Chapter 113 He's not young anymore, he's going to jail.

"If we really put him in jail, he..."

"He should be imprisoned!" Qin Yizhou said. "This is the capital, and it would be the same anywhere else. Qin Li'an made a big mistake, and he should take responsibility for his actions."

Brother Qin returned home dejected. He went to find other people, but none of them would help him.

Because of the evidence and the fact that the girl was willing to date Qin Li'an, Qin Li'an was sentenced to three years in prison.

When Song Fenglan learned that Qin Li'an had been sentenced to three years in prison for treason, she felt he deserved it. Back in the 1970s and 80s, hooliganism was a very serious crime. If it had happened a few more years and the national laws had changed, Qin Li'an might not have had to go to jail, and the two families might have reconciled.

Song Fenglan believes that reconciliation in this matter is a mistake. Qin Li'an forced himself on that girl, who was forced into the relationship by her parents. Now that Qin Li'an is in jail, that girl is waiting for him, or if she doesn't want to wait, she'll just have the Qin family give her a large sum of money.

The Qin family felt that since Qin Li'an was already in jail, the matter was considered closed, and they absolutely couldn't give him that much money. So they decided to let the girl wait, giving her some money in the meantime to stall, preventing her from turning against Qin Li'an later. As long as the amount given wasn't small, the family wouldn't cause any more trouble.

Song Fenglan found it laughable; who cared whether the girl was willing or not? Everyone was only thinking about themselves.

"Qin Li'an is no good. He has no future and is always idle. How could that girl say she's dating Qin Li'an?" Song Fenglan said this while she was walking with Qin Yizhou in the courtyard. She still felt angry about it.

"I was forced by my parents. They felt that their daughter's innocence was gone, and that she should be with Qin Li'an. Besides, my older brother's family is quite well-off," Qin Yizhou said. "There are still parents willing to marry their daughters to Qin Li'an in exchange for a large dowry."

Qin Yizhou learned a little about the situation. The girl's family didn't have much money, and the whole family was crammed into a small house. The family thought that since the deed was already done, they naturally had to find a way to get more benefits than just let Qin Li'an go to jail. Without any benefits, their daughter's innocence would have been ruined for nothing.

Brother Qin was thinking of getting Qin Yizhou to cancel the case, for example, by finding a way to change the girl's age to be older, so that Qin Li'an wouldn't have been accused of raping a minor. Even if Qin Li'an wasn't very old, he made a big mistake and should be held responsible.

"How pitiful," Song Fenglan said. "By the time Qin Li'an gets out, it will be three years later."

“Whether it’s three years or five years, as long as there are benefits, they’ll agree,” Qin Yizhou said.

"It's pathetic," Song Fenglan said. "Many parents don't stand by their daughters; they all think that their daughters have ruined their reputations and brought shame upon them."

Song Fenglan naturally wouldn't go to see Qin Li'an. When Qin's older brother came to see Qin Yizhou, Qin Yizhou didn't say much to Song Fenglan. Song Fenglan was also busy with work, and few people told her about the Qin family. By the time she learned about the Qin family's situation, Qin Li'an was already close to being sentenced.

Tian Keshu felt sorry for Qin Li'an, but there was nothing she could do. Weng Guoqiang breathed a sigh of relief; it was good that Qin Li'an was in jail, because then Tian Keshu wouldn't have to keep giving him money. Tian Keshu just couldn't bear to call the police on Qin Li'an; she preferred to give him money every week.

Now things are really messed up. Qin Li'an's background was already bad, and now it's been worse.

"Actually, it's good. This way, others can't easily accuse him of being a spy. If he were judged to be a spy, he would be shot on the spot and wouldn't be allowed to live," Weng Guoqiang comforted Tian Keshu.

Tian Keshu sat at the dinner table, unable to eat. That was her biological son, not Weng Guoqiang's. Weng Guoqiang always said things like that. If she could, Tian Keshu wouldn't want her son to go to jail. Tian Keshu had sought help from many people, but to no avail. She was very disappointed; the Qin family was useless.

