Qin Bogang had never spoken to Mr. Qin so forcefully. Even during the incredibly tense affair of the arranged marriage swap, he had never broken with his father like this.
Mr. Qin's eyes went wide as he stared at his eldest son.
The people around them opened their mouths to mediate, but they were at a loss for words, unsure of what to do.
Qin Bogang turned to the village head and the other elders. "Uncles, I'm heading back now. I'll return tomorrow to handle the paperwork and transfer the house back into my father's name."
With that, he stood up and walked away.
Old Mrs. Qin stopped him on his way out, her eyes red-rimmed. "Eldest," she said softly, "dinner is almost ready. Stay and eat. Besides, it's so late now. There are no more buses back to the county seat."
When Qin Zhonghui's family of four had left, it was still light out, but now it was pitch-black. There really were no more buses running.
