Chapter 103 Should I beg him?
Chapter 103
Liu Qiufeng was taken aback. She was changing her earrings. Since gold earrings were no longer allowed, she wore glass beads instead. Although they weren't as pretty as gold ones, they were still quite nice.
She was fiddling with it when she heard He Lao Er ask her a question, and she almost pulled off her earring. "He Jun, why are you being so fierce?"
"Can't you see I'm getting dressed?"
He Jun did indeed like Liu Qiufeng's style of dress; even though she was over forty, she still possessed a gentle beauty.
But that was under normal circumstances, when looking pretty made him look good. Now, he was very anxious. "Why are you dressing up? Didn't you hear me asking you a question?"
He Jun, who had a short temper, immediately grabbed Liu Qiufeng's shoulders and shook her violently, asking, "Do you know that Qi Donghan is getting married today?"
Liu Qiufeng was shaken so badly she almost fainted.
"I know."
He Jun was overjoyed, but Liu Qiufeng's next words made his heart sink to the bottom: "A few days ago, my younger brother came to my door and said that Xiao Han was getting married. The whole family was criticizing me, telling me not to spend money recklessly and to help outsiders indiscriminately."
"I didn't go looking for him; I just pretended I didn't know anything about it."
At this point, Liu Qiufeng herself became aggrieved and started to cry, "He Jun, you know it's not easy being a second wife. Look at me, I've done so much, and I'm still being accused of being a traitor."
All of this was nonsense, and He Jun didn't want to listen. He asked bluntly, "Did Qi Donghan invite you to his wedding or to the wedding banquet?"
Liu Qiufeng paused in her sobbing, shook her head, and thought carefully for a moment. "No."
From beginning to end, she never got her son, who was about to get married, and the other party never came looking for her.
Hearing this, He Jun felt a chill run down his spine, and he cursed, "Idiot!"
"Your own son is getting married, and you still care about what outsiders think? Your own son didn't invite you to his wedding, don't you have any thoughts about that?"
"As his biological mother, if he didn't invite you, wouldn't you have gone on your own?"
His voice was quite loud when he cursed, and even the other people warming themselves by the fire in the living room could hear it.
Harbin winters are for hibernation, and there are even low-temperature holidays, so they don't go out to work here, but instead stay at home to hibernate.
Then you can hear cursing coming from inside the bedroom.
They all looked at each other, puzzled as to why He Jun had lost his temper so badly.
He Dongqing, who was very observant, had been eavesdropping on the commotion. When he heard the argument inside, he frowned slightly, but eventually came over and spoke up for Liu Qiufeng, "Dad, Mom had no choice. Everyone in the family was against her contacting Dong Han."
He Jun glanced at him. "Your mother is an idiot, are you an idiot too?"
"Don't you even know to go out and ask around, what position does Qi Donghan hold now?"
He Dongqing had been in the He family for over ten years and had never been scolded by He Jun in such a public setting. His face immediately turned pale, and he was even more embarrassed.
"Dad, what do you mean by this?"
"What happened to Xiao Han? Isn't he serving in the army?"
But as far as he knew, he was just a poor soldier. Among so many soldiers in the army, were there any organizations or groups that could compare to the He family?
He Jun stared at him for a while, his expression unreadable, "What a fool."
"No wonder the He family has invested so many resources in you over the years, yet you have never risen to prominence."
"If the He family's resources were put into Qi Donghan, he would probably go even further."
He Dongqing felt a wave of humiliation; this was an insult to him.
However, He Jun didn't care. He glanced at Liu Qiufeng and said, "Aren't you coming out with me?"
"Qi Donghan is now the commander of the detachment stationed in Harbin. Many important figures attended his wedding and are now waiting at the state-run restaurant."
After saying this, He Jun followed him out.
Liu Qiufeng stood there stunned. "Xiao Han has become a regimental commander?"
How come she didn't know about this at all?
