Qi Taiguo helped Cheng Su set the dishes on the table, and as Mother Qi walked over to take a look, she murmured with a pained expression on her face, "The eldest daughter-in-law’s hand with the oil has really become heavy, it’s like everything’s soaked in it!"
Qi Fenglian was holding Xiao Bao and coaxing him to sleep when she heard this and said, "Mom, you’ve got a point. Taiguo has it tough with the military training, and if the food isn’t rich and oily, won’t he become as thin as a flat bean?"
That was true, after all, nobody should be shortchanged, especially not her eldest son!
Mother Qi said no more.
Once the meal was served, the family sat down together, sipped soup, ate, and chatted idly about family matters.
"What does my brother-in-law do at home these days?" Qi Taiguo casually asked.
Qi Fenglian’s chopsticks paused, and she said, "He just picks up some carpentry work, he’s not very skilled."
Qi Taiguo frowned.
"Back when it was just Yunyun, I wouldn’t have said anything, but now with Xiao Bao, just farming and doing odd jobs isn’t enough. In the future, with the kids’ education and everything, it’s all about money!" Mother Qi said at this time.
Cheng Su agreed with her inwardly, thinking to herself that her mother-in-law was quite sensible about this issue.
"Neither of us are educated, and I was thinking that when Xiao Bao gets a bit older, I’ll leave him with his grandma and go work in a factory," said Qi Fenglian.
Mother Qi picked up a piece of vegetable with her chopsticks and suddenly turned to Cheng Su, "Since it’s about working, why don’t the two of you go work where Taiguo’s wife works? Besides, with family, it’s easier to talk."
Cheng Su’s head buzzed.
The most dreaded nepotism in the company came at her so unexpectedly.
Seeing Cheng Su’s silence, Mother Qi’s face grew dark and she said, "Eldest daughter-in-law, don’t you need people to work for you too? Hiring your elder sister and brother-in-law is surely better than hiring outsiders, right?"
Qi Taiguo saw the complicated look on Cheng Su’s face and intervened, "Mom, it’s hard work at the restaurant, busy from dawn to dusk, and I don’t think Elder Sister and Brother-in-law can handle it!"
"Yeah!" chimed in Qi Fenglian, "Besides, Qing City is too far from our home; a round trip would take a whole day, and I can’t bear to leave Xiao Bao and Yunyun."
"When it comes to making money from labor, sometimes you have to let go," Mother Qi said, not convinced.
"We’ll talk about it later. Xiao Bao hasn’t even been weaned yet!" Seeing that Cheng Su wasn’t saying anything, Qi Fenglian gave her mother a look.
Mother Qi’s face turned extremely sour, and she stopped talking.
Cheng Su felt quite out of sorts and didn’t know how to reply. Feeling somewhat empty-headed, she simply fell silent.
After dinner, Qi Fenglian and Mother Qi helped Xiao Bao bathe while Cheng Su went to wash the dishes, Qi Taiguo came over.
"Are you upset? Mom just cares about Elder Sister, and you..." Qi Taiguo said cautiously.
Cheng Su glanced towards the kitchen entrance and lowered her voice, "I’m not angry or upset, it’s just that I don’t know what to say. Do you agree with having Elder Sister and her husband work for me?"
Qi Taiguo met her gaze and after a long pause finally said, "If you think it’s not right, then I’ll talk to them!"
That was essentially an agreement!
Cheng Su lowered her head and said, "I really haven’t thought about it, and I don’t have a clue right now. Give me some time to think!"
Qi Taiguo wanted to say something but then pressed his lips together.
In the bathroom, Qi Fenglian was also softly persuading Mother Qi, "It’s only the first day, Mom, why are you rushing things? You saw how uncomfortable Taiguo’s wife was just now."
"I didn’t say anything wrong. In the end, we have to hire someone, so why not hire you? You’re family, after all. But look at her," Mother Qi was quite dissatisfied with Cheng Su’s attitude.
Qi Fenglian was really troubled and said, "Mom, just drop it, will you? Otherwise, I’ll be too ashamed to face her!"
Mother Qi wasn’t convinced. If Cheng Su wouldn’t respond, she’d go and convince her son. She refused to believe that her son wouldn’t protect his elder sister and her husband.