Chapter 21: Blame Grandma, Goodbye

Chapter 21 Resenting the Aunt, Reunion

"They say Professor Su's wife is with that child—the one born to Commander Qin's wife—playing over there." Li Hui fumed. How was she supposed to know Song Fenglan had such powerful connections?

Li Hui realized she hadn’t had time to do anything. At best, she’d buttered him up a few times, but Qin Yizhou completely ignored her. When Song Fenglan and her son came to join the army family, Li Hui hadn’t even approached them. It was her cousin who insisted on making those remarks.

If only her cousin hadn’t said those things!

Professor Su and his wife were highly respected, their reputation impeccable. Li Hui felt ruined.

Everyone would assume she was some homewrecker, scheming to ruin Qin Yizhou’s marriage, trying to be the other woman.

"Cousin, there’s nothing between me and Commander Qin. Don’t you dare spread that again," Li Hui said. "Now when I walk outside, I can’t even walk slow—gotta bolt."

Li Hui was afraid people would ask about her and Qin Yizhou, afraid they’d mock her. She never imagined things would escalate like this. If she had known, she would’ve stopped her cousin from saying those things.

Yes, Li Hui had felt a petty thrill when her cousin spoke ill of Song Fenglan. But if trouble really came knocking at her door, she didn’t want to face it.

"Say? What’s there to say now?" Shi Guilan scoffed. "Everyone’s siding with Song Fenglan. Do you know? Commissar Zhao’s wife personally went to offer her a job, and she refused! She’s got it out for me, making sure everyone knows she won’t forgive me."

Shi Guilan’s expression was grim. Normally, people exchanged a few words and then forgave each other—why drag it out? But Song Fenglan refused to let it go. Shi Guilan had heard Song Fenglan initially agreed but later changed her mind.

Shi Guilan believed she had only spoken a few extra words at the broadcasting station. After making a lengthy self-criticism, wasn’t she entitled to some frustration? Song Fenglan was making a mountain out of a molehill. Shi Guilan decided she didn’t need Song Fenglan’s forgiveness—she hadn’t done anything wrong in the first place.

"Cousin, just ignore her," Li Hui said.

"It’s not about me ignoring her. She’s the one targeting me," Shi Guilan retorted. "Who knows what she’ll do next?"

Shi Guilan thought Song Fenglan was cunning and sinister. Even though Song Fenglan hadn’t confronted her directly, Shi Guilan was still suffering. She was obsessing over who had reported her, narrowing it down to a few suspects but couldn’t be sure.

Without proof, Shi Guilan couldn’t barge into someone’s home and demand, "Was it you who reported me?"

That wasn’t realistic. Even if someone had reported her, they’d never admit it. If they had wanted to speak up, they wouldn’t have done it anonymously—they’d have used their real name.

"By the way, come by for supper tomorrow," Shi Guilan said. "I’ve got a match for you."

"That fast?" Li Hui blinked.

"So what if it’s fast?" Shi Guilan huffed. "I’ve talked to your brother-in-law and Mrs. Zhao. We need to find you a match quickly."

"It’s not like it has to be this urgent," Li Hui said hesitantly. "This matter—"

"Urgent? Of course it’s urgent!" Shi Guilan cut in. "If you stay single, people will think you’re still hung up on Commander Qin. Then your brother-in-law will blame me again. All these years, I’ve told you to find a good match, but you never did."

Back then, Shi Guilan had thought it wouldn’t be bad if Li Hui could change Qin Yizhou’s mind and make him divorce. So what if she’d be his second wife—as long as Li Hui married Qin Yizhou, it would’ve been perfect. Shi Guilan herself was a second wife and saw nothing wrong with it.

"I…" Li Hui opened her mouth but couldn’t speak. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to find someone, but no one else measured up. Those who were better were already married. Who would wait for her?

Eligible men her age were taken.

