Chapter 14 Song Zhao: ...Qingqing and the child's biological mother, ...

Nie Qingqing saw the bride at Factory Director Yu's house. She was pretty and had an older brother and two older sisters. She was the youngest in the family and was very spoiled.

This time, when I married Director Yu, the bride's family gave me a dowry of 600 yuan, and they used all the items to make it a dowry, including a bicycle, a sewing machine, and a radio.

I heard that the bride had a good boyfriend before, and they dated for two years. When they were about to get married, they broke up because they couldn't agree on some things. Surprisingly, the man got engaged very quickly. It turned out that there was another girl who had a crush on her boyfriend. When she broke up with him, the man couldn't resist her pursuing him and they got together immediately.

The bride, in a fit of pique, decided to find someone even better than her previous suitors. However, just like Nie Qingqing, the more blind dates she went on, the worse they got. Her family realized that none of the men she went on blind dates were as good as Director Yu.

Factory Director Yu, who is 39 years old, is very energetic and has a good temperament because of his work. He doesn't look old at all. For example, Song Zhao looks like he is 28 or 29 years old, while Factory Director Yu looks like he is only 33 or 34 years old. He looks young.

He has a house, a good job, and his salary is more than enough to support his family. He only has one daughter who is already married. The new bride will have no parents-in-law or stepchildren living at home. Compared to that, it's actually quite good. So the He family is satisfied with this marriage.

Factory Director Yu, who had just returned from picking up his bride, was all smiles; he was satisfied.

Many people from the bride's family came to see her off, along with the wedding party and neighbors who came to watch the commotion. There were so many people across the street that it was hard to find a place to step. Nie Qingqing squeezed through to watch for a while, and then returned after seeing the bride serving tea to her brother and sister-in-law.

...

After waiting at home for a while, Song Zhao brought Xiaoyin back. Nie Qingqing perked up again and wanted to take him to see the bride across the street: "There are fewer people here now. If you're shy, I'll go with you to take a look."

Why is he looking at someone else's wife?

Song Zhao wasn't interested and refused to go: "What's so interesting about this? You'll see it when you go out in a couple of days, won't you?"

Nie Qingqing said, "I can only ask you who is prettier after you've seen it."

Song Zhao laughed: "Then there's no need to look. In my heart, you're beautiful. In Director Yu's heart, his wife is beautiful. In other people's eyes, everyone's aesthetic is different. Some people think you're beautiful, and some people think she's beautiful. But just based on how you treat your children, everyone will think you're beautiful."

Who said he's rigid and can't speak properly? That's a very eloquent statement.

Nie Qingqing praised him: "Song Zhao, you're so good with words."

Song Zhao was surprised: "Is this what you call being eloquent? I thought you would be angry."

That probably means he said something similar before and got angry with his ex-wife. Nie Qingqing wouldn't do that, and Song Zhao's words make a lot of sense.

"What you said makes sense, so I won't be angry. It's almost time, let's go to the restaurant. I heard they're having a big banquet with over twenty tables today."

...

The banquet was to be lavish, as requested by the He family. Nie Qingqing saw that Director Yu's daughter and son-in-law had arrived. They had previously made an agreement, then reneged, and threatened to cut off all contact. Now that they were here, did that mean they had reconciled? Director Yu was quite capable, managing to balance the relationship between his stepmother and daughter.

Nie Qingqing pointed to Song Zhao and said, "Look, Director Yu's daughter and son-in-law came over for the banquet, which means they've reached an agreement. I wonder how they agreed?"

Song Zhao recalled: "A few days ago, Director Yu complained to me that he was getting married, but if his daughter didn't come, what would people say? He only has one daughter, and he was really heartbroken. He didn't know what to do. He also said that his wife wanted to spend decades with him, and after he died, he would give the house to his daughter instead of his wife. Was he supposed to let his wife, who had been with him for decades, sleep on the streets? The woman's family was right to object, and he was caught in the middle, in a dilemma."

“I told him your method, but he didn’t say anything. I guess he later talked to his daughter and wife, and the three of them agreed that he would give the job he promised to the woman to his daughter and the house to his wife.”

