Mother Qi was still oblivious to the precariousness of her position, going on about how her son was heartless and siding with the daughter-in-law to bully an elderly woman of her age.
Chattering on and on all day, even her son-in-law Zhang Jisheng had heard too much, and he whispered to Qi Fenglian, "Your mother really is something, going on and on about it. What’s the point? Is it only now that she realizes how formidable her daughter-in-law is?" He had learned this a long time ago, just when his son was born.
But for the mother-in-law to actually set such a trap, it was too despicable. Who would come up with such a bizarre idea as puncturing the condom? No doubt Qi Taiguo and his wife must be very angry now, having suffered such a silent loss.
Qi Fenglian saw him with a face full of schadenfreude and said, "What’s that look on your face? Delighted to watch a disaster unfold, are you happy to see my family in disarray?"
Zhang Jisheng touched his nose and replied, "Can’t I even make a casual comment? Fine, I’ll just shut up!"
Qi Fenglian gave him a glare, then looked back at the old lady who was still complaining and couldn’t help but shake her head.
This was now the hardest on her younger brother, and who knew if the couple would start arguing.
Indeed, the situation was tough for Qi Taiguo. The joy of having just rid himself of a plague had not yet passed when this issue emerged; fearing that Cheng Su would be upset and overthink things at home, he had requested leave from the army and returned to duty.
Seeing this, Cheng Su also felt as if she had been pricked by needles in her heart and wept at home.
The next day, Qi Fenglian escorted Mother Qi to the station, where she took a bus back to her hometown. Mother Qi was reluctant to go.
"Mom, there’s really nothing for you to do here, so you might as well go back. I have to go to work and can’t look after you, and I’m not able to take you out. You’d be alone at home anyway, what’s the fun in that? Go on back," said Qi Fenglian.
Mother Qi hemmed and hawed, looking around evasively.
"You don’t need to look anymore, Taiguo didn’t come. I made a special call to him last night, and he said that he wouldn’t come today, just send you off," Qi Fenglian saw through her thoughts at a glance, thinking that it was only now that she started thinking about her son – too late.
Mother Qi snorted, "Who says I want to see him? Such an unfilial son, I don’t need him; it’s like having one less child!" She said this, but deep down, her heart was sour as if she had ingested years-old vinegar.
Qi Fenglian escorted her to the station, reminding her to take care as she saw her off and took the opportunity to give a few more words of advice before the bus departed.
"Mom, you really need to temper your bad temper. You’re causing dissension with everyone, and you will regret it. You’re still young now, but if you grow old and your son and daughter-in-law grow distant, who will be there to care for you when you’re sick and in pain? Taiguo and his wife have their own life; why meddle so much? You’ve got money, so eat what you want, drink what you please. You’re in your sixties now, time to cool your temper."
Mother Qi’s face darkened and she said sternly, "I know, you work in the city now, you think you’re a city person and look down on your rural mother, right? Now you even dare to lecture your own mother!"
"Mom, you..."Qi Fenglian got extremely angry, stomping her foot and said, "Must you say such upsetting things? Alright, fine, consider me speaking out of turn. Do as you please."
At that moment, the bus announcement sounded.
Qi Fenglian said nothing more, helped her mother onto the bus, and walked away without looking back.
She had indeed had enough.
Sitting on the bus, Mother Qi watched Qi Fenglian’s retreating figure disappear, her heart panicked, her nose tingling, and tears fell.
Both of them were so unfilial, siding with others; she felt as if she had raised them in vain.