Chapter 17

The next day, when she woke up, the sky had cleared. By the afternoon, there was no trace of the rain from the night before.

Xiao Cheng and Lu An had repaired the broken windows downstairs.

Qin Tang went to the hospital to visit Yue Yue. Yue Yue grabbed her hand and asked, “Sister, when can I go home?”

She was still young. After staying in the hospital for a few days, the nurse took her for various tests. She didn’t understand much of what the doctors said, and later she learned that staying here for a night cost a lot of money.

Qin Tang asked her, “Do you want to go home?”

Yue Yue looked a bit uneasy, lowered her head, and said softly, “I do. Staying here costs a lot of money, it could have been used to pay my brother’s tuition…”

Qin Tang squeezed her hand. The little girl’s skin was dark, and her fingers were rough. Children from the mountains had to help with work at a very young age. Qin Tang had been pampered since childhood and couldn’t relate to that kind of hardship, nor could she understand what it felt like to have no money.

Over the years, she had seen many impoverished places. They were poor, powerless, just surviving.

Qin Tang put her arm around Yue Yue’s shoulders and said, “Yue Yue, trust me, your brother will be able to continue his studies.”

Yue Yue nodded. “Yes, my brother has worked really hard this year. Our family will soon have enough money for him to go to school.”

Qin Tang smiled. “Isn’t your brother really good at studying?”

Yue Yue smiled widely. “Of course! My brother is much smarter than me.”

Qin Tang went to find Yue Yue’s attending doctor. The doctor said, “She’s fine now. You can handle the discharge procedures if you want, just remember to come back for a checkup and have the stitches removed when the time comes.”

Qin Tang took the list to pay, and in the hallway, she ran into the leader from that day. She remembered his name was Zhao Feng, and he had another man with him, whose scar near his brow bone looked quite menacing.

She stopped abruptly at the corner and was about to turn and leave.

“Miss Qin.”

Zhao Feng had already seen her.

Qin Tang turned around and looked at them calmly, “Is there something?”

Zhao Feng smiled faintly as he looked at the woman in front of him.

Zhao Feng laughed lightly. “Nothing, I just didn’t expect it to be such a coincidence. Jiang Chuan was ruthless, a few of my brothers are lying in the hospital after yesterday.”

Qin Tang asked flatly, “What do you want?”

Zhao Feng waved his hand. “Don’t worry. I’m just saying this casually. We’ve already paid back the money, and for now, we have no issues. We won’t cause trouble for him.”

For now?

Qin Tang didn’t respond further and quickly walked away.

The hospital was busy, and they couldn’t do much here.

That evening, when she was driving back to Yizhan, Xiao Cheng was just returning on a tricycle, loaded with packages. She asked, “Did more stuff arrive from online friends?”

Xiao Cheng jumped off the tricycle. “Yeah, it happens often. But many of the things aren’t useful, so we can only pick out what we need and send the rest over. After all, it’s not easy to make a trip, and it costs money and effort.”

Qin Tang helped him unpack. Xiao Cheng saw that her hand was still bandaged and quickly grabbed the package, saying anxiously, “Your hand is still injured, don’t touch this, I’ll do it.”

Qin Tang patted her hands and didn’t insist.

She stepped closer, wrapped her skirt tighter, and squatted down with Xiao Cheng. Xiao Cheng quickly found a small stool for her.

Qin Tang sat on the small stool and asked, “Why was Zhao Qianhe imprisoned?”

Xiao Cheng hesitated for a moment, not sure whether to speak, but since Jiang Chuan hadn’t said not to, he said, “Fraud.”

Qin Tang blinked. “What kind of fraud?”

Xiao Cheng explained, “It seems there were a lot of cases. Anyway, he’s no good. He pretended to be doing charity work and collected a lot of donations. I don’t know the exact amount, but it was definitely a lot. In the end, those donations were mostly swallowed up by Zhao Qianhe and his gang. Very little of it actually went to charity.”

He was indeed a scoundrel, exploiting so many people’s goodwill. No wonder society was becoming more and more indifferent.

What was most infuriating was that the money was meant to treat sick people, help children in impoverished areas who couldn’t afford school supplies, and support dropout teens who couldn’t pay their tuition fees.

Qin Tang asked, “What does this have to do with Jiang Chuan?”

Xiao Cheng lowered his voice. “Jiang Chuan used to help Zhao Qianhe with things, and Zhao Qianhe trusted him a lot. But those things were exposed by Brother, and that’s illegal, of course, he’s going to jail... Zhao Qianhe had a girlfriend, a daughter of an official. Because of this, her family got implicated. Her father was removed from office, but that wasn’t really a loss since he was a corrupt official. Anyway, the whole thing is quite complicated.”

Qin Tang frowned, now understanding the situation.

Xiao Cheng muttered, “Zhao Qianhe seems to have been sentenced to ten years, but somehow he got out... I think the car accident last time was definitely a set-up by Zhao Qianhe.”