Little did she know that this was Qi Donghan, who had deliberately told his uncle Liu Qiusheng not to tell anyone. Not only were they unaware, but even Liu Qiusheng's wife was kept in the dark.
To put it bluntly, Qi Donghan never intended to have any further dealings with these people from the very beginning.
Upon hearing this, He Dongqing's pupils also constricted. "Impossible? Maybe Dad is mistaken? Xiao Han is a few years younger than me, how could he become a regimental commander at such a young age?"
Unfortunately, no one answered him.
Liu Qiufeng realized something and immediately chased after him, "He Jun, wait for me, I'll go to the wedding with you, after all, I'm Xiao Han's mother."
Upon hearing this, everyone in the room wore expressions that were difficult to describe.
She was the one who didn't bring her youngest son when she married into the He family.
Now that she sees her youngest son has become successful, she's the one who wants to go find him.
He's a truly lowly person, a typical opportunist who forgets morality for personal gain.
*
The state-run restaurant already had guests after Meng Yingying and Qi Donghan arrived.
Meng Yingying and Qi Donghan went over to entertain them, while Liu Qiusheng, as the head chef of the state-run restaurant, went straight to the kitchen to work after returning.
This place is mostly filled with people stationed here, whether they are Qi Donghan's comrades-in-arms or Meng Yingying's sisters, teachers, and coaches in the cultural troupe.
We're all one of our own.
Therefore, Meng Yingying and the others were very comfortable entertaining them.
She and Qi Donghan went to toast Commander Chen and Liu Qiusheng first, followed by Yang Jie, Regiment Commander Fang, Coach Zhao, and Director He.
Meng Yingying had somehow become accustomed to this kind of occasion, and her words were polite and made people feel very comfortable.
Even Yang Jie remarked, "This child gets into character so quickly."
Director He nodded, "He's a smart kid; he learns everything quickly."
When Yang Jie heard that it was her who answered, she glanced at her and said, "You kept it from Yingying in the capital, are you keeping it from me too?"
Yingying asked her, but she wouldn't answer.
When it was my turn to ask her, she wouldn't tell me.
He Chang remained silent, only saying in a calm voice, "We'll talk about it after the child gets married."
She said the same thing again, which left Yang Jie feeling somewhat helpless: "Just hang in there, I wonder what you'll do when you can't hold on any longer."
Director He didn't speak for a while, then changed the subject, "I think Yingying looks very beautiful today."
Yang Jie snorted, "Stop changing the subject. When isn't Yingying beautiful?"
That's the truth.
Well, that's it. One sentence shut He Chang up instantly.
Halfway through the banquet, Song arrived, but the two children who had come with him were sent home by him halfway there.
So only Song Zhan actually came.
As soon as he arrived, Old Mrs. Song, who was standing outside, stopped him, saying, "Station Chief Song, don't go in."
She didn't go inside herself; she just stood outside in the cold wind, and I don't know how long she's been standing there.
Seeing that her face had turned pale, Song Zhan frowned. "Mom, why are you doing this? Even if you don't want to acknowledge her, you could at least go in and have a meal."
Grandma Song wouldn't dare.
She shook her head. "If Yingying recognizes us, I'm afraid she'll cut ties with us and never see us again."
This made Song Zhan fall silent. He sighed and said, "Let's go in and have a meal so you can meet Meng Yingying."
Grandma Song hesitated for a moment.
“The state-run restaurant is very big. They only have a few tables occupied today, and there are still empty seats. Let’s go eat at another table.”
"Moreover, state-run restaurants have other customers besides them who come to celebrate weddings."
Only then did Old Mrs. Song stop objecting, and she followed Song Zhan into the state-run restaurant.
At midday, the state-run restaurant was crowded with people eating, and almost no one noticed them when they came in.
As for the groom and bride, they were all toasting at various tables, so naturally, no one's attention was on them.
This left Old Mrs. Song both disappointed and relieved. She went up to the second floor with Song Zhan, who was quite a prominent figure.
