Chapter 15. The three children all asked Nie Qingqing if it was...
Nie Qingqing thought to herself that her attitude had changed Xiao Yuan's mother's mindset, and she was probably willing to keep Xiao Yuan here.
Sure enough, Xiao Yunli said, "Tangyuan's mom, I think you have a very good personality, so I'm taking the liberty of asking if Xiaoyuan can stay with his dad for another month? My house renovation is getting busier and busier. What was planned as a month's work has now taken two months."
This was exactly what the whole family wanted. Nie Qingqing didn't dare to show too much joy, so she said, "It was originally just a matter of a word, but now that I'm at work, my mother picks up the children for dinner, and I feel a little embarrassed to keep troubling her. My brother and sister-in-law are also there."
Xiao Yunli had considered this. She wasn't the type to take advantage of others, so she quickly said, "Before we came, I chatted with your mom and your sister-in-law for a while. They're really nice people and willing to take Xiao Yuan with them. We can't let you suffer losses here. We'll give you fifty a month, including your salary and living expenses. Adding last month's amount, we'll give you a total of one hundred."
Everyone was happy. Nie Qingqing praised, "Xiao Yuan can't eat much. This amount of money is too much. You self-employed people earn much more than us office workers."
Xiao Yunli was delighted to hear this and became even more generous, taking out another hundred yuan: "I came in a hurry this time and didn't bring anything. This money is for the three children, so each of them can buy a set of clothes."
Nie Qingqing didn't refuse. It was given to Xiaoyin and Xiaoyuan by their own mother, why should she refuse? She was happy to get a share of Tangyuan too.
She accepted it generously: "You also have some of our family's glutinous rice balls? Then I'll thank you on behalf of my child."
...
Song Zhao didn't linger at the banquet for long before returning with Tangyuan. He didn't go upstairs but waited downstairs.
Seeing that the sun was out at noon, Chen Yinhua carried her quilt downstairs to air it out. She happened to run into him and couldn't help but nag, "Director Song, your ex-wife is here. What if a fight breaks out if you don't go upstairs?"
Tangyuan didn't believe it: "Aunt Chen, don't scare my dad. My mom would never fight with Xiaoyuan's mom."
Chen Yinhua's son married Factory Director Yu's daughter, and they lived in the building behind. Song Zhao and Factory Director Yu were of the same generation, so according to seniority, Tangyuan should call Chen Yinhua Auntie.
Chen Yinhua is already a grandmother. Outside, children her age call her Grandma. Today, being called Auntie made her very happy, and she couldn't help but praise her:
"Director Song, you're so lucky! Everyone in the family compound said that with your second marriage and three kids, you'd definitely get a beating every three days. But you've been living peacefully together all this time, and you've married a wonderful wife."
When Song Zhao saw Nie Qingqing and Xiao Yuan's mother come down, he panicked and quickly said, "Sister Chen, let's talk about it another day when we have time."
Nie Qingqing and Xiao Yuan's mother walked down the stairs shoulder to shoulder, chatting and laughing. Song Zhao was stunned. He took a few steps but then stopped in his tracks.
Xiao Yuan ran over, took Tang Yuan's hand, and said happily, "Tang Yuan, my mom and your mom have agreed that I can stay here. We can read comic books together again, and I can teach you arithmetic."
Tangyuan shushed him and patted his head: "Don't laugh now. You can laugh after your mother leaves."
Xiao Yuan quickly covered his mouth and moved closer to his father, feeling extremely happy.
...
Song Zhao thought that he was probably the only one feeling awkward right now. He should trust Qing Qing and just come back later.
Xiao Yunli couldn't stand Song Zhao's expressionless face, so she turned her head away, too lazy to look at him, and complained to Nie Qingqing: "Look at you, you don't talk anymore after the divorce, so stingy, not as generous as you."