Qin Yizhou, as the uncle, didn't even try to help his nephew. Qin Li'an went to jail, and his life is ruined. His life, which was already mostly ruined, is now completely destroyed.

“He is alive…” Tian Keshu opened her mouth, “He is still young. This time, he did this because others encouraged and provoked him.”

"He's sixteen years old, still young, still young," Weng Guoqiang said. "He's become like this because you all spoiled him. He wants money, so you give him money. If you don't give him money, will those thugs keep hanging out with him? Those thugs only hang out with whoever has money."

In court, Qin Li'an claimed that other thugs instigated him, and they admitted it. They said they were just joking and didn't expect Qin Li'an to actually go. Joking is common; everyone jokes, but who would think someone would take it seriously? To absolve themselves of responsibility, those thugs all said this: the main culprit could only be Qin Li'an; he raped the girl, and the other thugs didn't hold her down.

The more Tian Keshu thought about Qin Li'an, the more headaches she got.

“It’s all your fault that he’s gone!” Weng Guoqiang emphasized. “I told you long ago not to give him so much money, but you insisted. Just because I’m his stepfather doesn’t mean I’m a bad person. Why should I force you to keep the money? Now look what’s happened, he’s in jail. You can continue to save money, and after he gets out, you can continue to give him money, let him continue to cause trouble, and let him spend the rest of his life in prison.”

"Stop talking," Tian Keshu said. "He's already in jail. When he gets out, he'll have learned his lesson and won't do it again."

Tian Keshu firmly believes that Qin Li'an will change for the better; he's in jail, not enjoying himself outside. Tian Keshu also thinks the Qin family is useless; Qin's parents should have asked Qin Yizhou more often, and perhaps he would have helped.

Early in the morning, Aunt Qin came to visit the Qin family. Qin's mother's eyes were red and swollen from crying. Qin's mother had also tried to see Qin Yizhou, but he either avoided her or simply said there was nothing he could do, which made Qin's mother particularly heartbroken.

"This son is utterly useless. He won't even help his nephew," said Qin's mother. "Does he feel any pride if Li'an goes to jail?"

“You can’t blame him for this. There are all sorts of powerful people in the capital. Who knows, someone might be waiting for Yizhou to make a mistake so they can bring him down,” Aunt Qin said. “If you have to blame someone, blame you for not educating Qin Li’an properly, allowing him to make such a big mistake. You should be glad that Qin Li’an is still young and that the woman’s side is easy to fool. Otherwise, it wouldn’t just be three years in prison. A few years ago, he would have been executed.”

"Shoot, shoot, shoot," Qin's mother thought. These people only knew this word; they couldn't say anything else.

Qin Li'an is at an age where he's curious about sex. Without guidance, he's hanging out with those hooligans, which could easily lead to problems. His family wants him to work, but he refuses. He just wants to take the money and have fun, without any intention of working hard.

Now look what's happened, Qin Li'an has become like this, and Qin's mother is still blaming Qin Yizhou.

The problem clearly lies with Qin's mother and her ilk. Instead of reflecting on her actions, Qin's mother has grown increasingly disgusted with Qin Yizhou and the others.

“Li’an is still so young, can’t his uncle think of a solution?” Qin’s mother said. “Does he really have to go to jail? I’ve tried to see him several times, but he avoids me. When I finally manage to see him, he says he can’t do anything. I should have never had him…”

“The way you’re saying these things now, not only will Yizhou think you’re biased, but everyone else will think you’re biased too. You’re biased towards Qin Li’an and don’t care about the future of the others,” Aunt Qin said. “If Qin Li’an can force himself on that girl now, he can kill and commit arson later.”

Aunt Qin found the thought terrifying. "His going to jail is better for you all, not just for Yizhou, but even better for you. You..."

Instead of teaching him, let him go to jail. He'll learn his lesson and know how to correct his mistakes.

They can't always say that Qin Li'an is too young, so they try to smooth things over for him.

"That girl too, wearing such a short skirt and such short sleeves, she..."

"You're a woman too, how can you say that?" Aunt Qin said. "Don't you want to wear nice clothes?"

