684 Hiding the Truth
“Mei Mei, do you think that kid will come back?” Qiao Qiang asked.
Qiao Mei gently swayed in the rocking chair and said, “Yes, he will. He has already left his helper behind to do manual labor. How can he run away?”
“That’s true. This set of fist techniques of yours is really useful. Every time I finish, I feel that my muscles and bones have loosened up a lot,” Qiao Qiang said as he rubbed his shoulders.
Qiao Qiang would go to the back mountain to walk a few rounds every day. Although he did more exercise than those old men who took walks in the capital, he did not exercise his upper body at all. It was better for him to practice Tai Chi at home. It was safe and reassuring.
Not only did He Ning change into a new set of clothes, but he even took a shower. Wang Qin was kept very busy so that He Ning could take a shower at home. Not only did she have to sacrifice the storeroom at home for this purpose, but she also had to bring out all the items at home that could contain hot water in order for He Ning to take a shower.
Their family usually bathed in the big river in the village. Ever since they discovered that there was a hot spring on the mountain, they would go there to take a shower.
In summer, they used big water storage bags that could hold 10 liters of water in one bag. The bags were completely black and every summer afternoon at two o’clock, the water in the bags would be heated up and they would be able to take a shower.
They would simply close the main door and put up a cloth covering, and no one would be able to see anyone who was taking a shower at home. This was how they had done it for so many years.
However, He Ning was different. He insisted on taking a shower inside the room, which stumped Wang Qin. After He Ning was done and making his way to Qiao Mei’s house in a grand manner, Wang Qin’s entire family had to go to the storeroom and use basins to remove the water that had accumulated on the ground even before they made breakfast.
This storeroom could no longer store food.
“You wastrel old woman! Now that you let this storeroom be used for bathing, what are we going to eat in the future! Look at these potatoes. Sigh! They’re going to sprout!” Qiao Fu said angrily.
Although Wang Qin’s heart ached for the losses as well, He Ning was full of hostility at that time. She did not have the ability to reject him even if she wanted to.
“Why didn’t you say anything just now! Now you sound so capable! Who am I doing this for? It’s all so that our family can move to the county city as soon as possible! He gives us 100 dollars a day!” Wang Qin said.
At the mention of 100 dollars, Qiao Fu fell silent. Although he did not know where this person came from, the 100 dollars a day was paid on a daily basis and he felt at ease upon collecting the money.
If the man wanted to pay cumulatively at the end, then it was definitely a scam.
“Alright, alright. We can’t let our father and the others know about this. Otherwise, this money won’t be in our hands,” Qiao Fu said cautiously.
It was not as if Wang Qin did not think of this problem. Even if they did not tell Qiao Zhuang now, news would still quickly spread like wildfire as time passed. They could not hide it even if they wanted.
“With that old woman Dong in the village, the entire village will know about this sooner or later.” Wang Qin sighed.
Wang Qin and Auntie Dong had always been on bad terms. Back then, the higher-ups had issued a notice that they wanted to add a new position in the village, known as the director of women’s affairs, specializing in managing the reproductive issues and population migration in the entire village.
At that time, everyone felt that Auntie Dong was the most suitable candidate. Not only did she know everything about all the families in the village, but she also knew all kinds of gossip and rumors. If there was anything going on, she was definitely the first one to know.
Just as Auntie Dong felt that the position was hers, Wang Qin joined in the discussion, saying that since Auntie Dong was uneducated, she could not write the summary report, so she could not take on this position.
There was indeed nothing wrong with this reasoning and it left Zhao Liang with no choice. It would be easy to nurture a new director of women’s affairs, but it was very difficult to teach Auntie Dong to be able to read and write in a short period of time.
From then on, Wang Qin and Auntie Dong became enemies.
“So what if everyone knows. We’re all cadres in this village after all. When the time comes, you can just say that you’re just helping him and did not take any money from him,” Qiao Fu said.
Wang Qin looked at Qiao Fu in admiration. She did not expect this man to be so useful at critical moments! This was a good idea! Not only would it improve her reputation, but she could also hide the fact that she was getting paid.
“You’re still the smartest! It’s been hard on you, my husband, to have to help me clean up this mess,” Wang Qin said coquettishly.
Qiao Fu blushed and said shyly, “No need to use the word help. You’re also doing this for our family.”
