Although Han Ye kept saying he wasn’t going, young people were still growing, and they burned through a lot of energy. No matter how unwilling he was mentally, his body simply couldn’t hold out.
Just thinking about the roast chicken, roast duck, braised pork knuckle, meat buns, chive rolls, and boiled mutton at the restaurant was enough to make it impossible for him to resist.
So in the end, he still went to the restaurant to eat with the family.
Qiao Lanshu had handled everything concerning Liu Wenqiu’s family. Han Wenlin hadn’t gotten involved at all, so he was extremely grateful to Qiao Lanshu.
Qin Yuanzheng didn’t find out about the matter until after work, when he was already sitting in the restaurant eating with them.
At the table, Han Wenlin barely ate anything. He just kept thanking Qiao Lanshu.
Qiao Lanshu became embarrassed by his gratitude and said with a smile, “Director Han, you really don’t need to be so polite. Han Ye is my child too. He’s called me Mom since he was little, so anything concerning him concerns me as well.”
Then she added, “Besides, over the years, An’an and Xiaxia have often eaten at the cafeteria of your Public Security Bureau. You were the one who paid for their meals, and I never stood on ceremony with you about that. So you don’t need to be so polite with me either.”
Han Wenlin glanced at the three children sitting nearby and said emotionally, “Ah, it was only a meal. It cost a little money, that’s all. We’ve both been working for so many years—we understand that anything money can solve is a minor matter. As parents, what children need most is companionship. I’ve been so busy with work these past ten-odd years that I failed to spend enough time with Han Ye or guide him properly. That was my dereliction of duty.”
Han Ye fell silent and looked uncomfortable when he suddenly heard his father say something so sentimental. He rubbed his arm and said to Han Wenlin, “Enough, Director Han. Say a little less of that sentimental stuff. You’re making me lose my appetite.”
Han Wenlin glared at him. “I wasn’t saying it for you to hear. Why do you have so much to say?”
Han Ye: “…”
Han Ye covered his ears with both hands. Great—he had just felt moved for nothing. What a waste of emotion.
Han Wenlin turned back to Qiao Lanshu and said, “All these years, I’m so glad you were able to help take care of Han Ye. He never had a mother growing up, so he’s always been very dependent on you. You raised him well, too. You know that our whole family has always been deeply grateful to you.”
Qiao Lanshu was made even more embarrassed by his words.
After all, despite the many years their two families had spent in close contact, they rarely said anything so sentimental to each other.
Han Wenlin’s outpouring of emotion seemed to indicate that what had happened between Han Ye and Liu Wenqiu had affected him deeply.
Qin Yuanzheng had been sitting beside Qiao Lanshu, listening to them talk. At this point, he couldn’t help joining in. “Old Han, there’s no need to say all that. We’ve known each other for so long. We’ve simply helped and supported each other through all these years. As long as we understand that in our hearts, it’s enough.”
Over the years, Qin Yuanzheng and Qiao Lanshu had also often relied on Han Wenlin for help.
Qin Yuanzheng and Han Wenlin were not brothers, but they were closer than brothers.
Neither of them was from the area, yet they had worked, lived, and settled here for many years, with few relatives nearby.
That was why finding each other as friends—completely trustworthy friends—was so rare and precious.
Han Wenlin let out a long sigh and said with deep feeling, “I didn’t want to say all this either. It’s just that today, I suddenly realized that the child has grown up.”
He had always thought of Han Ye as a little boy.
In his memories, Han Ye had always looked very young.
So when he heard that Han Ye was dating a girl from his class, he was startled.
How old was the boy? How had he suddenly started dating someone?
At the time, Han Wenlin had been completely stunned. But now, taking a closer look at Han Ye, he realized that the boy was almost as tall as he was. He looked every bit like a teenager. How could he still be considered a little child?
Ah, he had been neglectful. Fortunately, there had been Qiao Lanshu.
It really was impossible to run a household without a woman.
…
Han Wenlin sighed and lamented for a while before picking up his chopsticks and standing to put some food in Qiao Lanshu’s bowl. “The beef here is quite good. Try it and see how you like it.”
Qiao Lanshu smiled and thanked him as she looked at the meat in her bowl, preparing to eat.
Qin Yuanzheng had been sitting beside Qiao Lanshu and listening for quite some time. He had finally figured out what was going on.
Expressionless, he picked up his chopsticks and reached over. With one swift, decisive movement, he took the beef Han Wenlin had placed in Qiao Lanshu’s bowl and transferred it into his own.
Qiao Lanshu and Han Wenlin both stared at him, utterly bewildered.
Qin Yuanzheng ate the beef. Only then did he look expressionlessly at Han Ye and say, “Han Ye, if you don’t want to study anymore, then go out and find a job as soon as possible. You seem to have plenty of energy every day. Why not go work at a construction site and carry bricks? The sites around here are short-handed lately. You’re strong enough to do the work of two people, so you can earn two wages and easily support yourself.”
