Chapter 151 Meeting: If Line
"Does Song Fenglan think that your brother will be with her now that she's back?" Tian Keshu said. "That's true. Your brother still refuses to remarry, isn't it all because of Song Fenglan?"
"Who cares who he's doing this for?" Brother Qin said. "Whether he remarried or not is none of our business."
“I introduced him to potential partners, but he wouldn’t even meet them. I told him that it would be fine if they met briefly, and if they didn’t feel a connection, they could stop dating. But he still wouldn’t go,” Tian Keshu said.
Tian Keshu desperately wanted to control everyone in the Qin family. She wanted Qin Yizhou to marry someone she knew so she could control the couple. Because of the spy incident that happened in the Tian family, Tian Keshu's status in the Qin family was now quite low, and she dared not shout as loudly as before.
A few days ago, it was exposed that Tian Keshu had withheld Song Fenglan's postpartum care supplies. Qin Yizhou didn't give Tian Keshu any face at all, and he naturally reprimanded her.
Tian Keshu said a lot of very unpleasant things at that time.
"Did you divorce Song Fenglan because of that little thing?"
"If she really loved you, would she divorce you?"
"Luckily, those things didn't end up in her mouth. If they had, it would have been a complete waste!"
...
At that time, if someone hadn't stopped Qin Yizhou, he would have beaten Tian Keshu up. Because of everything that had happened, Qin Yizhou couldn't possibly respect his sister-in-law, Tian Keshu. Qin Yizhou's relationship with the Qin family had deteriorated significantly, not just slightly. Tian Keshu didn't think she had done anything wrong; she believed the biggest problem was Song Fenglan.
"Your brother is always thinking about Song Fenglan." Tian Keshu sneered. "What's so good about Song Fenglan? The child has to take her surname. Can't it just stay with your brother's surname? Your brother is stupid. He's making a fuss over such a woman."
"Alright, that's enough," Brother Qin said.
"I'm just saying, Song Fenglan is no good," Tian Keshu said. "Does she think that just because her family has been exonerated and started a company, they're all that great? Who knows when they'll be in trouble again!"
"I told you to say less, so just say less," Brother Qin said. "The two children's grades aren't good, and you..."
"And you're still talking." Tian Keshu gritted her teeth even more when she thought of this. "Isn't Song Fenglan's older brother a teacher? He even got a job at the Education Bureau. Ask him for a favor, but he won't."
Tian Keshu wanted her child to attend a better school. Since her son failed the high school entrance exam, she wanted someone to help Qin Li'an get into the school.
The Song family thought Tian Keshu was crazy. They felt that Tian Keshu had treated Song Fenglan so badly, yet she still had the nerve to ask the Song family for help. Their words implied that Qin Yizhou had done so much for Song Fenglan, and the Song family should be supporting Qin Yizhou's nephew.
The Song family suggested that Qin Yizhou come and speak for himself, and they would consider it further if he did. Qin Yizhou, of course, wouldn't go to the Song family to say those things. He didn't care that much about Qin Li'an; he had already fallen out with those people, and their relationship wasn't that good anymore.
Because of this incident, Tian Keshu also came to hate Qin Yizhou. Qin Yizhou refused to help his own nephew for a woman who didn't want him, so Qin Yizhou had a serious problem.
“Do they think they’re something special?” Tian Keshu said. “It’s ridiculous. A family like theirs will eventually fail.”
Tian Keshu was grumbling and cursing at home. She still didn't know how Song Fenglan was doing; she only knew that Song Fenglan had returned, and she was making sarcastic remarks. Tian Keshu just felt that Song Fenglan hadn't done well abroad, and with her limited intelligence, how could she know so much? She only knew trivial matters.
At the start of the new day, Song Fenglan went to the Capital Research Institute to check on the labs before getting to work. Her arrival delighted the institute's director and many researchers. Many had read her papers and knew how brilliant she was. A genius like Song Fenglan should be back, not staying abroad providing advanced technology to foreigners.
