Speaking of this, Qiao Jie was in a dilemma. He himself still needed Jiang Qiao's care, so bringing another old friend back would only cause trouble for the child. But he couldn't live with himself if he didn't take care of her.
Jiang Qiao could easily see the old man's conflicted expression.
“Grandpa Qiao, how about this? Let’s stay here for a while. Once we’ve helped Grandpa Liu get better and he can move around again, we’ll take him back. He’s an old man and can’t eat much. He’s all alone and helpless. It doesn’t matter if we take care of one or two of them. I’ll take care of you in your old age.”
Qiao Jie was surprised that Jiang Qiao would say such a thing, and he was both excited and moved.
“Girl, what should I say to you? I’m afraid of being a burden to you.”
Jiang Qiao waved his hand. "Grandpa Qiao, this is nothing. I'm just doing this to accumulate good karma for myself. Maybe God will see that I'm doing a good deed and give me some good blessings."
"That's settled then. You talk to Grandpa Liu later and tell him to focus on getting better. I'll take care of things at home. You stay home and look after Grandpa Liu, while I go up the mountain to gather herbs and hunt. We'll manage to survive."
"I'm going too!"
Jiang Qiao shook her head. "What about Grandpa Liu? He can't be left alone right now. You should focus on treating his illness. I'll take care of the money. Don't you know your granddaughter's abilities? These are minor matters. Once you're all better, things will be much easier for me."
While feeding Ma Liu, the old man shared his plans and Jiang Qiao's words, and Ma Liu cried like a child.
"Brother Qiao, what good deeds did I do in my past lives to meet two such kind people like you?"
Qiao Jie glared at him and said, "What are you talking about? Didn't you help me enough back then? Our Qiao'er is a righteous child. Don't look at her cold appearance, she has a kind heart. Don't think about anything else in the future. Let's take good care of her and live a good life together."
Qiao'er said she'll take care of us in our old age and see us off when we die, so what do you have to worry about? Just focus on getting better, and we'll stay here to take care of you until you're all better before we leave.
"Your adopted son, it's better to never see him again. He's a beast! He even took your food ration book; he doesn't want you to live! Hurry up and eat; you need to take your medicine soon. The medicine the girl bought is quite expensive; don't let her good intentions go to waste."
As he ate the delicious food, Ma Liu felt at home for the first time and had a new longing for home. He also wanted to leave this place, to leave this place of sorrow.
When Jiang Qiao learned that Ma Liu's grain ration book was still in the hands of that adopted son, she went to his door the next day. However, she did not go alone; she brought with her staff from Ma Liu Street and police officers.
The neighborhood already knew about Ma Liu's situation, but since Ma Liu hadn't said anything, they couldn't interfere too much, given Ma Liu's rather special status.
When Jiang Qiao visited, she immediately took people to check on Ma Liu's situation and had Ma Liu tell them what was going on. Then she went to the police station to report the case. Theft and abandonment are also crimes, and these people could handle it for her without her having to show up.
However, this time she finally saw what kind of beast Ma Liu was talking about. He was a real piece of work, with a sleazy appearance. When the police came, he bowed and scraped, looking exactly like a traitor.
The couple did not admit to Jiang Qiao's accusation that he abandoned the elderly.
“Who said we abandoned them? How could that be? We both have jobs. How else would we support our elderly parents and children?”
You have to give us time, don't you? We visited the elderly couple of days ago and asked the neighbors to help look after them."
The people on this side of the street wouldn't allow it. "Oh ho, you're really filial, you even took your dad's food ration book! How are the neighbors supposed to take care of him? Are you going to let him starve? I have a list of the neighbors. Tell me, who did you ask to take care of him? Let's talk this over—"
Once you take something seriously, all excuses are useless. When Ma Congwen heard the other party say that, his attitude immediately softened, and he made up all sorts of excuses and reasons to get away with it.
Jiang Qiao snorted coldly, "You don't need to make excuses. Everyone's busy. You don't even have time to take care of your father, but the neighbors do?"
The man sized Jiang Qiao up and asked, "Who are you?"
Jiang Qiao snorted coldly, "Don't worry about who I am. Anyway, I have the right to say this. The police and the comrades in the neighborhood know who I am. I am now fully authorized by Comrade Ma Liu. What I say is his will."
First, return the grain ration book immediately. You must return everything you took from Ma Liu's house, not a single item missing.
Second, sever the adoptive father-son relationship. If you won't support me, I will. What has Grandpa Liu done to wrong you? He supported your education, helped you get married, and bought you a house. And yet, you turn around and scheme against your adoptive father. You're worse than an animal.
If you don't agree, fine, then let the police handle it officially!
The police officers also disliked people like Ma Congwen. The old eunuch had raised him with good food and drink, but this guy just abandoned the old woman. Not only did he not care, but he also took everything from the house. If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes and heard the neighbors' protests, they would never have imagined that this person was so cold-blooded.
Ma Congwen was still hesitating when his wife said impatiently, "Then it's settled. From now on, you'll take care of that old man. It has nothing to do with us. Don't cause us any more trouble."
Ma Congwen glared at his wife and said, "What nonsense are you talking about? That's my father. How can you ignore an old man?"
The police officer didn't care about the couple's veiled arguments. "Ma Congwen, based on what you did before, that's theft. Comrade Ma Liu has already said he's severing ties with you as father and son. So, according to the law, your theft is illegal, and you'll be in jail for at least three to five years."
Your adoptive father said that if you agree to his conditions, he won't pursue your past behavior and will treat you like a dog.
The people on the street were even more blunt: "Talking about dogs is an insult to them. Dogs are so loyal!"
What wasn't said in the next sentence was that Ma Congwen was even worse than a dog.
However, Ma Congwen's wife wouldn't let him off the hook. "How can you talk like that? Can't you speak like a human being? They're family members, after all. What are you, an outsider, meddling in? You're just a busybody."
This really stirred up a hornet's nest. The people on this side of the street weren't going to take it lying down. "Fine, you said I was meddling in other people's business, so we're going to take care of this."
I'll go to your workplace and talk to your leaders. You two are disrespectful to your elders and unfriendly to your colleagues; we're just looking for a role model, and you two are the perfect example.
This terrified the couple. Ma Congwen was still eyeing Ma Liu's house, but now he dared not even think about it. Being made an example of would mean they wouldn't have it as easy as the couple.
They immediately agreed to all the conditions and were going home to pack their things and send them over. However, after the couple left, the neighborhood committee members and the police had already made a plan: they were determined to arrest this typical case.
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