CHAPTER 77: CHAPTER 77: CALCULATED

The old man was quite puzzled. He was sweeping the snow just fine when his great-grandson suddenly ran out and said that the Yi Zhqing in the kitchen had something to discuss with him.

"Did you hear it wrong?"

Unbelievingly, the old man sought confirmation. He didn’t know that young person, so could it be that something was wrong with his little Jiu’s health?

Thinking of this, his face changed dramatically as he picked up Qin Jiu and said to the team leader, "You all keep chatting, I’ll go see what’s wrong with Xiao Jiu’s health."

Qin Jiu exclaimed; his health wasn’t problematic.

Just as he was about to explain, Mr. Song hurriedly said, "Quick, go."

"Shall we go with you?"

Middle-aged man Qi Yunqing quickly responded with concern in his eyes for Qin Jiu.

The Qin Family only had this one seedling left; they must protect him.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have the face to see Third Qin if he were to die.

"No need, I’ll go check first."

The old man thought the issue wasn’t serious; otherwise, Xiao Jiu wouldn’t have been sent to call him.

Ignoring everyone’s reaction, he quickly took Qin Jiu to the kitchen.

The sound of urgent footsteps approached from behind, making Yi Chichi turn her head. Seeing the old man bring the confused-looking Qin Jiu inside, her first thought was about how he might just lose his leg doing that.

"Put him down, hurry and let him down!"

"Young comrade, what problem does my Xiao Jiu have?"

Both spoke at the same time, the former being Yi Chichi, the latter being the old man.

"Huh?"

Yi Chichi was stunned, as was Qin Jiu.

The two of them stared at each other, "Xiao Jiu (I) has a problem?"

They spoke in unison.

Then both turned to look at the old man, "Grandpa (old man), I (Xiao Jiu) don’t have a problem."

This time the old man was the one in a daze, as he glanced between Yi Chichi and Qin Jiu.

"No problem?"

"No!"

"Then you said the young comrade has something to discuss with me?"

He looked down at his little great-grandson in his arms, feeling an itchy-handed urge to spank him.

Yi Chichi, "...I have nothing to discuss with you."

As she spoke, her gaze fell on Qin Jiu’s face, noticing that the child was smiling.

He was smiling as he pointed at Yi Chichi, "Grandpa, her name is Yi Chichi!"

Yi Chichi, !!! Goodness, the little brat was waiting for her here.

"Hello, Mr. Yi, so your name is Yi Chichi, we’ve been waiting these days..."

The old man slowly lowered his head and watched Qin Jiu, "Yi Chichi? Is she the Yi Chichi I have in mind?"

"Yes, she says her grandmother’s name is Li Changqiu."

His little hand swung, and he whispered, "So Grandpa, I found our cousin."

The elder and the youngster were both speechless, what do you mean you found your cousin?

"A boastful kid’s nose will grow long!"

Yi Chichi threatened with a stern face, but Qin Jiu wasn’t fooled, "Cousin, I’m not a three-year-old kid anymore, you won’t deceive me."

He was still this cheeky little rascal, inviting himself with just two names without fully verifying identities.

Calling cousin so close and familiar.

Definitely a mischievous little kid who is clever but lacking love.

"Chichi?"

The old man looked at her excitedly, his expression somewhat dazed as he softly said, "Is your mother named Zi Shuyu?"

"Uncle-grandfather!"

Given how things had progressed, Yi Chichi didn’t plan to hide her identity and proactively acknowledged him.

The old man was silent for a moment, setting Qin Jiu down and approaching her, asking in a hushed tone, "Why did you end up in the countryside?"

"A child without parents has no other path but that to the countryside."

Yi Chichi, appearing indifferent, took a small stool for the old man to sit, methodically placing herbs into a clay pot, succinctly narrating the course of events.

Her voice was deliberately low, with vigilant glances cast towards the door.

The old man noticed her cautious actions, saying nothing, but his eyes shone with undeniable admiration.

Until he heard Yi Chichi’s mother had died when she was three, their sent items and letters all signed off by Yi Yong, not a thing reaching her, his face and breathing suddenly grew heavy.

Upon learning Zi Shuyu hadn’t even passed her seventh day ritual, Yi Yong remarried a divorced woman with a child, then had a pair of twins the following year, as the whole family started abusing Yi Chichi, his aura changed dramatically.

The old man was a seasoned revolutionary, having traversed fields of corpses and seas of blood, it’s not an exaggeration. When angered, his appearance remained calm, but the menacing look in his eyes and the chilling aura emanating from him was undeniably terrifying.

One would have thought these were enough to challenge his limits, but when Yi Chichi said that Zi Shuyu’s death was linked to Yi Yong and his wife, the old man could no longer suppress the fury within, gritting his teeth, "Yi Yong deserves to die."

"...Most likely dead already!"

Yi Chichi gazed at the sky, not believing Yi Yong and Zhang Lanxiang could continue being alive after what they did.

Compared to human life, everything else is trivial. Moreover, the fire that the couple orchestrated back then didn’t only take the life of the original mother.

Too many people want to deal with Yi Yong, families who lost sons and husbands are plenty, two factions joined forces, unless Yi Yong and Zhang Lanxiang are completely dealt with, those looking to replace Yi Yong won’t rest.

Granny Zhang and those who’ve lost children and husbands won’t rest either.

Seeing the old man so angry his hair almost stood on end, she comforted, "You don’t need to get too worked up, they were already apprehended when I left."

"Who nabbed them?"

"Director Zhang."

As she said this, she then detailed Zhang JianShe’s identity.

After listening, the old man was silent for two seconds, directing sharp eyes at her, "You orchestrated this?"

To sit at a chief position in such departments, one’s abilities aside, being ruthless is assured.

Besides, such people excel in being opportunistic, sucking up, and are extremely adept at assessing situations.

Arriving so timely, claiming Yi Chichi hadn’t calculated well? He wouldn’t buy it.

"Yes."

Yi Chichi smiled, "I don’t allow myself to suffer losses, and I’m skilled in fighting poison with poison."

The old man grimaced, "Oh, come off it. If you were truly that capable, you wouldn’t have been bullied for so many years."

But truly stronger than little Shuyu.

Thinking of Zi Shuyu, he showed regret, "I shouldn’t have listened to your mom at that time, left her alone in Lin City."

"Originally thought Old Chen and the others could certainly care for your mom, who would’ve known..."

He shook his head, appearing melancholic.

"They did take care quite well."

The original’s mother wouldn’t have been so ’innocent’ otherwise, charmed by Yi Yong’s heroics.

Wholeheartedly believed Yi Yong was her destined true love, disregarding Grandpa Chen’s and everyone else’s objections to eagerly marry Yi Yong.

Even sought connections for him to get a temporary job at the textile factory.

Of course, Yi Yong himself was somewhat capable, just not using it on the right path.

Yi Chichi held no sentiment for Yi Yong, nor the original’s mother.

Not only she, even the original had little memory of the mother.

The time spent between mother and daughter was too brief and maintaining emotion demands time and effort.

"Only say it’s fate and timing!"

Her tone was very calm, the old man scrutinized her, "What are your plans going forward? Will you settle in the countryside?"

There was significant implication in this question.