"Cousin," Li Hui took a deep breath. "If you’re introducing someone, make sure they’re good. No deadbeats."

"I won’t introduce you to any deadbeats," Shi Guilan said. "If I did, wouldn’t you blame me?"

Mrs. Su made rounds through the compound with Qin Zihang for a long time, driving the point home that Song Fenglan was their niece and Qin Zihang their grandnephew. In her youth, Mrs. Su hadn’t been one to endure insults quietly—her temper hadn’t been as mild as it was now. She’d lain low for years.

Since her husband treated Song Fenglan as his own niece, Mrs. Su naturally couldn’t refuse to support her. Mrs. Su had been abroad with her husband—her life revolved around her family. But overseas, she hadn’t done much beyond caring for her husband and children.

"My great-nephew, with him around, I'm never bored."

"It's nice to have a child nearby—it livens things up."

"Captain Qin's wife is my niece, yes, it's her, no mistake."

...

Mrs. Su didn’t take Qin Zihang to visit the Zhaos, nor did she bring him to the Xus. She just chatted with her usual acquaintances while keeping the child close. The housing complex was small, and those who heard her words would surely spread them further, so more and more people would come to know.

Qin Zihang didn’t fully understand what Mrs. Su was up to, but he knew how to cooperate with her.

"Great-aunt, I don’t want Mom to be bullied."

"Great-aunt, I’ve been good! I haven’t done anything bad, and neither has Mom."

"Great-aunt, I’m three years old now, very big!"

...

Soon, folks started wondering when Shi Guilan had introduced someone to Qin Yizhou, and they recalled that while Qin Yizhou’s wife was pregnant, Shi Guilan’s cousin had tried to move in on him. As women themselves, they all knew how difficult pregnancy could be. Life as a military wife was hard enough as it was—with their husbands away, they often had to take care of everything at home alone.

They couldn’t help putting themselves in her shoes—if they were treated that way, they’d never stand for it!

Qin Zihang was sharp and knew how to play along with Mrs. Su. Watching him, Mrs. Su found him absolutely precious—how could there be such a cute kid?

As for the gossip, Mrs. Su knew how it worked. She wasn’t born yesterday, and she wasn’t about to let Shi Guilan get away with it.

When Song Fenglan arrived at the Su residence after work, Mrs. Su was giving Qin Zihang a bath. Song Fenglan hadn’t brought any spare clothes, so Mrs. Su had bought some earlier for the child. She had washed them right away, and since the weather was hot, they dried quickly. Now, they were ready for Qin Zihang to wear.

Though it was called helping him bathe, Mrs. Su had merely poured the water and slightly closed the bathroom door.

Qin Zihang insisted he was a big boy now, a boy who had to bathe by himself—no women allowed to help. Unable to persuade him otherwise, Mrs. Su simply let him wash on his own.

On such a hot day, since Qin Zihang hadn’t rolled around in the dirt, he wasn’t very dirty. A quick rinse was enough.

A minute later, Qin Zihang emerged from the bathroom, having dressed himself—though his clothes were on backward.

"Mom!" The moment he saw his mother, he ran up to her.

"You got dressed all by yourself?" Song Fenglan smiled.

"Did I do good?" Qin Zihang spun in a circle in front of her.

"You did great, really great! Keep practicing, and next time you can dress yourself again!" Song Fenglan patted her son’s head.

"Have you eaten?" Mrs. Su asked.

"Yes, at the cafeteria at work. The food there is quite good," Song Fenglan replied.

"That’s good. Would you like to sit for a while?" Mrs. Su offered.

"No need, I’ll take him home. Auntie, thanks for watching him," Song Fenglan said.

"What trouble? I’ll swing by early tomorrow to get him," Mrs. Su said.

"I’ll bring him over," Song Fenglan said, uncomfortable with the idea.

