Chapter 4

Qin Nan casually asked while holding the Go board in his hand: "Shall we play the next game?"

Mei Wenfang's eyes widened in anger as she exclaimed, "Are you going or not?"

The atmosphere at dinner remained lively. Ji Changfeng had never realized that a family meal could be like this, where one could bring the food they desired right in front of themselves, where there was no need for communal chopsticks, and where one could chat while eating. Qin Liang, whether out of hunger or for some other reason, was focused intently on devouring his food.

Qin Liang stuck out his tongue, picked up his wallet, and went downstairs, intending to drive away Ji Changfeng. However, Ji remained leisurely seated on the sofa, admiring the layout of the house.

If Qin Liang were to marry a disabled person, Qin Nan might not agree, as he understands the hardships involved and cannot bear to see his daughter tread the same difficult path. Fortunately, at least in his eyes, Ji Changfeng might be the one who can bring happiness to Qin Liang and change her life.

Mei Wenfang let out a soft sigh and said, "I think that the receptionist, dressed like a fairy, has ulterior motives. And those female employees who come to work dressed so flamboyantly, don’t you think the male colleagues will look at them more? When I worked in the factory, I wore the same work uniform for a month. That uniform was dark and had been washed several times but still didn’t come clean. Yet your father still took a liking to me, and he didn’t even notice those flashy young ladies."

The door to the study was opened, and Qin Nan, holding a box of chess pieces, limped towards Ji Changfeng. He did not get up to assist him, for he understood that Qin Nan had a strong sense of pride. Someone like Qin Nan wanted to prove to others that he was no different from ordinary people. Excessive care and privileges would only leave him feeling somewhat at a loss.

Ji Changfeng did not grow up beside his parents since childhood. His early living environment was quite unique, belonging to a special African American community characterized by the survival of the fittest. If one did not become strong, one might go two days without a meal. Even after being brought back to his parents at the age of seven or eight, his life consisted only of routine checks on his homework and meals. Deep within him, a sense of anticipation quietly ignited, as if it were brought to him by Qin Liang

Ji Changfeng nodded slightly

Ji Changfeng held Qin Liang with one hand, maintaining a certain safe distance. Ji Changfeng's dark eyes fixed intently on Mei Wenfang, "Mother"

Only Qin Liang noticed the desolate figure of Qin Nan. In fact, she could sense Qin Nan's inferiority. For instance, when classmates of hers or Qin Lang came over when they were young, Qin Nan would automatically disappear. She would only reappear after the classmates had left. This seemed to have become an unspoken understanding. The light in Qin Liang's eyes gradually dimmed. Ji Changfeng leaned against the sofa, elegantly resting one hand on the back of it. Seeing his calm demeanor, a surge of anger rose in Qin Liang's heart as she said, "Get out quickly before I throw you out!" This seemed to have become an unspoken understanding. The light in Qin Liang's eyes gradually dimmed. Ji Changfeng leaned against the sofa, elegantly resting one hand on the back of it. Seeing his calm demeanor, a surge of anger rose in Qin Liang's heart as she said, "Get out quickly before I throw you out!"

Carp or beef

Qin Liang stayed for dinner. Taking advantage of Qin Nan's break while playing chess next door, Mei Wenfang skillfully chopped the vegetables and asked, "Liang Liang, although you have just gotten married, it is time to have a child. Having a child means that life is halfway complete, and with a child, a man will not stray outside. With Long Feng's conditions, even if he gets divorced, there will still be plenty of women flocking to him. You, however, are different; it is extremely difficult for a woman who is older and has been divorced."

In fact, everyone can understand; who does not wish for their daughter to be happy

In fact, Ji Changfeng has a cleanliness obsession and generally does not eat food that others have picked or peeled.

Mei Wenfang, holding the spatula, walked back to the kitchen while grumbling and heavily pulled the sliding door shut. In fact, Ji Changfeng had never experienced such a family, such a uniquely interactive existence

Mei Wenfang glanced at her and said, "You haven't fallen out with him, so you can just go. It's not reassuring to buy from other places"

Qin Lang directly picked up a chicken leg with his hand and started gnawing on it, mumbling, "Sister, can you buy me some bird's nest?"

