Qiao Dongliang picked up the chopsticks and had yet to take a bite. He looked at Qiao Nan. “Nan Nan…”
“Dad, whatever it is, we can wait until you finish eating.”
“Okay.” Qiao Dongliang sighed and slurped down the bowl of noodles. “Nan Nan, you have more to say to your sister. How about you ask her why would Wang Yang give her so much money and even provide for her? You must persuade your sister that it’s not good to take money from others.”
“Dad, you are her father. Why don’t you go? Why did you ask that I persuade her? Ever since a young age, we did not have much to talk about. Besides, she will never listen to what I say. In comparison, she will listen to what you say.” Qiao Nan was unhappy. She was not willing to be like those spineless people who tried to please everyone.
Wang Yang gave Qiao Zijin money because he was after Qiao Nan. She was not foolish enough to persuade Qiao Zijin not to be used by Wang Yang. If she did that, she was asking for a beating.
Qiao Nan pursed her lips. She cleaned up the tableware after Qiao Dongliang had finished eating. She came back and sat down thereafter. “Actually, there is a simple way to make my sister stay far away from Wang Yang. My sister has only one aim in mind. If I quit school and work, all the money that you earn will be used to finance my sister through college. She may be greedy for money, but she does not have any reason to take Wang Yang’s money. If you tell her this, there is no need for any persuasion and she will definitely be happy.”
Qiao Dongliang stiffened. “Is there a way where we can have the best of both worlds?”
Qiao Nan smiled in exasperation. “Of course there is a way where we can have the best of both worlds, but you must get my sister’s cooperation. You and Mom never stopped her from studying, but she wanted more. It is not a matter of whether I am willing or not. My sister simply won’t listen to a word that we say. Unless she gets what she wants, it is no use to say anything to her. My sister will not listen, and she will not do it. Dad, you must understand that the problem lies with my sister.”
If Qiao Zijin’s desire could not be satisfied, she would not listen to other people no matter what they told her.
Such was her temper, and no amount of persuading would do.
“Dad, do you believe it or not? If I drop out of school, and you only have to provide for my sister alone, there is no need for you to say anything and she will stop hanging out with Wang Yang. More importantly, once I quit school, Wang Yang may not be willing to care about my sister or to spend money on her anymore.”
Wang Yang wanted to stop her from studying with Zhu Baoguo so that she would not be a positive influence on Zhu Baoguo.
If she quit school, Wang Yang would have nothing to worry anymore. Hence, he would no longer need to waste so much of his time, energy, and money on Qiao Zijin.
The Wang family might be rich, but they were not so foolish as to provide for someone’s daughter.
“Nan Nan, for the sake of both of you, can’t you think of a way to persuade your sister?” Qiao Dongliang refused to give up. He had only two daughters and he hoped that both of them would do well.
Qiao Nan pursed her lips and her voice sank. “No, Dad. Since you can’t do it, let alone for me. If you are worried, you can visit her and try to persuade her. I have no other solution.”
Since Qiao Zijin always mixed with Wang Yang, she might be led astray by him. She had been very kind to Qiao Zijin by not adding salt to the injury now.
As for other things, her father did not need to think too much about it. She would never agree to it. “Dad, the school has given us a lot of homework. I have to go back to my room to do the homework. As for my sister, if you have any thoughts about it, it’s better to talk to her as soon as possible. If she gets entangled with Wang Yang, it may be too late to put a stop to it.”
With that, Qiao Nan returned to her room. She took out a box and placed the letter that Zhai Sheng wrote to her safely inside.
When Qiao Nan was doing her homework, she could hear the sound of Qiao Dongliang leaving the house.
Qiao Nan paused momentarily before continuing with her school work.
She had said that she would not care for Qiao Zijin, but she would never stop her father from showing concern for her.
The day was still bright. Qiao Nan had finished half of her homework when Qiao Dongliang came back home. Qiao Nan put down the pen and went to the kitchen. “Dad, the rice has been cooked and the dishes have been steamed, ready to be eaten. If you are hungry, you can eat them.”
Qiao Dongliang had a defeated look on his face. He rubbed at his face. “Nan Nan, do you have anything to ask me?”
“No.”
Qiao Dongliang smiled bitterly, feeling gloomy. “Nan Nan, am I a failure as a father? Zijin won’t listen to a word that I say, and you are not willing to listen to me as well. All of you have grown up and have a mind of your own.”
As a father, he did not seem to have any use anymore.
When faced with issues and problems, Zijin and Nan Nan did not need his help as they had their own way of thinking.
“If you really feel that we have grown up, then just let us be, Dad. You can have it easy. Besides, you may not be able to take us in hand. Why do you make life so difficult for yourself?” Qiao Nan poured a cup of water for Qiao Dongliang.
For two lifetimes, her father had not been able to make Qiao Zijin and her listen to him.
It was impossible in the previous lifetime, and it would be all the more impossible in this lifetime.
Actually, she and Qiao Zijin were quite similar to each other deep down inside. Once they had made up their mind, they would not listen to their father no matter how he tried to persuade them.
“I… I merely want the best for our family.” Was that too much to ask for?
“Dad, this does not concern you alone. It’s not good enough that you think that way. The other party has to have similar thinking as you. If everyone is willing to go with your idea, then it will be good. But Dad, if others do not agree with you, what you are doing is an arduous and fruitless task.”
Both she and Qiao Zijin would not give him any credit for his effort.
Since she had a chance to continue with her studies, why must she go through so much effort to make sure that Qiao Zijin did not go astray?
She had the chance to continue with her studies not because Qiao Zijin decided to go easy on her or had helped her. In fact, she was the one who sorted her own thoughts and persisted. Qiao Zijin had done nothing to help her.
“Dad, it’s quite late. You should eat so that you can wash up and sleep.”
“I won’t eat.” Qiao Dongliang was angry. He did not see anything wrong with his way of thinking. He did not ask Nan Nan to sacrifice herself. He only wanted Nan Nan to persuade Zijin to stop being so muddle-headed. It was not a complicated matter, but Nan Nan refused to listen to him. Zijin and Ding Jiayi disregarded him as well. What was the use of staying in this family?
Qiao Dongliang, who sulked and pulled a long face, hit the table before returning to his room in anger. He did not have any dinner at all.
Seeing this, Qiao Nan said nothing.
