and immediately reached out for a hug.
Qin Feng picked up the little one, sat on the edge of the bed, dressed him in a jacket, pants, and shoes.
By now, Gu Wuyi and Gu Qingkuang were fully awake.
Yet they still couldn’t believe it—how could he be back so soon?
Xiao’er lifted his dad’s sleeve, glanced at the clock—just past 11:30—and asked incredulously, “It’s noon?”
Holding the little one with one hand, Qin Feng pulled open the window.
Warm sunlight flooded the entire bedroom.
Xiao’er finally snapped back to reality.
Qin Feng said, “If you want to know anything, go ask your grandparents. They’re in the kitchen steaming rice.”
Then he turned to the little one and asked gently, “Do you need to pee?”
The little one obediently nodded, wrapped his arms around Qin Feng’s neck, and rested his small face on his shoulder.
Qin Feng hugged him tightly and glanced at his two older sons.
The two brothers immediately followed him downstairs.
While Qin Feng headed to the bathroom, the two brothers squeezed into the kitchen.
Faced with the children’s questions, Madam Zhou didn’t hide anything.
But after explaining, she found it odd. “You don’t seem surprised at all?”
Gu Wuyi asked back, “Under normal circumstances, who would let a perfectly good young woman become a stepmother? Grandma, if a PhD graduate wanted to marry Aunt, would you agree?”
Without hesitation, Madam Zhou shook her head.
Both Old Qin and Uncle Zhou, who were also in the kitchen, said in unison, “The kids see things more clearly than us.”
Gu Wuyi chuckled but didn’t continue the conversation. He noticed three lunchboxes on the counter. “Where did those come from?”
Madam Zhou opened them up.
The two brothers widened their eyes in shock.
Qin Feng walked in with Miaomiao after wiping the little one’s hands. “Xiao’er, close one of the lids.”
Gu Xiao’er quickly closed one. “Are we saving it for tomorrow?”
Qin Feng told him to keep an eye on Miaomiao and make sure he didn’t touch the kitchenware. Then he grabbed a mesh bag, put one of the lunchboxes inside, and handed it to Uncle Zhou.
Uncle Zhou waved his hands quickly. “No, no, I can’t take it.”
Old Qin said, “Just take it. I knew Xiao Feng bought it for you. We slaughtered a rooster a few days ago, and these kids aren’t that fond of meat. Especially Miaomiao—he can barely finish a piece. Why would we need three full servings? Ah, Feng, this must be at least six pounds, right?”
“Why do you care how many pounds it is?” Qin Feng replied as he squeezed past to grab a basin.
Madam Zhou looked puzzled.
Qin Feng explained, “The weather is hot, and the dough rises quickly. After lunch, it’ll be ready. I’ll bake a few loaves of bread for Uncle to take home.”
Uncle Zhou smiled. “We’ve got buns at home already.”
Qin Feng was at a loss for words.
Seeing this, the two brothers couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
Uncle Zhou was confused by their laughter.
Madam Zhou asked Qin Feng to go knead the dough in the living room—everyone was crowding the kitchen, making it hard for her to bend over and chop vegetables.
After Qin Feng took the three children out, Madam Zhou explained to Uncle Zhou that bread is essentially a foreign version of steamed buns.
Uncle Zhou understood.
He had seen it at Qin Ying’s stall before.
Qin Ying had offered to give him a few to try, but he thought those things looked expensive and could sell for a good price, so he politely declined.
Later, when Uncle Zhou heard that bread could be made with just flour and a traditional stove, he realized it wasn’t much trouble—similar to steaming buns—and finally agreed to try some.
Since Madam Zhou was worried the dough wouldn’t rise fast enough in the cold weather, she placed the dough bowl in a basin of warm water before lunch. She covered it with a pot lid and wrapped it with one of Gu Wuyi’s old cotton jackets to keep it warm.
When the clock struck 1 PM, Old Qin had already heated the earthen stove, and the dough had risen to fill the entire bowl.
Qin Feng pinched off pieces of dough about the size of Miaomiao’s small fist, shaped them into loaves, and placed them in the clay oven to bake.
Uncle Zhou watched with curiosity. “It’s that simple?”
Qin Feng nodded.
Madam Zhou couldn’t help but add, “It looks simple, but there’s more to it. When Xiao Feng built this clay oven, he added several components and even drew a blueprint.”
“I knew it! If it were that easy, everyone would be making it,” Uncle Zhou said, unable to hide his admiration for his nephew.
Suddenly, Qin Feng thought of making a cake using the rice cooker.
