Having exerted Herculean efforts, and killing countless brain cells, Qi Taiguo finally persuaded his mother and was just relieved when Mother Qi began packing her bags again.
"Mom, what are you doing?" Youâre still upset?
With a light snort, Mother Qi said, "Every generation has its own way of thinking. Youâve all made your decision. If you donât want children, how can I bear it?"
"..."
"Whether you have children is your business, and I canât make decisions for you, but out of sight is out of mind. Weâve been here for quite some time. Iâm going back tomorrow!" said Mother Qi.
So Taiguo said, "Itâs the off-season for farming now, so stay a little longer!"
"Why stay longer, only to have people give us looks that say our eyes arenât eyes, and our noses arenât noses?" Mother Qi said, with a dismissive twist of her mouth.
Then Qi Fenglian spoke, "Weâve stayed long enough anyway. Even if Mom doesnât go back, Iâve been missing home, and how can I leave everything at home for so long? If we donât go back soon, I reckon my mother-in-law will come charging over!"
Hearing what Qi Fenglian had said, Mother Qi stopped what she was doing and glared at Taiguo, "I wonât settle the matter of grandchildren with you now, but your eldest sister has had a hard time over the years. As her younger brother, now that youâre doing well, you should lend her a hand, and not let down her efforts in helping me bring you up back then."
"Mom..." Qi Fenglian tried to stop her.
Mother Qi gave her a glare and said, "What are you afraid of? Taiguo, itâs all in the family business, and everyone is working for others anyway. Let your sister and her husband come over and help Cheng Su. Family is more trustworthy, right?"
"Mom, Susu has said sheâll see what eldest sister can do, and sheâll arrange things when the time comes," Qi Taiguo hurriedly said.
Qi Fenglian breathed a sigh of relief, fearing her mother might say something shocking again, and said, "Iâll talk to her about it later, thereâs no rush. Baobao is still small!"
Mother Qi pursed her lips and said nothing.
Qi Fenglian then pushed Taiguo out of the room, saying, "Make sure to coax her properly, donât argue. A man should be accommodating to a woman."
Mother Qi heard this from behind and humphed sourly, and when her son left, she muttered, "Iâve never seen a daughter-in-law with such a bad temper!"
Qi Fenglian sighed and said, "Mom, itâs not good to watch them have arguments, is it? Whatâs the point?"
Hopefully, Cheng Su hadnât taken offense to heart.
Qi Taiguo came out of the main room and walked to the door of the small guest room. Looking at the firmly closed door, he truly felt overwhelmed.
No wonder people say the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship is difficult; the hardest part is really being the son caught in between.
Qi Taiguo took a deep breath, knocked on the door, turned the knob, and walked in.
Cheng Su was sitting on the bivouac bed, wiping her tears. When she saw him enter, she turned her back to him and said coldly, "What are you doing here? Get out!"
Qi Taiguo closed the door, walked over, sat down, and touched her shoulder: "Have you been crying?"
Cheng Su turned around, smirked coldly, "Whoâs been crying?"
She denied it, but her eyes were red and gave her away at once.
Qi Taiguo felt a twinge of pain in his heart and said, "I am sorry, itâs all my fault!"
"My fault? I think youâre doing just fine." Cheng Su let out a hollow laugh, tears falling down, "We agreed to not have kids for now, and you promised me that. When it comes down to it, you blame me? Ha, Qi Taiguo, what do you expect me to say?"
"Wasnât I in a hurry at that moment? Momâs getting on in years, and sheâs really eager for a grandchild. When you suddenly said that, how could she take it? Even if we made an agreement, you should have broached the subject gradually!" Qi Taiguo raised his voice slightly, "Besides, mom might be at fault, but at my age, isnât it normal for others to have kids old enough to go buy soy sauce? Isnât she just anxious for me?"