Chapter 137: Chapter 127: What Are You Thinking?

Back in Wancheng, Zheng Shaolian’s first order of business was to call Gu Shaojun and report on his visit to see Xiao Man. He told him that Xiao Man was doing well, having scored a perfect 100 on both of her final exams. The two elderly folks at home were also in good health. Grandma’s eyesight seemed to have almost fully recovered; she could walk briskly without a cane or anyone’s help, accurately pick things up, and could tell the difference between the chickens and rabbits in their cages...

As for the pile of goods, Gu Shaojun told him to do as Xiao Man suggested and take them to the army cafeteria to supplement everyone’s meals. He wasn’t to give them the wine, however, as they still had training missions. The wild grape wine was a rare find, so one jar was to be given to Yang to handle, and the other was to be delivered to Secretary Tang.

Zheng Shaolian nodded in agreement. ’I won’t get to drink the wine myself,’ he thought, ’but it’s only right to give a jar to Secretary Tang.’ After all, Gu Shaojun had relied on Secretary Tang and his assistant to help bring the New Year’s goods for Xiao Man from the provincial city back to Wancheng!

Zheng Shaolian drove to the government compound. When Tang Qingyun heard that a jar of wild grape wine had been brought for him, he was delighted. He insisted on pulling Zheng Shaolian home for dinner and opened the wine jar on the spot. Upon smelling the rich, sweet aroma of the wine and then savoring a sip, Tang Qingyun was full of praise. Zheng Shaolian, however, was filled with regret. ’I really shouldn’t have listened to my cousin and given all the wine away! This is simply the finest wine there is!’

’A mistake, a huge mistake! If I had known, I would have kept a few pounds for myself to sneak a couple of sips now and then—no, even just one sip would have been great!’

Tang Qingyun asked, "Shaolian, I hear all those things were for the god-sister you just took on. I saw there was milk powder, malted milk extract, a lot of candy and cookies, and the clothes were for a child. This god-sister of yours must be quite young, isn’t she? How did you meet her? Where does she live, and what’s her name?"

Zheng Shaolian chuckled. "Uncle Tang, you sound like you’re running a background check."

Tang Qingyun laughed. "It seems Shaojun cares a great deal about this god-sister of yours, doesn’t he? For something like this, he didn’t have anyone else do it, handling it personally and with great care. He bought all the best and most expensive brands... Mm, as an elder, it’s only right that I show some concern!"

Zheng Shaolian raised his glass with both hands in a toast. "Thank you for your concern, Uncle Tang! This sister of mine... I happened to run into her on the street, and I took a liking to her, so I acknowledged her as my sister. She’s only ten this year, and she’s small for her age, so she needs things like milk powder to help her grow taller. Heh."

"Ten years old? Did you meet her in Wancheng?"

"Yes. My older cousin and the others were there, too. We saw her on the street, and she became my sister."

"Her parents agreed to it?"

"She doesn’t have parents. She’s an orphan."

"An orphan? A street orphan? You all..." Tang Qingyun was slightly taken aback. ’It can’t be what I’m thinking, can it? A group of brothers planning to raise an orphan!’

"Well, not exactly an orphan. How should I put it?"

Zheng Shaolian really wanted to scratch his head. ’Cousin, you need to get over here and handle this! Why is your future father-in-law so nosy!’

"My sister... she was, I guess you’d say, an abandoned baby? That’s what the old lady next door said. She was brought back from the hospital and raised by her grandparents."

This time, Tang Qingyun was stunned. "An abandoned baby from a hospital? Which hospital? One in Wancheng or a county seat?"

"I don’t know." Zheng Shaolian couldn’t sit still any longer. He grabbed his hat. "Um, Uncle Tang, thank you for dinner! I have a comrade waiting for me, so I have to get back to my unit. I’m leaving!"

"Hey, hey, Shaolian, wait a minute!"

Tang Qingyun chased him out the door. "Tell me, which county is your sister from?"

