Chapter 21 Nie Qingqing is no pushover; she was just about to refuse…
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, I went to Song Zhao's father's house. Song Zhao's father was there to repay a debt of gratitude to a female doctor who had returned to the city for work. He happened to be there with his children, carrying large and small bags, to pay his respects for the New Year.
They arrived first and had been chatting for a while. Song Zhao's father, who had been serious, smiled broadly when he saw the children and beckoned Tangyuan and Xiaoyuan to his side.
"Grandpa bought lots of delicious food, it'll all go bad if you don't come soon."
He then instructed Song Zhao: "If you're still standing there dumbfounded, see Dr. Wu off."
As soon as Song Zhao entered the door, he helped his father see the guests off. Nie Qingqing joined him, carrying the guests' belongings to the door.
Song Zhao was very polite: "Aunt Wu, we appreciate your kindness, but as you can see, even our own son and daughter-in-law didn't bring anything. My father doesn't accept gifts from anyone, so please take it back."
Dr. Wu didn't say anything, just exchanged a few polite words, and then left with his children.
Nie Qingqing looked at the man, who seemed quite refined and not very old, probably in his forties, and asked Song Zhao, "Your mother is planning to remarry, is your father really not planning to find someone else?"
Song Zhao said, "My dad's health is damaged, and he can't perform in that area anymore. What's the point of finding someone else? It would be much more peaceful to hire a part-time housekeeper."
Nie Qingqing had no idea it was for this reason, and punched him lightly: "Why do you tell me everything?"
Song Zhao said, "I only told you this because I knew you could keep it a secret. Now you know why my dad won't remarry my mom, right? With her mouth, she would definitely gossip and spread rumors after they remarried. Would my dad even be able to face anyone?"
But that's not the only reason. Before the divorce, Nie Qingqing and Tangyuan's father hadn't had sex for six months. It wasn't that Tangyuan's father was being difficult; she never thought about divorcing because of this. Aren't all men the same in the end? You don't see old couples getting divorced.
Nie Qingqing asked, "When you said at home yesterday that your father didn't want to get married again, was that true or false?"
Song Zhao wasn't lying; both reasons were true: "For various reasons, my dad neither wants to find another partner nor wants to remarry and listen to my mom's nagging. He feels that the current situation is good."
It seems that the mother-in-law's hopes for remarriage have been dashed, and she will probably remarry soon.
...
Nie Qingqing had met her second and third aunts once before, when she got married, but they hadn't been in touch since.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Song Zhao told Nie Qingqing about her relationship with her aunts.
“My dad was sent to the countryside for more than ten years and no one cared about him. Only my second aunt secretly sent us food and clothes. Originally, we had a good relationship with my second aunt’s family, but we were afraid that my third aunt would go crazy, so we didn’t get close to them. After my dad was exonerated, no one helped him. They didn’t even arrange a job for my brother. So in recent years, all the relatives in the family have been quiet.”
"What if my second aunt's family needs to repay a favor?" Nie Qingqing asked.
Song Zhao said, "Second Aunt doesn't ask for favors unless she's really desperate. I hope her family won't be in that situation. If that day comes, she'll have to repay the favor."
Nie Qingqing understood. Of her father-in-law's two younger sisters, the third aunt was more troublesome, while the second aunt was kind but didn't ask for favors. So, the family relationships on her father-in-law's side were actually quite beneficial.
...
Today, Song Zhao's younger brother, Song Chengdong, came over. He was very sweet-talking and coaxed his father, "You gave your brother a subsidy of 600 yuan for his wedding. How much will you give me for my wedding?"
Auntie San blurted out: "Your brother is getting married for the second time, and this is your first marriage. He should give you at least a thousand yuan. Your dad has his pension and his salary has increased in recent years. He's got plenty of money. If he doesn't give it to you, who will he give it to?"
Song Zhao picked out a few oranges that were rare this season and handed them to the two children from her second aunt's family. Then she stopped and peeled the oranges for Nie Qingqing to eat.