"I’m your aunt, Hangbao’s great-aunt. Don’t be so formal with me," Mrs. Su said with a smile. "If you can focus on your work, then everything I do is worth it. Really, no need for fuss—your uncle didn’t force me into this."

Professor Su hadn't returned yet; he was still working late at the research institute. Song Fenglan wasn't working overtime—it was her first day there. As the workday neared its end, there were still many tasks left, but Professor Su said Song Fenglan should go home early to rest, saying she needed proper rest for work. Besides, Song Fenglan had a child to care for, and working late on her first day wasn't right.

Most importantly, Professor Su noticed that Song Fenglan's thinking was fresher and more direct. Simplifying complexity and introducing fresh concepts—someone like Professor Su could grasp them immediately, but that didn't mean others would.

Professor Su needed to guide the others in thinking more deeply, so others wouldn't think Song Fenglan's ideas were too easy.

Geniuses were different by nature—ordinary logic couldn't be used to understand them.

"These are new clothes!" Song Fenglan noticed the outfit on her child.

"Yes," Mrs. Su said. "You haven't been here long, right? He doesn’t have many clothes. I bought him two sets so he’d have something to change into when he’s here. We also have a sewing machine at home—I could whip up some more. Hangbao told me you made clothes for him. You're quite skilled."

"Just simple ones," Song Fenglan replied. "My mother taught me."

"Your family..." Mrs. Su sighed inwardly. The Songs must have been good people, but they got caught in hard times. "It’s alright. Once you achieve something, things will get better for your parents soon."

Others couldn’t help the Song family much—it ultimately depended on the Song family themselves.

"Yes, they’ll be able to return to the capital soon," Song Fenglan said. Even if she hadn’t joined the institute, her parents would have been rehabilitated in a day or two. She wanted to do more—she couldn’t just wait passively.

"Mom," Qin Zihang tugged at his clothes, "is this on wrong? I can’t feel my skin."

"You put the front and back on backward. The front is lower," Song Fenglan said. "Come on, take it off. I’ll help you change."

"Hangbao is very sensible. I offered to bathe him, but he said no—he’s a boy," Mrs. Su said. "So I didn’t help. I just left the bathroom door slightly ajar and talked to him. If anything happened, I could go in."

Mrs. Su recalled an incident where a child from the Fang family, not even a year old, had fallen headfirst into a bucket of water. Though she had only given Qin Zihang a small basin to bathe in, she still had to be cautious.

"We need to teach him about boundaries," Song Fenglan said. "Children don't know better and might misbehave."

She didn’t want her son to grow up lifting little girls’ skirts. That wasn’t right.

In her past life, she had seen five- or six-year-old boys pulling up young women’s skirts, with their mothers making excuses like, "He’s just a child," or "It’s the adults who have dirty minds." To Song Fenglan, those young women weren’t the boys’ relatives—it was different. A mother shouldn't force her views on others or always use "he’s just a child" as an excuse.

Parents needed to teach their children proper behavior from a young age.

"You’re doing a great job as a mother," Mrs. Su said, looking at Song Fenglan with admiration. She knew how hard it must be for her. "Want to stay a bit longer?"

"No, I’ll take him back now," Song Fenglan said.

"Alright. I’ll come pick him up tomorrow morning," Mrs. Su said.

"Thank you." Song Fenglan bowed slightly.

"Dear, I said no need for thanks," Mrs. Su said. She was a woman who understood duty. Her husband often worked late, but she never complained—she managed the household impeccably. "With Hangbao around, my life isn’t so dull. Children bring energy, vitality... they’re delightful."

"Say bye to Auntie," Song Fenglan said.

"Bye, Auntie!" Qin Zihang waved.

Song Fenglan didn't want to trouble Mrs. Su with washing Qin Zihang’s clothes, so she took the dirty ones home. Tomorrow, when Mrs. Su came over, she could prepare some clean clothes for him. Originally, Song Fenglan had planned to bathe her son herself, but Mrs. Su's kindness surprised her.

