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Chapter 47: Parent-Teacher Meeting
Your son isn't worthy of finding such an outstanding person?
─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───
In past years, on the 25th or 26th of the twelfth lunar month, many people in the village would slaughter pigs. However, in eight or nine out of ten cases, it was because they needed pork for a son's wedding or a daughter's marriage. Buying pork from others was not cost-effective, so slaughtering their own pigs could save a lot of money, and they could also sell some to the workers at the North Vehicle Factory across the way.
This year, as he walked from the entrance of the village to his house, Qin Feng came across three pig slaughters and one sheep slaughter.
His home was only in the middle of the village.
With a sense of curiosity, Qin Feng entered the main hall and saw a large basin on the dining table. Inside the basin were a pig's leg and a set of pig offal. Unable to hold back, he asked, “Did you two suddenly strike it rich?”
“What are you talking about?” Madam Zhou glared at her son. “I bought it from your aunt. It's much cheaper than in the city.”
Qin Feng only had distant aunts. “Which aunt?”
“Who else would sell us cheap pork?”
Qin Feng guessed immediately—it was a cousin’s aunt who had once asked his grandmother to help babysit her children. “Why is her family slaughtering a pig? They don’t have a son to marry or a daughter to wed.”
“Do they need a wedding to slaughter a pig?”
Qin Feng widened his eyes. “Are you just looking for a fight today, old lady?”
“You’re the one asking non-stop about a pig. I think you're the one looking for a fight.” Madam Zhou shot him a glance, then picked up the pig offal and walked outside. Seeing Gu Wuyi, she called out, “Da Xiaozi, you all come out and help me press the water.”
Qin Feng didn't want to argue with her so he went out to look for his father.
As the New Year was approaching, every household was busy. Old Qin didn’t want to disturb the neighbors, so he stayed outside cleaning the manure pit—sprinkling plant ash over the fresh waste flushed out from the toilet.
In the past, the Qin family’s toilet was a dry latrine—just a dug-out pit.
After Qin Feng returned from abroad, he had it modified. The squat toilet was made of cement, and when dirty, it could simply be flushed with water.
Although the toilet was still outside, it no longer reeked in the summer like before, when the stench made it unbearable to sit by the doorway and enjoy the breeze.
Qin Feng waited for his father to put down his iron shovel, then looked westward. “What are all these families doing? Are they competing to see who has the biggest pig, or is someone ordering pork from our village?”
Old Qin followed his line of sight and saw two families dividing the pork, “They killed it and ate it themselves.”
“Are you rich?” Qin Feng asked in passing. Qin Feng asked.
Old Qin nodded.
Qin Feng suddenly turned to him.
—Did I see that right?
Old Qin moved to his son's side, looked to the east and then pouted his lips to point to the west, “They all know that our family broke up with Wang Genbao, and they don't dare to let us know.”
Qin Feng couldn't help but blink a bit and said tentatively, “If I understand correctly, they used to follow Wang Genbao?”
“Exactly.”
“When did Wang Genbao become so kind?”
Old Qin: “Back then, when there were no kids at home, Qin Ying could go out and sell clothes at the stall. Now that’s not possible, so Wang Genbao has to sell on his own. He doesn’t want to take people with him anymore, but his brother is willing. Worried about safety on the road, they’re eager to fill the train with their own people.”
Qin Feng thought for a moment. “So Wang Genbao relies on his brother to procure goods. Whether he agrees or not, he has to go along with it?”
Old Qin nodded and pointed to the east and west courtyards, “They were recruited by them. You wouldn’t believe how grateful they are. I reckon those two families won’t need to buy meat for New Year’s.”
“My aunt’s family also sent someone?”
Old Man Qin nodded. “You didn’t know, did you?”
Qin Feng chuckled. “Even if they told me, what could I do—stop them?”
Old Man Qin shot his son a meaningful look.
Father and son stepped into the courtyard.
Old Qin shut the door, lowered his voice, and said as he walked, “Your aunt’s family is different from the others. The others plan to keep doing this for the long haul, but your aunt knows that if you walk by the river often enough, your shoes will eventually get wet. She plans to make money for two years and see if she can buy a shop in the city, like your uncle did—start a small, stable business. If it doesn’t work out, she can always rent it out.”
Qin Feng glanced at his father. “Did she get the idea from you?”
