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As Wang Qian brought a plate of flatbread, she overheard the conversation. Her heart sank upon learning that Zuo He and the other children, especially Zuo He, who had spent the longest time with them, were going to be taken away. Their family had come to regard them as their own, and the thought of reducing the number of companions who had grown up together was distressing. However, she understood the feelings of Zuo Xiangcheng and his wife as parents. Some things, even if she didn’t want them to happen, were beyond her control.
Indeed, there’s no eternal feast under the sky. The ancients were not deceiving us.
After a sumptuous meal, the elderly gentlemen were all quite inebriated. Fortunately, it was winter, and they were all staying at the Wang family’s residence. Wang Zhenhe personally escorted his father back home.
That night, the couple discussed the topic of Zuo He and the others leaving in the space. Zhang Lan was quite saddened; she had almost treated Zuo He as her own child, having raised him for so long. She had grown very fond of this child. Unfortunately, they had to leave eventually.
Wang Zhenhe tried to console her, “Dear, Zuo He has been with us for so long. But you know, Third Brother and his wife also want their children. It’s more beneficial for Zuo He to leave with his parents for their growth. However good we are to him, we can’t replace the place his parents hold in his heart. Let’s celebrate the New Year with the children, and after that, they will have to leave.”
The couple sat in the space, peeling corn kernels. Wang Qian squatted on the ground, tinkering with the antiques she had secretly stored. Seeing her daughter’s excited expression, Wang Zhenhe couldn’t help shaking his head. “Dear, why does our daughter like these old things? What’s so good about them? She deliberately stole and stored them in the space. If only she had shown such interest in something, I would have helped her collect more.” He wished he could sell off those items and find something new for his daughter.
Wang Qian smiled and said, “Dad, if you ever come across such antiques, bring them back for me, regardless of what they are, whether plates, bowls, or stools.”
Zhang Lan shook her head and said, “Girl, what’s the use of all these things? Isn’t this pile enough for you to tinker with?”
Wang Qian earnestly explained to her parents, “Mom, Dad, you don’t understand. All of these are antiques. Who knows, they might become valuable someday. These are what Grandpa Chen calls collectible antiques.”
Wang Zhenhe didn’t quite understand what antiques meant, but he understood one thing: these items could be sold for money in the future.
“Sweetheart, in the future, if I come across such things, I’ll be sure to get them for you, and you can store them all here. Later, when we sell them, it will be profitable. By the way, I’ll get you some boxes tomorrow. You can store these things in them to keep them safe. They’re worth money,” Wang Zhenhe assured his daughter.
Zhang Lan chuckled at the pair. “You’re both crazy. The child is obsessed, and so are you. By the way, tomorrow I’ll have the children send some pig-slaughtering feast to Big Brother and Second Brother’s homes. Are you going to send some to your mother’s place?”
Though Zhang Lan was reluctant to send the feast, she felt she had to give her husband an out. After all, it was his own mother, and no matter how bad she had been to them, she was still their blood relative.
Wang Zhenhe shook his head. “Don’t send any. If you give our old lady a chance, she might start pestering our family again. Wang Zhenguo has also brought back plenty of meat. I saw him bring back so many bones the other day. They don’t need our share.”
Wang Zhenhe had noticed Zhu Qiyu’s expression, but he couldn’t forget the way her mother had looked at them. That look had been etched in his memory, constantly pricking at his heart.
Seeing the sorrow in her husband’s eyes, Zhang Lan carefully reached out and took his calloused hand, worn from years of labor. “Zhenhe, it’s all in the past. Don’t dwell on it. Torturing yourself like this won’t change anything.”
Wang Zhenhe sighed and then held his wife’s somewhat fair but already rough hands. “Dear, for so many years, I’ve never been able to understand why my mother treated me this way. Both of us are her sons. I’m not asking for special treatment, but she rarely showed me any affection. I’ve been conflicted about this for a long time.”
Zhang Lan couldn’t fathom the reason behind it. However, Wang Qian, who was adjusting the censer nearby, spoke up, “Dad, what’s there to understand? Perhaps you’re not actually Grandma’s biological son.”
Wang Zhenhe was amused by his daughter’s words. “You little rascal, how could I not be her biological son? Many people can attest to that. If I was not her biological son, why would I be conflicted about it?”
Even though she was his biological granddaughter, Wang Qian couldn’t understand it either. Perhaps it was due to favoritism, she thought. “Dad, don’t dwell on it. Mom, since Zuo He and the others are leaving, what are you planning to send with them? The New Year is approaching. You need to prepare in advance.”
