Qi Taiguo returned home, only to see Cheng Su busily working by herself. He looked around the house and didn’t see any trace of Ning Ge, so he couldn’t help but ask, "Didn’t we say Ning Ge was back? Why can’t I see him?"
"Who knows? He did come back, but later he said he’d go out to check the market, and he hasn’t returned yet!" Cheng Su said as she set out the rice bowls. "Go wash your face, have some soup, and wait for him!"
"Okay!"
"Don’t use cold water, it’s October, and the weather’s gotten a bit chilly!" Cheng Su called out, not in a hurry.
"I know."
Qi Taiguo washed his face and came out, sitting at the table. He picked up a steaming bowl of soup and began to drink, when he saw Cheng Su bringing over a big pot of food. He quickly stood up to help her.
"Sit down, don’t burn yourself." Cheng Su dodged a little.
Qi Taiguo smiled and sat back down. "My wife really takes care of me, I’ll do the dishes later." He was fulfilling what she had mentioned about managing together before.
Cheng Su gave him a look and was about to speak, when suddenly they heard a commotion next door.
They exchanged a glance. What now?
"Chen Shouwang, if you have the guts, don’t come back!" Hualing’s voice was yelling.
Then came the sound of a door slamming and footsteps, probably Chen Shouwang leaving.
Qi Taiguo frowned and stood up, wanting to go and mediate, but Cheng Su pulled him back, saying, "Hey, what are you doing?"
"I’m going to calm them down!" Qi Taiguo said.
"Come back!" Cheng Su tugged at him, pushing him back into his seat. "What business is it of yours to interfere with a couple’s issues? Just drink your soup!"
It’s common for couples to argue. As long as there’s no physical fight, outsiders should usually not meddle, as it often leads to thankless efforts.
Qi Taiguo, seeing her glare, had no choice but to sit down. He slurped the soup while saying, "What’s going on with them, a big argument every three days, a massive fight every five days?"
Cheng Su sat down, took a sip of soup and said, "Couples argue, it’s nothing uncommon. What’s there to fuss about?"
"You don’t understand. Before Hualing was transferred here, Platoon Leader Chen was looking forward to it every day. It was better for a couple to be in the same city. Now that she’s here, all they do is fight every day. What’s the point? They were better off living apart in different places, seemed more loving back then!" Qi Taiguo said.
Cheng Su laughed. "What kind of sweetness is there in living apart? They must have some grievances now. Didn’t they act all lovey-dovey when she first arrived?"
Qi Taiguo nodded and sighed, "Hualing has a spoiled young lady’s temper, being pampered at home, while Old Chen, well, he’s a country boy, incomparable."
Cheng Su saw it differently; clearly, it was a matter of personal character. Ying Xiaoya was also a city girl, a child of officials, yet you never see her being so capricious and spoiled like a princess.
Nonetheless, it wasn’t good to gossip behind someone’s back, so she restrained from making any bad remarks.
"I guess it’s also because ’poverty is a sorrow in a marriage.’ Hey, has he repaid the money to you yet?" Cheng Su glanced at Qi Taiguo.
She was referring to the matter of the high-interest loan.
"He paid back thirty last month. Fifty this month," said Qi Taiguo, counting on his fingers. "It’s all kept in the drawer in the room. You put it away!"
Cheng Su made an affirming noise, then asked, "Do you think it’s possible that Hualing found out about this? Could that be why they’re fighting?"
Qi Taiguo frowned, "I don’t think so. Anyway, let’s not worry about them, another bowl of soup, please!"
Cheng Su took the bowl to serve more soup.
Outside, however, Chen Shouwang stood defeated at the bus station. Just now, Hualing had been questioning why his allowance for the last two months was so meager, suspecting he was secretly giving it to his family or, worse yet, spending it on a Fox Spirit.
He really wanted to tell her about the high-interest loan, but fearing he couldn’t hold back his frustration, he had left. Yet she kept on relenting.
Chen Shouwang watched the incoming bus, impulsively boarded it, and it happened to be the one heading in the direction of that little bar...