A cake is simpler than bread. He had already prepared a large batch of bread dough, and another round of baking would be needed later. Since Uncle Zhou wasn’t in a hurry to leave and the family had plenty of eggs, Qin Feng decided to try making a cake.
Miaomiao, who lacked a sense of security, was very attached to Qin Feng. His master had instructed him to stay close to Qin Feng, and he stuck to him like glue.
As long as Qin Feng was home, Miaomiao hardly paid attention to anyone else.
Wherever Qin Feng went, the little one followed closely behind with his short legs.
But Miaomiao was too small, and Qin Feng would easily step on or bump into him when he wasn’t paying attention.
So, Qin Feng decided to move everything he needed into the living room and asked his two older sons to keep an eye on the little one.
Though Miaomiao played with his brothers, he could always see his father whenever he turned his head or looked up, so he didn’t cling to Qin Feng anymore.
Gu Xiao’er was curious. “What are you making?”
“You’ll know soon enough,” Qin Feng teased, keeping the mystery for a bit.
Then he remembered he’d have to work tomorrow and that over the next few days, he wouldn’t have time to make more bread or cakes. He’d probably end up eating porridge or noodles instead, so he decided to make two batches of egg cake.
However, before he even finished the first batch, the bread was already done.
Qin Feng took the bread out and placed it in the bread basket before starting the next batch of bread.
Madam Zhou searched for a knife and fork, learning from her son. She cut a small loaf into pieces, then used a fork to serve some to her brother.
Uncle Zhou was still hesitant to touch the bread.
He noticed Gu Xiao’er pinching the bread and putting it into his mouth. Not wanting to be outdone by a child, he immediately took a piece and put it in his own mouth.
The bread, just out of the oven, was soft and had a rich, bready aroma. Due to the eggs and soy milk powder used, it also had a hint of egg flavor and a light milk scent, making Uncle Zhou's mouth water.
Gu Wuyi, who wasn’t a little child, noticed that Uncle Zhou liked it and went to grab a pair of chopsticks to serve him a piece.
Uncle Zhou waved his hand. “You eat it.”
Old Qin knew he was embarrassed. “It’s not a rare treat. Besides, your nephew can afford it.”
Qin Feng walked in and said, “If I don’t get married and don’t have any more kids, I could cook for you every day.”
Uncle Zhou instinctively wanted to say, “How can anyone not get married?”
But then he realized his nephew was no ordinary person, and he couldn’t apply regular societal rules to him. So, he said, “Well, you’d still have to save some money for the kids to go to college.”
Qin Feng nodded. “My dad saved enough.”
Old Qin smiled and nodded. “Right!” He saw the rice cooker steaming and remembered how much the kids liked braised pork with rice. They hadn’t even finished one pot of rice for lunch. “Xiao Feng, is there rice in there?”
Qin Feng didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he waited a bit longer before lifting the lid.
The rich aroma of cake filled the entire living room.
Uncle Zhou let out a light sigh. “It smells this good?”
Qin Feng chuckled. “Not as fragrant as the ones from the factories.” He gave Gu Wuyi a look.
After more than a month of bonding, Gu Wuyi had learned to understand his little dad’s gaze. He immediately went to the kitchen to grab some plates and chopsticks.
Qin Feng used a knife to cut the cake, then placed the pieces onto the plates with chopsticks.
Each of the elders got a piece, and the three children shared a plate with two pieces each.
Miaomiao was curious. “Daddy, is this steamed bun?”
Qin Feng shook his head slightly. “No, it’s not.”
“Then what is it?”
Qin Feng smiled. “Let your second brother tear off a bit for you to try.”
Gu Xiao’er was worried it might be too hot and blew on the piece he tore off before carefully bringing it to Miaomiao’s mouth.
The soft cake melted in his mouth without the need to chew. The child was overjoyed. “Daddy, I really like this!”
Qin Feng’s face beamed with a smile. “If you like it, I’ll make it every weekend.”
Gu Wuyi and Gu Qingkuang turned to look at him in surprise.
Qin Feng said, “Is this such a big deal that I’d lie to you? Unless I have to work overtime.”
Gu Xiao’er couldn’t help but say, “How can you be this good?”
Qin Feng served the remaining cake onto the dining table and ruffled his little head. “Do you like me more than yesterday?”
At first, Gu Xiao’er felt a bit embarrassed when he heard the word “like,” as he had never experienced warm moments with elders in his previous life.
But after hearing Qin Feng say it multiple times, Gu Xiao’er calmly nodded. “Can you teach me how to make it?”