These words were exactly what Nie Qingqing wanted to hear. She could chat and laugh with Xiao Yuan's mother and was willing to describe herself as a stepmother who had a difficult second marriage, but she didn't want to see Song Zhao talking to his ex-wife.
She felt guilty; she was being far too petty.
She said, "Yes, it makes me angry just looking at him. If you need anything in the future, come to me. I'm much easier to talk to than him."
Xiao Yunli said gratefully, "Thank you so much for today. Let's stop here and talk to my daughter a little longer."
Nie Qingqing waved: "Xiaoyin, take your mother to the bus stop. You need to cross the street to catch the bus, don't get on the wrong one."
...
Xiao Yunli told Song Xiaoyin a few things: "You stay here for six months. Once things are settled on Mom's side, we'll bring you over."
Song Xiaoyin looked up at her mother: "My dad won't agree."
"Don't you want to be with your younger brother?"
Song Xiaoyin wondered, "Why doesn't Mom let my younger brother come here?"
She said, "Mom, you think I have a hard time under my stepmother, but would it be easier under my stepfather? It's all the same. Aunt Qingqing is a woman, and my stepfather is a man. If I had to choose, I would choose this side. It's much more convenient in terms of life."
Xiao Yunli opened her mouth, wanting to refute but then stopped herself, saying, "I originally wanted to take your younger brother away this time and send him to your maternal grandmother's house. Do you know what your grandmother said about me?"
Song Xiaoyin had no idea that what she heard wouldn't be kind: "Grandma scolded you, didn't she? With Grandma's personality, she'll insist that you, Mom, apologize first."
Grandma once said that if Mom dared to get a divorce, she would disown Mom, and if Mom didn't admit her mistake, Grandma would never forgive her.
Xiao Yunli said, "I won't admit I'm wrong, and I'm not wrong either. Luckily, your stepmother is willing to let Xiao Yuan stay for another month, otherwise I don't know where I would put Xiao Yuan. Your grandmother doesn't consider my situation at all, it's heartbreaking."
Song Xiaoyin suppressed her exhaustion: "Then you don't have to send them over. There are five or six cousins at Grandma's house, and they've all bullied my younger brother. Here, there are only sweet cakes and glutinous rice balls, and they don't bully anyone. Isn't that good enough?"
"It's good, but it's not a long-term solution. If you don't want to be with me anymore, I'm definitely taking your brother with me. I'd rather have a mother who begs for food than a father who's an official. Don't you understand?"
Song Xiaoyin didn't want to talk about this, so she asked, "By the way, Mom, how are you doing over there?"
Xiao Yunli cheered and smiled, "It's great. Living together is different from dating. It's a little different from what I imagined, but don't worry, Mom will cherish it."
Song Xiaoyin couldn't hold back any longer and stood up for her father.
"Now you know how to cherish and be tolerant, but why didn't you cherish your father before?"
Xiao Yunli explained to her, "Because there is no love, you are just a child and don't understand. You will understand when you grow up. Don't be like your mother and marry just anyone. You must marry for love to be happy."
Song Xiaoyin didn't understand. Wasn't her relationship with her father one of love? What was wrong with her father?
She didn't want to talk anymore, so she pointed to the slowly pulling bus and said, "Mom, the bus is here, slow down."
...
Song Xiaoyin was at her doorstep when she heard laughter and chatter coming from inside. In less than a month, her father and Aunt Qingqing had fallen in love. Her mother had been with her father for over ten years, but they had never had any love. She simply couldn't understand it.
She cheered herself up, took out the key hanging around her neck, opened the door, and said with a smile, "I'm back."
When Nie Qingqing saw that everyone was there, she started distributing money to the three children, as happy as if she had won the lottery.
"This hundred yuan is from Xiaoyuan's mother. Thirty yuan each. You must buy a new set of clothes so that she can wear them next time she comes. Otherwise, she'll think I didn't spend any money on you."
Tangyuan had seen money before, but never owned this much. He took three ten-yuan bills and started making plans.