As soon as he arrived, the manager of the state-run hotel recognized him and promptly went forward to greet him personally, "Song—"
Before he could even identify himself, Song Zhan waved his hand and said, "Find us a seat."
"Comrade Song." The other person immediately understood. "Shall I take you to a room on the second floor?"
Song Zhan shook his head and said, "We'll just stay in the lobby on the first floor for a while."
Manager Li was a little confused, but seeing that Station Master Song was a man of his word, he immediately went to make the arrangements.
Song Zhan didn't order any food. He just stood with Grandma Song in the corner for a while before suggesting, "Mom, let's go."
“Meng Yingying’s boyfriend is very perceptive. If you keep watching, you’re going to be discovered.”
This made Grandma Song reluctantly turn her gaze away. "Song Zhan, do you think if I go over and tell her I'm her maternal grandmother, she'll recognize me?"
Song Zhan shook his head. He analyzed the woman who looked somewhat like his younger sister.
"Mom, I don't recommend you go there now. Today is Meng Yingying's big day. There's no need to go to her at this time."
“It would be good if it were to happen, but if she doesn’t acknowledge you or us, then our presence would ruin her marriage.”
"Mom, marriage only happens once in a lifetime. I think it's better not to marry her."
"As long as she's doing well now, that's fine. If she doesn't do well in the future, we'll help her out."
Offering help in times of need is always better than adding to someone's already good fortune.
As soon as she heard this, Grandma Song calmed down and murmured, "Then I won't go. I definitely can't go."
"We've already wronged her, and we don't want her to hate us anymore."
At this point, she suggested leaving, saying, "Song Zhan, let's go."
Song Zhan nodded, and before leaving, he found a child and asked him to deliver an envelope.
They give you a dollar for delivering an envelope.
The child immediately took the money when he heard that he could buy candy with just one yuan. Song Zhan then stood outside the door and watched.
Zhao Yueru was the one receiving the gifts, and she was always here recording the amounts.
Just as things were about to end and she was getting ready to eat, a little boy of about seven or eight years old suddenly ran over and said, "Auntie, here you go."
He handed me an envelope.
The envelope was stuffed full, completely bulging.
Zhao Yueru was stunned for a moment, "What?"
The little boy pointed in the direction where Song had been standing, "An uncle asked me to come and give this to you."
"Auntie, please accept this, I need to go buy candy."
After saying that, the little boy didn't care whether Zhao Yueru accepted it or not. He put the envelope on the table, turned around, and ran out to buy candy.
When Zhao Yueru opened the envelope and saw the money inside, she was immediately shocked and ran over to Meng Yingying.
"Yingying".
Meng Yingying had just finished toasting Qi Donghan when she saw Zhao Yueru rushing over in a panic. She handed the wine glass to Qi Donghan before coming over and asking, "Yueru, what's wrong?"
Zhao Yueru handed her the envelope. "A little kid just came by and gave me an envelope."
"After I open it, you can see the money inside."
The last time she saw so much money was when her family's house was searched; all their bankbooks and other valuables were found.
Then came this time.
Meng Yingying opened it and saw a thick stack of ten-yuan notes inside, worth at least a thousand yuan.
Meng Yingying paused for a moment, "Don't be in a hurry, do you know who gave it to you?"
"He was just a little kid who couldn't speak clearly. He said an uncle asked him to deliver an envelope because he was in a hurry to buy candy. He gave me the envelope and ran off."
Meng Yingying found it very strange, and she subconsciously looked at Qi Donghan, "Do you have any wealthy relatives like that?"
Qi Donghan nodded and then shook his head. "My mother remarried and found a good husband." He glanced down at the thick red envelope. "But she won't give me this much money."
Whether adults love each other or not can be judged by whether they give each other money.
For most people, money is earned through hard work and blood, and Liu Qiufeng is no exception. She doesn't work and can only ask her husband for money, so she cherishes money even more.
Therefore, Qi Donghan understood perfectly well that she would not spend money on him.
