Hualing brought up the matter of Cheng Su’s family during dinner, her face full of sighs and lamentations.
"You see how formidable Cheng Su usually is, her sharp tongue never spares anyone, never admitting defeat, so tough, but in front of her mother-in-law, isn’t she still suffering in silence, turning submissive? It shows, everyone has their weakness. There is always someone stronger to suppress her, tsk tsk." Hualing shook her head, she had never had a good time at Cheng Su’s place.
Chen Shouwang seemed lost in thought, just focusing on picking up dishes, as if he hadn’t heard her.
"Hey, I’m talking to you. Why don’t you respond?" Hualing couldn’t help but tap his hand with her chopsticks when he didn’t reply.
Chen Shouwang frowned: "What are you doing."
"I’m talking to you!" Hualing glared.
Chen Shouwang replied, "Just talk, no need to get physical, I’m not stopping your mouth."
Hualing’s face darkened, and before she could speak, Chen Shouwang said, "What you’re talking about, Sister-in-law Qi isn’t just being weak or submissive, but rather, it’s out of respect for Commander Qi, and that’s why she respects his mother. You think she is..." you!
"Go on, why have you stopped talking?" Hualing narrowed her eyes and let out a cold snort.
Chen Shouwang looked away, saying, "You’ve already said it, she’s so strong-willed, do you really think her brain is stupid? She’s only soft because of Commander Qi, if it wasn’t for her love for him, do you think she’d be so compliant!"
Hualing replied, "That’s why her mother-in-law becomes increasingly overbearing, some people just shouldn’t be indulged, otherwise a bad temper is encouraged." Just like your mother.
Chen Shouwang’s face turned dark as he said, "Who are you cursing with that talk!"
Hualing looked at him coldly, "I didn’t say anything specific, you’re just sensitive on your own."
Chen Shouwang, somewhat angered and embarrassed, did she think he was a fool, not to understand she was using words to talk about his mother?
"You want to fight after a few days of peace!" Chen Shouwang bit his lip and said.
"Who wants to fight? I didn’t name names." Hualing argued back, saying, "If you weren’t guilty yourself, would you think I was talking about someone?"
"You!" Chen Shouwang abruptly threw down his chopsticks, "I’m not eating!" he said as he stood up and walked out the door.
Hualing was stunned for a moment, then, realizing what had happened, cursed loudly, "If you don’t eat, then don’t eat, what’s with the temper tantrum, have the guts not to eat ever again!"
Chen Shouwang, hearing those words, went downstairs irritably and squatted in the courtyard, smoking sullenly, feeling both gloomy and annoyed.
It wasn’t that he wanted to lose his temper; it’s just that he felt very irritated inside, not because of anything specific, but because he had actually received a call from Liu Li today.
When the call came, Liu Li asked him why he hadn’t been to the bar for a while, the child was also asking why that uncle hadn’t come anymore, thinking something had happened, she called to inquire.
Chen Shouwang could only say he went out for training, and mentioned he was too busy taking Hualing for a health check-up.
Liu Li was silent for a moment, then said she understood and hung up the phone.
The instant the call ended, he almost heard the sobbing from the other end of the phone, so desolate and sad, that’s what made him restless, and there was a bit of, heartache.
Chen Shouwang took a deep drag of his cigarette and felt someone sit down beside him. He turned his head and saw it was Taiguo.
Taiguo took out a cigarette, offered him one, but Chen Shouwang raised the one in his hand to show he was already smoking, so Taiguo placed that cigarette in his own mouth and lit it.
"Argued with the sister-in-law?" Taiguo asked.
"A few words were exchanged, what about you?"
"I’d rather she argued with me," Taiguo sighed, arguing was better than the current formality and mutual respect.
Both of them sighed in unison, smoking their heavy cigarettes, fellow sufferers in this world, you with your troubles and I with mine, all the same troubles, all because of the worries caused by the women at home.