After the play ended, Qin Hanshu pulled Cao Jing and Ru Mei to sit in their seats for a while longer.
As the crowd surged outwards, Ye Zhongping's figure was also swallowed up by the throng.
However, Xue Duoyan remained in her seat, staring intently as Ye Zhongping left.
She only got up and walked out after Ye Zhongping had disappeared from sight.
By the time Qin Hanshu and the other two walked out of the theater, the crowd had mostly dispersed.
Upon arriving at the dance troupe, Ru Mei and Cao Jing each rode out on a bicycle, with Qin Hanshu sitting on the back of Cao Jing's bike.
When they reached the intersection, Rumei parted ways with them.
A dozen minutes later, we arrived at the alley where Cao Jing lived.
It was getting late, and the alley was empty, but the streetlights were on, providing enough illumination.
Cao Jing's family lived at the very back, and there was a barbershop downstairs.
Cao's mother and Cao Jing's stepfather were already getting ready to rest when they saw Cao Jing return. They got out of bed, still wearing their clothes, surprised and delighted.
It seems that Cao Jing's decision to watch the play today was also a last-minute one.
"Jingjing, why are you back so late? Did you have a fight with Feiyang?" After saying this, Cao's mother noticed Qin Hanshu behind Cao Jing and hurried over to greet her, "Oh, Little Qin is here too."
Qin Hanshu apologized, "It's so late, I'm sorry to bother you two."
Since her husband's younger sister had come along, it was clear that they hadn't argued with Qin Feiyang, so Cao's mother was relieved.
Cao Jing briefly explained the situation.
Cao's mother said, "I'll go make your beds and change the sheets."
Qin Hanshu quickly said, "Auntie, there's no need to trouble yourself. You can sleep like this."
Cao Jing's room is always empty. She only comes back to sleep once every ten days or half a month, but her mother still makes her bed once a month, so the bed is actually very clean.
Cao Jing said, "Mom, it's okay, go to sleep."
Cao's mother hesitated, "We need to change to new ones since guests are coming."
Cao Jing: "Then find the sheets and duvet cover, and I'll change them myself."
Cao's mother agreed, turned around and went back into the house, and soon brought it out.
Qin Hanshu: "Auntie, you should get some rest."
Cao's mother laughed and said, "Okay, okay."
Cao Jing led Qin Hanshu into another room.
This room is clearly a young girl's bedroom, with floral curtains and a string of wind chimes hanging from them. The cloth covering the bookshelves has ruffled edges.
“I used to live in this room with my sister when I was little. After she got married, I lived alone.”
As Cao Jing spoke, she opened the wardrobe, found two sets of pajamas, and gave one to Qin Hanshu.
Qin Han opened his mouth, wanting to ask something, but hesitated.
Cao Jing smiled and said, "You want to ask why I didn't change my surname, right?"
Qin Hanshu smiled sheepishly and nodded.
Yes, if Cao's mother married a worker to find protection for her daughter, why didn't she change her daughter's surname? Keeping the old surname, isn't she afraid of being criticized for her political stance?
Cao Jing explained, "My biological father passed away in 1949 when I was still in my mother's womb. I was born and grew up until I was two years old before marrying my father. Originally, I wanted to change my surname, but my father wouldn't allow it."
“My dad said that my biological father didn’t intentionally abandon me and my mother. It was all fate’s doing. I shouldn’t forget him, and I shouldn’t let him lose his roots on this land. That way, he can find his way home in the future.”
"As for whether keeping his surname will cause trouble, my dad also said that he was a model worker with impeccable revolutionary credentials. He is not afraid of anything. If anyone wants to bully me and my mother, they should step over his dead body first."
Qin Hanshu was deeply moved.
When Cao Jing saw this, she remembered that Qin Hanshu's situation was similar to hers, but her stepfather was a beast in human form.
Cao Jing quickly changed the subject, saying, "I'll go get some water, let's wash our faces and feet."
Qin Hanshu also stood up and said, "I'll go with you."
***
The next day, naturally, I went directly to my workplace from Cao Jing's home.
As Qin Hanshu entered the elevator, she noticed someone watching her. When she looked back in the direction of the gaze, she only saw Xue Duoyan pretending to be busy.
Qin Hanshu pretended not to notice and remained calm.
That afternoon, Qin Hanshu deliberately stayed in the office a little longer, waiting until everyone had left before leaving get off work.
She walked to the door of the general manager's office, but the door was locked and she couldn't get in.
Therefore, Qin Hanshu set the spatial anchor point on the corridor.
The office door has a glass top, but it's positioned quite high, so even tall men have to stand on tiptoe to look inside, making it generally quite private.
Qin Hanshu could then monitor the office through this glass.
Although the possibility of Ye Zhongping and Xue Duoyan having an affair in the office is extremely slim, there is currently no better option.
Let's observe for now.
When Qin Hanshu got home, Zhou Weiguang hadn't returned yet, so she rested for a while before starting to cook.
Just as I started steaming the rice, Zhou Weiguang returned.
Zhou Weiguang pulled Qin Hanshu out of the kitchen, saying, "I'll do it, you can rest."
Qin Hanshu let him do as he pleased.
After a while, Qin Feiyang arrived with a solemn expression.
"Xiao Shu, Aunt... Yang Aizhen has written a letter."
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