"Fengqin? Seventeen years old, she'll be eighteen next year." Qin Xiaoyu was surprised that she suddenly asked about Tang Fengqin.

"You'll be taking the college entrance exam next year, right? I like that kid." Commander Wang gave Qin Xiaoyu a meaningful look, and she suddenly realized, was he going to find her a daughter-in-law?

"It's time for the college entrance exam. The child is a good student, so I think he'll get into a good school."

"Girls don't really need to be that ambitious; a decent education is enough. By the way, we have a performance on the Lantern Festival; would you like to bring her to see it?"

"Aunt Wang, let's not beat around the bush with our relationship. Do you have a crush on her?"

"You're a clever girl," Commander Wang said with a knowing smile.

“Aunt Wang, there are some things I still want to say. I don’t agree with the idea that girls don’t need education. Fengqin is a very thoughtful girl, and I hope she can go far.” Qin Xiaoyu saw that the smile on Commander Wang’s face had disappeared; no one would be happy to be rejected.

“Little Fish, you have ambition. I can’t compare to you; my vision isn’t far enough,” Commander Wang said, his eyes lowered.

“Aunt Wang, have you considered Wang Lei’s thoughts? You saw Xiaoyue’s marriage; it was arranged by her parents, and children aren’t necessarily happy. What you approve of, he may not approve of. Forcing them together like this will ruin both of their lives. From what I know of Wang Lei, he has high standards and is an outstanding person himself, multi-talented and handsome. He may not want an ordinary woman as his wife. Perhaps Fengqin will catch his eye when she reaches a certain level. So, Aunt Wang, don’t rush things, let nature take its course.”

Qin Xiaoyu's praise of Wang Lei and denigration of Tang Fengqin immediately made Commander Wang feel much better. Thinking about it, it made sense, and a smile returned to his face.

"I'll listen to you. It's rare for me to find someone I like, and I'm afraid someone will snatch her away." Commander Wang was still unwilling to give up.

“If there’s a chance, I’ll let them get to know each other, but it’s after the college entrance exams, so don’t upset Fengqin. Once she’s in college, if they’re willing to be friends, then let them be. What do you say? If your daughter-in-law is well-educated, won’t the grandson she gives you be smart too? A boy’s intelligence is determined by his mother.”

"Whatever you say is fine, I'll listen to you! Of course, Hanhan is so smart, we'll just go along with you!" Commander Wang had no reason to disagree, and his face beamed with joy.

"Who are you talking about?" Zhou Xing's mother asked curiously as she arrived at the very end.

“You’ve met my niece, Fengqin, Mom.”

“That girl, she’s a real beauty, she’ll be extraordinary in the future. You have a good eye.” Zhou Xing’s mother sat down next to Commander Wang.

The younger sister leaned back from Commander Wang's arms, held up a biscuit, and fed it to Zhou Xing's mother.

"Don't eat anymore, or you won't be able to eat your meal later." Zhou Xing's mother coaxed her younger sister to take the snacks from her hands and led her to the bathroom to wash her hands.

"Sigh, back then, she was just as patient with Xiaoxing," Commander Wang sighed softly.

Dinner was already on the table when Zhou Xingcai returned, carrying bags and bags of snacks with foreign writing on the packaging. It turned out he had gone to Jing Tian's house.

"This little devil, I just managed to calm you down, and you brought out another bunch of stuff. Get them upstairs and put them away!" Zhou Xing's mother complained angrily to Zhou Xing.

"I ate a cookie, and my dad made me pay for it. I got it back, and you scolded me again. Aunt Wang, I have no standing in this family anymore." Zhou Xing said, both amused and exasperated, which made Commander Wang laugh.

During the meal, Commander Wang would steal glances at Zhou Xing and Qin Xiaoyu from time to time, trying to find any clues on their faces, but he was only disappointed.

After the meal, Commander Wang said she had to go back, and Zhou Xing offered to see her off. The two of them went out the door.

“Little Fish, your master came during the day and left you something.” Zhou Xing’s mother remembered something and took out a small black leather bag.

Qin Xiaoyu took it and opened it. Inside, it was wrapped in newspaper, square and heavy. She immediately understood.

She opened it and counted the money: ten thousand yuan.

"So much money?" Zhou Xing's mother was also a little surprised.

"My master is really something. She refused to accept it after I told her it was from the school. I'll send it back to her tomorrow."

“Yes, she’s the one who’s working hard to manage the school now, so we can’t accept this money. We should return it.” Zhou Xing’s mother was a reasonable person.

Qin Xiaoyu recounted Zhou Yue's daytime purchase of goods. Zhou Xing's mother was fine, but Commander Zhou listened with great interest, occasionally asking detailed questions.

“From now on, let Xiaoyue follow you. I didn’t realize this child was so promising,” Commander Zhou exclaimed.

"Yes, I always thought she was a bit silly, only thinking about marrying into a good family, having enough to eat and wear, having a child, and living a good life. Who knew..." Zhou Xing's mother couldn't continue.

"Sister Xiaoyue is kind-hearted and blessed with good fortune. She might meet someone she likes in the future. She's still so young, Mom, don't overthink it." Qin Xiaoyu defused the situation with just a few words.

"I can't argue with you. What would I do if you weren't around?" Zhou Xing's mother was speechless after Qin Xiaoyu finished her off.

Zhou Xing returned quickly, but he brought an uninvited guest with him.

He called Qin Xiaoyu over and said in a low voice, "Jing Tian is outside, drunk, and won't leave no matter how much we try to get him to leave. If it weren't for me, he would have been dealt with at the guard post. Go out and check on him."

Qin Xiaoyu had no choice but to put on her coat and come out.

Jing Tian could no longer stand; he was swaying unsteadily, and his breath reeked of alcohol.

"Sister-in-law, where is Wenwen? You must know where she is. Tell me, I will find her no matter where she is!"

"Ha, you want to see her now? What were you thinking when you broke up with her?"

"Sister-in-law, I'm a bastard, I'm a piece of trash, you can scold me, hit me, anything! Just give her back to me!" Jing Tian came over and tried to grab Qin Xiaoyu's hand, but Zhou Xing pushed him away.

"Get out of here, don't do anything!" Zhou Xing pulled him outside.

“I wasn’t talking to you, I was asking about my sister-in-law. Where is Wenwen? Give me a straight answer.”

"Fine, to put it bluntly, just pretend she's dead." Qin Xiaoyu felt disgusted by him and turned to leave.

"Stop right there! You're not leaving until you tell me today!" Jing Tian chased after them.

"Go back, sober up before you talk!" Zhou Xing pushed Jing Tian forcefully towards the door. Unexpectedly, Jing Tian was truly drunk and plopped down on the ground, acting like a spoiled brat.

In the dead of winter in Northeast China, it's freezing cold. He was only wearing a thin woolen coat; he was bound to catch a cold. Zhou Xing couldn't bear it, and as his childhood friend, he had no choice but to go over and help him up.

Unexpectedly, the drunkard was quite strong, and Zhou Xing couldn't handle him by himself. Qin Xiaoyu had to come over to help, lifting him up and placing him on Zhou Xing's back, and the two returned to the building.

"Who's this?" Zhou Xing's mother had been watching from the window. When she saw them come in, she hurried over to greet them. Only when they got closer did she recognize them. She said with displeasure, "Jing Tian? How come you're so drunk?"

"Let him sleep in the guest room; he'll freeze if he's left out like this."

"If he throws up, you'd better clean it up for me!" Zhou Xing's mother said angrily.