Qin Ge: "Alright then, Auntie, I'll be going now."
Qin Ge walked away slowly. The tall girl looked at the middle-aged woman: "Sister…"
The middle-aged woman glared at her: "Call me Mother! That man just now seemed pretty good. What do you want to say?"
"Say what…"
"You know what I mean. If this continues, none of us will survive."
The tall girl, who was in the lead, bit her lip: "If it really comes to it, I'll go."
"Don't talk nonsense, let's wait and see."
The weather was exceptionally clear today, and the air was filled with the scent of flowers. Qin Ge hummed a song that didn't belong to this era, feeling exceptionally good.
Perhaps because he had helped someone, he couldn't remember what he was humming. He had almost forgotten the lyrics and just sang whatever came to mind.
He took the address and arrived at Nanluoguxiang Number 95. "This should be it, right?" He looked up at the house number, which clearly read 95. A middle-aged Uncle stood at the entrance.
Qin Ge stepped forward to greet him: "Uncle."
The middle-aged man looked up and glared at him: "Call me Grandfather!"
Qin Ge quickly apologized: "My apologies, Grandfather. I want to ask you something."
The Grandfather asked: "What is it?"
Qin Ge: "Is this Nanluoguxiang Number 95?"
The Grandfather replied: "That's right."
Qin Ge: "It's like this, my father told me to come here to find him."
The Grandfather asked curiously: "Who is your father?"
Qin Ge: "My father's name is Qin Changsheng."
The Grandfather trembled: "Are you really Qin Changsheng's son?"
Qin Ge: "If nothing unexpected happened, I should be Qin Changsheng's son."
The Grandfather said doubtfully: "For so many years, Qin Changsheng has never mentioned having a son."
Qin Ge explained: "Grandfather, listen to me. I only received a letter from my father a while ago, and that's how we knew he was still alive."
"My mother and father were separated during the war. For all these years, we thought my father had died, and my father had also been looking for us. We only recently reconnected."
The Grandfather suddenly understood: "So that's how it is. No wonder Qin Changsheng was so happy a while ago."
The Grandfather asked again: "Did the letter say anything else?"
Qin Ge: "No. Grandfather, if you have something to say, just say it. If not, please tell me which room my dad lives in."
The Grandfather said: "Xiao Qin, you should first go to the Subdistrict Office to find Director Wang and understand the situation before coming back."
Qin Ge was puzzled: "Why can't I go in when I'm already at the doorstep?"
The Grandfather: "The address is correct, but Qin Changsheng doesn't live here."
Qin Ge helplessly said: "Then, Grandfather, how do I get to the Subdistrict Office?" Qin Ge followed the Grandfather's instructions and found the Subdistrict Office.
Upon arriving at the Subdistrict Office, the staff members were all busy working.
Qin Ge said to a staff member: "Hello, my name is Qin Ge, and I am Qin Changsheng's son. I just arrived in Nanluoguxiang, and an old man told me to come to the Subdistrict Office to understand the situation."
A middle-aged woman shouted loudly: "Director Wang, Director Wang, Qin Changsheng's son is here."
At this moment, a middle-aged woman walked out of the office. She looked at Qin Ge, hurried over, and scrutinized him from head to toe.
Director Wang asked: "Are you Qin Changsheng's son?"
Qin Ge replied: "Yes, hello, my name is Qin Ge."
Director Wang said: "Comrade Qin Ge, hello, I am the director here, my surname is Wang. Actually, it was our Subdistrict Office that sent you the letter."
Qin Ge looked puzzled: "I thought my father sent it."
Director Wang: "Regarding your father's situation, let's go to my office, and I'll tell you slowly."
Qin Ge followed Director Wang to the office. Director Wang said: "Comrade Qin Ge, have some tea first. Your father unfortunately passed away in a work accident."
Qin Ge asked doubtfully: "My father passed away? Then how did you find me?"
Director Wang explained: "Actually, your father had already found out about you. He originally planned to pick you up, but then the accident happened."
"Before he died, he instructed us to be sure to find you and your mother. Comrade Qin Changsheng made great contributions to the country, and we are deeply saddened by his unexpected passing. We hope you can cope with your grief."
