Chapter 72: The Era’s Beloved Scapegoat? It Doesn’t Matter—My Father Will Step In 9

Feeling that he was at the peak of his manhood, riding high on success, Qin Long was not pleased.

“How am I ugly? You don’t even know how many young women and married ladies want to be with me. It’s just your brother who’s loyal in love; otherwise, he would’ve divorced and found someone prettier and more sensible by now.”

Qin Long lacked in many things, but he could always say what people wanted to hear. He had a sweet tongue.

Wu Min was coaxed into smiling, seeing only the best in him, the greatest man in the world.

“Dad, is he really my youngest uncle?” Qin Zhizhi blinked and asked.

“Yes, he’s the one whose daughter used to snatch all the food and clothes that Dad sent you when you were little,” replied Qin Long, looking embarrassed. “It wasn’t my wife’s fault—she was inexperienced back then. I never thought she’d do something like that. Later, after you quarreled with Mom and Dad about it, I gave her a good lesson. She knows she was wrong now.”

Qin Ye, having nothing better to do, didn’t mind watching Qin Long’s performance—like a free clown show.

Qin Ye’s attitude seemed rather amicable, which delighted Qin Long. He thought to himself that his elder brother had long forgotten the past.

The old man was stubborn, always clinging to his pride and suffering for it.

Luckily, he’d come.

Qin Long, wearing a face full of eager to please, stuck close to Qin Ye.

Qin Ye carried a small bag filled with water, snacks, and other things.

When the twins got tired from playing, Qin Ye called them over for a sip of water.

After drinking and resting with some snacks, they regained their energy and frolicked about again.

Even if the twins fell in the dirt, getting filthy, Qin Ye didn’t care.

It was Qin Zhizhi and Qin Sangsan who went over to help them up, brushing off the dust from their bodies.

Qin Long followed along, soon realizing that Qin Ye was somewhat indifferent towards him, so he switched his attention to the sisters.

Qin Sangsan barely responded, but Qin Zhizhi, out of courtesy, replied to him a few times.

Even those few exchanges ended abruptly when Qin Long remarked, “You’re both grown up now, time to start dating.”

Qin Long felt a bit displeased, but remembering that his brother’s situation had changed, and that maintaining a good relationship with him was beneficial, he suppressed his feelings.

The Qin family could now barely be called ten-thousand-yuan households in the village—a status that drew envy, jealousy, and hatred.

But it all depended on whom you compared with.

Compared to the truly wealthy, a ten-thousand-yuan household was nothing.

Qin Long could match the grandeur of the Willow Shore’s display, but the result would be hurting himself financially—a classic case of putting on airs.

Seeing that Qin Ye was about to take the children home, Qin Long hurried to speak up:

“Brother, why go back? The house at Sister-in-law’s family is in ruins, unfit for anyone to live in.

You have nowhere to stay upon returning, and living in someone else’s home isn’t right. I saw someone from town drive over with a truckload of stuff—why bother with all that?

Come, follow your younger brother home. Our family isn’t what it used to be; now, everyone has their own room, with some to spare.”

“Are you sure there’s room to spare?” Qin Ye glanced at him with a half-smile.

Qin Long thumped his chest. “Absolutely.”

Qin Ye smiled, then turned to ask the sisters, “Do you want to visit your grandparents?”

Qin Sangsan, with no childhood memories, nodded.

Qin Zhizhi hesitated.

Her impression of Uncle Qin Long was rather poor. When he learned she was still in school, he immediately objected.

He said girls shouldn’t study so much; making it to high school was enough for respect, being intellectual. Going further was a waste of time.

Even if the family produced a female college student, she’d still have to marry and leave—why spend money on that?

Besides, Qin Zhizhi vaguely remembered that her grandmother didn’t like her or her sister.

She had no longing for her grandparents; her grandmother was enough.

But since Qin Sangsan wanted to go, Qin Zhizhi was uneasy about letting her go alone, so she nodded hesitantly.

“In that case, let’s go,” Qin Ye said, making the decision. He didn’t send the twins back, but carried them, one in each arm, and followed Qin Long.

The Qin family’s self-built house was, in this era, a rural luxury villa.

Not the kind that would become common in the countryside in the future, but a unique specimen at the time.

It showcased the Qin family’s wealth and status, a benchmark of envy and jealousy in the village.

Qin Long entered the house and immediately called out, “Xiaoyan, go to your second aunt’s and fetch a pack of good cigarettes and a few bottles of good liquor.”

Zhao Xiaoyan had already finished cooking. Hearing this, she stood in place with a conflicted expression.

