Chapter 523 - 553: Unrepentant
Xiao Shi nodded emphatically. "Yeah, if I learn more words now, it’ll be easier when I start middle school. It’s just that I don’t really get things like grammar, and for now, I still have to carry an English dictionary around."
Ever since Xiao Shi decided she was going to be a strong woman, she had been studying incredibly hard.
Qin Jiao stroked her sister’s long hair, pleased. Nearby, Su Yun watched her two daughters, her heart swelling with pride.
After a bumpy ride, the family of four arrived back in Ping’an Town. Sun Li was there to pick them up.
Sun Li looked a little haggard; life had clearly been stressful for her. She sighed. "Oh, thank goodness you’re back. I didn’t know what I was going to do."
"How many years was Third Brother sentenced to?"
"Three years."
"Everything was fine. Why would he go and rob someone?"
Sun Li replied, completely exasperated, "He got addicted to gambling. After some guys won his money, he was furious and went to rob it back from them."
’That’s still robbery.’
Su Yun asked, "So what’s the situation now?"
"Grandma is still in our hometown with Xiao Tao, and Qin Bogang took time off work to look after Mr. Qin. Anyway, you just got here. You should come to my place and rest for a bit."
"We’ll just get a hotel room. We can drop our things off, and then we’ll head over to the hospital to check on him."
"Alright."
Sun Li chatted with Su Yun for a little longer, then turned to look at Qin Jiao and Qin Shi. She was struck by how poised and elegant the two girls had become, and how calm and composed they appeared.
’She knew what Qin Jiao was like. That girl always had a mind of her own; her family’s current success was all thanks to her.’
’But she hadn’t expected the once-timid Qin Shi to have also become so poised and confident.’
Once Qin Jiao’s family was settled in, Qin Jiao took out a few sets of clothes and a bag of books.
She said, "Auntie, these clothes are for you and Uncle. These two dresses are a new design from our factory, they’re for Xiao Lan. And these books are excellent review materials for Xiao Lan. You can only buy them in North City."
"Oh, my, the clothes you gave us before are still practically new. You shouldn’t be giving us more." Sun Li hastily tried to refuse. She didn’t turn down the review materials, though. Xiao Lan was about to start her second year of high school, and with the college entrance exams only two years away, her daughter’s education was more important.
In the end, at Qin Jiao and Su Yun’s insistence, Sun Li accepted everything.
She went with the family of four to the hospital to check on Mr. Qin.
Sun Li had to leave for work, so she couldn’t stay. With Qin Bogang currently splitting his time between his job and the hospital, Sun Li was left to manage all the household affairs.
As Qin Jiao and her family reached the door to the room, they heard someone inside losing their temper.
"Why... won’t... you bring Xiao Tao here?"
"He’s... so pitiful! His mom and dad... are both in jail... and you, his own uncle... how can you be so heartless!"
"Do you... even see me... as your father anymore?"
"Are you... trying to kill me with anger!"
Mr. Qin had survived the stroke, but was now confined to a wheelchair. His speech, however, remained quite clear.
He could still yell with impressive vigor.
The family of four outside the door exchanged a look.
’Even at a time like this, the old man showed no remorse. It seemed that in his eyes, no one could ever compare to his precious eldest grandson, Qin Tao.’
’After everything that had happened, Qin Bogang knew his own mind: he could support his father, but he would absolutely not take care of that boy.’
’Sun Li had already put her foot down. Qin Bogang couldn’t risk making his wife and daughter angry again over a boy who was beyond saving.’
But it was a deadlock.
If they wanted to be filial and take care of the old man, they had to raise Xiao Tao. If they refused to raise Xiao Tao, their elders would curse them for being heartless and cruel.