After dropping Song Yingying off, Qin Zheng returned to the Qin family home.
As the Chinese New Year approached, Qin Zhiyuan and Jiang Xiu returned from abroad, temporarily halting their work of traveling extensively.
The last time they went home was because Qin Zheng was beaten.
"Ah Zheng, why are you so late?" He's an hour later than usual.
Qin Zheng tossed his bag onto the sofa, leaned back casually, and said indifferently, "I took Song Yingying home."
Qin Zhiyuan asked in surprise, "Has the girl fully recovered?"
Qin Zheng looked over with a strange expression, "It's been several months, and it's still not better?"
Qin Zhiyuan coughed lightly and exchanged a glance with Jiang Xiu.
Qin Zheng is in a bad mood today.
"I'm going upstairs to read now."
Jiang Xiu called out to him, "Azheng, wait a minute. I heard from your Uncle Qin that you're planning to go abroad?"
Qin Zheng lowered his eyes slightly and said, "Mm."
Jiang Xiu: "This happened so suddenly, why didn't you tell us? Even your grandparents didn't know."
Qin Zheng pursed his lips, "This is my own business. It's just going abroad. There's no need to make a big fuss about it."
Qin Zhiyuan frowned. "Qin Zheng, how dare you speak to your mother like that!"
Qin Zheng opened his mouth, but had nothing to say. "I'm going upstairs."
Downstairs, only Qin Zhiyuan, Jiang Xiu, and Qin Baohua, who was standing guard to one side, remained.
Jiang Xiu sighed, "We've been too busy and have neglected A-Zheng's education."
Qin Zhiyuan looked at Qin Baohua, "What's wrong with him today? Is it because of Song Yingying?"
Qin Baohua shook his head and guessed, "It shouldn't be, A-Zheng didn't say anything specific."
Qin Baohua dared not say anything about Qin Rongrong, otherwise, if Qin Zheng found out, Qin Baohua would be fired.
Qin Zhiyuan, however, felt it was related to Song Yingying. After returning to his study, he made a phone call.
"Give me Song Yingying's information as soon as possible."
"Yes, it's urgent."
...
Song Yingying has only two days left until her final exams. She studies day and night, determined to maintain her top ranking in the grade. The top student gets a tuition waiver and a scholarship, which will save her aunt and uncle money.
Information about Song Yingying, including information about the Song family, has been thoroughly investigated.
Qin Zhiyuan stared at the few sheets of paper, lingering on the name Song Qiurou for a long time.
Song Qiurou...
Long-forgotten memories were awakened, and Qin Zhiyuan went to the Qin family's old house.
After his younger brother Qin Wenyuan passed away, Grandpa Qin and Grandma Qin lived in the old Qin family house and rarely went out anymore.
During the war years, this house was sold by Qin's grandfather and grandfather's generation, and the money was donated to the country. Later, after the situation stabilized, the Qin family members who were living overseas bought the house back.
The old man was fishing in the pond behind the house.
Grandma Qin was singing opera under the eaves; her melodious voice, accompanied by birdsong, was both strange and lively.
Old Master Qin glanced at Qin Zhiyuan, then adjusted his reading glasses and looked his eldest son up and down.
What brings you here?
Qin Zhiyuan glanced at his mother, who was focused on singing, and asked his father, "Dad, it's been a long time since you've had tea. How about a couple of cups?"
The old man didn't speak, so Qin Zhiyuan waited quietly.
Only after the fish took the bait did Old Master Qin get up and say, "Let's go."
In the center of the Qin family's first-floor living room is a large group photo of the Qin family's previous generations, next to several photos of Qin's grandfather, and photos of the current Qin family members.
Qin Zhiyuan glanced at Qin Wenyuan in the photo and sighed.
"Dad, do you still remember my second brother's girlfriend?"
The old man paused in his tea-sipping motion. "Didn't you say it was gone?"
Qin Zhiyuan frowned. "I remember her name was Qiu Rou?"
Back then, the situation was unstable, and the Qin family was in turmoil. After Qin Wenyuan was sent down to the farm, he did not say that he was a member of the Qin family. Less than two years later, Qin Wenyuan wrote back to the capital, saying that he wanted to marry a girl from the farm.
Grandma Qin disagreed; she refused to let her youngest son marry a girl from the countryside. At that time, the old man and Grandma Qin had a big argument.
Qin Zhiyuan vaguely remembered that the person mentioned in the letter was named Qiu Rou, but he didn't know her surname.
Not long after Qin Wenyuan sent back that letter, news of his death arrived. It was said that he had been accidentally caught in a mixer while working on the farm and had died.
The Qin family rushed there, a month after Qin Wenyuan's death.
Qin Wenyuan's remains were never found, so he was buried on a mountain near the farm.
The girl returned to the capital, and no one knew where she went. The Qin family was immersed in grief and no longer spent any energy looking for 'Qiu Rou'.
Even now, the Qin family feels a pang of sadness whenever they think of Qin Wenyuan.
The old man asked in a deep voice, "What are you trying to say?"
Qin Zhiyuan talked about Song Yingying and mentioned Song Qiurou.
“Dad, it’s just a coincidence of names. I’m not sure either. Song Qiurou died after giving birth to Song Yingying. Song Yingying was raised by her uncle and aunt. Her uncle was a worker and her aunt worked at the supply and marketing cooperative. Including her, there were six siblings in the family.”
“Jiang Xiu and I are usually busy. Last time, A Zheng was injured because of Song Yingying. At the time, we didn’t think much of it. This time when I went home, A Zheng wanted to go abroad. I went to investigate and accidentally found out about Song Yingying.”
The old man's face showed no obvious expression, but his trembling fingers betrayed his turbulent emotions.
"You suspect that A-Zheng and Song Yingying are dating?" the old man asked calmly.
Qin Zhiyuan frowned immediately. "Dad, what are you talking about! That's not true. Azheng just thinks Yingying looks like... his sister."
After his sister passed away, Qin Zheng's personality became strange and cold, and he didn't like to communicate with others.
"Photo of Song Yingying".
Qin Zhiyuan quickly took it out of his briefcase.
The little girl in the photo has delicate features, very beautiful eyes, and her hair is all tied in a ponytail, making her look very energetic.
This is a photo printed from Song Yingying's list of students who ranked first in her grade last year.
The old man held the photo, his fingers trembling.
"I understand. You go back first, and keep this from your mother for now."
Grandma Qin blamed Qiu Rou for her youngest son's death. There was an opportunity to return to the city, but Qin Wenyuan threatened them, saying that he would not return to the Qin family if they did not accept Qiu Rou.
If it weren't for Qiu Rou, Qin Wenyuan wouldn't have died.
Grandma Qin is not mentally stable. In previous years, she would look at Qin Wenyuan's photo and cry every day. Later, she became obsessed with opera.
It makes a lot of noise every day, but it makes me feel much better.
Grandpa Qin had someone tell Grandma Qin something, and then he went out.
The driver took him to the middle school gate.
A large group of students came out.
The old man was a sniper by training, with extremely sharp eyesight, and quickly locked onto Song Yingying in the crowd.
Song Yingying had a scholarly air about her, a cloth bag slung across her shoulder, and she walked with seriousness. She was as thin as a sheet of paper, and her phoenix eyes were very similar to Qin Wenyuan's.
The old man's eyes were bloodshot; he was clearly the second son's child.
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