"I'm already so old, what kind of nice clothes do I need to wear?" Qin's mother said.

"If you don't wear it, then others can't?" Aunt Qin said. "A person with a bad heart sees nothing as good. I still maintain that Qin Li'an should go to jail. If you still blame others because of him, then that's your fault. No wonder Yizhou and the others don't want to talk to you. If they did, you would have taken advantage of the situation and gone to torment people."

"I didn't," Qin's mother refused to admit.

Qin Li'an went to jail; he never expected it to end like this. Qin Li'an thought his father and grandmother would help, and that those people would definitely find a way to get him out. When he learned he was sentenced to three years in prison, he couldn't believe it.

When Qin Li'an was first detained, he wasn't afraid. He'd only raped a woman; it wasn't a big deal. Yes, Qin Li'an thought it was a minor matter, and that his family would definitely help him resolve it. Who knew his family said there was nothing they could do?

Qin Li'an asked his father to talk to his uncle, but his father said his uncle couldn't help, and Qin's older brother's hair had turned quite a bit gray. Qin's older brother was already having a hard time at work, and now with his son's incident, he was even called in for a talk by his superiors. Although he wasn't fired, Qin's older brother was still feeling terrible.

Brother Qin can't give up his job; he's already this age, and it won't be easy for him to find other work. The main problem is that Brother Qin doesn't have any special skills; his bureaucratic manner might not be useful elsewhere.

With Qin Li'an gone, the house is much quieter, and there are fewer things to do.

Qin Li'an's older sister, Qin Ya, couldn't very well say anything about how her family treated Qin Li'an. Her father and grandparents had gone to great lengths to ask for help for Qin Li'an's sake; he was such a disappointment. Qin Ya and Qin Li'an were siblings from the same parents, so naturally she was more on Qin Li'an's side. Unfortunately, Qin Li'an was too foolish; how could he do something illegal just to seek thrills?

By doing this, Qin Li'an was essentially giving You Yun's child a chance. The family would only spoil You Yun's child even more. Qin Ya thought that once her younger brother was released, her grandparents' hearts would likely be with You Yun's child. Three years—not a long time, not a short time—could change a lot.

Qin Ya had once considered moving out after graduating from vocational school, but now she dared not even think about it. If she moved out, once Qin Li'an was released, there would be even less place for him in the Qin family. Qin Ya still hoped that her older brother could leave more for Qin Li'an; she and You Yun's child could never be close, and You Yun now wouldn't even allow Qin Ya to have much contact with her youngest brother.

You Yun was wary of Qin Li'an and Qin Ya. She believed that even if Qin Ya hadn't done anything wrong now, things might change in the future.

After Qin Li'an's incident, Qin Yizhou was also somewhat affected. Everyone knew that Qin Li'an was his nephew, and some leaders even reminded Qin Yizhou to be careful, meaning that Qin Yizhou shouldn't get too caught up in it.

With the matter settled, Qin Yizhou was no longer so tense. Qin Li'an should bear the consequences of his own mistakes.

"My older brother has a lot more gray hair." Qin Yizhou saw his older brother outside today. His older brother didn't have so much gray hair before. "He's also much quieter now."

“Whose fault is this?” Song Fenglan said, “When Zihang was very young, Qin Li’an wanted to take all the benefits and never thought about making things easy for Zihang. Your mother was also protecting Qin Li’an. Zihang was only two or three years old at that time. Such a small child did not even reach out to grab the food on the table. If he even glanced at it, it would all be Zihang’s fault.”

Song Fenglan would always remember Qin's mother's disdain for Qin Zihang. If Qin's mother wouldn't give Qin Zihang those things, Song Fenglan would. It was just some food; Song Fenglan wasn't without options.

“Yes, it’s their fault for not disciplining Qin Li’an properly,” Qin Yizhou said. “They all spoiled Qin Li’an. In the beginning, my elder brother and his family only had Qin Li’an as their son, and they gave him all the good things. Tian Keshu didn’t educate Qin Li’an well when she was in the Qin family either.”

