Qi Taiguo and Chen Shouwang found a small restaurant to dine in, and it wasnât until Chen Shouwang sat down that he felt completely relaxed.
The ease of being without debts, the ease of not having to live in fear, he let out a long sigh.
"Taiguo, thank you for today, you can rest assured, I will definitely pay you back," Chen Shouwang said to Qi Taiguo.
Qi Taiguo nodded; he wouldnât falsely claim there was no need to repay it, after all, it was money Cheng Su had worked hard to earn, not money blown in by the wind. He helped him out of comradeship.
"Donât deal with these people anymore. They can be ruthless, more so than anyone, theyâre reckless with their own lives, but are you?" Qi Taiguo advised.
Chen Shouwang gave a bitter smile. "Where would I dare to get involved with them again?"
Qi Taiguo looked at him, about to speak, but then the boss brought over the dishes and he fell silent. Once the boss left, he simply said, "Letâs eat."
Chen Shouwang silently picked up his chopsticks and, thinking of something, asked, "By the way, I heard that scalper speaking earlier, have you seen him before?"
"That little bastard dined and dashed at Cheng Suâs restaurant before. Later I ran into him being rude to Cheng Su, so I taught him a lesson!" Qi Taiguo said lightly.
Chen Shouwang made an acknowledging noise.
The two ate quietly when Qi Taiguo brought up an old topic, "A wife needs to be spoiled by her husband, but there has to be a limit, you canât indulge her every whim. Like this time, if you had explained things, I believe Hualing wouldnât have been so stubborn. Sheâs a university graduate, doesnât she know whatâs more important?"
Chen Shouwang, head lowered, said, "You know what her temper is like, once she decides on something, thatâs it, she has to have her way."
"But she canât force you to steal or rob! What if you canât resolve this issue? If it blows up, the consequences could be even more embarrassing than now. Since ancient times, usurious interest has driven families to madness, causing wives and children to leaveâdonât you think it has happened?" Qi Taiguo couldnât help lecturing.
"I was foolish!"
Qi Taiguo sighed, "Iâm not trying to blame you, just want you to think more carefully about everything, weigh the options, and not have regrets only when things go too far."
Chen Shouwang didnât respond, just kept eating in silence.
Qi Taiguo, seeing his attitude, felt there was nothing more to say. Heâd expressed what was good and bad; how to act was Chen Shouwangâs own choice.
Sharing a meal, each reflecting on their own path, as a comrade, he had fulfilled his duty.
After the meal, they went back home, each entering their own house.
"Did you eat out? How did it go?" Cheng Su was reading a book, and when she saw him, she put it down to ask.
Qi Taiguo nodded, sat beside her, drew her shoulder toward him, and recounted the process of repaying the debt.
He also mentioned Chen Shouwangâs attitude, saying, "I hope he really takes it as a lesson. I canât help him that many times!"
"Look at you, all worried. As if youâre some kind of matchmaker who also delivers babies. Youâve helped him now, let it go. How he lives is his own choice. Alright, go take a shower, youâre covered in sweat, itâs stinking up the place!" Cheng Su pushed him away.
"Will you help me wash?" Qi Taiguo said with an amorous touch to her face.
"Get lost!"
In the neighboring room, Hualing was questioning Chen Shouwang, but her tone was accusatory: "You didnât come back for dinner, where did you go? Chen Shouwang, youâre getting stranger by the day. What exactly is going on?"
"Nothing much, I just had dinner with Qi Taiguo outside tonight, Iâm going to take a shower!" Chen Shouwang, quite impatiently and having been lectured repeatedly by Qi Taiguo, really could only describe his feelings towards Hualing with the word âenduranceâ. If it wasnât to satisfy her, he wouldnât be so humiliated to be lectured by someone a few years younger.