Tangyuan: "Dad, peel one for me."
Xiao Yuan: "I want an orange that Dad peeled too."
Nie Qingqing divided the peeled orange in her hand in half and gave it to Tangyuan and Xiaoyuan. Then she had another one in her hand, which Song Zhaobu had given her. She lowered her head and ate the orange. She wouldn't say anything in this situation.
Nie Qingqing's father-in-law was even more shrewd than Song Zhao when he spoke. He said to her third aunt, "No matter how much money I have, I won't give you a single penny to spend, so why do you care about that?"
My aunt pursed her lips, stretched out her hand, and showed off the gold ring she had just bought for the New Year: "Who wants to spend your money? We're the sole proprietors in this family, probably the richest. Do you think I'd be short of money?"
"Then shut up." Song Mingli replied to his youngest son impartially, "You and your brother are the same, both six hundred."
Song Chengdong was pleased and asked Song Zhao, "Brother, how much will you give me?"
Nie Qingqing figured that she should give her own younger brother two hundred; anything less would be inappropriate.
Unexpectedly, Song Zhao didn't give her brother a friendly look: "I'll give you back whatever amount you give me, and I won't give you anything if you don't give it to me."
...
Nie Qingqing almost buried her head in her hands. Because of the demoted families, the Song family had been separated for ten years, so it was quite remarkable that they were still so harmonious now.
Song Chengdong wasn't angry: "If I'd known you wouldn't give it to me, I wouldn't have had any hope anyway."
He took out three red envelopes and gave them to Xiaoyin, Xiaoyuan, and Tangyuan, saying, "I only give them to the younger generation; I don't give them to my peers."
My second and third aunts have a total of four children, all of whom are still young. The eldest is my second aunt's eldest daughter, who is in her third year of junior high school this year. But these four children are indeed of the same generation as Song Zhao and Song Chengdong.
Xiaoyin, Tangyuan, and Xiaoyuan all looked at Song Zhao. They dared not accept the gift unless he spoke.
Song Chengdong urged, "Take it, otherwise your father won't give you red envelopes after I have a child."
Song Zhao nodded, and Tangyuan took the lead, happily holding the red envelope in her arms.
...
It was almost noon when Nie Qingqing and her second aunt went into the kitchen to cook. Her two uncles didn't come because her third aunt's father-in-law had participated in the criticism of Song Zhao's father back then, so he was too embarrassed to visit.
Since her husband wasn't coming, the third aunt asked the second aunt not to let her husband come either. This request was clearly unreasonable, but the second aunt's husband really didn't come.
Third Aunt kept nagging Second Aunt's eldest daughter outside: "Lanlan, I'm talking to you. Make a decision. Go to a vocational school after the high school entrance exam. You can graduate in three years and start working, which will ease the burden on your parents. With your family's circumstances, you can't afford the expenses of university."
Nie Qingqing was annoyed when she heard this in the kitchen. If it was someone else's business, she should talk about it privately at home. It was the New Year, and it was bad luck. What did it matter to her whether other people had money or not? It wasn't her money anyway.
The second aunt's eldest daughter didn't retort, but went into the kitchen to help. She washed and chopped vegetables very efficiently, which Nie Qingqing found very appealing.
Auntie San suddenly raised her voice: "Lanlan, don't you know any better? You're the eldest child, you need to think about the family. Go to vocational school, do you hear me?"
Nie Qingqing thought to herself, this is Song Zhao's relative. Maybe it's like this every New Year, so everyone ignores her. If this were her relative, she would have gone out and told her to shut up long ago.
...
During dinner, they were chatting happily about everyday family matters when Auntie San suddenly asked Song Zhao, "Are you and your wife planning to have another child? Does your remarriage qualify you two?"
“It doesn’t fit.” Nie Qingqing was secretly delighted. When asked, she didn’t hold back: “Third Aunt, you’re not that old, and you like children so much. Go ahead and have one. Your family is self-employed, so you don’t care about this.”
