After exposing her mother-in-law’s vile tactics, the relationship between Cheng Su and Qi Taiguo felt somewhat like they were treating each other with formal courtesy. They did talk, usually in brief exchanges such as whether or not one would be returning for a meal and simple replies like ’yes.’
Mother Cheng saw this clearly and it pained her deeply. She advised Cheng Su frequently, but they still kept on like this, truly driving her to the edge of madness.
Cheng Su wasn’t really angry with Taiguo, but seeing her mother-in-law, she couldn’t help harboring some resentment.
As for Taiguo himself, knowing he was at fault, he had no face to speak up about anything. He feared that saying too much would only make things worse and risk enraging Cheng Su to the point of pushing her towards divorce, which would be his downfall.
So, these days, the couple’s politeness was as if they had just met.
Even Chunhua and the others noticed something was off.
"Sister-in-law Qi, did you and Commander Qi have a fight or something? Military Doctor Chiang and those other disasters are all gone now, you should be happy," Chunhua reasoned while holding her daughter: "Couples fight, but they make up in bed. Life has to go on, right?"
"We didn’t fight."
Hualing gave her a look and said, "Not fighting? This is even more painful than fighting. Look at you two, so overly polite. Yo, no one would believe you didn’t fight."
Cheng Su looked at her and asked, "Hualing, how do you get along with your mother-in-law?"
Hualing was taken aback and frowned, "Why do you ask?"
"Just asking."
"How else can I get along? Just like that." Hualing pursed her lips and said: "Anyway, we don’t live together, out of sight, out of mind. I don’t see what she gets up to, and she doesn’t see mine, so we live in peace. But my mother-in-law, she wouldn’t dare to provoke me."
It figures, she was a city college student from a cadre family. Her mother-in-law could only look up to her and wouldn’t dare to meddle, though she did get a bit anxious and unreasonable when it came to having children.
Cheng Su smiled faintly.
"I heard your family had a big fight the other day, was it with your mother-in-law?" Hualing raised an eyebrow and asked, "What about?"
Cheng Su replied, "The same old things." Her tone carried a hint of weariness.
"If you ask me, why bother with her? After all, you’re living with Taiguo, not her. Let her words go in one ear and out the other. You’re known for being sharp-tongued, always fighting to win; but you cower in front of your mother-in-law?" Hualing snorted in contempt: "I really don’t understand your thinking. A mother-in-law is just that – why treat her like your own mother? You have money; why should you have to look at her face? It should be the other way around!"
Being from a cadre family herself, her mother-in-law had to pamper her. As for Cheng Su, with her wealth, she still had to defer to her mother-in-law? She was just making life difficult for herself!
"That’s why you and Platoon Leader Chen keep fighting, right? You don’t have any respect for your mother-in-law," Chunhua interjected sharply.
Hualing’s expression changed and she replied, "She has to be respectable to start with. Besides, I’m the one living my life. I call her mom, I’m present for holidays, what more does she want? To actually treat her as my mother and pamper her? I can’t do that. Even if you do indulge someone, they won’t necessarily appreciate it; instead, they’ll just ask for more. Who’s ever satisfied?"
After listening, Cheng Su smiled slightly and raised an eyebrow: "I didn’t expect you to have this insight!"
"What’s that supposed to mean, eh? You looking for a fight!" Hualing glared.
"I wouldn’t dare! I’m just thanking you for the life lesson," Cheng Su said with a smile: "Thanks a lot."
Hualing snorted and said, "Crude words, but the logic is sound. You may think I’m heartless, but if you want to live comfortably, sometimes you have to be."
Cheng Su wore a thoughtful look.