Chapter 70: The Family's Beloved in the Era? It Doesn’t Matter, My Father Will Take Care of Everything 7

Long Jianjun didn’t really count—he had been fired from the factory for fighting and injuring a coworker. After that, he never returned to the factory, spending his days idly wandering about. His parents tried to discipline him, but when they found themselves powerless, their expectations gradually lowered; as long as he didn’t stir up too much trouble, they were content, no longer hoping for anything more from him. But then, Long Jianjun’s habit of borrowing money everywhere nearly drove his parents mad with anger—they would have beaten their wayward son to death if only they could have found him.

Fortunately, Qin Ye didn’t deceive him. After the store opened, business flourished, and every cent of the capital was recouped. When the inventory was once again about to run out, Long Jianjun volunteered to make another trip. This time, Qin Ye didn’t let him go alone but accompanied him and brought Liu An along as well.

Originally, Qin Ye had intended to send Liu An to school, but Liu An refused. School cost money and didn’t earn him any; he couldn’t rely on his brother-in-law for everything, especially since his sister was gone. Since Liu An insisted on taking the hard road, Qin Ye let him be, having him learn to read while also helping with errands.

This time, Qin Ye taught Long Jianjun how to choose merchandise and bought him magazines and newspapers from Hong Kong to broaden his horizons. Long Jianjun didn’t take it seriously and thought Qin Ye was wasting money. Liu An, on the other hand, listened intently, though his limited literacy made reading a stumbling effort, so Long Jianjun had to help him along.

After all, Liu An was Qin Ye’s brother-in-law—their relationship was close. Long Jianjun was just someone dragged along for the ride. The priorities were clear; anyone could see that.

Once business settled into a steady rhythm, Li Xianglan kept up with her own share of the work, managing the household to spotless perfection as she went. She was never overwhelmed, especially with Liu Hua as her helper.

With the business on track, Qin Ye became a hands-off boss—contributing his expertise and strategic vision as a technical partner, setting the company’s direction. The heavy and dirty tasks were left to Long Jianjun and Liu An.

With his newfound leisure, Qin Ye could devote himself to raising the children. Once life stabilized, Qin Zhizhi was sent off to kindergarten, and Liu Hua was apprenticed to an old tailor. The tailor, having been paid handsomely by Qin Ye, treated Liu Hua with great kindness.

Liu Hua worked with diligence and never complained, earning the old tailor’s fondness for this earnest young apprentice. With Qin Ye’s attentive care, the once skinny and frail children grew plump and healthy.

Qin Sang-sang was a slow bloomer—late to walk, late to talk, easily mistaken for simple-minded, but she was not; she merely developed at her own pace. Qin Ye spent his free time reading fairy tales to the children and teaching them foreign languages. Children are like clay—flexible and quick to learn, and they picked up the accents quite well.

Time slipped by, bringing them into the 1990s. Qin Ye went from renting a home to buying one; the Liu family did the same, becoming neighbors once again in a delightful neighborhood.

Long Jianjun had never deceived Qin Ye after all. Liu An, now capable and dependable, gave off an aura of reliability and composure.

Of course, they bought a car. On the very first day, Long Jianjun intended to show off back home. As the king of ostentation, Qin Ye offered him plenty of tips and pointers, which he followed to the letter. That one triumphant display was enough to be remembered for a lifetime—there was no greater thrill than watching the neighbors’ shock and envy, seeing those who once looked down on him now fawn and flatter, and mastering the subtle art of showing off, as taught by Qin Ye.

Long Jianjun was practically floating with pride. He still remembered his old gang, but some people simply weren’t cut out for business. Qin Ye advised him to set up a security company—their first job was guarding their own store.

In other words, they were the bouncers.

But, as the saying goes, “clothes make the man,” and Qin Ye had a master tailor craft bespoke suits for Long Jianjun and Liu An, equipping them with the trappings of success. He also ordered a batch of standard black suits and leather shoes for the security staff. Combat ability aside, their appearance was certainly impressive.

Long Jianjun became something of a showoff, and even the otherwise reserved and earnest Liu An started to develop a flair for style.

By now, Qin Zhizhi and Qin Sang-sang were grown—young ladies in their own right. Qin Ye decided to take the children back to his hometown to visit their late mother’s grave, allowing the girls to pay their respects. Although they kept a memorial for Liu Cai in City A, the actual grave was back home, long neglected and likely overgrown with weeds. This trip would also provide an opportunity to hire someone to tend the grave, provided the price was right.

