Zhao Dahu frowned as he looked at the cornbread in his hand and nodded. "I guess she can't escape. Qi Zhifang will be badly punished, if not killed. I heard..." He gestured with his hands on his stomach and held up three fingers, saying, "She's caused a death. Her reputation is ruined now."
Zhao's father glared at Zhao Dahu and said with a serious expression, "Shuqing, patriotism is the lifeblood of our family. We dare not have anything to do with their family!"
Wei Shuqing nodded seriously and said, "Dad, don't worry, Aiguo is surnamed Zhao. He has absolutely no connection with them. The severance papers are at the street office and the police station. He has no connection with them at all!" She was secretly puzzled. In that book, let alone a few years later, even now, being associated with criminals would basically ruin one's life. How could she still be living so comfortably? Was it because she could flirt? Or was it because she could juggle eight relationships without getting into trouble? She really couldn't figure it out and even doubted the authenticity of that book.
Zhao's mother hugged Aiguo tightly, her heart filled with lingering fear, and said, "That family is utterly heartless! You know, our good child Aiguo, if he hadn't severed ties with them, wouldn't he have suffered gossip and slander for the rest of his life?" She then covered her mouth, looking at Wei Shuqing with embarrassment, "Shuqing! That's not what I meant, Mom..."
Wei Shuqing said nonchalantly, "It's alright, Mom. I'm also glad that I broke off ties with them early and married into our Zhao family. This is a blessing that Aiguo and I earned in our past lives. It's just that we feel really bad that we've been dragged into this mess and people have been gossiping about us."
Zhao's father looked at Wei Shuqing solemnly and said, "Shuqing, you're overthinking it. This is their fault, it has nothing to do with you and the child. Our family only feels sorry for you and the child, but we don't think about that at all. We are a family, and we must always stand together."
The Zhao family members immediately rushed to say that nothing was wrong, that the Qi family was the one who had done wrong, but they didn't blame Wei Shuqing at all.
Wei Shuqing couldn't help but cry. The best decision she ever made was marrying Zhao Dahu and having such a wonderful family.
As they were talking, someone knocked on the door. Zhao's mother, who was standing by the kang (a heated brick bed), said, "You all eat, I'll go see!"
As he spoke, he got off the ground and walked outside. When he reached the courtyard, he shouted loudly, "Who is it?" A voice came from outside the door, "Excuse me, do Zhao Dahu and Wei Shuqing live here?"
Zhao's mother thought it was someone from her workplace, so she went over, opened the door, and said, "Yes, who is this?"
Qi Zhijun hesitated, unsure how to begin. Looking at the tall, thin man in clean, sallow clothes with a refined appearance, Zhao's mother had no suspicion and said, "Come in! They're eating!" She welcomed Qi Zhijun inside. After closing the door, the two entered one after the other. Zhao's mother said, "Dahu, Shuqing, someone's looking for you!"
Zhao Dahu and Wei Shuqing were startled and looked up to see Qi Zhijun enter. Their faces turned grim. Zhao's mother looked at Qi Zhijun with suspicion, only to see him staring intently at Aiguo. Before they left, Aiguo was only a year and a half old, sallow and thin as a skeleton. Now, he was dressed in clean clothes, obediently munching on his steamed bun, fair-skinned and very handsome. He clearly belonged to the Qi family. It must be said that although the Qi family members were of questionable character, they were all remarkably good-looking, each possessing a striking appearance.
Wei Shuqing is right; the Zhao family is indeed good to the children. These days, let alone white flour steamed buns, many families can't even afford cornbread.
On the other hand, Zhao Aiguo hadn't seen Qi Zhijun for over a year and naturally didn't recognize him. He took a bite of the food in his bowl, then a bite of his steamed bun, staring at Qi Zhijun with his bright, grape-like eyes.
Wei Shuqing looked awkwardly at the Zhao family, feeling extremely ashamed and indignant. This Qi family, who prided themselves on being respectable and from a scholarly family, were now like leeches, utterly repulsive. She said with a stern face, "How did you find this place? Get out of my house!"
Qi Zhijun, disregarding his pride, pleaded in a low voice, "Xiao Wei, I'm here for a real reason. My father is hospitalized and seriously ill, and I want to see the child..."
By this time, Zhao's father realized who it was. Without making a sound, he hugged Aiguo tightly.
Zhao Dahu got off the ground and stood in front of him, blocking his view of Zhao Aiguo. He said in a deep voice, "Qi Zhijun, how can you say such a shameful thing? The child is only one and a half years old. You abandoned the child, who was beaten like that, to Shuqing and forced Shuqing to divorce him. You ignored the mother and child and abandoned them like trash. Now you say you miss the child. How can you have the nerve to say that?"
Wei Shuqing was trembling with anger and speechless. Qi Zhijun swallowed hard and said, "I beg you, he really just wants to see the child, just one glimpse..."
Wei Shuqing stepped forward and shoved Qi Zhijun, screaming, "Qi Zhijun, don't you know what's going on in your family? I beg you, I implore you, leave my house immediately and never see Aiguo again, I really beg you!" As she spoke, she was about to kneel down when Zhao Dahu pushed away Qi Zhijun's hand that was about to help her up and half-embraced Wei Shuqing in his arms, saying, "Shuqing, don't do this, don't worry, I will protect you."
Wei Shuqing was so angry that she was incoherent, her whole body trembling. "You never fulfilled your responsibilities as a father after he was born, let alone as a husband. I, a perfectly healthy young woman, worked hard in the factory to support your family for more than two years, and you abandoned my child when he was still so young. I never blamed you; on the contrary, you kept finding fault with me. I never took the initiative to confront you. Now that my son and I have finally escaped your filthy family, please have mercy on us and let us go."
Qi Zhijun closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I'm not trying to take the child from you. My father is seriously ill and I don't know if he'll make it this time. Please, let him see the child! Just one look!"
Mr. Zhao handed the child to Mrs. Zhao and said, "How about Aiguo goes to the kitchen with his grandparents to eat canned meat?"
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