That morning, after washing his face, Zhao Aiguo casually picked up the Friendship Snow Cream from the bottle, scooped out a dollop, and applied it to his face, neck, and hands.

As Zhao's mother brought in the food, she said, "Grandson! How many times have I told you that you need to apply clam oil to your hands in winter, that's the only way to protect them. But you just want to save time and put on face cream, that'll make your hands chapped! Apply a layer of clam oil after it dries!"

Zhao Aiguo said "Oh," then frowned and said, "Grandma, do you think that crazy woman might try to film me?"

Zhao's mother was furious. This child had been running around and playing wildly with a group of teenagers lately! He'd picked up all sorts of nonsense. She'd scolded him several times. Where had he learned this incoherent nonsense from? And he was so stubborn, inexplicably convinced that Qi Zhifang had designs on him! She snapped, "What do you mean by 'shooting'? Where did you learn that?"

Zhao Aiguo blinked his big eyes and leaned closer to Qi's mother, gossiping, "Grandma, how come you're so out of touch? You're taking pictures of... you're taking pictures of old women! My brother Ming has already taken pictures of them! He even brought one out to show us the day before yesterday. My brothers and I chipped in money and went out for some baked buns!"

Zhao's mother put down her chopsticks and said unhappily, "Zhao Aiguo, what have you been learning all day? I was just wondering why you asked me for 50 cents the day before yesterday..."

"I went to give the wedding gift. My brother got a picture of the bride, so we have to have a meal together..." He covered his mouth as he spoke. Oh no, he let it slip. I shouldn't have told anyone! Brother Da Ming told me not to tell my family.

Zhao's mother sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and looked at Zhao Aiguo, saying, "Didn't Grandma tell you long ago? You shouldn't play with that Hu Daming. How did you end up getting involved with him? Look at what you've learned! I'll have your parents come and teach you a lesson later!"

"What are you cleaning up?" Zhao Dahu's face and hands were still dripping wet; he had just washed them and hadn't even dried them.

Zhao's mother glared at Zhao Dahu with annoyance, handed him a towel, and Zhao Dahu, wiping his face nonchalantly, asked, "What's wrong? Aiguo, what did you do to make Grandma get sore again?"

"What's the point of cleaning him up? This brat already knows what 'flirting with old women' means. He's always hanging out with Hu Daming from the Hu family in the front row. The other day he even asked me for 50 cents to buy some 'huoshao' (a type of baked bun) for his wife. If we don't do something about it, he'll become a troublemaker! If you, as his father, don't do something about it, it'll be too late."

Zhao Dahu's face darkened as he glared at Zhao Aiguo. "Can't you do anything productive all day?! Didn't I tell you not to get involved in those things? Why don't you understand? Hu Daming's goods will be in jail sooner or later! You want to stock them too?"

Zhao Aiguo lowered his head, tears streaming down his face. Just then, Zhao's father returned with the pot rings, fried dough sticks, and fried cakes he had bought. As soon as he entered the house, Zhao Dahu said, "Hurry up and tell your grandfather to keep an eye on things! Dad, you have to keep a close eye on Aiguo! He's getting involved with that Hu Daming from the front yard; he's bound to get into trouble sooner or later!"

Mr. Zhao put down the things he was carrying on the table. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Zhao Aiguo's pitiful, tearful face and his heart softened. He quickly picked up his precious little darling, who weighed about 100 pounds, and said, "Oh! My good grandson, don't cry. Starting today, we won't play with that brat Hu Daming anymore. He's not a good person. If you don't go to school and run around with those guys, I'll have your mother deal with you. Our family is all doing this for your own good. Would we ever harm you?"

Zhao Aiguo stammered and couldn't say anything. When Wei Shuqing came in, she saw Zhao's father holding the tearful Zhao Aiguo in his arms. She frowned and said, "Why are you snuggling into your grandpa's arms so early in the morning? Get down!"

Zhao Aiguo said "Oh," and sat down next to his father. His father said nonchalantly, "It's nothing, it's nothing. We're just getting to know each other. Come on, eat." He then put a fried pancake on Zhao Aiguo's plate and said, "Sweetie, eat a couple more pancakes. They're great with your grandma's millet porridge. It's really good for your stomach. Haven't you been craving this for over ten days?"

Then, looking at Wei Shuqing and the others, he said, "Hurry up and eat your meal before you go to work!"

After dinner, Zhao Dahu took Wei Shuqing to work, riding his bicycle along the way while humming the tune of "Defend the Yellow River".

At the factory gate, Qi Zhifang saw the two adulterers entering the factory with several close colleagues, chatting and laughing. She glared maliciously at Zhao Dahu and muttered, "You dog of a man, you're nothing but disgusting bastards among women!"

After hurling her insults, she walked gloomily into the factory, firmly believing that if she repeated herself a few more times, Zhao Aiguo would realize he wasn't a member of the Zhao family. Since she couldn't deal with the Zhao family now, she'd let Zhao Aiguo cause trouble for them. She was the typical "If I'm not doing well, no one else can either" type.