She did, in fact, hear it from Old Man Qin.
The main reason was that every weekend, Uncle Zhou came to the village to buy vegetables.
The villagers found it odd that he needed so many vegetables.
Uncle Zhou felt that there was nothing to hide and openly said that he had borrowed some money to buy two shopfronts in the city.
At first, the villagers suspected he had borrowed the money from Qin Feng.
Once, some villagers went to eat at his restaurant, and the lender who had loaned him the money happened to be there. Only then did they believe that Uncle Zhou hadn’t borrowed from Qin Feng.
After that, some villagers who had wanted to borrow money from Qin Feng—even with a written IOU—felt too embarrassed to ask.
However, Old Qin was unaware of this whole episode. “I just casually mentioned it—who would have thought she’d take it seriously?”
“If Uncle Zhou hadn’t set an example, my words wouldn’t have mattered.”
Old Qin chuckled. “Not blaming me for talking too much?”
Qin Feng laughed: “You’ve already said it, so what’s the point in blaming you? Besides, it’s not a bad idea. The road is chaotic—you never know which trip could wipe out all your earnings.”
Old Qin was pleased that his son was so reasonable. “If she can’t make it in the city, what else could she do?”
“Are you asking for her?”
Old Qin shook his head. “For others. They’re too scared to take the risk, and they don’t have the money to start a shop in the city. Even if they did, they wouldn’t know what to do.”
In his past life, Qin Feng had been a wealthy second-generation heir. Aside from visiting rural resorts for fun, he had never really been to the countryside. Most of what he knew about rural life came from television.
"Farming or livestock raising?" Qin Feng only knew about these two options.
Old Qin was confused. "What do you mean?"
Qin Feng thought for a moment. "We're close to the city—what about raising pigs, ducks, or chickens? Using feed to raise them. Build a pig farm, raise a dozen pigs at a time, and earn a few dozen yuan per pig. That’s better than farming, isn’t it?"
Old Qin immediately grabbed his notebook and jotted this idea down.
Qin Feng shrugged. "That’s all I know."
"As if you'd know how to raise them." Old Qin shot him a glance. "Talk about farming instead."
Qin Feng chuckled. Only his father could talk to him like this. "You’ve probably seen them before—plastic greenhouses."
Old Qin had indeed seen them.
"But I heard they’re pretty tricky."
Gu Wuyi walked in, leading Miaomiao, and couldn’t help but chime in, "That wouldn't be hard for Dad, would it?"
Old Qin looked at his son.
Qin Feng replied, "I understand the principles."
"And what good is that?" Old Qin looked thoroughly unimpressed.
Qin Feng decided he didn’t want to talk to him anymore.
Gu Wuyi curiously asked, "Is this urgent?"
He was good at reading between the lines.
Old Qin instinctively turned to him.
Gu Wuyi continued, "Lin Xiaobo’s family harvests watermelons earlier than everyone else. Others don’t hit the market until July, but his are ready for sale by early June. I heard it’s because he starts growing the seedlings in a greenhouse first and then removes the cover when the weather gets warm."
Old Qin couldn’t help but ask, “They probably wouldn’t tell us, right? If we learn how to grow watermelons too, who’s going to buy theirs?”
Gu Wuyi nodded. “Grandpa is right. If we grew watermelons, we wouldn’t even need a donkey cart—we could just push a handcart to the village entrance and sell them there.”
Qin Feng said, “We’re not growing watermelons. Grandpa was asking for someone else.” He turned to his father. “Just say I don’t know. We’re not related to them, and telling them about pig farming and greenhouses is already enough.”
Gu Wuyi agreed. It wasn’t about not helping their fellow villagers, but most people had short-sighted thinking. If they made money, everything would be fine; but if they lost money, they might end up blaming Qin Feng for teaching them how to build greenhouses. If they didn’t try it themselves, there’d be no losses.
Despite his age, Old Qin had lived long enough to understand this reasoning. “You two are right.” He handed his notebook and pen to Gu Wuyi. “Go put these in my room.”
Qin Feng reminded his father, “Don’t go acting like a saint when you’re bored.”
“I know.” Old Qin stood up. “What’s for lunch?”
Hearing that, Madam Zhou couldn’t help but say, “Nothing! Come help me clean the pig intestines!”
