Chapter 65: Zhang Qi
Zhang Qi wiped his face hard, released Mother’s arm, and slowly walked to Xiao Qiu, squatting down to look her in the eye.
No wonder he felt familiar; this face resembled Younger Sister when she was little by six or seven points, just black and skinny unlike Younger Sister’s fair and chubby self, so he hadn’t connected it right away.
Younger Sister’s daughter.
“Good girl, Xiao Qiu, call it again?”
“Uncle, Maternal Uncle!”
“Yes, yes, Uncle… is here, Uncle is here.”
He pulled her into his arms at once, Zhang Qi choking up with a smiling nod, “I am your Maternal Uncle!”
“Get out of my way!”
Hearing that childish “Grandpa,” Zhang Fu shuddered all over and looked at the pretty little girl, just as if he were seeing his own Nannan!
Carefully holding Daughter in his arms, he came before her, but the person blocking was too clueless, so Zhang Fu had to kick with his foot and scold out loud.
“You’re Xiao Qiu, right?”
“Grandpa, Mom said that autumn is her and Grandpa’s favorite season, but as for why, it’s your secret so she couldn’t tell me.”
Hearing this, how could Zhang Fu not understand why Nannan had named her daughter Xiao Qiu.
Their father-daughter secret…
Amid tears blurring his eyes, he seemed to see Nannan as a child, every autumn taking her to the secret base to play in the water, roast sweet potatoes, and pick fruits.
The secret she thought it was, was really just Old Woman not liking to move and Eldest Son unwilling to climb mountains…
Heh, just her happily looking forward to every autumn.
Thinking of the well-behaved soft Nannan, looking at Xiao Qiu who resembled her in features, Zhang Fu holding the urn finally broke down sobbing and cried out.
Until a pair of small hands wrapped around his neck, softly saying, “Grandpa don’t cry, Mom will feel heartbroken.”
“Good, good, good, Grandpa… Grandpa won’t cry, won’t cry…”
Hu Yingtao stepped forward and took Daughter from her husband’s arms, gently stroking over and over.
This was flesh fallen from her body, just turned into ashes stuffed into a tiny box…
“Nannan, what on earth did you go through? This is carving out Mom’s heart and liver!”
……
“Comrade Su, thank you, thank you for bringing my Younger Sister and Xiao Qiu back, but what’s really going on? Can you tell me everything about my Younger Sister?”
After standing up, Zhang Qi finally steadied his emotions, walked to the silent person nearby, and quietly began asking about everything concerning Younger Sister.
She sighed silently; she only half-understood Zhang Qin’s affairs, and the specifics would need them to investigate themselves.
“It was Xiao Qiu I saw that evening at my own doorstep.”
Recalling how she’d been startled thinking she’d encountered something unclean, Su Ning tugged at the corner of her mouth, “Because Sister Qin was sick very severely, Xiao Qiu had to go out begging for food while she was asleep.
Sister Qin would cough and couldn’t easily stop, so she had trouble sleeping and could only endure it raw, falling into deep sleep on her own for two or three hours only when her body couldn’t take it anymore.
Xiao Qiu would go out at those times…”
Hearing that Xiao Qiu at such a young age had to shoulder the task of supporting the family, having to go out begging at night.
Sometimes not only getting nothing to eat but also being chased or even beaten by frightened people.
Younger Sister had gotten injured and sick with no money for treatment, dragging it into an incurable illness…
Zhang Qi covered his face as big teardrops trickled down through his fingers, desperately suppressing the pain in his chest.
After easing for a good while, he hoarsely continued asking, “What about before? Why did she go missing, where did she go? Did she tell you anything before leaving?”
“Mm.”
She turned to glance at Xiao Qiu nestled in the two old folks’ arms, patting their backs lightly with her small hands.
Su Ning’s gaze complicated as she turned back, relaying word-for-word what Zhang Qin had said at the time.
“What happened to her after that, Sister Qin didn’t tell me, and told me not to go find that person or inquire about it, saying it might be dangerous.”
His hands at his sides clenched tightly into fists, Zhang Qi struggled to raise his head, eyes bloodshot like a bloodthirsty demon, “Where is that village? Who is the one who hurt her?”
“I only went to Gu City not long ago, so I’m not too clear on the place or person name she mentioned.”
Recalling Zhang Qin’s expression when mentioning that person then, Su Ning still spoke up to advise, “Brother Zhang, you still have parents, and now plus Xiao Qiu; they all need you to take care of them.”
“A gentleman takes revenge, ten years not too late.”