Third Aunt: "Yes, I'm planning to have another one, but Zhaodi and Laidi's father are too busy and haven't been able to conceive yet. You know, my family doesn't have a son, only two daughters. In the future, all this money will go to people with different surnames. It's such a loss."
Nie Qingqing was speechless. Fine, no need to say anything more.
Third Aunt continued to insist on Second Aunt's eldest daughter's assurance: "Lanlan, vocational school is a good choice, listening to Third Aunt is the right thing to do."
Xiaoyin suddenly said, "Aunt Zilan, you must get into high school. If you get in, I'll lend you my New Year's money. I'll lend you my New Year's money every year for the three years of high school and the four years of college, without interest. Just go to high school!"
This was quite a surprise, but Tangyuan and Xiaoyuan were so endearing that they gave all the New Year's money they received that day to Qian Zilan: "Auntie, don't look so sad, here's our New Year's money for you."
Tangyuan said, "Xiaoyuan and I are born in the same year, so together we can receive fifty yuan in lucky money. Add my sister's, and we'll have seventy or eighty yuan, which is enough for your schooling."
Seeing how generous the young child was, Song Chengdong said generously, "Well, I, as your cousin, can't hold you back. I'll give you all the 600 yuan I earned from marrying into the family to help you with your studies. With so many people supporting you, you'd better study hard and prove yourself."
Auntie San was furious: "What are you all doing? You don't appreciate kindness. If you want to lend me money, then lend it to me. I'm not jealous."
Song Zhao said, "Third Aunt, since you're not jealous, just shut up and eat."
The second aunt didn't accept the red envelopes, but gave them back to the children, telling them not to worry: "The family can afford to support you through high school. If you can get into university in the future, we'll borrow money from you if we don't have enough tuition."
...
Third Aunt is such a gossip and meddlesome person. When she got home in the afternoon, Nie Qingqing helped Xiaoyuan and Tangyuan count the New Year's money in their red envelopes. I remember she was furious and complained to Song Zhao.
"My second aunt's red envelope was small, but it was the same for all three children, so I was very happy. My third aunt's red envelope for Tangyuan was only half the size of Xiaoyuan's. She doesn't treat Tangyuan and me like family. I won't go to her house for anything in the future, so please don't call me!"
Song Zhao laughed: "What's there to be angry about with a relative who's materialistic and snobbish? The red envelopes she gave to my second aunt's kids were less than the ones she gave to Tangyuan. Tangyuan and Xiaoyuan got their red envelopes and showed them to my dad. My dad then halved the red envelopes he gave to my third aunt's kids. Are you still angry now?"
Nie Qingqing was stunned: "I know, your stinginess is exactly the same as your father's."
Song Zhao: "If someone is stingy with me and I'm generous to them, that's not called being magnanimous, that's called being foolish. Who would put up with a relative they only see once a year? I wouldn't."
Knowing that her father-in-law had stood up for Tangyuan, Nie Qingqing felt sunny and cheerful.
...
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Huazhi Lane was bustling with activity. Just as I arrived at the entrance of the lane, I ran into Aunt Zhang's two older sisters who had married far away and were returning to their parents' home.
Nie Qingqing greeted them: "Sister Qingzhi, Sister Hongxiu, it's been half a year since I last saw you. You look so young again! You're dressed so stylishly and you even brought a camera. Take some more family photos!"
Qingzhi and Hongxiu married far away and only returned home once every six months or a year. They looked Song Zhao up and down and praised her endlessly: "Qingqing, look at your complexion now, so rosy and beautiful. Your second marriage is going well."
Nie Qingqing chuckled: "It's alright, it'll do."
"I'll talk to you later." Qingzhi, Hongxiu, and their two sons-in-law and children went inside when they arrived at their home.
Song Zhao: "Qingqing, when they asked about our family's life, why did you only say it was alright?"
