634 Remember for a Lifetime
“I understand now. I won’t interfere in this matter anymore. I was too anxious. I just want those children to be safe and sound,” Qiao Mei said.
“It’s good that you’ve thought it through. I heard from your Uncle Zhao that Old Madam Li always comes at mealtimes. Did you eat at your mother’s place?” Qiao Qiang asked.
Qiao Mei was about to stubbornly say that she had eaten when her hopeless stomach growled.
She looked at Qiao Qiang shyly and said, “Hehe, I was too focused on being angry with my mother. Do we still have food at home?”
“There’s still food in the pot. I’ll go and get some for you. I’ve only just started eating. Recently, I’ve been so focused on playing chess that I haven’t eaten with you in a long time.” Qiao Qiang stood up to get more food for Qiao Mei.
Qiao Mei quickly said, “I’ll go on my own! I can still do this kind of thing. Grandfather, don’t be too nervous. My children aren’t that fragile!”
“You! If I had accompanied you to the capital, you wouldn’t have been targeted by that… Wang family or the Zhao family…” For a moment, Qiao Qiang could not remember who had tried to harm Qiao Mei.
Qiao Mei came back with the bowl of rice and said, “It’s the He family! Grandfather, why can’t you remember it? Is your memory not too good lately?”
“I know everything. But why should I remember the name of a bad guy? If anyone dares to harm you again, I’ll take his life!” Qiao Qiang used his hand to mimic a knife and made a gesture of swinging a big knife, moving his arms a few times in front of Qiao Mei.
Qiao Mei was so amused by him that she laughed loudly and said, “Grandfather is the best! So did you win the chess game today?”
“Of course! Your grandfather is invincible in the village! Next time, they have to obediently play chess at our house!” Qiao Qiang said proudly.
“Grandfather is like a good sword that never dulls! Then you have to take care of your own health. When the bad guys come, you have to protect me well!” Qiao Mei said.
“Alright, alright, stop teasing me. Hurry up and eat.” After Qiao Qiang and Qiao Mei finished eating, they went back to their rooms to rest.
After Li Gui settled the children down for dinner, she did not eat anything and just sat in the courtyard in a daze. She began to regret not chasing after Qiao Mei to explain herself.
Yesterday, she had already decided to be a good mother and protect her children well. However, when she saw Old Madam Li, she always felt that she should help Old Madam Li more. She always felt that Old Madam Li still doted on her, and it was just that compared to her two older brothers, Old Madam Li had less time to dote on her.
Now that she thought about it carefully, she owed Qiao Mei and these children even more.
Zhang Qin tiptoed to Li Gui’s side and appeared in front of Li Gui with her hands behind her back.
“Xiao Qin, why are you here to look for mom? What do you have behind you?” Li Gui asked with a smile.
Zhang Qin took out the roasted sweet potato she had hidden behind her back and held them up in front of Li Gui like it was a treasure. She said excitedly, “Look! Eldest brother helped Uncle Zhao with some work! Eldest brother roasted this. He said to let mom eat first, then we’ll eat.”
When Li Gui heard what Zhang Qin said, she was stunned. She looked at the sweet potato, and then at Zhang Qin, as tears gradually welled up in her eyes. She did not expect the children to have learnt to care about her.
“Mom’s not hungry. You guys can eat it.” Li Gui patted Zhang Qin’s head sadly.
Zhang Wei ran out and said, “We all have one. Uncle Zhao gave me many and we each have one! The biggest one is for mom!”
In the afternoon, Li Gui went to help out at someone else’s house and did not notice what Zhang Wei had brought back. When she heard that all the children each had one to eat, Li Gui felt at ease enough to take the roasted sweet potato from Zhang Qin.
This was the first time she had eaten something made by the children. It also reminded her that she had done the same thing for Old Madam Li when she was young. That time, Old Madam Li had praised her for the first time.
However, she was still young at that time and felt that her mother’s praise of her was the best reward. Later on, she realized that the sweet potatoes she brought back had all been given to her older brothers. She did not even get to eat a single bite.
That was something that she had remembered for a lifetime.
She had always lived in misery and would hold on to any bit of sweetness. No matter how ruthlessly and fiercely she was treated, she still did not want to imagine that her loved ones had evil mindsets.