Speaking of which, it's almost impossible for a married daughter to fight with her stepmother over a house. If it were Nie Qingqing, she would work, since she wouldn't need the money herself. There are plenty of people who would want to buy a house for a few hundred yuan.

She was a little worried: "If they ask how Director Yu came up with this idea, won't he tell us?"

Having served as deputy factory director for several years, how could I not know what was going on?

Song Zhao assured Nie Qingqing, "He wouldn't be that stupid."

Nie Qingqing was relieved: "I was worried that the neighborhood relations might deteriorate in the future. It won't affect us, so let him say whatever he wants."

...

She sat with Xiao Yuan in her arms at the table with her colleagues from the Women's Federation office, while Tang Yuan and Song Zhao sat at the table with the leaders of the electrical appliance factory. Tang Yuan's sweet talk made all the uncles and aunts at the table happy, and they all envied Song Zhao's luck in his second marriage. Nie Qingqing heard this from across the table and was naturally in a very good mood.

Seeing Factory Director Yu in high spirits, his colleague Qian Yurong joked, "Don't be fooled by Factory Director Yu's current happiness; his married life isn't as comfortable as Factory Director Song's."

Fearing that it would provoke comparison and jealousy, Nie Qingqing quickly said, "How could that be? I have three children, and their family has one child who is already married. They must be the ones who are more comfortable."

Qian Yurong said, "I'm not talking about how many children you have. You have your ex-husband to compare with, and he's better than Director Song. Director Song is the same. You two are tolerant of each other in your second marriage. Director Yu's new wife is unmarried and he has to coax her like an ancestor. How can he have a better life than Director Song?"

Her colleague's words made a lot of sense, and Nie Qingqing thought so too, but she was modest and changed the subject to something else.

When the newlyweds came over to offer toasts, everyone stood up. This table was filled with colleagues from the Women's Federation, who weren't familiar with the bride and groom. They said some congratulatory words and didn't make a fuss. Soon, the next table was filled with people from the electronics factory, who were so noisy that the newlyweds' voices were no longer audible.

After offering the toast, she could have left, but Nie Qingqing happened to see Xiaoyin at the door, looking inside for someone. Xiaoyin was steady and wouldn't come here unless there was a reason.

She hurriedly told her colleagues, "Song Zhao's eldest daughter is here. I'm afraid something must have happened at home, so I'll be leaving now."

Song Zhao saw her get up first, then saw Xiao Yin, said something to the other leaders at the same table, and then chased after her with Tangyuan in his arms.

...

Nie Qingqing, holding Xiao Yuan in her arms, freed one hand to support Song Xiaoyin, who was panting from running, and asked anxiously, "How did you find your way here? What happened?"

Song Xiaoyin looked at her father, then at Nie Qingqing, and decided to tell her stepmother: "Aunt Qingqing, my mother is here. She said she's going to pick up my younger brother."

Nie Qingqing's heart skipped a beat. So fast? She instinctively hugged Xiao Yuan tightly. She had expected this. After all, Xiao Yuan was her biological mother, and she couldn't refuse to let her pick him up.

Xiao Yuan pouted, all the joy of the banquet gone. He hugged Nie Qingqing's neck without saying a word, looking like he didn't want to leave. His pitiful and submissive appearance softened people's hearts.

Song Zhao remained silent. He understood his ex-wife's personality; the more she forbade something, the more she wanted it done. If she had simply said that Xiao Yuan preferred this place, she would have immediately taken Xiao Yuan away.

Nie Qingqing switched arms to hold Xiao Yuan and asked, "Is your mother's house finished being renovated? Should we ventilate it for a few days? Xiao Yuan can't even stand the smell of cooking smoke, the smell of the renovation will make him dizzy."

Song Xiaoyin nodded repeatedly. That's right. It sounded like Aunt Qingqing was willing for Xiaoyuan to stay. She was so happy.

She hurriedly said, "I asked my mom if the house over there was finished being renovated yet, and she said it would be soon. She said I could send Xiaoyuan to stay at my grandma's house for a few days. It's only a little past noon, and she's already urging me to come and find you."

