Chapter 29 She and Song Zhao couldn't be separated for long; a husband and wife need to…
Nie Qingqing, who was visiting Shenzhen for the first time, was stunned by the bustling activity in the square outside. Yu Zhengmin was the same. No wonder they say that reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. People need to go out and see the world to know what kind of sky and land it is. She was starting to feel more willing to come here.
Song Zhaoxian led them to the hotel. The magnificent chandelier in the lobby was so bright that it was hard to open one's eyes, and staring at it for too long would make one dizzy.
Tangyuan rubbed her eyelids, looking very envious, and shook Song Zhao's hand: "Dad, this place is so beautiful."
Song Zhao patted his head and laughed, "There are plenty of beautiful and fun things to see here. Let's fill your stomachs first before we go play."
The breakfast at this restaurant is served in very small bamboo baskets, with only three or four items per basket. There aren't enough for everyone, so Song Zhao ordered three baskets at a time, filling the whole table.
Nie Qingqing was full after trying one of each, and she thought they were all delicious.
Tangyuan ate the most, and lay on the chair rubbing her belly: "Mom, I'm so full, I can't move."
Nie Qingqing: "Who told you to keep swallowing even when you couldn't eat? I deliberately didn't remind you to force yourself to eat this once. Don't do it again next time."
Song Zhao suggested, "Let's go upstairs and rest for a while."
...
The hotel upstairs was better decorated than the guesthouses Nie Qingqing had stayed in before. Song Zhao had booked the room in advance, and he had already been there once.
Song Zhao took her hand and looked around the place where they would be staying for the next few days, saying, "I know you're a clean person, so I've wiped down all the tables and chairs. Don't worry about staying here."
Song Zhao was still as considerate as ever, taking care of every little detail. Nie Qingqing was truly happy. Seeing that no one was outside the door, she tiptoed and quickly kissed him. Song Zhao immediately returned the kiss and pulled her close by the waist.
Nie Qingqing quickly pushed him away: "The glutinous rice balls will be here soon."
Sure enough, after looking at the glutinous rice balls in the next room, a gust of wind came running over: "Dad, Dad, you're here!"
Nie Qingqing laughed: "See, he's nagging you now. You're going to have a hard time these next few days."
Song Zhao wasn't annoyed at all. She picked him up and asked, "What idea have you come up with this time?"
"I just discussed it with Xiaoyuan, and we're going to sleep with you tonight."
That won't do. After two months apart, what he misses most in his heart and body is Nie Qingqing.
Song Zhao refused: "No, boys should sleep alone."
Tangyuan protested: "No, I'm going back in a few days, and I want to sleep with Daddy."
Xiao Yuan nodded vigorously, full of anticipation.
Nie Qingqing chimed in, "They've been talking about it for a long time, saying they miss their dad. Why don't you put them to sleep?"
"Okay." Nie Qingqing's words carried weight, and Song Zhao immediately agreed.
...
After resting for a while, Song Zhao took them to visit the factory. Although the workshop was simple, the production line was the latest, and the workers were in high spirits.
Yu Zhengmin praised it highly: "This efficiency is even higher than that of your reformed branch factory."
That's right, there's a difference between having performance and not having performance. Song Zhao said, "My partner and I share the same philosophy, and we have a high reward and punishment system. When production targets are met, the workers in the workshop are all rewarded."
What kind of high salary would it take to give someone that much energy?
Yu Zhengmin asked, "How much do the workers in the workshop earn in a month?"
Song Zhao replied, "The salary varies depending on the job, but none are below 150. Important positions pay over 200 or 300. So, are you interested?"
Yu Zhengmin's salary has been reduced for the past two months. Compared to this, he is actually not as good as the ordinary workers here. Who wouldn't be tempted?
He had already been tempted for a while, and said to Song Zhao, "Then we need to investigate this matter thoroughly."
...
At noon, Song Zhao ordered one serving of everything at the factory canteen. There were three adults and four children, so there would be no waste.
Nie Qingqing still tried a little of everything, feeling relieved that with Song Zhao here, she didn't have to worry about food.
After finishing his meal, Yu Zhengmin went to visit his brother-in-law.
