"Where are you staying now?" Qin Xiaoyu asked with concern.
“Our company provides dormitories. The conditions are quite good.” Ding Xiaojie forced a smile, but Qin Xiaoyu felt a pang of sadness. A woman in her forties, she had lost her family and her child.
It would be a lie to say that you weren't feeling miserable living in a dormitory alone.
“I told you, Xiaojie’s job doesn’t pay much. She should quit and go work for Xiaoru. She can help take care of her child.” Xiaoru’s mother came over when she saw them chatting.
With just this one sentence, the difference in attitude towards the two daughters was immediately apparent, and it was somewhat hurtful.
"Did you bring all the children's things?" Qin Xiaoyu, not wanting to interfere in other people's affairs, interrupted. Xiaoru's mother fell for it and ran away happily.
“See? My parents are so materialistic. Before Xiaoru started working, they fawned over me all day long. I felt guilty even washing the dishes when I got home. Now that Xiaoru’s husband is successful and buys them a house and clothes, they’re all eager to please her again. When I first got divorced, I went back to my parents’ house for a few days, and they kicked me out. Where can you go to reason with people like this?” Ding Xiaojie said with a bitter smile.
"Alright, old people are bound to be confused. If they're not leaving, then let them have their way. Besides, fortunes change, who knows when you might make a comeback?"
"Me? Where else can I go? My life is over." Ding Xiaojie shook her head.
Qin Xiaoyu realized that she was no longer the beautiful woman she had met three years ago. She didn't know if it was the newly added fine wrinkles on her face that were too heartbreaking, or the vicissitudes in her eyes that were too glaring, but life was destroying her step by step.
“If you don’t want your job anymore, just tell me and come help me. I’m really short-staffed. Xiaoru is also short-staffed; let her hire her own people. You don’t need to worry about it.” Qin Xiaoyu’s words rekindled Ding Xiaojie’s hope.
When Qin Xiaoyu first arrived at the hospital, she knew that A Lei was troubled by these matters, so she let him drive her home. She hitched a ride with Qi Si.
Qi Si got into the car, and Xiao Si's wife sat in the passenger seat, while Qin Xiaoyu sat in the back.
"Brother, I've noticed that you're becoming more and more of a decent boss." Qin Xiaoyu heard from Xiaoru's mother that Qi Si had paid all the hospital fees.
“How can you go wrong learning from a girl?” Sister-in-law Xiao Si said before Qi Si could speak.
"Why did you interrupt me?" Qi Si said deliberately.
"How am I interrupting you? This is what I really think. If I had met Xiaoyu earlier, I might be in college now, and whether I'd marry you or not is another matter." Sister-in-law Xiao Si proudly tossed her head.
"What do you mean? You look down on me?" Qi Si was clearly jealous.
"No, I was just saying, what if I go to college and then I won't see you anymore?" Little Fourth Sister-in-law didn't dare to play with fire and quickly changed the subject.
"Just you wait, I'll give you a piece of my mind when we get home. What are you thinking all day with that little head of yours!"
"Fourth Brother, I was wrong. What can I think about? Besides you and Xiao Zhengxin, what else can I hold in my heart?"
Qin Xiaoyu regretted not walking back after her sister-in-law's coquettish behavior. She was in the way.
Back home, Xiao Si's wife kept talking. At that time, people were simple and honest, and no matter whose family it was, the addition of a new member to the family was a good thing. Cheng Fuxing and Ding Xiaoru had both met them before, and they were happy for them.
"Xiaoyu, take me to the hospital tomorrow so I can get checked out." Zhou Xing's mother was very thoughtful.
"Okay, I'll have time tomorrow morning," Qin Xiaoyu agreed.
"Little Fish, why do you seem unhappy?" Zhou Xing's mother came over.
"It's nothing, Mom. I ran into the professor's sister-in-law at the hospital today; they're getting a divorce."
"Ah, your aunt's eldest son? They're getting a divorce? Why?" Zhou Xing's mother knew a lot about the Tang family. She had seen Ding Xiaojie's family when they went to a performance last time and remembered them.
"Who are you saying wants a divorce?" The wife is usually a little hard of hearing, but when it comes to things that need to be kept from her, she hears them very clearly.
"The professor wants a divorce; they're currently separated," Qin Xiaoyu explained to them briefly.
“That boy just took after his mother; they’re all bad. At that time, your grandfather was seriously ill, and I didn’t have the mind to care about anything else. Otherwise, how could I have let Tang Long’s father suffer such a great injustice? I feel so guilty whenever I think about it.” The lady wiped away her tears as she spoke.
"Don't be sad, madam. I think it's all fate. Tang Long's father really did go to university and managed to marry such a wonderful wife. Not only is she capable, but she also gave birth to two such beautiful children." Zhou Xing's mother's words brought a smile back to her face.
"Let's get a divorce then. I can't live a good life with him anyway," the wife sighed.
The next day, Qin Xiaoyu took Zhou Xing's mother to the hospital. When she entered the ward, she saw only Ding Xiaojie and her sister, both of whom had red eyes, as if they had been crying.
"What's wrong? What's bothering you? You're not allowed to cry during your postpartum period," Zhou Xing's mother sensed something was amiss and quickly tried to comfort her.
"I had a fight with my mom, but it's okay." Ding Xiaojie wiped away her tears and asked them to sit down.
"What's all the noise about?" Qin Xiaoyu guessed that Xiaoru's mother was the problem, otherwise the two sisters wouldn't be ganging up on her.
“She wouldn’t let my sister get a divorce, saying that it would be fine if my brother-in-law changed his mind. So, she went to my brother-in-law’s house and begged him to change his mind and not get a divorce.” Ding Xiaoru said, tears welling up in her eyes again.
"Don't cry, this is nothing. Leave it to me." Qin Xiaoyu got angry as soon as she heard this. She didn't want to meddle in other people's business, but she really couldn't swallow her anger if she didn't.
She also realized that if she didn't intervene, Xiaoru's mother would only stir things up, and in the end, Ding Xiaojie would have to return to her family and the matter would be dropped.
"Come with me." Qin Xiaoyu called Ding Xiaojie out, leaving Zhou Xing's mother to take care of Xiaoru at the hospital.
"Where to?" Ding Xiaojie asked, a little unsure of herself.
"I've taken care of your problem today. Get him out of here." Qin Xiaoyu jumped into the car.
"He's a piece of dog shit, you can't beat him." Ding Xiaojie had been worn down and had lost her temper.
"How will you know if you don't try? Get in the car!" Qin Xiaoyu stepped on the gas and drove towards the university town.
It was during the Spring Festival, and the school hadn't started yet. The university town, devoid of students, resembled a ruin, completely devoid of life. Walking through the campus, the buildings behind were the staff dormitories for the students.
The professor was not qualified enough, not capable enough, and not skilled enough. In short, it was Ding Xiaojie who gave gifts and money and managed to get a second-hand apartment.
He still has the nerve to occupy the building and kick Ding Xiaojie out.
Ding Xiaojie led Qin Xiaoyu up to the sixth floor and hesitated at the door.
"Open the door," Qin Xiaoyu gestured to her. Ding Xiaojie had no choice but to take out her key and open the door. There was a pair of old women's cotton shoes on the door, which should belong to Xiaoru's mother. She hadn't left yet.
"Oh, Xiaojie, you're back! Perfect timing. I was talking to my son-in-law!" Xiaoru's mother was a little intimidated by Qin Xiaoyu following behind, but she couldn't stop her and could only watch her walk in confidently.
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