Seeing that Zhou Yue had also gone upstairs, Qin Xiaoyu guessed that she was there to deliver clothes, so she kept an eye on her and followed her up to the second floor.
"I don't want it, take it away!" Xiao Jin shouted, and then slammed the door shut. Zhou Yue walked over sullenly.
"She doesn't want it?"
"Um."
"This kid is a bit difficult to deal with."
"She probably guessed it," Zhou Yue sighed.
"But when her mother was alive, they didn't seem to have a good relationship."
"Maybe that's the reason. Before her mother passed away, she always fought with her. Now that her mother has suddenly passed away, she is driven by guilt and wants to make amends, so she strongly protects her mother's position from being taken away." Zhou Yue's words convinced Qin Xiaoyu. This psychological analysis was spot on.
"Sister Xiaoyue, where did you get this theory from? It's really well said."
"Reading books? You want to be someone's stepmother? You need to be capable first!" Zhou Yue laughed and said, "Don't worry, who am I? I'm Qin Xiaoyu's older sister. There are no cowards in my family! You think I can't beat her?"
The two of them talked as they went downstairs.
"Quickly set the table, Lisheng, go and call your sister down for dinner," Zhou Xing's mother began to direct.
The family sat down according to their assigned seats. Commander Zhou looked up and smiled with satisfaction. This family was so well-organized.
"Why is this fish black?" Qin Xiaoyu looked at the braised fish but didn't dare to pick up her chopsticks.
"Eat meat, not fish!" Zhou Xing's mother was still considerate; on such a nice day, she didn't scold Zhou Yue.
"How's the study group going?" Deng Jianyan hadn't seen his child for a while and missed her. He was afraid that Xiao Jin would shut the door and ignore him when he got home, so he asked her a few questions during the meal.
"good."
“My sister didn’t go to the study group.” Lisheng is much more lively now and dares to complain to Xiaojin.
"Shut up! You're asking for it!" Xiao Jin glared at him.
"You didn't go to the study group? Where did you go?" Deng Jianyan's face darkened.
"Let's go out and play." Xiao Jin pushed away her bowl and tried to stand up.
"Xiao Jin, you have to tell Dad where you're going, otherwise what if you run into bad people?" Zhou Yue couldn't hold back any longer.
"Does he even care about me?" Xiao Jin chimed in.
“When your dad comes back from his business trip, he’ll have time to take care of you.” Qin Xiaoyu was sitting next to Zhou Yue and pinched her leg to shut her up.
"I don't think there's any time left. Don't think I don't understand your little tricks. Do you think I'm stupid? Nobody's coming into my house. My mom isn't dead. She'll be back!" Xiao Jin said as she went out, slamming the door shut behind her.
Everyone at the table felt awkward, and they ate in silence, no one looking up.
“I’m willing to let Aunt Xiaoyue be my mother, Dad, I support you,” Lisheng suddenly said.
Deng Jianyan gratefully patted his head. Zhou Yue's tear fell into her rice.
What was supposed to be a happy night turned into a heavy mood after Xiao Jin's antics.
Deng Jianyan returned, and the two children naturally went home to stay. Lisheng carried his schoolbag and went home with his father.
Qin Xiaoyu helped Xiao Chen clear the dishes before going into the living room to watch TV with them.
It was clear that Commander Zhou and Zhou Xing's mother were both distracted, and Zhou Yue was especially restless, eventually getting up and going upstairs.
"Mom, don't worry about this. There's always a way out. Xiaojin is quite stubborn, but she's not a good-for-nothing. She's going through puberty, so we need to be considerate of her feelings." Qin Xiaoyu was speaking to Zhou Xing's mother, but also to Commander Zhou.
Commander Zhou sighed silently and didn't say anything.
"Go upstairs and get some sleep. You don't need to stay with me; you must be tired after a long day." Zhou Xing's mother felt sorry for Qin Xiaoyu and knew that she was setting rules here because she was worried about her.
"It's alright, I'm not tired at all." Qin Xiaoyu nestled beside her, stroking her hands. These hands were no longer as plump as before, because she had done more and more housework. She had lived a life of ease and comfort for most of her life, and now in her old age, she had come to enjoy managing the household.
Human destiny is truly unpredictable. Who would have thought that someone so beautiful and ethereal would become a nagging, kind old lady?
The next morning at breakfast, Qin Xiaoyu peeked at Zhou Yue and saw that her eyes were swollen, indicating that she must have cried the night before.
She says she doesn't care, but how could she really not care?
Zhou Xing's mother also looked listless, and Qin Xiaoyu felt sorry for her, so she secretly hugged her in the kitchen.
"It's alright, good child." Zhou Xing's mother tilted her head and pressed her face against Qin Xiaoyu's face.
The doorbell suddenly rang loudly. Xiao Chen ran to open the door, and Deng Jianyan stood there in a disheveled state.
"Has Xiao Jin arrived?"
"No, didn't you go home last night?" Zhou Yue hurriedly went to greet her.
“She didn’t go back. I thought she went back first. I called her for breakfast this morning but she didn’t come out. When I went into the room, there was no one there, and the blankets hadn’t been touched,” Deng Jianyan said anxiously.
"Let's go to a classmate's house and look for it." Zhou Yue quickly put on her shoes and ran out.
Because Xiao Jin transferred to the school late, she didn't get along well with her classmates and only had one or two close friends. Deng Jianyan and Zhou Yue searched around but returned disappointed.
Qin Xiaoyu didn't dare go to work and waited for news at home. When she saw them looking dejected, she understood.
"Where's Lisheng? Come here." Qin Xiaoyu suddenly remembered what his wife had said and beckoned Lisheng over.
"Auntie Little Fish".
"Is your sister getting very close to a male classmate?"
"No. I don't know." Lisheng felt a little guilty and blushed.
"Lisheng, finding your sister is the most important thing now. To be honest, what if something happens to her?" Qin Xiaoyu coaxed gently.
"Alright, my sister took me there once," Lisheng had no choice but to say.
Qin Xiaoyu drove them along the road Lisheng pointed out, and they arrived at the Sixth Grain Depot dormitory.
It's a bit far from the city center, right next to the suburbs, and sparsely populated.
Lisheng led them to the door of a house and pointed it out.
Fearing they might act impulsively, Qin Xiaoyu rushed forward and knocked on the door first.
"You should have died out there, and you still know how to come back? I hope you won't starve, you little wolf cub!" A woman inside cursed as she opened the door. When she saw Qin Xiaoyu, she stopped in astonishment.
Who are you looking for?
"Is Li Gang here?" Qin Xiaoyu asked tentatively.
"I don't know where he's run off to, he hasn't come back all night! Who are you? His teacher?" The woman looked behind Qin Xiaoyu, even more puzzled, and asked, "Did he get into trouble?"
"I just wanted to ask him something. Where does he usually go?" Qin Xiaoyu asked with a forced smile.
"How would I know where he went? What does it have to do with me!" The woman said, about to close the door, when a little boy in open-crotch pants sauntered out and peered into the doorway.
"Please help me." Qin Xiaoyu tried to stop the front door, and almost got her hand caught.
Left with no other option, the group had to turn back.
"The child isn't home either. Could he be with Xiao Jin?"
"I think it's about right..."
"Hey! Wait a minute!" A thin girl chased after them.
"What's up?"
"Aren't you looking for my brother? Give me the money, and I'll tell you where he is." The girl spread her hands.
"How much money do you want?" Qin Xiaoyu almost laughed out of anger.
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