Oh, it's not installed yet. Well, that's something to discuss.

This was a matter between Song Zhao and the child's biological mother. Song Zhao took the initiative: "Qingqing, take Tangyuan back to your parents' house for a while. I'll go back and talk to Comrade Yunli. I'll come pick you up after we've discussed it."

Nie Qingqing didn't want Song Zhao to see his ex-wife, but she was too embarrassed to say it out loud, so she said, "Xiao Yuan's mother has a problem with you. If you go to talk to her, Xiao Yuan will be taken away soon. I'll go instead. Your table is full of factory leaders, so you can go and keep them company."

Song Zhao: ...How do we talk to Qingqing and the child's biological mother?

He was very uneasy. Like Xiaoyin, if they started arguing again, she wouldn't be able to stop them. Only Xiaoyuan and Tangyuan were happy. The two little ones trusted Nie Qingqing completely.

...

At home, Nie Qingqing was busy washing teacups, brewing tea, and getting fruit, saying, "We all went to the wedding banquet for Director Yu across the street today, so we're not home. Please have a seat."

Xiao Yunli was surrounded by her two children, who were dressed neatly, with clean hair and radiant faces. These signs showed that Song Zhao's second wife treated her children well and provided them with adequate food and drink, which was quite good.

Her good attitude will make things easier for Xiaoyin in the future. Besides, since the other party is so hospitable and doesn't treat her like an enemy, she certainly can't do anything petty.

Seeing that the house was quite clean, Xiao Yunli praised, "You have three children and you still manage to keep it so clean. You're really efficient."

Nie Qingqing brought over the tea and said with a helpless smile, "Song Zhao is very clean. If I don't help him tidy up, he'll nag me."

Xiao Yunli found a point of agreement: "He's always been like that. He always makes people put things back in their place after using them. He'll nag if there's even the slightest mistake. It's so annoying. He hasn't changed even after being divorced once. You should teach him a lesson."

Nie Qingqing has the same habit. Tangyuan leaves things lying around and has been criticized by her countless times. But as soon as Xiao Yuan came, she said it once and the child never did it again. Now even Tangyuan has changed a lot.

Nie Qingqing said, "You're right, they need to be treated. Come, let me show you the two children's rooms."

Xiao Yunli wanted to see the living environment of her daughter, but she was too embarrassed to say so. She felt that her daughter's stepmother was really something else.

My daughter's room is quite nice. The sheets are new, there's a desk and a bookshelf, and her extracurricular books and materials are neatly arranged. She's quite satisfied with it.

Looking at the room where my son is temporarily staying, I noticed that an identical small bed has been added, placed on either side of the window with a small table in the middle. It looks quite nice.

Nie Qingqing even took her to see the master bedroom, where the large desk by the window was covered with Song Zhao's professional books.

This time, Xiao Yunli shook her head: "Does Song Zhao still stay up until midnight after get off work? This behavior, even after getting married for the second time, he still hasn't changed. How can you tolerate it?"

Really? He wasn't busy until midnight every day. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, when she went to bed to rest, he would stop working and stop reading books and materials.

Nie Qingqing chimed in with a complaint: "Yeah, often I wake up to find him still busy. We just make do and bear with it."

...

The two sat back down in the living room. Xiao Yunli had come from Nie Qingqing's family home. She had asked her daughter, Xiaoyin, and Xiaoyin said that her stepmother and her stepmother's family treated her and her brother very well, which seemed to be true.

Xiao Yunli said to her daughter, "Xiaoyin, take your little brother to your room to read. I want to talk to your Aunt Nie."

Xiaoyin nodded and led her younger brother into the room.

As soon as the door closed, Xiao Yuan, just like last time, pressed his ear against the door, trying to hear what the two mothers outside were saying.

Song Xiaoyin couldn't resist pressing closer. Just as Xiaoyuan was about to say something, Xiaoyin shushed him, signaling him not to speak. Xiaoyuan quickly covered his mouth.

A note from the author:

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