Chapter 80

Chapter 80

"Come back. Don't just go into the house when I speak; take it to heart." Wang Shoucheng was infuriated by Wang Qinghe's attitude.

Hearing this, Wang Qinghe paused and looked at him with an inexplicable expression. "Dad, you told me to hunt in the mountains, and I listened. You said I should go after bigger game instead of small prey, and I did that too. What else do you want from me?"

Wang Shoucheng was stumped.

What else could he ask him to do? He only had strength and hunting skills. Beyond that, there was nothing.

Why is the eldest so useless?

"Nothing else? Then I'll head back."

The casual tone of Wang Qinghe made Wang Shoucheng anxious. How did he get caught up in the eldest's words?

"Wait a moment. I have something to ask you. Have you heard any strange rumors in the village these past few days?" Wang Shoucheng looked at his eldest son, feeling nervous. If the eldest has heard rumors about missing children...

If only he had been nicer to the eldest over the years; how could he not be suspicious now?

It's bad luck that this has resurfaced after more than twenty years.

What's wrong with being harsh on someone else's son?

Wang Shoucheng felt a mix of emotions.

Seeing his father's demeanor, Wang Qinghe knew what he was thinking.

He shook his head. "What rumors? I've been in the mountains every day recently. I only went to the county with the second son yesterday and didn't hear anything unusual. Is there something happening in the village? Or is there something you need to tell me, Dad?"

"Huh? No, no, nothing. Alright, go back. By the way, stay in the mountains more often and don't wander around the village or the city." Wang Shoucheng panicked and quickly denied it, giving Wang Qinghe some instructions.

As for whether he can bring back any game from the mountains?

That's a minor issue!

Seeing his father's panic, Wang Qinghe knew that the people handling the matter must have already spread the rumors.

There's no need for further explanation.

His fear confirms that he wasn't abandoned.

Nor was he entrusted to them by someone else.

This family... In that instant, they all seemed despicable.

Wang Qinghe returned to the house, where Bai Xiuxiu was knitting a sweater while entertaining the two children with wooden blocks he had made for them to play with.

Seeing him return, Bai Xiuxiu finished the last two stitches of her sweater.

"You're back just in time. Try it on and see if it fits." Bai Xiuxiu handed the sweater to Wang Qinghe.

She had already finished the sweaters for the two children; this one was for him.

However, she didn't have enough yarn for the pants and would have to wait for her sister to send some.

Feeling the sweater in his hands, Wang Qinghe's foul mood from dealing with Wang Shoucheng vanished.

"Don't just stand there, put it on quickly." Bai Xiuxiu nudged him and pulled him onto the bed.

The blue yarn knitted into a simple sweater looked neither old-fashioned nor out of place on Wang Qinghe. His slightly soft black hair, slightly lowered eyebrows, beautiful clear eyes, delicate features, and almost unburnt skin complemented the plain sweater, making him look neat and clean.

Bai Xiuxiu loved his clean and handsome appearance.

Wang Qinghe rarely received such direct attention from his wife, who usually focused more on the children. Her intense gaze made him feel a bit uneasy, and he met her gaze uncertainly. "Does it look good?"

"It looks great, really great."

Bai Xiuxiu praised him sincerely, pulling him closer.

Hearing her words, Wang Qinghe felt warmth in his heart.

Seeing that his expression had softened from the coldness when he first entered, Bai Xiuxiu leaned close and told him about Zhao Guifen's hurried return earlier.

"Just now..."

Wang Qinghe also recounted what Wang Shoucheng had told him to his wife.

"Given their state, they will likely take the bait within two days." Wang Qinghe said, looking at his wife again.

"Xiuxiu, once we get the money and separate from the family, where do you want to live?"

Where to live?

Bai Xiuxiu suddenly remembered that in his previous life, when Wang Qinghe's business grew, during an interview, he was asked about his youthful desires. He said his greatest wish was to have a spacious house in the county with a small yard.

He wanted to come home every day to someone waiting for him.

Someone to eat the meals he cooked and listen to his laughter and chatter.

When asked why he still cooked after work, he looked out the window, smiling as beautifully as he did now, and said: Because it was for the person he loved.

Unfortunately, she couldn't share that life with him in the county because her death plunged his hopes and future into suffocating despair.

"Xiuxiu? Are you missing your sister and mother-in-law? Otherwise, we could ask if we can go to them?" Wang Qinghe looked at her gloomy expression and felt a bit regretful. Recently, Xiuxiu had been particularly missing her mother-in-law and sister, and his mention of where to live probably reminded her of her family.

"No such thing."

Bai Xiuxiu denied his guess, her gaze falling on the two children, a hint of anticipation appearing on her face: "I was thinking, could we buy a small courtyard in the county? The house should be spacious, but the yard doesn't need to be too big, just safe.

When I have a job, we can go to work together. If not, I'll stay home with the kids and manage my space.

We'll slowly make money and live well.

Oh, and we could buy a bicycle for you to learn traditional Chinese medicine from Uncle Zhang when you come back."

Wang Qinghe's heart raced as he listened to his wife's words.

Everything she said was exactly what he wanted.

At that moment, Wang Qinghe felt incredibly motivated.

Just as he was feeling happy, the village broadcast came on.

It announced that meat would be distributed.

Hearing about the meat distribution, the gloomy Wang Shoucheng immediately perked up: "Qinghe, Old Fifth, come with me to get the meat."

Today, their family needed to stand out a bit, and he had to show everyone that he treated his eldest son better.

So that no one would suspect that the eldest wasn't part of their family.

"Hurry up," Bai Xiuxiu urged him, seeing his unhappy face.

"I'll light the stove first and then go." Wang Qinghe wasn't in a rush; after helping his wife light the stove, he left the house.

Wang Shoucheng, who had been waiting outside for a while, saw smoke coming from their chimney and became even more annoyed.

So while he was urging them to hurry, they were lighting a fire inside?

When Wang Qinghe came out of the house, Wang Shoucheng was clearly displeased.

"Wang, I have a mail package for your family." Chen Chengcai arrived at the Wang family's door just as they were about to leave and quickly stopped him.