Even though Qin Tian’s parents eventually uncovered the truth and brought Qin De to justice, neither Granny Qin nor the Qin siblings could ever return.
They had sacrificed their family and devoted everything to the nation’s weapons research, yet in the end, they met a tragic fate—their mother and children were killed. The outcome was far too cruel.
They didn’t deserve such an ending.
Gu Jianing temporarily suppressed her emotions.
Half an hour later, the medicine was ready. Granny Qin got up, drank it, and lay back down. Her coughing noticeably improved, and she gradually calmed.
“Ningning, thank you. If it weren’t for you, this old woman might have…” Ever since Qin Tian and Qin Qing returned from the market that day and praised Gu Jianing, Granny Qin had held a favorable impression of her.
Now, even after learning she had tuberculosis, Gu Jianing still came in the freezing cold to treat her.
This kindness, whether for her or the Qin family, was something they would never forget.
“Granny, don’t worry. I can cure your illness. As long as you take the medicine as I say, you’ll definitely recover. Qin Tian and Qin Qing are still young, and their parents aren’t around—they need you to look after them.”
Granny Qin nodded. She understood this logic. “Ah, I just don’t know when Ah Hong and the others will return.”
Ah Hong?
“Granny, are they Qin Tian and Qin Qing’s parents?” Gu Jianing asked.
“Yes.” Perhaps because she trusted Gu Jianing, Granny Qin revealed a bit more, saying her son and daughter-in-law worked for the country.
She was afraid Gu Jianing and her husband might think her son and daughter-in-law had abandoned their family, but that wasn’t the case. They were serving the nation, sacrificing their small family for the greater good. It couldn’t be helped, and they shouldn’t be blamed.
Gu Jianing also knew that in this era, many people made such sacrifices for the country.
It was precisely because of their contributions that the nation would later prosper and flourish.
Countless individuals like them used their strength to support this once-turbulent country, awakening the sleeping giant.
“Granny, even if Qin Tian’s parents haven’t sent letters, they should at least have sent money, right?”
“I think if they’re working for the country, the state wouldn’t neglect them.”
Granny Qin nodded. That made sense, but over the years, they truly hadn’t received any money from them.
“Granny, did you or the Qin siblings go to ask about it yourselves?”
Granny Qin froze for a moment, then shook her head. “It was always Ah De who went to ask.”
But every time, Qin De brought back disappointing news. Over the years, they had gradually stopped hoping.
Gu Jianing’s expression darkened slightly. “Granny, forgive me for saying this, but is Qin De really that trustworthy? Earlier, I had a brief encounter with him, and to be honest, my first impression of him wasn’t good. Do you think his words are entirely true?”
As Gu Jianing spoke, Sheng Zexi listened quietly beside her.
His gaze lingered on his wife’s back. He had a feeling Ningning seemed to know something.
“N-no, that can’t be, right?” Granny Qin instinctively replied. Was Qin De untrustworthy? Could he have lied?
But over the years, though Qin De hadn’t treated them exceptionally well, he had helped them from time to time.
Yet, Granny Qin also had an excellent impression of Gu Jianing. She felt Gu Jianing wasn’t the type to slander others without reason.
If—if what Ningning said was true, and Qin De’s words weren’t entirely honest, then…
At the thought of certain possibilities, Granny Qin’s face suddenly paled. A tightness gripped her chest, and she began coughing violently again.
Gu Jianing quickly took out her needles and gave her a few acupuncture treatments before Granny Qin’s condition eased.
Granny Qin grasped Gu Jianing’s hand with her own wrinkled, bony fingers. “Ningning, then… what do you think we should do?”
“How about this—let my husband take Qin Tian to the post office to check if his parents have been sending money over the years. If there’s none, then I’ve wronged Qin De. But if there is… we might have to report this to the police.”
Gu Jianing offered her suggestion, waiting for Granny Qin’s decision.
She was worried Granny Qin still trusted Qin De too much.
Fortunately, Granny Qin was clear-headed and decisive. She immediately agreed to Gu Jianing’s idea.
“Alright, let’s do it. I’ll trouble you and Xiao Sheng with this.”
“If Ah De hasn’t done anything wrong, then fine. But if he has… then we *should* call the police!”
Granny Qin’s eyes were filled with determination.
In her view, the most important thing now was Qin Tian and Qin Qing. No one should be allowed to take advantage of them.
And if Qin De had really been intercepting the money her son and daughter-in-law sent—for *eight whole years*—then Granny Qin would never let him get away with it!
No one understood better than her just how hard life had been for the two children under her care all these years.
Once Granny Qin made her decision, Gu Jianing turned to Sheng Zexi.
Sheng Zexi pulled Gu Jianing aside. “I can drive the boy there, but I don’t feel comfortable leaving you here alone.”
He had seen Qin De’s expression and the look in his eyes earlier. He was afraid the man might return, and if he saw Sheng Zexi wasn’t there, he might try something against Ningning.
Gu Jianing squeezed his hand. “I know you’re worried, but don’t be. That man might not even come back. At most, after you and Qin Tian leave, we’ll lock the door and not open it for anyone. Even if he forces his way in, trust me—I can protect myself. Believe in me.”
With the Exchange Mall at her disposal and nearly a thousand points saved up, she could easily trade for something useful in an emergency.
But Gu Jianing didn’t think Qin De would come back.
When Qin De had visited earlier, the **Malice Detector** hadn’t gone off, meaning he wasn’t currently a threat.
Sheng Zexi stared deeply into Gu Jianing’s eyes, his gaze turbulent with conflict before finally settling into calm.
“Alright. I’ll trust you.”
Meanwhile, after Granny Qin spoke to Qin Tian in private, the boy’s face was full of shock and confusion. Soon, though, he pressed his lips together, his small face serious as he walked up to Sheng Zexi.
“Brother Sheng, please take me to the post office,” Qin Tian said.
“Okay,” Sheng Zexi agreed.
After helping Qin Tian into the car, Sheng Zexi watched as Gu Jianing closed and locked the Qin family’s door. He reminded her once more not to open it for anyone before driving off toward the county town.
The post office was located in the county. On such a snowy day, walking from Kaoshan Village would have taken a long time—especially since both the village and the Northwest Military District were quite far from the county center.
But with the car, they could save a lot of time.
Perhaps because of the heavy snow and freezing weather, there were hardly any people on the road.
This was Qin Tian’s first time riding in a car, and he was a little nervous. His small face remained tense as he stared out the window, lost in thought about what Granny Qin had told him.
Granny Qin said that Sister Gu suspected his parents might have been sending money, but Uncle De insisted they hadn’t.
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