Chapter 14

Grandpa Su saw Grandma Su return and asked: “Who’s outside?”
Grandma Su: “Oh, it’s Yongzhong back.”
Grandpa Su: “Hmm? Didn’t you say earlier he called saying he had a sudden assignment and wouldn’t be coming back?”
Grandma Su playfully scolded: “That was on purpose! He just wanted to give Qishan a surprise.”
Grandpa Su chuckled.
“Grandma, who’s Yongzhong?” Su Xiaoxiao asked deliberately. “What’s his relationship with Qishan?”
Grandma Su laughed at Su Xiaoxiao’s question: “Yongzhong is Qishan’s dad, you have to call him Uncle Jin.”
Su Xiaoxiao frowned playfully: “Have I met Uncle Jin before?”
“Doesn’t seem like it. Every time your Uncle Jin came back, you were at school in N City,” Grandma Su said, then asked Grandpa Su for confirmation.
Grandpa Su nodded.
“Oh,” Su Xiaoxiao nodded too, thinking that since she hadn’t met him, the next encounter would be easy to handle.
Glancing at the time, Grandma Su realized it was almost nine o’clock and urged Su Xiaoxiao: “Xiaoxiao, finish your homework quickly and go to bed.”
“Mm, almost done.” In reality, Su Xiaoxiao had long finished her homework. She just pretended to write at the table to sneak a peek at the TV.
Grandma Su clicked her tongue: “Our Xiaoxiao works so hard, still doing homework so late. She’s bound to be a top scholar in the future.”
“Hehe, indeed!” Grandpa Su laughed. “I think she studies more diligently than her dad did at her age.”
Grandma Su couldn’t help but laugh: “Back then, Junhua didn’t like studying, skipped school to go fishing, and even got hung up and whipped with a belt at home. That kid was really wild when he was little, didn’t expect him to make it to university later.”
Grandpa Su: “Wild kids are troublesome, girls are easier to handle.”
Grandma Su: “Exactly. Xiaoxiao and Qishan are the same age. From what I see, Xiaoxiao is so much easier than Qishan.”
Meanwhile, at the Jin household, Jin Yongzhong and Dong Xiaohong had been wrapped up in their own affection for a while before remembering he had a son.
Jin Yongzhong asked: “Where’s Qishan?”
“Kitchen, he’s in the kitchen,” Dong Xiaohong replied with a hint of panic, afraid Jin Yongzhong would scold her for making Jin Qishan do chores.
Jin Yongzhong glanced toward the kitchen and sure enough, saw Jin Qishan standing with his head down at the doorway.
“Why are you hiding there when you see Dad? Come over! Waiting for Dad to invite you?” Jin Yongzhong teased. “The more you grow, the more distant you seem from me.”
Jin Qishan walked over, hoping Jin Yongzhong would hold him like he held Dong Xiaohong.
But in the end, Jin Yongzhong just sized him up and said: “Qishan’s growing up, becoming a man. When Dad isn’t home, you need to protect your mom well.”
Mom?
Dong Xiaohong didn’t deserve that title.
Jin Qishan clenched his fists, nails digging into his palms, eyes stinging, biting his teeth to keep from crying.
Dong Xiaohong smiled sweetly, making Jin Qishan seem utterly naive. Jin Yongzhong patted his head, scolding: “Your mom works so hard taking care of you every day. How come after all these years, you still don’t know gratitude? Dragging your feet like this, not very manly.”
“All right, all right, Qishan’s still little.” Dong Xiaohong took the backpack off Jin Yongzhong, scolding: “Why didn’t you say anything when you got back? You really scared me just now.”
“I was trying to give your family a surprise!” Jin Yongzhong laughed. “Who knew you were so timid?”
Dong Xiaohong helped Jin Yongzhong take off his uniform: “You’ve been on the train so long, tired, right? Go wash up first.”
“Mm.” Jin Yongzhong opened his bag and took out a box for Jin Qishan. “A gift for you.”
Jin Qishan took it and opened it, bullet casings. He froze for a moment, realizing Jin Yongzhong still cared for him, still thought of him.
Jin Yongzhong stood and said to Dong Xiaohong: “Your gift can wait, I’ll show it to you tonight.”
Dong Xiaohong smiled knowingly: “Go wash up then.”
Jin Yongzhong pulled out a change of clothes, smiling: “All right, going now. By the way, Qishan, your hair is too long. Get it cut tomorrow.”
Dong Xiaohong quickly agreed: “Got it, got it. Don’t you know what kind of person I am?”
“Exactly! That’s why I worry you spoil the kid too much,” Jin Yongzhong frowned, pretending to be angry. “Ms. Dong is too soft-tempered, would spoil him. A real man has to be trained properly.”
“Qishan’s still so young, soft and tender, not like you,” Dong Xiaohong pushed Jin Yongzhong toward the bathroom. “Not like you, stinky.”
Hearing their conversation, any remaining warmth in Jin Qishan’s heart evaporated. His dad didn’t trust him but trusted a woman he barely saw all year.
Jin Qishan went back to his room and casually placed the box Jin Yongzhong gave him on his desk.
The next evening, Jin Yongzhong and Dong Xiaohong took Jin Qishan to the neighborhood barber for a haircut.
Afterward, Jin Yongzhong grew increasingly pleased, saying to Dong Xiaohong: “No more letting Qishan grow his hair this long. Looks much better this way, a little boy should look like this.”
Dong Xiaohong laughed sweetly and nodded.
At that moment, Su Xiaoxiao came out to buy steamed buns and ran into Jin Qishan’s family.
She hurried over and greeted them with overflowing enthusiasm.
Mimicking the little girl from the drama Old Stories of the Southern Town, she tilted her head and spoke slowly, word by word: “Hello, Uncle Jin.”
She even blinked afterward.
The cute little girl, with her soft baby-like voice saying “Uncle Jin,” melted Jin Yongzhong.
He squatted down, smiling gently: “Hello, which family’s little friend are you? Do you know me?”
“I’m Grandma Su’s granddaughter, Su Xiaoxiao. I’m still Jin Qishan’s classmate. I haven’t met you before, but seeing how much Jin Qishan looks like you, I knew you must be his dad,” Su Xiaoxiao said, dragging out each syllable with a big open mouth.
Jin Yongzhong laughed, thinking what a clever and charming little girl she was.
Then Su Xiaoxiao leaned closer to Jin Yongzhong’s ear, covering her mouth with her hand, voice still loud: “But Uncle, Jin Qishan isn’t as handsome as you. You’re the most handsome person I’ve ever seen.”
Jin Yongzhong couldn’t help laughing out loud. He knew he looked good, but being so bluntly praised by Su Xiaoxiao was a first.
Indeed, Jin Yongzhong was handsome, strong features, straight posture, and years in the army gave him a perfect physique.
Otherwise, Dong Xiaohong wouldn’t have fallen for him at first sight.
Dong Xiaohong frowned from the moment she saw Su Xiaoxiao. She and Su Xiaoxiao simply clashed, and seeing her act so well in front of Yongzhong, she couldn’t help but worry what tricks the girl had up her sleeve.
Jin Qishan also frowned, uneasy at Su Xiaoxiao’s strange way of talking, which made the hairs on his arms stand on end.