“Dad, what are we going to do?” He Chuchu looked worried. Their jobs weren’t resolved, and their mother had been taken away.
“If I don’t get a job soon, I’ll have to go to the countryside!”
He Runsong lay on the bed, heart as gray as ashes. All his things were gone! And he couldn’t even call the police. His mind was full of thoughts about where all those things had gone; he had no patience to listen to He Chuchu.
What made it worse was the three-month-ahead boat ticket to Haijiang that he had finally secured through connections—also gone! All this had happened in just one night, coincidentally when Uncle Ren had called them to the old Qiao mansion, saying it had to do with Grandpa Qiao’s will.
At first, he had been ecstatic. Grandpa Qiao’s place must have had many treasures. But Uncle Ren had first made them pay respects to the old man, then insisted they stay overnight, saying the announcement would only come after three days.
At dawn, he found an excuse to return home. Once home, everything was stolen. He Runsong refused to believe it had nothing to do with Qiao Yuewei—it had to be her and Uncle Ren scheming. Only she had been at the Qiao residence last night.
He was determined to find out where all the things had gone once she returned from the station.
“Dad!” Seeing He Runsong silent, He Chuchu pushed him in frustration.
He Runsong barked coldly, “Enough! You go out first. Yuewei is back—let her come find me.”
All his life, He Chuchu had never been yelled at like that. Covering her face, she ran crying out of the bedroom.
In the past, He Runsong might have felt guilty. Now, the only thing he cared about was his missing belongings.
Finally, dawn broke, and Qiao Yuewei still hadn’t returned. He Runsong couldn’t sit still; he figured she had most likely gone to the Qiao family mansion.
Dressing quickly to head out, the doorbell rang.
Who else could it be but Qiao Yuewei? Furious, He Runsong went to open the door.
“Qiao Yuewei! You little brat, you even came back!”
“Hello…”
The unfamiliar faces outside made him pause. Judging by their uniforms, they looked like staff.
He Runsong’s tone softened slightly. “Who are you looking for?”
“Hello, we’re staff from the Children’s Welfare Institute, here to take over this property.”
“You’re at the wrong place.”
He Runsong cursed under his breath, about to shut the door—but one young man held it open.
The young man smiled. “This is No. 11 Fengyang Road, right?”
He was Assistant Xiao Xu, Director Li’s assistant.
Director Li had instructed that any donated property should be taken from uncooperative relatives. The house had a few freeloading relatives inside—they could boldly remove them!
He Runsong nodded. “Yes, that’s right.”
Xiao Xu smiled. “Then that’s confirmed. This house has been donated by a philanthropist. Here’s the donation certificate. Starting today, this will be the Children’s Welfare Institute. You have one hour to collect your things.”
He Runsong took the certificate from Xiao Xu. His eyes filled with tears. The name on it was unmistakably Qiao Yuewei.
“Qiao Yuewei!” He gritted his teeth.
Suppressing his anger with a forced smile, he said, “Officers, I’m sorry, but you may have come for nothing. Qiao Yuewei is my daughter. She donated the house without my permission—I will definitely educate her properly!”
Xiao Xu didn’t believe a word. The property deed had already been shown when Comrade Qiao came yesterday.
Director Li had emphasized that everything must be handled properly. He couldn’t return the house just because of He Runsong’s words, especially with the welfare staff present, their eyes shining—they could fit many beds in the house.
“Sir, this is a notification, not a discussion. The house rights now belong to our welfare institute. Please move out immediately!”
Seeing He Runsong stubbornly resist, the staff physically escorted him out.
He Chuchu, hearing the commotion, came out to check and was also “escorted” out. The father and children had hoped to make a scene at the doorway, but Xiao Xu called the police.
One of the officers was the same who had come to the Qiao house yesterday.
He Chuchu, red-eyed, cried, “Officer, they’re trespassing! You have to help us!”
He Ximing clenched his fists, fuming, “Arrest them already!”
Xiao Xu wasn’t intimidated. He showed the donation certificate to the police.
After checking, the officer told He Runsong and his family, “You’re not the property owners. This house has been donated. Leave peacefully or we’ll take you in.”
He Chuchu nervously tugged He Runsong’s sleeve. She didn’t want to go to the station.
He Ximing glared at the officer but didn’t dare speak—he feared being arrested.
“Dad, what do we do? Boohoo…” He Chuchu was truly scared. In just two days, their mother had been taken, their treasures gone, and now their house too.
He Runsong ran his hands through his hair in frustration. “You two go to your grandmother’s place first.”
He Chuchu frowned. Grandma’s place was a crowded apartment with shared, dirty, and smelly bathrooms—she didn’t want to go.
“Dad, give me some money so I can take Ximing to the guesthouse!”
“Yes, Dad. Grandma’s place is so small—it’s smaller than my room alone. I don’t want to go!”
He Runsong dug out ten yuan from his pocket and handed it to He Chuchu, waving them off.
She pouted, thinking it was barely enough, but seeing her father’s expression, she said nothing.
He Chuchu took He Ximing to the guesthouse, and He Runsong headed to the Qiao family mansion.
Qiao Family Mansion
Qiao Yuewei was talking with Uncle Ren.
“Uncle Ren, I’ve donated the house.”
Uncle Ren looked surprised. “Donated it?”
It was Qiao Yuewei’s house. She could do as she pleased; he was just curious.
Qiao Yuewei nodded. “Yes. I’m going to find Qin Xingye!”
Uncle Ren’s eyes lit up. “Yuewei, have you thought this through?”
Qiao Yuewei propped her chin on her hand and smiled. “I have. I’ll marry him and follow the military as a soldier’s wife!”
Uncle Ren sighed in relief. He had heard some worrying news recently. If Qiao Yuewei was willing to go with the army, that was perfect.
Her adoptive father trusted the Qin family, and so did he.
The Qin family patriarch and her adoptive father were fellow townsmen and close since childhood. The patriarch had enlisted young and earned many honors; her adoptive father amassed wealth in business and donated countless supplies. One fought on the frontlines, the other provided support.
When Qiao Yuewei was five and Qin Xingye ten, the patriarch and her adoptive father arranged a childhood engagement—fifteen years ago.
Though her adoptive father had passed five years ago, the Qin family had kept in touch and, in the past year, frequently asked when she would marry.
“Yuewei, Old Master Qin is a man of integrity, and his grandson Qin Xingye is the same. As long as you marry him, he will protect you just like your adoptive father did!”
Qiao Yuewei nodded. She believed him.