Chapter 88

Fu Qingshan told them what Zheng Dajiang had done last night. “Right now, the authorities are cracking down everywhere, so Zheng Dajiang might even get shot. He lost a beloved son; he’ll definitely make trouble for me.”

Fu Bailu’s expression turned shocked, then furious. She slammed her hand on the table and cursed loudly, “That old beast’s son of a beast! Doesn’t he have any shame looking at his own face? Does he really think he can have the future young mistress of the Fu family? If your grandfather were still alive, that beast Zheng Dajiang would have been beaten to death long ago!”

It took Qiao Xinyi several seconds to process being called “the future young mistress of the Fu family.”

Fu Bailu patted Qiao Xinyi’s hand to comfort her for the grievances she suffered last night, her face hardening with resolve.

“If that’s the case, we won’t wait any longer. While I’m still alive, I’m going all out to help you get this done!”

Fu Bailu took back the Fu family’s house deed. “I’ll sell this house! We cannot let Zheng Youliang use filial piety to hold you back from your future!”

“I, Fu Bailu, am old now. I’m not afraid of being called greedy. As long as I can drive Zheng Youliang out of the Fu household, even if I’m cursed until I’m in the coffin, my twenty years of waiting won’t have been in vain!”

Her eyes were red with anger, but there was a bright gleam shining in them.

“Aunt Lu, don’t get carried away,” Fu Qingshan quickly calmed the old lady and whispered, “I have a way to get my dad to move out of the Fu family home.”

Fu Qingshan explained, “Back when my mom was in charge, my dad didn’t know how many things were really in the house. She was bedridden for a long time, took a lot of medicine, and spent a lot of money. These past years the deeds have been with you, and even though he looked, he never found them.”

“I’ll find a friend tomorrow and have him wait until I take the kids back to the provincial capital. Then he’ll bring the deed to reclaim the house — pretending my mom had to pawn it for medicine, and that the outsiders took the house away. That coward Zheng Youliang won’t dare cause trouble.”

“In a few years, I’ll get the house back from that friend.”

Fu Qingshan held the old lady’s hand tightly. “That house is where my brother and I grew up. We won’t let anyone take it cheaply. We’ll come back to live there whenever we can.”

“Good! Good!” The old lady was already tearful. “I can’t help but hate him when I think about how he used the excuse of not wanting to waste money to secretly substitute your mother’s medicine with inferior stuff, pocketing the difference!”

“Even if your mom’s illness couldn’t be cured, no matter how much money was spent on medicine, it would only keep her alive a little longer — but we were willing to spend that money! Willing to burn money on it! Who was he to decide otherwise?”

What was even more infuriating was that when it all came out, everyone told Fu Shuzhen to accept her fate, to save some money for the kids’ future. They said Zheng Youliang’s actions were for the greater good, that he didn’t forbid Fu Shuzhen from taking medicine — he just wanted her not to spend so much or take the best medicine.

For the past twenty years, Fu Bailu had avoided the Fu household because she didn’t want to see Zheng Youliang’s hypocritical face. Seeing him reminded her of how Fu Shuzhen had died in her arms, full of endless worry and unwilling resignation for her two children. She was afraid she might kill Zheng Youliang if she ever saw him.

The money Zheng Youliang hid was ultimately used to remarry, not a single cent was spent on the Fu children.

Fu Qingshan didn’t take everything right away — he only took the house deed for now.

After leaving Fu Bailu’s place, Fu Qingshan returned to town with Qiao Xinyi and the two children to pay respects to the late Fu patriarch and Fu mother. This was also Qiao Xinyi’s official meeting with the Fu family elders.

Since it was still early, after the memorial, Fu Qingshan took the three of them back to the guesthouse.

As Fu Qingshan reminded the two children to stay close to Qiao Xinyi and not wander off, he suddenly looked up and noticed Qiao Xinyi smiling at him in a strange way.

“What’s wrong?” Fu Qingshan asked.

“I have a bold idea. Do you want to hear it?” Qiao Xinyi grinned mischievously.

“Come on, Bald Aunt, spill it!” Fu Linzhou happily chimed in, “I really like listening to Bald Aunt talk!”

“Me too!” Fu Zeyu held Qiao Xinyi’s hand, hopping up and down.

With the two kids so encouraging, Qiao Xinyi naturally went ahead.

“Aunt Bailu’s husband died saving your dad. If Aunt Bailu asks your dad to officially adopt you, that’s not too much to ask, right?”

“Of course. We’ll just discuss the adoption quietly between us. But if outsiders hear it, Aunt Bailu and your mom are so close, and she hates your dad so much, Aunt Bailu will definitely agree.”

“If you’re officially adopted out, Zheng Youliang still has two sons — well, soon probably only one left — but still one son. According to rural customs, Zheng Youliang won’t have to take care of your old age anymore. If he needs something, he won’t be able to find you,” Qiao Xinyi explained. “Otherwise, once the house is reclaimed, Zheng Youliang will come asking you for money for old age.”

Fu Qingshan is in the military. If this father, Zheng Youliang, tries to find him there, Fu Qingshan will have to spend some money to get rid of him. But giving that man money would be like giving him a heart attack.

Once Fu Qingshan is officially adopted out, he’s no longer Zheng Youliang’s problem. He’s in the military, and the town will have a reason not to issue him a reference letter. Others will just say Zheng Youliang is shameless for asking his adopted-out son for money.

In a rural place like this, customs sometimes matter more than the law, especially when personal interests are involved. The townspeople definitely won’t set a precedent for Zheng Youliang. If he pesters his adopted-out son, then who in the surrounding villages will dare to adopt out their children?

As for Fu Linzhou and Fu Zeyu, they’re only six years old. Zheng family’s petty troubles won’t bother these two kids.

Seeing Fu Qingshan deep in thought, Qiao Xinyi shyly looked away and glanced around.

“If you’re worried my future mother-in-law will be unhappy if she finds out, don’t worry. When I just burned incense for Aunt Fu, I asked her.”

Fu Qingshan laughed outright. “Your mom answered you?”

“Aunt Fu didn’t say no,” Qiao Xinyi replied.

“Grandma said yes?” Fu Linzhou blinked his big eyes curiously. “Bald Aunt, you and Grandma had a secret chat? Why didn’t you invite me and Grandma to chat? My brother and I haven’t even talked to Grandma yet!”

“She didn’t say yes, but she didn’t say no either,” Qiao Xinyi giggled. “But the incense burned smoothly without a hitch — that means she agreed!”

Fu Qingshan couldn’t help but reach out and gently tap Qiao Xinyi’s forehead. “You really are something. Who can argue with you?”

Fu Bailu grew up with Fu Shuzhen, both personally taught by the Fu patriarch. Since she’s so open-minded, Fu Shuzhen and the patriarch would be even more understanding.

“I’m going to find Aunt Bailu,” Fu Qingshan said, liking the idea. “I’ll take care of this this afternoon!”

He handed the two kids to Qiao Xinyi for help watching them, then left alone with the house deed.

It was still early, and Qiao Xinyi couldn’t stay in the guesthouse. The two kids were practically glued to their seats from restlessness, so when Qiao Xinyi said she wanted to go out for a walk, the kids were so excited they almost blew the roof off.