Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“These things belong to us now. We have the right to decide how to distribute them. You don’t need to interfere too much.” Ding Jiayi’s face stiffened. All of what Zhai Sheng said was targeted at Zijin.
If she were Zhai Sheng’s auntie, then Zijin would be his younger sister. How could Zhai Sheng bully his own family member in this way?
This would not do. She must not only let her sister interact with Zijin but also Zhai Sheng. Given Zhai Sheng’s current status, if he acknowledged Zijin as his sister, then Zijin really would not have any worries in the future.
“Zhai Sheng, it’s more convenient since you drove here. You’ve said it yourself that your uncle’s bones have not fully recovered. It’s not convenient for him to ride a bicycle during winter time. Why don’t you drive and fetch your sister, Zijin, over? Our whole family can then get together and have a good meal.” This ‘bright’ idea flashed in Ding Jiayi’s mind as she sized up Zhai Sheng.
She was acknowledging kinship with the Zhai family, but they were not real relatives since they were unrelated by blood.
Zhai Sheng was young and already successful. He was so much better than that stinky soldier called Zhou Jun whom she met previously.
The Zhou family was villagers, whereas Zhai Sheng’s father was the chief of the army.
Zhou Jun would, at most, climb to the position of battalion commander or regiment commander. Zhai Sheng was different. Zhai Sheng might possibly assume the role of the chief when Chief Zhai relinquished his role.
If Zhai Sheng became her son-in-law through marriage with Zijin, then would she still need to work so hard? This was the best method of securing a life free of worries!
“Zhai Sheng, you’re already at this age. Do you have any girlfriend? Let Auntie tell you. Don’t be in a rush to find a wife. Your family’s conditions are excellent and you will definitely find a good one. You’re still young and don’t really know how to judge a woman’s character. Don’t worry. Auntie will definitely put this matter on my mind. I assure you that I’ll help you find a good wife.”
“Shut up!” Qiao Dongliang’s face turned crimson. He was already clenching his fists and wished that he could punch Ding Jiayi till she fainted so that she would not be so embarrassing in front of others.
Right from the start, Ding Jiayi had always been performing a one-man show. Be it Miao Jing or Zhai Sheng, neither of them acknowledged her. They could not even be bothered to look at her.
Unfortunately, Ding Jiayi did not have any self-awareness. She did not know how to observe and decipher other people’s thoughts, and she even poked her nose into their affairs.
When he heard that Ding Jiayi was going to introduce a girlfriend to Zhai Sheng, Qiao Dongliang immediately understood what Ding Jiayi was thinking of. He was so annoyed that wanted to punch Ding Jiayi right then and there.
Zhai Sheng was expressionless, but he said as a matter-of-fact, “Uncle Qiao, when you’re young, your judgment of character was not very good. It’s good that your judgment has been gradually improving.”
Qiao Dongliang felt embarrassed. He smiled bitterly. “Zhai Sheng, you don’t know my situation in the past. It’s not that Uncle didn’t have a good sense of judgment. It’s because I had no choice at that time.”
“Uncle Qiao, as a man, you should know that it’s better to do without than to have something substandard. No matter what, you have Nan Nan, this daughter, because of that.” Zhai Sheng tugged the corners of his lips. True enough, life was never perfect.
“Zhai Sheng, come and help Uncle bring these items to the room.” Qiao Dongliang did not even have the energy to smile. ‘Better to do without than to have something substandard.’ Not everyone was qualified to say these words.
“Sure.”
Zhai Sheng saw Qiao Dongliang take out a pair of keys from his pocket as he opened a room that was locked in the small quad. This room was ventilated, facing the sun. It’s also very dry. At first sight, it was a good place for storing things.
Zhai Sheng and Qiao Dongliang cooperated and shifted all the items to this room within five minutes.
When the two of them left the room, Qiao Dongliang locked the door tightly without any hesitation. As for the key to the door, beside him, only Qiao Nan had one pair in her hands.
“Zhai Sheng, it’s all thanks to you previously. I’m unable to return the money to you yet, but it’s rare for you to pay a visit to my house. Uncle will show off my culinary skills and cook something nice for you today.” After putting the key away in the pocket of his shirt, Qiao Dongliang then smiled as he felt more at ease.
“I’ll have to trouble Uncle Qiao then. I’ll help you.”
Once they were set on this, the old and young men started to get busy in the kitchen. Qiao Nan and Miao Jing continued to stay in the bedroom to chat.
In the end, Ding Jiayi, this lady owner, had a lot of spare time instead. It was as if she was an extra person who had nothing to do. She could only sit by one side dryly and turn on the television to watch the shows. She asked in boredom, “Old Qiao, Zijin told me before that there’s no television in this house. When was it installed?”
In a short span of six months, Old Qiao had earned so much money that he was able to afford a television?
Qiao Dongliang halted his hands that had been washing the vegetables. Watching Zhai Sheng who was busy by his side, he really did not wish to answer this question. “Why do you care? Just watch if you wish to. Otherwise, switch off the television!”
“Old Qiao, come out. I have something to discuss with you.” Ding Jiayi noticed that the small quad was not only installed with a 25-inch color television but also a phone.
If she had not always known Qiao Dongliang’s salary, Ding Jiayi would have suspected whether Qiao Dongliang had saved up some money privately behind her back.
“What’s the matter this time?” Afraid that Ding Jiayi would be an embarrassment in front of Zhai Sheng again, Qiao Dongliang could only leave Zhai Sheng alone in the kitchen impolitely and moved Ding Jiayi aside to talk.
“Old Qiao, did you buy and hit any lottery recently? How much did you win? Don’t hide it from me. We’re a couple. I have a share too!”
“What nonsense are you talking about? We’re so tight on money now. Do you think it is possible for me to buy lottery and such things?” Wasn’t that the same as gambling? Zijin and Nan Nan would be attending college in the blink of an eye. He had been worrying about the tuition fees for the two daughters all this time. How would he have the spare money to buy such stuff?
“Then, why was this big color television suddenly installed in this house? There’s also a phone! We don’t have any of them in our house!” Did he treat her as a blind person? Which of these items did not cost money? And which of these was cheap?
“What has this got to do with you! Anyway, I didn’t buy any lottery, and neither did I win anything. If there’s nothing else, I’m going back to the kitchen,” Qiao Dongliang said impatiently.
“There must be something!” Ding Jiayi held on to Qiao Dongliang. “Old Qiao, you see. It is the most critical period for Nan Nan’s studies now. Do you wish to spoil Nan Nan by installing the television here? Do you still want Nan Nan to enter college? Why don’t we swap this television with the one in our house in the quad? That one is working too. What do you say? As for the phone, why don’t we move it to our house too? This place is lent to you by the school and is not our real home. You’ll be leaving after two years. It’ll be troublesome to shift so many things then. It’ll also be such a waste to leave them here.”
“Dismantle the phone and bring them home. It’ll be more convenient if Zijin’s school teacher wishes to contact me in the future. That way, I could understand Zijin’s situation better!”