Han Ye: “…”
Today, Han Ye had only done one outrageous thing, and he hadn’t even succeeded. Qiao Lanshu had caught him halfway and dragged him to the Public Security Bureau.
He had spent the entire day at the station, squirming with anxiety and enduring Han Wenlin’s criticism.
Now Qin Yuanzheng was making sarcastic remarks at his expense.
For this single incident, Han Ye had been lectured by his own father, then by Qiao Lanshu, and now by Qin Yuanzheng.
Three adults were taking turns scolding him, while his younger siblings were mocking him from the sidelines.
And yet he couldn’t talk back. He could only lower his head and shovel rice into his mouth, letting them say whatever they wanted.
What choice did he have? He was the one who had done something wrong.
He deserved it.
Han Ye lowered his head dejectedly. “I want to study! I never said I didn’t want to study! I really know I was wrong, so please stop talking about it.”
Qin Yuanzheng gave a cold snort and finally let the matter drop.
…
After dinner, Han Ye took Han Wenlin home.
Qin Yuanzheng, meanwhile, took Qiao Lanshu and the two children back to their own home.
The restaurant was very close to their house, so the family of four walked back.
Qin Yuanzheng and Qiao Lanshu held hands as they walked, while Qin Qiao’an and Qin Qiaoxia followed behind them, playing around and chattering away.
Qiao Lanshu said quietly, “Why did you eat the food Director Han put in my bowl just now?”
When Han Wenlin had seen Qin Yuanzheng place the food in Qiao Lanshu’s bowl, his expression had become rather peculiar. In short, the atmosphere had been quite awkward.
Qin Yuanzheng said solemnly, “He’s a widower. Why is he making such a show of attentiveness for no reason?”
Qiao Lanshu stared at him, astonished.
Qin Yuanzheng continued expressionlessly, “It’s bad enough that Han Ye calls you Mom every day. Now his father wants to join in too. Do you really think he doesn’t have ulterior motives toward you?”
Qiao Lanshu: “…”
She was speechless. In a low voice, she said, “Chief Qin, you really need to rein yourself in. I’m not a banknote—do you think everyone is going to like me? Director Han is such an upright and proper man. How could he possibly… Honestly, stop imagining things. Don’t think about nonsense like that in the future.”
She felt that over the past two years, Qin Yuanzheng had become more and more prone to jealousy.
He got jealous whenever she went home from work with a male colleague.
When she had gone to Beijing for training for six months and replied to his letters a few days late, he had also grown suspicious and suspiciously anxious.
And now, he had even started suspecting Han Wenlin.
The two families had been close for so many years that they practically treated each other like relatives.
If Qin Yuanzheng put it that way, then she would never be able to get along normally with Han Wenlin again.
Qin Yuanzheng’s expression was rather unpleasant.
He was dissatisfied with everyone, anyway.
Any single man who lingered around Qiao Lanshu made him suspect that the man had taken a fancy to her.
There was nothing he could do about it. Who could blame him when his wife was so outstanding?
She was beautiful, adorable, gentle, cultured, capable, excellent at her work, and accomplished.
Anyone who saw her would fall in love with her, wouldn’t they?
Thinking this, Qin Yuanzheng reached out and put an arm around Qiao Lanshu’s shoulders, pulling her close as he said, “You know I get jealous easily, so from now on, keep a little distance from other men. Don’t chat and laugh with them all the time. Don’t you know that some men aren’t good people? If you look at one, he’ll think you’re interested in him. If you smile at him, he’ll think you’ve fallen in love with him. Then he’ll start pestering you. When you reject him, he might even turn around and accuse you of flirting with him first. By then, you won’t be able to explain yourself even if you have a hundred mouths.”
Qiao Lanshu: “…”
Her expression was extremely complicated as she looked at Qin Yuanzheng, wondering whether he had been possessed by something.
The stern and serious Chief Qin was actually capable of saying things like that. If the soldiers under his command heard him, it would probably make the military’s internal news.
Qin Yuanzheng continued, “But our Xiaxia has a pretty good personality. She doesn’t pay attention to anyone, which is excellent. It saves us a lot of trouble.”
At that, Qiao Lanshu turned around.
She saw Qin Qiao'an darting around like an excitable puppy. He couldn’t even walk properly, jumping up to pluck leaves one moment, running laps along the roadside the next, and then rolling around on the ground.
A moment later, he was circling Xiaxia again. His mouth never stopped, chattering and muttering nonstop.
Xiaxia, meanwhile, quietly followed behind her parents the entire time, both hands in her pockets. She listened to her brother talk, nodding from time to time and responding with an “Mm,” hardly saying anything herself.
Qiao Lanshu turned back and said quietly to Qin Yuanzheng, “It’s really strange. Both of us have pretty normal personalities, so how did we end up with two children who are complete opposites—one so quiet and the other so energetic?”
