Cheng Su was quite surprised with her old motherās easygoing nature. When Cheng Su mentioned performing a ritual, it didnāt feel odd; people in the countryside were just like that, turning to gods and spirits at the first sign of trouble.
What he didnāt tell Cheng Su was that Mother Qi had privately asked him if Cheng Su had spoken ill of her to Xiao Qi. Naturally, he said no, but he still found it odd that the child steadfastly refused to be held by the old mother.
Performing a ritual wasnāt a bad idea.
Qi Taiguo looked at his son and said, "If, as Sister-in-law Song said, Xiao Qi saw something dirty, a ritual might help. But if heās rejecting his grandma, it could be troublesome!"
Qi Xiaoqi clutched his little hands, tilting his head as if looking at Qi Taiguo, or maybe somewhere else.
"What kind of trouble?"
"Like I said before, whoāll look after the child?" Qi Taiguo said, "Now that the Mid-Autumn Festival has passed, youāll start school in half a month, right? No matter how light your courses, youāll have to commute between two places. Someone has to look after the child. Can your mother do it endlessly? Leaving your father alone back home makes me uneasy."
Cheng Su chuckled, "Iāve already talked to my parents about this."
"Oh?"
"Cheng Zhi didnāt get into college and plans to go into business with my third uncle. My dad is home alone, just taking care of a few acres of land with nothing much to do. If he gets bored, he could come over to stay and help my mom with the child. When heās fed up with staying, he could go back to the countryside for a few days." Cheng Su eyed him, "What do you think?"
"If your father is willing, it sounds fine." Qi Taiguo said.
"Doesnāt it feel unfair? Letting the maternal grandparents take care, but not the paternal ones? Donāt you have any thoughts on that?" Cheng Su said with a half-smile.
Qi Taiguo was momentarily taken aback, "What thoughts could I have? You donāt have the time, and the child must be taken care of. You canāt just drop out of school, and the business needs managing. Besides, itās not that weāre not letting my parents take care; itās that my momās leg isnāt healed yet. Even if we let her take care, she couldnāt."
As he spoke, he realized Cheng Suās petty jealousy and continued, "You donāt think Iād have a problem with the maternal grandparents taking care, do you?"
"How do we know what goes on in a manās mind? Who knows if youāre worried about your parents being estranged from the child?" Cheng Su muttered.
"Nonsense! As long as itās good for the child, anyone can take care. You women, always so petty." Qi Taiguo put on a stern face, "I wouldnāt overthink it. Iād just pick the solution thatās best for the child and most comprehensive."
Cheng Su gave an awkward smile, "I was just talking."
Qi Taiguo rolled his eyes at her, then looked at Qi Xiaoqi and said, "This little guy better get used to my mom too. We canāt rely solely on the maternal grandparents; thatād be too tiring. Theyāre not obligated to look after our child, just offering a helping hand. If this little guy cares for them, then he should know what to do."
Qi Xiaoqi blinked and matched his fatherās gaze.
Cheng Su chided him, "You really think heās an adult? Talking to him is useless!"
"He might understand!" Qi Taiguo said with a sly smile as he glanced at his son and suddenly asked, "Has he been fed?"
"Yes."
Hearing this, he stood up, reaching out to hold the child, and Qi Xiaoqi opened his mouth to shout. Cheng Su held him back and asked, "What are you doing?"
"Tonight let him sleep with Grandma!" Qi Taiguo gave her an ambiguous look.
Cheng Su was momentarily taken aback, then blushed and spat at him.
Qi Taiguo chuckled mischievously.
Qi Xiaoqi stopped his impending shout and silently stared at the canopy, figuring that itād be better to sleep with Grandma. Spare him from being corrupted by these two.