The look of indifference on his face momentarily stunned Ji Changfeng, yet he was unaware of the slight curve at the corner of his lips as he picked up his chopsticks and brought them to his mouth

At that time, Mei Wenfang's parents were in debt and engaged in business outside to repay it. However, they did not expect that when they returned, Qin Liang was already nearly 1 year old. The two were helpless; what could they do about their daughter's insistence?

Qin Liang returned, drenched in sweat. Ji Changfeng casually pulled out a tissue and handed it to her. Qin Liang took it instinctively, and the sudden tacit understanding between the two startled Qin Liang

Mei Wenfang suddenly shot her a fierce glare, and Qin Liang resignedly picked up a chicken leg and placed it in Ji Changfeng's bowl, saying perfunctorily: "Eat quickly"

"Enough!" Mei Wenfang, still seething with anger, felt a flicker of rage in her heart as she recalled the scene of Tang Fei walking out just moments ago

Ji Changfeng's dark, pitch-black eyes were fixed on her, their depths inscrutable: "Are you angry?"

Mei Wenfang was completely unaware of the dangerous instrument in her hand. Just as she was about to speak, two figures rushed in from outside the door. Before Qin Liang could say anything, he was pulled into a warm embrace.

Mei Wenfang immediately gave him a sharp slap and asked, "Have you washed your hands?"

Mei Wenfang could no longer bear it and simply drove them all out. Qin Nan stood in the living room watching them create a commotion, the corners of his mouth curling up as he turned and limped into the study.

Qin Liang secretly glanced at Qin Nan, who was leaning against the sofa reading the newspaper, and replied repeatedly, "Yes, yes, yes, I heard Dad say that Mom was the factory flower back in the day"

Qin Liang was taken aback and, with a twinge of conscience, said: "What else can be said? Just gave a little reprimand."

Qin Liang's fingertips paused slightly as she peeled the green beans. If she knew that the two of them were no longer living together, given Mei Wenfang's temperament, she would probably beat her up without a second thought. A shiver ran through her, and she couldn't help but curl her lips: "Mom"

Qin Nan gently rubbed a translucent white chess piece with his fingertips, his gaze fixed intently on the chessboard, and he spoke: "Grandfather, how is your health?"

Qin Nan had long been prepared to remain single for a lifetime due to the blows of reality. He never expected that a girl like Mei Wenfang would appear in his life. This girl was neither beautiful nor ugly, possessing an ordinary appearance and an average figure. He had tried various ways to force her to leave, but perhaps it was her persistence, a stubbornness that persisted until death, that finally moved Qin Nan

Ji Changfeng was taken aback, staring at her with a smile that was not quite a smile, his demeanor exuding an air of grandeur. Qin Liang felt a surge of irritation in his heart: "Are you deaf?"

Qin Liang suppressed a smile, recalling the time he asked his father why he married his mother

Qin Liang secretly replied, "Then why did you insist on that point back then, even going so far as to take someone to court over the price of half a jin of fish"

Qin Nan cleared his throat, folded the newspaper and placed it on the coffee table, then stood up and scratched the tip of his nose, saying: "Well, I will go find Old Liu next door to play chess."

bird's nest

Mei Wenfang looked at her son in confusion, "Oh dear—what are you doing with such strength, you little rascal? My back is breaking—" Before she could finish her sentence, she caught sight of the tall figure in front of Qin Liang out of the corner of her eye, and immediately fell silent, giving Qin Lang a hard slap, "Step aside, don't hinder me from cooking—"

Ji Changfeng's strong arms loosely encircled her waist, and his warm lips brushed against her ear as he whispered, "Are you worried about me?" Qin Liang was about to retort when she saw Mei Wenfang come out holding a spatula. With a casual glance at Ji Changfeng, she said to Qin Liang, "Aren't you going to buy fish? Go to Uncle Wang downstairs to buy some."

