Married to a man in Northwest China, the delicate wife with a soft waist is spoiled rotten by the ro

Chapter 176 Qi Qing and Qi Yan

Zhang Zhifeng regretted his words immediately afterward, saying that Qi Yan's family was all show and no substance.

Qi Yan remained unmoved; Zhang Zhifeng's words did not stir any emotion in him.

“If you say no, then no…” Qi Yan murmured repeatedly, then suddenly looked up, a hint of sarcasm flashing in his eyes.

"Didn't they treat me the same way before? If it weren't for them, I wouldn't have met you. So you're just going to agree to any of her demands without any limits because of that?"

Zhang Zhifeng felt like he had punched cotton.

"That's not what I meant." Zhang Zhifeng said helplessly, unable to say what was on his mind, feeling awkward.

Qi Yan disagreed and urged, "Let's drive. We can come to the research institute again if we have the chance. Sisi has started a factory in Huaihua Commune now, and I heard it's doing quite well."

Zhang Zhifeng was in a daze. He had started a factory? It sounded so easy.

"You make it sound so easy, it's making me want to open a factory. What kind of factory would you open?"

Zhang Zhifeng started the car, and both of them consciously ignored the conflict that had just occurred.

It was already 12:30 pm when they arrived at the Qi family's house, and the atmosphere in the living room was frighteningly oppressive.

"Qingqing, after dinner, have your older brother take Yanyan and you to see a movie, then go for a walk in the park. Yanyan is just getting home and isn't familiar with the area, so you can show her around."

Qi Qing's face turned ugly. "Fine..."

Qi Yan sat on the sofa with a stiff expression. Her skin was slightly dark, and her features were three-dimensional and delicate. She looked like she was made from the same mold as Shen Wanqing.

She nervously twisted her hands, her eyes filled with fear.

Shen Wanqing smiled and took Qi Yan's hand. "Yan Yan, do you still remember how you loved to play hide-and-seek in the alley behind our house when you were little? Aunt Mao next door has been thinking about you ever since she heard you came back. Let's go see her tomorrow."

Qi Yan nodded. Actually, she didn't remember anything except that she had an older brother.

She only agreed to return to the capital because the person in front of her promised to let her see her brother.

The house was huge, three or four times larger than her home, and had three floors. So, in her eyes, all the exquisite details weighed heavily on Qi Yan's neck, making her unable to lift her head.

Qi Yan looked down at the calluses on her hands. The contrast between her dark and old hands and the fine fabric she was wearing amplified her inferiority complex.

"Mom, why hasn't my older brother arrived yet? I have a meeting at work this afternoon."

Qi Qing kept glancing at the clock on the wall, unable to bear watching the mother and daughter's tender moment any longer.

"Just ask for leave. Your main task this afternoon is to take Yan Yan to familiarize herself with the surroundings and watch a movie."

Qi Qing glanced at Qi Yan and said sullenly, "I understand. I'll go call the hospital then."

It's getting closer, but Qi Yan and Zhang Zhifeng still haven't arrived, and Qi Jianhua, who was supposed to come back, isn't here either.

Qi Qing used making a phone call as an excuse to go back to her room and stay there, feeling depressed.

Qi Yan pursed her lips nervously. "I'd like to go back to my room to rest for a while, is that alright?"

"Of course you can. This is your home. You can do whatever you want from now on without asking anyone."

Seeing her daughter being so cautious, Shen Wanqing felt heartbroken.

Just as Qi Yan stood up, the door was pushed open with a sound, and she turned her head to look in the direction of the sound.

Qi Yan and Zhang Zhifeng carried their things through the gate, crossed the courtyard, and entered the house. The man's appearance gradually overlapped with Qi Yan's vague memories.

Qi Yan's lips involuntarily curled up, and she suddenly had a familiar feeling.

From the moment he entered, Qi Yan noticed a gaze fixed on him. He looked over and was momentarily taken aback.

When Shen Wanqing saw that he had returned, she quickly stood up and said, "You're back. Sit down first, I'll go heat up the food."

"Aunt Shen, let me help you." Zhang Zhifeng put down his things and prepared to go with Shen Wanqing. Qi Qing heard the conversation inside the room and hurriedly came out, calling out in a clear voice, "Brother."

"You're really back. Where's your sister-in-law? Didn't she come this time?" Qi Qing stepped forward and stood beside Qi Yan. "Brother, I've been assigned to Renhe Hospital and I'm already at work."

"Hmm, not bad." Qi Yan put the things aside. "Your sister-in-law also has her own things to do."

"I heard my sister-in-law is pregnant, is it true? Am I going to be an aunt?"

Qi Qing chatted enthusiastically with Qi Yan, ignoring Qi Yan standing to the side.

She stood there, awkwardly clutching her trouser leg, unsure whether to leave or sit.

Qi Yan took out a small brocade box from his pocket and handed it to Qi Yan, saying, "This is something Grandpa left for you. See if you like it."

Qi Yan froze, hesitating whether to reach out and take it.

"Take it. It was meant for you anyway, so don't feel guilty." Qi Yan saw through her hesitation.

Qi Yan looked up, smiled at Qi Yan, and took the gift.

She opened the box, and inside was a jade bracelet, similar in quality to Ji Sisi's, exuding an air of wealth.

Qi Qing saw it too, and she tried her best to control her expression.

"It's so pretty, sister, why don't you try it on now?" Qi Qing suggested.

Upon hearing this, Qi Yan abruptly suppressed her joy, and a sense of inferiority welled up again as she thought of her rough hands.

"This is quite valuable, so it's best not to wear it unless absolutely necessary. It could easily give people something to talk about. Let's put it away for now," Qi Yan said, trying to help Qi Yan out of the predicament.

Qi Qing's heart skipped a beat.

Sure enough, even though she had stayed in the Qi family for more than ten years, she could never compare to the biological children; she was just a substitute.

Even her name was someone else's. Now they've changed it to Qi Qing, but the people around her still call her Qi Yan. Every time they call her that, it's like a knife being stabbed into her heart.

"The food is ready, everyone wash your hands and get ready to eat," Shen Wanqing greeted happily.

The dinner table.

Shen Wanqing, who is usually the quietest person, has surprisingly taken on the role of creating a lively atmosphere today.

"Zhifeng, Qiyan, after dinner, you two take Yanyan and Qingqing with you."

"She'll be spending more time here in the future, and she'll gradually get used to it. I have things to do at the office this afternoon, so I have to rush back after lunch."

Qi Yan decisively rejected Shen Wanqing's request.

Shen Wanqing put down her chopsticks. "You rarely come back, and Yan Yan just got back. As her brother, what's wrong with you taking her out for a walk?"

"I made myself very clear last time." Qi Yan also put down his chopsticks, his tone threatening.

Only Shen Wanqing and Qi Yan knew about what happened last time at the dinner table.

No one else dared to ask.

"Aunt Shen, why don't we talk about this after dinner? Qi Yan has finally come out for a trip. If he goes back now, we don't know when he'll be back next time."

Zhang Zhifeng offered a tactful reminder.

He didn't want to be bowed to by his elders again.

Shen Wanqing had no choice but to give up and wait for Qi Jianhua to return and take charge of the situation.
-
Huaihua Food Factory.

The beef jerky business has begun to grow steadily, and Ji Sisi plans to add a beef sauce production line to the workshop.

"Manager Ji, you called me?"