As mother and son walked home, Qin Zihang was bubbling with excitement.

"Auntie took me out to play," he said, holding Song Fenglan’s hand. "They all said I was such a good boy!"

"Yes, our Zi Hang is wonderful," Song Fenglan said. "You're the best, Zi Hang."

"I said that too, I'm Mommy's precious little one," Qin Zihang said. "Mommy loves me the most."

"Yes, that's right," Song Fenglan replied.

"Auntie fed me eggs. She said eating more will help me grow taller and be even taller than Daddy in the future," Qin Zihang said, jumping a little and then tugging his pants to see if they’d fall.

"Did you thank Auntie for the new clothes?" Song Fenglan asked.

"I did," Qin Zihang said. "I said, 'No, no, I don’t need them!' But Auntie said she still had to buy me two sets so I could change into them. Auntie said we’re family—no need to stand on ceremony."

"Your auntie and uncle are very kind," Song Fenglan said, feeling truly awkward. She had no blood relation to Professor Su and his wife, yet they treated her so well—she didn’t even know how to repay them.

When Song Fenglan and her son returned home, Qin Yizhou had just arrived. He hadn’t eaten yet, while Song Fenglan and their son already had. Qin Yizhou simply cooked some dough-flake soup for himself instead of going to the canteen.

"Uncle got me into the research institute. From now on, Auntie will help with the baby," Song Fenglan said. She didn’t expect her mother-in-law to help—it wasn’t happening.

Song Fenglan had only met her mother-in-law a handful of times. When she was pregnant and gave birth, her mother-in-law just brought a chicken and left. Truth be told, she wanted nothing to do with them either.

They blamed her for holding him back and disliked her. Fortunately, she didn’t live with the Qin family, or life would have been even harder.

"Everything’s settled then?" Qin Yizhou asked.

"Yes, it’s settled," Song Fenglan said. "I won’t be teaching at the middle school—I’ll work at the research institute instead. That way, no one can accuse me of jumping the queue for jobs. Not to be rude, but those people wouldn’t have been able to get into the research institute anyway. This means I’ve opened up a spot for someone else."

Song Fenglan didn’t care if people thought she was easy to bully. She just knew that if she didn’t take the middle school teaching job, they wouldn’t be able to blame her later if their kids didn’t perform well. The best solution was to keep her distance to avoid unnecessary trouble.

"When I get home early in the future, I’ll pick up Zi Hang," Qin Yizhou said. "If I’m late, you’ll have to go get him."

"That’s fine," Song Fenglan said. "Auntie said if we don’t come back, Zi Hang can stay with them for the night. She’s doing this for Uncle’s sake and for my late uncle’s sake. That’s why they’re willing to help us so much."

Qin Yizhou knew it wasn’t that simple. Professor Su didn’t just let anyone in—Song Fenglan must have real ability.

"Want a bite?" Qin Yizhou said, looking at Qin Zihang, who stared back at him.

"No," Qin Zihang shook his head. "I’m full."

"Just one bite," Qin Yizhou said. Under his son’s hopeful stare, how could he refuse?

"That’s your dad," Song Fenglan said when their son glanced at her. Naturally, she wouldn’t stop him.

Qin Zihang took a bite and shook his head. "Yucky."

"He doesn’t like dough-flake soup, but when he sees others eating it, he gets curious and thinks it must be good," Song Fenglan said. "Kids are like that—everything’s new and exciting to them."

"You watch him first. I’ll go take a bath and wash the clothes," Song Fenglan said.

She was efficient. By the time she finished bathing and washing the clothes, Qin Yizhou had already eaten and cleaned the dishes.

Qin Zihang had been out for a long time today and was now telling his father all about his day.

"Auntie took me out."

"Auntie bought me clothes. Auntie took me to play."

"Auntie said I’m very well-behaved. Auntie cooked for me—there were eggs."

...

