Chapter 46: Commotion Upon Returning to the Village

Qin Ze was pondering when his mobile phone rang.

It was an unfamiliar number, originating from Qingshui County.

Qin Ze answered it.

"Hello?"

"Hello, is this Mr. Qin Ze?" On the other end was the voice of a middle-aged man, speaking with respect.

"Speaking."

"Hello, Mr. Qin, I am Xiao Li from the Qingshui County Government Office."

"First, on behalf of the county government, I express our heartfelt gratitude for your contribution to the public welfare cause of Qingshui County!"

Qin Ze paused for a moment:

"Ah... you're welcome, it was the right thing to do."

"The 1.5 million yuan you donated will be used for the county's scholarship program for left-behind children and the assistance program for childless and widowed elderly," Xiao Li continued.

"The relevant certificates and medals will be mailed to your home in three days."

"Oh, okay."

"Additionally, Mr. Qin," Xiao Li lowered his voice.

"The leaders specifically instructed that you are now our county's Moral Model, the pride of our county."

"In the future, should you encounter any difficulties, you can contact me directly, and I will do my utmost to coordinate a solution."

"You can think of me as your exclusive receptionist!"

Qin Ze's heart stirred.

Those words were interesting.

"Director Li is too polite," Qin Ze said. "I merely did what I could."

"You are too humble," Xiao Li said with a laugh. "Then I won't disturb your rest any longer. Let's stay in touch!"

The call ended.

Qin Ze looked at his mobile phone and laughed.

Moral Model; it sounded empty, but with this status, handling affairs in Qingshui County should be much easier.

He extinguished his cigarette butt, turned around, and went upstairs.

Opening the door and entering the room, he found Father Qin and Mother Qin still sitting on the sofa waiting for him.

"Did you see Miss Jiang off?" Mother Qin asked.

"Mm."

Qin Ze changed his shoes and sat down on the sofa.

Qin Shougang looked at him, hesitating to speak.

"Dad, just say whatever you want to say," Qin Ze said.

Qin Shougang rubbed his hands together:

"Son, what do you think of Yutong?"

"No feelings. She's a PhD who returned from studying abroad; why would she be interested in someone like me?"

"Why wouldn't she be?" Qin Shougang exclaimed anxiously. "You have money now!"

"Dad, having money doesn't mean someone will necessarily like me."

Qin Ze shook his head.

"People like Zhao Yutong value education, ability, and social status. To her, someone like me who won the lottery is just a nouveau riche."

Qin Shougang opened his mouth but said nothing.

Mother Qin picked up the conversation: "Then... what about Xiao Jiang? I think that girl cares quite a bit about you."

"Mom, she is just my junior fellow apprentice."

"Right now we have a normal colleague relationship; don't let your imaginations run wild."

Qin Ze did not believe that his relationship with Jiang Wan needed to be brought out into the open!

This way, both he and Jiang Wan could be at ease.

Mother Qin wanted to say more, but Qin Ze interrupted her:

"Mom, I'm tired; I have to wake up early tomorrow to go back to our hometown. Let's go to sleep early."

Seven o'clock the next morning.

Qin Ze was woken by knocking at the door.

"Son! Get up! Let's set off early!" Qin Shougang shouted from outside the door.

Qin Ze rubbed his eyes and climbed out of bed.

After washing up and walking out of the room, he found Mother Qin had already prepared breakfast.

After eating, Qin Ze carried the gifts Jiang Wan had prepared the night before and went downstairs.

Father Qin and Mother Qin followed behind him.

Reaching the car, Qin Shougang walked around it three times.

"Is this the Yangwang U7?" He reached out to touch the paint. "This color, this texture!"

"Dad, get in the car."

"Wait, let me take a picture!"

Qin Shougang pulled out his mobile phone and took a flurry of photos of the car.

"I have to post this on my Moments to show those old colleagues of mine!"

Qin Ze was torn between laughter and tears.

After much difficulty waiting for Qin Shougang to finish taking photos, the three of them got into the car.

Qin Ze drove out of the residential compound.

On the road, Qin Shougang kept staring at the central control screen, clicking his tongue in amazement.

"This screen is really big!"

"The sound system quality is really good!"

"These seats can even massage?"

Qin Ze's mother sat in the back row and said with a laugh:

"Your father was so excited last night he barely slept half the night, just thinking about riding in your car back to the old home today."

Qin Ze glanced at his mother through the rearview mirror:

"Mom, you fasten your seatbelt too."

"It's fastened."

The car drove out of the county town and onto the highway leading to the countryside.

All the way, Qin Shougang kept talking about Second Uncle and Third Uncle!

Qin Ze did not respond.

He knew there was a knot in his father's heart.

Back then, after Grandfather passed away, the three sons divided the family.

His own father, being the eldest, took his wife and children to the city to work, leaving the old house empty.

Second Uncle and Third Uncle both stayed in the village to farm!

Therefore, Father had always felt guilty toward Second Uncle and Third Uncle!

One hour later, the car drove into Qin Family Village.

