With Qin Tian gone, dealing with a little girl like Qin Qing would be easy.
Just find an excuse, lure her into the mountains, give her a push—and it would all be over.
Qin De had been plotting this for a long time. Then, not long ago, he learned that Granny Qin had contracted tuberculosis. He felt the timing was perfect—as if the heavens were on his side. Otherwise, why would Granny Qin have gotten such an incurable, serious illness?
So, he began coaxing and deceiving Qin Tian.
Originally, he thought Qin Tian seemed somewhat swayed, but then…
Thinking of the military couple he had seen at the Qin household, Qin De felt an uneasy premonition.
His wife and son were still clamoring beside him, adding to his irritation. Suddenly, the door burst open, and several police officers rushed in.
Before Qin De could react, they grabbed him.
“Qin De, we suspect you conspired with Lu Ping to embezzle the substantial wages sent by a state worker to their family. Come with us.”
At the officers’ words, only one thought flashed through Qin De’s mind: It’s over.
“Hey, what are you doing? Help! The police are arresting people!” Qin De’s wife shrieked, but it was useless. Instead, her cries drew all the neighbors out.
Of course, it wasn’t just Qin De who was arrested—Lu Ping, who lived in the county town, was also taken into custody.
In Kaoshan Village, where most households had their doors tightly shut against the heavy snowfall and bitter cold, the sudden commotion from Qin De’s house, along with his wife’s screams, quickly drew the neighbors out.
When they saw it was the police, word spread from one person to another, and soon, the entire village had gathered.
“Why are the police here?”
“Are they here to arrest Qin De? What did he do?”
“Nothing good, that’s for sure. I’ve always said Qin De was no good.”
Kaoshan Village instantly buzzed with excitement over Qin De’s arrest.
Qin Tian stood at the door, his small face tense as he watched Qin De being taken away by the police and driven off in a patrol car.
Meanwhile, Granny Qin had woken up. When she learned the truth, tears streamed down her face.
“I trusted the wrong person. I shouldn’t have believed Qin De.”
“I’ve wronged these two children.”
If she had received the money sent by her son and daughter-in-law eight years ago, the children’s lives would never have been so hard.
And it was her negligence that had led the children to believe their parents had abandoned them.
Otherwise, why would there have been no letters, no money—nothing at all—for eight years?
Especially Qin Tian. She knew he was precocious, clever, and had a good memory. He had long harbored resentment toward his parents.
It was her fault that the children had misunderstood their mother and father.
“Granny, it’s not your fault. Qin De and Lu Ping are the ones who are truly despicable,” Gu Jianing reassured her.
Over eight thousand yuan—even if split, Qin De had taken more than four thousand.
Yet with that much money, he had only occasionally given the elderly and the children in the Qin family small handouts.
And now, that wasn’t enough for him. He wanted all three of them dead so he could seize their brick house.
Human greed always grows bit by bit, until eventually, the person becomes unrecognizable—devoid of conscience.
Gu Jianing called Qin Tian inside and explained Qin De’s possible motives for recommending him to the Min City Wood Factory.
Though the truth was cruel, Gu Jianing believed that Qin Tian, as the only one in the Qin family now capable of making decisions, needed to know.
He shouldn’t remain so naive. He needed to understand the dangers of society and the darkness in people’s hearts.
Even if realizing this was a heavy blow for a ten-year-old, it was better than being deceived foolishly in the future.
Sure enough, after hearing this, Qin Tian’s face turned deathly pale. He walked silently to a corner alone to process everything.
Gu Jianing and Sheng Zexi left the Qin family that afternoon.
The police would need some time to investigate Qin De and Lu Ping’s case, but with Sheng Zexi putting in a word, they were assured of a fair and just outcome.
As for the Qin family, Gu Jianing had left three days’ worth of medicine. As long as Granny Qin took it on time, her tuberculosis would recover.
Before leaving, Gu Jianing also gave Qin Tian 10 yuan. Knowing he wouldn’t accept it outright, she told him it was just a temporary loan—to buy some fine grains for Granny Qin, who needed nutritious food while ill. She also assured Qin Tian that if anything happened, he could always come to the military district to find her.
The Qin siblings and Granny Qin repeatedly thanked Gu Jianing.
—
“Ningning, going out in such heavy snow?”
Back at the military district, Sheng Zexi held an umbrella for Gu Jianing, shielding her as they walked home.
Just as they reached their doorstep, the door next to them creaked open, revealing Zhang Shuwan’s face.
“Yeah, we had some business to take care of, but it’s done now. It’s so cold—better to stay cozy at home.”
As Gu Jianing spoke, her expression flickered slightly, but she quickly regained her composure.
Sheng Zexi, standing beside her, noticed the change in her expression and pondered it briefly before shifting his gaze away as if he hadn’t seen anything.
“Ningning, let’s go inside.”
“Okay.”
Once home, Gu Jianing sat on the heated kang in the living room while Sheng Zexi went to fetch water and boil it.
The system’s reward—glimpses of the future—lasted only one hour at a time.
She had already used the first hour back at the Qin family’s place.
But inexplicably, when she got into the car with Sheng Zexi to return to the military district, Gu Jianing activated the second glimpse of the future.
She wanted to see if she would encounter anyone—preferably Li Shuyao—and observe any significant events.
Unexpectedly, they hardly met anyone along the way.
The future vision remained dormant—until they saw Zhang Shuwan at the door.
Then, it stirred to life.
She saw Zhang Shuwan’s past life—the life where she had never met Gu Jianing, and the tragic fate that had awaited her.
In that vision, Guoguo had been kidnapped, never to be found. Zhang Shuwan and Lin Xing searched endlessly but in vain.
Later, Zhang Shuwan fell into depression and passed away in sorrow, while Lin Xing lived out his days alone.
But now, the outcome was different.
Gu Jianing had rescued Guoguo from the kidnappers, and now Zhang Shuwan was pregnant. Their future would surely be brighter than in that past life.
This time, they would be happy.
Just then, there was a noise at the door.
Gu Jianing looked up to see Sheng Zexi returning with a kettle of hot water.
She was about to say something when a sudden flash of images surged through her mind—
A mission. Blood. Severe injuries. Death. Grief-stricken cries…
Her face paled instantly.
“Ningning, what’s wrong?” Sheng Zexi immediately noticed her distress and set the kettle down to rush to her side.
The moment he took her hands, he realized how cold they were. He clasped them tightly in his own. “Why are your hands so icy? And your face is so pale. You must have caught a chill from going out today. Let’s go see a doctor.”
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