Chapter 67: She’s Different from You

Ignoring Yu Wan, Qin Bei quickly left her behind, taking a shortcut back to the production team.

When he arrived home, Qin Tian ran up to him, sticking close to his side.

Entering the kitchen, Qin Bei placed the groceries on the table and began preparing the fire for cooking.

A faint, sweet aroma filled the air. Qin Tian reached out to poke the items on the table, and his eyes lit up, “Brother, is this an egg cake?”

“Yes, go ahead and eat.”

The little boy swallowed, then shook his head. “Egg cake is really expensive. I don’t want any.”

He’d heard that a pound of egg cake cost a whole dollar!

Though people laughed at him for not being able to afford it, Qin Tian knew his brother only earned a few dimes a day.

If they spent that money on sweet potatoes instead, they could buy several pounds.

Such an expensive treat was too valuable to eat.

Qin Bei said sternly, “Once something’s bought, it can’t be returned. If you don’t eat it, it’ll go bad in a few days.”

“But it’s very expensive.”

“Even if it’s expensive, it’s meant to be eaten. Not eating it would be a waste.”

Kids lack the self control of adults, and Qin Tian was tempted by the egg cake. Hearing his brother’s words, he took a small bite.

It was sweet.

Soft.

How could something taste so wonderful?

No wonder Shi Tou and the others would tease him with egg cake. Not only did it look delicious, but it tasted even better!

“Brother, you eat some too.”

“I don’t want any right now. You go ahead.”

“Then I’ll only eat this small piece, and we’ll save the rest to share together. Oh, and last time Sister Song gave me a meat bun. Can I take her a piece of the egg cake later?”

“Sure, take half to her.”

Although Qin Tian loved the egg cake, he wasn’t greedy, and he obediently nodded.

Watching his little brother eat the cake in small bites, cherishing every bit, Qin Bei felt a pang in his heart.

He had initially decided not to help Yu Wan with work again, but seeing his brother so happy, he abandoned that thought.

He needed money and ration tickets. He wanted Qin Tian to have a better life.

Earning only ten work points a day wasn’t enough, they’d have to do more to improve their situation.

As for Song Yuan, he decided to let her keep her misunderstanding. That would be better than him holding her back.

He hoped she’d find a good man and live a safe, healthy, and happy life.

“Brother, will you marry Sister Yu?”

“What nonsense is that?” Qin Bei lightly tapped his brother’s head. “Have you been listening to people gossip again?”

The little boy frowned, “They say you’re helping Sister Yu with her work because you want to marry her.”

They even said his brother was like a toad longing for swan meat, though Qin Tian didn’t mention this part. To him, his brother was a great hero, not a toad.

Qin Bei ruffled Qin Tian’s hair. “Don’t listen to that gossip. I’m helping her just to earn more money.”

“Oh,” the little boy replied. “Brother, how come Sister Song hasn’t been coming to cook for us lately?”

Qin Bei paused, “Coming over or not is up to her, we can’t control that.”

“Brother, it’s because you didn’t apologize to Sister Song last time, right? So she’s mad. You should apologize. I really like Sister Song, she even teaches me to read.”

Thinking back to the last incident, Qin Bei felt a bit embarrassed. After all, Song Yuan had been kind to his little brother, yet he’d said harsh things to her.

“Don’t worry about adult matters.”

“But I really like Sister Song. She’s a wonderful teacher, and everyone likes her.”

Qin Bei nodded. A woman with ideals and compassion like her who wouldn’t like her?

Though Yu Wan had been brushed off earlier, she found her way to the Qin family home.

Seeing the door open, she walked right in.

Hearing Qin Tian mention reading, she hurried over. “I finished middle school. If you’re really interested in studying, I could teach you.”

Qin Bei’s face darkened, “Who invited you here?”

“Didn’t we agree to have dumplings tonight?”

Ignoring his unfriendly look, Yu Wan continued, “How about this, I’ll teach your little brother to read, and you help me with work.”

Even though he was young, Qin Tian understood that having enough food was most important.

“I don’t need to study. If my brother helps you, you have to pay him and give him ration tickets.”

“You’re quite sharp, aren’t you?”

Qin Tian lifted his chin proudly, staying silent.

“We don’t welcome you here. Please leave.”

“Oh, you’re afraid people will talk? But I heard that Teacher Song used to borrow your kitchen. You weren’t afraid of gossip then, were you?”

Qin Bei’s expression remained steady, “She’s a teacher, and I respect her. Besides, she’s different from you.”

His tone was the same as usual, but Yu Wan couldn’t shake the feeling that he was belittling her.

Unconvinced, she asked, “How is she different from me? I’m from Hu City, and I might even be more educated than her. If I taught at school, I wouldn’t do any worse.”

Qin Bei sneered, “She has respect for boundaries. That’s the biggest difference between you two.”

He had initially thought of earning some money from her, but now he wanted none of it.

If needed, he’d make more trips up the mountain himself. They’d find a way to afford meat once a month for Xiao Tian.

Coldly, he said, “Don’t come to my house again. Leave.”

This was the first time Yu Wan had ever been treated this way. She was both embarrassed and angry.

What an oblivious man!

And here she had planned to share her pork with them!

“Ungrateful fool! Can’t recognize a good hearted person!”

With that, she stormed out, vowing never to ask Qin Bei for help again.

Unless he apologized first!

“Brother, you’ve made someone mad again,” Qin Tian noted innocently.

Qin Bei’s mouth twitched, “She’s got nothing to do with us. Whether she’s mad or not doesn’t concern us.”

“What about Sister Song?”

“She helped you out, and I was rude to her. I was in the wrong.”

“Then go apologize to her. She once told her students that owning up to one’s mistakes is what makes a good person. If you apologize sincerely, she’ll forgive you.”

“Mm.”

Satisfied, the little boy pressed on, “So when will you go apologize?”

“I don’t know.”

Qin Bei felt torn, like two people existed within him. One wanted to get closer to Song Yuan, apologize to her, make her smile.

The other part of him was holding him back, reminding him not to drag her into his misfortune, not to ruin her life.

When you truly care about someone, you just want them to be happy.

He kept telling himself this, lost and struggling to find a way out.

If only someone could help him, he thought.