Chapter 7 Chapter 7

"mom……!"

It is said that a man's knees are worth gold, but Qiao Wangbei's knees are worthless.

Faced with Liu Shuqin's questioning, he had no intention of defending himself.

Instead, he was like a child who was caught stealing money by his parents. He fell to his knees on the ground, crying and shouting, grabbing her trouser legs and begging for forgiveness.

"I've lived in my factory dormitory for nine years. You can't expect me to live in a six-person room forever."

"Juan'er and I have been married for so many years and have lived in the dormitory for so many years. I can only see each other every day but can't sleep together. I feel really depressed."

"Juan'er is pregnant now. We can't ask Xiaosheng to live in the dormitory with her."

"She even said last time that if I didn't have my own home before the baby was born, she would divorce me!"

"Mom, I was forced to do this..."

Listening to Qiao Wangbei's helpless crying while kneeling on the ground, Liu Shuqin looked coldly at the photo of Qiao Wensheng on the table, without any expression on her face.

If you say that he knew he was wrong, not a single tear could be squeezed out of his eyes for a long time; if you say that he did not know he was wrong, his face would turn red again.

Liu Shuqin couldn't cry anymore, she was so tired.

She knew that she was soft-hearted and had to clean up after Qiao Wangbei many times since she was a child.

But every time, Qiao Wensheng was able to pull her back in time, protect her, and prevent her disappointing son from draining her energy.

This time...if the old man were still here, would I not have been cheated?

When she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, Liu Shuqin couldn't help sobbing twice.

She really wanted to slap him twice, grab his neck like the old man did, and ask him to go to the factory office to change his name on the list.

But he had already taken the baby out of Dujuan's belly, how could she be so cruel?

This child was not easy to come by, and we can't really ask them to divorce because of the house.

After all, the son's incompetence is also due to his mother.

If he had not been spoiled and pampered when he was a child, how could his shoulders have become so thin that he could not even support his own family?

"So what do you want to do now?"

Since the name of the house has been changed to Qiao Wangbei, beating and scolding will no longer help.

Pushing away his hand that was gripping her trouser leg, Liu Shuqin asked coldly, "Are you planning to kick Jiaxin and me out after you move in?"

"No, no."

Seeing that Liu Shuqin wasn't as upset as he'd imagined, Qiao Wangbei quickly explained, "We'll just live together from now on. If that doesn't work out, we can separate a room and Juan'er and I can live in the outer one. No matter what, I'm sure you and Jiaxin won't be wronged."

Qiao Wangbei originally wanted to find a "good in-law family" for Qiao Jiaxin, so that he would not have to pay for her tuition and could get a generous betrothal gift.

Moreover, their relationship as grandparents and grandchildren is very good, and she is so filial. If she can marry into a wealthy family, she might even take her mother with her, so that he can...

But now my plan has failed, so I can only take it one step at a time.

Liu Shuqin didn't answer him, but just kept rubbing the corner of her clothes.

This is the only way. We can just move in with two more people and there will always be room if we squeeze in.

It's much better than sleeping on the street or living under a bridge.

"When will you move in?" Liu Shuqin asked again.

Qiao Wangbei, who was full of regret just a second ago, instantly showed a triumphant smile on his face, "Next month, Juan'er and I will pack up and move in next month!"

He knew that Liu Shuqin would definitely be soft-hearted.

He also knew that Liu Shuqin had to accept that he and his wife move in.

However, we still have to do enough to save face.

Holding Liu Shuqin's hand, Qiao Wangbei assured her again: "Don't worry, Mom. After we move in, Juan'er and I will take care of all the housework. You don't have to cook. You and Jiaxin can just wait and enjoy yourself!"

This time, Liu Shuqin did not believe his words as foolishly as before.

Looking down at her reflection in his eyes, she didn't expect him to do much for her, she just hoped he wouldn't go too far.

Late at night, the gentle evening breeze blew away most of the hot temperature, but it could not blow away the stuffiness in people's hearts.

Liu Shuqin tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep. She looked up at the swaying branches outside the window and felt that the few leaves that were about to fall looked very much like herself and her granddaughter.

Not only her, but also Qiao Jiaxin, who was sitting on the other side of the wall, had trouble falling asleep.