"Mom, I can buy a little military uniform for fifteen yuan. What should I do with the remaining fifteen yuan? I can't possibly spend it all."
Nie Qingqing said, "This was given to me by Xiaoyuan's mother, so I can't take it. You can use the money you don't spend as you see fit; you can buy whatever you want."
Tangyuan immediately said, "Then I want to buy comic books."
Xiao Yuan chimed in, "I want to buy comic books too."
Nie Qingqing: "That's fine. We'll use the remaining ten yuan to go out to eat tonight."
Song Zhao said, "Then I'll add ten more yuan and order some sweet cakes for Mom, my older brother and sister-in-law, and we'll all go out to eat together."
That would be even better. In the afternoon, they returned to Huazhi Lane. Tang Guizhi was reluctant to spend the money: "Twenty yuan to eat out, you should save the money. I'll go buy the groceries and we'll eat at home."
Nie Qingqing objected: "Mom, we're so happy today, don't spoil the mood. We're going out to eat, everyone go."
...
There are no secrets among colleagues. The next day at work, before Nie Qingqing could even bring it up, Director Yu asked her, "Xiao Nie, why didn't Song Zhao's ex-wife pick up Xiao Yuan when she came over yesterday?"
Nie Qingqing laughed and said, "Her house will need to be renovated for another month. Song Zhao is Xiao Yuan's biological father, so it's only natural for her to stay at her biological father's house. Her biological mother paid for it, so I can't say anything."
After paying the money, Yu Wenhui stopped nagging and just said, "So that's how it is. You can't let Song Zhao be in charge of everything in your family. You have to be more assertive."
Nie Qingqing: "That's right, I'll mention it to Song Zhao next time."
As soon as she left, her colleagues surrounded her, demanding she tell the truth: "Are you really willing to take care of another child?"
"Yes, I'm willing."
Nie Qingqing explained, "Listen to me, and you'll understand why I'm willing. Tangyuan and Xiaoyuan get along well because of Xiaoyuan. Xiaoyin is helpful and watches her two younger brothers take a bath at night. Song Zhao is grateful and mops the floor. Whoever has time washes the clothes does so. My mom picks the kids up from school in the afternoon and cooks for us in the evening. My mom's salary is paid by Song Zhao. As long as I don't cause trouble, we can continue to live such a comfortable life. Tell me, why wouldn't I be willing?"
Anyone would be willing to do it, Qian Yurong thought with envy.
“Yesterday, after you and Director Song left, someone said that his ex-wife came. We all said that your family was going to have a fight, but you were able to discuss it peacefully. I really didn’t expect that.”
Nie Qingqing thought of Song Zhao praising her for having great wisdom, but she didn't understand what great wisdom was.
She laughed: "Song Zhao's ex-wife came to see if Song Zhao is doing well or badly after leaving her. If he is doing well, she will feel uncomfortable. If he is doing badly, she won't care about other things. She is Xiaoyin and Xiaoyuan's mother. If I make her unhappy, will those two children make me happy? So, I won't argue."
Qian Yurong admired him, saying, "You have great wisdom."
Nie Qingqing said, "I don't have great wisdom, but I do have some petty thoughts. I don't want Song Zhao to have any contact with his ex-wife. Thinking about it, I'm quite petty."
Sister Xiao, who had been listening silently for a while, said, "What's so stingy about it? Everyone's like that, it's only human nature."
...
A few days later, Director Yu came to work with a dark expression, assigning tasks as if he had a grudge against everyone, which made everyone very uncomfortable.
Colleagues asked Nie Qingqing, "What happened to Director Yu? Did she fight with her husband again? She wasn't wearing a scarf."
Nie Qingqing thought for a moment and smiled: "That must be her younger brother, Factory Director Yu's family. They're having too good a new marriage, so she's probably unhappy."
Colleagues got interested: "Tell us about it, we don't tell anyone."
A note from the author:
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