“Pick them up my ass! His parents are cold-hearted and ruthless they abandoned him. How could they possibly come to take him?”
Her earlier good mood evaporated instantly.
Not even two spits of anger could be spared her mouth was dry from fury!
Qin Huai rubbed his forehead, completely exasperated and amused by Li Qiuyue’s sudden outburst.
But the more she acted like this, the more he realized the child really shouldn’t stay with her too much.
He could only warn helplessly, “What if they lost him by accident?”
“There’s no ‘what if’!” Li Qiuyue refused to negotiate. “As long as he’s in my hands, he’s mine. If they dare to come, I’ll break their legs myself.”
Qin Huai frowned, disapproving. “That’s a living child, not lost money on the ground.”
“Say another word and you better watch your legs!” Li Qiuyue wasn’t going to argue with him.
Qin Huai: “…”
This woman, though kind and hardworking, was truly unreasonable.
After their quarrel, neither spoke again until they reached the town.
Qin Huai still escorted Li Qiuyue to the market, helping her organize her fixed stall that had gone unused for two days, before heading to the police station.
He had indeed come to Li family village for Zhaozhao, but he also had duties assigned by the army.
He was ordered to pick up a “significant figure” from here.
Many foreign parties had been eyeing that person’s life.
That person was scheduled to arrive by train in a month.
Qin Huai had to inspect the area thoroughly beforehand and ensure every place was safe.
The town wasn’t huge, but it wasn’t small either.
There were many “gray areas,” remnants of prior opportunistic and illegal dealings.
They’d visited them with the police yesterday, but many places were inaccessible.
Then there was the population survey many people had gone missing, and there were also unregistered residents.
They even found people whose names didn’t match their appearance.
They’d found two, but who knows how many more there were.
Qin Huai changed into his uniform, delegated today’s tasks, and instructed someone to handle Aunt Pang going to confess.
Then he continued with his team to check out the previous “black market” spots.
His companion was the deputy battalion commander.
Grinning, he leaned in, “Tsk tsk tsk, our battalion commander raging for a beauty today?”
“Han Tiancheng, show some respect for female comrades!” Qin Huai frowned and poked Han Tiancheng.
The force was light but hit just the right pressure point, making Han Tiancheng grimace instantly.
“Oh, I know, it’s just us two!” Han Tiancheng rubbed his stomach, muttering, “Never thought you couldn’t take a joke!”
The two had grown up together in the military district compound.
They enlisted together, did missions together, and had become inseparable partners.
Han Tiancheng didn’t hold a grudge and, after the pain subsided, asked, “So, have you bonded with Zhaozhao today?”
“Right now, it’s not about Zhaozhao. It’s…” Qin Huai recalled his earlier argument with Li Qiuyue.
Since Zhaozhao was registered under Li Qiuyue, if she refused to let him take the boy, it would be a major problem!
Even though he was close to Han Tiancheng, he didn’t want to gossip about Li Qiuyue, so he swallowed his words.
Han Tiancheng, used to Qin Huai’s usual composed demeanor, had never seen him this troubled.
Noticing the red mark on Qin Huai’s wrist, his curiosity peaked. “What’s that…”
…
Although they’d been delayed slightly in the morning, Qin Huai’s fast tricycle made up time.
Li Qiuyue arrived at the market even earlier than usual.
The market had formerly been a black market, but after policy changes, villagers from miles around came to trade.
Her breakfast mainly catered to these market-goers.
Her soup base was chicken stock; once heated, the aroma quickly spread.
Small groups soon gathered.
Wontons were 0.2 yuan, wonton wrappers 0.3, with meat and vegetarian buns as well.
Although she couldn’t see clearly, she remembered exactly who paid and who received what.
Business was good today by late morning, most of the food was gone.
Only when things slowed did Li Qiuyue start thinking about Qin Huai’s remark about “Zhaozhao’s biological parents coming to take him.”
Could Qin Huai be… unable to handle being called a “green turtle,” so he’s trying to save face by sending Zhaozhao away?
Not a chance!
Even if it meant sending him away, she would never send Zhaozhao.
Better figure out how to send Qin Huai away instead at least now she knew how to deal with gossip.
Li Qiuyue felt no guilt, only admiration for her own cleverness.
Before she could think more, two men appeared at her stall.
Instinctively, she forced a smile. “What would you like to eat?”
The two men, one fat and one short, wore frog-eye glasses and military-green jackets.
The short one kicked the tricycle beside Li Qiuyue.
“You, new girl? Paid your protection fee? You’re selling here!”
His kick made the diners at a small table immediately sidestep.
No one wanted trouble.
Li Qiuyue showed no fear. “I’ve already paid this month’s fixed stall fee.”
The two men laughed immediately.
“Who asked you to pay a fixed fee? We collect protection money!” the fat one growled.
The tofu vendor nearby couldn’t stand it and whispered, “Qiuyue, these two are Fat Brother and Marquis Hou. They’re in charge of protection fees here. Two yuan daily per stall.”
“How much?!” Li Qiuyue’s eyes widened.
So all her early mornings and late nights selling wontons went straight into their pockets?
“Wait, usually it’s two yuan, but for you it’s four.” Marquis Hou waved the money collected from other stalls.
He sneered: “Who knows if a pretty woman like you will stir up trouble. Protecting you is risky!”
“Heh, definitely a newbie,” Li Qiuyue laughed angrily.
She lifted her chin, daring. “Didn’t your Scissors Gang boss tell you who I am?”
The two thugs exchanged glances how would she know they were from the Scissors Gang?
Fat Brother kicked the tricycle crooked.
“Stop talking nonsense. No protection fee, we’ll smash your stall today!”
Li Qiuyue’s face fell.
She had hoped to reason with them, but they insisted on violence!
“I don’t have protection money, but I can give you some medical fees!” Li Qiuyue sneered.
She scooped a ladle of boiling soup and splashed it onto their chests.
Bundled in winter clothes, they felt only warmth on their chests.
But the hot water splashing onto their hands and necks made them yelp in pain.
The crowd couldn’t help but laugh.
Marquis Hou was clever seeing the water coming, he had ducked behind Fat Brother.
Now, feeling safe, he emerged first.
His first move was to snatch the ladle from Li Qiuyue and throw it far away.
Then he drew an iron rod from his back waist and slammed it onto the tricycle with a loud “crack.”