So Old Qin carried the pig intestines while Qin Feng grabbed two buckets of water, and they headed toward the manure pit.
The intestines were full of waste and had to be thoroughly rinsed before they could be cleaned properly.
Madam Zhou found the smell unbearable, which was why she left the task to the father and son.
After they finished cleaning the pig intestines, their clothes had picked up an unpleasant odor.
Qin Feng took off his outer coat and threw it over a rope, letting the cold wind air it out. Then, wrapping himself in his father’s old cotton coat, he went to the kitchen to help his mother tend the fire for stewing the pig offal.
Madam Zhou wasn’t idle either. She divided the pork leg into several portions—keeping the trotters for soup, the hock for braised dishes, and setting aside some pork for dumplings on New Year’s Eve and stir-fried dishes when relatives visited after the New Year.
By the time Madam Zhou had hung the meat outside to freeze and washed the vegetables for lunch, the rich aroma from the large pot of braised pig offal had already started to fill the kitchen.
Qin Miaomiao leaned on his father staring eagerly at the steaming pot, gulping from time to time.
“You usually don’t lack meat, do you?” Qin Feng couldn't help but wonder.
The young boy shook his head. “The meat we usually eat doesn’t smell this good.”
Madam Zhou walked in carrying cabbage and radishes. “Your dad put in a big pack of cinnamon, Sichuan peppercorns, and spices. Of course, it smells good! I cook every day all year round and never use that much seasoning.”
Qin Feng smirked. “So you’re not going to eat, huh?”
Madam Zhou choked on his words, put down the basin, and walked away.
Miaomiao called out loudly, “Grandma, I’m hungry!”
Madam Zhou stopped and said, “I’ll check if the pig liver is ready. If it is, I’ll have your grandpa mix up some sauce, and I’ll slice it thin and toss it for you.”
Qin Feng: “Wait a minute. How much liver is enough for five children? Heat up a few steamed buns in the small pot too.”
Miaomiao immediately sat down, ready to tend the fire.
Qin Feng chuckled. “You’re only this enthusiastic when there’s food involved.”
Miaomiao completely ignored his father’s words—having food was all that mattered.
Seeing this, Qin Feng didn’t scold him further. A child who knows when to bend and when to stand tall will have an easier time navigating the world. He shouldn’t discourage him with criticism.
Meanwhile, Gu Wuyi and the others thought the kid had run off. After searching outside and not finding him, they decided to inform the elders and check the staff residence. But just as they stepped inside, they saw him obediently tending the fire. It was so shocking that they wondered if the sun had risen from the west today.
Gu Xiao’er walked in and touched Miaomiao’s forehead, then his own. “Are you sick, or am I imagining things?”
Miaomiao smacked his hand away.
Just as Madam Zhou was about to put the steamed buns into the pot, she quickly said, “No fighting! Da Xiaozi, you tend the fire. Miaomiao, go play with your second brother for a while.”
“Why can’t I stay?” The little boy tilted his head and asked.
Gu Xiao’er pointed at his chubby little hands. “You grab a handful of wheat straw and drop half of it. By the time you’re done, Dad will be buried under all that straw. Just come with me.”
The child, eager to eat, stood up and let his big brother tend the fire, but he didn’t go out to play. Instead, he hovered by the doorway, pacing back and forth.
Madam Zhou got dizzy watching him pace around, so she quickly took out a piece of pig liver, sliced it, and mixed it with seasoning, letting the kids have a little snack to tide them over.
Seeing how greedy they looked, Qin Laohan cut a small piece of pork, sliced it thin, and planned to stir-fry it with lotus root. But he had to wait until the small pot of steamed buns was fully heated because they only had two cooking pots.
When Qin Feng saw his mother take out the hot steamed buns, he scooped out the water from the pot, wiped it dry, and immediately started heating up lard—wasting no time at all. “Let’s buy a stove later. We can use it for cooking porridge and heating steamed buns.”
Madam Zhou pretended not to hear him.
Qin Feng felt both frustrated and amused. “It’ll be more convenient for heating water, too.”
“How much hot water do your dad and I need? Don’t start wasting money just because you have a little to spend.” Madam Zhou glared at him. “If you have too much money and don’t know how to spend it, give it to me. I’ll save it for to marry a wife.”