Qin Zihang leaned close to his father and whispered, "Auntie saves all the treats for me."

Since Auntie Yu had her own grandchildren, Qin Zihang naturally wasn’t exactly spoiled while staying there. Auntie Yu inevitably favored her own grandchildren, and sometimes when Qin Zihang saw other kids getting snacks that he didn’t get, he wouldn’t make a fuss but would still get upset. When his mother returned home, he’d even say in a small voice, “Mom, they all got treats, but I didn’t.”

Song Fenglan didn’t blame Auntie Yu. Given the distant relationship, it was already a favor of Auntie Yu to help look after Qin Zihang—how could she demand equal treatment? So Song Fenglan would take her son out for extra meals, getting him something special.

“I like Auntie’s place better,” Qin Zihang said.

Just then, someone came to call Qin Yizhou—his family had called.

Qin Yizhou told Song Fenglan and carried Qin Zihang along to call back home. Since he no longer stayed in the army quarters, his family wasn’t aware.

Only after many days had passed did the Qin family realize Song Fenglan and her son weren’t in the capital. Qin Yizhou’s parents rarely paid attention to Song Fenglan, occasionally asking Sister-in-law Qin to check on them. But Sister-in-law Qin hardly ever did, just pretending she had, feigning compliance. Even the items Qin’s mother asked her to pass to Song Fenglan and her son, Sister-in-law Qin either kept for herself or only gave a small portion—after all, Qin’s mother and Song Fenglan couldn’t compare notes.

It was his mother who called. She had gone to Auntie Yu’s place during the day—it had been a while since she last saw Qin Zihang, so she thought she should visit. Only then did she learn that Song Fenglan and her son had gone to live with Qin Yizhou. Others even asked his mother why she didn’t know.

His mother was embarrassed. They had never paid much attention to Song Fenglan and her son.

Earlier, Sister-in-law Qin had said Song Fenglan and her son wouldn’t move to join Qin Yizhou, likely unable to endure the hardship, calling Song Fenglan fragile. His mother thought her elder daughter-in-law made sense—Song Fenglan didn’t seem cut out for army life.

Truthfully, his mother was a little biased against Song Fenglan, and the rest of the Qin family weren’t too fond of her either.

"Mom," Qin Yizhou called back from a phone booth, and his mother answered.

"Song Fenglan and the child are with you now?" His mother asked.

"Yes, they arrived a few days ago," Qin Yizhou replied.

His mother went quiet for a beat. "It’s good she’s there with you. A married couple shouldn’t live apart for too long."

Putting her feelings aside, his mother still hoped Song Fenglan and her son would move to the base so her son wouldn’t be alone there.

"How is Zi Hang?" His mother asked.

"He’s fine," Qin Yizhou said, scooping up his son. "Say something to Grandma."

"Grandma, goodbye!" Qin Zihang said.

Qin Yizhou didn’t expect his son to say that. He turned his head away—his son didn’t like his grandmother.

His mother visited Qin Zihang only a handful of times a year, sometimes even complaining his clothes were dirty, blaming others for not taking good care of him. Children are perceptive—Qin Zihang sensed her dislike and didn’t like her either.

Some grandma she was. Qin Zihang didn’t miss her at all.

Hearing this, his mother was put out, wondering if Song Fenglan had taught him to say that. But Song Fenglan hadn’t. During New Year’s, she had taken Qin Zihang to visit Qin’s parents, but their attention was clearly on Sister-in-law Qin’s children—they paid little attention to Qin Zihang.

Sister-in-law Qin’s children also were kind of mean to Qin Zihang, so he naturally avoided them. His mother mistakenly thought Song Fenglan stopped Qin Zihang from playing with his cousins, but in reality, it was Sister-in-law Qin who forbade her children from playing with Song Fenglan’s son, afraid he’d be a bad apple.