Nie Qing also wanted to go, and said to Song Zhao, "You go to work, I'll take the children and go with Director Yu to take a look."
Song Zhao had arranged his time for the past few days and didn't take a day off today. Qingqing was handling the matter entrusted to her by He Shumei, which was fine; they could go out for dinner after she finished.
He instructed, "Then come back for dinner tonight."
Yu Zhengmin chimed in, "I don't think it will work; my brother-in-law wants to stay for dinner."
Song Zhao: "I wasn't talking to you, I was talking to Qingqing."
Xiaoyin knew that Aunt Meimei had asked Aunt Qingqing to go, so she didn't want to cause any trouble: "Aunt Qingqing, I won't go. I want to talk to my dad and do my homework in his office this afternoon."
Nie Qingqing asked the remaining three, "It's so hot outside, why don't you stay in the factory, enjoy the fans and eat watermelon?"
Tanggao didn't want to go to anyone else's place, so she stayed. Tangyuan, who loves to join in the fun, insisted on coming along, so Nie Qingqing took Tangyuan with her and told Xiaoyuan to stay too and not go out in the sun.
...
He Tonggui's business is doing very well. He has already rented a warehouse, and the bungalow next door is his office. It's a bit dilapidated, but the business is up and running.
Zhigao wasn't there; he said he went to deliver goods. Zhigao can drive a big truck, and he really helped his dad a lot by coming here. The father and son worked together and earned more money, but it was also hard work.
He Tonggui led the tour; the place wasn't very big, and we finished looking at it in just a few minutes, finally arriving at the warehouse.
Looking at the goods piled up halfway up the warehouse, Yu Zhengmin couldn't believe it: "Where did you get the money to stockpile so much goods?"
He Tonggui laughed and said, "It's not my capital. I'm just a middleman. I prepare the goods that others want and send them to the surrounding areas. I need a warehouse for temporary storage. Now I work with bosses who have cars. They earn the lion's share. Who can blame them for having cars?"
He Tonggui sends 300 yuan back home every month. After Zhigao arrives, Nie Qingqing guesses that the father and son should be able to earn 1,000 or 2,000 yuan a year, which would make them a family with 10,000 yuan in income.
She comforted him, saying, "Just keep doing this for now, and try to buy your own car as soon as possible, one step at a time."
He Tonggui thought this way: "Zhigao wanted to borrow money, but I didn't agree. I said that we haven't established a solid foundation yet, and our interpersonal relationships are all with the big bosses. We should settle down for another two years, and once we have established a solid foundation, we'll have enough money to buy a transport truck."
...
After chatting for a while, Nie Qingqing didn't notice anything unusual, and she hoped that everything was alright.
The little guy Tangyuan wandered around and made a discovery. He ran over and whispered something in Yu Zhengmin's ear. Yu Zhengmin's face darkened. It seemed that Tangyuan had discovered something extraordinary.
Yu Zhengmin was embarrassed to talk about his family's shameful affairs in front of Nie Qingqing, so he said, "Qingqing, take Tangyuan back with you. It's terribly hot. Go back to the hotel and rest. Tell Song Zhao that I'll be looking for him tonight."
Nie Qingqing, being sensible, greeted He Tonggui and came out with Tangyuan.
Once she came out, she could ask, "You little rascal, what were you saying to Uncle Yu?"
Tangyuan chuckled, "Mom, I saw Aunt Qi's niece. She even smiled at me. I know you don't like her, so I didn't smile at her before I ran out."
Nie Qingqing was greatly shocked. She understood why her older sister Qi Yujiao and her niece came to Pengcheng to work, since there were many factories and job opportunities here.
They can keep coming to Zhigao, and Zhigao will take them in. How can that be allowed?
She didn't like Qi Yujiao, but she and Zhigao weren't divorced, so she stood on the side of reason when faced with this situation.
Before coming, Shumei asked her to check on her older brother and Zhigao and tell them not to cause trouble here. Unexpectedly, it was her niece who came. He Tonggui was confused and didn't chase them away. Instead, he indulged them. Nie Qingqing immediately turned around and wanted to go back.
Tangyuan led the way: "Come on, Mom, I'll take you there."
