The tiny child stood at the entrance of the courtyard, timid yet curious as she looked at everything around her.
Qin Shanhai strode into the yard.
“Wife, I’m back!”
Xie Yulan came out of the house and glanced at him strangely. “What good thing happened to make you this happy? Where’s your bicycle?”
Qin Shanhai replied, “The bicycle is gone.”
Xie Yulan’s face darkened. She grabbed a broom and swung it at him.
Qin Shanhai covered his head and ran. “Wife, wife, listen to me! The bicycle is gone, but we’ve got a little granddaughter!”
“What nonsense are you spouting—”
“Grandma.”
A soft, milky voice sounded.
Xie Yulan paused mid-swing and turned her head.
There she saw a thin, tiny child standing at the doorway, arms slightly flailing behind her, tilting her head, her big watery eyes wide open.
Xie Yulan suddenly froze.
A familiar and warm feeling rose in her heart.
This child…
“Stunned, aren’t you? Isn’t she adorable?”
Qin Shanhai straightened his clothes, which had been messed up while running, and said with a knowing look, “I knew you’d like her!”
He recounted in detail how he met Mianbao while handling matters in the countryside.
“You didn’t see it—this child couldn’t bear to part with me, grabbed my hand and wouldn’t let me go. I thought our family was missing a child, so I brought her back to be our little granddaughter!”
He kept talking proudly, emphasizing how Mianbao clung to him—Qin Shanhai finally felt like someone children liked!
But Xie Yulan focused on how Mianbao had “accidentally” saved Qin Shanhai’s life.
If that was a coincidence, it was far too coincidental.
This child… was destined to be part of their Qin family!
Xie Yulan stepped forward and gently picked Mianbao up.
Mianbao sensed her kindness and didn’t struggle, allowing this young-looking, beautiful grandmother to hold her.
“Don’t be afraid. From now on, I’m your real grandmother. From now on, Mianbao is the granddaughter of our Qin family.”
Xie Yulan wiped Mianbao’s dirty little face with her sleeve.
“Mianbao, can you call me Grandma again?”
Mianbao called out in her soft, childish voice, “Grandma!”
“Yes!” Xie Yulan beamed. “Let’s go inside. Grandma will wash you up nice and clean.”
The moment she held Mianbao, Xie Yulan felt her back no longer ached. She thought Mianbao might be a lucky star sent by heaven to their family.
She quickly heated some water and gave Mianbao a warm bath.
Looking at the patched, dusty clothes, Xie Yulan felt heartbroken.
During the bath, Mianbao was obedient and well-behaved, doing whatever Xie Yulan asked.
After washing up, Mianbao’s little face was fair and delicate like jade, though there were a few scratches on it.
Xie Yulan held her with heartache.
“If anyone bullies you again, come back and tell Grandpa and Grandma.”
Mianbao nodded firmly.
“Bang—” The door suddenly burst open from outside.
Qin Yanzhou rushed in hurriedly. The moment he entered, his eyes met Mianbao’s, and he stopped in his tracks.
Mianbao was stunned. This uncle… was so handsome!
Qin Yanzhou’s face was like finely carved jade, with sharp features and an imposing presence. Yet there were bruises on that jade-like face, and a rebellious air lingered between his brows.
His tall figure blocked Mianbao’s light. One big, one small, they stared at each other.
Qin Shanhai stood up from his chair, grabbed a broom, and swung it at him.
Qin Yanzhou reacted instantly, dodging skillfully.
“Dad, Dad, don’t hit me, don’t hit me—it hurts…”
“You brat! Who did you go fight with this time? At this rate, you’ll end up in the police station sooner or later.” Seeing the bruises on his son’s handsome face made Qin Shanhai furious.
Qin Shanhai and Xie Yulan had four children in total. Their eldest son joined the army at eighteen and died during a mission. They had two daughters—one already married, and the younger one was among the first batch admitted to university after the college entrance exam resumed.
Outsiders always admired Factory Director Qin’s family, saying he raised his children well—they all had bright futures and good lives.
Except for the youngest son, Qin Yanzhou.
At twenty-two, he had no proper job and spent his days loitering around, a regular at billiard halls and dance halls. His troublemaking nature was notorious in the county—people avoided him whenever they saw him.
It was said that when Qin Yanzhou acted up, even passing dogs would despise him.
Trying to discipline his youngest son had turned Qin Shanhai’s hair gray with worry.
Qin Shanhai chased Qin Yanzhou around the house with a broom but didn’t land a single hit. Eventually, he sat down, exhausted and panting.
Xie Yulan put Mianbao down and came over to calm him.
“You’re not young anymore. What kind of behavior is it, chasing your child around like this?”
Qin Yanzhou sat on another chair, picked up an enamel mug, and gulped down water.
“Mom, Dad’s not even fifty yet, he’s in his prime. How is he old?”
Soon, Qin Yanzhou’s gaze met Mianbao’s curious eyes again.
Mianbao looked at this uncle who had turned the house upside down the moment he entered, full of curiosity.
“Who is this little kid?” Qin Yanzhou felt a bit uncomfortable under her gaze.
Qin Shanhai snorted after catching his breath. “This is the daughter I adopted for you from the countryside.”
“What?!” Qin Yanzhou nearly fell off his chair.
“I haven’t even gotten married, and you brought me a child?!” he said in disbelief.
Since his father couldn’t find him a wife, he brought him a child to control him instead?
It had to be said—Qin Yanzhou knew his father well.
Qin Shanhai glared at him. “I tried to set you up, but you said you liked the girl’s mother. Her father almost came with a knife to kill you. With your reputation, you can’t marry anyway, so we’ll skip that step—you can just be a father.”
Qin Yanzhou curled his lips. He had only said that nonsense to avoid dating.
His father’s thinking was really open-minded!
“I don’t want it.” Qin Yanzhou stood up abruptly. “Wherever you got this child from, send her back there.”
Qin Shanhai glared at him. “Then go bring home a wife.”
“I won’t. Someone like me—getting married would just harm the girl.”
At least he had some self-awareness. With no job and a bad reputation, what decent girl would want to marry him?
Mianbao walked forward on her short legs, carefully reaching out to tug at Qin Yanzhou’s sleeve, stretching her head up as high as she could.
“Uncle,” the little one called softly, her voice tender and sweet, enough to soften anyone’s heart.
Qin Yanzhou looked at the little radish head with a complicated expression, feeling something strange in his heart.
He didn’t like children. To him, children were just trouble.
Qin Shanhai corrected her, “Mianbao, you should call him Dad.”
Qin Yanzhou’s eyes widened as he snapped, “Don’t call me that! I’m not your dad! Old man, don’t teach her nonsense!”
Mianbao looked helplessly between Qin Shanhai and Qin Yanzhou.
Did this uncle also think she was a jinx?
Qin Yanzhou frowned and looked away.
“I don’t care. I don’t want a child! After dinner, send her away!”
He turned and walked out.
“Stop right there!” Xie Yulan called out sharply.