Qi Taiguo came home and saw Cheng Su hugging a pillow, puffing her cheeks in frustration, and couldnât help but find it a bit strange.
The restaurant had opened, and he heard that business was good. Cheng Su had been very happy lately, so what happened today? Who upset her?
"Who made our President Cheng upset? Look at those puffed-up cheeks, like a frog, ribbit ribbit." Qi Taiguo poked her puffed cheeks with his index finger.
Cheng Su had been sulking, but being teased like that, she burst out laughing and pushed him away, "Go away, youâre the frog, a big old toad."
"There you smile." Qi Taiguo sat over, pulled her into his arms, and asked, "Why are you upset?"
Cheng Su sighed and said, "Itâs nothing, just sometimes it feels like no matter what you do, someone will have a problem with you."
"Huh? Whatâs that supposed to mean?"
With nothing much to talk about, Cheng Su started recounting the two fundraising events.
"...If you donât donate or donate too little, people say youâre cold-hearted and unsympathetic. Saying that you do big business and make a lot of money, so you should donate more. Itâs funny, isnât everyoneâs money earned with hard work? Just because you have money, do you have to donate a lot for it to be justified?" Cheng Su laughed bitterly.
"I thought it was for something else, youâre sulking because of this?" Qi Taiguo chuckled, "You never feel tired, getting worked up over such things!"
"So what if Iâm petty!" Cheng Su glared at him and said, "I just find it unsettling hearing these absurd claims. They seem to think itâs only right that I donate more because I earn money, ridiculous!"
"Alright, alright, theyâre just on a different level than you. Are you really going to bother with them?" Qi Taiguo comforted her, saying, "Let them say whatever they want, would you really care?"
"I care, why wouldnât I care? Who doesnât care about their reputation?" Cheng Su raised her eyebrow, "If you heard someone call your wife stingy, a penny-pinching miser, wouldnât you be upset?"
Just as Qi Taiguo was about to respond, the house phone rang. Since he was sitting nearby, he naturally picked it up.
"Oh, Mom, have you had lunch yet?" Qi Taiguo played with Cheng Suâs hair while speaking into the phone.
When Cheng Su heard it was her mother-in-law calling, she pretended not to care, but her ears perked up to listen.
Qi Taiguo noticed, nearly bursting into laughter, so he changed the direction of the phone to let Cheng Su overhear.
Seeing her eavesdropping caught, Cheng Suâs face reddened a bit, and she struggled not to listen.
Qi Taiguo chuckled and responded, while Cheng Su, unable to break free, pinched his soft side.
Not to be outdone, Qi Taiguo reached and pinched the soft part on her chest.
Cheng Su blushed fiercely, "Pervert!"
Qi Taiguo laughed out loud with pleasure.
Mother Qi heard something was off on the other end and coughed a couple of times: "Taiguo, Taiguo are you listening?"
"Oh, I am listening, tell me, whatâs up?" Qi Taiguo stopped teasing and seriously spoke into the phone.
"Itâs not a big deal, itâs just your aunt arranged a bride for Weixia, but their family doesnât have much in the way of assets, right? A house was even crushed by heavy snow last year. The girlâs family said theyâd only marry her off if they build a new house. You know your auntâs life hasnât been easy, and Weidong passed away early, leaving a few orphaned ones. Weixiaâs matter is a big concern, itâs a rare good match, and your aunt doesnât want to miss out. So she wanted to ask if she could borrow some money from us, and with what sheâs saved, build a house, and settle this matter. Isnât Cheng Su in business? See if she can spare some?" Mother Qi said.
Qi Taiguo was stunned, and looked at Cheng Su.