Song's father coughed twice, picked up the food in his bowl and ate it. "It's not good to live here for free. I'll pay the rent."
Aunt Hua picked up another piece of food for Song Qiao and asked, "What do you think, Qiao?"
Song Qiao fiddled with the dish for a long time, then picked it up and ate it, "Dad is the boss."
Aunt Hua smiled and said, "Let's eat first. After that, I'll take you to see my house. After you see it, I'll make sure you can let Old Song live with me."
After dinner, Song Qiao pulled his father aside and asked after hesitating for a while, "You and Aunt Hua...are you what I thought?"
Father Song rubbed his forehead and said, "I guess so." Then he added, "She's a straightforward person with a good heart, and her family is friendly."
"Have you been to someone's house?"
"I passed by occasionally and was taken there for a few meals."
Seeing Aunt Hua humming a song while cleaning up, and seeing a rare look of attachment on his father's face, Song Qiao couldn't describe the feeling in his heart.
Seeing that she was silent, Father Song asked anxiously, "You don't want to?"
Song Qiao shook his head, "No, I'm just not used to it."
"If you don't want to..."
"I'm not unwilling." Song Qiao interrupted, "As long as you think it's good, your daughter has no objection."
Over the years, many matchmakers came to propose marriage for his father, but he rejected them all. Although he didn't say it, Song Qiao knew that he did it for her.
Now that she has grown up and can stand on her own, and her father rarely finds someone he likes, why wouldn't she help him?
Seeing that she didn't seem to be reluctant, Father Song felt relieved and asked, "How have you been living in the city these days?"
Song Qiao thought of Madam Lu who had been visiting him frequently these days. He was silent for a moment, but still said, "Okay."
"That's good." Father Song nodded, then asked, "How are you getting along with Xiao Hu?"
How could a father not know what his daughter was thinking?
Song Qiao turned his face away and whispered, "It's just ordinary."
Song's father sighed, "If he is not interested, then don't wait foolishly, look somewhere else." Although Hu Xu is a good person, a forced melon is not sweet. He didn't want his daughter to experience the hardships he had experienced in his life.
Song Qiao lowered his head and said nothing.
Song's father wanted to persuade them, but he heard Aunt Hua shout, "Everything is packed, let's go."
Father Song glanced at his daughter and said, "Well, let's go."
So the father and daughter followed Aunt Hua to her home.
This time, I attended a lively and joyful event.
When returning to the city, Song Qiao's donkey was hung with things.
Thinking of the peaceful scene when his father was getting along with Aunt Hua, another scene inevitably emerged in Song Qiao's mind.
That was a cold mother and a silent father.
That scene accompanied her through the days and nights of her childhood, and also became a faded dream when she grew up, like the ice lying in her arms for a long time, which could not be warmed or melted.
But today, the occasional smile on his father's face, Aunt Hua's nagging concern, and the warm hospitality of Aunt Hua's parents-in-law made Song Qiao feel a touch of real warmth.
Song Qiao felt a little hope in her heart. Perhaps she and her father could live a life like an ordinary family in the future, a lively, peaceful and homely life.
These expectations made Song Qiao involuntarily smile.
But this smile disappeared instantly when he saw the carriage parked at the entrance of the alley.
The maidservant guarding the carriage saw Song Qiao coming back and whispered a few words into the carriage. Someone lifted the curtain and looked towards her, then called out in a low voice, "A Qiao."
Song Qiao said expressionlessly, "What are you doing here again?"
"I just came to see you." Mrs. Lu got out of the car and saw that her shoes were covered in mud. She asked, "Did you go up the mountain again?"
Song Qiao shrank his feet slightly.
Madam Lu smiled and then asked her maid to bring out a box from the carriage. "The weather is getting colder. I made two sets of clothes and two pairs of embroidered shoes. I want you to try them on."
Song Qiao refused: "I don't want it."
The maid advised, "The flowers on this dress and the uppers of the shoes were embroidered by Madam herself. She worked on them for nearly half a month and her health has been damaged. Even if you don't care about the mother-daughter relationship, please give Madam a piece of your mind and accept them for her hard work."
It seemed like he was trying to persuade her, but he was actually accusing Song Qiao of being ruthless.
"What nonsense are you talking about! You have no right to speak in front of the young lady!" Mrs. Lu scolded coldly.
The maid looked aggrieved. "I am just sad for Madam. I have been so worried about the young lady for so many days. I have come here so many times. Let alone mother and daughter, even if it was an unrelated person, I should have warmed my heart to her. How can the young lady still be so hard-hearted..."
"You deserve a slap in the face! If you say another word, I'll find a pawnbroker to sell you out today." Mrs. Lu's face turned red with anger.
Song Qiao's gaze moved between the two of them, and seeing two pale blue spots under Mrs. Lu's eyes, he paused for a moment and then looked away.
Madam Lu said to Song Qiao, "Don't listen to her nonsense." Then, a look of sorrow appeared on her face. "If you don't want to see me, then fine. Just accept these clothes. Mother isn't by your side. You don't even have anyone to look out for you. You're at the age of a flower, in the prime of your youth. You should be vibrant and beautiful, but you're as plain as someone from another world. It makes Mother sad to see you."
The repeated "mother" sounded strange and abrupt, making Song Qiao feel suffocated.
She silently measured the distance between herself and Mrs. Lu, watching her clasping her hands and unconsciously making a gesture of rejection. Suddenly, she remembered the warmth and intimacy in Aunt Hua's words and actions, as well as her warm palms.
She suddenly felt that the 'mother' in front of her was like a cunning mask wearing a mask called 'kindness', so empty that it made her feel a chill in her heart.
"You go back."
Song Qiao's light words made Mrs. Lu's expression freeze.
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