Qin Feng sighed, feeling a headache coming on. “Why are we talking about this again? Didn’t we agree already?”
Madam Zhou replied, “It’s not like I’m telling you to get married next year.”
The kids, who were huddled around the counter munching on steamed buns and pig liver, turned their heads toward Madam Zhou.
Miaomiao was the first to swallow his bite and ask, “When will he get married?”
“When you all have jobs or go off to school, and only Qin Feng is left at home, then he’ll get married,” Madam Zhou said, looking at Miaomiao. “Is that okay?”
Gu Wuyi asked, “Is he getting married so someone can take care of Dad?”
Madam Zhou nodded, "Yes!"
“That's fine.” Gu Wuyi immediately agreed.
Miaomiao still didn't quite understand what “getting married” meant, but once he saw that his eldest brother agreed, he nodded along with him.
The eldest and youngest all agreed, the middle three were not real children, and Qin Feng's behavior over the past few years had convinced them that having a stepmother was not the same as having a stepfather, so they also said it was okay.
Madam Zhou looked at her son, waiting for him to take a stand.
Qin Feng: “Let's wait until we have that person first.”
“That person?” Madam Zhou was confused by his words.
Gu Wuyi said, "I know. Everyone in the residence knows that someone good-looking, capable of making money, and not bothered by Dad having us five kids."
Madam Zhou couldn't believe it and exclaimed, "What are you thinking?" staring at her son.
Qin Feng raised his eyebrows, “Your son doesn't deserve such an outstanding person?”
Madam Zhou couldn't help but remember that the district chief was going to marry his daughter to him, so she was unable to answer.
Old Qin rounded off the conversation, “Hurry up and stir-fry. Maybe there will be someone like that in a couple of years.”
“He's dreaming.” Madam Zhou glanced at Qin Feng nonchalantly.
Qin Feng got sick before he could even dream.
He hadn't been sick for several years. Perhaps there were too many toxins in his body. Plus, he didn't wear a hat when he returned from the village on New Year's Eve, and he watched the Spring Festival Gala until it ended. As a result, the next day he felt dizzy and almost bumped his head under the bed.
Today being the first day of the new year, with no one coming to visit him, and he had to go visit others, Qin Feng didn't get out of bed and called Gu Wuyi next door, asking the younger ones to go on his behalf; he needed to rest.
In Gu Wuyi's bedroom, there was a small alarm clock. Seeing that it was already seven o'clock, he realized something was wrong, as his dad would usually be back from his five-kilometer run by now.
When he entered the room and saw his father’s flushed face and pale lips, Gu Wuyi tried touching his forehead but immediately pulled his hand back—it was burning hot. Without hesitation, he went to find the medical kit.
Gu Xiao’er shuffled out in his slippers and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Dad’s sick.”
Gu Xiao’er was shocked. Their father, who was like an iron man, was actually sick. “Since when? Is it serious?”
Gu Wuyi wasn’t a doctor, and he wasn’t the one who was sick, so how would he know if it was serious? “Let’s give him some medicine first and see.”
“You can’t just randomly take medicine!” Gu Xiao’er glared at his brother. “Get Dad a glass of water first. I’ll go find a doctor to give him an IV.”
Qin Feng’s head ached from their chatter. “Where are you going to find a doctor so early in the morning? Today’s the first day of the new year.”
Gu Xiao’er paused and turned to his brother.
Gu Wuyi whispered, “Go downstairs and get some lukewarm boiled water.”
Downstairs, they always kept an enamel jug filled with lukewarm boiled water in case someone got thirsty and couldn’t wait, preventing them from drinking cold water impulsively.
In summer, cold water was fine, but in winter, it was a different story—even Qin Feng, a grown man, wouldn’t dare to risk it.
Gu Xiao’er carried up the whole jug, while Gu Wuyi found Qin Feng’s cup, poured in half hot water and half cool water, then handed it to his father along with the medicine.
Qin Feng propped himself up slightly and weakly said, “Just cover me up properly so I can sweat it out.”
“What if that doesn’t work?” Gu Wuyi asked back.
Qin Feng: “Then we’ll deal with it later.”
“Take the medicine first, then we’ll talk!” Before Qin Feng could reply, Gu Wuyi cut him off. “Take the proper dosage—no slacking or shortcuts.”