"She’s not from a county seat! My sister lives in the poor, poor countryside!"

Zheng Shaolian scurried down the stairs, let out a breath, and scoffed. ’What’s with my cousin’s father-in-law? What’s he trying to do, getting to the bottom of everything? This isn’t normal. I can’t stand it!’

Tang Qingyun walked to the railing and watched Zheng Shaolian drive away, feeling frustrated. ’If it were any other junior, they would have just answered my questions. But it had to be this kid from the Zheng Family, who never gives a straight, honest answer. It was probably taught by the Gu family’s matriarch. The two brothers have been extremely guarded against the Tang family since they were little, as if they were afraid someone would eat them alive!’

’But it was no wonder. Back then, their mother ran away from her marriage, causing my own older brother to lose face and suffer heartbreak. The Tang and Gu Families have been close for generations, and their deep friendship wasn’t estranged by the incident, but our family’s matriarch could never stand the sight of the two boys from the Zheng Family.’

Tang Qingyun smoked two cigarettes. When he heard the neighbor’s radio announce the time—eight o’clock in the evening—he walked over to the telephone and placed a call to his home in the provincial city.

A sweet, soft girl’s voice answered the phone. It was Xuanxuan. "Daddy!"

Tang Qingyun smiled. "How did you know it was Daddy?"

"A mother and child’s hearts are connected! I just knew!"

"Haha, it’s father and daughter’s hearts that are connected, you silly girl. Are you done with your homework? Where’s your little brother?"

"I finished my homework, and my brother is in his room. Daddy, please come back soon! My brother and I miss you!"

"Daddy just came over from the provincial city. I haven’t gotten much done yet, so how can I go back already?"

"But it’s almost New Year’s... Daddy, you’re not going to miss celebrating New Year’s Eve with us, are you? Mph, I’m not happy! I don’t care! Daddy has to come home quickly!"

"Be good, don’t throw a fit. Daddy will do his best. I’ll come back as soon as my work is finished. Now, go get Mommy to answer the phone."

"Daddy, you have to take care of yourself, okay? Don’t get too tired. Mommy and I will worry about you!" Tang Yaxuan stopped pouting and went back to being an understanding, well-behaved girl.

Tang Qingyun’s heart felt soft and warm. "Daddy knows, my sweet baby!"

A moment later, Wu Xiaowen’s voice came through the receiver. "Qingyun? Have you eaten? You need to drink more water and smoke less. Did you see the fruit Xuanxuan put in the car for you? You must eat an apple every day!"

"I saw it." Tang Qingyun chuckled. "Xiao Xiao, there’s something I want to discuss with you."

"What is it?"

"I checked earlier. In the Ping County’s Huashan Commune school district, there’s a Mo Xiaoman on the list of students with outstanding grades! That must be her. Excellent academic performance! This shows that family didn’t lie to us; they’ve been giving her the opportunity for an education. Xiao Xiao, I was thinking..."

"Qingyun, what are you thinking? Isn’t this a good thing? I knew that Liu... was an honest person and wouldn’t lie to us. We already agreed. If you make even the slightest move, you’ll destroy the peace on both sides!"

"Xiao Xiao, it’s almost the New Year, and I’m so close to her! I could..."

"Qingyun! You... AH! Xuanxuan? Xuanxuan! Hao Hao! Hao Hao, come quick, your sister fainted! Auntie, Auntie..."

"Mom? Sis? What’s going on?"

"Oh no, Xuanxuan? Has she had another episode? What should we do? Here, let me hold her. Sister Wu, you pinch her philtrum. Hao Hao, go call a doctor!"

The receiver was filled with chaos. Wu Xiaowen was crying, and the auntie was helping. Tang Haocheng came over and hung up the phone. He didn’t know his mother had been talking to his father; he was just in a hurry to call a doctor for his sister.

Tang Qingyun let out a deep sigh. He remembered the doctor saying Xuanxuan might develop depression, and his heart filled with worry.

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