Chapter 93 Disappointment at the Visit
Chapter 93
Song's mother remembered the child because she had seen him once from afar. At that time, the child was not very old, probably only eight or nine years old.
In the dead of winter, when the temperature in Harbin was nearly minus thirty degrees Celsius, he was wearing only a thin shirt and a pair of ripped shoes. His face was so cold that it turned purple and blue.
To be honest, none of the children in the motor factory's residential compound had ever experienced anything like this.
Even during the most difficult years of famine, everyone still had food to eat and clothes to wear.
Harbin winters are so cold! When it snows heavily and the ice forms, the temperature can drop to minus thirty degrees Celsius.
Wearing only a single layer of clothing in this weather is practically suicide. At that time, she still felt sorry for the child; his father had died, his mother had remarried, and he was left alone in his hometown.
Grandma Song wondered if her granddaughter was the same way. Because of her soft heart, she even gave him the clothes she had secretly made for Meng Yingying.
However, the clothes she made for Meng Yingying at that time were all cotton-padded jackets that girls liked, and some even had floral patterns. In addition, Meng Yingying was only six or seven years old at that time, so the cotton-padded jackets were a bit small.
But when she gave the cotton-padded jacket to Chef Liu and had the child put it on, the size actually fit almost perfectly.
In other words, the child was actually two years older than Yingying, but his size as a boy was just right for the size of the clothes she made at the time.
This child clearly suffers from long-term malnutrition; otherwise, a boy wouldn't be born so thin and small.
After she handed him the clothes, the child didn't say anything, but she remembered that when the child lowered his head, tears fell onto his shoes, and he kowtowed to her.
Later, Old Mrs. Song waved her hand and asked Chef Liu to take him to the He family. After that, she didn't hear about the child for more than ten years.
So when she heard again that the other party was getting married, Grandma Song was still a little dazed, and even her congratulations were sincere, "That child has finally made it through."
Chef Liu remembered how kind Grandma Song was back then. When he first brought Xiao Han home, his wife kicked him out of the house. He had no choice but to bring the child to his mother's house since the child had no clothes to wear.
As it turned out, they ran into Grandma Song on the way there. Grandma Song gave Xiao Han a floral cotton-padded jacket for girls.
It's very new and clean, and it's filled with new cotton. The cotton-padded jacket used almost a pound of cotton, so it's packed very tightly and is very warm.
That cotton-padded coat accompanied Xiao Han for several years. Even when the outer layer of fabric at the back was too small, it could still be disassembled, the cotton removed, and a separate cotton-padded coat made.
Winters in Harbin are cold. During the toughest years of Xiao Han's childhood, he survived entirely on this one cotton-padded coat.
Therefore, Chef Liu felt a greater sense of gratitude towards Grandma Song. "Aunt Song, you saved my son Xiao Han's life back then. When my son Xiao Han gets married, you must come and have a drink with him."
Grandma Song waved her hand, "Saving a life is too much. It's just a cotton-padded coat."
She sighed, "Time flies so fast. I never thought that child would grow up and get married."
Back then, she saw how miserable that child's life was after losing his mother, and she was worried that the child her daughter left behind wouldn't be doing well either.
She couldn't leave, but she secretly sent her eldest son to visit.
She remembered the reply her eldest son gave her when he came back then.
The child was well-fed; he was dark-skinned and chubby, with bright eyes, and was a little tyrant in the village.
No one can bully her.
Because Meng Baichuan spent all his love and money on her.
It was only after hearing these words that Grandma Song was completely relieved. However, every time she made cotton-padded clothes, she still couldn't help but stuff more cotton into them.
She was afraid that the child wouldn't end up like the child in the He family, a pitiful little thing without a mother, and that his life would become difficult.
Chef Liu was aware of the Song family's status. Seeing that they had refused, he felt it was a pity, but he was very tactful and did not invite them again.
"Alright, if there's a chance, I'll have that child personally deliver the wedding candy to you."
"Consider it a thank you for your kindness to him before."
This time, Grandma Song did not refuse. She nodded with a smile, "Alright, let me see what that poor little thing looks like now."
That child only came to the motor factory's residential compound once, and it's been fifteen or sixteen years since then.
He never came.
Sometimes, Grandma Song wondered what had happened when that child went to the He family.