Nie Qingqing said, "Don't be fooled by their seemingly glamorous lives. Sister Qingzhi dropped out of school to support her younger siblings' education, while Sister Hongxiu went to college and became a teacher, and she also married a teacher. They used to have a better life than Sister Qingzhi. In recent years, Sister Qingzhi and her husband have been running a stall, and their income has increased, so their financial situation is better than Sister Hongxiu's. The two sisters are competing with each other."
Song Zhao: "What does that have to do with us?"
Nie Qingqing laughed: "No matter how much the sisters compete, they are still sisters. Seeing that my second marriage is even better than their first marriages, they will secretly get together and gossip about me."
"Let them be envious then."
Nie Qingqing: "My mother still lives in the alley. She's been a neighbor for many years. It's better to avoid trouble."
...
When they arrived at Grandpa Liu's house, Grandpa Liu was hitting his son with a big stick. Nie Qingqing quickly tried to persuade him, "Uncle Liu, why are you fighting during the New Year? Don't get angry. Brother Dahai, what time is it? Why aren't you at your mother-in-law's house yet?"
"Your sister-in-law is throwing a tantrum at me. She wants to borrow five hundred yuan for her brother's wedding. Why should I pay for it? I'm not going!"
Grandpa Liu scolded, "Whether you lend me money or not has nothing to do with you going to your mother-in-law's house on the second day of the Lunar New Year. Hurry up and go, don't be impolite, you scoundrel! Your mother-in-law has always treated you well!"
When she arrived at her doorstep, Nie Qingqing looked back and saw Grandpa Liu's son carrying large and small bags and pushing his bicycle out the door.
She laughed and said to Song Zhao, "Da Hai's family is well-off, but they're too stingy. But even though they're stingy, they'll still help out in times of emergency. Our neighbors in Huazhi Lane are all very nice, aren't they?"
Song Zhao nodded: "Huazhi Lane is a good place."
Although she comes back to her parents' home every day, today is different. Today is the second day of the Lunar New Year, and Tang Guizhi is very happy. She was full of worries in the first half of the year, but everything went smoothly at the end of the year, and she was really happy.
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Huazhi Lane was bustling with activity. Neighbors visited each other to see whose daughter or son-in-law had returned home, and whose son or daughter-in-law had gone to visit their mother-in-law. It was incredibly lively, and there was never a shortage of tea and fruit at home.
...
On the sixth day of the lunar new year, Director Yu's family is getting married, and I'm going to attend the wedding banquet.
Song Zhao refused to go: "Even He Zhigao's own father isn't going, so it doesn't matter whether I go or not."
Nie Qingqing had to go; she and Yu Wenhui were colleagues, so it wouldn't be appropriate for her not to go. Perfect timing, she loved lively gatherings.
She asked the three children who would go, and Xiaoyin definitely wouldn't: "Aunt Qingqing, you take Tangyuan and Xiaoyuan, I don't like to join in the fun."
Tangyuan loves excitement: "Mom, I want to go. You take Xiaoyuan, and I'll go with Uncle Yu. I'm shameless."
Nie Qingqing laughed: "You really love to join in the fun, just like me."
When Director Yu returned from picking up his bride in the morning, Nie Qingqing didn't go downstairs to see her. It was almost noon, and she was preparing to go to the restaurant.
Song Zhao made a small request: "After we finish drinking, you take the two kids to Huazhi Lane, and I'll drop Xiaoyin off right on time. In the afternoon, we can go shopping at the department store and watch a movie. Once we start working, we won't have such a leisurely and lively time."
Tangyuan opened her mouth to go with them, but Xiaoyin covered her mouth.
Xiaoyin coaxed him, "There are still many days of winter vacation left. We'll go shopping with your aunt and grandma again tomorrow."
...
He Shumei is not going to the wedding banquet today, and she told Yu Zhengmin: "Don't linger after the banquet, come back quickly."
Yu Zhengmin agreed: "Don't worry, I'll come back to be with you as soon as it's over."
No one from the bride's family came to today's banquet; it was all her factory colleagues and the groom's relatives and friends—something I've never heard of before.
Qian Yurong clicked her tongue twice: "This really means severing ties."
