As Qi Fenglian spoke, tears started to fall, filled with grievance and discomfort.
"He thinks as if I’m eager to leave the children, accusing me of having a wild heart and looking down on his family after a few words. If I really were like that, could I have stayed with him for over a decade? Leaving my hometown to work, isn’t it all for our little family, for the children?" Qi Fenglian said as she wiped her tears.
Qi Taiguo’s face darkened, and he picked up the phone, saying, "I’ll call and ask him."
Qi Fenglian was startled and quickly pressed down his hand, saying, "Don’t, wouldn’t that make the conflict even worse? Put it down quickly. I’m just venting to you, look how hot-tempered you are."
"What he said about you is unacceptable, not to mention what he said to Yunyun. What kind of behavior is that? Isn’t this going to scare the kids witless?" What truly enraged Qi Taiguo was Zhang Jisheng lying to the children, fabricating facts.
Knowing that their mother is not at home is pitiable enough, and now he’s frightening the children like that. What will the children think?
Yunyun is already eleven or twelve years old, they understand things now!
"But you can’t call." Qi Fenglian firmly insisted.
Qi Taiguo felt helpless and said, "Big sister, protecting him like this, will he even remember your kindness?"
"Whether he remembers or not is another matter, just listen to your big sister," Qi Fenglian chided, "I’m just expressing my frustration to you, not asking you to take action on my behalf."
Qi Taiguo sighed and shook his head, asking, "So what do you want to do? Why don’t you go back tomorrow?"
Qi Fenglian hesitated and said, "I’ve only arrived a few days ago, taking leave wouldn’t be good."
"It’s only for one day."
Qi Fenglian shook her head, "Even one day isn’t good."
Qi Taiguo opened his mouth as if to speak, but Cheng Su, carrying the washed dishes, entered the room and, seeing their somber expressions, couldn’t help but ask.
Qi Fenglian was about to say it was nothing, but Qi Taiguo interjected, "Tomorrow’s a holiday, do you think you could give my sister a day off so she can go back and then return after the celebration?"
Cheng Su was startled, a leave request?
Qi Fenglian then said, "No, no, I’m not asking for leave. He’s just babbling," she said, giving him a glare.
Cheng Su set down the pots and pans and sat down, asking, "What happened? What was said on the phone just now?"
Qi Taiguo preempted by telling her what Zhang Jisheng had said, concluding, "If not for my sister holding me back, I would have argued it out with him."
Hearing this, Cheng Su’s brows also furrowed, thinking to herself if her brother-in-law’s brain had water in it, saying such things to a child, not fearing the child might take it seriously.
When all is said and done, the man just doesn’t care, doesn’t use his head.
"Well, big sister, if you want to go back, then go back. It’s fine, the new fast-food restaurant hasn’t opened yet anyway," Cheng Su said.
Qi Fenglian felt a surge of joy but was also hesitant, "Is that really okay? I just got here not long ago and now I’m asking for leave."
"It’s fine. If you want to go back, just go," Cheng Su smiled, "It’s not too late to come back after the holiday. The restaurant won’t miss one person."
"This..." Qi Fenglian thought for a moment and then nodded, "Then I’ll go back tomorrow morning and come down with your brother-in-law after the holiday."
"Alright," Cheng Su agreed cheerfully, "Then you should rest early. Do you want me to take you to the bus station tomorrow?"
"No need, I can go by myself, I know the way, and you’ll be busy!" Qi Fenglian quickly refused.
Seeing her insistence, Cheng Su let it be.
After washing up, they went to bed. Cheng Su leaned on the bed reading a book when Qi Taiguo leaned over and asked, "Wife, are you upset?"