This child's eagerness to join in the fun actually calmed Nie Qingqing down. Yu Zhengmin subtly suggested that she go back, but he knew he had to take care of it; these family matters were for their own family to manage.
Having figured it out, Nie Qingqing turned around and went to the bus stop to catch a bus.
Tangyuan exclaimed, "Mom, aren't you going to take care of this?"
Nie Qingqing: "Let your Uncle Yu handle it. He won't be able to manage it properly. He'll be getting a scolding when he gets back."
...
On the other side, Yu Zhengmin was angry, pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back, really puzzled: "Big brother, what's going on with Xiao Qi's niece? Tangyuan just told me he saw her. Zhigao is confused, but are you confused too?"
He Tonggui had promised his son to keep it a secret, but now that he couldn't, he quickly explained, "It wasn't Zhigao who caused trouble; she came here on her own."
"She can't stay. There are many factories in Pengcheng. I heard that the piece-rate wages in the garment factories can be over a hundred yuan, and accommodation is provided. Why don't you introduce her to one?"
He Tonggui pulled him down to sit, then sat down himself, sighed, and said that he was full of helplessness.
“She couldn’t endure that hardship, so she ran away from the garment factory to seek refuge with Zhigao. Zhigao’s personality is such that he never refuses anyone. He said they were all relatives and he couldn’t just leave them alone. He told me to let her stay here for a few days, and she would move out once she found a job. But it just so happened that Tangyuan saw it, and she’ll definitely tell him. Mom said that if Nie Qingqing finds out, Shumei will find out too.”
"Of course!" Yu Zhengmin complained, banging on the table.
"What do you think? Meimei asked Qingqing to check up on you, otherwise she wouldn't have come here. And she actually found out. Xiao Qi's niece knew we were coming, and Tangyuan even saw her. Let me tell you, she did it on purpose. She's scheming!"
He Tonggui agreed with this. Before coming, he had told Xiao Qi's niece to stay away from home and not be seen.
They verbally agreed that they would only stay in the warehouse for a few days and leave once they found a job, but they deliberately let a child see them.
He Tonggui had no pity left for Xiao Qi's niece.
“I can assure you that Zhigao hugged and cuddled with her before, but they never slept together, and they haven’t slept together yet. Zhigao hasn’t been going back to his rented room these past few days; he’s been staying at different guesthouses because he’s afraid of the hassle.”
Yu Zhengmin was still angry: "You can't do whatever you want before you're divorced. Xiao Qi is also confused. She stole Zhi Gao away. If she can do it once, someone else can do it a second time."
He Tonggui is the biological father, and he has no better way to deal with such a son. He can only feel helpless.
“Xiao Qi and Zhi Gao are like your sister and me. We’ve made do for half our lives for the sake of our children. If our generation can make do, can these young people? I think with Zhi Gao’s personality, it’s hard to guarantee he won’t cheat.”
Yu Zhengmin angrily shouted, "Why don't you do something about it?!"
He Tonggui said, distressed, "How can I control him? I haven't been able to control my son for a long time."
"What should I do then?" Yu Zhengmin sighed. "How am I going to tell Meimei when I get back?"
He Tonggui smiled wryly: "Why do you need to tell me? I think when Nie Qingqing goes back, she will definitely tell Meimei to have dinner tonight and talk to Zhigao. He will listen to you, his uncle, at least a little."
...
In the evening, Song Zhao took everyone out for hot pot. The main ingredient was beef, and the kids liked the beef balls, saying they were different from the ones back home. Well, they were all made fresh here, emphasizing freshness.
After the meatballs were cooked, Song Zhao scooped two out for Nie Qingqing and advised her, "Xiao Qi should have known that she would face the same thing when she poached He Zhigao. If it wasn't her niece, it would have been someone else. We don't need to worry about other people's affairs."
Nie Qingqing: "Who cares about Zhigao? I'm doing this for Shumei, her own nephew. It's hard not to be angry. I was just thinking about how to persuade her when we get back, but I don't want to think about it now. Let's eat. The hot pot here is really good. Let's order two more plates of meat."
...