The state provides Song Fenglan with very high benefits; her laboratory, office, and everything else are arranged very well. Song Fenglan doesn't need to worry about her academic title; she can become a professor at Capital University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Once she achieves success in China, she can be promoted to academician.
Song Fenglan didn't care about whether she could become an academician. She realized that the conditions in China were indeed much worse than those abroad, not only in terms of equipment and instruments, but also in terms of the educational level of researchers.
To help these researchers keep up with the pace, Song Fenglan also gave them individual lectures. Without these lectures, much of the work would stall, and the researchers wouldn't know what to do.
Some people, seeing how young Song Fenglan was, didn't say anything bad about her. After all, she had studied abroad and achieved great success. If it weren't for the protection of many people, Song Fenglan wouldn't have been able to return safely and smoothly.
When Song Fenglan came out of the research institute, she saw Qin Yizhou.
Song Fenglan was puzzled. Wasn't Qin Yizhou a leader? Why was he still coming to pick her up?
“I take turns with other people,” Qin Yizhou said.
"Okay, sure." Song Fenglan nodded.
"If you don't want to see me, I can..."
"It's alright," Song Fenglan said. "But...aren't you afraid your family will misunderstand if you come here?"
"I live alone," Qin Yizhou said.
"Hmm?" Song Fenglan asked, puzzled.
"I haven't remarried," Qin Yizhou added.
Qin Yizhou thought that a person's life is actually quite short, and it's enough to deeply love one person. His heart wasn't that big, and he didn't have that many people he liked.
"..." Song Fenglan did not expect that Qin Yizhou did not remarry. She thought that Qin Yizhou would remarry soon after their divorce.
Many men are like this; they can't stay married for a woman. They will get married, but even after marriage, they still think about other women, which is extremely unfair to their current wives.
Song Fenglan thought that if Qin Yizhou remarried, he would definitely take responsibility for his current wife. Hearing Qin Yizhou say this, Song Fenglan didn't know what to say.
Divorce was the most suitable option for the two of them. A military leader's wife and children going abroad while he remains alone in the country makes him easily susceptible to being turned against his cause and prone to causing trouble. Continuing to be with Qin Yizhou would be bad for both of them.
Song Fenglan understood, and Qin Yizhou understood, that for Qin Yizhou's future, their divorce was the most appropriate choice.
Qin Yizhou didn't remarry. He was transferred to the capital, a lateral move, but the capital is still the capital, and it's always better. Qin Yizhou felt that promotion wasn't important; what mattered was that he didn't want to remarry for the sake of a promotion. No matter what others said, it didn't matter.
When he was in Nancheng, many people advised him to remarry, including the political commissar, but Qin Yizhou did not agree.
This time, Qin Yizhou was transferred to the capital and assigned to protect Song Fenglan. The higher-ups' intentions were quite clear: neither Qin Yizhou nor Song Fenglan had remarried; their divorce was forced by circumstances. They could easily get back together. Whether they do or not depends on their own wishes; the others are simply creating opportunities for them to meet more often.
When they arrived at Song Fenglan's door, Qin Yizhou got out of the car and opened the door for her.
"Mom." Song Zihang heard the voice and came out when he heard it. He saw Song Fenglan. School would start in a few days.
"Zihang." Qin Yizhou looked at Song Zihang; they hadn't seen each other for a long time.
Song Zihang looked at Qin Yizhou and saw his father. "Dad."
Neither the Song family nor Song Fenglan spoke ill of Qin Yizhou in front of Song Zihang. However, after Song Zihang returned to the capital, he went out and heard people say that the Qin family disliked Song Fenglan, and many unpleasant rumors originated from the Qin family. Since Song Zihang disliked Qin's parents, he didn't visit the Qin family.
For a moment, Song Zihang looked at his father and then at his mother.
“I’ll take turns with others to protect your mother,” Qin Yizhou said.
“This…” Song Zihang didn’t know what to say. His grandmother had said a few words to him today.