Compared with them, Han Ye’s personality seemed pretty normal after all.
Qin Yuanzheng was puzzled too. “I think Xiaxia takes after you. She’s obedient and quiet, and she likes reading. It’s true that she doesn’t talk much, but you’re not exactly talkative either.”
Qiao Lanshu was a very quiet girl herself. She had been an obedient child from the time she was little, though she wasn’t quite as withdrawn as Xiaxia.
Qin Qiao'an, on the other hand, was far too energetic and far too fond of talking. In the past, he had always pestered Han Ye, who was willing to play with him and had saved Qiao Lanshu quite a bit of trouble.
Now that Han Ye was no longer around, Qin Qiao'an could only play with Xiaxia. What a handful he was.
Qin Yuanzheng added, “An'an definitely doesn’t take after me. I’m not nearly as talkative as he is.”
The couple chatted as they made their way home.
It was already getting late, so once they returned, they prepared for bed.
The next day, on her way to work, Qiao Lanshu stopped by to see Ms. Zhao.
When Zhao Yanfang saw her approaching, she got up and walked with her into the corridor outside the office. She asked, “Teacher Qiao, what brings you here? Are you here to ask about Liu Wenqiu? Nothing has happened on the Liu family’s side, so don’t worry.”
Qiao Lanshu smiled and shook her head. “No. I wanted to ask whether you’re free on Saturdays and Sundays. I’d like to ask you to tutor Han Ye.”
Zhao Yanfang taught mathematics, while Qiao Lanshu taught Chinese, so the two of them were perfectly suited to tutor Han Ye.
It was the first time Zhao Yanfang had ever heard of parents arranging tutoring for their child.
Teachers in those days were all very responsible, but even if a teacher was willing to give a particular student extra lessons, the student might not necessarily be willing to stay.
After all, once the children finished school, they still had to go home to do housework and farm work, help take care of their younger siblings, or cook for themselves.
Who had time to stay behind for extra lessons?
Zhao Yanfang was still young, passionate, and full of enthusiasm for teaching. Although she and Qiao Lanshu were about the same age—twenty-six or twenty-seven—she had previously been a sent-down youth and had spent several years living in the countryside.
After the college entrance examination was reinstated, she had managed to return to the city by passing the exam and getting into university.
Originally, she had been assigned to teach at a high school, but someone else had taken the position. Since she was from out of town, she was assigned to a middle school instead, where her salary was several dozen yuan lower.
Zhao Yanfang didn’t mind. As long as she could remain at a school and work as a teacher, she considered herself extremely fortunate.
No matter what, her life now was far better than it had been when she was a sent-down youth.
She smiled and said, “Of course I’m free. You know I’m from out of town. I have no relatives here, and I’m not married. I just stay in the staff dormitory on weekends, with nothing much to do. But is Han Ye willing to take extra lessons? He won’t cause a scene, will he?”
With Han Ye’s personality—he was so lazy that he could barely be bothered to attend class—she almost suspected that the sun had risen in the west.
Qiao Lanshu said, “He won’t make trouble. The lessons will be held at my house, and I’ll keep an eye on him myself. If he dares not to study properly, he’ll find out exactly what I’ll do to him.”
Zhao Yanfang looked at Qiao Lanshu with some envy. “Teacher Qiao, sometimes I really envy you. All your children are so good-looking, and they’re all so well-behaved.”
Qiao Lanshu smiled at her. “Once you get married, you can have a few of your own.”
Zhao Yanfang laughed and shook her head. “That’s still a long way off for me. I haven’t thought about those things yet.”
The two women discussed the matter and finalized the tutoring arrangements.
Based on what Zhao Yanfang knew, Han Ye was actually quite intelligent. Although he didn’t put much effort into mathematics, his grades weren’t particularly poor. He was somewhere in the middle of the class.
But getting into high school was difficult. There were only a limited number of places, and many students chose to apply to technical secondary schools to be on the safe side.
If Han Ye wanted to get into high school, he would have to study hard and improve his grades.
That meant he had to start reviewing mathematics from the first year of middle school.
When Qiao Lanshu left, she said to Zhao Yanfang, “Then it’s settled. From now on, come to my house every Saturday morning and give him two lessons. I’ll pay you at the end of each month.”
Zhao Yanfang didn’t stand on ceremony. She smiled and nodded. “All right. I’ll come over at nine every Saturday.”
They arranged for mathematics tutoring on Saturday mornings, Chinese and English in the afternoon, and Sunday as Han Ye’s free day.
The only problem was finding an English teacher.
After thinking it over, Qiao Lanshu decided to ask several of her university classmates whether they knew any English teachers.
And so Han Ye was arranged from head to toe by Qiao Lanshu.
From that day onward, he began two long years of grueling extra lessons.
