Although Li Qian's aunt was not very old, she was unambiguous in choosing vegetables and cooking. In addition, the rice had been steamed in advance. In less than half an hour, the four dishes and one soup were ready.
At first, Xu Zhan was a little embarrassed. His downfall seemed a bit alien to them.
Li Qian and her aunt didn't pay attention, and the family of three were very enthusiastic.
Although the dishes are all home-cooked side dishes, it can be seen that they are much better than what they usually eat.
Xu Zhan had an awkward dinner. In addition to being worried about his daughter's situation, the three members of the family chatted without a word, which made him seem to be an outsider redundant.
From their conversation, Xu Zhan learned that Li Qian's aunt was named Jiang Nian. She was a music teacher and ran an extracurricular tutoring class, which was also the family's income.
On the way to get off work a year ago, I met Li Qian who was crying next to a trash can on the street. I asked him why and brought him back.
Grandma originally had two daughters. A few years ago, the eldest daughter and her son-in-law were deceived and disappeared, leaving Jiang Nian and grandma alone.
Now that mother and daughter have added Li Qian, the family of three is living a tight life.
"Mr. Xu, thanks to you this time..."
Jiang Nian raised the wine glass in his hand. The glass contained the Sprite that had just been poured. He took out the drink from the refrigerator because an outsider was here. He didn't ask the man if he drank. He looked a little shabby for a moment.
Xu Zhan picked up the drink that Li Qian helped pour and took a sip. He could tell that Jiang Nian didn't like him.
If it weren't for Li Qian wanting to ask clearly, he wouldn't be sitting here.
After taking a sip of Sprite, I felt mixed emotions. Seeing Li Qian looking at me with a smile, I felt inexplicably moved.
This girl seems to rarely smile, why is she so happy tonight.
"Li Qian...is she always like this in school?..."
Xu Zhan felt that this was not the first time those people had bullied Li Qian in the evening.
The student named Li Qiming and the centipede braid were more domineering, and the children listened to them.
Li Qian's parents are away, and her grandma is old and suffering from mild Alzheimer's disease. She acts like a child from time to time and cannot help her at all.
My aunt worked hard to support the family and had no time to care about Li Qian's living conditions.
"Uncle... no, no, this is the first time. It has never happened before. The teachers and classmates at school are all very good to me."
Li Qian hurriedly explained, but to Xu Zhan, her eyes betrayed her.
She is lying.
"Qianqian, you have to tell the truth to my aunt."
Jiang Nian put down the bowl and chopsticks and touched the injuries on Li Qian's face. Judging from the injuries, she knew what happened.
Last time she went to the school teacher about Li Qian's matter, and the teacher promised to help her solve these matters.
I've been too busy lately, so I didn't ask again.
"Aunt..."
Li Qian lowered her head and spoke in a low voice that only she could hear.
Li Qian was a little hesitant. Should he tell the truth to his aunt? If not, what would he do tomorrow or the day after tomorrow?
Li Qiming and the others had told her that they would beat her once every day after school. She was very scared.
But what can be done, the school teachers can't control it. Li Qiming's father gave a lot of things to the school teachers this time. His family runs a hotel. The centenary celebration held by the school was organized by Li Qiming's father. The money One point was confiscated, so even if Li Qiming was bad in school, no one dared to say anything about him.
"Is it that person again?"
"It's Huang Ziyao...she said Teacher Gu likes me..."
Jiang Nian was a little angry. Last time Li Qian was injured on the face, she did not hold him accountable in order not to make the matter bigger. This time Li Qian was injured again.
Although she picked up Li Qian, she never treated Li Qian as an outsider, only as her family member and daughter.
So she will definitely go to the teacher tomorrow to ask for an explanation.
"Little... aunt, can you not go to the teacher?"
Li Qian was a little sad. Teacher Gu couldn't do anything to Li Qiming, and was often stopped by Li Qiming's brother at the school gate.
Li Qiming's brother is a gangster who idles around all day and does not do serious things, but he pursues Teacher Gu.
Teacher Gu is a very nice person. He often takes care of her in school, brings her food, and criticizes the bad students who bully her. She is as beautiful as his aunt. He doesn't want Teacher Gu to be in trouble.
Jiang Nian heard Li Qian say these things. She knew that Li Qian was afraid of getting into trouble, so it was better to do less than to do more, even if he was afraid of suffering a loss.
"Okay, auntie promises you."
Although Jiang Nian said this, he was determined in his heart to find a way to solve this matter.
Li Qian has started not to speak much and has gradually become autistic. If she continues like this, she is afraid that something will happen.
"Yeah, why don't you eat vegetables? Come on, children, eat vegetables..."
After eating for a long time, grandma noticed that several people were talking. Without moving her chopsticks, she gave Xu Zhan the only large chicken leg left on the plate.
Xu Zhan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. This grandma was so kind to him. She didn't treat him like an outsider. Looking at the family of three looking at him, and then looking at the chicken drumsticks, it didn't matter whether he wanted to eat or not.
"Child, what is your name?"
Grandma put down her chopsticks and looked at Xu Zhan with a bright face, which made Xu Zhan feel a little embarrassed.
He is a murderous maniac in the Night Owl organization. He looks so harmonious and docile?
Does grandma really think of him as her son?
He had never seen any strong winds or waves outside the country, but at this moment, facing his grandma's question, he felt a little at a loss.
"Xu... Dapi..."
Xu Zhan replied calmly that this was the name Nighthawk had told him in advance in order to hide his identity.
Because the Night Owl members all wear masks, no one recognizes them.
"Xu... Dapi?" Grandma smiled from ear to ear, "Oh, Dapi is so... easy to understand... ah... why did you come back alone? Where is your wife?"
Jiang Nian didn't know what was wrong with his mother today, talking so much to this stranger.
He is becoming more and more like a child, acting crazy. Although he blames himself in his heart, he dare not say it with his mouth.
He stole a glance at the man.
He has an unkempt beard and a decadent look on his face. He looks like he is in his early thirties, as if he is in his fifties, which is unpleasant.
Grandma's words reminded Xu Zhan of his past, when he led countless brothers to fight in all directions and protect the border. How glorious it was at that time. Even if it takes another year, just one year, he will be able to come back with military exploits and glory...
However, the wife did not wait.
My heart felt heavy again, thinking that my daughter couldn't help but look at Li Qian...
"Li Qian's father...hasn't come back either?"
Xu Zhan knew these words and the family didn't want to mention them, but he had no choice but to find out, otherwise he wouldn't have left until now.
Auntie and grandma didn't answer, but Li Qian was the first to speak.
"My father is dead, I don't have a father..."
"Qianqian, what are you talking about?... Go and do your homework. Don't interrupt when adults are talking and children."
Jiang Nian asked her about Li Qian.
Li Qian told her about her knowledge of her father.
It seems that he went abroad before he was born.
Haven't been back for ten years.
He didn't know anything about whether he died in an accident abroad or whether he had forgotten Li Qian and his mother.
However, Jiang Nian had told Li Qian that his father was a hero, a nameless hero walking in the dark.
Jiang Nian didn't know whether he was a hero or not. She just didn't want Li Qian to be disappointed.
Although Li Qian said this, Jiang Nian knew that she was thinking about her father. Many nights, she heard Li Qian dreaming, crying, and talking in his sleep.
"Dad, where are you? I miss you..."
Jiang Nian felt that no matter whether Li Qian's father came back or not, he could not dash Li Qian's hope. His father was Li Qian's spiritual hope, a little star in the darkness...
Although weak, it always guided and illuminated Li Qian's path.
