Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

  “Why?” When Qiao Dongliang finished chatting with Elder Lee and came out, he found Qiao Nan looking a little unwell.

  “Nothing, I’m probably not feeling well due to the wind.” Qiao Nan shook her head. She did not reveal the matter regarding Zhu Baoguo and Wang Yang to Qiao Dongliang. Certain things could not be said.

  “I see, when we are back, I will make some ginger soup for you. Don’t be afraid of the spiciness. You’ll be better after drinking it.”

  “Okay, dad, let’s go back. I think Mom and Sister are probably home.”

  At the mention of his spouse and elder daughter, Qiao Dongliang could not sustain his earlier good mood. “Let’s not bother about them, Nan Nan, the money that Elder Lee gave you just now, you need to take take care of it properly. If you really don’t have a proper place to put them, keep them at the place where you store your books. Don’t ever leave it at home. Your Mom and your Sister…… ”

  It was the Lunar New Year and Qiao Dongliang did not want to curse anyone or say anything unlucky. Otherwise, he would have said that his wife and elder daughter were sick in the mind.

  They clearly knew that the family was poor. Yet, they went out to have fun everyday.

  He did not believe that Old Ding would not spend any money when she was out with Zijin everyday.

  During the Lunar New Year period, Ding Jiayi did not work and had no income. Yet, they spent money everyday. Qiao Dongliang no longer wanted to care about the matters pertaining to Ding Jiayi and Qiao Zijin.

  He had made up his mind,that, if there was not enough money for Qiao Zijin’s tuition fees, he would not interfere in it. If Old Ding wanted to spoil Zijin, he would not care too.

  If he indulged Old Ding, he would be indulging both Old Ding and Qiao Zijin!

  Qiao Nan was unaware that Qiao Dongliang, under the influence of Elder Lee, was so determined to wash his hands of Ding Jiayi and Qiao Zijin. At this moment, her mind was occupied with matters pertaining to Zhu Baoguo.

  To prevent Zhu Baoguo from changing for the better, Wang Yang found a group of people to make trouble for her. This was despite that she only had a slight positive influence on Zhu Baoguo.

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  She could infer that Wang Yang would not allow Zhu Baoguo to have any normal friends or those who could positively influence Zhu Baoguo.

  No wonder Zhu Baoguo’s reputation was so bad in the quad. Everyone said he was a bad juvenile. Probably Wang Yang was the cause of all this.

  When school re-opened, she had to find out from Zhu Baoguo about the situation in the Zhu family and why Wang Yang picked on him.

  When Qiao Dongliang and Qiao Nan returned home, Ding Jiayi and Qiao Zijin were not back yet.

  Seeing this situation, Qiao Dongliang did not say a word. Anyway, the first and second day of Lunar New Year just passed and there was a lot of leftover food. Qiao Dongliang asked Qiao Nan what food she liked so that they could heat them up to eat. Father and daughter decided to wash up and sleep after finishing their dinner.

  As for Ding Jiayi and Qiao Zijin, Qiao Dongliang totally did not bother about them.

  When mother and daughter finished happily watching a movie and reached home, they saw that the whole house was in darkness.

  “Mom, do you think Dad will be angry?” Qiao Zijin was having so much fun that day, but when she saw that the house was in darkness, she could not help tugging Ding Jiayi’s hand and asked worriedly.

  “What’s there to be afraid of? He’s angry, then what about me? I’m going to give him the cold shoulder and make him understand who is the one who will accompany him and stay by his side for the rest of his life. If he is capable, he can go ahead and lead a life with just one daughter,” Ding Jiayi said with anger.

  Usually, she waited on Old Qiao with his food and clothing. She was the one who took care of all his daily needs.

  Old Qiao depended on her for his daily needs, but he actually refused to use sleep in the same blanket as her because of Qiao Nan – that wretched girl.

  “Mom, I’ll listen to you.” After hearing Ding Jiayi’s words, Qiao Zijin felt a little more assured. But when she felt the lack of warmth in the house, she was unhappy. “Mom, I’m feeling chilly. Even if we do not bathe, we need to wash our face and feet too. Otherwise, I will be too cold to fall asleep.”

  “There will be hot water.” Ding Jiayi also felt chilly as they just came back from outside.

  Ding Jiayi went to take the hot water pot to wash her face and feet together with Qiao Zijin. However, all the pots in the house were empty.

  “This Old Qiao, without me waiting on him, there isn’t even any hot water at home?” Ding Jiayi was angry yet smug.

  See, man cannot do without a woman. Without her, the house did not even have any hot water.

  Just a few more days and Old Qiao would become so sloppy. She did not believe that he would not relent.

  How a couple gets along – either the east wind prevails over the west wind, or the west wind prevails over the east wind. One will subdue the other. She needed to tame this bad temper of Old Qiao.

  “What, no hot water. Mom, I’m thirsty and cold. How?” Qiao Zijin’s mood hit the rock bottom. “I don’t care, if I’m unable to wash my face or feet, I can’t sleep. Mom, I’m going back to my room. After you boil the water, let me know.”

  Having said that, without waiting for Ding Jiayi’s response, Qiao Zijin stomped her feet as she went back to her room.

  Ding Jiayi smiled and shook her head. Boiling water was a mundane task, how could she let Zijin help on this?

  After a whole day of fun, it was almost midnight when they reached home. Ding Jiayi was alone in the kitchen boiling water. After the hot water was ready, she brought it to Qiao Zijin’s room and waited on her. After Qiao Zijin washed up, was comfortable and in bed, Ding Jiayi then had the time to take care of herself.

  After she warmed her feet, Ding Jiayi felt more relaxed.

  Looking at Qiao Dongliang who was sleeping soundly in bed, Ding Jiayi snorted. Based on the situation today, Qiao Dongliang definitely could not sustain this for more than a few days.

  When Old Qiao softened and relented, she would then have a say in how much he gives Qiao Nan in future.

  Qiao Nan should consider herself lucky to be able to continue with her studies. She would not give a single cent more to her.

  With this thought, Ding Jiayi happily fell asleep.

  Never did Ding Jiayi know that, Qiao Dongliang’s parents passed away early and he had no relatives at home, if he did not know how to do all this mundane housework, how did he survive before he married Ding Jiayi?

  It was not that Qiao Dongliang did not boil hot water. He only boiled it for Qiao Nan and himself.

  If Ding Jiayi knew the truth, it was uncertain if she could still laugh or have the mood to sleep so peacefully.

  As both Qiao Dongliang and Ding Jiayi each had their own thoughts and plans, the Qiao family went through the Lunar New Year in a strange way. In the blink of an eye, it was time for Qiao Zijin and Qiao Nan to return to school.

  “Nan Nan, keep the money properly,” Qiao Dongliang passed Qiao Nan her tuition fees two days in advance of the payment date. He trusted Qiao Nan. “It’s day three of the Lunar New Year. This is your final year. If you need any revision materials, go ahead and buy them. You can ask me if it’s not enough. Understand?”

  Looking at the sum of money that was obviously more than the tuition fees, Qiao Nan smiled. “Dad, I know.”

  “As I said before, these money…… ”

  “I will definitely not keep them at home.” Previously, her mother was not able to find the little change that she had. But recently she had more money on hand. Hence, even if her father did not remind her, she would not feel at ease keeping the money at home too.

  To her knowledge, her mother and Qiao Zijin were so money-faced that their eyes would shine at the sight of money.