“I am the one who brought you to the capital after all. I’m doing things with conscience and have already purchased your train ticket. You can decide for yourself whether you want to go back. If you don’t wish to go home, you can still return the ticket and get a refund.”

  This train ticket was the only thing left that he could give Qiao Zijin.

  After throwing the ticket on Qiao Zijin’s face, Chen Jun did not speak any further. He closed the door with a bang.

  Qiao Zijin was scared out of her wits when she heard that. In a daze, she picked up the train ticket and walked back to her room like a lost soul.

  Qiao Zijin shivered. She felt that Chen Jun’s attitude was very strange. She quickly ran downstairs, found a public phone, made a call home, and told Ding Jiayi everything that happened. “Mom, help me think of an idea. What did Chen Jun mean by this? What should I do? I am scared. I am thinking……”

  She was thinking that it might be better if she were to leave for Ping Cheng together with Chen Jun.

  She was new and unfamiliar to the capital. Over here, she was not on good terms with the only person that she knew, Qiao Nan. Qiao Nan was also someone that would not care about her life and death.

  Ping Cheng was her home. To her, Ping Cheng definitely gave her a greater sense of security.

  “Don’t come back. Go and find Qiao Nan.” Ding Jiayi laughed. This was such a good opportunity. “Chen Jun is gone and you’re the only one left. Qiao Nan can’t possibly leave you in the lurch, right? Isn’t she afraid of being scolded by other people? You just need to block the entrance of the Zhai family’s house and force them to take you in.” Zijin could then stay with the Zhai family and enjoy life until the summer vacation ended.

  “Zijin, don’t be afraid. Listen to Mom. The status of the Zhai family is different now. They have returned to the central government. It’s fine if the Zhai family doesn’t help you. All those people who visit the Zhai family are not ordinary figures. You will benefit if you get to know a few of them. Besides, Chen Jun dares to treat you in this way because we gave him too much face. It’s just nice. Dump him. When you meet someone better at the Zhai family, don’t let the chance slip.”

  The Zhai family had just arrived in the capital. Most probably, their status was not considered high even though they were in the central government.

  \r \r \r

  Nevertheless, the Zhai family’s guests were different. If Zijin could really find someone, perhaps she would be able to marry into a better family than that wretched girl.

  “Mom, what are you joking about? Will someone with such qualities take a liking to me?” Break up?

  As soon as Ding Jiayi asked Qiao Zijin to dump Chen Jun, Qiao Zijin came to her senses and realized that given his attitude today, Chen Jun seemed to have the intent to dump her.

  “Mom, upon hearing what you have said, I have the feeling that Chen Jun doesn’t want me anymore. Even someone like Chen Jun doesn’t want me. Tell me. Do you think those people will fancy me?”

  “It’s different.” Ding Jiayi snorted proudly. “Why was Chen Jun willing to spend money on you and be your boyfriend? Wasn’t it all because of that wretched girl? Those who visited the Zhai family know that you are that wretched girl’s biological sister and Zhai Sheng’s sister-in-law. They will be happy to see you too. Zijin, you need to have more confidence in yourself. You’re much more outstanding than that wretched girl. Mom has always believed that you will marry into a better family than that wretched girl.”

  Ding Jiayi berated Qiao Zijin harshly with her words. However, she still did not realize that the only reason that the so-called outstanding Qiao Zijin would be fancied by those people was the existence of Qiao Nan, someone whom she shunned very much. Qiao Nan was the reason that Qiao Zijin could feel assured.

  What was Qiao Zijin without Qiao Nan, this sister!

  “Mom, can you send me some money?” Qiao Zijin dared not completely believe in Ding Jiayi’s words. It was not as if Qiao Nan had not made her suffer before.

  She would not be assured just because she had a sister like Qiao Nan. She must have money in her pocket. She would be more daring then!

  Ding Jiayi kitted her brows and sounded very reluctant. “Zijin, you should know how much your dad and I earn. There are so many expenses needed for the family. How could I have money? If I did, I would have gone traveling to the capital with you. Without money, although I very much wanted to go, I can only coop at home and go to work abidingly. I can’t even rest when the weather is hot.”

  Perhaps it was due to age that Ding Jiayi felt less secure at heart now. There had been some changes in Ding Jiayi’s attitude toward Qiao Zijin.

  When one was old, it was inevitable that they would suffer from some body ailments and pain. She would have to visit the hospital for ‘repairs’ from time to time.

  Qiao Nan’s resolute behavior in the past had left a deep impression on Ding Jiayi. She dared not put all her eggs into one basket and rely solely on Qiao Nan.

  Although she behaved as if she would have Qiao Nan eating out of her hands in front of Chen Jun, how would Chen Jun know how guilty-conscious she felt in her heart?