That's why a half-grown child could remember this for so many years, never once visiting his remarried mother.
I just think something unpleasant must have happened.
Grandma Song was about to speak, but then swallowed her words back. "Go ahead," she said. "I saw the He family's lights were on. There will be people there if you go now."
Chef Liu thanked him, his plump body clad in a bulky cotton-padded coat, before turning and leaving, disappearing into the night.
After standing in the cold wind for a long time, Grandma Song's joints started to ache. Unable to bear it any longer, she turned around and went home as well.
She was thinking, "That child is so close to his mother, yet he's unwilling to come even once."
If Yingying, a girl in her family, learns that her mother is not dead and that her maternal grandparents are still alive, will she acknowledge them as her parents?
Grandma Song didn't know that; all she knew was that the children's hearts couldn't be broken.
This injury will never have a chance to be repaired.
Braving the cold wind, Chef Liu followed the route he remembered, passing one red building after another, before finally arriving at the He family's residence.
Like the Song family, the He family was a well-known family in the motor factory. However, the Song family had a small number of members, but they were known for producing talented people. Whether it was the eldest Song or the youngest Song, they were capable of ensuring the Song family's prosperity for twenty years.
But the He family was different. The He family was large and prosperous. This Soviet-style red brick building housed three generations of the family, and because they had not separated, there were more than twenty people in the family.
So even though the house is quite big, it's not enough for each person.
When Chef Liu arrived, the He family was having dinner. He stood at the door, taking deep breaths to make sure he was in the right mood before putting on a smiling face like a Maitreya Buddha and knocking on the door.
After a while, the He family's old nanny came to open the door. She glanced at Chef Liu and then called out to the people at the dining table inside, "Comrade Liu, your brother is here to see you."
Liu Qiufeng was very beautiful, with crescent-shaped eyebrows and an oval face that had become a little plump, but her skin was very fair. She was forty-nine years old, but she looked about forty, and she was very dignified and elegant.
The dining table fell silent upon hearing the old nanny's call.
There were more than a dozen people at the dinner table, from her mother-in-law to her children, spanning three generations.
Liu Qiufeng's face flushed slightly. She forced a smile, put down her chopsticks, and said softly, "Mom, I'll go out and take a look."
Grandma He nodded, "Go quickly and come back quickly, don't miss dinner."
Liu Qiufeng said "Ai" and turned to follow her out. As soon as she left, her third sister-in-law said, "Mom, it seems that Second Sister-in-law's relative is here to freeload again."
Of these sisters-in-law, only the eldest brother remained unmarried while waiting for Xiao Song.
The remaining three are all married, but they all come from respectable families with impeccable political backgrounds; otherwise, they wouldn't have married into the He family.
The only exception was the second son's wife, who was not only one of ten widows, but also had a son with her.
When the news first came, Old Mrs. He was so angry that she couldn't sleep for several days, and the He family became the laughing stock of the entire motor factory.
Thinking of the past, Old Mrs. He's expression turned sour, and she scoffed, "Even food can't shut you up."
However, she did take those words to heart and glanced at Qi Dongqing, who was still sitting at the table eating.
Oh no, it should be He Dongqing who said, "Go and take a look, and warn your mother not to give away everything."
"The He family is also struggling financially these days and cannot afford such extravagance."
Otherwise, there wouldn't be a family of more than twenty people crammed into one house.
He Dongqing was called out by name in public, and his face turned somewhat embarrassed, but since he was eating at the He family's house, he couldn't refuse.
She could only nod in agreement, "Grandma, don't worry, I'll keep an eye on my mom."
Not being of the He family bloodline, yet having to survive in the He family, no one knows the difficulties better than He Dongqing.
Therefore, they were very careful when they spoke.
I never dared to cross the line.
*
Outside.
Chef Liu wasn't even called in by the old nanny. He was still standing at the door, shivering in the cold wind, looking at the wooden floor inside, which was glossy with oil and wax.
She sighed softly.
Liu Qiufeng arrived at this time.
She had lost face at the dinner table and wanted to yell at her younger brother, but then she saw that he was pale from the cold.
The words that were about to come out were swallowed back down: "It's so cold at this hour, why did you come here?"
