As soon as Mother Qi spoke, it was Father Qi who first reacted.
"Work in an office? He’s just a farmer who hasn’t even finished middle school. What makes him think he can work in an office? This current job as a decorator is quite decent. The Thai wife said before that if he did well, he could eventually venture out on his own, but he doesn’t appreciate it. And now he wants to dream of working in an office? Bah!" Father Qi said coldly, "Wear a hat that fits your head. If he continues to have these wild dreams, he’ll end up empty-handed. He’ll regret it!"
Scolding Zhang Jisheng was tantamount to scolding Qi Fenglian, making Qi Fenglian’s face red with embarrassment.
Mother Qi, after being chastised, said, "I was just talking casually. Why are you getting so worked up?"
"You keep coming up with these lousy ideas!" Father Qi glared at her.
Mother Qi pouted, "Mine are lousy ideas, then why don’t you come up with a good one!"
Father Qi looked at Qi Fenglian and said, "Fenglian, a person needs to know contentment, understand their own capabilities, and live within their means. He needs to know the difference between good and bad; otherwise, he won’t achieve anything."
"Dad, I..."
"The Thai wife has already been decent to you. You remember what she did when you gave birth to Baobao, right? She doesn’t approve of the Zhang family’s ways or Jisheng, but if it weren’t for your sake, would she help Jisheng find a job?" Father Qi got straight to the point.
Qi Fenglian’s face paled slightly, her lips trembling because he was right. If not for her sake, why would someone help Zhang Jisheng secure a job?
"She clearly doesn’t approve of Jisheng, but she still helped him find a job. Why is that? It’s all for your sake. But if Jisheng keeps complaining, do you think she’ll keep helping him?" Father Qi snorted coldly. "Your sister-in-law isn’t someone to be pushed around. She’s already helped as relatives would; she doesn’t owe him anything."
"Dad, I know." Qi Fenglian felt utterly ashamed.
Father Qi glanced at her, sighed, and took out his pipe, rolling some tobacco into a cigarette.
The daughter-in-law was willing to help out this elder sister mainly for the Thai connection, and also because she genuinely knew Qi Fenglian had a tough time.
But if they couldn’t appreciate it and left people cold, this goodwill would be lost in vain.
"Fenglian, Jisheng may be clueless, but don’t be confused like him. Goodwill is hard to come by. If you do something to destroy it, no one will be able to help you in the future!" Father Qi lit the cigarette and blew out a puff of smoke as he spoke.
Qi Fenglian lowered her head.
Mother Qi listened on the side, feeling completely at a loss, thinking this old man was exaggerating things.
She couldn’t understand; everyone is family, helping each other makes sense, so why was it being talked up like some major ordeal?
In Mother Qi’s mind, if one son was doing well, he should naturally help out the siblings who weren’t, which was normal. But what Father Qi said seemed to contradict this reasoning.
"Go back and tell Jisheng to work hard and not overthink. If he really feels tired, let him come back home to work!" Father Qi said, "But don’t you dare find the Thai wife and ask to change his job."
Qi Fenglian nodded.
"Fenglian, don’t feel that I’m being dictatorial, as if I’m siding with your sister-in-law. I’m saying this for your own good. If you follow Jisheng’s muddled path, who would dare lend you a hand?"
"Dad, I understand, I really do!" Qi Fenglian immediately replied, thinking fortunately she hadn’t told her parents about Zhang Jisheng’s desire to get into purchasing; otherwise, she’d be utterly humiliated.