  Similarly, when Qiao Nan was in junior high school, Ding Jiayi was almost imprisoned for the first time in her life because of this daughter, Qiao Nan. When she was older, sick, and could no longer earn money, Ding Jiayi no longer dared to believe firmly that Qiao Nan would be willing to come back to take care of her or give her money to see a doctor.

  If Ding Jiayi could not count on Qiao Nan, did she dare to count on Qiao Zijin?

  No!

  From Ding Jiayi’s mouth, Qiao Zijin was the best daughter in the world. However, she dared not bet all the stakes of her golden age on Qiao Zijin’s filial piety.

  Since she was a child, Qiao Zijin knew no restraint when spending Ding Jiayi’s money and she didn’t care about whether Ding Jiayi was suffering. Could Ding Jiayi count on Qiao Zijin to support her and take care of her?

  Far-fetched!

  As such, Ding Jiayi could only try to earn and save more money when she and Qiao Dongliang could still work.

  In the past, when Qiao Dongliang had a car accident, all the family’s savings had already been used for Qiao Zijin’s studies. Qiao Dongliang nearly could not undergo surgery because of that. Ding Jiayi had always remembered this matter. It left a deep impression on her!

  Ding Jiayi was one who managed the money. Hence, she definitely could not let what happened to Qiao Dongliang in the past happen to her. She couldn’t lie on the bed and wait to die just because she did not have money for the surgery.

  Similarly, Ding Jiayi’s behavior was also formed due to what happened in the past.

  The tuition fees for Qiao Zijin’s studies were paid by Chen Jun. Ding Jiayi only needed to fork out the living expenses.

  Initially, Ding Jiayi was used to telling Qiao Zijin that she was hard up and had spent all her money. When she saw that Qiao Zijin accepted this explanation, she gradually increased her savings.

  Thereafter, Qiao Nan got engaged with and married Zhai Sheng. The Chen family took care of almost all of Qiao Zijin’s expenses then.

  In the past, Ding Jiayi did not have a choice as she was used to spending all her money on Qiao Zijin. Now, she was used to saving all her money to prepare for retirement. When Qiao Zijin opened her mouth and asked for money, she could not bear to part with them. “Zijin, listen to me. Chen Jun is still in the capital now, right? Both of you are going to break up. You’re a grown-up lady and will be disadvantaged. Remember to request compensation from him. Kick up a fuss until he is willing to give it to you. Also, don’t let Qiao Nan benefit. Go to the Zhai family. You’re the junior. The Zhai family should give you a red packet.”

  Given the status of the Zhai family, the red pocket that they gave Zijin would definitely not be a small sum.

  “After taking the red packet from the Zhai family, don’t spend it. Bring them all back. You still have two more years of studies to complete.”


  1160 Turned Bad

  Ding Jiayi knew that if Qiao Zijin were to really break up with Chen Jun and requested for compensation, the Chen family would not pay for the remaining two years of tuition fees.

  Since the Chen family was not willing to fork out money anymore, Ding Jiayi started to ‘hit on’ Qiao Nan and make Qiao Nan support Qiao Zijin financially until the latter graduated and found a job.

  With the Zhai family around, Ding Jiayi was not at all worried about Qiao Zijin’s job after graduation.

  She made Qiao Nan do so many things but did not take action against Qiao Nan. Hence, she did not believe that Qiao Nan could take revenge on Qiao Zijin.

  Could Qiao Nan do the reverse and get Qiao Zijin to help her find a job?

  “Mom, after talking for so long, what you mean is that you won’t be giving me any money, right?” Qiao Zijin was not stupid. Of course, she understood what her mother was implying. Her face turned red. “Mom, when did you become so petty? The Chen family paid for all my tuition fees and living expenses this and last year. I did not take a single cent from you. You have no money? Mom, are you treating me like you treat Qiao Nan?”

  When did her mother become so stingy toward her?

  Ding Jiayi’s stinginess was like a warning bell for Qiao Zijin. It jolted Qiao Zijin awake with much shock.

  Could it be that now that Qiao Nan was married to Zhai Sheng, her mother felt that her future life would definitely be worse than Qiao Nan’s? Hence, she no longer treated her as well as before?

  All of a sudden, Qiao Zijin discovered that she had more than one crisis around her.

  Chen Jun’s attitude took a sudden turn for the worse. The once selfish yet unconditional mother’s love had now become so cheap and ludicrous.

  The biggest problem that she had was not with Qiao Nan but Ping Cheng!

  \r \r \r

  After making this phone call, Qiao Zijin secretly made up her mind.

  The next day, Chen Jun checked out of the hotel. He did not even bother to look into Qiao Zijin’s room. He was only concerned about checking out from his room.

  It was only until he got onto the train that he discovered that someone was already on the seat next to him.