She wanted to pull her younger brother inside to warm up. The residential compound where the He family lived had heating, so the temperature inside the room was very comfortable.
Knowing the He family's temperament, Chef Liu broke free from his sister's hand, exhaled a puff of white breath, and refused, "I won't go in. I came here to tell you something."
"Xiao Han is getting married."
Upon hearing this, Liu Qiufeng's expression momentarily froze. "That child is about to get married."
She had four children in her life. She had Dongqing and Donghan with her ex-husband, and later married He Lao Er, where she had a son and a daughter.
Actually, she treated all the children well, but she felt guilty towards Xiao Han.
"Hmm." Chef Liu stared intently at his sister's face. "He told me not to tell you."
Liu Qiufeng's face turned pale instantly. "That child is blaming me."
"Shouldn't you be resentful?"
"Qiufeng." Chef Liu didn't even call her "sister." The two were twins, and their ages were similar, so he had never called her "sister" since they were little.
"You've had four children in your life, but the one you feel most sorry for is Xiao Han."
“He told me not to come looking for you, but I came looking for you anyway, Qiufeng, do you know why?”
Liu Qiufeng covered her face, her eyes reddening, "Give me some time, I'll raise the money—"
"I should give something to that child when he gets married."
However, before she could finish speaking, He Dongqing came out of the house. Despite the cold weather, he was only wearing a white sweater, which made him look very clean and bright.
"Mom." His voice came out before he even arrived, and he naturally pulled Liu Qiufeng behind him. "Grandma just asked me to come out and tell you that the He family's situation is not good these days."
“The whole family is relying on your uncle at the Northwest base. Please think of He Min and He Zhang as well.”
He Min and He Zhang were twins born to Liu Qiufeng after she married into the He family. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to establish herself in the He family so quickly, despite being a second wife.
Liu Qiufeng's face turned pale quickly. "Dongqing, I know, but you also know that Donghan is your brother."
"He's getting married."
"I'm a mother, I can't just ignore it all."
He Dongqing was surprised that his younger brother, who was a few years younger than him, would get married before him. He was a little surprised at first, and then he said casually, "Mom, I am a few years older than Donghan, and I am not married. Moreover, He Min and He Zhang are not married either."
“You can’t just focus on Dong Han and forget about all of us children.”
This is a case of jealousy and rivalry in front of one's mother.
Liu Qiufeng wanted to say something more.
Chef Liu couldn't stand it anymore. His usually chubby face now held a hint of coldness. "Dongqing, if you're going to fight your brother for this, then according to your logic, your brother should have come and taken your place long ago, shouldn't he?"
“After all, when your mother remarried, strictly speaking, she was supposed to take the younger child with her. But Xiao Han was stubborn and didn’t know how to coax people. He didn’t say a word, unlike you who cried and made a fuss. That’s why your mother took you away.”
"But you can't deny that because you took Xiao Han's place, all the suffering and pain Xiao Han has endured over the years should have been yours. He just took your place."
He Dongqing's expression was not good. "Uncle, what happened back then is in the past."
"Can you please stop mentioning it?"
"Besides, what I said is true. You think my mother and I are enjoying a life of luxury in the He family, but what is the reality? I'm acting like a grandson. In order to fit into the He family, I even abandoned my original surname."
"Where's my mom? You think she married into a good family? You don't know, any daughter-in-law in the He family dares to scold my mom. Is my mom living a good life?"
Chef Liu was naturally heartbroken, but he couldn't argue with him about it. "These were chosen by your mother, and they were chosen by you."
"I'll ask you one last question."
"Liu Qiufeng, Xiao Han is getting married, are you going to give him a gift?"
Liu Qiufeng's face turned pale from the cold wind. "I will definitely make a promise, Qiusheng, please give me some more time."
With so many people around, even if she wanted to go back and get something, she couldn't do so in front of everyone.
Otherwise, even if her mother-in-law didn't say anything, her sisters-in-law would still talk her out of her back.
Liu Qiusheng was somewhat disappointed. "Never mind, pretend I wasn't here."
He turned and left, but Liu Qiufeng ignored the cold wind and chased after him. She ran to the outermost part of the street, where no one else was around, and took off the watch from her wrist.
"Give this watch to the child first."
"I'll figure out how to raise the rest later."
