This “Brother Wang” was the magazine’s maintenance worker and had a history of harassing women.
Now, in addition to being fired, he would be reported to the local police station, who would make a special note in his household registration file.
The editor informed Qin Huai of the outcome and asked for his opinion.
Qin Huai looked instead at Li Qiuyue. “You and Zhaozhao are the victims. How do you feel about this resolution?”
Li Qiuyue nodded, and her posture straightened instinctively.
Before they left, Lin Wei handed her a set of Journey to the West comic books. “Consider these books a form of compensation from our magazine.”
“But you can only borrow one at a time. Once you return one, you can borrow the next,” she said, giving Li Qiuyue a gentle smile.
Li Qiuyue fidgeted with the edge of her clothes, unsure, and instinctively looked at Qin Huai.
Seeing him nod, she and Zhaozhao accepted the books and thanked Lin Wei in unison.
Outside the magazine, Li Qiuyue felt her blood warm and rushing.
Zhaozhao leapt into Qin Huai’s arms, pouting. “Mom insisted I go to school in the city, but look at these city people they’re worse than in our village!”
Qin Huai frowned slightly.
He was about to correct him when Li Qiuyue shouted sharply, “Nonsense!”
The sudden shout startled both Qin Huai and Zhaozhao.
Li Qiuyue snorted, eyes shining. “If you don’t study, you’ll spend your life with me under the sun and wind. Study, and you can go to clean, respectable places and make good money.”
Qin Huai was about to argue that studying wasn’t just for money it was for yourself.
But Zhaozhao’s expression turned serious instantly.
Solemnly, he said, “Okay! Mom, I’ll study hard from now on!”
Qin Huai: “……”
He had forgotten the family had not only a big money lover but a little one as well.
Li Qiuyue, meanwhile, made up her mind internally she might not be able to manage it herself, but she would ensure Zhaozhao got an education.
Education had many benefits; the only drawback was that it would cost quite a bit of money…
As she pondered this, she walked forward.
Unaware, a bicycle suddenly came hurtling toward them.
Fortunately, Qin Huai reacted quickly, instantly pulling her into his arms.
Li Qiuyue looked up at his rolling Adam’s apple and taut jawline; her heart skipped a beat.
Swallowing nervously, she glanced at the approaching rider, trying to look composed.
Just as she was about to scold him, the cyclist leaned forward, glimpsed something, and immediately pedaled faster to get away.
Li Qiuyue swore under her breath and looked back, seeing a plump woman collapsed by the roadside.
Without thinking, she ran over and helped the woman up. “Are you okay?”
The plump woman froze for a moment. “Li Qiuyue, what are you—ow!”
Shock was followed by endless pain.
Li Qiuyue, being sensitive to voices due to face blindness, recognized her immediately.
“Aunt Fatty?” she tentatively called.
Aunt Fatty hadn’t forgotten why she had been detained before and shoved Li Qiuyue away.
But the pain in her ankle forced her to wail, “That damn person hit me and ran! It hurts so much!”
“Where are you hurt?” Qin Huai set Zhaozhao down and crouched to check her injury.
Aunt Fatty was initially wary of Qin Huai, but seeing him help without resentment, her insults died on her lips.
Qin Huai examined her briefly. “It’s just a sprain, no fracture. We should get her home first.”
“Home? You already put her in the police station. She won’t think well of you after this,” Li Qiuyue rolled her eyes.
She muttered under her breath, “You sounded so confident before I thought you’d lock her up for ten years. Turns out it was just three days.”
“Sending her to the station was because she insulted military personnel. I let her turn herself in, which reduces her punishment,” Qin Huai said, both amused and exasperated.
He glanced at Li Qiuyue. “Did you really think the police station is my private domain?”
Li Qiuyue snorted but thought Qin Huai was right.
After all, with his rigid nature, he probably wouldn’t mix personal grudges with official duties.
She pursed her lips but still helped Qin Huai lift Aunt Fatty onto the tricycle.
Being large and heavy, Aunt Fatty took up the entire tricycle. Returning together was impossible.
“Wait here. I’ll take her home first and come back for you,” Qin Huai decided.
Li Qiuyue glared at him, annoyed. “You still have work this afternoon! A round trip takes an hour and a half how can you find time to come back?”
“And I have things to do with Zhaozhao. I don’t have time to wait for you,” she said, unwillingly.
Qin Huai understood and respected Li Qiuyue’s decision not to drag Aunt Fatty along.
Much of Li Qiuyue and Zhaozhao’s past suffering came from these kinds of baseless rumors and gossip.
But as a soldier, Qin Huai couldn’t just leave someone lying on the roadside.
Just as he was about to offer to carry Aunt Fatty himself, Li Qiuyue spoke up.
“Take her home and go do your work. Bring the tricycle back in the evening,” she said coldly.
“What about you and the child?” Qin Huai asked.
Zhaozhao eagerly responded, “Mom and I can ride the big tractor home!”
“Mind your own business,” Li Qiuyue said, hugging Zhaozhao, clearly wanting to end the discussion.
Qin Huai pursed his lips, looking at Li Qiuyue’s small, reluctant face, and couldn’t help but smile slightly.
“Thank you, Comrade Li Qiuyue,” Qin Huai said sincerely.
Li Qiuyue was indeed a truly good person.
Aunt Fatty wanted to speak but hesitated she hadn’t expected Qin Huai to help her, nor that Li Qiuyue would.
After some internal struggle, she managed a reluctant “Thank you,” but Li Qiuyue rolled her eyes, lifted Zhaozhao, and walked off.
She did things because she wanted to, not for thanks.
And someone like Aunt Fatty could thank her today and gossip tomorrow she didn’t take it seriously. She wouldn’t forgive Aunt Fatty’s past behavior!
Qin Huai took Aunt Fatty home.
The door opened to reveal a small woman with two braids, eyes fixed on Qin Huai.
“May I ask who you’re looking for?” she asked gently.
“Shi Zhaodi! Stop dawdling and help me get home!” Aunt Fatty yelled from behind, clearly annoyed.
Shi Zhaodi’s face went red from her cheeks to her neck.
Meanwhile,
Li Qiuyue finished Zhaozhao’s checkup and soon received the results.
She was well acquainted with the doctor, who gave Zhaozhao a candy and sent him to the resting room.
Once the door closed, the doctor showed Li Qiuyue the scans. “It’s serious. If surgery isn’t done within three months, it’s hopeless.”
“Can’t we wait any longer?” Li Qiuyue gripped her pants.
The doctor shook his head.