"It’s good Zi Hang is with you now. I only found out they were gone when I visited the Yu family today," His mother said. "They didn’t even say anything before leaving."

"They arrived here safely," Qin Yizhou said, knowing his wife and son rarely interacted with his parents. Even when he and Song Fenglan registered their marriage, his family had been unhappy.

Qin Yizhou rarely went home, and his visits were brief—there was no way to reconcile the conflicts. He didn’t want his wife and son to suffer, so when he heard the edge in his mother’s tone, he didn’t criticize them.

"With them by my side, I can look out for them," Qin Yizhou said.

"..." This stung even more. Was his son blaming them?

"Mom, is there anything else?" Qin Yizhou asked. "There are a lot of mosquitoes outside, and Zi Hang’s skin is sensitive."

"Is your wife with you?" Mother Qin asked.

"No, she's at home washing Zi Hang's clothes," Qin Yizhou replied.

"Has she found a job?" Mother Qin pressed. "If not, no worries—she can stay home and take care of the baby. Her aunt isn’t there to help her with the child either."

"Her aunt’s here with us," Qin Yizhou answered. "She helps take care of the child."

"Aunt? Who?" Mother Qin frowned. "Does the Song family have relatives there?"

"Just someone we know," Qin Yizhou said vaguely, avoiding mentioning Professor Su and his wife. Some things were better left unsaid. "No need to worry about us. Feng Lan has a steady, good job, and the child is well taken care of. You don’t need to bother."

Besides, Qin’s parents had never shown much concern for the child—it was always Song Fenglan who handled everything.

"Dad, it’s itchy," Zi Hang spoke up, holding up his chubby little hand, which was covered in red bumps.

"We’ll head back soon," Qin Yizhou reassured him before asking about his father’s health. After exchanging a few more words, he hung up.

After the call, Qin Yizhou picked up Zi Hang but didn’t head home immediately, deciding instead to take a walk outside first.

"You don’t like Grandma?" Qin Yizhou asked.

"Grandma doesn’t like me," Zi Hang said. "She says I’m dirty. She scowls at me."

"Wasn’t Mom with you?" Qin Yizhou asked.

"Mom has to work to support me. Auntie is there," Zi Hang replied. "I don’t like Grandma. Not at all. Grandma has her favorite grandson, and I’m not her favorite."

Qin Yizhou sighed. "Does Mom know?"

"Mom knows, but she still takes me to see Grandma," Zi Hang said, upset. "I don’t want to go."

Zi Hang didn’t realize they were going to the Qin household until it was too late. Once he did, he would fuss and refuse to go.

Song Fenglan felt for her son. She couldn’t keep taking him to the Qin family, nor did she want them thinking they were begging.

"We’re not beggars," Zi Hang declared. "We’re not asking for anything."

"That’s right, you’re not," Qin Yizhou said, patting his son’s head. He worried about how much his wife and son had suffered without him. "If you don’t like Grandma, you don’t have to visit much."

Qin Yizhou had already decided that if they ever returned to the capital, they would live separately from his parents. He wouldn’t let his wife and son be treated unfairly, nor would he ask them to endure hardship for his sake.

"Dad, aren’t you upset?" Zi Hang asked. "Grandma is your mom."

"I’m not upset," Qin Yizhou replied. "It’s complicated. If Grandma doesn’t like you, you don’t have to like her either. But you still have to call her Grandma."

"I do call her that," Zi Hang said. "But they still scowl at me—and at Mom."

Qin Yizhou hadn’t heard much about this from Song Fenglan. At most, she mentioned not staying long at the Qin household. But hearing this now, he knew she’d been putting up with it quietly. He always deferred to her decisions, though sometimes he felt powerless—unable to confront his parents for her sake without making her seem like a troublemaker.

Since he wasn’t always in the capital or by Song Fenglan’s side, calling did no good—they’d just hang up on him.

"Stick with Dad from now on," Qin Yizhou said. "Don’t be afraid. If they bully you, tell me."

