Early in the morning, Old Lai Xu was cursing at home. Last night, after hearing from the neighbors that Xu Liqin had been admitted to the hospital, Xu's mother immediately packed her things and wanted to go to the hospital to visit Xu Liqin, but was stopped by Old Lai Xu. It was New Year's Eve, and they hadn't even prepared the New Year's Eve dinner. If Xu's mother wasn't at home, would Old Lai Xu be left to starve?
Mother Xu was extremely angry, but she still did not dare to disobey Old Lai Xu's orders. She had no choice but to wipe away her tears while cooking the dishes that Xu Liqin had already prepared.
A large carp, a dish of stir-fried vegetable sprouts, and a plate of stir-fried pork liver. Mother Xu left the remaining chicken untouched, planning to stew it after dinner. Xu Liqin's miscarriage was no small matter; nutritional needs were crucial. Mother Xu was broke, and her monthly salary went to Old Lai Xu, who either spent it on alcohol or lost it in gambling.
Old Man Xu had already noticed the chicken on the stove. It was taking a while to stew it, and since Mother Xu had gotten home late from get off work, it was already past seven in the evening. If they didn't have New Year's Eve dinner, wouldn't everyone laugh at their family? Old Man Xu thought it would be better to wait until tomorrow to eat a fresh chicken. Anyway, it was just the two of them, and they couldn't finish the stewed chicken.
Ever since Xu Erwang was taken to the police station, Xu Dafu's family has not been close to Xu Laolai and his family. These days, Xu Dafu's wife has been keeping the three children under control and not letting them get close to Xu Laolai.
On the night of New Year's Eve, Mother Xu and Old Lai Xu ate their New Year's Eve dinner in silence.
In previous years, Xu Lifang and Xu Erwang were at the Xu family's house during Chinese New Year. While the family of four wasn't always bustling, it certainly wasn't lonely. This year, Xu Lifang hadn't returned home out of spite, and Xu Erwang had been taken to the police station. Fearing that Xu Laolai would ask them for money to rescue him, Xu Dafu and his wife, fearing that he might ask them for money, not only kept their three children from visiting him, but even they, the couple, would hide at the sight of Xu Laolai. This New Year was the most lonely one Xu Laolai had ever experienced.
After Mother Xu cleared the table, she chopped up a chicken and put it in a clay pot, added some water and simmered it on the charcoal stove.
That night, Xu Laolai's dreams were filled with the aroma of stewed chicken, and he was so happy that he smacked his lips in his dream.
After getting up in the morning, Xu Laolai didn't get to drink the chicken soup, so his mother found the enamel pot that was treasured at home and ladled the stewed chicken soup into it one spoonful at a time. The enamel pot was a bit big, and after it was filled, there were only a few mouthfuls of chicken soup left in the earthenware pot.
Xu Laolai's face darkened. Only then did he realize that the chicken Xu's mother had cooked wasn't meant for him. This was outrageous. Before the family's food was sent out, had they asked him, the head of the household, beforehand?
Mother Xu lowered her head, ignoring Old Lai Xu's shouting, and filled the enamel pot with chicken soup. This chicken was bought by Xu Liqin yesterday. What was there to say about her daughter eating a chicken she had paid for herself?
"Chen Ermei, have you grown up? I'm talking to you! Do you think I'm deaf?" Old Lai Xu was so angry that he smashed the empty bowl in his hand to the ground. Broken porcelain pieces flew everywhere, and one or two pieces hit the instep of Mother Xu's feet, which hurt even through her socks.
Mother Xu ignored the wet feeling on the back of her feet. After filling a jar with chicken and chicken soup, she carefully closed the lid and wrapped the enamel jar with a clean rag.
"Chen Ermei, damn it, don't try to get yourself beaten on New Year's Day!" Seeing how the usually docile Xu's mother behaved today, Xu Laolai felt like a ball of cotton wool was stuck in his throat, which made him feel very unhappy.
"What are you trying to say?" Mother Xu asked, putting the enamel pot full of chicken into the basket. Mother Xu's eyes were filled with coldness. She didn't understand what was going on with Xu Laolai's heart. Her daughter had miscarried again while working on her own chores, and not only did Xu Laolai not go to the hospital to check on her, he even refused to let her eat the chicken she had bought herself. She had put up with Xu Laolai for years, day after day, and she had had enough.
"Xu Ermei, you're fucking crazy. You only have one chicken at home, and you're going to give it to that money-loser? We still have several men at home! What are they going to eat?" Xu Laolai glared and cursed, "None of them take me seriously. You're just looking for a beating."
"Xu Renshou, you are such a bad person." After cursing, Mother Xu ignored the furious Xu Lao Lai and walked out of the house with the basket.
Mother Xu knew that today was the first day of the Lunar New Year, and even if Old Lai Xu was furious, he wouldn't hit anyone. Although Old Lai Xu usually seemed fearless, he was actually very superstitious. During the Lunar New Year, everything was taboo, let alone the sight of blood.
When Zhao Guohui arrived at the hospital, Xu's mother was wiping her tears and complaining to Xu Liqin about the faults of Mr. Xu.
Xu Liqin had long known that Xu Laolai was a very selfish man. After listening to Xu's mother's crying, Xu Liqin's face showed no expression.
"Qinzi! Mom is so sad! The child is gone, so you have to take good care of yourself! Only if you take good care of yourself can you have another child." Whenever Xu's mother thought of Xu Liqin's aborted child, she felt a wave of regret in her heart. Originally, Xu's mother could have swapped shifts with a colleague yesterday, but she couldn't bear to do so because she had to pay her colleague twice as much, so she gritted her teeth and went to work. Xu Liqin was left at home with a big belly, busying herself around, and finally something happened.
"Mom, stop talking." Xu Liqin's calm demeanor finally broke when she heard Xu's mother talking about the child. It was all her fault for not protecting the child well. Even if Guohui blamed her, she accepted it.
Last night, Xu Lifang had told Xu Liqin that Zhao Guohui would come to visit her today. Xu Liqin had been looking forward to seeing Zhao Guohui's burly figure since she opened her eyes early in the morning. However, most of the morning had passed, and there was no news from Zhao Guohui.
Xu Liqin's heart was filled with bitterness. She had already given up on Zhao Guohui, but after he did something so outrageous, Xu Liqin realized that it was impossible for her and Zhao Guohui to continue living together.
However, when Xu Lifang said that Zhao Guohui had drawn 600cc of blood and given it to her to save her, Xu Liqin felt a glimmer of hope. Did Zhao Guohui have her in his heart? Otherwise, why would he waste precious blood to save her?
When a person has no hope in his heart, he doesn't feel that life is difficult. When he has hope in his heart, Xu Liqin really wants to know Zhao Guohui's thoughts as soon as possible. Even if she hears Zhao Guohui break up in person, it would be better than the anxiety she has now.
As Zhao Guohui walked into the ward, he made a decision. The Xu family was too much trouble, and Old Lai Xu was too annoying. Zhao Guohui didn't want to be involved with them anymore.
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