Liu Qiusheng looked down at the watch, but he didn't want it and put it back. "No wonder Xiao Han didn't want me to tell you."
"Qiu Feng, Qiu Feng, do you still want to get rid of me like you did fifteen years ago, just like you did with Xiao Han?"
"Haven't you ever thought about this in the past ten years or so? Why is it that everyone here in Harbin, but Xiao Han has never come to visit even once?"
"When you wake up in the middle of the night, don't you feel any pangs of conscience?"
Liu Qiusheng left without paying any attention to Liu Qiufeng's expression after saying this.
As for the watch, he didn't want it.
Liu Qiufeng, wearing a beige sweater, stood swaying precariously in the cold wind.
He Dongqing came over again, took a coat and draped it over Liu Qiufeng's face. "Mom, Uncle and Xiaohan don't understand you, but I do."
"Others think we live a glamorous life, but in reality we are suffering terribly."
"Let's go." Without even a moment to speak, "Let's hurry inside, lest Grandma and the others get impatient and start scolding us."
These respectable families would never verbally abuse you, but they would subtly ignore you with their eyes.
I look down on you.
I despise you.
It will make you feel ashamed and embarrassed, and make you desperately try to fit in with them little by little.
Liu Qiufeng is.
Qi Dongqing was one of them.
In order to integrate into the He family, he even suggested to his stepfather that he change his name to He Dongqing.
After Liu Qiusheng left, he stood outside the gate of the motor factory's residential compound and cried for a long time.
He wasn't crying for himself, but for Qi Donghan.
He couldn't understand why such a good person as his nephew couldn't find a kind relative to treat him well.
The biological mother is.
My biological older brother is one of them.
They are all more selfish than the last.
Each one is more disheartening than the last.
At this moment, he even felt a little fortunate. Xiao Han was a man of his own mind, and even if he was promoted to regimental commander in the garrison, he was not to be allowed to tell anyone.
In particular, it must be kept secret from Liu Qiufeng, He Dongqing, and the He family.
He wondered if Xiao Han had long anticipated this day would come.
*
Qi Donghan was unaware that his uncle, Liu Qiusheng, had gone to find his biological mother. If he had known, he would have certainly stopped him.
There's no need to repeat what he saw clearly 15 years ago.
Over the years, whether or not he had the other person, he has grown up, stumbling and struggling along the way.
Since that's the case, there are many paths to take, so let's each go our own way.
After returning, Qi Donghan didn't rush back to his dormitory. Instead, he ran to the downstairs of the art troupe's dormitory building. At this hour, Meng Yingying was not in her dormitory. She was still practicing dance in the practice room.
Qi Donghan then went to the practice room again.
When he arrived, the entire practice room was empty except for Meng Yingying, who was dancing alone inside.
Under the warm yellow light, she wore a black V-neck dance costume, her eyes were lively, her limbs were stretched out, and she spun and jumped to the rhythm of the music.
She was like a midnight elf, dazzling and captivating.
At least Qi Dong is fierce.
He didn't disturb Meng Yingying. He waited until she finished the dance before clapping and emerging from the shadows.
"Yingying danced beautifully."
His gaze held an undisguised admiration.
Meng Yingying was completely unprepared for Qi Donghan to arrive at this time. She glanced at the time on her wrist, panting, and asked, "Why are you here at this hour?"
Qi Donghan handed over a roast chicken from his arms. "I just went to the state-run restaurant and told my uncle that we've submitted our marriage application."
He didn't mention that he went downstairs to the cultural troupe's dormitory.
Meng Yingying smelled the delicious aroma of the roast chicken. Her eyes sparkled with a smile, and her features became lively. "So, you brought me a roast chicken along?"
Qi Donghan nodded and sat down on the floor. No one would wear shoes on the wooden floor of the dance studio, so it was always bright and clean.
He placed the still-warm roast chicken on the stool, opened the oil paper package, tore it open, and handed her a large chicken leg.
Meng Yingying took it and took a bite without being polite. She had been practicing dancing for a full four hours and was indeed hungry.
She was eating with relish.
Qi Donghan didn't disturb her. He waited until Meng Yingying was almost finished eating before he nervously prepared himself for a while.
Then, he cautiously asked, "Yingying, my mother won't be coming on our wedding day."
Will you be disappointed?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