Qin Feng smiled helplessly and took two of each cold medicine he knew, popped them into his mouth, took a sip of water, and swallowed them all in one go. Then he looked at Gu Wuyi.
Gu Wuyi said, “Finish all that water.”
Qin Feng sighed, endured the discomfort in his throat, and drank the water. “Go eat. Your grandparents should have finished cooking by now.”
Gu Wuyi was still worried. But since it was the first day of the new year, even if they didn’t go for a meal, they still had to return to the village to pay respects. So, he woke up Fu Lingyun and the others. He didn’t tell them Qin Feng was sick but instead said that their father had been working overtime again last night.
Qin Feng often worked late at night after everyone else had gone to sleep because it was quieter and there were no distractions. The younger ones believed it without question.
It wasn’t until they had made all the necessary visits that Gu Wuyi finally told them their father was sick.
The younger ones immediately ran home.
Seeing their urgency, the elderly couple thought it was something serious. Without waiting for others to come and pay their respects, they followed them.
Upstairs, they touched Qin Feng’s forehead—he wasn’t hot. Old Qin took out a thermometer, stuck it under his armpit, and waited for a moment. The result was exactly 37 degrees. He couldn’t help but ask, “Isn’t he perfectly fine?”
Gu Wuyi touched his father’s forehead. “How did he recover so quickly?”
Gu Xiao’er didn’t believe it either and reached out to check as well.
Miaomiao, seeing this, was curious. He squeezed between his two brothers and stretched out his small hand.
That was how Qin Feng was woken up.
Opening his eyes and seeing the entire family gathered around him, he couldn’t help but tease, “Are you all here to send me off?”
His mother, furious, smacked his arm. “What nonsense are you saying on New Year’s? If you’re fine, get up and eat.”
Qin Feng wasn’t dizzy or lightheaded anymore, but his throat still hurt. “No appetite.”
Noticing the change in his father’s voice, Gu Wuyi recalled how, when Gu Xiao’er was sick, he had stewed rock sugar pears for several days. Without hesitation, he grabbed Fu Qingyun and headed downstairs.
Luckily, they had bought plenty of apples and pears before the new year.
As Gu Wuyi peeled the pear, he had a nagging feeling that something was off.
Hearing noises downstairs, Madam Zhou carefully walked down and found Gu Wuyi staring blankly at the pear.
Realizing that he wanted to make rock sugar stewed pears, Madam Zhou felt gratified—this child was truly worth raising.
She took the pear and the small paring knife from Gu Wuyi, then carefully removed the core. After placing the pear in a small bowl, she filled the hollowed center with rock sugar, added a little water, and set it up for steaming.
Gu Wuyi suddenly understood. “I was wondering why it looked different from how Dad made it. Turns out the core has to be removed.”
Madam Zhou nodded. “Keep an eye on the stove. I’ll go get some vegetables—we’ll have lunch here.”
“What if guests come?”
Madam Zhou thought for a moment. “I’ll let the people at the village entrance know.”
She figured that on the first day of the new year, not many people would visit.
She was right. No one came until noon.
By the second day of the new year, she didn’t dare stay here any longer. Fortunately, Qin Feng’s illness had come and gone quickly. By midday on the second day, his throat was almost healed.
Old Qin was worried he might relapse, so he didn’t let him go to the Zhou family’s house on the third day. Instead, he rode Gu Wuyi’s small bicycle there himself.
When Qin Feng’s cousins found out he had been sick, they came to visit the next day.
Coincidentally, they arrived at the same time as Qin Feng’s aunt.
Hearing that several of Qin Feng’s female cousins had opened a shop, his aunt casually asked him, “What do you think I should do for work?”
Qin Feng knew his aunt well—she was independent and decisive. No matter how grand his suggestions sounded, she wouldn’t rush into anything blindly. And if things didn’t work out, she wouldn’t blame him either.
Considering that her family had plenty of land, a small tractor, and substantial assets, he suggested she try growing off-season vegetables.
He promised that they wouldn’t grow the same crops as Lin Xiaobo’s family, so the Lin family would likely be willing to teach her.
Aunt Qin initially thought Lin Xiaobo was one of Qin Feng’s classmates and was willing to give it a try. But when she heard that Lin Xiaobo was actually Gu Wuyi’s friend, she laughed, thinking Qin Feng was teasing her.
