Qin i was dumbfounded. Jie Jingchen stood up and quickly helped Fang Xiaoping to his feet. "Brother Youcai, what are you doing?"
"Jing Si, stay out of this. Fourth Wife of Jing, you’re Xiao Ping’s savior. From this day forward, Xiao Ping is as good as a son to you. He’ll honor you and take care of you in your old age." Fang Youcai was a straightforward man.
Qin i’s composure crumbled. ’Half a son, honoring , taking care of in my old age...’ Fang Xiaoping was eight years old, and she was eighteen. ’An eight-year-old son...’ The very thought made her feel like her world was collapsing.
"Brother Youcai, that’s really not necessary," Qin i said, rising to stop him.
"It is necessary. You’re Xiao Ping’s savior," Fang Youcai said, his tone unyielding.
"Brother Youcai, you’re exaggerating." Qin i looked to the heavens in exasperation. ’Savior? If anyone’s savior I am, it’s Fang Kexin and the baby in her womb, not Fang Xiaoping.’
Fang Youcai lifted his foot and kicked Fang Xiaoping down to his knees. "Quick," he ordered, "call her Mom."
Qin i was speechless.
’She had no doubt,’ Qin i thought, ’that if she weren’t married, Fang Youcai would have made Fang Xiaoping promise to marry her. Offering oneself in marriage was the most direct way to repay such a debt.’
"Mom," Fang Xiaoping blurted out, terrified. He did whatever Fang Youcai ordered.
Qin i’s mouth twitched. ’He actually called that!’
Qin i shot a pleading look at Jie Jingchen. ’She was so young! She didn’t want a big son—not even a godson!’
"Brother Youcai, you’re scaring the boy," Jie Jingchen said, sounding utterly helpless.
Fang Youcai was an honest man, which was a polite way of saying he had a one-track mind. He wouldn’t listen to anyone, and once he made a decision, nobody could change it.
He was convinced that Qin i had saved Fang Xiaoping, so the debt had to be repaid. The Jie Family was well-off, while the Fang family was an ordinary working-class family with nothing of real value to offer. Having Fang Xiaoping take Qin i as his godmother was his show of sincerity.
"It’s fine. This kid’s tough; he can take a beating." Fang Youcai kicked Fang Xiaoping again. Qin i watched, her heart pounding, terrified he might actually injure the boy. "Get in the house! Stop embarrassing us out here! Day after day, you do nothing but cause trouble instead of studying. Aunt Su’s belly is huge! Are you blind? How could you run into her? If it weren’t for your godmother today, you little rascal, you’d be paying with your life!"
At that mont, Qin i decided Fang Youcai’s parenting thods were also deeply flawed.
’Pay with your life?’ she thought. ’How could he say sothing so brutal to a child?’
Qin i had learned her lesson: you really shouldn’t cross a "simple, honest" man. Fang Youcai was a pri example.
It was one thing to be a strict parent, but Qin i felt Fang Youcai’s brand of harshness was completely out of line.
And just like that, thanks to Fang Youcai’s unilateral decision, Fang Xiaoping beca her godson. Qin i’s protests were useless; the man completely ignored her and stubbornly shoved Fang Xiaoping toward her.
Fang Xiaoping called her "Godmother," and Fang Xiaobing followed suit. She’d co to scrounge a al and ended up with two godsons.
After dinner, as the three of them were about to leave, Second Auntie handed Qin i a five-yuan bill. "Fourth Wife of Jing, here. This is for the prescription."
Jie Jingchen assud Qin i wouldn’t accept it. They had already eaten dinner at Second Auntie’s for two days. Even though they had brought gifts, and had even bought the ingredients for tonight’s al, it stood to reason that Qin i wouldn’t take the money.
"Alright, I’ll take it." Qin i accepted the bill, then pulled another one from her pocket. She placed the two five-yuan bills together, took Second Auntie’s hand, and pressed the money into her palm. "Second Auntie, this is for our food."
Second Auntie was stunned and imdiately tried to refuse. "No, I can’t accept this. I’m the one who invited you to eat at my ho. You bought so many things for the children yesterday, and you even bought today’s ingredients. How could I possibly take money for your als?"
"Second Auntie, your family isn’t wealthy either. An extra two..." Qin i glanced at Jie Jingshan and corrected herself. "Three mouths to feed is a big expense. If you won’t take this, we won’t co over tomorrow."
Second Auntie hesitated. "Ten yuan is too much," she said.
"Second Auntie, please don’t refuse," Jie Jingchen said. "We’ll be relying on you for dinner until Aunt Zhang returns."
Second Auntie paused, then stopped protesting and accepted the money with a chuckle. "All right, then. I’ll take care of your dinners until Xiao Zhang is back. Just co over when it’s ti to eat. But," she added, "let be clear: don’t waste any more money buying us things. I’ll be upset if you do."
"Okay," Jie Jingchen agreed. But an agreent was one thing; he still brought sothing with him every ti they ca. He had a perfect grasp of social etiquette. When people make a polite gesture, you can’t be tactless in return.
Because Fang Youcai had gotten off work early that day, dinner had been early as well. When they left Second Auntie’s house, it wasn’t even dark yet.
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