Xinyan only heard about these things from Zhao Jianlan the next day.
No need to think much, it was definitely He Jinxuan’s doing. Suddenly her heart felt warm, and she smiled: "Surely, it’s because of all the bad things he’s done that he’s getting his comeuppance."
Zhao Jianlan hooked her arm and said, "Exactly, that Wang Daqing never goes to the fields to earn work points, just hangs around the Mechanical Factory playing basketball with those rascals. What kind of good person could he be?"
As they chatted and walked out of the residential compound’s gate, they saw He Jinxuan leading a group towards the transport team. The two of them didn’t speak, but just nodded at each other from a distance.
Strangely though, just a brief eye contact, Xinyan understood He Jinxuan’s intentions and suddenly felt a sense of reassurance.
Zhao Jianlan noticed Xinyan’s silence and nudged her with her elbow: "Did you hear what I said?"
Xinyan quickly snapped back: "I heard, anyway it’s none of our business, why meddle?"
Zhao Jianlan whispered, "You don’t know, his aunt used to inquire about you a lot?"
Xinyan feigned ignorance: "Who’s his aunt?"
Impatient, Zhao Jianlan lightly patted her arm: "You didn’t hear me earlier, it’s Wang Lanhua from the second canteen who got dismissed."
Xinyan thought of He Jinxuan’s little action earlier and laughed: "Isn’t that good, saves them from causing trouble."
Zhao Jianlan found sense in her words: "Haha, right, my mom was saying a few days ago, even in their union someone was asking about you, wanting to set you up with their son. Anyway, keep your wits about you, who knows how many people are eyeing you."
Laughing and chatting, the two entered the school, not noticing Song Limin following behind them, with eyes full of jealousy and disgust.
*
Meanwhile, Qiu Shaocheng was brought to the courtyard next to Han Jingchen’s.
Su Jingsong lightly knocked on the door of Han Jingchen’s study: "Mr. Han, the person has been brought over."
Han Jingchen got up and opened the door: "Let’s go, let’s meet him."
He had been eagerly waiting; daring to plot against his family, today he would definitely reveal his true colors.
When he entered the room, he saw Qiu Shaocheng being pressed into a seat and walked over to sit opposite him: "Do you still recognize me?"
Qiu Shaocheng frowned and looked at Han Jingchen for a long time before saying, "Are you the son of Brother Chuan?"
Han Jingchen looked at him with disdain: "You don’t deserve to call my father brother, you should call him Mr. Han instead."
Qiu Shaocheng felt a twinge of unease: "What do you mean?"
Han Jingchen showed him no courtesy: "You know exactly what I mean."
Qiu Shaocheng stood up abruptly: "I don’t understand what you’re referring to? After all, I am an old friend of your father, how can you speak to me like this?"
Han Jingchen sneered at him: "Qiu Shaocheng, in 1937 you married the Wei family, had one son and two daughters. But because it was an arranged marriage by your parents, you never valued your wife Wei, leading to many grievances against her.
Afterward, you left your hometown, went alone to Beiping to make a living, and met your current wife Li Yuzhi there. But due to her status as an actress, your family never approved of your relationship.
Li Yuzhi had a falling out with you over this, forbidding you from appearing before her again. You drowned your sorrows in alcohol and accidentally had relations with the landlord’s widowed daughter-in-law. I guess you harmed that woman out of fear the matter would be exposed?"
Though appearing calm, beads of sweat on Qiu Shaocheng’s forehead betrayed his tension, and his hands trembled slightly: "I was merely passing through the Capital to visit old friends, don’t slander me."
Han Jingchen’s lips curled into a smile: "Then why were you looking for Han Chunli at the hospital?"
Before Qiu Shaocheng could think of how to defend himself, Han Jingchen added: "After all, I was already aware at the time, and do you think I would invite you here without evidence?"
Qiu Shaocheng knew the person before him was no easy opponent: "Why did you ask me here?"
Han Jingchen asked coldly: "Why did you do it back then?"
Qiu Shaocheng glanced at the fierce Han Jingchen and had no choice but to reply: "Yes, what happened back then was indeed my fault. I shouldn’t have schemed for your father to raise my daughter, but it wasn’t entirely as you think....."
It turned out that after parting ways with his old lover Li Yuzhi, his mood plummeted. Indeed, he sought solace in alcohol, and as Han Jingchen had speculated, accidentally had relations with the landlord’s widowed daughter-in-law.
When he eventually adjusted his mindset to return to his hometown in East Province, the widow informed him she was pregnant with his child. He panicked, afraid the widow would latch onto him, and feared the landlord would skin him alive if he found out, so he fled quietly.