“Tian Keshu was able to hide the things for me and Zihang, so there’s no way she didn’t expose Qin Li’an. Nor could she have taught Qin Li’an to be good to his cousins,” Song Fenglan said. “Tian Keshu only teaches Qin Li’an to be selfish and to keep all the good things for himself. Even after Tian Keshu divorced your older brother, your mother still spoiled Qin Li’an. If she had disciplined him properly back then, maybe she could have turned him around.”

“You’re right,” Qin Yizhou sighed. “I didn’t dare tell you those things before, afraid that you would feel upset.”

“Yes,” Song Fenglan said, “They didn’t look for me.”

“They wouldn’t dare to come after you, for fear you’d kick them when they’re down,” Qin Yizhou said.

Qin's mother and the others all knew that Song Fenglan disliked the Qin family. Song Fenglan no longer set foot in the Qin family home, and Qin Zihang didn't go there either. They were all worried that if Song Fenglan saw Qin Li'an in trouble, she would try to kill him. As for getting the Song family to help Qin Li'an, that was even more impossible.

The Qin family thought the Song family would only be happy, but the Song family wasn't happy at all. An innocent girl had been ruined by Qin Li'an; what was there to be happy about? Qin Li'an and the Song family didn't have much contact anyway; they had always kept to themselves.

"Am I that kind of person?" Song Fenglan asked.

"No," Qin Yizhou said, "I'm afraid of implicating you."

“It doesn’t have to be that bad,” Song Fenglan said. “Now that I know, I think Qin Li’an should go to jail.”

The laws at this time are still quite good; don't just let things slide. Qin Li'an is no good; if we release him, he'll only make bigger mistakes in the future.

“At least nothing worse has happened yet,” Song Fenglan said. “If he kills someone, that would be even worse.”

"That's what I told my parents too," Qin Yizhou said. "Mom was still very sad, and she told me not to go there again."

"Do you still want to go?" Song Fenglan asked.

"I'm not going," Qin Yizhou said. "Mom already said that, why would I go? Her precious grandson is the most important thing!"

Qin Yizhou didn't not want to go see his mother; she wasn't doing well. But there was nothing he could do there; his mother would get angry just seeing him. Qin Yizhou felt he had already done enough, but his mother was still dissatisfied.

Earlier, Qin Yizhou had specifically invited his elder brother and father out for dinner, all because of Qin Li'an's situation. He asked his elder brother and father to keep a close eye on Qin Li'an, and they readily agreed. However, all they did was send Qin Li'an to Tian Keshu's place for a few days and give him a smaller room. They didn't actually teach Qin Li'an a real lesson.

In this way, Qin Li'an felt that even if he made a mistake, the Qin family would cover for him and wouldn't treat him too badly. When Qin Li'an was hanging out with thugs, Qin Yizhou also mentioned it when he delivered New Year's gifts, but the Qin family didn't take it to heart.

The Qin family was too lenient with Qin Li'an, showing him tolerance and forbearance in every way.

“Qin Li’an is too old, they can’t hit him, they’re afraid he’ll hold a grudge,” Song Fenglan said. “So many people use this excuse. When the child is young, they say the child is too young and they’ll hurt him; when the child is older, they say the child has memories and will resent them. They just pamper the child every day, as long as they’re happy.”

“I’m not happy now,” Qin Yizhou said. “Li’an is in jail.”

“He deserves to learn a lesson,” Song Fenglan said. “You’d better not interfere too much and don’t think about getting him out sooner.”

"No, I didn't expect him to get out sooner," Qin Yizhou said. "Three years isn't a long time. By the time he gets out, he won't even be twenty years old. If he realizes his mistake and knows how to live a good life, then there's nothing else to worry about."

"Mm." Song Fenglan nodded.

Qin Li'an's days in prison were difficult. His fellow inmates asked him how he got in. None of them were kind to him; some were ruthless and even made him do chores. Qin Li'an didn't dare utter a sound; he was no match for them.

In the Qin family, Qin's mother was truly ill this time, looking weak and listless. Qin's second sister went to visit her mother, and looking at her lying in bed, she couldn't help but think that her mother would one day be ruined by Qin Li'an.

