Cheng Su watched the siblings pushing the Great Unity RMB notes back and forth and then, with a laugh, rose to her feet and said, "Big sister, don’t refuse it. Just take it. Otherwise, he won’t be able to sleep tonight." She paused before adding, "But Old Qi Taiguo said something sensible. You should keep this money to yourself and hide it. Don’t let him know you have it unless it’s absolutely necessary. A woman should always have some money of her own to feel confident."
As she spoke, both siblings felt a sense of relief. Thinking of her own son and the daughter who could only watch her classmates eat cookies with envy, Qi Fenglian accepted the Great Unity RMB notes and said, "Big sister thanks you for the favor. Once I get a job at the factory and earn some money, I’ll pay you back."
Cheng Su smiled, knowing they might have something to say. She made the excuse that she was feeling stuffy and needed some air and went outside.
Once the door was closed, Qi Fenglian said to Qi Taiguo, "You really scared me, brother. I was truly afraid that your wife might take it the wrong way just now."
Thirty yuan was not a small sum. Anyone would feel a bit uncomfortable, and yet Qi Taiguo pulled out the money in front of his wife and gave it to his big sister.
"Big sister, don’t worry, it’s okay, she’s not that petty," Qi Taiguo smiled.
"Nonsense, as if I don’t know what kind of temper she had before?" Qi Fenglian scolded him with a glance and added, "But it’s strange, don’t you think? How can a person change so much? Back then, she was jealous and stingy, with a fierce temperament, but after getting married, it’s like she turned into a different person. Look at what just happened, if it were the old her, she might have thrown a fit, right? Now that she’s your wife, she seems to have become gentle and generous. Did you manage to completely domesticate her?"
"Gentle? She’s not exactly that," said Qi Taiguo. "As for being generous, it doesn’t matter much. It’s my money I earned. I gave it to you, and she doesn’t really have a say." As for being docile, let’s not talk about that.
"I don’t agree with that. You’re married, you’re a unit; it’s best to discuss things and make decisions together—that’s what makes a harmonious couple. Take the money you gave me, for example. If you had discussed it with her first, she wouldn’t overthink it. But since you decided on your own, she might still be a bit unhappy, being your wife and all. Women, after all, are usually a bit narrow-minded. Don’t do that again!"
Was that so?
Qi Taiguo was thoughtful.
That gesture just then—was it not a test of her reaction? Was she genuinely not bothered, or was she annoyed?
"Or maybe you should take the money back?" Qi Fenglian was also worried that any strain between them would be her fault.
"No need, big sister. Don’t underestimate her. Money that’s been given can’t be taken back. Just keep it with peace of mind," Qi Taiguo said with a smile.
While the siblings were talking, the door opened and someone pushed their way in, speaking as they entered.
"This hospital is simply a bandit, charging a few bucks a day—outrageous! We’re getting discharged, right away." The voice belonged to an old woman who complained, "Which family doesn’t have a child at home and then get up the next day to do chores? But your wife, oh so precious, cesarean section aside, it’s wrong to have my darling grandson lying in that incubator, which just looks appalling. Plus, the excessive hospital stay; the money is pouring out like water... Why are you pulling at me?"
As the old woman was in full rant, she suddenly stumbled when her son yanked her, causing her to glare at him displeased.
Zhang Jisheng smiled sheepishly, looking across at the burly, intimidating figure with a face full of appeasement, calling out, "Taiguo, you’re here too?"
Taiguo, Qi Taiguo?
The old woman looked over and her expression changed drastically—it was that ominous man, the big brother of his daughter-in-law.
Qi Taiguo narrowed his eyes and asked, "Who just said my big sister should be discharged right now?"