Wang Zhenhe walked over and hugged his daughter. “Dear, look at this child; she plans for the long term. I think she’s more capable than both of us. We can entrust the future of this family to our daughter without any worries.”
When it came to other matters, Zhang Lan might not readily agree, but when it came to her daughter, she couldn’t help but feel proud and content. “Of course, I’ve given birth to an exceptional daughter. She has all the qualities of a capable manager. She can handle anything perfectly.”
Wang Qian, nestled in her father’s embrace, enjoying his distinctive scent, expressed her happiness, “Mom, in the future, I not only want to be a capable manager but also a wealthy person. I want to take you and Dad on trips, even to big cities, to explore and enjoy life together.”
As time passed, the Lunar New Year, which Wang Qian least wanted to face, was approaching. During this period, she and her siblings spent quality time with Zuo He and the others, knowing that once the festival was over, they would leave with their parents. The siblings made every effort to spend time with the Wang family. Zuo He even requested to sleep next to Wang Qian at night.
Understanding the child’s attachment to her family, Zhang Lan fulfilled Zuo He’s small wish.
Before the New Year, Zhang Lan took the children to visit her parents’ home. This visit served a dual purpose: to bring New Year’s gifts to her parents and to let the elderly couple spend time with the three children since Zuo He and the others would soon be leaving.
“Grandma, Grandpa, we’re here again,” Zuo Yu ran into the yard. However, as soon as he entered, he saw an unfamiliar boy riding on Zhang Wanyou’s back, continuously shouting, “Giddy-up, giddy-up.” The old man’s face was covered in sweat, despite the cold winter weather.
Following them, Zuo Hao, Mingcheng, and the others were furious seeing the scene.
“Zhang Jiabao, get down from there right now!” Despite Jiabao being a few months older than Mingcheng, at that moment, he seemed to have no recognition of the older boy before him.
Jiabao raised his head and smirked at Mingyuan, “I won’t. What can you do to me? Grandpa, hurry up and leave. If you don’t, I’ll whip you.”
Wang Qian rushed forward and firmly pinched Jiabao’s backside. With a yelp, Jiabao, who had been riding on the old gentleman’s back, cried out, “Who pinched me?”
Seeing her sister scolded, Mingcheng approached and landed a punch on Jiabao’s back. “You rascal, it’s me, your father! Open your eyes and see. You’re out of line.”
Concerned that the children might start fighting, Zhang Wanyou quickly set down his grandson. However, when he tried to stand up, he found he couldn’t. “Dad, are you alright?”
Zhang Lan, feeling sorry for her father, helped him inside. Meanwhile, Jiabao, having been pinched and hit, sat in the yard crying loudly.
In the neighboring yard, Zhou Ping, who was tidying up, heard her son’s cries, grabbed a broom, and hurried over. Seeing her son sitting on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably, she asked, “What’s wrong, son? Who bullied you?”
Jiabao pointed at Mingcheng and Wang Qian, “They bullied me! They not only pinched me but also hit me, Mom, you need to avenge me!”
Upon seeing her son being bullied, Zhou Ping grabbed a broom and headed toward Wang Qian. “You little troublemaker, how dare you even hit your elder brother! Today, I’ll discipline you properly on behalf of your parents.”
Mingcheng and Zuo He couldn’t stand to see Wang Qian being picked on. One kicked her knee, while the other snatched the broom from her hand.
“Aunt, do you still want to hit me? Try it, I don’t believe anyone can control you today,” Wang Qian challenged.
Zhou Ping stumbled and fell to the ground, and, instead of getting up, she started shouting, “Help! Someone, they’re trying to kill someone! The Wang family is bullying our Zhang family!”
Hearing the commotion outside, Zhang Lan helped her father inside and then walked out. “Sister-in-law, what are you doing? It’s normal for children to play around. Besides, your son is old enough. He’s almost a young man, and yet you had his grandfather carry him as if he were riding a horse. Do you think that’s reasonable? Now, my father can’t even stand up straight. If there’s a problem, I’ll hold you accountable. Don’t create a scene to make yourself seem right. Go ahead, cry. Cry as much as you want. Let’s see who’s in the right when everyone’s here.”
With the Lunar New Year approaching, most of the villagers were busy with their preparations at home. However, upon hearing the disturbance at the Zhang family’s house, neighbors came out to see what was happening. Concerned about the situation, a neighbor rushed to the seaside to find Geng Lianhua, who had not yet returned from gathering seafood, to inform her of the situation.
Zhou Ping was surprised to see her usually quiet sister-in-law suddenly taking a strong stance. But who was she? Who was she afraid of?