Nie Qingqing peeked towards the direction of the stage. No one was home from the bride's family, and the groom's father was not there either. The people on the stage were actually very happy; they were so carefree.
She said, "Director Yu gave the bride a dowry of 600 yuan, which the bride kept and cut off ties with her family. Director Yu thought he had gotten away with it and that his daughter-in-law would bring the money back. But in a family like this, how could a successful daughter not try to take it? They all have jobs and can't run away."
Xiao Qiuxia sighed, "We've been mediating for so many years, what kind of conflicts haven't we seen, what kind of outrageous people haven't we dealt with? Director Yu doesn't understand this at all?"
Nie Qingqing said, "She won't listen to reason now. She'll only wake up when she gets slapped in the face."
...
Before anyone could guess what was going to happen, Qi Yujiao brought her older sister and niece over.
Didn't I say I was cutting ties with my family? Now that they've arrived, so many people are asking me these questions.
Yu Wenhui was dissatisfied, but Qi Yujiao coaxed her mother-in-law: "Mom, don't worry, I'll introduce my niece to a good match and let them move out. There's an empty room in the house, so let them stay for a few days."
...
He Shumei has already become indifferent to the disgusting things Yu Wenhui did.
Nie Qingqing came over to comfort her, but she had figured it out herself: "So what if I stay? It's not like I'm the one who's going to be angry. I don't care. Luckily, my brother was farsighted and left early."
Nie Qingqing asked, "You said you'd cut ties, so how come you still have such a good relationship with this older sister?"
He Shumei mocked, "Qi Yujiao said that her eldest sister was widowed and that only her eldest sister supported her to go to vocational school. She said that she could not sever ties with her eldest sister, no matter who she cuts ties with. I think she first used her eldest sister to force my sister-in-law away so that she wouldn't have to live with her mother-in-law. Then she sent her niece and her daughter away so that the young couple could live alone in a three-bedroom apartment. What a clever plan she has."
"That's quite possible," Nie Qingqing said. "When it comes to scheming, Director Yu can't outmaneuver her daughter-in-law."
He Shumei: "Who can she outmaneuver? If it weren't for my brother covering for her, she would have lost her job long ago. My brother called and told me not to get dragged down by Yu Zhengmin and not to get involved in anything."
Seeing that she understood, Nie Qingqing said, "Then you stay home and rest. I'm going to work."
He Shumei is now very wary of Qi Yujiao. She told Yu Zhengmin, who was about to leave for work, "We'll be seeing each other a lot upstairs and downstairs. If you dare to say a single word to Qi's older sister or niece, I'll go back to my parents' house immediately."
Yu Zhengming immediately coaxed, "Grandpa, I'll listen to you. Please be less angry. What do you want to eat tonight? How about roast duck? I'll bring it back for you after get off work."
He Shumei shook her head: "It's too greasy, I don't want to eat it. I want to eat the pickled fish slices made by Qingqing. I don't have much of an appetite for anything else."
Pregnant women sometimes suddenly crave a certain food and can't resist eating it.
Nie Qingqing said, "That's easy. When I get off work, Director Yu will bring a fish back. I'll go to Huazhi Lane to borrow some pickled cabbage. If the pickled cabbage doesn't taste right, the fish slices won't taste good. I guarantee you'll have some tonight."
Yu Zhengmin said gratefully, "That's too much trouble for you."
“It’s nothing good, what’s the trouble?” Nie Qingqing instructed He Shumei: “Don’t get angry at home, and don’t go downstairs alone. With your personality, you’ll get angry if you argue.”
...
A few days later, Yunli gave birth to a boy weighing four pounds and six ounces, which made Xu Linzhi extremely happy.
Tangyuan and Xiaoyuan surrounded the newborn baby, looking at him with great delight. Xiaoyuan asked his mother, "Mom, was I like this when I was first born?"
Yun Li was very weak, and smiled lazily: "Pretty much."
"Mom, you've worked so hard." Xiao Yuan nuzzled her.
