WHCTIL - 70

Chapter 70: Epilogue – Jiang Chuan and Qin Tang (1)

Before the New Year, Jiang Chuan and Lü An passed by Jiang Chuan’s hometown while delivering supplies. Lü An asked, “Do you want to go back for a visit?”

Jiang Chuan leaned back in his seat, gazing into the distance. After a moment, he said, “Next time, with Qin Tang.”

Lü An suggested, “Shouldn’t you at least drop by and say hello?”

Jiang Chuan smiled faintly, “Why don’t you go instead?”

Back when his police credentials were revoked, his reputation suffered. His father truly believed he was up to no good outside. A university graduate was rare in the village, and an upright policeman even rarer.

Jiang Chuan hadn’t returned home in years. Even during the early years when Jiang Kun was investigating him, his father, though disapproving, had listened to Lü An’s advice. When people came asking about him in the village, his father would simply say, “That boy of mine died a long time ago.”

Lü An raised an eyebrow, “Shall I tell Old Lu that you’ll bring your girlfriend next time?”

Jiang Chuan chuckled, “Sure.”

He bought some things and withdrew some money, giving them to Lü An to take back.

Lü An spent the night in their hometown, while Jiang Chuan waited in the nearby town. The next day, when Lü An returned, Jiang Chuan asked, “What did my father say?”

Lü An shook his head, “Not much. But he did ask about the girl—where she’s from. I told him Beijing.”

Jiang Chuan laughed softly.

Qin Tang had originally planned to go back to Jiang Chuan’s hometown with him, but something came up at the last minute. On the agreed-upon day, Jiang Chuan returned alone. Meanwhile, Lü An, who had just started dating Xiao Bai and was deep in the throes of romance, had accompanied her home and ended up staying for a whole week. He still hadn’t returned yet.

Jiang Chuan hadn’t been back home in several years, but from what Lü An had told him, his family home had been renovated and looked quite nice.

Jiang Chuan parked the car in front of the house. As he stepped out, he saw his father standing at the doorway—tall and thin, wearing a padded jacket and a military cap, looking spirited. When the old man saw him, his eyes brightened for a moment before quickly dimming again. His gaze shifted to the car.

Jiang Chuan looked at him for a while before finally speaking, “Dad.”

After so many years apart, his voice carried a suppressed excitement.

The old man glanced at him and, after a long pause, asked, “Just you alone?”

Jiang Chuan hesitated for a moment, then understood. He smiled faintly, “Qin Tang couldn’t come because she had something to take care of. Next time, I’ll bring her along.”

The old man harrumphed, hands clasped behind his back, and turned to go inside.

Jiang Chuan followed him into the house. He noticed that it had been meticulously cleaned. Some of the furniture looked new, as if it had been recently replaced. Sensing something, Jiang Chuan walked toward the right side of the house. Entering one of the rooms, he was momentarily stunned—red paint had been applied to the wooden windows, the curtains were new, and the bedding on the heated brick bed was also brand-new.

He felt a bit disoriented.

After a while, the old man said nonchalantly from behind, “What are you staring at? That room is prepared for the girl.”

Jiang Chuan turned around and smiled, “Her name is Qin Tang.”

The old man glanced at him and fell silent.

Their father-son relationship had always been like this—distant but not estranged, bound by blood.

Jiang Chuan stayed at home for two days before Lü An returned.

Lü An came over first to check the situation. To his surprise, he saw the father and son sitting across from each other, eating. He froze, “Where’s Qin Tang?”

The old man harrumphed, “Who knows if she really wants to come back with him.”

Jiang Chuan knew his father misunderstood but didn’t bother to explain. Lü An widened his eyes, realizing what was going on, and chuckled, “She’ll definitely come next time, Uncle Lu. Don’t worry, she’s definitely going to be your daughter-in-law. No running away.”

Jiang Chuan glared at him, and Lü An quickly backed out.

…

Qin Tang booked a ticket to Xi’an. Just as she was leaving, she ran into Qin Yue. At twenty years old, Qin Yue was tall and stood blocking her room door like a wall. “Sis, you’re leaving?” He pointed with his chin at her suitcase and the camera hanging from her chest.

Qin Tang looked at him, “Perfect timing. Take me to the airport.”

Qin Yue said, “Mom and Dad just left, and you’re already rushing off to see… what’s-his-name…”

“Jiang Chuan.”

Qin Yue frowned, “Do you really have to go?”

Qin Tang nodded firmly, “I really have to go.”

Qin Yue leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, “How am I supposed to explain this to Dad?”

Qin Tang replied naturally, “Just tell him it’s worth a few hits.”

Qin Yue: “…”

Hadn’t he been hit enough growing up? Whenever Qin Tang made a mistake, their father couldn’t bring himself to punish her, but when Qin Yue messed up, there was no mercy.

In the end, Qin Yue still took Qin Tang to the airport.