Song's mother meant that Qin Yizhou hadn't remarried yet, and she wanted Song Zihang to see what Qin Yizhou's attitude was. She wanted to know if Qin Yizhou still wanted to be with Song Fenglan. Song Zihang was already quite old, and Song's mother felt it was time for him to understand some things.
"Let's go back for dinner," Song Fenglan said.
Song Zihang looked at his father, wanting to ask: Dad, have you eaten?
However, Song Zihang didn't ask. He didn't know his mother's attitude, and it wouldn't be right to let his father go in like that.
Qin Yizhou didn't follow her inside. He stayed nearby to ensure Song Fenglan's safety. There were other people inside, so Qin Yizhou wasn't needed. It wouldn't be appropriate for him to just barge in; he and Song Fenglan were divorced, and it would be awkward. If Qin Yizhou stayed outside, everything would be much easier.
At the dinner table, Song Zihang looked at his mother many times.
“Speak your mind,” Song Fenglan said. “What kind of talk is this, beating around the bush?”
“Mom, Grandma said that Dad hasn’t remarried yet,” Song Zihang said. “Dad bought a house, but he doesn’t live with Grandpa and Grandma; he lives separately.”
"And then?" Song Fenglan asked, "You're a child who lacks love. Do you need your parents to get back together right now?"
"No, no," Song Zihang quickly said. "No, Grandma just said... just said these things to let you know."
"Don't be nervous, you're all grown up now, you can express your opinion too." Song Fenglan naturally wouldn't speak ill of Song Zihang. "My relationship with your father isn't that simple. It's not something we can just resolve by remarrying now, understand?"
"Mmm." Song Zihang nodded, then shook his head, and then nodded again.
Song Zihang didn't quite understand, but he respected his mother and allowed her to do whatever she wanted.
When Qin's mother learned that Song Fenglan had returned, she was very unhappy and went to the Song family home. Song Fenglan wasn't home, so Qin's mother went to find Song's mother instead.
Song's mother was initially reluctant to let Qin's mother in, but seeing Qin's aggressive attitude, she decided against letting Qin's mother say those things outside, fearing it would be too embarrassing for the neighbors.
Qin's mother had no intention of entering the Song family's house; she wanted to speak at the Song family's doorstep.
"Make your daughter give up. My son will never remarry her!" Qin's mother said. "Never in this lifetime!"
Song's mother really wanted to say: Did you ask your son?
How could someone as good as Qin Yizhou have such a mother? Song's mother was speechless.
“My daughter didn’t return to China for your son,” said Song’s mother.
"It's not that she couldn't make it abroad, it's that she wants to..."
“She’s doing very well abroad.” Song’s mother interrupted Qin’s mother. “Didn’t you read the newspaper? Or did you not watch the news? Well, you don’t know many words, so you probably wouldn’t understand. Even if you did understand the words, you might not understand what it means.”
Song Fenglan's return to China is a major event, reported by both international and domestic media. The country needs talent and continuously calls on those abroad to return. For ordinary talents, it's relatively easy, but for someone like Song Fenglan, returning is very difficult; people from other countries are facing restrictions.
While Song Fenglan was abroad, relevant departments kept a close watch on her. Every time she went out, wrote a letter, or made a phone call, she was monitored. The government made numerous arrangements to bring her back. Newspapers and media outlets reported that Song Fenglan had returned safely.
Such reports are also intended for those talents abroad, to let them know that the country will protect them and bring them back, and that the country will not let them sacrifice themselves easily.
"What great things can be accomplished with just affection for one's children?" Song's mother didn't give Qin's mother any face. Qin's mother had gone too far, actually coming to her doorstep to say such things.
"you……"
“Go back and ask your husband. If he doesn’t know, ask your eldest son. If he doesn’t know, ask your youngest son,” said Song’s mother. “Someone will know eventually. Don’t worry, my daughter didn’t come back for your son. She doesn’t care about these petty sentiments.”
Song's mother really wanted to say that her daughter and Qin Yizhou could never remarry, but she couldn't say it. What if her daughter and Qin Yizhou really did intend to remarry? Song's mother didn't want her momentary slip of the tongue to become her daughter's nightmare. She thought she had already given Qin's mother a lot of face, but Qin's mother didn't think so.