Qin Lang lunged at Mei Wenfang, snatching the kitchen knife from her hand with one hand, his voice clear: "Mom, what are you doing?"

However, Qin Nan's right foot is lame, making him a person with a disability, and he walks with a noticeable limp. Due to Qin Nan's condition, Qin Liang and Qin Lang have had very little impression of their father since childhood. After school, they would quietly return to their rooms after dinner, so in their minds, their father was a very serious person. It was not until Qin Liang entered university that Qin Nan gradually began to converse more with them.

After the home visit by the recruiting school, the once highly sought-after student was ultimately ignored. During those years, most schools seemed reluctant to admit students with physical disabilities, which severely impacted Qin Nan's self-esteem. In the end, he enrolled in an ordinary vocational college in Beichuan.

bird's nest

As Mei Wenfang continued to chop the vegetables, she spoke incessantly as if a dam had burst. Turning around with the knife in hand, she urged her, "Don't think that Mom is being annoying. Everything I say comes from experience. Even if I don't recount my own experiences, just the observations I've made over the years could fill three days and nights of conversation. And don't even mention love; living life is living life. A marriage lasts long only when one knows how to manage it. What is the point of those dramas where love leads to either your death or mine?" After saying this, she occasionally gestured with the knife towards Qin Liang, who was suddenly alarmed and hurriedly said, "Mom—please put down the knife first." Qin Liang was suddenly alarmed and hurriedly said, "Mom—please put down the knife first."

After the two had just finished a game, Mei Wenfang called them to eat.

Oh, crucian carp, it is decided so pleasantly

Even with tacit consent, both individuals still held a strong aversion towards Qin Nan. It was not until Qin Nan's work began to show improvement, perhaps due to divine favor, that they started to reconsider. Qin Nan, being naturally intelligent, was among the higher earners among the disabled in Beichuan.

Qin Nan nodded and said, "Please send my regards to him."

Qin Liang smiled slightly, saying, "Whether I am angry or not is not important; the key point is that my mother is angry, and quite seriously so. Mr. Ji, I am doing this for your own good, truly, because I do not know if my mother will come out with a kitchen knife in the next moment and chop you up."

Qin Liang directly ignored him and shot him a glance, "Carp or beef?"

Qin Liang looked at his mother with a face full of resentment and said, "He has hands of his own."

She has seen photos of her father when he was young. Qin Nan was very handsome in his youth, with well-defined features and a strong jawline. He was not only academically excellent but also a university student. That year marked the restoration of the college entrance examination, and Qin Nan's score exceeded that of key universities by more than 50 points. At that time, several prestigious universities in the country sent him admission notices.

Mei Wenfang encountered Qin Nan at this time. She was born in a rural area and was inherently simple, not as complicated as city girls. With a head full of passion, she was determined to marry Qin Nan, despite her parents' strong opposition. They even locked her in the house, but Mei Wenfang ultimately escaped through the window. Qin Nan was moved by her persistence, yet he did not dare to take that step; being touched does not equate to love.

How could a truly well-conditioned girl be interested in Qin Nan? No matter how handsome, intelligent, or capable Qin Nan is, the mere thought of marrying a cripple, potentially having to support the family all by herself for a lifetime, and knowing that this man cannot do heavy labor or share household chores, would likely make most girls feel apprehensive.

Mei Wenfang let out a faint "hm" and scolded Qin Lang a couple of times: "Hurry up and get out, tell your sister what you want to eat, while it's still early, let your sister go out and buy it for you!" The words were directed at Qin Lang, but her gaze was towards Ji Changfeng

Qin Liang playfully stuck out his tongue and said, "No, have you forgotten that last time you fell out with Uncle Wang over that half a jin of fish money?"

Mei Wenfang suddenly struck her hand with chopsticks and said, "Don't just focus on eating for yourself, serve some dishes to your husband."

Well, it is still the same