“What, I can’t order you around?” Qin Long felt his pride hurt and his tone soured.

Zhao Xiaoyan looked down in embarrassment. “Uncle, you didn’t give me any money.”

How could she fetch good cigarettes and liquor without money?

Even if Qin Long went himself, his second sister-in-law would scold him harshly.

The only small store in the village was run by Qin Hu’s family.

The villa-like house they lived in was built by the old couple with their own money, most of which came from the original owner.

After the house was built, the brothers lived with the old couple for a while, but gradually quarrels became frequent.

When Qin Hu opened a grocery shop in town, his wife opened a convenience store at the village entrance.

All three sons grew up and didn’t like staying in the village anymore, so the house became empty.

The old Qin man would never reserve a room for his eldest son who’d split off.

He didn’t even keep rooms for his daughters. The extra rooms were guest rooms or storage.

Zhao Xiaoyan lived in the storage room, sleeping on a bed barely eighty centimeters wide, where a careless turn might send her falling.

Qin Long had no money. Hearing Zhao Xiaoyan mention it, he was about to lose his temper.

Qin Ye, from behind, gave him a kick.

Qin Long turned, “Brother, why did you kick me?”

“Is she your daughter?” Qin Ye asked.

Qin Long shook his head. “Impossible, my Sui Sui would never be so timid and undignified. She’s our youngest sister’s daughter.

The youngest is in the city cooking for people, left her here hoping Sui Sui could help her find a good match.”

Called timid and undignified to her face, Zhao Xiaoyan didn’t retort, just kept her head down, staring at the floor as if a flower had grown there.

After talking to Qin Ye, Qin Long saw Zhao Xiaoyan still standing there and began shouting again.

“What are you standing there for? Go get the cigarettes and liquor. Have some sense—you see your uncle’s come home, those are for him. Tell your second aunt, and she’ll give them to you.”

It’d be best if she didn’t, so his brother would resent his second sister-in-law.

Compared to the other brother, only he truly cared for the elder brother—once moved, wouldn’t the benefits fall into his pocket?

Qin Ye pulled a small wad of cash from his pocket, not remembering when he’d put it there.

He handed the money to Qin Zhizhi, who understood and gave it to Zhao Xiaoyan. “Here, take this. Do you need me to go with you?”

Zhao Xiaoyan shrank back, shaking her head, taking only one bill. “A hundred is enough.”

Once Zhao Xiaoyan left, Qin Long was still angry. “Look, she doesn’t even know how to greet people, like a mute.

She eats, drinks, and lives off me, but never greets me. I hate taking her out; she’s embarrassing.”

Qin Ye glanced at him. “I hate taking you out, too.”

Qin Long’s voice was instantly choked.

Qin Sui Sui heard the noise and opened her door to come downstairs.

Qin Sui Sui dressed in the most fashionable way in the village. Many girls secretly copied her style, but their families couldn’t afford her clothes.

They could only save up and secretly buy one piece.

At the time, girls’ wages, especially those who worked, were usually handed over to their parents.

In other words, their earnings had to be surrendered.

If they secretly bought clothes, they’d get caught, scolded, and the whole village would know.

Qin Sui Sui was annoyed by it all. The same clothes suited her, but not necessarily them, yet they insisted on copying.

Then, when their parents found out, not only would they be beaten, their parents would come to her and nag, saying their family was different from the Qin family.

Their daughters were not like Qin Sui Sui, and she shouldn’t lead them astray, making them dream big.

Qin Sui Sui was sick of it.

She wanted to live in the city, not return to the village, but her parents claimed the city was bad—everything cost money, while in the village, they had their own vegetable garden.

Now, hearing the commotion downstairs, Qin Sui Sui opened her door and came down, visibly impatient.

She froze for a moment.

Qin Ye was the pioneer of fashionable goods in the eighties, leading the trends singlehandedly.

His daughters, especially in style, were the epitome of wealthy elegance.

Beautiful, noble, accentuating their strengths.

Qin Sui Sui, always the center of attention in the village, was clearly outshone by Qin Zhizhi and Qin Sangsan.

The koi’s charm had always been in her cuteness.

Now grown, her looks weren’t bad—depending on whom she was compared with.

Among the younger generation, in style, she lost; in looks, she was less fair-skinned and her features weren’t as refined as Qin Zhizhi and Qin Sangsan.

After all, the latter were raised in wealth; though the former had luck, she missed that crucial element and so her prosperity was limited.

Thus, even the fortune of the koi had its limits.