Yunli said, "Xiaoyuan, be good. Let Mommy hold your little brother first. I haven't had the strength to hold him since he was born."
Xiao Yuan quickly stood aside, watching his mother holding his newborn brother, smiling beautifully. He couldn't even remember the last time his mother had held him.
Nie Qingqing pulled Xiao Yuan into her arms, and Xiao Yuan tightly gripped the hem of her dress at the back.
Tangyuan leaned close to her mother, looked up and promised, "Mom, you've worked hard too. I saw it and I'll remember it."
Nie Qingqing pinched his chubby cheeks; he had gained weight in the past six months and had become much more sensible.
Xiaoyin quietly left the ward, making room for those who wanted to go in more.
...
Yunli had a natural birth and was discharged from the hospital after three days. Nie Qingqing sent over the stewed old hen that her mother had prepared, along with the earthenware pot, and Yunli enjoyed it very much.
She didn't eat much of the fish soup, pig's trotter soup, or sea cucumber soup, saying they were too fishy. She also didn't eat much of the chicken soup that Xu Lingzhi stewed, saying it wasn't as fragrant as the one Nie Qingqing brought.
Xu Lingzhi asked how it was stewed: "I'd like to learn how, so I won't trouble you to deliver it."
Nie Qingqing said, "I can only give a general idea. My mother has more experience with the cooking process. First, leave a stove full of charcoal, then remove the iron pot, put the earthenware pot in the stove fire, and simmer it for several hours until the bones are melted. That's when it's fragrant."
Xu Lingzhi's family didn't have a large stove, so they couldn't simmer chicken soup like that. Nie Qingqing would send over a jar every other day, and in one month of confinement, she sent fifteen old hens.
Xiao Yunli was deeply moved. During the full moon celebration, she told Xiaoyin and Xiaoyuan, "I'll leave you with Dad. I'll feel at ease with Aunt Qingqing here."
Xiao Yuan nodded repeatedly: "Mom, please take good care of my little brother. I'm doing very well."
Xiaoyin just nodded because she didn't want to talk. She and her brother were doing well. If they weren't, what would their mother say?
...
Song Zhao's face darkened for a month, but it finally calmed down after the baby's full-moon celebration at Yun Li's house, when he no longer needed to send chicken soup.
Nie Qingqing comforted him, "My mom made that chicken soup. I just ran an errand. I wasn't tired. Mom wants our family of five to be happy. She said that being busy like this is nothing. You've been cooped up for a month. Isn't that good enough?"
Just because it's in the past doesn't mean things will get better. Song Zhao said, "I'm not convinced, I can't get over it. There's no need for you to go and bring her chicken soup."
It's not necessary, but there's no harm in sending it. It's fifteen hens, and Xu Lingzhi paid for thirty, which includes the wages. Just consider it a favor from a neighbor. Why not do a job that's been paid for?
Nie Qingqing said, "What's wrong with that? Look at us now, Yunli's family is happy, Xiaoyuan is staying with us, and our family is happy too. Isn't that great? I'm not upset at all, so you're not allowed to be stubborn anymore."
Song Zhao felt sorry for him: "Everyone says that everyone's satisfaction and happiness are built on your grievances and pain."
Nie Qingqing laughed and said, "When have I ever suffered? I'm very happy. Let others think what they want."
Song Zhao couldn't help himself and pulled her into his arms. As soon as he hugged her, trouble ensued. How could this man be so easily aroused?
Nie Qingqing hurriedly pushed him away, saying, "No, it's not the right day yet."
Song Zhao coaxed, "I'm in good health, you don't need to use it sparingly. I guarantee that I won't need Grandpa Liu's prescription for ten or twenty years."
Nie Qingqing scolded him, "You're crazy, are you going to sleep or not?"
...
The sun was shining brightly in Songzhao, and everyone in the factory said that Director Song was finally in a better mood.
The electronics factory had a meeting to go to the head office for exchanges. Song Zhao hated these kinds of social meetings, so he didn't go. But Director Yu really wanted to go, so he decided to send him.