"Then let her continue going abroad!" Qin's mother rolled her eyes. "If she's not doing this for my son, then she should just get out of the country, she..."
Before Qin's mother could finish speaking, someone came over and dragged her away.
People in the relevant departments felt that Qin's mother was acting strangely. Song Fenglan returned to China for the greater good of the country, to contribute to its development. But Qin's mother's words made it seem like Song Fenglan was only concerned with personal feelings and even told her to get out of the country.
Bullshit! If anyone has to leave the country, it'll be Qin's mother.
Qin's mother never expected to be dragged away, and she never expected to be interviewed by people from relevant departments.
"My son is Qin Yizhou, he's a regimental commander." Even as she was being talked to, Qin's mother was still mentioning Qin Yizhou's identity, using her youngest son as a shield.
People don't care who Qin's mother's youngest son is; they only know that Qin's mother said things she shouldn't have. The Song family suffered persecution during that special era, and Song Fenglan was still willing to return to China to contribute to the country's development—that's already quite commendable. We absolutely cannot let Qin's mother cause trouble for others any further.
Then, not only Qin's mother was summoned for questioning, but Qin's father and elder brother were also summoned, and even Qin Yizhou was summoned for questioning.
The leaders went directly to Qin Yizhou. Of course, they hoped that Qin Yizhou and Song Fenglan could reconcile, but the Qin family's situation was too bad. Song Fenglan had only recently returned to the country, and Qin's mother had already stormed into her parents' house, demanding that they get out.
“You still need to deal with your parents and relatives properly, and don’t let them affect you,” the leader said. “Comrade Song Fenglan is divorced from you, and your parents are no longer her parents-in-law, so she has no reason to respect them.”
The leader shook his head, feeling somewhat disappointed. They had helped Qin Yizhou secure opportunities, but the Qin family had been holding him back. Fortunately, Song Fenglan's relatives were in China, so she wasn't without ties. They didn't need to worry about her running away again; someone like Song Fenglan, once back, wouldn't run away again.
Song Xingyun once lost his life while returning to China to contribute to the country's development. Now that Song Fenglan has returned, she knows what she is meant to do.
The Song family's actions are truly commendable; many of their members are martyrs, all loyal to their country.
"I'll handle it," Qin Yizhou said.
Qin Yizhou hadn't stepped into the Qin family home for a long time, and he never expected to return because his mother had gone to the Song family. Qin Yizhou felt that the people in his family were terrifying; he and Song Fenglan hadn't even reconciled yet, and his mother was already doing such disgusting things.
After Qin's mother was interviewed by relevant departments, she became somewhat frightened. When she returned home, her husband and eldest son looked at her strangely. Upon questioning them, she learned that her husband and eldest son had also been summoned for questioning. This alarmed Qin's mother. She then learned that Song Fenglan was doing very well abroad; Song Fenglan was a highly skilled professional, and foreigners were not allowing her to return to China.
"If foreigners won't let her return to China, then she'll just stay abroad, she..."
Before Qin's mother could finish speaking, Qin's father stared coldly at her. He generally turned a blind eye to his wife's affairs, but when it came to matters of national importance, he couldn't possibly side with her.
In his early years, Qin's father had fought on the battlefield, where many of his comrades died. Knowing how terrible the battlefield was, he didn't want more people to perish there. He hoped everyone could live peacefully and witness the prosperity of their motherland.
Qin's mother was afraid and dared not say anything more.
Later, when Qin Yizhou returned home, his mother didn't dare to see him directly. She pretended to be sick and lay on the bed.
Qin Yizhou immediately understood that his mother was faking illness because she was worried that he would blame her.
How ridiculous!
His mother is always like this; she doesn't care about others at all, she only thinks about herself.
“Song Fenglan has divorced me. She is neither my wife nor your daughter-in-law. Please don’t appear in front of her or her family again.” Qin Yizhou said, “My superiors have assigned me to take turns protecting her. Mom, you’re not educated, read more books and newspapers.”
