...
Mother Qi was finally brought back home after that illness, as Qi Jianguo and the others all begged Father Qi, saying it was too unsafe for a sick person to live alone in the old house.
And since Cheng Su had also made a phone call earlier, Father Qi stepped down gracefully and allowed Mother Qi to move back home.
The illness came on suddenly and fiercely; after two days of fever-reducing IVs, Mother Qi had become a shadow of her former self, extremely weak.
But being at home, Mother Qi felt her heart finally settle, even though she suffered a bit, at least she didn’t have to live alone in the old house anymore.
Once she stabilized, she started to blame Cheng Su; it was all her fault she suffered so much. Her eldest son had made a terrible mistake marrying her—such a daughter-in-law was no good at all. If only it was that doctor...
Mother Qi thought, and her heart skipped a beat.
No, no, that wouldn’t do, Taiguo was already married, not single!
If he had been single, having a doctor as a daughter-in-law, with a family so wealthy, and a father who was a high-ranking official, having the Yue family as in-laws, her son’s future would have been guaranteed to be much brighter.
What a pity...
Then Mother Qi thought of her son again, that old fool wouldn’t let Jianguo tell Taiguo about her illness, saying it would disturb their lives, hmph.
That old fool, his heart was completely with Cheng Su and her side!
It was infuriating!
Mother Qi got so angry she started coughing, thinking to herself, if Jianguo couldn’t tell him, couldn’t she do it herself?
Seeing Father Qi was not paying attention, Mother Qi slipped some money and a phone number into her pocket and sneaked out.
It was time to make dinner; when the call reached Cheng Su’s house, Cheng Su had just scooped some rice. Hearing the ringing, she went to answer it.
"Hello, this is Su."
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line, Cheng Su frowned and asked again who it was?
Mother Qi cursed her bad luck; why had it to be Cheng Su answering the call? But still not willing to give up, she gruffly asked, "Is Taiguo there?"
Cheng Su recognized her mother-in-law’s voice, then said, "Hold on." She also called for Qi Taiguo.
Qi Taiguo came out of the bathroom, "What is it?"
"Phone call!" Cheng Su lifted her hand, put down the receiver, and turned back to cooking.
Qi Taiguo furrowed his brows, already guessing who was calling.
He picked up the phone, greeted the caller, then his mother’s crying could be heard on the other end.
"Mom, what’s the matter?" Qi Taiguo asked after a pause.
Mother Qi started coughing and said, "It’s nothing. I just wanted to tell you not to worry about my illness. I’m old, bound to have this pain or that. It’s nothing, cough cough..."
"You’re sick?" Qi Taiguo’s brows drew even tighter.
"It’s nothing serious, just a high fever, but it’s gone now!" Mother Qi hastily added.
"If you’re not feeling well, then rest at home. Why run out to make a call?" Qi Taiguo said.
Mother Qi began to cry again, "I know you still blame me, Taiguo. I’m your mother. Are you really so heartless? Your dad is heartless, sending me to live in the old house. Are you just as heartless? There’s no point in me living anymore."
Qi Taiguo pinched the bridge of his nose and said, "Mom, if you keep crying, I’m hanging up. Calls are expensive. You should go back!"
Mother Qi was silenced, her crying stopping abruptly.
"Take care of yourself. As for Dad, I’ll talk to him. As for Susu and me, we’re doing fine, don’t worry." Qi Taiguo said his goodbyes and hung up, facing Cheng Su who had a questioning look, "It’s nothing, she said she was sick, had a fever, but it’s gone now. What’s for dinner tonight?"
Cheng Su made an acknowledging sound and pointed to the seasoned ribs she had prepared.
Meanwhile, Mother Qi stood staring at the phone for a while, then wandered back home, disconsolate.
Even after mentioning her illness, Taiguo didn’t seem to soften at all. Her son had become heartless!