Chapter 456: I’m Home
by xennovel“Uncle, what time will we get to Jizhou?”
“Probably around two, just a chat away.”
Entering from Linchuan highway exit, Jiang Qin cranked up the heater, filling the car with warm air under the bleak winter sky.
Sitting in the back, Guo Zihang and Yang Shu’an were perfect chat companions, their chatter non-stop since they got on.
They first discussed the current state of group buying, then how popular Zhihu is at their school, before reminiscing about the past and discussing plans to hang out during the winter break—all seamlessly without a dull moment.
“Isn’t Shu’an dating someone? Will you bring her home for New Year’s?”
“Not for New Year’s, she’ll come after.”
Yang Shu’an replied, “I’ll take her hiking up Wu’an Mountain then. Join us, uncle?”
After hearing this, Jiang Qin was puzzled, “Didn’t you take her hiking there during Mid-Autumn Festival? Why go again, treasure hunting?”
“That one’s history. Been with the current girl for a month now and haven’t gone yet.”
“What, another change?”
Thinking to himself, Jiang Qin mused, this fellow really can’t be judged by his appearance—seemingly naive but quite the ladies’ man. Didn’t hear much in his first year but during his second, he dated a senior for three months then swiftly switched to a junior.
Recently, he brought a pretty girl hiking. Didn’t expect that in less than three months, he’d switch again.
His efficiency rivals that of Empress of the sea, Haini.
What’s the point of dating? Jiang Qin didn’t get it. Felt making lifelong friends was better.
“Remember, uncle, you have to give her a red packet!”
Jiang Qin chuckled, “Once you’re in a relationship, you’re an adult and shouldn’t be asking for red packets anymore.”
Yang Shu’an pouted, “If you don’t give, I’ll ask my aunt.”
Jiang Qin glanced at Feng Nanshu and noticed her drowsiness in the passenger seat, looking both silly and adorable.
She was probably about to fall asleep. Otherwise, upon hearing Yang Shu’an mentioning ‘aunt,’ she’d already be reaching for her wallet.
Don’t be fooled by her sometimes clueless demeanor; she knows full well when ‘Aunt’ refers to her.
“Stepdad, I don’t have a girlfriend. Can I get a red packet?”
“Get lost. You don’t even have a girlfriend and you want a red packet?”
“…”
Realizing something, Jiang Qin asked, “What about that fruit vendor outside your school? Does her middle school son call you ‘dad’ yet?”
At this, Guo Zihang’s face turned as red as a ghost: “That was first-year stuff, three years ago!”
“Oh, what about her son in high school? Does he call you ‘dad’ yet?”
“????”
Finishing his teasing remark, Jiang Qin and Yang Shu’an burst into laughter, filling the car with joy.
The noise probably woke up the little rich girl, who sleepily rubbed her eyes and realizing it wasn’t about her, unfolded Jiang Qin’s jacket and covered herself with it, her eyes gleaming at him.
At 2 PM, the four exited the highway, passed the suburban area, and reached Hongrong Homes.
Parking the car, Jiang Qin cordially invited them for a meal at his place, but Guo Zihang and Yang Shu’an waved off the offer.
No need to ask, it would just be instant noodles.
They had plenty of those at home, even ones with an extra egg.
Watching them leave with their luggage, Jiang Qin thought, getting older is different, they know how to be polite now. He then woke Feng Nanshu and went inside.
“I’m home! I’m home! I’m home!”
As soon as Feng Nanshu entered, she repeated excitedly. Although she knew no one was home, she seemed to enjoy the tradition.
Unable to help himself, Jiang Qin glanced at her, “Little rich girl, you do realize this is my house, right?”
“It seems to be my house too.”
The little rich girl took off her boots, revealing her evenly clad petite feet in plush black stockings, then slipped into her fluffy slippers and dashed to the living room, with Jiang Qin following close, arranging the luggage against the wall before collapsing onto the sofa himself.
They spent the afternoon just sitting on the sofa, going nowhere.
Indoors in winter, just started vacation, after a short trip—one reason was enough to be lazy.
Jiang Qin wanted to do nothing but fiddled with Feng Nanshu’s silky feet and flicked through TV channels until it was dark, too lazy to even turn on the lights, just the TV flickering.
Yuan Youqin got off work early today, bought loads of groceries, and was shocked upon entering: “Jiang Qin, why are the lights off?”
“Saving on electricity.”
“Lazy to death.”
Jiang Qin sat up slightly, “Feng Nanshu didn’t turn them on either, always blaming me.”
Feng Nanshu glanced at her feet, thinking you only let go when you heard the door: “Auntie, I’m not lazy at all.”
After changing her shoes, Yuan Youqin turned on the lights, finally seeing two people in the living room: “Nanshu came too?”