“No!” Qin Feng quickly declined, worried that Gu Xiao’er might hurt himself with the equipment. “I can teach Grandpa and Grandma. When they have time, they can make it for you.”
The two brothers turned toward Madam Zhou.
Madam Zhou had always known her son was capable, so although she complained about him spending money recklessly, she never really stopped him, just nagged a bit.
After hearing the gatekeeper's words at noon, Madam Zhou couldn’t even be bothered to nag anymore. She felt it would make her seem petty and narrow-minded. “We don’t have many eggs at home. I’ll make some for you when I have more saved up.”
Uncle Zhou was curious. “Xiao Feng, is that how your sister makes her cakes too?”
Qin Feng shook his head. “I had someone make a mold for her out of tin sheet. The size of the small cakes for sale is the size they come out. The pieces you see, those are made using iron trays, then cut into pieces after baking.”
Madam Zhou couldn’t help but comment, “Big Brother, don’t you think Xiao Feng is thoughtful? But this Wang Genbao, that ungrateful jerk, still isn’t satisfied.”
Uncle Zhou nodded. “You really can't tell a person’s heart by their face. Hey, what do you think that woman wanted with Xiao Ying this noon?”
He hadn’t even mentioned it, and Madam Zhou had forgotten.
“She didn’t come last week, and she didn’t come this week either. Probably next week,” Madam Zhou thought for a moment. “I’ll ask her when she comes next time.”
But she didn’t come the next week either.
Qin Feng made a few more cakes, and Gu Wuyi kept calling him "Dad" in a friendly way while eating. Xue Qing and Feng Mai Miao had knitted sweaters for the kids, which they wore. The wheat was starting to flower, and then Qin Ying appeared.
Qin Feng began his new development work. He was supposed to be at the factory on weekends, but he hadn’t rested during Labor Day, and since May 4th was a Sunday, the factory manager sent him home to rest his brain.
With rare free time, Qin Feng didn’t want to go out. He simply leaned back on the lounge chair, with his youngest son curled up on him like a kitten. They both sat in the shade, watching Gu Wuyi and Gu Qingkuang brush their shoes and wash socks and underwear.
His mother was using the washing machine to wash the clothes for the whole family, and his father was helping to wring out the water.
No one spoke in the yard, but it was lively enough.
It was during this time that Qin Ying arrived.
Alone.
Qin Feng raised an eyebrow, smiling faintly. “Where’s Wang Genbao?”
Qin Ying stopped at the gate, his face turning awkward and annoyed. “That’s your brother-in-law!”
Qin Feng bluntly replied, “If it weren’t for you, I would ask if he was dead."
Qin Ying turned around and walked away.
This was the first time Madam Zhou hadn't seen her daughter for such a long time. She went up to grab her. "Where are the two children?"
Qin Ying instinctively glanced at Qin Feng. Seeing that Qin Feng wasn't looking her way, she whispered, "They're at home playing with some of their older brothers and sisters."
Madam Zhou asked, "Why didn't you bring them over?"
Qin Ying didn't reply. She pulled Madam Zhou along. "Mom, I need to talk to you."
Qin Feng's heart skipped a beat. Was Wang Genbao still not giving up?
"What’s something you need to say behind my back?" Qin Feng asked slowly.
Madam Zhou thought about what Wang Genbao had done, and her daughter was blaming her son for being inconsiderate. "Let’s go inside." She paused, then added, "Even if you don’t want them to hear, I still have to tell them after you leave."
Qin Ying thought for a moment. Although the family’s money was all stored by her mom, the real head of the house was her dad.
Now that Qin Feng was back, her parents adored him. Whatever Qin Feng said, they wouldn’t dare to argue. It felt like they were afraid of growing old and Qin Feng not taking care of them. "Alright, let’s go inside."
Qin Feng didn’t go in and stayed with his two older sons. "Just make sure the shoes are clean on the inside."
Gu Wuyi pointed to the shoe’s surface. "Aren’t you going to clean this part?"
"It’s not touching the feet, so a little dirt doesn’t matter."
Old Qin couldn’t stand it anymore. "Is that how you teach your kids?"
Qin Feng responded, "When I was young, you used to say we could eat without being picky about cleanliness and never got sick."
Old Qin choked up.
The two little brothers curiously looked at him.
Old Qin had no choice but to explain, "That’s because carrying water every day was exhausting, and none of us wanted to do it." He pointed to the water well. "Now, I can wash eight times a day just by walking a few steps."
"What did you say?!"
A surprised exclamation came from inside the house.
Qin Feng couldn’t help but sit up straight.
Old Qin heard the voice, and it sounded like his wife. He hurriedly went inside. "What happened?"
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