“Your brother is truly cold-blooded and heartless,” Qin’s mother said. “If your brother had been willing to help, your nephew wouldn’t have gone to jail…”

"So how many people have you told about this?" Second Sister Qin asked. "Tell more, keep telling, let more people know, that's good. Let them know that your younger brother didn't interfere in Qin Li'an's affairs, and didn't let Qin Li'an only get a three-year prison sentence."

"I..." Qin's mother opened her mouth.

"I heard that the girl is pregnant," said Sister Qin.

"What?" Qin's mother's eyes widened.

"That girl is pregnant," said Sister Qin.

"Whose child is this?" Qin's mother asked.

"Whose child could it be? Qin Li'an's, of course," said Qin's second sister. "You were sick, so your eldest brother didn't tell you. Do you want this child? I heard the woman's family plans to have the baby and then register their marriage with Li'an later."

"Ah!" Qin's mother couldn't accept this.

"My brother means I should talk to you properly. That girl's house is very cramped, and he means she wants to move in," said Qin Erjie. "Later on, you'll be the ones taking care of her during her postpartum period. Mom, you care so much about Li'an, so please treat that child well."

"No, what will happen to Li'an if she gives birth to the child?" Qin's mother said.

“Li’an is in jail. He has to take responsibility for what he did,” said Sister Qin. “She was an innocent girl, and she became like this because of Li’an. Do you think she was willing to give birth to Li’an’s child? Li’an has ruined her life.”

The young girl is being forced into this situation by her parents. They believe the Qin family is providing financial support and owns a large house, so they want her to marry Qin Li'an. They also believe she can take some things back to her parents' home from the Qin family later. It's worth noting that the Qin family lives a very comfortable life; they have a large house and can even rent out other properties. Other families don't have such a large house and can't live so comfortably.

"She still has to come," said Sister Qin.

The young girl was timid and timid, completely bewildered. In court, she acted according to her parents' wishes. Although she was clearly being forced, her parents accepted money, so she claimed that her relationship with Qin Lian was voluntary.

It wasn't voluntary; being forced was being forced. The young girl felt that being with Qin Li'an was the only option left. She had no other means of survival and hadn't considered abortion, so she had no choice but to give birth.

Qin Erjie had met that little girl; she was a pitiful person who had no choice but to listen to her elders because she couldn't make her own decisions.

"Let her live outside," Qin's mother said.

"How can she live alone outside?" Sister Qin said. "Or are you willing to give her biological parents more money so that they can take care of her during her postpartum period? Is that possible? It is possible, but that money will not end up in the girl's hands, but in the hands of her brothers."

Qin Erjie believed that since Qin Li'an had wronged the girl, the Qin family should take responsibility. If the girl wanted to abort the child, they would accompany her and let her be raised in the Qin family. If the girl stayed at her parents' home, those people would tear her apart.

Even though Qin's mother was unwilling, the little girl still moved into the Qin family home.

When Song Fenglan learned of this, the young woman was already more than three months pregnant. The young woman, despite her pregnancy, looked rather haggard.

Later, when the young woman was more than four months pregnant, she miscarried. Terrified, she was unable to conceive again.

After the girl's miscarriage, Qin's mother wanted her to leave. Qin's father, however, didn't let her go; instead, he allowed her to continue living in the Qin family home. The girl's name was Gu Qian. The Gu family was poor and lived in a small place. After Gu Qian's miscarriage, it was even less likely that they would take her back; they wanted her to stay with the Qin family.

The Qin family allowed Gu Qian to stay, as it would be difficult for her to do anything else for the time being.

"What a tragedy!" Song Fenglan exclaimed to her mother.

When Song's mother brought food to Song Fenglan, Song Fenglan told her about the little girl.

“Isn’t this a terrible thing?” said Song’s mother. “Such a young girl, and now she’s in this state. It’s so embarrassing.”

"Yes," Song Fenglan said. "That young girl has been staying at the Qin family's house. Do you think the Qin family would treat her well?"

"If you can't give me a friendly look, there's nothing I can do. Do you still want to interfere?" Song's mother asked.

