Qi Fenglian and the others really took a detour to Myrica Rubra Village, arriving at Cheng Su’s parental home, and didn’t leave until after lunch.
Mother Cheng, holding Cheng Su’s hand, asked, "What did your Elder Sister say?"
"What else could it be? She came to smooth things over, to comfort me, and to tell me not to be as petty as her aunt, saying her aunt had lived alone for so long that she had become somewhat gloomy," Cheng Su replied.
Mother Cheng then said, "Your Elder Sister is still reasonable."
Cheng Su nodded. If that weren’t the case, would she have helped her and let her work in the shop?
Cheng Su’s principle was to respect others as she was respected: if her Elder Sister respected her, she naturally would not treat her unfairly.
"And what about you? It’s still the New Year, and Taiguo also came back with you last night. You should temper your anger a bit; it’s enough now. Don’t let people gossip about your petty squabbles!" Mother Cheng advised.
Cheng Su furrowed her brow and said, "What can I do? Can’t I stay at home for a couple of days? I really don’t want to go back -- their faces just annoy me!"
"So are you going to stay at your parents’ house for the rest of your life?" Mother Cheng glared at her.
Pouting, Cheng Su kicked at the dirt beneath her feet and said, "Anyway, I just don’t want to go back right now."
Mother Cheng wanted to say more, but Qi Taiguo walked over, and she stopped talking.
"Mother-in-law, I’m going to head back home first," Qi Taiguo told Mother Cheng.
"Ah, oh." Mother Cheng looked towards Cheng Su, giving her meaningful glances.
Cheng Su pursed her lips, reluctantly opening her mouth.
"Susu, if you don’t want to go back, you can stay here, and I’ll come to get you tomorrow, how about that?" Qi Taiguo interjected, "We’ll return to Qing City tomorrow afternoon."
Cheng Su was astonished; he actually wasn’t insisting on her returning to her marital home.
"How can that be okay? You came together; you should go back together," Mother Cheng insisted.
"It’s fine, Mother-in-law. Susu is comfortable here, let her stay. It’s not about these one or two days – after a busy year, let her have some comfort for a few days," Qi Taiguo said with a smile.
Cheng Su was completely surprised. Had this man had an epiphany?
Mother Cheng still wanted to speak, but Father Cheng came over and said, "Alright, since that’s the case, Taiguo, come pick up your wife tomorrow."
"Yes, Father-in-law."
Qi Taiguo left.
Mother Cheng turned to her husband and said, "Are you confused too? During the New Year’s, we should give them a bit of face."
"What’s wrong with staying two days? The Qi family is so troublesome, let them be; we’ll see if they really treat that aunt like family," Father Cheng huffed and called to his daughter, "Girl, let’s go inside."
"Alright." Cheng Su, overjoyed, wrapped her father’s arm and entered the house.
As for Qi Taiguo, when he returned home, both Father Qi and Mother Qi wrinkled their brows as they saw him alone, looking behind him, noticing Cheng Su was not there.
"Where’s your wife?" Father Qi asked.
"She’s staying at her parents’ place for a couple of days; I’ll pick her up tomorrow, and we’ll go back to Qing City in the afternoon," Qi Taiguo answered.
Father Qi’s eyebrows knit together tightly, and he pursed his lips.
Mother Qi said with a grim face, "She’s really grown bold, hasn’t she? Does she need to be carried back on a palanquin?"
Qi Taiguo, looking at his mother, said, "Mom, please don’t say such things again. If you really don’t like her, from now on, Cheng Su and I will come back less and interact less."
Mother Qi was taken aback. "What are you saying?"
Were her ears malfunctioning? What was this boy talking about – come back less, interact less?
Was he resenting her, threatening her?
Qi Taiguo went inside.
"See what you’ve done? Are you happy now? No sense of priority, no understanding of right and wrong," Father Qi snorted coldly and walked away.
Mother Qi’s vision went dark for a moment, nearly fainting. One by one, were they all turning against her?