Qin Ge: "It's alright, Director Wang. I don't have deep feelings for this father. After all, he wasn't around us since childhood, so the feelings are naturally distant."
Director Wang was at a loss for words for a moment; all the comforting words she had prepared were now useless.
Qin Ge: "Director Wang, if I were to cry bitterly now, wouldn't it be too fake? I really can't do it."
"For someone who has no impression in my memory, I'm really not that sad. I just feel a bit regretful that I didn't get to meet him."
Director Wang: "Comrade Qin Ge, the deceased is gone. Our Subdistrict Office has already handled your father's funeral arrangements. He is buried in the public cemetery; you can go visit when you have time."
"In addition, your father left some money and subsidies, as well as four houses and a unit quota. When would you like us to transfer them?"
Qin Ge: "I'm not very familiar with this, I'll listen to you for everything, Director Wang."
Director Wang: "Your father and I had a good relationship, so I'll call you Xiao Qin. Xiao Qin, come over and count the money your father left behind."
"This is the 3568 yuan your father saved, plus the 1500 yuan accident subsidy from his unit. Please sign here."
Director Wang continued: "I'll take you to see the houses later."
The two walked out of the office. Director Wang approached a young girl: "Xiao Li, find Qin Changsheng's property deeds. This is Qin Changsheng's son, Qin Ge."
Xiao Li exclaimed in surprise: "Director Wang, he doesn't look older than me! If you call him Brother Qin, then shouldn't you call me Sister Xiao Li? No way, no way."
Director Wang looked at the mischievously smiling Qin Ge and the smug Xiao Li, then reached out and twisted Xiao Li's arm.
Director Wang twisted and said: "You want to be called Sister Xiao Li, huh, Sister Xiao Li…"
Xiao Li quickly pleaded: "Sister Wang, Director Wang, good Sister, I was wrong."
Director Wang: "Alright, quickly find me the property deeds."
Director Wang took the property deeds from Xiao Li and said to Qin Ge: "You naughty boy, let's go. Your name really takes advantage." Xiao Li glared at Qin Ge, stomped her foot, and snorted: "Annoying guy, it's all your name's fault."
Director Wang said to Qin Ge: "Xiao Qin, let's go." Qin Ge mumbled softly: "I still prefer you to call me Qin Ge."
With a "slap," Director Wang raised her hand and lightly hit the back of Qin Ge's head, then measured her palm and said: "Still calling yourself Qin Ge, huh."
Qin Ge quickly said: "No, Director Wang."
Director Wang snorted: "You little rascal, like a mischievous monkey, daring to joke with me."
Qin Ge smiled and said: "Director Wang, you are clearly beautiful and kind-hearted. If it were anyone else, how would I dare to joke?"
Director Wang laughed and scolded: "You smooth-talking little devil. Xiao Qin, didn't your mother come with you?"
Qin Ge's expression darkened: "My mother also passed away after receiving your letter. She waited for more than ten years, just hoping for this outcome. When she left, she had no regrets."
Director Wang comforted him: "Alright, Xiao Qin, don't be too sad. If you ever have any difficulties in the future, come find me."
Qin Ge said gratefully: "Okay, Director Wang."
Director Wang said kindly: "Don't call me Director Wang anymore, call me Aunt Wang."
Qin Ge quickly responded: "Okay, Aunt Wang."
Qin Ge understood in his heart that Director Wang was subtly protecting him. As a child without parents in this unfamiliar place, without a backer, he would likely be bullied, and perhaps no one would know if he died one day.
Qin Ge said sincerely: "Thank you, Aunt Wang."
Director Wang smiled and said: "Alright, silly boy, let's go."
Along the way, Director Wang introduced each person in the Siheyuan to Qin Ge: "You, don't be foolish and trust everyone. In these times, everyone is struggling to eat, and some people think about taking a little more from others to save their own rations. So you need to be more careful and not too naive."
Qin Ge followed Director Wang's footsteps, and soon, they returned to Nanluoguxiang Number 95.