There was no way Qiao Dongliang would not feel the difference in the sisters’ attitudes.
Qiao Dongliang gradually realized that Qiao Zijin had been chasing after the status of a ‘university graduate’ while Qiao Nan pursued further education because she truly wanted to widen her knowledge. Perhaps, they had dragged down the only person in their family who was actually good at studying.
At the thought of that, Qiao Dongliang was filled with regret. “Didn’t you hear Nan Nan yawning? She’s tired. What could be more important than getting enough rest? Didn’t you say that you understand how you did Nan Nan wrong in the past and that you’re going to make it up to her now? Why are you behaving like this now?”
“Dad, isn’t it just because I’m in a hurry to perform?” Qiao Zijin felt a little awkward. Her guilt was not genuine and yet, she had to make others believe that she did, in fact, feel guilty. It seemed like she still had a long way to go so that she would not let anything slip.
Her dad was not that good at reading people, but the Zhai family was. If she could not hide her true intentions from the Zhai family, the Zhai family might refuse to let her marry Zhai Sheng even if Qiao Nan were to ask Zhai Sheng to marry her.
“How would Nan Nan know that I’ve changed for the better if I don’t show it? You know that Nan Nan got angry at me the last time. Yes, I wasn’t a good sister and had been depending on my younger sister. But I’ve changed, haven’t I? I really do want to improve my relationship with Nan Nan. Besides you and Mom, Nan Nan is my closest kin and the one who treats me the best.”
While saying this, Qiao Zijin confused herself. She felt as though she was speaking the truth and lies all at once. The truth was that Qiao Nan was indeed the only one who treated her well apart from her parents. The lie was that her closest kin left was Qiao Nan. Besides her parents, the one whom she loved most and was closest to her was her son, Feng Feng.
Qiao Dongliang was full of resentment. “Since you’ve grown a heart and realized that, why did you still hurt Nan Nan in that way last time? Rome wasn’t built in a day. You treated Nan Nan so coldly and badly for so many years. Do you really think that she’ll warm up to you just because of that parcel? There’s no way of hurrying this. You have to take it slow. What you need to do now is to prove yourself through your actions and not your words. Once you’ve done enough, Nan Nan will naturally feel it even without you saying anything. I’ll help you as much as I can to ease the tension, but I definitely will not speak up for you.”
If he were to speak well of Zijin in front of Nan Nan before Nan Nan felt Zijin’s sincerity, not only would he not be able to salvage the sisters’ relationship, but he might even hurt Nan Nan so much that she would ignore her father.
Because he was clear of that, Qiao Dongliang had already decided not to mention Qiao Zijin’s situation to Qiao Nan in case he irked Qiao Nan. Qiao Dongliang had such control, at the very least.
Slowly. He asked her to take it slow. She did not have that much time! Qiao Nan was already five months pregnant. In two to three months’ time at the very most, Qiao Nan would definitely have to give birth. She had already searched the web about this, and most doctors had said that it was common for mothers with multiple births to give birth prematurely in their seventh or eighth month.
Now, not only did she have to make up with Qiao Nan, but she even had to develop an extremely close relationship with her. Otherwise, there was no way Qiao Nan would agree to leave her husband and children in her hands. If there was any tension between her and Qiao Nan, it might be difficult for her to visit Zhai Sheng and the three children if Qiao Nan were to pass on. The Zhai family did not need her to take care of the three children. Besides, given the Qiao family’s conditions, they had almost no rights to request for the three children to live in the maternal grandma’s house.
Qiao Zijin did not want to take it slow, but unfortunately, there was no way Qiao Zijin could speed up the process without Qiao Dongliang’s help either.
“Zhai Sheng, why are you back?” Coincidentally, Zhai Sheng had returned on the very day that the parcel had been delivered. His superior knew that Zhai Sheng’s wife had gotten pregnant very soon after they had gotten married. Zhai Sheng was already forty-five and they joked that this child seemed to be just like children that other couples had by accident later in their lives.
As such, everyone was very understanding. Besides, Zhai Sheng had already made great contributions to the country and the people while he was younger. It was no big deal for him to get more time off now. As such, Zhai Sheng had about three to four days of vacation every month.
If Zhai Sheng had been slightly more selfish, he could have chosen not to remain in the military camp all the time, given his current position and status. However, Zhai Sheng had his own principles. Even though he was now a leader, Zhai Sheng had not changed his habits.
All soldiers under Zhai Sheng were the cream of the crop and the pride of the military. Because Zhai Sheng excelled at training his subordinates, it was hard for his superiors to let him go too. Moreover, Zhai Sheng had never talked about that matter and was passionate about developing talents for the country. That was why this matter had dragged on until now.
Because they were already taking advantage of him, they had to give in to Zhai Sheng in some ways. Whether it was the talents that Zhai Sheng developed or Zhai Sheng himself, they had to treasure and cherish all of them.
Zhai Sheng did not even try to refuse when he had been given time off and immediately rushed home. Seeing Zhai Sheng homesick amused many in the military. It was true that a man with a wife was indeed different. Any normal man would cherish their own wives, after all.
After getting married, Chief Zhai had become more homesick than anyone else. The chief’s wife was indeed impressive for having managed to tame the dragon that was their Chief Zhai.
Zhai Sheng had just arrived home when he heard that a parcel for Qiao Nan had arrived. After confirming that Qiao Dongliang had sent it to Qiao Nan, Zhai Sheng carried the huge parcel in. Zhai Sheng himself was eye-catching enough, and he was even more so while carrying that huge parcel. “What’s that huge bag of things? Did you buy them?”
Zhai Sheng had just returned from the military. There was no way he would have had the time to go shopping.
“No, I think my father-in-law sent them to Nan Nan.”