That evening, Yu Zhengmin returned home early and talked to Song Zhao about Zhigao.
“I advised Zhigao not to interfere with Xiao Qi’s niece anymore. Zhigao said he didn’t want to, but when the girl cried and begged, he couldn’t help but lend a hand. I scolded him, saying he would suffer a great loss sooner or later.”
Song Zhao was too lazy to deal with this kind of nonsense and said, "Why are you worrying about others? You should be minding your own business. What's your decision? Are you going back to work, or are you going to find another way out?"
Yu Zhengmin said, "After going out for a walk, I can't stand going back to the factory. I'm not you, how am I supposed to find a way out?"
Song Zhao said, “You have your strengths. There are several private electrical appliance factories here. Before you came, I contacted two of them for you. We’ll go take a look tomorrow. Once we’ve reached an agreement, we’ll finalize it. Don’t drag it out. I plan to bring Qingqing and the children over in six months.”
Yu Zhengmin was overjoyed: "I know, if it weren't for your wife, why would you meddle? I won't mince words, I'll keep it in mind."
...
That night, Tangyuan and Xiaoyuan insisted on sleeping with their father. Children always admire their parents. After not seeing each other for two months, Song Zhao had so much to say. So Nie Qingqing took Xiaoyin and Tanggao to sleep first.
Half asleep, Song Zhao arrived and whispered in her ear, "Are the children asleep?"
Nie Qingqing nodded: "You're asleep? Why did you come over?"
Song Zhao placed the room key he had just booked in her hand: "I booked another room, let's sleep next door."
Nie Qingqing looked at the sleeping child, nodded, and went to the next room hand in hand with Song Zhao.
...
Nie Qingqing had a seven-day holiday, which freed up time for the journey back. She could stay in Shenzhen for five days and four nights. Song Zhao took leave and took them to many places. Except for Xiaoyin, none of the four children wanted to leave and begged to come back during the winter vacation.
It's so cold during winter break, and the New Year is coming soon. Song Zhao is coming back, right? Nie Qingqing doesn't lie to children, so she didn't agree.
Yu Zhengmin bought a lot of local specialties, and before leaving, he bought ten catties of lychees, which he carried back with ice: "Let He Shumei taste this precious fruit."
Actually, the local price isn't high; the high price comes from transportation. This fruit is delicate, and it spoils easily over long distances, which drives up the price.
After a long day of travel, Nie Weibin picked me up at the station and gave Tanggao, Tangyuan, and Xiaoyuan to take with them. He said, "Mom said the journey was too tiring, so she told me to take the children back with me. You can rest at home for a day and recover before going to work."
That's even better. Nie Qingqing divided the local specialties she brought back in half and told her brother to take them back with him.
I got home, took a shower, and went to bed. Then I was woken up by a knock on the door. When I opened my eyes, the sun had already set. It must be Shumei coming home from get off work.
...
He Shumei called Nie Qingqing over to eat lychees. Yu Zhengmin shared half with his relatives, and there were still five jin left at home.
He Shumei peeled one after another, satisfied: "A few years ago, my mother bought more than a dozen and gave them to me one by one. Today I can finally eat my fill."
Yu Zhengmin guessed that Nie Qingqing was going to talk about Zhigao, and he knew he would get scolded if he stayed. So he thought of a way to sneak away.
"You guys chat, I'll go buy some braised food and you can eat at home tonight. I'll go find the new factory manager and talk to him about the unpaid leave."
He Shumei, unaware of his ulterior motives, gave him some more money: "This is the last time, treat him to a meal and make the paperwork go smoothly. Don't be stubborn."
Yu Zhengmin: "Don't worry, I'm the kind of person who won't fall out with anyone."
...
As soon as Yu Zhengmin left, Nie Qingqing told her something important: "Shumei, you asked me to keep an eye on your brother and Zhigao, and there really is something going on."
He Shumei immediately became anxious: "I knew it! My brother and Zhigao are making money over there, and there's something wrong with them not letting my sister-in-law and Xiao Qi go there. Is my brother seeing someone else, or is there something else going on with Zhigao?"
Nie Qingqing patted her hand, telling her not to rush: "No, it's Xiao Qi's niece, she went to see Zhi Gao again."
