Plunder-Chapter 156: Return to the Qiao Family
"Director Zhou, you’re really thoughtful, coming to see our En again!"
Qiao’s mother approached with a full-faced smile, carrying a basket in one hand.
Her kin was close at hand, yet Qiao En dared not recognize her.
After half a year, Qiao’s mother had gained a bit of weight, and her complexion had improved.
"Hmm."
Zhou Jin’an responded indifferently.
In front of Qiao’s mother, he naturally put his arm around Qiao En’s shoulder.
Qiao’s mother’s eyes were sharp, quickly sweeping over Qiao En. She didn’t recognize Qiao En but noticed the large diamond ring on her hand.
"Is this lady Director Zhou’s fiancée?"
"Yes,"
Zhou Jin’an confirmed.
"Director Zhou has really good taste, this lady has a full and lustrous appearance, she looks like she has great fortune. Not like our En, with thin luck, finally wed into a good family but didn’t get to enjoy it before she passed away."
Qiao’s mother muttered under her breath.
Hearing this, Qiao En’s eyes couldn’t help but redden.
"Director Zhou, I’m going to burn some paper money for En first."
Qiao’s mother walked to the front of the tombstone, took out the paper money from her basket, and started to light it one by one and toss it into the fire pit.
"En, mom is here to see you. If you are aware down there in the spring, please bless us and your little brother."
A sudden sourness was hard to bear in Qiao En’s throat.
Unconsciously, she squatted down and, imitating her mother, started tearing the tissue into pieces and throwing them into the fire pit.
"Miss, thank you for visiting En. Our En will surely bless you."
"Hmm."
Qiao En struggled to hold back her tears, not letting herself cry.
Several times, she wanted to reach out and embrace Qiao’s mother.
But she held back.
After burning the paper money, the group left the cemetery together.
"Director Zhou, take care on your way back."
Qiao’s mother headed toward the nearby bus stop.
Qiao En got into the car, settled into the passenger seat, but her eyes fixed unwaveringly on Qiao’s mother at the bus stop.
She hadn’t given birth to her, but she had the grace of raising her.
As a daughter unable to show filial piety in front of her parents, she felt guilty.
Zhou Jin’an seemed to see the reluctance in her eyes and drove towards Qiao’s mother.
"Get in, I’ll take you home."
He rolled down the window and called out to Qiao’s mother.
Qiao’s mother was overjoyed, "Are you sure it’s on your way?"
"It’s on the way,"
Zhou Jin’an replied.
Qiao’s mother opened the car door and took a seat in the back.
"Director Zhou, you’re such a good person. It’s a pity our En wasn’t fortunate enough, otherwise if she had been with you from the beginning, who knows how well she might be living now."
Half a year had passed, and Qiao’s mother talked more than before.
All along the way, she kept up a non-stop chatter.
Several times, Qiao En wanted to interject to ask about her father and Qiao De.
She didn’t ask, but Zhou Jin’an asked for her.
"What’s Qiao De doing now?"
"Oh, he recently took over a restaurant, he and his wife are planning to start their own business. Director Zhou, we’re just a humble family, we can’t compare with you, you do big business and make big money. We’re hoping to lead a comfortable small life. Now I have only Ah De, so as long as he lives well, I’m willing to do anything."
Qiao’s mother was biased, which Qiao En had always known.
But Qiao De was her brother, so she didn’t mind.
"How has Uncle been feeling lately?"
Qiao En couldn’t hold back and asked.
During the time she was away, she was always worried about her father’s health.
Qiao’s mother didn’t notice anything unusual, she just kept on rambling.
"Ah De’s father is a lot better now, he can go downstairs and walk around. We, the old couple, are doing well now. We just hope that Ah De settles down quickly. If his business goes well and they have a child, then we’ll have something to look forward to."
From beginning to end, she never strayed from the topic of Qiao De.
Hearing this, Qiao En felt a sourness inside.
She wasn’t her biological child, but Qiao De was.Biological and adopted children are always different.
The car headed towards the old Tube Building, where Qiao En’s father was playing chess in the courtyard.
He was tall and had a hunched back. He had put on weight all over, but the hair on the top of his head was whiter than before.
Seeing Qiao En’s mother getting out of Zhou Jin’an’s Maybach, he stood up, frowning as he looked their way.
"Director Zhou, please come in with this young lady to have a cup of water. You must be tired after the journey. I truly am grateful for today; without you, I don’t know when I’d have been able to return."
"No need." Qiao En refused.
The closer she got to home, the more timid she felt, fearful that she would lose control and reveal her identity.
"Okay."
But Zhou Jin’an accepted for her.
He took her hand and walked her inside, his voice very low. "I know you’ve always been worried about them, so let’s go take a look."
Upon entering the small room, all the familiar memories came flooding back.
The furnishings in the room had not changed; everything was just as it had been before.
Qiao En’s mother warmly welcomed them, steeping tea for Zhou Jin’an and pouring water for Qiao En.
"Director Zhou, please have a simple meal here today. Have a seat. I’ll go cook; it’ll be quick."
As she spoke, she tied on her apron and busied herself.
Qiao En’s mother was an enthusiastic person, and that hadn’t changed.
Qiao En’s father sat in his chair all along, a man of few words, not speaking much.
The old TV in the room was on, and everyone’s gaze was fixed on the screen.
"Let’s go outside for a walk."
Qiao En got up and said.
"Okay."
Zhou Jin’an followed Qiao En out the door.
Upon leaving the courtyard, Qiao En went directly to a nearby shop.
During this visit, she hadn’t recognized her parents, but seeing them living such a simple life, she felt a pang of compassion.
Grains, oil, salt, tobacco, alcohol, and tea—Qiao En bought two of everything.
"Do you need to buy so much?"
Zhou Jin’an looked at the pile of goods at the entrance, asking in surprise.
Qiao En nodded. "They are my parents. It’s only right I do this."
Unable to carry it all, they asked the store owner for help delivering it.
But as they approached the small house, cries from Qiao En’s mother could be heard from inside.
"Ah De, what should we do now?"
The sound of her crying was heart-wrenching.
Qiao En’s heart sank, and she immediately reached out to push the door open.
But Zhou Jin’an stopped her, signalling for the storekeeper to go in first.
As the group of people carrying so many things walked in, Qiao En’s mother immediately wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
"Director Zhou, why so formal? You bring so many things every time you come." 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖
"Just some household items."
Zhou Jin’an responded indifferently.
"You’re too polite. You really are a good person," Qiao En’s mother exclaimed.
Qiao En’s gaze swept towards her father, who remained silent, still not speaking.
Everyone stood while Qiao En’s mother swiftly cleaned her hands on her apron and quickly arranged the table, bringing out a few simple dishes.
"Director Zhou, I haven’t bought groceries, and these are just some simple homemade dishes. Please don’t look down on them."
She enthusiastically served Zhou Jin’an and Qiao En.
The familiar taste brought out a different feeling in Qiao En.
Concerned deep inside, she could not resist asking, "We heard you crying outside a moment ago. What happened?"
With that question, the pressure in the room dropped instantly.
Qiao En’s father put down his bowl. He sighed heavily and got up from the dining table.
Qiao En’s mother’s mood had been improving, but now her eyes reddened again. "It’s Ah De, my son ran into trouble."
Hearing that Qiao De had run into trouble, Qiao En’s heart instantly clenched.
"What happened?"
Qiao En’s mother couldn’t hold back and burst into tears.
"He wanted to start a small business, just took over a restaurant, but he was deceived and lost a lot of money."