“I understand.”
His cheeks clenched tight, gums bitten hard until blood seeped out.
Zhang Qi closed his eyes and took several deep breaths; when he opened them again, he was much calmer, “Su Ning, thank you again. You are my Zhang Family’s benefactor. On behalf of my Younger Sister, Xiao Qiu, and my parents, I kneel to thank you for your great kindness!”
“Brother Zhang!”
Seeing him straighten up while speaking, face serious as he knelt toward her, Su Ning was startled by the action and quickly sidestepped, instinctively reaching out to block his kowtowing hands.
“Get up quick! You kneeling like this to me, where we’re from, that sends people away! Really, Brother Zhang, quick, get up now!”
Kneeling and kowtowing sends people… away?
Serious? What custom is that?
Zhang Qi, forced to stop his actions, stiffened up: he’d almost repaid kindness with enmity!
“Sorry, I didn’t know… I just wanted to express my gratitude.”
“Su Ning, if it really weren’t for you, kind and righteous, my Younger Sister and Xiao Qiu couldn’t have come home. With Younger Sister gone, who knows what would happen to Xiao Qiu; our family would never reunite.”
“Brother Zhang, don’t say that. Anyone with a bit of conscience encountering this wouldn’t ignore it. Xiao Qiu is so well-behaved and cute; even without me, she’d meet other kindhearted people.”
“No, no, no, you can’t say it that way.”
Seeing him stand up and no longer kowtow to her, Su Ning let out a heavy sigh of relief.
As for helping Xiao Qiu and Zhang Qin, it was just what she could manage; she didn’t feel it warranted such grand courtesy.
“Really, Brother Zhang, helping Sister Qin fulfill her wish and bringing Xiao Qiu to find you all makes me very happy. As for thanks or not, I’m also Xiao Qiu’s sis…”
At this, Su Ning chuckled wryly; this seniority was just as Fu Jiaming had said, “I’m also Xiao Qiu’s aunt, so as family, no need to be polite.”
“Good, then from today, you are my half-sibling another close Younger Sister.”
The words that slipped out made Zhang Qi pause, but thinking it over carefully, his parents were getting on in years after all, and the blow from Younger Sister’s matter was definitely not small.
Though they had Xiao Qiu now, who knew if learning Xiao Qiu’s background would strike another heavy blow, and if they couldn’t bear it…
If they had one more daughter, at least there’d be some comfort, and Su Ning was fine in character and looks—it’d actually be the Zhang Family climbing high.
“Yes, yes, yes, Su Ning, how about we recognize godfamily ties? What do you think?”
?
Her eyes couldn’t help but fill with question marks: delivering someone and now gaining a godfamily tie?
Thinking of Sister Fu Ying and her brother who’d said the same, warmth welled up in Su Ning’s eyes.
Compared to her biological father, who said people without blood ties had no familial affection?
She truly liked Xiao Qiu herself; even back in Xiangnan, she wouldn’t cut contact or abandon her. If there was opportunity to come to Shanghai City, she’d definitely visit.
She had a good feeling toward the Zhang Family people; if they really added this godfamily tie…
“Su Ning, Ning Ning—can we call you that?”
“Of course, Brother Zhang.”
……
Hospital entrance.
The Zhang Family old couple’s bodies couldn’t take the ordeal of great grief and joy, so only Zhang Qi and Xiao Qiu were seeing her off.
The Zhang Family old couple also approved of Zhang Qi mentioning recognizing kin, and actively pushed for it.
Unable to refuse the enthusiasm, Su Ning accepted this affection thick with gratitude; from then on in Shanghai City, she had another home and family.
Sometimes she thought heaven wasn’t unfair to her; from childhood she never lacked people who loved her. Even if they weren’t by her side, someone would always fill their absence in various ways.
“Sister Ning Ning… no, Little Aunt!”
Xiao Qiu covered her mouth and smiled shyly; habit was hard to change, “Little Aunt, you must come see Qiuqiu after you’re done being busy~”
“Okay, once Little Aunt finishes work, she’ll definitely come see Xiao Qiu!”
“Ning Ning, when you’re done being busy, we’ll do as you say and set a table at home, just our own family!”
“Good, Big Brother, take good care of Godfather and Godmother. I’ll come back to see you all once I’m done.”
Zhang Qi nodded, bent down to pick up Xiao Qiu who was holding her hand, “If you need help with your job, come find Big Brother. Though the Zhang Family isn’t top-tier in Shanghai City, we still have some ability.”