"Then who gave you this money?"
Meng Yingying asked a question subconsciously.
Qi Donghan said, "I'll go and find out."
He quickly asked around, but it was really hard to pinpoint a target because it was a state-run restaurant at midday, so there were many people coming and going.
In the end, he only confirmed a general goal.
It was a man in his forties who gave an envelope to a little child.
However, no one present recognized the other person.
If Manager Li were there, he might have recognized him, but in order to take good care of Station Master Song, he specially arranged for the head chef to cook the dishes and try to serve the best food.
That's why they missed each other during the investigation with Qi Donghan.
Seeing that there were no specific names, Meng Yingying said, "Never mind, let's leave the money for now, finish the toasts, and talk about the money later."
Qi Donghan hummed in agreement, and waited until it was almost over.
He Jun brought Liu Qiufeng over; they received the news late and arrived late as well.
So when they arrived, Meng Yingying and Qi Donghan had just started eating. Getting married is really tiring.
The two of them had been busy since morning and were finally able to eat.
Liu Qiufeng and He Jun arrived.
Meng Yingying was alright, as she didn't recognize the other person at all. However, when Qi Donghan saw Liu Qiufeng, his face immediately darkened.
Meng Yingying also sensed something was wrong. "What's wrong?"
Qi Donghan said, "It's alright." He picked up his chopsticks and put a piece of vermicelli on Meng Yingying's plate, telling her to continue eating.
Liu Qiufeng was a little angry, "Xiao Han, are you even disowning your own mother?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Liu Qiusheng, who was busy in the kitchen, rushed out immediately, "Come on, come on, what are you doing here?"
He pulled Liu Qiufeng and tried to walk out.
Liu Qiufeng remained unmoved, and He Jun spoke up, "Qiusheng, you don't need to be so alarmed. Qiufeng and I came here to see Xiaohan get married."
This was the first time in seventeen years that he, as Liu Qiufeng's husband and Qi Donghan's stepfather, had reached out to Qi Donghan, saying, "Xiaohan, I am your stepfather, He Jun."
"I came here with your mother to wish you and Comrade Meng a happy marriage and a long and happy life together."
If this handshake had happened seventeen years ago, Qi Donghan would have been overjoyed, but it's too late now.
It's really too late.
Now that Qi Donghan is capable of taking care of himself, he no longer needs this handshake.
He glanced down at He Jun's hand and smiled, "I'm sorry."
"My mother also passed away the year my father died."
"So I don't have a stepfather."
Seeing that Liu Qiufeng and He Jun's expressions had changed, he did not give up, but said calmly, "You must have mistaken me for someone else."
This is a clean and thorough rejection.
This made He Jun and Liu Qiufeng look rather embarrassed.
"Xiao Han, whether you admit it or not, I am your biological mother."
Qi Donghan disliked such meaningless repetitive talk, so he nodded to the people at the table and said, "Excuse me."
Then, they led Liu Qiufeng and He Jun outside.
He was much more direct: "I don't know why you all came to my wedding banquet on my wedding day."
"But I think that's enough."
He didn't want his wedding day to be ruined by these outsiders.
"Qi Donghan".
Liu Qiufeng could have chosen not to take him with her back then, but she couldn't accept that Qi Donghan wouldn't acknowledge her.
This made her very angry. "Don't you even recognize your own mother?"
Qi Donghan stared at her. "Are you my mother?"
His eyes were deep and sharp, and even Liu Qiufeng felt immense pressure when he looked at people like that.
Liu Qiufeng naturally dared not meet his gaze. She took a deep breath and stubbornly said, "I gave birth to you, so naturally I am your mother."
Qi Donghan didn't want to talk to her anymore, and instead looked at He Jun, "Comrade He, aren't you going to do anything about your lover?"
"If this continues, I can't guarantee that I won't remember some bad things from back then and then take revenge on the He family."
This was a blatant threat.
He Jun originally came with the intention of building a good relationship with Qi Donghan, but he never expected things to turn out this way.
