Bai Dalin has always been like this, always putting himself first in everything. Even when he was with Jiang Wanyin, because Jiang Wanyin was superior to Bai Dalin in every way, Bai Dalin didn't like Jiang Wanyin very much. After Bai Nuo came into his life, he also stopped liking Bai Nuo. After Bai Nuo became mentally impaired, all he felt for Bai Nuo was disgust, let alone any care or love.
Later, he fell in love with Chen Qiuling and felt that he should marry her. However, his mother and wife had a conflict, and his mother wanted to kick his wife out. Naturally, he was unwilling. He liked her, so why couldn't his mother like her? Why did she have to make him uncomfortable?
He's always been like this, and this time was no exception.
"Qiuling, I can't let my mother sue me, otherwise I'll have nothing left," Bai Dalin said softly.
Chen Qiuling naturally understood this principle; filial piety has always been important since ancient times. However… asking her to apologize to a fool would be a slap in the face, wouldn't it? She would feel extremely embarrassed.
"But... as Bai Nuo's elder, if I apologize to a little girl... won't she then be able to ride roughshod over me? I don't want to apologize. You're your mother's only son. Do you think your mother would ruin you?" Chen Qiuling felt wronged. How could Chen Qiuling not know what Bai Dalin was saying? But she just couldn't swallow this anger. If she apologized to Bai Nuo, would Bai Nuo be able to act like a tyrant over her from now on? Would she have to burn incense for that bitch Jiang Wanyin on the first and fifteenth of the month?
"No!" Bai Dalin said firmly and insisted, "You must go and apologize. You made a mistake. You and I both know what kind of person Chen Zhi is, but how could you let him fetch bathwater for Bai Nuo? Not only do you have to apologize, but Chen Zhi also has to apologize. Once he's sober, the two of you should go together."
Although Bai Dalin knew that what Chen Qiuling said was true, he didn't want to let go of any possibility. It was true that his mother only had him as her son, but she also had a grandson and a granddaughter. He didn't have a very good relationship with his mother. What if... his mother didn't care about him at all?
It's best to apologize first. Doesn't his mother want an explanation? Then he should apologize, give her money and gifts. Those two brats don't even have a decent set of clothes. Giving them some silver should be enough.
"Not only do you have to apologize, you also have to give them some money!" The more Bai Dalin thought about it, the more he felt that this was a way to resolve the matter. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "When you go to apologize, bring ten taels of silver, no... bring two sets of clothes with you. Look at the state those two little brats have become. If they go out, won't people say that I, Bai Dalin, abuse my own offspring?"
"Ten taels?" Bai Dalin's words immediately jolted Chen Qiuling awake. She jerked her head up from Bai Dalin's embrace, staring at him in shock. "You're taking two sets of clothes with you? Dalin, do you know how much ten taels of silver is? That's two months' wages!"
Although Bai Dalin usually gives her some tips, her monthly wages are definitely more than five taels of silver, maybe ten or twenty taels a month. However, his original wage is five taels of silver a month. Giving away two months' wages at once is like cutting off her flesh.
"Didn't I earn this money?" Bai Dalin knew exactly how much ten taels of silver was, but he needed to shut his mother up.
Bai Dalin pushed Chen Qiuling aside, stood up from the ground, and looked down at Chen Qiuling, "You wouldn't be so stingy as to not even spend this little bit of money, would you?"
"Of course I'm reluctant!" Chen Qiuling was also angry. She stood up from the ground and glared at Bai Dalin. "When we got married, you said that this money would be kept by me. Once it's given to me, it's mine. Giving away ten taels of silver all at once, have you considered what we'll eat and drink?"
"It's only ten taels of silver, it's not like we can't afford it!" Bai Dalin said.
"I can afford it!" Chen Qiuling argued with Bai Dalin, "But if I give it to you, we'll be starving for the next two months. Besides, not only will I not give you money, you can forget about me apologizing. Apologize to a little girl? Where would that leave my dignity? Let me tell you, no way! What do you mean my son peeked at Bai Nuo taking a bath? I think that's just Bai Nuo talking nonsense and trying to pin it on my son!"
With a loud "smack," Bai Dalin, in a fit of rage, slapped Chen Qiuling across the face, turning her cheek to the side, making it appear red and swollen. Chen Qiuling never expected Bai Dalin to hit her; the swift and forceful slap completely stunned her. "You hit me?"
In all these years of marriage to Bai Dalin, when has he ever hit her? Her poor son is now bedridden, his life hanging in the balance, and she's being beaten by her husband.
"Let me tell you, don't ruin my life. Your reputation, your son, none of them are as important as my future, you know that?" Bai Dalin didn't think there was anything wrong with hitting a woman. He had hit Jiang Wanyin before, but unlike Jiang Wanyin, Bai Dalin still liked Chen Qiuling. He only hit Chen Qiuling because she was upsetting him. After that, he still liked her just the same. He could touch her and sleep with her as he pleased, and it didn't affect his relationship with Chen Qiuling.
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