“She even gave away the villa to Uncle Gong. Where else could she go but here?”
“And here I was thinking you came back alone, about to scold you for not calling me all semester, Nanshu is much better at keeping in touch.”
“…”
After saying this, Yuan Youqin, holding the vegetables, went into the kitchen and paused, slightly stunned.
If Jiang Qin was alone at home, turning off the lights might be due to laziness, but with Nanshu there too… maybe the young couple enjoyed the dark…
Just then, the sound of unlocking echoed again. Cao Jianhong also came home early today, bringing two bottles of wine.
Upon entering, he first took off his jacket, handing Feng Nanshu two skewers of candied haws, exchanging a ‘Thank you, uncle,’ which delighted him, even coming up with several names for a potential grandson.
“Dinner’s almost ready, why buy Nanshu candied haws?” Yuan Youqin peeped from the kitchen.
“Bought them at the gate. It’s too cold today, the old man was reluctant to leave without selling all, so I figured I’d be a good samaritan and bought a couple.”
“?”
Jiang Qin looked at the candied haws in Feng Nanshu’s hand, “Dad, you bought two skewers but none for me?”
“You don’t like them,” said Cao Jianhong as he brewed some tea then sat across Jiang Qin, “Does your group-buying thing also occur in Shanghai?”
“How did you know?”
“Last week, a bunch from the department visited Shanghai, and all they talked about on their return was this, sounded familiar so I chatted with them a bit.”
“Yeah, accidentally grew big and made it to Shanghai.”
Cao Jianhong sipped his tea, “What exactly is a group-buying site?”
Scratching his head, Jiang Qin explained, “It’s like I have a marketplace, you have goods to sell, you set up shop in my market, and I take a cut from your sales. It’s just that this market is a virtual space online.”
Old Cao’s thoughts couldn’t catch up with modern times, half-understanding but noting from the department’s young folks that this business seemed promising, even had two leaders inquire further the next day.
Making business reach Shanghai already meant it was big, but Cao Jianhong felt somewhat dizzy with it all.
He knew his son’s entrepreneurial project in Linchuan was doing well, hadn’t asked for money throughout university, and kept sending money home with various tricks.
But making it to Shanghai and reaching Jizhou was incredible.
Because making money was one thing, reputation another—these represented two entirely different dimensions, giving Cao Jianhong a sense of pride in his son’s achievements.
“How much did you invest?”
“Not much, it’s more of a business that borrows eggs to hatch chicks. I avoided spending where I could, even the office space was free.”
Cao Jianhong blew on his tea leaves, took a sip, then fell into deep thought.
His son’s behavior had been somewhat strange since the college entrance exams and now even more incomprehensible.
“Jiang Qin, I need to wipe my mouth.”
“?”
After eating the candied haws Cao Jianhong bought, Feng Nanshu’s mouth corners were sticky.
There was a pack of tissues on the coffee table, printed with the word ‘Guesthouse,’ on Jiang Qin’s side, quite far from the little rich girl.
She meant for Jiang Qin to grab a tissue for her, but seeing his father heading to the kitchen, he showed a ‘can’t help you’ smile, leaned down, and kissed her sweet lips.
The little rich girl was stunned, not expecting her brother to be so bold, her feet involuntarily curling.
Looking up at her, Jiang Qin felt a thrill, leaned over again, and gave her a deep kiss, leaving her sweet lips spotless.
Holding the candied haw, Feng Nanshu stared at the pack of tissues on the table, humming indecipherably.
Following her gaze, Jiang Qin paused, “Did you… want a tissue just now?”
“No, I didn’t want a tissue, I just wanted this,” Feng Nanshu stated seriously.
“I knew it, your little schemes are too easy to guess.”
“Brother, I can’t fool you…”
Moments later, steaming dishes were ready, and the family of four gathered at the dining table, starting with a bowl of noodles Yuan Youqin especially prepared as a welcome.
Cao Jianhong picked up a garlic clove, peeled it, and handed a piece to Jiang Qin, “Here.”
“Dad, you eat it. I won’t.”
“Didn’t you use to say not having garlic with noodles reduces the flavor by half?”
Slurping the noodles, Jiang Qin replied, “That was before, I don’t eat it now.”
Cao Jianhong found his son a bit odd, turned to Feng Nanshu, “Nanshu, want some?”
Known for her love of spicy food, Feng Nanshu would normally take a bite of two chilies, so she nodded to take it, but Jiang Qin stopped her, “She doesn’t eat it either, dad, you have it.”
“?”
The little rich girl usually listens to Jiang Qin. If he says no, she doesn’t eat, but little does she know, her good friend’s moral speeches mask intentions of looking for an excuse to kiss after the meal.