She then shared her analysis: "When Yu Zhengmin and I went over, we must have told Xiao Qi's niece to stay away. But Tang Yuan saw her on purpose, which means it was intentional. She probably wanted to compete with Xiao Qi. I know you still want to help Zhi Gao and prevent him from making a mistake. What are you planning to do?"
He Shumei was furious and slammed her hand on the table: "I've hit him, I've scolded him, and he's still like this. I wish I could go over and give him a good beating. What else can I do now? Just tell Xiao Qi, her niece, and let her handle it herself."
Nie Qingqing agreed: "That's what I think too. If I were her, I would make a killing and then get a divorce."
He Shumei sighed, "Who can argue with that? Xiao Qi is stubborn and refuses to get a divorce. Unfortunately, Zhi Gao can't change. When we try to persuade her to leave, Xiao Qi even curses at us. Let her be."
...
After resting for a day, Nie Qingqing recovered and went back to work. Lawyer He saw that her mental state was even better than before she took leave, and he knew that she and Song Zhao would not be separated for long. Whenever they had the chance, the couple would reunite.
She suggested, "Don't rush to decide about going with me next year. You can learn to drive first. It will be useful in the future, whether you go or not."
Learning more things can't hurt; you never know when you might need them. Nie Qingqing agreed, but she didn't know where to learn them.
"These days, everyone learns to drive at their workplace. Where can I learn to drive?"
Attorney He smiled and said, "If I can bring it up, I can find a way. You can go to my client's company and learn to drive through a connection, but you'll have to pay some money."
Paying is no problem. Nie Qingqing called Song Zhao, who was very supportive: "It's always good to have more skills. Lawyer He's suggestions are all things that will benefit you. You should thank him properly after you've learned them."
Nie Qingqing wasn't a great student back then, but she learned to drive very quickly. She was able to drive in just over ten days. To get her license, she needed to go through the procedures, and her workplace said it would take at least two or three months. So every weekend, she would come over to practice her driving skills.
I had just arrived at the company I was affiliated with for driving practice when I was called to the hospital.
The dance troupe that Song Zhaoma danced with got into a fight over a dance partner. She went to break up the fight, but ended up getting caught in the crossfire and broke her leg.
...
Uncle Meng's son was in the hospital, and he distanced himself from Nie Qingqing who had rushed over: "My dad is in poor health and can't take care of Aunt He, so you children have to come."
Was it Uncle Meng's idea or his son's idea that the old man's wife left so cleanly halfway through the journey?
Nie Qingqing was angry. She and her mother-in-law were indeed not close, but to outsiders, a family that was not united would be looked down upon.
She remained composed and said, "Look at what you're saying. My mother is looking for a companion, not a maid. Why would she need your family to take care of her? Uncle Meng shouldn't have called you either. Thank you for coming. We'll take care of my mother ourselves."
Uncle Meng's son was very embarrassed. Everyone said that Aunt He's eldest daughter-in-law was shrewish, and he thought they would quarrel. He didn't expect her to be so calm, which made him seem petty.
...
Nie Qingqing re-entered the ward. He Suwen was in low spirits. It was true, her future husband was usually a good person. They would dance and go out together. But once they were in the hospital, the tragedy of being a second-marriage couple became apparent.
He Suwen's son and daughter-in-law were a couple who married later in life, so she couldn't tell Nie Qingqing about her troubles and kept them to herself, not expecting her to take care of her.
"You're busy at work, can you help me find a caregiver?"
Nie Qingqing said, "We need to find a caregiver, and we also need to call Cheng Dong. Song Zhao is too busy and lives far away, so I'll take over his filial duties."
He Suwen was shocked and couldn't believe that her eldest daughter-in-law had said such a thing. There was no affection between them as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. She hadn't even attended her son's wedding. How could she possibly let her daughter-in-law stay and take care of her now?
He Suwen waved her hand: "No need, don't call Song Zhao or Cheng Dong."
Nie Qingqing disagreed, speaking bluntly: "Why? Song Zhao was born from you, and Cheng Dong was raised by you. I'm here on behalf of Song Zhao, so why shouldn't Cheng Dong come? He has to come."
