Chapter 3 003 People from my hometown have come.
The old lady started wailing as soon as she entered the door. First, she touched the portraits of her son and daughter-in-law and cried until she fainted. When she woke up, she hugged the bewildered Qin Xiaoxiao and cried uncontrollably.
"Grandma's little one, why is your life so hard? What will you do in the future?"
The old lady, Madam Qin, was the original owner's grandmother. She was only sixty-two years old this year. Perhaps because she was living a good life, she did not look old and was no different from other old ladies of the same age in the city.
The old lady was crying with snot streaming down her face, completely oblivious to the fact that her granddaughter was acting strangely. However, her older cousin, Qin Ye, who was standing next to her with red eyes, noticed something was amiss.
"Xiaoxiao, what's wrong?"
Is she too heartbroken? Why does she look so dazed? Could she have gone mad?
Qin Xiaoxiao snapped out of her daze, looked blankly at Qin Ye, and forced a smile at him, "I'm fine, I just didn't expect you guys to get here so quickly."
It takes twenty hours by train from their hometown to this small fourth-tier city. They arrived today because they had to get on the train yesterday morning. It can be said that they came over as soon as they received the news back home. The fact that the old lady only had a small bundle in her hand shows how anxious they were when they left.
Qin Ye nodded, looked around, picked up the mourning clothes and sash that his neighbor had prepared in advance, and put them on.
The old man had no sons, only a daughter. He wore mourning clothes to send his uncle off on his final journey, which was what the eldest grandson of the Qin family should do.
After Qin Ye dressed neatly, he knelt down before the portraits of Qin Min and Wen Shiya without hesitation and kowtowed to them. Qin Xiaoxiao nodded to herself and turned to lie in Qin Shi's arms, whispering softly.
Grandma Qin patted Qin Xiaoxiao's back, calling her "my darling" repeatedly, then cautiously asked, "Your... your Uncle Li didn't explain clearly in the telegram, what exactly happened? How come your mother also..."
Qin Xiaoxiao wiped away her tears and explained, "My mom was bringing my dad food when it happened. The thieves rushed in, and my dad went out to stop them. There were too many thieves, and my dad was no match for them. In the end, both of them..."
Grandma Qin hugged Qin Xiaoxiao and cried her heart out, one cry after another, until the funeral began. She fainted twice before Qin Xiaoxiao comforted her and she calmed down a bit.
When the people from her hometown arrived, the funeral, cremation, and burial in the cemetery followed. Qin Xiaoxiao cried throughout the entire process, her eyes red, perfectly embodying the image of a filial daughter. This was all thanks to the fact that Qin Xiaoxiao had secretly gotten some ginger from her spatial storage and rubbed it on her handkerchief over it these past two days.
In the afternoon, Li Changqing discussed with the old lady how to arrange things for Qin Xiaoxiao. After all, Qin Xiaoxiao was still a minor and her parents had both passed away, so it would be best if someone took care of her.
The old lady didn't speak, but looked at Qin Xiaoxiao, asking for her opinion.
What are Xiaoxiao's plans?
She didn't want her granddaughter to be left alone here; she was worried about leaving such a young girl here alone.
Her youngest son is her only son, and she has to protect him.
"I'm planning to go back to the countryside to be an educated youth. I have no relatives here anymore, and I want to be with my family."
Moreover, my current identity is very sensitive; there are probably many people eyeing me, and I'm afraid to stay here alone.
Li Changqing nodded in agreement, thinking that although Qin Xiaoxiao was young and not very brave, she had thought things through quite thoroughly. In fact, he also admitted that what Qin Xiaoxiao did was the best and most beneficial thing for her.
Upon hearing this, Grandma Qin burst into tears again, holding Qin Xiaoxiao's hand and saying, "Don't worry, your parents are gone. From now on, you'll live with your grandparents. As long as we have food to eat, you'll never go hungry."
Qin Ye also said at this moment, "I am your older brother. From now on, your affairs are my affairs, until the day I close my eyes."
Qin Xiaoxiao was deeply moved by these words. She nodded with tears in her eyes, turned to look at Li Changqing, and gave him a bitter smile.
"Uncle Li, I want to go back to my hometown and work in the countryside, but I can't decide the location myself. I need your help."
Also, we have to sell the house and the job at the mine. I probably won't be coming back, so there's no point in keeping them."
Li Changqing nodded. "I can do that. I'll get it done for you as soon as possible, as long as you've thought it through."
"I've thought it through. I'm leaving here and going back to my hometown."
Qin Xiaoxiao repeated herself solemnly, and Li Changqing nodded and continued, "Then you wait for my message before you go to the street office to handle the matter of going to the countryside."
Qin Xiaoxiao nodded in agreement. Seeing that there was nothing else to do, Li Changqing left, saying he would come to see her again in a couple of days.
After Li Changqing left, Grandma Qin sent Qin Ye to boil water and cook. She then took Qin Xiaoxiao back to her room and whispered mysteriously in her ear, "Xiaoxiao, Grandma brought all the money your parents gave me this time. Tomorrow, after we leave, go to the post office and deposit the money. Write your own name on it, then sew the passbook onto your undergarment. You can wear it home after we go to the countryside."
Don't let anyone see this money, and don't tell anyone. You're all grown up now, and your parents aren't around anymore, so you have to be careful, understand?
Grandma Qin took out a small cloth bag from her bosom. It was flat and neat. When she opened it, she found three stacks of ten-yuan notes inside.
Qin Xiaoxiao was shocked.
That old lady is really rich!
Has she not spent a single penny of the money Qin Min gave her all these years?
According to the original owner's memories, Qin Min was the security captain, who also drove for the leaders and worked as a bodyguard, earning more than seventy yuan a month.
Wen Shiya works as an accountant in a coal mine, earning a little over forty yuan a month. Together with her husband, they earn a total of over one hundred and twenty yuan. Because Wen Shiya's health has been poor since giving birth to the original owner, Qin Min felt sorry for his wife and didn't let her have any more children. They only have one daughter, so their expenses are not high. Apart from sending ten yuan back to their hometown as a filial gift each month, the couple can save seventy yuan every month.
Qin Min served in the army for five years and got married a year after his discharge. He sent money home for twenty-four years, which should have totaled 2,880 yuan. There is 3,000 yuan here, which shows that the old lady not only didn't touch a single penny, but also added 120 yuan to make it a round number.
Looking at so much money, Qin Xiaoxiao felt a mix of emotions. She wanted to tell the old lady that her granddaughter was dead and that she was just an outsider who didn't deserve the money.
Seeing Grandma Qin's full head of white hair and her hopeful yet loving eyes, reason prevailed over willfulness.
Fine, she'll take care of the old lady until her death and let her have a happy old age.
She's lived two lives and only has this one grandmother who wholeheartedly cares for her. Since she's been fortunate enough to meet her, let her indulge in this one moment of familial love!
Qin Xiaoxiao leaned her head on Grandma Qin's shoulder, her eyes red as she smiled and said, "Grandma, I understand what you mean. I'll go deposit the money tomorrow and won't tell anyone."
(End of this chapter)
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