Chapter 65

After the two kids slipped past Zheng Youliang and ran into the house, Fu Qingshan thanked the surrounding neighbors and explained the whole story.

“The kids were upset because they were falsely accused of stealing money, so they wanted to come to the provincial city to find me. Unexpectedly, they ran into traffickers. Fortunately, my partner saw them on the train, so I was able to bring the kids back in time.”

“To all the uncles and aunts, thank you for taking care of Xiaozhou and Xiaoyu. The kids going missing must have tired you out and kept you from resting. Once things at home settle down, I’ll bring the kids to each of your homes to thank you properly.”

Those few words made the neighbors gasp quietly.

“I have relatives who helped inquire, and they said that your two kids were indeed seen at the county train station. I told the kids’ grandmother, but she refused to believe it. She said my relatives must have been mistaken—how could two little kids get all the way to the train station?”

Aunt Chen from next door sighed, “Luckily the kids were found. Otherwise, Zheng Youliang, how would you and your wife explain this to your eldest son and his wife in the afterlife!”

The kids being taken by traffickers and then brought back by Fu Qingshan was explosive news. But Fu Qingshan bringing his partner home was also quite a novelty.

Another neighbor quickly asked, “Qingshan, you specially brought your partner back this time? Planning to get married? Where’s she from? What’s her name?”

“Aunt Yu, my partner’s name is Qiao Xinyi, she’s from the provincial city. We do plan to get married. Once my unit approves the marriage application, we will,” Fu Qingshan explained briefly.

He then introduced Qiao Xinyi to the old neighbors, exchanged some greetings, and finally took her home by the hand.

Zheng Youliang silently watched from the side. After everyone dispersed, he followed behind Fu Qingshan and Qiao Xinyi into the house.

“Why didn’t you tell the family earlier that you were bringing your partner home?” Zheng Youliang glanced at Qiao Xinyi standing beside Fu Qingshan, unsure how to greet her.

He called out to the fourth son, Zheng Dahe, who was holed up in his room, and ordered him to run errands.

“Go find your mom and older brother and tell them your second brother brought his partner back along with Xiaozhou and Xiaoyu. Tell them to hurry back too.”

Zheng Youliang dug into his pocket and handed Dahe some money and tickets, reminding him, “Your second brother’s partner is from the provincial city. It’s a long trip for her. Tell your mom to stop by the meat shop on the way back and bring some meat to treat the guests.”

Zheng Dahe gave Fu Qingshan and Qiao Xinyi a slow once-over at the door, then sluggishly agreed and left.

Once Dahe left, Zheng Youliang turned to Fu Qingshan with a stern face and said, “We can’t let this stealing money habit slide. If they steal needles as kids, later they’ll steal gold. If we’re not strict now, they’ll end up in jail.”

Fu Linzhou and Fu Zeyu had already locked themselves in a room but were clever enough to eavesdrop through the window.

Hearing this, they opened the window a crack and shouted loudly, “We didn’t steal the money!”

“If you didn’t steal it, then how did it get under your pillows? Did it grow legs and walk there by itself?”

Zheng Youliang got even angrier when the kids still denied and talked back.

“If you didn’t take the leftover money from the flowers, then where did you get those three-plus yuan under your pillows?”

“We don’t know where it came from, but it definitely wasn’t us!” Fu Linzhou said, then snorted, “You’re just falsely accusing me and my brother!”

Zheng Youliang wanted to say more but noticed the guests inside, and fighting in front of guests wouldn’t look good.

He waved his hand and said, “We have guests here. We’ll talk about this later. For now, let the guests sit inside.”

“No worries, I’m Fu Qingshan’s partner. From now on, I’m Xiaozhou and Xiaoyu’s aunt. I’m not really a guest,” Qiao Xinyi smiled innocently, “I actually quite like watching cases get solved.”

The sun was getting stronger, and standing in the yard was a bit hot, so Fu Qingshan took Qiao Xinyi inside the main room to sit.

Zhang Zao and her two sons, Zheng Dajiang and Zheng Dahe, had run all the way back together.

She was carrying half a pound of meat. Before she could put the meat in the kitchen, she heard voices in the main room and hurried in with the meat.

“I heard the second brother brought back a partner from the provincial city?” Zhang Zao entered the main room and immediately asked before even getting a good look at the person.

Zheng Dajiang’s eyes went straight to the only girl in the room. She looked quite fashionable, even wearing a sunhat while sitting inside. In the hot summer, she wore a dress and new-looking little leather shoes—probably just bought recently. Only a girl from the provincial city would dress so stylishly.

Fu Qingshan moved his chair and sat facing a different direction, blocking Zheng Dajiang’s direct gaze at Qiao Xinyi.

“The second brother isn’t letting anyone see yet~” Zheng Dajiang joked, thinking he was funny. “Where’s your tofu? Can’t spare a little glance? Would it make you lose weight?”

Zhang Zao patted Zheng Dajiang’s arm, shoved some meat into his hands, and told him to take it to the kitchen. But Zheng Dajiang turned his back and said he wouldn’t go, then called Zheng Dahe instead.

Zhang Zao moved a chair next to Zheng Youliang and sat down amicably, smiling at Qiao Xinyi.

She asked, “Your parents both work in the provincial city, right? It’s big there; the salaries must be pretty good. How old are you this year? You work too, right? What kind of job? How’s the pay and benefits?”

Zhang Zao paused, then added, “Who else is in your family? Are your grandparents still alive? How much pension do they get?”

Every question sounded normal at first, but listening carefully, each one revolved around work and money.

Asking about the woman’s family’s jobs and relatives is typical, but asking about the parents’ salaries and grandparents’ pensions was a bit too direct.

While Qiao Xinyi was thinking about how to answer, Zheng Dajiang suddenly blurted out a few sentences that shocked her.

“Can your family arrange a job for me in the provincial city? Just to be clear, I don’t want a temp job.”

“And don’t give me dirty or exhausting work—I can’t do that. Ideally, I want to sit in an office, drink tea, and read the papers.”

Zheng Dahe sat in a chair, shaking his crossed legs like he had Parkinson’s.

Qiao Xinyi thought she was quite bold and thick-skinned for this era, but compared to these two, she was modest and polite.

Qiao Xinyi remembered Fu Qingshan telling her that Zheng Dajiang only went to school until third grade because he thought school was too hard and stopped going.

Zhang Zao, who cared about the child, was herself illiterate. Back then, many educated people were sent to the countryside and badly treated. Zhang Zao thought studying too much wasn’t useful and let Zheng Dajiang stay home and play.

Fu Qingshan laughed and asked him, “Don’t you know your own limits? If not, go outside and take a piss and look in the mirror.”

Zheng Dajiang was dismissive, “I only went to school fewer years than you. My parents said studying is useless too. Besides, I’m smart. My friends say I’m the smartest in our family. It’s just a job, not a school exam. Why read so much? As long as I can read words, it’s enough.”

Zheng Dajiang sneered, “Could it be your partner’s family is useless and can’t help me get a job?”