The candidate had just been chosen when He Shumei stopped Yu Zhengmin from going. She went into Nie Qingqing's house, sat down, and was still angry.
"Qingqing, Yu Zhengmin isn't going to this exchange meeting. Let your Song Zhao go instead."
Nie Qingqing is fine with it, and Song Zhao would be happy to go. At such a meeting, she can meet many people, and who knows, one of them might become a benefactor in her future career. Why wouldn't she go? That's why Director Yu wants to go.
She asked, "What's wrong? You said you'd go, why aren't you going now?"
He Shumei started cursing: "My sister-in-law and Zhigao actually let Yu Zhengmin bring Xiao Qi along, saying it would be a good opportunity to meet her godparents and build connections. Bah, those two clueless fools! Building connections? When they see Xiao Qi, won't it be like they're stabbing her in the lungs?"
"Then don't bring her. Just refuse."
“I refused, but I’m afraid Qi Yujiao might go without telling me, which would be embarrassing and I’d be implicated. Forget it, I won’t take the risk.”
That's a pretty serious problem. Nie Qingqing said, "Okay, I'll talk to Song Zhao about it tonight."
...
During the day at work, Yu Zhengmin had already spoken with Song Zhao, who said she would come back and discuss it with Nie Qingqing.
Song Zhao said, "This exchange meeting will last for half a month. In the past, I could have gone even if it took half a year, let alone half a month, but now, I just don't want to go."
Nie Qingqing wouldn't let him waste the opportunity: "Besides honing your skills, you also need to build up your interpersonal relationships. If Director Yu doesn't want a promotion, then he can just not go. You're so young, don't always think about your wife, kids, and warm bed. You need to make progress."
Song Zhao worried about her: "I'm leaving now. It's too tiring for you to be home alone."
Nie Qingqing: "I have a solution. Once you leave, I'll have the children stay with my mother. I'll give them an extra thirty yuan every two weeks. Is that okay?"
Song Zhao: "Okay, then we'll call each other every day. Wait for me outside the convenience store after you get off work, and I'll call you."
Nie Qingqing laughed: "I've never seen such a clingy man as you."
Song Zhao asked her, "So, do you like it?"
How could she say she didn't like it? Nie Qingqing suggested, "I like it. Let's play every other day. If we play every day, we won't have so much to talk about."
...
Song Zhao had only been gone for two days. When Nie Qingqing passed by the convenience store, she stopped for a while. She had called yesterday, but she hadn't received a call today. Sigh, she really was someone who said she would call every two days, but now she was already thinking about it.
Song Zhao went to the exchange, and of course, Director Yu's daughter-in-law had no reason to go with him. Yu Wenhui was in a bad mood. Nie Qingqing was assigned mediation tasks all morning and spent the whole morning mediating.
I just got back for lunch and hadn't even had a nap when I was sent out again.
Unfortunately, Director Yu's life wasn't as fulfilling as he had imagined after he got married, and he brought his resentment into his work.
Nie Qingqing mediated two disputes in one day, and the results were satisfactory. She didn't return to her unit until after 4 p.m.
As soon as she arrived at work, Director Yu called her out again: "Xiao Nie, you are capable, and the strong should do more. This dispute absolutely needs you to handle it."
Nie Qingqing was no pushover; just as she was about to refuse, Qian Yurong stepped forward first.
"Director Yu, don't bring your family's anger to work. Xiao Nie has mediated twice today, but Qiu Xia's sister-in-law hasn't even mediated once yet. I can't stand by and watch you be so unfair!"
Wow, what's wrong with Qian Yurong, who's always just coasting along?
Nie Qingqing quickly took a step back and quietly asked Xiao Qiuxia, who had come to check on the situation, "Why is Sister Qian being so tough today?"
Xiao Qiuxia said, "He probably doesn't plan to continue, so he's just venting his anger before he leaves. Don't worry about it, let him stand up for you and let him vent his anger."
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