Qin Yizhou wore a cold expression; he didn't care whether his mother was healthy or not. What was there to care about? She was just a selfish person.
Song Fenglan had only been back for a short time, and Qin's mother was already making such a fuss.
Qin Yizhou realized that his relationship with Song Fenglan was inherently distant; it was a one-sided love between him and Song Fenglan. If it weren't for certain events of that era, Song Fenglan would never have married him. After their marriage, Song Fenglan lived with her aunt, and her relatives took care of her during childbirth and other matters. Qin Yizhou never properly cared for Song Fenglan; they rarely spent time together during their marriage.
"No matter how capable she is, I will not agree to your remarriage." Qin's mother gritted her teeth. "Is she trying to intimidate me?"
Qin's mother believed that Song Fenglan must have done it on purpose, and that Song Fenglan had those people make things difficult for the Qin family.
"Stupid and selfish, he'll only hurt people," Qin Yizhou said.
"What did you say? What did you say?" Qin's mother almost jumped out of bed. "I'm your own mother, how dare you talk to me like that?"
“That’s the truth,” Qin Yizhou said. “You don’t need to pretend to be sick; we both know it.”
Qin Yizhou felt disgusted watching his mother's pretentious act, even though she was his own mother. Sometimes Qin Yizhou wished he didn't have such a mother. His uncle often told him that his mother wasn't very educated, and that he, as her son, should be more tolerant.
Some small things don't matter, but when it comes to big things, Qin's mother is still the same. She only thinks about her own little world and doesn't consider anything else.
“My brother was already having a tough time, but now things are better. He doesn’t have to worry about a promotion anymore,” Qin Yizhou said. “That’s great. Even without a promotion, he still has a stable job. I was just worried that something might happen later and he might lose his job.”
"You...you're cursing your elder brother?" Qin's mother's eyes widened.
"This isn't a curse, but rather a consequence of your actions," Qin Yizhou said. "Not only will I be affected, but I will too. Are you happy about that?"
"What...what is there to be happy about?" Qin's mother was not happy at all.
Qin Yizhou didn't stay for dinner at the Qin family home; he left immediately. He was hesitant to see Song Fenglan, knowing he would only bring her endless trouble, and that he couldn't offer her any benefit whatsoever.
In those extraordinary times, Qin Yizhou could at least protect Song Fenglan, but now, he's truly useless. The rotation protection doesn't necessarily have to be him; there are others who can take over.
How could I possibly face Song Fenglan in this state?
When Qin Yizhou went over to Song Fenglan's side again, he didn't appear in front of her; he just watched from a distance.
Qin Yizhou didn't dare to go over, but Song Zihang walked over.
"Dad." Song Zihang brought Qin Yizhou some pastries.
Qin Yizhou took the pastry, looked at it, took a bite, and said, "Your mom made this."
Qin Yizhou had tasted Song Fenglan's pastries before, and he could tell the difference from just one bite. Although Qin Yizhou had spent most of his time in the military and hadn't had much time with Song Fenglan, he remembered many, many things about her. He dared not forget those things; they had spent too little time together, and he could only constantly reminisce about the time they spent together.
These pastries... Qin Yizhou didn't know whether Song Fenglan had Song Zihang bring them over, or whether Song Zihang brought them over without Song Fenglan's permission. Regardless of which one it was, he had tasted pastries made by Song Fenglan herself.
“My mom made it,” Song Zihang said. “When we were abroad, I didn’t like foreign food, and neither did my mom. So she would make some pastries and keep them on hand. Sometimes she would also cook. My mom had to take care of me, study, and cook. She was very busy. When she came home, she would still ask me questions, afraid that I would be bullied.”
"Were you bullied?" Qin Yizhou asked.
"Luckily, I'm not that stupid," Song Zihang said. "I go to a good school; not everyone there thinks about bullying others. But foreign countries aren't our homeland after all. Dad, do you still want to be with Mom?"
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