Chapter 371: Down and Out

“Come, Xiao Yiyi, come over to Da Yeye’s side…”

Compared to before, Da Yeye had aged quite a bit now, his back hunched, and his energy declining year by year.

But when he saw Qin Yiyi, the old man still smiled and waved, wanting to pat her little head.

Seeing this, little Qin Yiyi looked confused and a bit hesitant, and her small hand holding her father’s tightened.

After all, she was still a child; not remembering after a year apart was normal.

Qin Nanfeng chuckled and lowered his head, patting his daughter’s little head: “Yi Yi, call him Uncle. You saw him just last year. Have you already forgotten?”

Hearing this, Qin Yiyi shook her head and instinctively looked at her mother, who stood with Liu Yi.

Seeing Lin Xinyuan also nod with a smile, Qin Yiyi finally stared without shyness at the kind Da Yeye for a couple more looks, as if observing him.

Without further delay, Qin Yiyi finally showed a cute smile, took small steps forward, and greeted Da Yeye: “Hello, Uncle!”

“Oh, Xiao Yiyi… you’ve grown taller again…”

Seeing how obedient Qin Yiyi was, Da Yeye slowly reached out and patted her little head, nodding with satisfaction.

“Come… Xiao Yiyi, have an orange…”

As he spoke, the old man took an orange from the fruit plate on the tea table and tremblingly handed it to Qin Yiyi.

Qin Yiyi put her index finger to her lips as if pondering, then quickly took it: “Thank you, Uncle!”

After saying that, Qin Yiyi began peeling the orange clumsily; her cute little appearance made the elders laugh.

Next, led by Lin Xinyuan, Qin Yiyi finally finished greeting the two Lin Uncles, Qin Ming and Qin Xiao.

After a bit of small talk, when it was about time, they finally went downstairs to wait for Gong Zu.

A burst of crackling firecrackers and loud gongs and drums; they watched the You Shen procession pass by the door until it was completely out of sight.

Around noon, the hired Driver finally prepared the banquet, and they were finally ready to eat Nianli.

In the Courtyard, people ate and chatted, not in a hurry.

After all, in past years, even if they ate only dishes and no rice, there would definitely still be food left over.

For this reason, households holding Nianli usually also prepared plastic bags for takeout, just to make it convenient for visiting relatives or friends to pack food.

Cups and glasses clinked, people bragged and joked, or discussed all kinds of miscellaneous things; for a time, it was extremely lively.

Of course, some people also secretly mentioned Lin Xinyuan, and even her father Lin Chongshan.

But clearly, the people involved, still inside the house, could not hear it at all.

But… even if they heard, they probably would not react…

At this moment inside the house, the wine table was harmonious; Lin Xinyuan was at the side peeling shrimp for Qin Yiyi, watching her eat happily with gentle eyes.

While feeding her daughter, she listened to Da Yeye and the others chatting, and occasionally joked with Liu Yi beside her; it was quite cheerful.

This banquet lasted nearly 2 hours before it barely ended…

This family did not go back so early this year either; instead, they planned to go with Lin Xinyu and his wife to the Opera Stage in the Village to watch the Lion Dance, and also stroll around the nearby Market.

Qin Yiyi was clearly watching a Lion Dance for the First Time, watching the agile lion jump back and forth on the Plum Blossom Piles.

Qin Yiyi sat on Qin Nanfeng’s shoulders, her little body swaying left and right, and she clapped her little hands, laughing happily: “Lion! Jump, jump, jump, jump!”

This soft, sweet voice inevitably attracted nearby people, who could not help looking over; upon seeing the cute Qin Yiyi on Qin Nanfeng’s shoulders, they also smiled knowingly.

It was not that Qin Yiyi disturbed Gong Zu watching the Lion Dance; surely Gong Zu would not blame her either…

But soon, not long after, just when the Lion Dance reached its climax, Qin Yiyi suddenly patted Qin Nanfeng’s head lightly.

“Daddy, Yi Yi wants to go potty…”

On Qin Yiyi’s fair little face was discomfort; she could no longer watch the Lion Dance, and her body twisted left and right.