"I won't get involved." Song Fenglan shook her head. Despite her sympathy, she knew that if she intervened, things wouldn't be so simple.

The girl's family wants her to stay in the Qin family and marry Qin Li'an. If I interfere, they'll only cause trouble for Song Fenglan and demand compensation.

A dysfunctional family of origin can have a profound impact on a child. When a child gets involved with others, their family of origin will inevitably come into play. The family of origin is essentially a lifelong issue; there's no way to escape it.

That little girl is still in the capital, and she's so young. A young girl running around like that is easily abducted. Even though others are helping her, they can't offer her much more assistance.

The girl had long since stopped going to school and had no skills; if she were to work, she could only do the simplest tasks.

"Don't interfere on a whim. If you do, you'll be responsible for that young girl's entire life," said Song's mother. "Can you take that responsibility?"

“No,” Song Fenglan said. “You have to rely on yourself to figure things out. Only then can you avoid it.”

"I can't help her," said Song's mother. "Don't worry, you don't need to worry about this. The Qin family will find a way. They will try to arrange a suitable job for her and then help her marry someone else if possible."

The Qin family would never actually let Qin Li'an marry that girl; Qin's mother would definitely want him to marry someone better. Qin Li'an went to jail because he raped that girl, and even if it wasn't her fault, the Qin family still felt uneasy about her.

Just as Song's mother said, the Qin family wanted to get rid of Gu Qian. Gu Qian was too young, not even a minor, not even sixteen years old, making it difficult for her to find work. However, Qin's mother still wanted her aunt to find Gu Qian a job, preferably one with dormitory accommodation, so that Gu Qian could move in.

“If there were such a good job, someone else would have already snatched it up,” Aunt Qin said. “She’s still so young, too young.”

“I feel uncomfortable when she’s here,” Qin’s mother said.

Gu Qian's miscarriage was also largely due to Qin's mother.

"Let her go to another city, without waiting..."

In the capital. "Is there a way?" Qin's mother asked.

"Where would I get a solution? I'm from the countryside too," Aunt Qin said. "I only know a handful of people. It's not impossible for her to go to another city, but would the Gu family be willing?"

Who would be willing to leave the bustling capital for another city? Aunt Qin thought to herself that she herself would not want to go to another city.

"This won't do, that won't do, are we just going to let her stay at home like this?" Qin's mother said.

"Wait until she recovers," Aunt Qin said. "I think that girl is quite pretty, and she's just listening to her parents. If you give them more money, as long as you give them enough, they can remarry their daughter and get another dowry. They'll definitely be willing."

Aunt Qin was telling the truth. There was basically only one way to completely get rid of that girl. Other methods existed, but they were too offensive and inappropriate. This method only required the girl to make a sacrifice, getting the Gu family to sign a document preventing them from causing trouble in the future.

At the end of the year, the young girl returned to the Gu family, and the Qin family gave her a large sum of money. The Gu family was satisfied with the money and finally relented. After the New Year, the young girl left the capital; no one knew where she went. She couldn't bear the suffocating living conditions, nor did she want to see the pitying looks from others, or hear people gossiping about her behind her back.

The young girl contemplated burning herself and everyone else alive. Before setting the fire, she went to a shopping mall. She wanted to buy herself a pretty dress, but didn't have enough money. She happened to run into Song's mother, who recognized her and paid for it. Song's mother also spoke to Gu Qian, saying that life was long, even widows could remarry, let alone someone like the young girl, and gave Gu Qian some money.

Then, the little girl stopped thinking about dying; she wanted to live, and she wanted to try her best to live.

Song's mother didn't tell her family about giving money to Gu Qian; it was just a chance encounter. Gu Qian took the money, but she didn't tell her family. On the day she left the capital, her family was still scolding her, making her work, and saying that some family needed a wife and they should send their young girls there.

Time flew by, and it was the year Qin Zihang and Zhang Xiaohu were to take the college entrance examination. Zhang Xiaohu was admitted to a very good high school after his junior high school entrance examination. At that time, Fatty's wife and her husband were especially happy. Fatty's wife even bought candy to give to others so that everyone else could share in the joy.