She didn't understand. It is said that an old person in the family is like a treasure. Why was the family so harmonious when her grandfather was alive, and her uncles were extremely filial to her grandparents?

Why did they all change their expressions as soon as grandpa left?

"Jiaxin, are you asleep?"

In the darkness, Liu Shuqin called her softly.

"No."

The middle wall was built later and is not soundproof. When the two beds were placed next to each other, Qiao Jiaxin could hear her sighs, and she could also hear Qiao Jiaxin turning over.

Liu Shuqin: "Come here and let's sleep together."

Qiao Jiaxin: "Okay."

It's been a long time since I slept next to my grandma.

As she recalls, when the original owner was young, she would cry every night before bed because she missed her parents. Her grandmother would hold her in her arms, hum some old songs to her, and coax her to sleep.

Although they were a generation apart, it was her grandma and grandpa who supported her childhood with their arms.

Taking the pillow and placing it next to grandma, when she lay down, Qiao Jiaxin noticed that grandma had many more white hairs on her temples and the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes had become very long.

She knew that although her grandma looked weak, she was actually very tough.

Even if grandpa is gone, she can still support the family.

But what she has to face now is not the storm outside, but the betrayal of her sons. How can she be so cruel?

"Grandma, why don't I go to boarding school next semester?" Qiao Jiaxin offered. "I'll live in school and not go home, so my uncle and his family won't have to worry about me."

This was the only solution Qiao Jiaxin could think of.

The uncles kept refusing because they simply didn't want to support another person.

Qiao Jiaxin knew in her heart that they would not support her out of the kindness her mother had shown her many years ago, so in order not to implicate her grandmother, the best way was to stay away from their home.

"What if I don't go home? I'll live in school every day. What if I get a headache or a fever?" Liu Shuqin was a little worried.

Qiao Jiaxin turned around and comforted her, "It's okay. It's only our last year anyway. As long as I work hard and get into a good university next year, I can work part-time to earn my tuition. As long as I don't spend my uncle's money, they won't say anything."

Grandma is old and needs someone to take care of her.

I am not even an adult yet, and it is difficult for me to even take care of myself, let alone take care of my grandma.

It is most appropriate and reassuring to have uncles take care of the children.

My grandparents raised me for more than ten years and have been busy for most of their lives. It’s time for them to return to their son and enjoy their retirement.

Qiao Jiaxin: "Grandma, don't worry, I'm almost eighteen, I can definitely take care of myself."

Seeing that she had made up her mind, Liu Shuqin sighed and reluctantly agreed to her request.

Qiao Jiaxin’s understanding is heartbreaking.

Liu Shuqin had little education and was still ingrained with the old-fashioned notion of favoring boys over girls. But she still couldn't understand why, even if she was a girl, she had the same blood as her sons, so they weren't family?

Fortunately, the room was dark, so Qiao Jiaxin didn't see the moisture in the corners of her eyes.

…

While it was still summer vacation, Qiao Jiaxin and Liu Shuqin went to the school and asked about the conditions and requirements for accommodation.

Everything else is fine, the most important thing is money.

Qiao Jiaxin attends an ordinary high school in Yu City. The tuition, book fees, miscellaneous fees... all added up to about 500 yuan per semester.

But if you add the accommodation fee, you will have to pay an extra 100 yuan per month, and the tuition for one semester is 1,000 yuan!

I have to pay an extra 100 yuan a month. The pension that my uncles promised to give to my grandma is only 120 yuan a month...

Would they really be willing to pay this money to themselves?

On the way home, Qiao Jiaxin kept her head down.

I originally thought that as long as I lived on campus, I could solve the problem, but I didn't expect that after solving one problem, there would be another more difficult problem waiting for me.

Qiao Jiaxin was still young. Even before she came here, she was just a high school student and had no real contact with society, so she really couldn't think of any better ideas.

Liu Shuqin, who was walking in front, slowed down her pace slightly, and when they were side by side, she grabbed her hand, holding it tightly, just like when they were little.

"Don't worry about the money. I'll ask your uncles for it."

Liu Shuqin stood straight and said firmly, "This is a debt they owe your mother, and it's time to pay it back."

On the way home, the setting sun stretched grandma's shadow very long.

Grandma’s shoulders may not be as strong as grandpa’s, but they are still her strongest support in her life.