"Why are you so stubborn?" He Suwen asked anxiously.
Nie Qingqing said logically, "Your two sons don't even show up when their own mother is in the hospital. Do you really think their reputations will be good? Mom, don't be stubborn. I'll make the arrangements."
...
Nie Qingqing asked her brother to send some money to pay the hospital fees and to help her find a caregiver while she went to find Cheng Dong.
Cheng Dong had to go to work, so Nie Qingqing made this arrangement: "We both have to go to work. There are caregivers during the day, and after get off work, you and I will take turns staying with Mom one night each, so that people don't think that Mom is unloved or easy to bully."
Cheng Dong was grateful for his sister-in-law's arrangement: "Sister-in-law, look at what you said. I definitely have to accompany my own mother. As for the hospital fees, you and my brother can pay for them first. We can split the cost when I have more money at the end of the year."
It's good that he said this in advance. Nie Qingqing helped Song Zhao agree: "Okay, if you and your wife are willing to set up a stall, I'll ask your brother over there to get you some clothes. You can pick them up at the station, set up the stall, and increase your income."
Song Chengdong was overjoyed. He knew that setting up a stall could make money, but he didn't know how. His sister-in-law's arrangement was like giving the young couple an extra income every month.
While Cheng Dong was keeping her company overnight, he happily praised He Suwen, "Mom, our family has found the perfect sister-in-law. My brother has such good taste."
He Suwen couldn't believe the whole thing about buying and selling goods and insisted on confirming it again: "Your sister-in-law was just saying it casually, trying to fool you, right?"
Cheng Dong: "She really called my brother and told him. My older brother called me and said that he wasn't good at sourcing clothes and couldn't get the goods well, but he would get me small appliances like tape recorders and radios. No one else could get such cheap factory prices without his connections. There's a profit to be made!"
He Suwen was naturally happy that her eldest son was successful and that her younger son could benefit from it. But in her happiness, she also felt sorry for Nie Qingqing.
"Your brother is getting married again, I really shouldn't have stayed out of spite."
Song Chengdong didn't take it seriously: "You're getting married for the second time, and my brother didn't go either, so we're even."
He Suwen slapped her son: "Is it safe to bring such an expensive radio and tape recorder on the road?"
Cheng Dong said, "My brother said he would find a regular driver to deliver some goods for him, and let the driver's family earn some money. That would solve everything. My brother has connections; he gets the goods delivered to the station through the manufacturers. Mom, my brother is really capable."
He Suwen: "Alright, stop praising me. It's not that your sister-in-law is saying this, but your brother doesn't care about your business."
...
During Chengdong's hospitalization, his wife came to stay with him for one night: "Sister-in-law, I'll stay with you for one night too, to do my part as a filial son/daughter."
Nie Qingqing guessed it was because of Song Zhao. Song Zhao was efficient; the day after making the call, he found a driver and brought back dozens of radios and tape recorders. He got them at the factory price, and the young couple sold them for less than in the store. The quality was also good, and business was good.
She didn't bring it up, nor did she refuse: "Then thank you for your trouble. I have the day off tomorrow, so I'll come and relieve you first thing in the morning."
When the other patients saw He Suwen's son and daughter-in-law, they envied her, saying, "Your children are quite good."
He Suwen felt a bittersweet feeling; the joy in her heart had diluted Lao Meng's coldness.
She smiled broadly: "Yes, it's only at times like this that you realize who's good and who's bad."
...
He Suwen has been discharged from the hospital, but she still needs to stay at home for another month or so to recuperate.
It was summer vacation, so Nie Qingqing brought the children over to liven up the house. She said to He Suwen, "Mom, let the children come and stay for a while. My mom can also take a few days off."
He Suwen knew perfectly well that she had called the children over because she was afraid Tang Gao would be lonely. Tang Gao was her brother's daughter, and He Suwen was especially good to her. She couldn't let her feel disheartened.
After everything was settled, Nie Qingqing called Song Zhao and told him about the current situation: "During my hospitalization, Uncle Meng came to see me once a day. On the surface, they seem to be doing well, but I can tell that once Mom recovers, they probably won't be together anymore."