Upon hearing of Qin Ye’s plans, Liu An immediately volunteered to accompany them. Long Jianjun saw through him at a glance and laughed, “You just want to return in glory and show off, don’t you?” By now a father himself, Liu An just looked at the sky.

Since they were all going back, the Liu family decided to visit their ancestors’ graves as well. Liu Hua had married the old tailor’s only son, inheriting her master’s skills and becoming his last apprentice—even though the old tailor was reluctant to pass his craft to a woman. His son had no interest in sewing, considering it too effeminate, and the other apprentices couldn’t endure the old man’s temper or stubbornness. Apprentices earned nothing and had to serve the master, while working in a factory paid, so few were willing. Liu Hua was the exception—Qin Ye paid so well, the old tailor was embarrassed to lose his temper. Besides, Liu Hua was obedient, hardworking, and respectful, warming the old man’s heart and making him all the more critical of his own son when Liu Hua began courting him.

Liu An’s match was arranged by a matchmaker, originally intended for Qin Ye, who rebuffed all attempts—he wanted neither a widow with children nor a childless wife. When asked why, he would reply that stepmothers often brought stepfathers, so he cut off the possibility at the root. After several fruitless visits, the matchmaker finally paired Liu An instead.

When Qin Ye decided to return home, Long Jianjun carefully selected a team of tall, presentable security employees to accompany him, ostensibly to “assist” him but really just to help him put on a show. Such loyal followers were exactly what a big boss wanted, and Qin Ye was quite satisfied. Laden with packages, the group boarded the train home.

The train was as chaotic as ever, but no one dared provoke such a formidable crowd. Dressed in pretty skirts, Qin Zhizhi and Qin Sang-sang no longer remembered the hardships of their childhood; Qin Zhizhi had vague memories, but they had faded after years of being spoiled by her father. Qin Sang-sang had no recollection at all—her earliest memories were of a life of plenty and ease.

The two sisters huddled together, eyes wide with curiosity on this rare journey, just as they had been when they first left their old home as children. Li Xianglan brought many gifts for her old friends, unsure if they were still around.

Liu An was accompanied by his wife and a son at that difficult, rebellious age. Liu Hua brought her husband and their twin toddlers, who had just learned to walk.

The old hometown hadn’t changed much, though the town itself was different. Stone Village and Brook Village had only one change—there were few young people left; most had left for the city in search of work. The Qin family, surprisingly, was still in the village, though by all rights, they should have moved to the city by now. When Qin Ye took Qin Zhizhi and her sister away, it was the start of the 1980s—now it was 1996, over a decade later, and Qin Zhizhi was already an adult. Jinli, only a month younger, was now grown as well, though she hadn’t made it to university and still lived in the village.

The Qin family’s old house had been renovated and was now the most impressive building in the village. Li Xianglan, along with the Liu siblings, was recognized by the locals, and she soon reunited with her old friends, chatting animatedly by the roadside before accepting an invitation to rest at a friend’s house. The Liu family’s old home was long uninhabitable, and after nearly being cheated out of everything by relatives, no one felt nostalgic about the past. This return was prompted when Qin Ye decided to bring his daughters to visit their mother’s grave, and Li Xianglan joined in.

As for Qin Ye, there was little to say. Back then, he had used cunning to break ties with the Qin family. Old Qin, ever concerned about appearances, had begrudgingly given Qin Ye a single acre of barren land and not a word about the house. Qin Ye didn’t care—the more ruthless Old Qin was, the less chance he’d ever benefit from Qin Ye’s success.

The spectacle of Boss Qin returning home in style became the talk of the village. Despite losing Qin Ye as their stepping stone and suffering ridicule for some time, Jinli’s mother, Wu Min, had started selling buns in the town and now owned a small shop, making a tidy profit. Qin Hu, the second son, sold sundries with mediocre results—shortchanging customers and starting arguments left and right. With only a handful of stores to choose from, the villagers had little choice, as few were cut out for business.

The two aunts, who had always favored Jinli over their own daughters, were somewhat better off than before, but far from the comfortable life the original story foretold.

Jinli’s youngest aunt had long been childless, but after Jinli touched her belly, she soon became pregnant—unfortunately, with a girl. At the time, the one-child policy was in full force, and her husband, fearing for his job, dared not risk another child. Influenced by Jinli, they began to feel that having a daughter wasn’t so bad after all, and never tried for a son.