Chapter 89

Qiao Xinyi didn’t carry much cash when she went out; the money in the system she had earmarked for other uses, so she didn’t take it out. However, Fu Qingshan had left her plenty of cash and vouchers before he left. After leaving the guesthouse, she took the two children straight to the supply and marketing cooperative. Not to mention, the canned goods in Guan’an County were indeed easier to buy and much cheaper than at the provincial city’s supply and marketing cooperative.

Qiao Xinyi used all the vouchers she could and, after finishing shopping, took the two children to the post office, where she mailed many parcels, big and small. Then the three of them shared a 1.2-yuan ice cream, holding hands as they slurped their way back to the guesthouse to wait for Fu Qingshan.

Fu Qingshan didn’t return until almost ten o’clock at night, drenched in sweat from the heat when he came in the door.

“Have you and the kids eaten?” Fu Qingshan smelled slightly of alcohol. Knowing Qiao Xinyi was sensitive to smells and disliked the scent of alcohol and smoke, he spoke almost in a whisper and didn’t dare get too close to her. He handed Qiao Xinyi a food container. “Liu Po’s dumplings are delicious. I had her pack some for me to bring back. They’re still warm. You and the kids can share some.”

“Uncle, Bald Aunt took us to eat at the state-run restaurant tonight!” Fu Linzhou rubbed his sleepy eyes and asked, “Uncle, why are you only just back?”

“Did everything go smoothly?” Qiao Xinyi also asked.

“The whole town knows that Aunt Bailu’s husband died saving my dad. Today, Aunt Bailu went straight to the old leader who was in charge of the dam repair back then, and also to other town officials.”

“When they got home, Aunt Bailu didn’t mention adoption at first. She just said that since her husband died young, she had no children and now that she’s old, she needs someone to care for her. She hopes Zheng Youliang can pay her five yuan a month as old-age support.”

The people who had once urged Fu Shuzhen to consider the bigger picture were now turning to Zheng Youliang, telling him to act with conscience. They said Aunt Bailu’s husband died saving him, and now Aunt Bailu was old and struggling, forced by circumstances to ask for support. They told Zheng Youliang not to be ungrateful.

Everyone spoke their piece, spitting almost drowning Zheng Youliang. The elderly crowd practically pointed fingers and scolded him but didn’t let him get a word in.

Five yuan a month was basically a death sentence for Zheng Youliang.

Only then did Aunt Bailu say if he wouldn’t pay, then he could adopt out one of his sons to her to support her in old age and see her off.

When Aunt Bailu mentioned this, Zheng Youliang instinctively looked at Fu Qingshan.

With Zhang Zao impatiently egging him on from the side, Zheng Youliang agreed to the adoption without much hesitation.

Given the choice between paying five yuan a month or sending a son away, Zheng Youliang chose to send a son away without a second thought.

He thought, even if Fu Qingshan wasn’t adopted by Aunt Bailu, as a father, he wouldn’t get a single penny in filial support from Fu Qingshan.

Compared to paying five yuan out every month, it was definitely better to have Fu Qingshan adopted out.

After all, he still had two other sons. Adopting Fu Qingshan out wouldn’t cost him anything, and his family would have one less person to annoy him.

Between money and a son, Zheng Youliang firmly chose money.

“The adoption was witnessed by several old relatives from the Zheng family and town officials. Both sides wrote an adoption contract, and the witnesses signed it. That settled the matter.”

“Aunt Bailu paid for the stuff and vouchers and had two tables of adoption celebration dinner at one of the elder’s homes that night. That’s why I didn’t come back earlier.”

Fu Qingshan laughed and shook his head as he spoke, “Zhang Zao’s manners are terrible. The adoption contract had just been signed, and before the guests in the yard had all left, she was already telling them to pack up my room, saying I’m no longer a member of the Zheng family and can’t keep occupying a room in their house.”

“Aunt Bailu scolded her right in front of everyone, telling her that this was the Fu family’s house, not the Zheng family’s. She said the house would belong to the two brothers, Xiaozhou and Xiaoyu, and that Zhang Zao had no financial connection to it at all. She told her, as a temporary guest, to stop bossing around the Fu family’s house affairs.”

Zheng Youliang had been the head of the family for twenty years, and Zhang Zao had been married in for a long time, so after living together for so long, they had both forgotten the house belonged to the Fus, not the Zhengs. Fu Qingshan felt it was a pity; Qiao Xinyi, who loved a good drama, hadn’t seen just how ugly the looks on Zheng Youliang and Zhang Zao’s faces were at that moment. Especially when Aunt Feng said that once Zheng Youliang was gone, neither Zhang Zao nor her children would have the right to continue living in the Fu family’s house—Zhang Zao nearly fainted with anger then.

“I’ve already arranged for my friend to handle it. When we return to the provincial city, he’ll take the old house deed to reclaim the house. I’ve already given a heads-up to town acquaintances, and they’ll help my friend.”

“If Zheng Youliang asks why he has the deed but hasn’t reclaimed the house for so many years, my friend will say it’s because my elder brother’s children still live in town, and out of consideration for the two kids, he didn’t reclaim the house. Now that he knows I’ve moved to the provincial city with the kids and no Fu family members live there, he’s going to reclaim it.”

Grandpa Fu was generous when he was alive. Since some people wanted to save face for the Fu family and treated Fu’s descendants well, no one could find fault with this excuse.

Qiao Xinyi gave Fu Qingshan two big thumbs up.

Fu Qingshan smiled and wrapped her hand in his large palm.

“Aunt Bailu said you’re clever. She told me that when I was born, my mom mentioned to her about adopting me. Aunt Bailu didn’t agree then; she didn’t want me separated from my brother and worried it would make him sad.”

“When I mentioned adoption, Aunt Bailu laughed, just like you said. She said the adoption is just for show—a little ceremony to let outsiders know. She won’t burn incense to inform the ancestors. I’m still my mother’s son and still a descendant of the Fu family.”

After hearing this, Qiao Xinyi was silent for a long time, then patted Fu Qingshan’s shoulder with deep feeling, “Your dad and my dad are exactly like half-brothers with different mothers.”

But Zheng Youliang was still better off than Qiao Laiwang; at least he supported Zhang Zao and the two sons she later bore. To Zhang Zao and Zheng Dajiang and Zheng Dahe, Zheng Youliang was a useful head of the family.

The next day at noon, the four of them boarded the train back to the provincial city. After getting off the train, Fu Qingshan took the two children to see Qiao Xinyi off at the Li family home.

At parting, Fu Linzhou and Fu Zeyu clung to Qiao Xinyi’s legs, crying loudly.

“When I’m done with my work, I’ll come to the family compound to pick you up, and then we’ll go to the zoo to play,” Qiao Xinyi rubbed the two children’s heads.

“You two go home with your uncle first and help me get familiar with our future home,” Qiao Xinyi comforted the children, who immediately stopped crying, suddenly feeling responsible like they’d been assigned a task.

“Aunt Qiao, don’t worry, my brother and I will definitely do it! When you have time, you must come pick us up to go to the zoo, okay!” Fu Linzhou sniffled while holding Qiao Xinyi’s little pinky and gently shaking it, “Adults can’t lie to kids, so you must come~”

If Qiao Xinyi didn’t have to deal with helping Chen Yubing and Qiao Laiwang’s divorce after she got back, she would have taken these two adorable little guys straight to the zoo to play.