Song Zhao didn't dare to ask. He and Nie Qingqing were a couple who had married later in life, and he was afraid of being scolded if he asked the wrong question. So he only asked three words: "Why?"
Nie Qingqing was unaware of his ulterior motives and explained them to him.
“Uncle Meng is only in his fifties and in good health. If they were really close, they wouldn’t have left the hospital without anyone telling them. He didn’t stay with her all night, which means their relationship is just so-so. Mom is very proud and arrogant. Once she recovers, she won’t go to Uncle Meng’s house anymore. And we can’t let Uncle Meng come and stay at our house here. So how can the two of them be together?”
Song Zhao was relieved that the topic of his and Qingqing's second marriage hadn't come up.
He supports the separation: "If it's really boring, then let's respect Mom's own opinion and not try to persuade her."
With her mother-in-law's personality, she wouldn't listen to anyone's advice. Nie Qingqing said, "I brought the children here, so it's going to be lively and fun. I don't want anyone to laugh at my mother."
Song Zhao felt grateful. He was so fortunate to have met Qing Qing. He now hoped that Attorney He's job would be transferred as soon as possible so that he could ask Qing Qing to bring the children over.
He said, "Let's hire a caregiver for Mom, so you don't overwork yourself."
Nie Qingqing: "I know. Dad has already given Mom the money for hiring a nanny. She has brought back the nanny we used to have, so I don't need to do anything."
...
Tangyuan came over. With him around, everyone in the family was made happy. He has such a sweet tongue.
He praised Chengdong's wife: "Auntie, the chive dumplings you made are so delicious. You look so beautiful in this purple dress. Uncle Chengdong eats your cooking every day. He's so lucky. Don't wash the dishes. Let Uncle do them. In our family, whenever Dad is home, Dad does all the washing."
He praised Cheng Dong's wife until she was all smiles, and said to Cheng Dong, "Sister-in-law is very easy to get along with, unlike what people say outside."
Tangyuan boasted to Nie Qingqing, "Mom, I made Uncle and Aunt happy, so they were more polite to you. Mom, aren't I smart?"
Nie Qingqing: "You little rascal, no one is as clever as you."
During the month that He Suwen was recuperating at home, many old friends came to visit. Her two daughters-in-law got along well, and with so many children, the family was lively and cheerful. When word got out, everyone praised her, saying, "Sister He, you are so blessed."
He Suwen is very concerned about her image, and now that she has both, she sincerely says, "My eldest son is truly blessed; I'm just benefiting from his good fortune."
...
After recovering, He Suwen indeed broke off her relationship with Lao Meng and even held a farewell dinner to announce that they would only be friends from now on.
At the farewell dinner, she bluntly stated: "Old Meng and I can't go through thick and thin together. If anything happens to him in the future, I won't take care of him. There's no point in being together. It's better to break up cleanly and just be friends from now on."
Nie Qingqing told Song Zhao all these trivial matters, and he enjoyed listening.
“Mom lives in your half of the house, and there is a nanny to take care of her. Chengdong and his wife can also come over for meals. The house is much more lively now, and Mom looks better than before.”
Song Zhao asked, "Has Cheng Dong paid his food expenses?"
Nie Qingqing laughed and said, "He paid it. If he didn't, would Mom let the two of them eat? He already gave me the money he earned from his stall to split the medical expenses."
Cheng Dong didn't disappoint Song Zhao. He said, "Cheng Dong hasn't gone astray, so I'll continue to help him get goods."
School started in a few days. Xiaoyin lived at school, Nie Qingqing picked up and dropped off Tangyuan and Xiaoyuan, and He Shumei went out with her in the morning, each taking one child with her.
Nie Qingqing said, "You also have a baby at home, so it's harder for you than for me. You can sleep in a little longer in the morning."
He Shumei: "How can I sleep? I have to keep myself busy, otherwise I won't be used to Yu Zhengmin leaving."
Yu Zhengmin's leave of absence without pay was completed. A week after the start of the semester, he went to Pengcheng. Xiao Qi and Yu Wenhui went with him on this trip.
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Author's Note: A small red envelope will be dropped in this chapter.
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