This was not his original intention.
“Xiao Han, I know you still resent that your mother didn’t take you with her when she got married, but I hope you can understand her. It was already extremely difficult for her, a woman with a son, to marry into the He family.”
"Over the years, she has been extremely cautious, as if walking on thin ice."
Before he could finish speaking, Qi Donghan interrupted him, "Isn't this what she deserves?"
"Comrade He, if I were you, I would take her away right now."
"otherwise--"
"I can't guarantee what will happen next."
He Jun's face instantly turned ashen. He still wanted to build a relationship and get Liu Qiufeng to say a few words.
Liu Qiufeng never expected her youngest son to be so heartless. "Xiao Han."
"I am your mother."
Qi Donghan originally thought that the two hundred yuan Liu Qiufeng gave him back then had severed their connection and relationship.
But he never expected that someone would be waiting for him here.
"etc."
He turned and went inside, took the old watch from Liu Qiusheng, and also took two hundred yuan separately.
When he came out again, Liu Qiufeng looked at the handkerchief, and her face instantly turned pale.
"This is something you gave to my uncle when I got married. It's my fault for accepting it."
"Now I'm returning it to you."
"Comrade Liu, from now on, we are even."
These words were truly heartless, causing Liu Qiufeng to lose her balance and sway precariously.
He Jun stared at the handkerchief in silence for a long while before he finally came to terms with reality. “Commander Qi, you are all alone in the garrison, truly isolated and helpless. If you are willing to acknowledge my He family as your relative, all of us in the He family will stand behind you and help you go further and higher.”
He only learned that morning that Qi Donghan had already reached the position of regimental-level cadre.
He felt some regret; he shouldn't have ignored the child back then. If they had shown him even the slightest care, things might be different today.
They certainly won't use interests as a bargaining chip anymore.
Upon hearing this, Qi Donghan's expression turned somewhat amused. "Comrade He, do you know what you're saying?"
"Do you think the He family will be dragged down with you because of what you said?"
Using personal connections and family ties to bribe senior officers stationed in the team is a clear red line issue.
He Jun was surprised by Qi Donghan's ruthlessness. He immediately asked, "Are you really so heartless as to disregard even the slightest family affection?"
"Don't forget, you were born from your mother's womb after ten months of pregnancy."
Even if Liu Qiufeng was a bad person, she still gave Qi Donghan his life.
"That's why I didn't retaliate against her."
Qi Donghan remained calm and even devoid of any emotion. "Otherwise, why do you think she could still be a wealthy wife in the He family?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Qiufeng's face turned deathly pale.
"I don't want to use my power to oppress people, but don't force me."
After saying this, Qi Donghan turned around, threw the handkerchief to Liu Qiufeng, and left.
Her face turned deathly pale instantly. "He Jun, Xiao Han doesn't want to acknowledge me at all."
"He would certainly not allow his brother to join the team."
So that was their real purpose.
He Jun gave her a disgusted look. "I told you before, family ties need to be maintained, they need to be maintained. You can't just stand by and do nothing. Now look what's happened."
"He Min and He Zhang don't have any schools to attend. If we don't ask Qi Donghan to put him in the military camp, which of these two kids do you plan to send to the countryside?"
This refers to the twins Liu Qiufeng gave birth to after getting married; the twins have now grown up.
However, due to the bad harvest and the "Down to the Countryside Movement," they had nowhere else to go.
Otherwise, He Jun wouldn't have learned that his stepson, while serving as the regimental commander in the garrison, had rushed over to try and establish a connection.
Upon hearing this, Liu Qiufeng's face immediately turned grim. "Then what should I do?"
"I don't want He Min to go to the countryside, and I don't want He Zhang to go to the countryside either."
She murmured, "Am I really going to have to beg that heartless child again?"
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Author's note: Qi Tuan (smiling face): It's no use begging.
There will be another update tonight. I'll start writing after I finish eating!
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