Qin Feng explained, “Lin Xiaobo’s father is easygoing and reasonable. If you want to try, I’ll ask around and find out where their family lives. You can visit them directly, but don’t mention us.”
Since she often used her truck for business, Aunt Qin immediately understood why he said that—he didn’t want to put the Lin family in a difficult position. “Alright! Just get me the address, and I’ll handle the rest.”
Qin Feng liked dealing with straightforward people like her.
When he got home, he asked the gatekeeper to keep an eye out.
In a few days, the Lin family would start planting watermelons, and they would need fertilizer. There was a high chance that Lin Xiaobo’s father would pass by the gate.
Sure enough, before the Lantern Festival, the gatekeeper spotted Lin Xiaobo’s father while closing the gate and collecting mail.
The watermelon farmer, Grandpa Lin, stopped for a brief chat. The gatekeeper, seizing the opportunity, casually asked where his family lived—despite knowing him for so long, he had never asked before.
Lin Xiaobo didn’t think much of it and gave clear directions: eight miles from here. Take the main road south of the Northern Railway Factory, head west for two miles, then go east for eight miles—it’s a straight path to their village.
On the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, Aunt Qin came by to deliver gifts for the Lantern Festival. Qin Feng passed the information to her.
About a month later, she returned with a basket full of things.
Unfortunately, though it was a weekend, Qin Feng had gone to Ningyang in the provincial capital.
At first, Gu Wuyi didn’t want to accept her gifts. But when he learned that Lin Xiaobo’s father had agreed to teach her how to grow watermelons, that she even paid him a small tuition fee, and that she promised not to sell in the Northern Railway Factory area, ensuring Qin Feng wouldn’t have any conflicts, he accepted them. He figured that if he refused, she’d just find another way to repay the favor later.
Since she was in a hurry to get to the Lin family and start learning, Aunt Qin didn’t stay for a meal—she simply dropped off the gifts and left.
Like a proper adult, Gu Wuyi led his younger brothers to escort her to the front gate.
Aunt Qin sat on her husband’s bicycle, glanced back at the children still standing at the gate, and couldn’t help but say, “These kids will definitely be as successful as my eldest nephew in the future. They’re so young yet already so sensible.”
Her husband nodded. “Xiao Feng is impressive too. Just one casual idea from him is enough to keep our whole family busy. You know, I used to think he avoided helping your family because he didn’t want the trouble. But ever since he willingly taught Qin Ying how to bake bread and introduced us to the Lin family, he seems quite easygoing.”
Aunt Qin scoffed, “My family? They’d complain even if food was fed straight into their mouths. Xiao Feng wouldn’t dare get involved with them.” She paused before adding, “Tell me—if I hadn’t seen through Wang Genbao’s tricks just like he did, and if I had acted like the others in the village, trying to cozy up to Wang Genbao, do you think he’d be sharing all this with us?”
Her husband agreed, “People attract their kind. If we had tried to get in with Wang Genbao, Xiao Feng would’ve assumed we were just like him. Speaking of Wang Genbao—has Qin Ying really cut ties with her family?”
“She’s not a child. Let her be.” Aunt Qin was too focused on watermelons and off-season vegetables to worry about people who weren’t worth her time. “Later, don’t forget to remind the boys—whenever they pass by Xiao Feng’s place, whether he wants them or not, make sure to leave him some vegetables.”
Her husband chuckled. “You haven’t even learned how to grow watermelons yet, and you’re already thinking about vegetables? Vegetables won’t be planted until fall, and the watermelons won’t be ready until next year. It’s too early for that.”
The wheat in the fields had already grown tall—it was impossible to plant anything else in the first half of the year.
Aunt Qin was about to nod in agreement when she did the math—only a little over two months until the wheat harvest. “Time flies. Do you remember the first time you saw Miaomiao? He was just a tiny little thing. And now, come fall, he’ll be in third grade. Xiaoda will be in his second year of middle school.” The more she spoke, the more she marveled at how fast time had passed. “In just a few years, it’ll be time for college entrance exams again. Our family will have another university student. We really are something.”
Her husand steadied the bike with his legs and sighed. “Are you done yet?”
Aunt Qin stopped talking, but her thoughts kept running. The more she thought about it, the happier she felt.