"Auntie said not to tell," Zi Hang mumbled.

"Your auntie…" Qin Yizhou sighed. They were probably just trying to avoid causing trouble for Song Fenglan and her son, but it meant Zi Hang had to keep quiet.

Zi Hang was just a child. People assumed adults were putting words in his mouth, not realizing kids pick up on things more than adults think.

"Don't tell others, but you can tell Mommy and Daddy," Qin Yizhou said. "You're Mommy and Daddy's special little one, and we'll protect you."

"Don't you protect Mommy too?" Qin Zihang tilted his head. "Auntie said not to tell Dad."

Qin Zihang quickly covered his mouth, but children don’t understand such things—he just blurted it out.

"You can tell us," Qin Yizhou said. "If anybody messes up, whether it's Mom or Dad, it’s not okay, understand?"

"Oh," Qin Zihang replied.

Staff Officer Xu returned home with a bad attitude toward Shi Guilan. He now knew Song Fenglan was the niece of Professor Su and his wife, which unsettled him. Professor Su was someone their military unit would go to great lengths to protect—what the hell was Shi Guilan thinking?

He used to think Shi Guilan did well, but now she'd let him down big time.

When you're down, everyone kicks you. Some even told Staff Officer Xu that Shi Guilan treated her two stepdaughters poorly—hadn't he seen how scared they acted? That wasn’t obedience; it was fear.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Maybe he shouldn’t have married Shi Guilan in the first place. He had thought that since she was from his late wife’s hometown and a distant relative, and seemed good with children, it would work out.

He'd messed up. Big time!

Shi Guilan saw her husband return with a face like thunder and knew it was likely about Song Fenglan.

How was she supposed to know Song Fenglan had such powerful backing? Had she known earlier, she would never have crossed her.

Shi Guilan was the type to judge people by their status. For example, she wouldn't dream of crossing Political Commissar Zhao’s wife, but she treated the wives of lower-ranking soldiers like dirt.

"You... you know?" Shi Guilan asked.

"I’m neither deaf nor blind," Staff Officer Xu said. "In a few days, I’ll have... the girls’ grandma on their mom's side come over."

"Grandma?" Shi Guilan frowned. "My mother—"

"Not your mother," Staff Officer Xu interrupted. "Their grandma on their mom's side."

He had considered asking his own mother to come but decided against it—she'd probably play favorites with the boys. The Fang family was a prime example: Grandma Fang didn’t care for her granddaughters, and one almost drowned from being ignored.

If he wanted his daughters to have a good life, bringing their grandma on their mom's side was the best option.

Staff Officer Xu had once promised his late wife's picture to help support her family and take care of her mom in her old age.

"Wouldn’t that be... difficult? Food's rationed," Shi Guilan said. "With an extra mouth to feed, won’t we run short?"

"We both draw paychecks. It’s not like we can’t afford it," Staff Officer Xu shot back.

"But—"

"Or would you rather take the kids back to the backwater hometown?" he shot back.

Shi Guilan absolutely did not want to return to her rural hometown. If she went back, folks would think her husband had dumped her—that he'd grown tired of her. That was unacceptable.

She couldn’t let others think she'd been dumped. She and her husband were fine.

"Alright, have her come then," Shi Guilan conceded reluctantly.

"You’re family by marriage," Staff Officer Xu said. "When I married you, I did so with their approval."

"..." Shi Guilan was unhappy. This was his late wife’s mother, not hers. It meant another boss over her head—how was she gonna live with that?

Qin Yizhou carried the child home, not letting the child mention anything about Qin Yizhou’s mother. He told Song Fenglan himself that Qin Yizhou’s mother had called, saying she knew they were there.

"Before coming, I went over there," Song Fenglan said. "I met your sister-in-law, and then I came here."