Qin Tang didn’t disagree. She feared this was just the beginning.

“What about Zhao Feng?”

Xiao Cheng, squatting on the ground, was still unpacking and said, “Zhao Feng…”

Before Xiao Cheng could finish, his body suddenly lunged forward, and he turned to shout, “Damn! Who the hell…”

Who kicked me from behind!?

He forcefully swallowed the rest of the words, grinning as he picked himself up, then turned to see Jiang Chuan, holding a half-lit cigarette in his mouth. “Brother, it’s you?”

Jiang Chuan scoffed. “Who the hell are you talking about?”

Xiao Cheng: “…”

Jiang Chuan looked down at Qin Tang and asked, “Curious about my business but didn’t come ask me?”

Qin Tang didn’t know how long he had been standing behind, eavesdropping on her talking about him. Caught in the act, she felt a bit embarrassed. She looked up at him, “I asked you in Yulin, but you didn’t say anything.”

Jiang Chuan smiled slightly. “You can come ask me in the future.”

Qin Tang asked, “Would you tell me?”

Jiang Chuan took a puff of his cigarette. “Depends on my mood.”

“…”

“Come with me.”

Qin Tang was still sitting on the small stool and hadn’t moved.

Jiang Chuan walked a few steps, then hearing no sound, turned around and saw that the girl was sitting up properly, her round bottom not even budging. His expression darkened. “Qin Tang, I have something to say to you. Come here.”

Finally, Qin Tang moved, turned to face him. “What is it? Say it.”

Jiang Chuan stared at her for a while and said, “Tomorrow I’m going to Town Ba. Do you want to come?”

Qin Tang’s fingers twitched slightly, and she lowered her head, not answering.

Jiang Chuan thought she didn’t want to go. “If you don’t want to go, then forget it.”

He turned around and left.

At dinner, Jiang Chuan noticed that Qin Tang had looked at him several times, biting her chopsticks, and he thought she must want to go.

But after waiting all evening, she didn’t come to find him.

Three days later.

Jiang Chuan returned from Zhenba, and with him was Cao Sheng, whom Qin Tang had met in Yulin. Cao Sheng was holding a little girl in his arms, around three or four years old, with pigtails and large, bright eyes, a fair face, and looking very cute.

The little girl climbed out of Cao Sheng’s arms and started running. Cao Sheng quickly stopped her: “Manman, be good, don’t run.”

Manman pouted and said, “Why won’t you let me run?”

Cao Sheng rubbed her head gently and said, “You’ll fall and hurt yourself if you run too fast. Don’t you fear pain?”

Manman replied, “I’m afraid. Then I won’t run.”

“Good girl.”

The little girl clearly wasn’t visiting here for the first time. She obediently greeted everyone.

Qin Tang bent down and smiled at her, “Your name is Manman?”

Manman nodded, “Yes.”

Cao Sheng and Manman stayed here for the night. Qin Tang later learned from Aqi that Manman had a congenital heart disease, and Cao Sheng had brought her to Xi’an for treatment.

The next morning, Jiang Chuan drove them to the hospital, with Qin Tang and Manman sitting in the back and Cao Sheng in the front seat.

Manman kept calling out, “Uncle, can we not go to the hospital?”

Jiang Chuan smiled and said, “You should ask your dad if you can.”

Manman said, “But you’re the one driving.”

Qin Tang took a lollipop out of her bag and leaned over the back of the seat, quietly asking Cao Sheng, “Can I give her some candy?”

Cao Sheng replied, “It’s fine.”

Qin Tang picked up Manman and placed her on her lap. As soon as Manman saw the lollipop in her hand, she immediately smiled, “Is this for me?”

Qin Tang peeled off the plastic wrapper and held the candy near her mouth, “Do you want it?”

Manman eagerly licked the lollipop, and soon she stopped causing trouble.

Upon arriving at the hospital, Qin Tang helped Manman out of the car. The little girl was happily licking her lollipop, squinting her big eyes, clearly enjoying it.

Jiang Chuan watched them, a blurry but undeniable memory rushing up to him, remembering a little girl like this —

Hah, the one who cried as soon as she was kissed.

He clicked his tongue and chuckled.

Qin Tang, who had been looking at him, couldn’t help but ask, “What are you laughing at?”

Jiang Chuan replied, “Nothing.”

Qin Tang said, “You were definitely laughing.”

Jiang Chuan looked at her with a slight smirk, “I was thinking about a little girl who cries easily.”

Qin Tang: “…”

Cao Sheng reached out to take Manman, but the little girl wriggled her body and reached her arms out to Jiang Chuan: “I want Uncle to carry me.”

Jiang Chuan grinned, then took the little girl into his arms. Manman kissed his face, leaving a sticky candy taste, and he wiped it off with the back of his hand.

Qin Tang was preparing to complete the discharge procedures for Yueyue when she suddenly remembered something and reminded him: “A few days ago, I ran into Zhao Feng and Zhao Qianhe here. The people you injured are staying in this hospital too.”

