Qin Shanhai’s face darkened abruptly.
“You want my Qin family to raise someone else’s child?”
The Tao family didn’t dare meet his gaze.
Li Juhua said, “Well, you’ve already adopted a granddaughter anyway. Xiaohong might even be carrying a boy—more precious than a girl.”
Qin Shanhai’s voice turned colder. “If you want to find Xiaohong a husband, go to a matchmaker.”
“To my Qin family, Mianbao is the most precious granddaughter.”
“Since you don’t want to report this to the police, I won’t interfere. Handle it yourselves.”
“As for Xiaohong and Yanzhou—it’s impossible!”
That final sentence completely crushed the Tao family’s hopes.
Qin Shanhai’s expression remained stern. Without caring about their reactions, he turned and strode away.
He was always a man of his word—if he said it was impossible, then it truly was.
Tao Xiaohong’s face turned pale as she clutched Li Juhua.
“Mom, what do we do now?”
Li Juhua was flustered as well.
Tao Dazhuang suddenly slapped her hard across the face, knocking her to the ground.
“It’s all your fault, you stupid woman! Why were you talking nonsense in front of Director Qin? Now he’s angry and won’t let Xiaohong marry into their family at all!”
“And tell me—did you give Li Mushuan a hundred yuan?!”
That morning, he had wanted to take money to buy liquor, only to find a hundred yuan missing.
Li Juhua covered her face, avoiding his gaze. “Mu… Mushuan got hurt because of us. I promised compensation…”
“I think you just used this as an excuse to support your own family!” Tao Dazhuang grabbed her hair and dragged her outside. “If you love your family so much, then go back to them!”
Tao Xiaohong, already frustrated, grew even more annoyed at her parents’ argument.
Her mother was so foolish. Their family barely had money, yet she still dared to give her uncle a hundred yuan.
Outside came Li Juhua’s pleading cries, but Tao Xiaohong sat on her stool, making no move to help.
…
Back at the Qin household, Qin Shanhai relayed the Tao family’s intentions to Xie Yulan.
Xie Yulan was furious. “Even now, they still want to treat Yanzhou like a sucker!”
Qin Shanhai said gravely, “Tao Xiaojun’s death is a knot in Yanzhou’s heart. Because of that, he can’t completely cut ties with Tao Xiaohong.”
“What should we do then?”
After a moment of thought, Qin Shanhai said, “Yanzhou isn’t young anymore. Since he doesn’t want to get married, let him at least work at the factory as a temporary worker. Otherwise, he’ll just keep causing trouble outside all day.”
The factory had recently taken on an urgent order, and workers were rushing day and night. With production booming, they had decided to recruit temporary workers.
Qin Yanzhou had a high school education—he met all the requirements. Arranging for him to work there was entirely reasonable.
But Qin Yanzhou refused.
Going to work at the factory felt worse than death to him.
“I’m not going. I’m not cut out for that kind of job.”
He preferred billiard halls and dance halls—playing and dancing was far more enjoyable.
Besides, his family had money. He didn’t need to support a household.
Qin Shanhai slammed the table. “From today on, get out and sleep on the streets!”
Xie Yulan went into Qin Yanzhou’s room and confiscated all his money, ration coupons, and anything valuable.
“All of this is confiscated. From now on, go beg for food—and don’t say you’re my son.”
She carried everything into her room, followed by a little tail—Mianbao, who struggled to carry Qin Yanzhou’s pillow.
Qin Yanzhou stared in shock.
Wait… his parents were serious?
When he returned to his room, he found even his blanket had been taken away.
Looking at the freezing winter outside, he fell silent for a moment, then ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
“Fine! I’ll go to work!”
The next morning, while Qin Yanzhou was still sleeping soundly, Xie Yulan banged loudly on a pot lid.
“Clang! Clang!”
Qin Yanzhou jolted awake, covering his ears.
“Mom! What are you doing?!”
“Get up! If you don’t, you’ll be late for work!”
He regretted everything. Why had he given in yesterday?
He tried to lie back down, but Xie Yulan slammed the pot lid beside his ear again.
“Clang!”
He shot upright, fully awake.
If he kept sleeping, he felt like he’d go deaf.
Mianbao peeked from the doorway, watching the commotion. When Qin Yanzhou looked over, she turned and ran.
Today, Xie Yulan had dressed her in so many layers that she looked like a little ball. As she ran, she waddled like a cute little penguin.
Afraid Qin Yanzhou might not go to work obediently, Qin Shanhai—who usually left before dawn—stayed home to make sure he ate breakfast and went to the factory.
Since they hadn’t bought a new bicycle yet, father and son had to walk.
Qin Shanhai put on his military coat and was about to leave when someone tugged at his clothes.
He looked down—and his heart melted.
“Mianbao, what is it?” His voice softened.
Qin Yanzhou looked at him as if he’d seen a ghost.
Was this really his father? Where did that deep, authoritative voice go?
Mianbao spoke in a soft, coquettish tone, “Grandpa, I want to go to work too.”
Qin Shanhai laughed. “You’re still too little to work. In another year, Grandpa will send you to school, okay?”
“No, no.” Mianbao shook her head, but with so many clothes on, she almost tipped over. She grabbed his coat to steady herself, looking pitiful.
“I want to go to the factory with Grandpa. Take me, please…”
She looked like she would cry if he refused.
Qin Shanhai couldn’t resist. He picked her up.
“Alright, Grandpa will take you to work!”
Xie Yulan said, “Wait—I’ll go too.”
Even though the factory had security, she still wasn’t entirely at ease.
After locking the door, the family headed toward the textile factory.
“Director Qin, is this your granddaughter?” a worker asked along the way.
Qin Yanzhou carried Mianbao. “That’s right—my precious granddaughter, the little lucky star of the Qin family.”
“Oh my, she’s really pretty.”
Mianbao grew shy from the praise, hugging Qin Shanhai’s neck and turning her face away.
Qin Yanzhou was handsome to begin with. Along the way, many young women couldn’t help but glance at him.
Dressed in work clothes, he seemed more mature and steady, his features even more defined.
Even Mianbao stared in awe.
Her “cheap father” was so handsome!
In just one morning, news spread throughout the workers’ compound that the Qin family’s troublemaker had gone to work at the textile factory.
At the same time, a postman rode up to the Tao household, his bicycle bell ringing.
“A letter for Tao Dazhuang!”
Li Juhua limped out, her swollen face startling the postman.
“Your letter,” he said quickly, handing it over before riding off.
Seeing the sender and address, Li Juhua’s face lit up with joy.
She returned inside, shut the doors and windows, and the three of them gathered around the table.
They unfolded the letter.
At the bottom, the signature read clearly—
“Xiaojun.”