Chapter 308
"Wow, is this heaven?"
Jiang Jiu had intended to follow them inside when he heard a familiar yet strange voice from behind: "Xiao Jiu..."
Si Nian looked at the child rolling on the floor, feeling both amused and helpless.
No matter how clean the floor was, he was certainly making it dirty now.
She then looked at Zhou Zedong: "Xiao Dong, aren't you going to help sell the pancakes?"
Zhou Zedong put down his schoolbag, glanced at his younger siblings, and said, "Mom, I'll go help as soon as I put my bag away."
Si Nian paused, understanding that the child was worried about his brother and had deliberately brought them home before going out.
Si Nian smiled and patted his head. "In a couple of days, Mom will buy you and your brother a bicycle each. Then you can ride to school."
Hearing this, even Zhou Zedong couldn't help but widen his eyes in surprise.
"Really?"
"Of course. You have to study and run the business. Running back and forth isn't safe either. Xiao Dong, don't forget you're still a child too."
Zhou Zedong pursed his lips and said, "Mom, I'll grow up very soon."
Si Nian nodded with a smile and let him go out.
When Second Child heard he was getting a bicycle, he was so excited he started howling and jumping on the spot. Seemingly remembering something, he rummaged through his schoolbag, pulled out a bunch of his little red flowers, stuck them all over his clothes, then covered his pants with them too. He spun around in a circle and presented himself to Si Nian. "Mom, do I look different today?"
Si Nian was just about to go to the kitchen to cook. Hearing this, she stopped and turned to look at him.
She saw the child covered from head to toe in little red flowers.
She burst out laughing. "You silly kid, you're so funny."
She was about to say something else when someone knocked on the door.
Si Nian looked over and saw Jiang Jiu scurrying in, looking awkward as he hid behind Second Child.
A lean man was still standing at the door.
The man looked to be in his late twenties, wearing a white shirt and somewhat plain, wooden-framed glasses.
He was carrying some gifts.
He had delicate, handsome features and very fair skin.
The kind of fair that looked like he hadn't seen the sun in years.
Si Nian recognized him instantly.
The man looked so much like Jiang Jiu, he was practically an enlarged version of him.
It was impossible not to know who he was.
She was just a bit surprised.
She had heard from Granny Jiang that the child's parents were both scientific researchers. Due to the special nature of their work, they rarely came home, fully devoted to their careers.
In short, the child saw them very little, which was why Jiang Jiu had been staying with them all along.
So he was back.
Then again, after such a major incident with the child, it would be abnormal if the biological father didn't return.
"Hello, I am Jiang Jiu's father, Jiang Wenqing. I've come to express my thanks. Is it convenient to come in?" Jiang Wenqing was very polite.
Si Nian felt the name was somewhat familiar, but couldn't place it immediately. After all, she had no memory of this person, so she nodded. "Please, come in."
Jiang Wenqing walked in, placed the gifts to the side, and then suddenly bowed ninety degrees to Si Nian, startling her.
"Jiang, Comrade Jiang, what are you doing?"
Jiang Wenqing adjusted his glasses and said solemnly and gratefully, "I've heard everything about what happened to Xiao Jiu from my parents. Thank you so very much. You saved my child. You are the lifesavers of our Jiang family. This great kindness is beyond repayment."
Si Nian shook her head. "I share responsibility for this matter. I wasn't watching the two children closely enough, which led to the incident. I feel very bad about it myself. Comrade Jiang, there's no need for this."
Jiang Wenqing adjusted his glasses again and straightened up.
He was quite tall, lean but clearly over six feet.
Si Nian glanced again at Jiang Jiu, who was still half a head shorter than her own son, pouting and looking stubborn but actually quite wronged.
"This, Xiao Jiu..."
Jiang Wenqing gave a bitter smile. "It's my fault. I haven't been back for two years. Before, it was always just phone calls. It's normal for the child to resent me and not want to talk to me."
"I heard from my mother that Xiao Jiu likes to play with your son. I'm really sorry for the trouble."
Si Nian shook her head. "Not at all. My Second Child really enjoys playing with him too."
Jiang Wenqing nodded and handed her the gifts. "I still have some matters to attend to, so I shouldn't stay long. If Xiao Jiu wants to play, I won't disturb him. This is a small token of thanks."
After saying this, Jiang Wenqing took another look at his son, who refused to look at him, then turned and left dejectedly.
"Little Jiang, was that your dad?"
Jiang Jiu pouted and reluctantly grunted, "Mhm."
"Then why didn't you talk to him?" Second Child scratched his head, confused.
Jiang Jiu squirmed. "I, I don't like him. I don't want to talk to him."
Second Child was shocked. "Why not? He's your dad."
Jiang Jiu said, "He's not a good dad. He never comes home to see me, and he never plays with me. All the other kids have their dads playing with them, but I don't. Waaah..."
Second Child immediately shut his mouth.
Alright, put that way, he himself was still the happiest.
Even though Dad was very busy every day at first, after Mom came, Dad also tried very hard to make time to care for them and take them to school.
Little Jiang is so pitiful.
He comforted Jiang Jiu like a little adult, patting his head. "It's okay. You have two dads now. You're my brother, so my dad is your dad too. My dad is really nice. When he comes back, I'll have him take you for a ride on his motorcycle. It's so much fun!"
Jiang Jiu wiped his tears. "R-really?"
Second Child: "Really."
Jiang Jiu immediately cheered up, and the three children went back to rolling around in the candy.
Si Nian had originally wanted to offer some comfort, but it seemed there was no need for her to step in now.
She smiled helplessly and shook her head.
Jiang Wenqing went to the school to inquire about Zhou Zedong.
Coming home, besides seeing his son, he also had a task Brother Zhang had asked him to help with.
Now that he had gotten the address, he had intended to pay a visit.
But as he walked, he found himself back at the Zhou family's house.
He adjusted his glasses and looked down carefully. Huh? Isn't this the Zhou family?
So the family who saved his son and the family of the child Brother Zhang had taken a liking to were the same one?
Jiang Wenqing: "..."
"Hey! Who are you?" Yu Dong hurried over and saw a decent-looking man standing at his boss's family's doorstep. He immediately became wary.
He looked the man up and down. Not bad looking, he had to admit.
A frail, scholarly type, just standing there dumbly at the boss's door.
Such an obvious attempt to flirt with the boss's wife—he saw right through it.
Great, taking advantage of the boss being away, these men just can't stay put, can they?
He might be good-looking, but so frail. Trying to seize the opportunity while the boss is dealing with trouble to make a move, huh?
Absolutely despicable.
The love between the boss and his wife shall be protected by me, the Zhu Shimao of Yunnan-Guizhou-Sichuan Province!
Jiang Wenqing adjusted his glasses again. "You, you are?"
Yu Dong: "I asked you first!"
Jiang Wenqing adjusted his glasses. "I am Jiang Wenqing. And you are?"
Yu Dong: "..."
"Uncle Yu, what are you all doing?" Eldest Child came home and, seeing the two men standing at the door, asked curiously.
Only then did Yu Dong remember his purpose. Slapping his forehead as it dawned on him, he began shouting towards the house, "Sister-in-law! Something's happened, something terrible!"
Another six thousand words down. More updates tomorrow (you can bury me in gifts!).