"But he can't hit you like that, you're still his wife."
Xia Enruo was really angry, and seeing Ge Qiuqin like this, she felt really sorry for her.
"Xia, every family has its own problems. Just get by and raise the children. Once that's done, my job will be done."
Ge Qiuqin finished dressing, wiped away her tears, and said...
“Sister-in-law, that’s true, but Zhang Xin’s behavior towards you is unacceptable. Besides, there’s no reason why someone shouldn’t fight back when they’re being beaten. I’ve heard that there’s a Women’s Federation in the neighborhood. Even if we don’t let him go to the police station, we should still tell the Women’s Federation to protect your rights.”
Xia Enruo really couldn't stand men who beat their wives. Besides, Ge Qiuqin's injuries were considered violent beatings. If it were her, she would definitely grab a knife and fight the other person to the death.
"Xia, let it go. It's all in the past for the sake of the children. Seeing them around me makes me happy no matter how hard or tiring it is. Today I went shopping with my eldest son and bought him a new pair of shoes. He was so happy, and it made me happy too. Maybe I'm just living my life for my children."
Xia Enruo knew that Ge Qiuqin was unemployed, and if Zhang Xin was really arrested, the five of them would be left destitute. It was their own business, and there was no point in her interfering.
"Sister-in-law, didn't you put some safflower oil on it? That will help the bruises fade faster."
“A bottle of safflower oil costs a lot of money. Never mind, the injury will heal on its own. Xia, let’s not talk about me anymore. Don’t delay delivering food to Chief of Staff Gu. I’ll go get you some chicken soup right now.”
Xia Enruo watched Ge Qiuqin's back as she busied herself serving her soup, and felt a strange pang of sadness. She had never felt so helpless before, that kind of helplessness that made her feel distressed but unable to help.
Xia Enru packed up her lunch, locked the door, and rushed to the hospital by bus.
Qiao Huizhen brought lunch to Ding Haotian in the hospital room. She had been getting food from the company cafeteria for the past two days, and after eating it for two days, Ding Haotian lost his appetite at the smell of food.
"Huizhen, it's potato and radish stew again. Look, there's hardly any beef in it. The rice is so coarse it's hard to swallow. Can you cook something nice for me tonight to improve my meals?"
Qiao Huizhen felt a headache coming on after hearing Ding Haotian's words. Going home to cook would take up too much time, not to mention carrying heavy bags back and forth – so tiring! It's much easier to have ready-made meals.
"Alright. The more you eat, the more ridiculous you become. What's wrong with hospital food? Isn't it delicious?"
"It's not that it doesn't smell good, it's just that the bland soup is tasteless. I've been eating it for two days in a row and I've really lost my appetite. Can you make me something different?"
Qiao Huizhen dealt with it.
"Just bear with it. I'll cook for you when I can go home. Right now, to take care of you, I've sent our son to my mom's house so my parents can help look after him. I'm busy enough at work; I don't have time to go home and cook."
"Besides, you really don't know how lucky you are. Look at Gu Shaoxuan, he's been served so well by Xia Enruo that he's soiled his bed. Forget about getting a hot meal, he'd probably be happy just to have some cold water, and you're still here nitpicking."
Qiao Huizhen's comparison technique really pleased Ding Haotian. Hearing his wife say that, he suddenly felt that being able to eat in the hospital cafeteria was a kind of happiness. Gu Shaoxuan would be tortured to death by Xia Enruo sooner or later. Anyone who marries a wife like that is truly unlucky.
"Old Gu, he'll get his comeuppance eventually. I never thought he'd be brought down by his own wife. My wife is the best."
Ding Haotian said with a smile.
Xia Enruo rushed to the hospital, sweating profusely as she hurried along, worried that the food would get cold.
Yuan Qiang peeled a few pieces of apple for Gu Shaoxuan to eat. Seeing Xia Enruo push the door open and come in, he knew his mission was complete and he was ready to leave.
"Sister-in-law, you're back."
Yuan Qiang greeted him.
"How was your morning? Did you have a good day?"
Xia Enru asked.
"Everything went smoothly. There's nothing wrong, don't worry. Sister-in-law, you're back now, so I'm going home. If you need anything, just call me. I've written my home and work phone numbers on this piece of paper, so you can just call me if you need anything."
Yuan Qiang got up to leave, but Xia Enruo stopped him.
"Why are you leaving now? I brought you both food. Let's eat before you go back. You've helped us all morning, and if you go back on an empty stomach, your aunt and uncle will think we're impolite."
"It's alright, sister-in-law. We're not strangers, there's no need for such formalities."
Yuan Qiang was still intimidated by his first time eating at Gu Shaoxuan's house, and later he heard from Old Gu that Xia Enruo had never cooked before. If the food was terrible, and he couldn't show any reaction, wouldn't that be just torture? He decided to just go home for lunch.
"No, you can't leave today no matter what. I specially made braised pork for you, and Sister Qiuqin also made chicken soup. Eat before you go back, otherwise I won't ask you for help next time."
Xia Enruo's attitude was firm; how could she ask for help and then refuse to invite someone to stay for a meal?
“Yuan Qiang, listen to Enruo. Eat before you leave, there’s no rush.”
Gu Shaoxuan also said.
When Yuan Qiang heard Lao Gu say the same thing, he realized it would be pointless to refuse again.
"Alright, I'll try your sister-in-law's cooking too."
Yuan Qiang thought to himself, "I hope it's not too bad. If I had known I was eating at the hospital, I would have forgotten to go to the state-run restaurant earlier to get two dishes to go. That way, I wouldn't have to feel embarrassed about what to eat."
Xia Enruo put down the lunchbox, took a towel to wipe the sweat from her head, and then washed her hands again.
She unpacked the lunchbox and took out the scallion pancakes, braised pork, steamed egg custard, and cold lettuce salad, placing them on the bedside table. Because Yuan Qiang was there, Xia Enruo also took an extra set of tableware.
"Have some chicken soup first, Sister Qiuqin specially made it."
Yuan Qiang looked at the table laden with dishes; there were so many varieties, and the aroma was incredibly enticing, but he hoped they wouldn't be unpalatable once tasted. He'd better drink the chicken soup first; even if the other dishes were unappetizing, he could fill his stomach with the soup. Sister-in-law Qiuqin had cooked for the army several times; her cooking was quite good.
"This must have been brought home by Zhang Xin. Lu Tuan gave him two free-range chickens, and he hid them carefully, afraid that others would find out. But when I brought them back, he told the truth. But no matter what, he is thinking of his wife and children and brought good things home, so he deserves praise. After all this, I'm lucky enough to have a taste of his chicken soup today."
Hearing Yuan Qiang boast about how much his new wife loved his family, Xia Enruo felt so angry she wanted to dig a hole in the rim of the bowl with her fingers. Was he even a man who beat his wife and children? He was all show and no substance. She really wanted to blurt it all out in front of them.
However, upon further reflection, Ge Qiuqin did not want her family's dirty laundry to be aired in public. Wouldn't her doing this be a slap in the face for Ge Qiuqin?
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