Chapter 89: Handsome Little Bro, You Got This!
Lu Qiaoge silently watched Qin Hengzhi’s tall and straight back.
Perhaps because he had lived in the barracks since childhood, his spine was straight as a pine when he walked, and his silhouette against the light was like a precious sword not yet unsheathed, yet it could not hide the elegance emanating from his entire body.
Lu Qiaoge’s eyes shimmered with star-like sparkles, her eyebrows slightly raised, carrying a teasing glint that others could hardly detect.
Qin Hengzhi—not even mentioning the life-saving grace, she actually had a very good impression of him.
Handsome soldier brother, keep it up!
Over there, Team Leader Zhong naturally knew nothing and routinely checked Lu Qiaoge’s work permit, registered it carefully, and then asked what Lu Qiaoge wanted to do.
Lu Qiaoge took out a piece of paper with the design drawing of a wheelchair on it.
It didn’t look professional, but it was clear at a glance.
Lu Qiaoge earnestly described Zhang Quan’s situation and Wei Qiang’s helplessness.
There were no wheelchairs openly sold now; they were basically custom-made individually.
Zhang Quan hadn’t thought of it yet, and even if she had, she had no way to find someone to customize one now.
As for Wei Qiang, he probably hadn’t thought of it at all.
This request wasn’t excessive, and Team Leader Zhong was aware of Zhang Quan’s situation. Since the neighborhood committee mediator had come forward and Representative Qin who came with her showed no objection, he simply agreed.
The corresponding expenses would be settled for Zhang Quan after it was made.
Lu Qiaoge asked, and it would take about a week—under so many production tasks, this speed was already very good.
It was also because Zhang Quan had been injured on duty.
Team Leader Zhong hadn’t expected this neighborhood committee mediator to be so attentive and enthusiastic, with such a humble attitude, especially considering Wei Qiang’s difficulties. She hadn’t said a single extra word about Wei Qiang’s family matters, which was truly rare.
Thus, because of Qin Hengzhi’s polite attitude, it became a bit more sincere.
He even asked Lu Qiaoge if there was anything else she wanted.
Lu Qiaoge glanced at the mountain of scrap materials; actually, with just a little effort, he could make her a bicycle basket.
Domestic bicycles produced in the 1970s basically had no bicycle baskets, and the biggest reason was probably the raw material shortage.
Lu Qiaoge gave up.
Even the scrap here couldn’t be touched even a little bit.
But she had a new idea.
So, Lu Qiaoge politely thanked Team Leader Zhong, and when she walked out of the scrap workshop main door, she didn’t see Qin Hengzhi come out.
Staff hospital, Wei Qiang and Zhang Quan were arguing.
Although there was no one in this hospital ward, there were people next door.
Both of them had lowered their voices.
But Wei Qiang couldn’t hide his shock. Zhang Quan’s temperament was gentle; before she was paralyzed, she rarely argued with him, and after paralysis, she was very depressed and went along with whatever he said.
At this moment, Zhang Quan’s face was flushed, perhaps for her young son, or perhaps because of what Lu Qiaoge said before leaving.
“…I still disagree with reporting to the police. I don’t want to say it directly, but you should understand what I mean.”
Wei Qiang flew into a rage out of humiliation, his face ashen as he growled lowly: “Zhang Quan, what do you mean? Tell me straight, what exactly do you mean?”
“Does this need to be said directly? Nine out of ten chances it’s your parents who took it, and the remaining one is the neighbors.”
Wei Qiang’s eyes bulged out, as if he was about to strike.
“You’re talking nonsense! My parents wouldn’t do such a thing. I went to my mom’s house at noon to question them. Because of my distrust, my mom was extremely sad, I made her cry from anger. She didn’t take the money at all, yet you insist on slinging mud at her. Zhang Quan, what are you up to?”
Zhang Quan felt mockery deep in her heart.
Many people say that favoritism toward children leads to no good—it means the one you dote on won’t take you seriously, while the one you don’t like will always try to prove with actions that he is better than the other siblings, making the parents see that he is the most filial one, and constantly inspiring and moving himself for it.
Zhang Quan understood this principle; her husband was just like that.
She had to admire how well her mother-in-law raised her son.
Zhang Quan felt somewhat disheartened.
If Wei Qiang insisted on reporting to the police, she didn’t mind letting his parents lose face, because she would rather believe the neighboring residents than that selfish mother-in-law.
Moreover, when Wei Qiang gave the money to his mother-in-law, after he left, in her drowsy state, she heard her mother-in-law say that this money could make up for buying a bicycle for the eldest grandson.
Zhang Quan thought again of what Lu Qiaoge had said—yes, what did she have to fear? She had salary and subsidy; before her son became an adult, she could completely hire someone to take care of her.
Deputy Director Huang said the residents’ committee had quite a few people willing to come, since jobs weren’t as easy to find as before, but with children growing day by day at home and more places needing money, life was tight.
Thinking of this, Zhang Quan clenched her hand—this was the hospital, Wei Qiang wouldn’t dare hit her, but since she suspected his parents, he would hate her.
Zhang Quan softened her voice: “I didn’t say your parents took it on purpose. They’re old, maybe they forgot. They might remember sometime. If you report to the police, the nature of it becomes serious. Even if you don’t pursue it in the end, it’s easy to say but hard to hear. Your parents will be pointed at when they go out. Listen to me, wait and see. Maybe your parents will remember.”
Wei Qiang still glared at Zhang Quan: “So you’re just convinced it’s them, right? You won’t stop until you sling mud at my mom. Then I really will report it. I’m not going to the security department, I’m going to the police station. This thief is too bold; he’s a black sheep. If we don’t catch this person, none of the families on our floor will have peace.”
Zhang Quan didn’t care anymore; she fell silent.
She really wanted to tell Wei Qiang about divorce, but thinking of everything she had given for this family in the past, she felt it truly wasn’t worth it.
In that moment of hesitation, Wei Qiang had already left with a face ashen.
But before leaving, he still went to the nurse and said he had something to do outside, asking her to help watch Zhang Quan.
And Lu Qiaoge had already returned to the neighborhood committee by now.
Today’s efficiency was top-notch; she had accomplished so much, yet it wasn’t time to get off work, so she still had to go back to work.
When Deputy Director Huang saw her return, she knew the wheelchair matter was settled.
She thought for a moment, then patiently explained to Lu Qiaoge: “I’ve done grassroots work for so many years—not saying I have rich experience, but I’ve accumulated quite a bit. Let me tell you, the wallet was taken by Old Woman Liu, but if this blows up, Zhang Quan won’t get anything good out of it. No matter what, they are mother and son. If Old Woman Liu cries, Wei Qiang will soften. That’s why I told Old Woman Liu to quickly go to the hospital to confess to her son, so it doesn’t blow up in the end and make others laugh at her and Old Man Wei.”
Lu Qiaoge felt Deputy Director Huang was right, but not entirely.
She said: “I think Zhang Quan will try to dissuade Wei Qiang, but may not succeed, because Wei Qiang thinks his parents are the best in the world and naturally trusts them completely, so he feels Zhang Quan is slandering them. He’ll definitely go report it.”
Huang Juan looked at Lu Qiaoge in surprise.
“You mean Old Woman Liu won’t go confess to her son and plans to tough it out, but Wei Qiang will go report it?”
