Gu Jianing thought that it was probably the result of the previous incident.
“Sister Gu~” Upon seeing Gu Jianing, Qin Tian’s face immediately lit up with a smile.
Gu Jianing also noticed that the little boy’s mental state was clearly different from before.
“Come on, follow me inside,” Gu Jianing called out. It was still too cold outside, and the doorway wasn’t a convenient place to talk.
“Ah, can I go in?”
“Yes, just register first.”
“Okay.”
After registering, Gu Jianing took Qin Tian home.
This was Qin Tian’s first time visiting his Sister Gu’s home. He was very curious but only dared to sneak glances around.
When he was invited to sit on the heated brick bed (kang) in the living room, a wave of warmth washed over him, making Qin Tian, who had been feeling a bit cold, much more comfortable.
“Here, have a piece of sponge cake.”
Qin Tian looked at the sponge cake Gu Jianing handed him and quickly waved his hands. “No, no, I can’t take it.”
This was sponge cake—a very precious treat.
“What do you mean you can’t take it? If I give it to you, then eat it. Your Sister Gu isn’t lacking in this sort of thing.”
In the end, Qin Tian couldn’t refuse her kindness and ate the delicious sponge cake while recounting what had happened over the past two days.
The police had quickly interrogated Qin De and Lu Ping. Because Qin Tian’s parents were important national researchers, they and their families were supposed to be protected. Yet Qin De and Lu Ping had embezzled their wages for eight years.
Moreover, the amount involved was enormous.
“…The police said both of them would be sentenced to death.” When he mentioned this, Qin Tian’s voice grew quieter, and his mood visibly dipped.
“What, do you think the death penalty is too harsh for them?” Gu Jianing asked.
Qin Tian looked up, his eyes filled with confusion, and even stopped eating the sponge cake. “I… I don’t know.”
Actually, Gu Jianing could understand Qin Tian’s feelings. After all, these were two lives. Qin De had initially appeared in the Qin family’s life as a benefactor, and Qin Tian was still just a child.
But…
Gu Jianing said solemnly, “Xiao Tian, think about it—if this hadn’t been exposed, what would have happened to your family?”
Qin Tian looked up, listening carefully to Gu Jianing’s words.
“Remember what I said about Qin De trying to trick you into going to the wood factory? That was to sell you to human traffickers. Do you know what would have happened to you if you’d been sold?”
“Do you know what would have happened to your elderly grandmother and Qin Qing if the Qin family had lost you?”
“Imagine this: your parents are sacrificing for the country. I believe they’re doing this not just out of altruism or pure passion for their research—there must also be a reason, which is to give their family a better life.”
“But the result of their enduring separation from their mother and children was enriching others while their own parents and children suffered. How do you think they’d feel if they found out?”
“Imagine if your parents came back and saw three graves. How much pain do you think they’d be in?”
In fact, based on the future scenes she had seen, what Gu Jianing was describing now was exactly what Qin Tian and his family had experienced in their previous lives.
Gu Jianing tried to put herself in the shoes of Qin Tian’s parents. She thought that if it were her, she might not be able to bear such an outcome.
“So, Qin Tian, don’t soften your heart. They’re simply paying the price for their greed.”
As Qin Tian listened to Gu Jianing’s words, it was as if her descriptions painted vivid images in his mind.
Slowly, he seemed to grasp the meaning behind her words.
The furrowed tension between his brows eased, and Qin Tian looked up, saying, “Sister Gu, thank you. I understand now.”
“It’s good that you understand.”
After that, Qin Tian brought up other matters.
For instance, the human trafficker Qin De had contacted to sell him to still hadn’t been found by the police—they were still searching.
After their investigation, the police told Qin Tian that because his parents were important national researchers, arrangements had actually been made to look after the Qin family, even though they had been called away in a hurry.
After all, only with a stable home could researchers focus wholeheartedly on their work for the country.
“…It was a retired soldier uncle who lived in the county town.”
Unfortunately, shortly after Qin Zhihong and his wife left, the retired soldier entrusted with Qin Tian’s care died in an accident just half a month later.
If that man had been around, Qin De’s fraud would never have succeeded—it would have been exposed long ago.
“The police uncle also gave us 5,045 yuan…”
When he mentioned the money, Qin Tian’s eyes sparkled. Over 5,000 yuan was an enormous sum to him.
Of course, it was still 3,000 yuan short of the eight years’ worth of wages his parents had sent.
The 5,000 yuan had been confiscated from the homes of Qin De and Lu Ping. Since they had embezzled the Qin family’s money, it had to be returned.
As for the missing 3,000 yuan, it had already been spent.
However, the police took other belongings from their homes to compensate—bicycles, sewing machines, radios, watches, and even some furniture.
In short, they stripped both families bare to try and make up the 3,000 yuan.
The two households were practically emptied, but even then, they couldn’t fully cover the amount. Some of the money had been spent on food or other expenses, and no matter how much grain they added, it still wasn’t enough.
There was nothing they could do about the remaining shortfall.
Even so, Qin Tian was more than satisfied.
“Sister Gu, now my family has so much food—enough to last at least half a year. Our house was almost empty before, but now it’s filled up.”
“I even play the radio for Grandma. She loves listening to it.”
After taking Gu Jianing’s medicine for three days, Grandma Qin had completely stopped coughing and had recovered.
The Qin De incident had sent shockwaves through Kaoshan Village. After all, it was rare for someone from the village to be taken away by the police, let alone face execution.
Because of this, the villagers realized that even though Qin Zhihong and his wife weren’t home, the Qin family—despite being just an elderly woman and two children—was not to be trifled with.
Even knowing that Qin Tian now had over 5,000 yuan and seeing all the new belongings in their house, no one dared to scheme against them—whether through trickery or theft.
Whoever tried might end up like Qin De.
Money was good, but staying alive was more important. Who wanted to face a firing squad?
So now, the Qin family was completely safe. In fact, the villagers were even worried something might happen to the elderly and children in the household.
“Sister Gu, thank you—and Brother Sheng too. If it weren’t for you, my family wouldn’t be where we are now.”
Finally, Qin Tian stood up and bowed deeply to Gu Jianing, expressing his heartfelt gratitude.
He felt that Sister Gu had, in a way, saved all three of their lives.
He didn’t know if he’d ever get the chance to see his parents again, but if he did, he would definitely tell them about this.
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