“Let Mom take Yi Yi, okay.” Hearing this, Qin Nanfeng slowly crouched down and gently let his daughter down.

Lin Xinyuan stepped up and took Qin Yiyi’s little hand, preparing to take her to the nearby Public Toilet: “Let’s go, Mom will take you.”

The Public Toilet was not far from the Opera Stage.

After arriving, Lin Xinyuan first took her daughter into the women’s Washroom and let her finish first.

Then she let Qin Yiyi wait outside first, while she also took care of her own business.

Lin Xinyuan was not worried anything would happen to her daughter; after all, the Opera Stage was right nearby, there were still people coming and going, and Qin Yiyi was very clever and would not wander off.

So little Qin Yiyi held the Shouji Mommy gave her to pass the time, stood outside, and started playing a little game.

Qin Yiyi looked delicate and cute, her little cheeks puffing from time to time, and she looked quite adorable as she played intently.

Almost immediately, she attracted quite a few passersby.

Some people whispered to each other, discussing which family in the Village or which relative’s child this little girl was…

Qin Yiyi was playing very absorbed, but what she did not know was that not far away, a gaze was greedily fixed on her, and then its owner could not help but step forward and walk over.

This was a thin, lean middle-aged Man. Although his face looked like he was only just over 50, his hair had long since turned white, black mixed with silver strands.

His face was full of wrinkles, his clothes were somewhat sloppy, and his whole demeanor was very dejected.

These years, Lin Chongshan had lived terribly, one could even say miserably.

Even though every year Lin Xinyuan transferred 4,000 to his account, enough to keep him fed and clothed, he still chose to keep going out to work, wanting to numb himself with it.

Every night after work, he drank with those coworkers, talking about life and family gossip.

“Sigh… the family is spending money again; the mortgage will never be paid off…”

“Tell me about it. My boy’s grades are no good, he’s attending a private undergraduate program, tuition is 30,000 a year, and that’s not even counting living expenses… It’s hard…”

“But there’s no choice. For the kids, no matter what, we have to swallow it. Once the kids make something of themselves, then we can enjoy life!”

“Right, right, right. By then, let the kid marry a wife, have a chubby grandson, and everything will be harmonious!”

“Haha, yeah…”

At a stained table in the food stall, the clinking of metal cans never ceased, always accompanied by the coworkers’ laughter and chatter.

But by the end, it was inevitably full of bitterness; still, thinking of their children’s futures, these people held onto hope.

Lin Chongshan just sat there quietly, silently drinking and eating, his thoughts in turmoil.

But at this moment, a coworker beside Lin Chongshan, one relatively closest to him, suddenly patted his shoulder and could not help asking.

“Hey, Old Lin, you’re over 50, right?”

“Yeah… why?”

“Then you should have a grandson by now, right? Why are you still working here, exhausting yourself? Why not go back and enjoy life? Or is your Son not supporting you?”

“Uh… I…” Hearing the question, he froze completely, opened his mouth, but in the end could not squeeze out a single word.

Seeing Lin Chongshan’s stiff expression, the coworker’s expression turned odd, but he did not ask further; after all, it was not really his business, he had only asked casually.

In fact, Lin Chongshan truly did not know what to say.

Should he say that his beastly behavior had driven his only child out of the house, and then he regretted it?

Or should he say that his wife and children had left him? Or that he had never… possessed these things at all?

‘I don’t know…’

He was not a fool; he naturally understood how spineless and inhuman what he had done was, but regret was useless.

Ever since he heard those words from Lin Xinyuan back then, he had known.

He had clearly promised not to disturb her life anymore, so why?

When he saw Lin Xinyuan’s child, the little girl he had previously only dared to watch secretly from afar, his granddaughter by blood.

Seeing that there was no one else beside Qin Yiyi, he still could not help wanting to get closer.

He wanted to see the little girl who looked extremely similar to Lin Xinyuan when she was young…

While pondering, even though he thought of those sharp words, he still hesitated and slowly approached the cute little girl.

‘At least, get a little closer…’

‘Just one look…’