Now, Zhang Xiaohu is about to take the college entrance examination, and his wife is a little worried. Zhang Xiaohu ranks around 10th or 20th in his grade, which is enough for him to get into a university in the capital. But getting into a prestigious university like Tsinghua or Peking University is out of the question.

The portly woman asked Song Fenglan what other good schools were in the capital. Song Fenglan replied that there were many excellent universities in the capital, such as the Postal University, the University of Political Science and Law, and the Normal University. She added that people tend to focus more on Tsinghua and Peking Universities, overlooking the other universities in the capital.

“After Xiaowen became a teacher, he was lucky enough to be assigned to a primary school near us,” said the plump woman. “Many of his students were assigned to rural primary schools, and it’s not easy for them to come back to the city.”

The plump woman always felt that her prayers and offerings to Buddha were the right thing to do. Her eldest son stayed at the nearby elementary school as a teacher, and many people were eyeing Zhang Wen, wanting to arrange marriages for him. The plump woman always said it was up to Zhang Wen himself; if he made the right choice, then it would be fine, and she wouldn't say more.

“Many students at their primary school are waiting in line to be allocated housing,” said the plump woman. “Xiao Wen isn’t married yet, so if he wants to live at school, he’ll have to stay in a dormitory with multiple people. He’ll have to wait until he gets married before he can get in line for housing.”

“Yes, that’s fine,” Song Fenglan said.

"What kind of university do you think Xiaohu should apply to?" the fat woman asked. "I don't know anything about it."

“There are so many schools, let’s see what kind of university he likes,” Song Fenglan said. “It’s not that he has to go to the same school and major as Zihang. Zihang wants to apply to Capital University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, which is the school where I teach. He wants to work in the same industry as me in the future, majoring in aviation, and our school is the best. Xiaohu can also apply to the National Defense School. If there are other better universities, he doesn’t have to focus on schools in the capital.”

Although Zhang Xiaohu always wanted to get into a university in the capital, there are many things that can't be controlled by wishful thinking; it also depends on the quality of the university and the quality of the major.

"I heard him say before that he wanted to be a lawyer or something," said the plump woman.

“If he wants to be a lawyer, then he should go to a university specializing in political science and law,” Song Fenglan said. “He has to work hard on his own. There’s no one to guide him, and it’s not an easy path. Once you’ve made your choice, you should take that path.”

"Is there another university of technology?" the plump woman asked.

“Yes, the University of Science and Technology.” Song Fenglan nodded. “The University of Science and Technology, and some other schools are also very good. Students are snatched up before they even graduate, and some even go to work in classified units.”

"Are there any other translators?" the fat woman asked again.

“Yes, you can study foreign languages ​​and become a translator,” Song Fenglan said. “Being a translator is possible, but becoming a translator or diplomat is not easy. If you want to do it, then work hard.”

Song Fenglan knew that Fatty's family didn't have such good connections, and Zhang Xiaohu wasn't Song Fenglan's biological son. Song Fenglan couldn't keep paving the way for Zhang Xiaohu indefinitely, so she naturally used her own son's connections first.

It wasn't that Song Fenglan wanted to say something unpleasant, but Zhang Xiaohu was quite different from those children from wealthy families. Those children from privileged backgrounds had been exposed to different things from a young age and had seen many different situations. Zhang Xiaohu, on the other hand, seemed much more ordinary. If he were to walk with those people, he would find that in terms of speech, demeanor, clothing, and so on, his excellent academic performance in school was nothing compared to theirs.

It's not that Zhang Xiaohu can't work in those industries; he can, as long as he wants to and tries his best. Even if he doesn't succeed in the end, at least he tried, so there's no need to be disappointed.

Fat Sister had heard a lot about these things, but she didn't really understand them. She just thought what others said sounded very sophisticated. Fat Sister also wanted Zhang Xiaohu to become a successful person and have a brighter future.

