The aunt was taken aback to see Qi Taiguo return alone and her impression of Cheng Su worsened. What an assertive daughter-in-law, she thought, showing no sense of wrongdoing at all.
"Taiguo, you really canāt indulge that wife of yours. Otherwise, sheāll end up walking all over you. With such a temper, how can she be so unsubmissive?" the aunt couldnāt help but advise Qi Taiguo.
In her view, having such a daughter-in-law, Qi Taiguo had really been cheated.
Upon hearing this, Qi Taiguo wasnāt as āobedientā as he used to be. He suddenly remembered what his father-in-law had said the night before. Though initially not quite convinced, now it was clear to him that what he had thought ā that his family considered Cheng Su as one of their own ā wasnāt really the case.
So she truly was alone and unsupported!
"Aunt, Cheng Su is very good. She is independent and strong; she can do business and make money; she keeps our home neat and clean; and she takes good care of me and treats my parents well. So even if she does walk over me, I donāt mind. Sheās my wife; if I donāt indulge her, who will?" Qi Taiguo said indifferently.
The aunt felt choked by his response, swallowing her prepared lecture and looking at him as if she were dumbfounded.
"Being able to marry Cheng Su is the blessing of my life, aunt. What youāve said, Iāll only listen to this one last time. From now on, anyone who speaks ill of her is speaking ill of me," Qi Taiguo added before leaving the room.
"Everythingās turned upside down, Erzhen, have you seen this? What did I tell you? Your Qi family will eventually change its surname to Cheng. Look at them, all bewitched, even disrespecting their elders," the aunt leaped up.
Mother Qi had a splitting headache. She had just been rebuked by her husband and given a cold shoulder by her son, and now her elder sister was speaking out, causing her head to throb violently.
"Elder sister, please stop talking, Iām upset enough as it is!"
Hearing this, the auntās face darkened and she sneered, "It seems you find me annoying and meddlesome too, donāt you? Thatās right; a widow like me canāt reach your familyās high branch."
Standing up, she said, "If thatās the case, consider this a mistaken good intention on my part. Iāll leave now, and in the future, I wonāt trouble you anymore."
Mother Qi then said, "Itās almost afternoon; how about leaving tomorrow instead?"
The aunt didnāt truly want to leave; she was just irate. But Mother Qiās words made her even angrier, and with years of being strong-willed and stubborn, she couldnāt bear to stay any longer. She immediately called her daughter-in-law and the others to pack up and leave.
Mother Qi did want to keep them from leaving, but with her husband and son both blaming her, along with her elder daughter, and even her usually silent younger son saying that the aunt was overreacting this time, she couldnāt help but become alert to the situation.
Even if they were blood sisters, everyone had their own families. To put it bluntly, they had lived most of their lives. Could sisterly love be closer than that of a husband and son?
After all, the Qi family was named Qi. Surely they couldnāt let discord ruin their peace, right?
So, Mother Qi just mentioned the idea of leaving passively and didnāt insist further. Instead, she packed up many special local products and also secretly gave away fifty yuan.
"Elder sister, I donāt have much to offer you. Weāre both at this age; buy whatever you want to eat, and donāt scrimp. And about Weixia, donāt worry, I will have Taiguo find a decent government job," Mother Qi promised.
The aunt wanted to scoff at this, but upon further reflection, considering the state of her own family, she lacked the conviction to refuse. Of all the relatives with prospects, Qi Taiguo likely stood alone.
Clenching the fifty yuan, the aunt pursed her lips, led the children with her, and left with a belly full of stifled anger.