Under the tree at the village entrance, several old men were gathered playing chess.

Seeing Qin Ze's car, the old men all lifted their heads.

"Whose car is this? So imposing!"

"Never seen it before; it's not a car from the village."

Qin Ze slowed down.

Qin Shougang rolled down the window and stuck his head out:

"Uncle Wang! Elder Li! Playing chess?"

"Oh, Shougang is back!" One old man stood up. "Is this your son?"

"Yes! My son, Xiao Ze!" Qin Shougang's voice was loud and clear.

The car drove to the entrance of Second Uncle's house.

It was a newly built two-story small building tiled with white porcelain, and a Wuling Hongguang van was parked at the entrance.

Just as Qin Ze finished parking, the door opened.

Second Uncle Qin Shouqiang walked out quickly, followed by Second Aunt.

"Big Brother! Big Sister-in-law! You're back!" Qin Shouqiang came forward smiling.

Second Aunt stared straight at Qin Ze's car:

"Aiyo, so this is Xiao Ze's car? Truly beautiful!"

Qin Shougang got out of the car and straightened his back:

"Shouqiang, take a look, how is my son's car?"

"Good! Really good!" Qin Shouqiang walked around the car once. "This car is a Yangwang, right? Must be worth seven hundred thousand?"

"Top trim, over eight hundred thousand," Qin Shougang said.

Second Aunt gasped sharply: "Over eight hundred thousand? Oh my god, Xiao Ze, you've really struck it rich!"

Qin Ze got out of the car and took gifts out of the trunk.

"Second Uncle, Second Aunt, long time no see."

"Aiyo, why bring any gifts!" Second Aunt spoke politely, but her hands had already taken them.

At this moment, Third Uncle Qin Shoufu also ran over from the courtyard next door.

"Big Brother! You've arrived!"

Third Aunt followed behind him, carrying a vegetable basket in her hand.

"Xiao Ze!" Third Aunt's eyes lit up. "I heard you won the lottery? How much did you win?"

Qin Ze smiled slightly: "Not much, just enough to spend."

"How much is 'enough to spend'?" Third Aunt pressed.

Qin Ze's mother quickly smoothed things over: "Let's go inside first; don't stand at the doorway."

The group surged into Second Uncle's living room.

Qin Ze placed the gifts on the table.

Second Aunt couldn't wait to open them:

"Let me see what good things Xiao Ze brought... Aiyo, is this Moutai? Two bottles? One bottle must cost over a thousand!"

"And this tea, Wuyi Mountain Da Hong Pao?"

"And this bird's nest..."

Second Uncle and Third Uncle also crowded over to look.

Qin Shougang sat on the sofa, crossed his legs, wearing a look of pride.

"Xiao Ze has made something of himself now; these things are trivial to him."

Qin Ze listened from the side, feeling somewhat awkward.

He had shared a room with his own father for twenty years!

He truly hadn't realized before that his own father was so good at putting on an act!

But he said nothing.

His father had held this in for so many years; letting him show off a bit was fine.

Then, led by his Second Uncle and Third Uncle, Qin Ze went inside to look around at his grandmother, who was resting!

Next, the whole family sat down and began chatting.

Naturally, Qin Ze became the center of attention.

"Xiao Ze!"

Second Uncle sat down and handed a cigarette to Qin Ze.

"What are you doing in the city now? Still at that previous company?"

"No, I resigned and started my own small company," Qin Ze said, accepting the cigarette.

"Being your own Boss is good!" Second Uncle nodded. "Money comes fast!"

Third Aunt leaned in:

"Xiao Ze, is your company still hiring? Your cousin graduated from junior college this year and is looking for work!"

Before Qin Ze could speak, Qin Shougang opened his mouth first:

"Third Brother-in-law, Xiao Ze's company has high hiring requirements; even university students must be from key undergraduate institutions. Your Xiaowei probably can't get in with that school of his."

Third Aunt's face stiffened.

Just then, Second Uncle leaned close to Qin Shougang and lowered his voice:

"Big Brother, there's something I need to tell you."

"What is it?"

"The homestead site of your old house has been occupied by the neighboring Wang Family," Second Uncle said with a serious expression.

Qin Shougang was stunned:

"When did this happen?"

"Just this spring," Second Uncle said.

"I went to speak with them several times, but they wouldn't listen."

"On what grounds? I moved to the city, but my household registration is still in the village!" Qin Shougang exploded in anger.

"They are the Village Head," Second Uncle sighed.

"Wang Defa has been Village Head for over ten years; he rules the village with an iron fist. He claims that plot of land has been barren for so many years that it counts as ownerless land, so he can use it however he wishes."

"Bullshit!" Qin Shougang slammed the table. "My household registration is still in the village; how can it be ownerless land?"

Third Uncle also spoke up:

"Big Brother, there's nothing we can do about this. Wang Defa has connections in the township; we can't afford to provoke him."

Qin Ze's mother worriedly pulled on Qin Shougang:

"Shougang, let it go; it's just a piece of land..."