"Sigh." Aunt Pang sighed, "Hearing you say that makes it even more difficult for me. Actually, I know this without you saying it. In this world, connections are very important. Without someone to guide you, many things are difficult to do. It's right for Zihang to do the same thing as you. With you leading the way, he can avoid detours. I'll ask Xiaohu and see what he thinks."

“Okay,” Song Fenglan said.

After school, Zhang Xiaohu watched

His mother sat in the living room, looking bewildered. He asked, "Mom, have I done anything wrong lately?"

"Do you want to be a lawyer, a judge, or a translator?" the plump woman asked. "Zihang wants to be like his mother, what about you?"

“Me?” Zhang Xiaohu said, “I’ve thought about it. If I study at a university in the capital, and I want to stay in the capital after graduation, I’ll have to find a job myself. I can’t expect to be able to stay in the capital when I’m assigned a job. That’s too difficult.”

“Tell me the school and major you want to study,” said the plump woman. “There are so many universities; you have to choose one that you can get into.”

“I want to study engineering, high-tech fields,” Zhang Xiaohu said. “Even something as simple as welding and tightening a screw is quite extraordinary. But then again, I also want to be a judge, to uphold justice.”

"You want this and you want that, why don't you just fly to the sky?" Fatty glared at Zhang Xiaohu.

"It's not decided yet, is it? Can't I think about it some more?" Zhang Xiaohu said. "Many people haven't thought about what major they want to study. By the way, architecture is a good major, it's about building houses and bridges."

“Choose your major carefully. You can choose for yourself; we won’t force you,” said the plump woman. “If it really doesn’t work out, don’t apply to a university in the capital; apply to one in the south.”

“No, I still have to go to a university in the capital,” Zhang Xiaohu said. “I want to go to the capital to see a wider world.”

"Go see them, go see them," said the plump woman. "Choose a good school and a good major. We won't force you. Don't come crying to us if you don't get in."

"If we don't pass the exam, we'll retake it," Zhang Xiaohu said.

"Do we have that much money to let you repeat a grade?" the plump woman asked. "Study hard and try not to repeat a grade, understand?"

“I know,” Zhang Xiaohu said.

Aunt Pang was extremely worried about Zhang Xiaohu. He was about to take the college entrance exam, and there was so much to worry about. Aunt Pang even dreamt that Zhang Xiaohu failed the exam and everyone was laughing at her.

In front of Fan Yani, the fat woman told her about her dream.

“Dreams are the opposite of reality,” Fan Yani said. “Your Xiaohu has such good grades. As long as he performs normally during the exam, he will get into a good university. Don’t worry.”

“I wasn’t this nervous when he took the high school entrance exam. I was extremely nervous when he took the college entrance exam,” said the woman. “I couldn’t sleep all night. He hadn’t lost much hair, but I had lost a lot of hair.”

"Don't be too nervous," Fan Yani said. "He'll be fine after he finishes the college entrance exam."

“When I called Fenglan, I didn’t dare ask her if she was nervous, for fear that she would be nervous with me,” said the plump woman. “That would be bad.”

“Sister Fenglan shouldn’t worry, her son’s grades are very good,” Fan Yani said.

"Yes, that's very good. I heard it's a score that's good enough to get into Tsinghua or Peking University," said the plump woman.

"..." Fan Yani thought to herself that Qin Zihang didn't necessarily have to take the college entrance examination; he could be directly admitted to a good university. Fan Yani didn't tell her sister-in-law, and even Song Fenglan hadn't mentioned it. Wouldn't it be inappropriate for her to tell her?

Just as Fan Yani had predicted, Qin Zihang secured a place at Capital University of Aeronautics and Astronautics without having to take the national college entrance examination (Gaokao). Many people knew Qin Zihang had excellent grades; he didn't need any connections.

When Qin's mother learned that Qin Zihang had been admitted to university without taking the entrance exam, she didn't think about how good his grades were. Instead, she said, "The Song family is really capable, managing to get him directly admitted to university. My Li'an is also smart. They're all cousins, how different can they be? They're just..."

"What do you mean?" Mr. Qin looked coldly at Mrs. Qin. He had just sat down when he heard his wife say this, "Zihang is also your own grandson!"