Qin Tang transferred flights in Xi’an and then boarded a bus, arriving at the town around 4 p.m. She didn’t know the exact address and stood at the station thinking for a few seconds before calling Lü An, “I’m at your town now. What’s it called?”

At the time, Jiang Chuan was with Lü An. When Lü An pulled out his phone, Jiang Chuan glanced at it, his expression suddenly darkening.

Lü An turned around, as if trying to avoid him, “Ah? Should I come pick you up?... Well, that works too. Go to the station; there are cars there. But at this time… let me check. It seems like there’s only one every two or three hours…”

Before Lü An could finish, the phone was snatched away.

Jiang Chuan held the phone to his ear and said in a low voice, “Find a place to sit and wait for me. Don’t catch a cold.”

Qin Tang froze for a moment, but the call had already been hung up.

She stood there for a few seconds, looked around, and then went back to the waiting room to wait.

There was no heating in the station, and after a while, she started to feel cold. Qin Tang tightened her coat, pulled her scarf up higher, stamped her feet on the ground, and blew warm air onto her hands. Suddenly, a shadow fell over her. She looked up, meeting his gaze directly.

Jiang Chuan stared at her for a moment, then sat down beside her, taking her hands into his and gently rubbing them.

Qin Tang pursed her lips, looking at his profile.

Neither of them spoke.

When the soft, delicate hands in his grasp had warmed up, Jiang Chuan finally turned to her, “Why didn’t you call me?”

Qin Tang slowly replied, “I wanted to surprise you.”

Jiang Chuan couldn’t help but chuckle softly, “You coming here is already a surprise. Don’t do all those unnecessary things. Waiting here for so long—aren’t you silly?”

Qin Tang: “…”

This was the first time he had called her silly.

She frowned, “You’re the silly one.”

Jiang Chuan didn’t argue with her. With one hand carrying her luggage and the other holding hers, he said, “Let’s go. Come home with me.”

Qin Tang’s ears turned slightly red, “Mm.”

She followed silently behind him.

Jiang Chuan glanced back and suddenly smiled.

Qin Tang instinctively felt he was laughing at her and demanded, “What are you laughing at?”

Jiang Chuan licked his lips and grinned, “At you.”

“…At what about me?”

“At how you look like a little wife.”

Qin Tang choked on her words, her earlobes turning red. Jiang Chuan put her luggage in the car but heard no response from her. Turning back, he touched her earlobe—it was warm.

Qin Tang slapped his hand away, “You’re so annoying.”

Jiang Chuan caught her hand and leaned close to her ear, “Really annoying?”

Qin Tang glared at him, “Really annoying.”

Jiang Chuan raised an eyebrow, pushed her into the passenger seat, and then walked around to the driver’s side. As soon as he got in, he pressed the back of her head and pulled her over, kissing her lips forcefully, almost punishingly. Qin Tang let out a soft moan, wrapping her arms around his neck, savoring this long-awaited reunion.

After a while, Jiang Chuan released her. Both were slightly breathless.

He touched her soft, white earlobe and asked hoarsely, “Are you tired?”

Qin Tang shook her head, “I’m fine, just a little cold.”

Jiang Chuan smiled, “When we get back, I’ll let you sleep on the warm brick bed.”

Qin Tang: “…”

“Have you ever slept on a brick bed?” He teased her ear.

“No…” Qin Tang dodged, lifting her face, “I’ll sleep on it tonight.”

Jiang Chuan’s eyes darkened, and he leaned down to kiss her again, his hands rubbing her body through her clothes.

After a while, he leaned back against the seat and rolled down the window, letting the cold air rush in.

Both of them calmed down.

On the way back, both were in good spirits.

They passed by rows of flat-roofed houses and cave dwellings along the way, quite characteristic of the area. Seeing Qin Tang raise her camera, Jiang Chuan slowed the car down.

Because of these delays, by the time they returned to the village, it was already dark.

Lü An’s house was very close to Jiang Chuan’s. Just before dinner time, Jiang Chuan had run out. When the old man Lu came looking for him, Lü An explained that Jiang Chuan had gone to pick up Qin Tang.

Lü An’s mother asked, “Who is Qin Tang?”

“Jiang Chuan’s wife.”

“Oh…” Lü An’s mother was quite pleased, “Then let’s go see that girl later.” After saying this, she looked at Lü An, “When are you going to bring a girl home for me?”

Lü An paused for a moment, “Soon.”

Hearing there was hope, Lü An’s mother eagerly asked, “Do you have someone?”

“Mm.” Lü An didn’t hide it from her.

Lü’s mother was overjoyed, asking several questions in a row. Unable to withstand her barrage of questions, Lü An heard the sound of a car outside and quickly said, “Let’s talk about it another day. Let’s go out and see first.”

Old man Lu had already gone out to wait.

Jiang Chuan held the luggage with one hand and Qin Tang’s hand with the other. Seeing many people standing ahead, he understood. He told Qin Tang, “That tall one is my dad.”