Sister-in-law Qin had looked at Song Fenglan with utter disdain, acting superior. Before Song Fenglan could even speak, Sister-in-law Qin had snapped, "Why are you here?"

She even told Song Fenglan to stay away, saying people might talk if they saw her around all the time. Song Fenglan didn’t repeat those words—since Qin Yizhou hadn’t witnessed it himself, he might not believe her.

Some people only trusted what they saw with their own eyes, dismissing anything else as hearsay.

"Sister-in-law... she gave you a hard time?" Qin Yizhou said.

"I’m a grown woman, and even I have my limits," Song Fenglan replied. "Later, when we go back, Zihang and I won’t visit as much. You can go more often—by yourself."

"My brother and I have grown up, each with our own families now," Qin Yizhou said. "We can’t be as close as before. There’s no need to see each other so often."

"Fine, do what you want," Song Fenglan said. The institute even gave her work clothes, which she could wear on the job.

"Mom!" Qin Zihang dashed over to Song Fenglan.

"Qin Zihang! Qin Zihang!" Zhang Xiaohu called from the doorway.

Zhang Xiaohu was back to see the puppy. Song Fenglan and her husband worked outside, feeding the dog twice a day. They could also bring back scraps from the canteen for the dog. Song Fenglan had Qin Zihang go to Mrs. Su’s place, not wanting to burden her with the puppy too.

Qin Zihang accompanied Zhang Xiaohu to see the puppy while Song Fenglan and Qin Yizhou stood nearby watching.

"Do we keep anything sensitive at home?" Song Fenglan asked.

"No," Qin Yizhou said.

"I’ll give the spare key to Auntie," Song Fenglan said. "The child’s clothes are in the next room, and the bed is made. The apartment building’s stuffier, but our place is cooler. Auntie can take care of the child here too. Since the two places are so close, she can choose where she wants to stay."

Song Fenglan treated Mrs. Su like free childcare—they didn’t even pay her. She thought they could stock up on groceries in the morning and share whatever they had at home. She wasn’t asking Mrs. Su to cook for them, but if Mrs. Su needed anything, she could take it from their place. They had rice, flour, and oil, and the yard was spacious enough for Qin Zihang to play in.

"Works for me," Qin Yizhou said, feeling a little ashamed. His own parents had barely taken care of Qin Zihang, while Song Fenglan’s family had stepped in. "No problem at all."

After Qin Yizhou’s mother finished her call with Qin Yizhou, she sat in the living room, in a foul mood.

"Has your sister-in-law arrived there yet?" Sister-in-law Qin asked.

"Yes," Qin Yizhou’s mother said.

"Mom, don’t be upset. Since when does she bother telling us anything?" Sister-in-law Qin said. "You know her attitude. Back when she was pregnant, you asked her to stay with us, and she refused."

Sister-in-law Qin had even gossiped, hinting the baby might not even be Qin Yizhou’s, since he had left soon after they registered their marriage. She treated Song Fenglan with contempt, like Song Fenglan was some gold digger.

"Sigh," Qin Yizhou’s mother sighed. "Let’s hope she doesn’t stir up trouble there."

She worried Song Fenglan might cause trouble for Qin Yizhou, jeopardizing his future.

"Honestly, it’s better she went to join him," Sister-in-law Qin said. "If she stayed with her aunt, folks’ll assume we kicked her out, that we mistreated her. When others ask me about it outside, I wouldn’t even know how to respond."

She made it sound like it was some huge scandal. "Talking to her is pointless. She’s not like us—she was raised differently. Oil and water don’t mix. Forcing it won’t work."

"Drop it," Qin Yizhou’s mother said. "They’re both adults. Let them live their own lives."

Sister-in-law Qin didn’t mention Song Fenglan’s earlier visit, and Qin Yizhou’s mother remained unaware.

That night, Qin Yizhou made the bed in the next room. When Qin Zihang saw this, he wrapped himself around his mom’s leg. "Mom, am I still your baby?"