Chapter 772: You're a Good Stepmother

The corner of Qin Jiqun’s mouth twitched.

‘This little rascal.’

Jiang Ling was stunned for a few seconds before she reacted. She had thought that even if Qin Tao agreed, he would say something like, “You’ll have to take care of my dad from now on.”

But what Qin Tao had said was for her to “keep him in line.”

There was a world of difference between the two.

Jiang Ling relaxed as well. She said, “Your dad is doing very well right now. Of course, if he does something wrong, I’ll remind him. I’m not perfect, either. Sometimes I’ll make mistakes, and he’ll keep me in check, too.”

That’s what being a couple is about—supporting each other in times like these.

Helping each other get back on track when one of you goes astray.

Hearing Jiang Ling’s gentle words, Qin Xiaotao finally felt at ease.

He was relieved that this future stepmother wasn’t like his own mother.

Qin Jiqun asked, “Xiao Tao, does this mean you don’t object to us being together anymore?”

Qin Tao replied, “What’s there for me to object to? With a stepmom this great, you’d better work hard and treat her right, Dad.”

“Absolutely!”

They all looked at each other and smiled.

The family visit was exceptionally heartwarming.

After the visit, Qin Jiqun and Jiang Ling left. As Qin Tao followed a guard back toward his cell, he took a few steps and then glanced back at the retreating figures of his father and Aunt Jiang.

The corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

The guard walking beside him had grown familiar with Qin Tao over time. He smiled and said, “Your stepmom seems great. I’m a good judge of character, and I can tell she’s a very kind and gentle person.”

Qin Tao smiled. “Yeah, she’s very kind.”

Even though his father had such a past and a son in prison, this Aunt Jiang didn’t hold any of it against him.

Qin Tao knew that his eldest cousin was incredibly successful now, already a well-known businesswoman in North City.

But Aunt Jiang’s daughter was already good friends with his eldest cousin and worked as a designer at her clothing company. It was clear her mother wasn’t getting together with Qin Jiao’s third uncle just to suck up to Qin Jiao.

This woman genuinely wanted to build a good life with his father, Qin Jiqun.

Qin Tao said, “I’m going to take my rehabilitation seriously, earn merits, and try to get out of prison early. I’ll find a good job, and when they get older, I’ll take good care of them.”

The guard nodded. “That’s the right attitude. You’ve got a good life ahead of you.”

“Yeah.”

**

The sun shone brightly on New Year’s Eve, and surprisingly, it wasn’t cold at all.

After Qin Jiao woke up, she dressed the three children in their new outfits.

Guduo had grown to love living at her big brother and sister-in-law’s house so much that she refused to go back with her parents when they announced they were returning from abroad to settle down and take her home.

On the phone, Du Liya sounded a little resigned. “I used to think the age gap between Guduo and Xiao Yi was too wide for them to be close, but I never expected this little girl would end up closer to her brother and sister-in-law than to us!”

Mr. Du chimed in from the side, “You have the nerve to say that? You have a child and just dump her on Xiao Yi and Xiao Jiao to raise. It’s only right that she’s not close to you!”

Meanwhile, Little Gu Duo had grown extremely close to her little nephew and niece.

She said to Xiao You and Zijin, “I have three castles in total. I’ll give one to each of you later, okay?”

Xiao You clapped happily. “Guduo’s the best!”

Zijin was more reserved. “Thank you, Little Auntie.”

The adults watching this scene didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Shen Yi had just returned from putting up the New Year’s couplets and began helping Qin Jiao prepare the food. He said, “The whole big family is celebrating together again this year. Once we’re done here, shall we head over to Mom and Dad’s place?”

“Sounds good.”

Qin Jiao thought, ‘There have been plenty of happy occasions this year, and our big family has grown, too.’

The only unresolved matter was her cousin Xiao Lan’s situation.

But Xiao Lan had already decided to take an extended leave and bring her parents on a vacation to the coast.

She figured they would be spending the New Year there.

Just as Qin Jiao had surmised, Xiao Lan had taken the money and lived lavishly for a while, buying whatever was expensive. After work, she would go out drinking and partying with friends.

In short, she was living by the saying, “What is it you like about me? I’ll change it.”