Then, her grandson came to mind—he was soon to be in middle school too. “Say, should I ask Xiao Feng—no, that won’t work. Third Sister-in-law said Xiao Feng barely has time to sleep, let alone tutor kids. Maybe I should ask Xiaoda—no, that won’t work either, he’s busy selling popsicles.”
Her husband hesitated, then suggested, “Why don’t you just pay him?”
"That's right!" Aunt Qin’s eyes lit up.
At the end of the third lunar month, during Qingming Festival, she planned to visit her parents' graves. While at Qin Feng's house, she would ask Gu Wuyi to tutor her eldest grandson.
Old Qin furrowed his brows slightly.
Before he could object, Aunt Qin immediately offered to pay for the tutoring.
Gu Wuyi felt uncomfortable accepting a tutoring fee from such close relatives. He thought of someone and suggested, "Grandma Qin, why don’t you ask Lin Xiaobo? If nothing unexpected happens, he should be able to get into the city’s No.1 High School this year. He’s much better than me."
"Xiaobo is that good?" Aunt Qin exclaimed in surprise.
Gu Wuyi nodded.
Aunt Qin hesitated. "But I’ve already learned almost everything about growing watermelons, so I don’t need to visit their place anymore. His home is far from mine—how would I get my grandson there?"
Qin Feng and Qin Ying had stayed at their aunt’s house when they were younger, and their cousins often came to stay at their home for a while. Aunt Qin had no reservations about sending her grandson to her nephew’s house, but she felt uncomfortable sending him to Lin’s house.
Old Qin spoke up, "Let him stay here for a few days. Just don’t make Da Xiaozi help sell popsicles."
Aunt Qin hesitated. "You already have five kids in the house."
Qin Feng replied, "Let Xiaoda tutor him. After August 15 on the solar calendar, the weather won’t be too hot anymore. He’ll only be selling half a freezer of popsicles per day, so it won’t take up too much of his time. A two-week review will be just in time for the new school term. That way, he won’t fall behind during the winter break, and next year, he should be able to pass the entrance exam for the city’s No.1 High School."
Aunt Qin wanted to express her gratitude, but just saying "thank you" felt too empty. Noticing a can of milk powder on the table—probably bought for the kids’ nutrition—she made a mental note.
On the last day of August, when she came to pick up her grandson, Aunt Qin bought five boxes of milk powder for the children.
In front of Aunt Qin, Madam Zhou refrained from opening the gift.
After she left, Madam Zhou opened one box and gasped, "This must have cost a lot!"
Old Qin hurriedly said, "Put it away quickly. If my eldest brother and second brother find out, they'll think she's favoring us again."
Madam Zhou quickly took the milk powder to her bedroom.
Gu Wuyi couldn’t help but say, “If only everyone were as understanding as Grandma Qin.”
Qin Feng patted his little head. “Wishful thinking.” Then, something suddenly occurred to him. “Xiaoda, you’re about to your second year of middle school. How come there hasn’t been a parent-teacher meeting yet?”
“Parent-teacher meeting?” Gu Wuyi was confused. “I have to attend one?”
Qin Feng replied, “No.2 High School is only slightly below No.1 High School; it’s still a key city school. Don’t they hold parent-teacher meetings?”
“Probably… not as strictly as No.1 High School.”
Qin Feng considered for a moment. "Well, it’s possible. But if there is a meeting, you better not keep it from me."
Gu Wuyi secretly hoped Qin Feng would attend on his behalf.
Finally, on the weekend after the midterm exams, the long-awaited parent-teacher meeting was announced.
That day, Qin Feng dressed up in a sharp, professional outfit. The moment he stepped onto the school campus, he attracted the attention of both teachers and parents. Gu Wuyi couldn’t have been prouder.
His good mood lasted until the next morning.
The homeroom teacher, noticing Gu Wuyi’s smug grin, frowned, knocked on the podium, and called out, “Gu Wuyi, stand up!”
Gu Wuyi instinctively stood.
The homeroom teacher’s face was stern. “Most students and parents behaved appropriately at yesterday’s parent-teacher meeting. But a few—Gu Wuyi, don’t look around! I’m talking about you! Last Saturday, what did I say? If your parents were unavailable, you could bring your grandparents. And what did you do? You brought your brother! That would’ve been fine, but you actually had the nerve to make him pretend to be your father! Who gave you the guts?!”
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