Jiang Chuan asked, “Did they trouble you?”

Qin Tang: “...No.”

Jiang Chuan took the receipt from her, “I’ll go.”

Qin Tang followed behind, “I’ll go with you. There are still some medical fees to pay.”

Jiang Chuan suddenly stopped. Qin Tang wasn’t prepared and bumped into his hard back, feeling a dull pain. She looked up and glared at him.

“Do you think I can’t pay these medical fees?”

“…”

Qin Tang didn’t mean it like that. Jiang Chuan lightly laughed, “I can afford this.”

…

Manman needed to stay in the hospital, so Cao Sheng stayed with her. Qin Tang and Jiang Chuan took Yueyue back to Yizhan.

On the way, Qin Tang told Yueyue: “We’ll send you back in the next couple of days.”

Yueyue was very happy, hugging the new schoolbag Qin Tang had bought for her, smiling contentedly.

This trip to Yangjuan Mountain only involved Qin Tang and Jiang Chuan.

Xiao Bai and Xu Peng wanted to come along, but Jiang Chuan found them inconvenient and refused.

Yueyue sat in the backseat, leaning against the window, reluctantly gazing at the big city.

When they returned to Yangjuan Mountain, the villagers and children were standing at the entrance to greet them, just like last time. Yueyue saw her parents and brother and quickly ran towards them.

Qin Tang looked at Yueyue’s brother, Zhao Xiaoyang, who was short with dark skin but looked quite lively.

The villagers were all very warm and friendly.

Qin Tang wandered around taking pictures with her camera. This place was truly heart-wrenching in its poverty.

The loess plateau, rugged and narrow mountain roads, and piles of decayed wood and debris everywhere.

The only school in the village was housed in a 3-cave stone house. The new desks and blackboards delivered last time were now in use, and the place looked a lot better than the previous dark, rundown state, but it was still poor.

The children inside were dressed in worn clothes, their bright eyes shining like stars in the dim stone cave.

…

That evening, Jiang Chuan and Qin Tang had dinner at Yueyue’s house.

Outside the courtyard was bleak and desolate, with three houses made of yellow mud. Their family had prepared the best food to entertain them. Qin Tang asked Zhao Xiaoyang, “Do you want to go to high school?”

Zhao Xiaoyang replied, “I do.”

Yueyue’s father poured homemade wine to entertain them, and Jiang Chuan drank several glasses. It was quite strong.

Qin Tang had a cup in front of her too, and she drank a few sips. The taste was bearable.

Jiang Chuan had planned to remind her that the wine had a strong aftereffect, but when he saw her soft, pale ear turning pink, he turned his head and continued drinking with Yueyue’s father, pretending not to notice and not reminding her.

Qin Tang stated that she would sponsor Zhao Xiaoyang to attend high school and university. The whole family burst into tears and laughter, thanking her repeatedly.

When they left Yueyue’s house, Qin Tang looked at the dark mountain forest, where no light could be seen, unsure of how to proceed.

Jiang Chuan grabbed her wrist, “Follow me.”

He took out his phone and used its screen light to illuminate the ground.

Qin Tang didn’t resist and carefully followed in his footsteps.

There was no place to stay in the village, so they stayed in a room that the volunteer teacher had cleared out for them, and there was only one room.

Yueyue’s house was far away, and it would take at least forty minutes to return. The road was difficult to walk, and there was almost no one moving at night.

They occasionally passed by a farm household, walked past the sheep pen, and reached the rugged mountain path. The grass underfoot made a rustling sound. Qin Tang felt a little nervous and asked, “Are there snakes?”

Jiang Chuan laughed. “Probably.”

Qin Tang felt even more anxious, then heard him say:

“If there are, I’ll catch one and make soup for you.”

“... I don’t want that.”

He chuckled.

Qin Tang bit her lip, staying silent, thinking he was just messing with her.

The mountain slope was slippery, so Jiang Chuan tightly grasped her wrist to prevent her from falling.

Qin Tang sighed, “Yueyue has to climb this every day to go to school?”

Jiang Chuan replied with a low “mm.”

Jiang Chuan had lived in the mountains when he was a child. Back then, his family was poor, and he had to walk a long mountain path to go to school. The children in the mountains were nimble like monkeys and could walk fast even in the dark. But women, delicate and fragile, were different.

He stepped onto a large rock, bent over, grabbed her, placed his hand on her waist, and with a strong pull, lifted her up entirely.

In the darkness, she bumped into his body. Their breaths intertwined—one heavy, one shallow—both carrying the scent of alcohol.

Qin Tang leaned on his shoulder and steadied herself.

The arm around her waist remained immobile, a large and powerful hand gripping her side. She gasped, “L-let go!”

Jiang Chuan tightened his hold and spoke in a low, hoarse voice, “What if I don’t let go? Will you cry?”