  Looking at the bare and pale face of Qiao Zijin, Chen Jun was quite surprised. “Didn’t you say that you haven’t had enough fun and wanted to remain in the capital?” When they came, Qiao Zijin said that traveling via a train took too much time. She had to take a flight.

  Since train tickets were cheap, Chen Jun bought two of them.

  He had thought that given Qiao Zijin’s character, she would most likely return the ticket and get a refund. She would then ask Qiao Nan for money and continue to have fun in the capital for some time.

  If that was really the case, he would be freed from the ordeal then. He would have nothing to do with Qiao Zijin in the future.

  He had been used to Qiao Zijin being muddleheaded. Once they were back in Ping Cheng, he would consider them to have broken up amicably. When he saw Qiao Zijin, one could imagine how shocked Chen Jun was.

  “You’re already going back. Why would I still remain in the capital? We came here together. Of course, we should go back together.” Qiao Zijin smiled at Chen Jun, looking extremely gentle. There was no tinge of willfulness at all. “Chen Jun, are you still angry with me?”

  Chen Jun put away the luggage in the overhead compartment and sat beside Qiao Zijin. “Angry? Why should I be angry with you? Last night, didn’t we already make ourselves clear?” They had already broken up. What was there to be angry about?

  Would Qiao Zijin return him all the money that he spent on her previously if she knew that he was angry?

  If that could happen, he was willing to tell Qiao Zijin that he was angry, extremely angry.

  Damn. Who could endure the anger after doing such a money-losing business?

  The lost money was not considered a big deal. What Chen Jun cared about most was the two to three years that he had wasted on Qiao Zijin!

  “Chen Jun……” Qiao Zijin panicked. Chen Jun really wanted to break up with her. No, she would not agree to it. She would definitely not break up with him and let him be with another woman.

  Ding Jiayi had imagined Qiao Zijin’s future to be so wonderful. This was on the pretext that Qiao Zijin could really find a young lad who was better than Zhai Sheng while she was at the Zhai family.

  Without Qiao Nan, this layer of glow, it was as difficult as reaching the sky for Qiao Zijin to find someone better than Chen Jun, let alone a partner better than Zhai Sheng.

  Since Chen Jun was the ‘best’ one that she could have, naturally, Qiao Zijin did not have a choice. She could only devote herself to retain this ‘best’ one to become her husband.

  The moment the train started to move, Qiao Nan received news of their departure. “Fortunately, they have left. It is strange. When did Qiao Zijin become so easy to talk to?” She initially thought that Qiao Zijin would definitely employ all ways and means to stay behind and give her a headache for a long time.

  Zhai Hua was playing with the game console in her hands. “Isn’t it good that she is willing to leave? Even if she is reluctant, Chen Jun is bent on leaving. Fortunately, Qiao Zijin’s brains have not deteriorated completely. As soon as she knew that Chen Jun was leaving, she left too.”

  Chen Jun was Qiao Zijin’s mobile ATM.

  Chen Jun was not cooperating with her now. Unless Qiao Zijin wanted to be a beggar, she would have to follow Chen Jun back to Ping Cheng. Did she have another choice?

  “Right, I heard some news recently. Isn’t your mom very good to Qiao Zijin? This time, your mom refused when Qiao Zijin requested her to send some money over. What is happening? Your mom doesn’t have a lot of money but it doesn’t seem like she couldn’t fork out a single cent. Did she work for nothing for the past two years?”

  Ding Jiayi had refused to give Qiao Zijin money. This was something that Zhai Hua was most surprised with. She could not figure out the reason as this did not resemble Ding Jiayi’s character.

  Qiao Nan was having some fruits. “Qiao Zijin called my mom. How did you know so clearly about the content of their conversation?” It was as if Zhai Hua was listening by the side when Qiao Zijin was on the call with Ding Jiayi.

  “Don’t look at me.” Zhai Hua shook her head. “I don’t know what Tian Dong learned in America. He is very strong in this area. Unless it’s something that I don’t wish to know, he will be able to find out everything else.”

  She even suspected whether America had invented a new technology product or Tian Dong had installed ‘transcendental’ vision and ears on Qiao Zijin.

  Otherwise, how did Tian Dong know what Qiao Zijin and Ding Jiayi chatted about so clearly?

  After eating half a plate of fruits, Qiao Nan wiped her mouth with a tissue. “It’s a waste of talent to get Tian Dong to help me check on this. My mom, this person…… I also can’t figure out why she is suddenly so stingy to Qiao Zijin now. In the past, my mom was the type who would definitely spend ten yuan to help Qiao Zijin buy new clothes although there were only ten yuan left in the house. Qiao Zijin would become the only one in our family of four who had new clothes to wear.”

  Her mother was willing to give everything to Qiao Zijin.

  Qiao Zijin contracted uremia and needed a kidney.

  In the face of such a major surgery, her mother could also control the fear in her heart and was willing to give her kidney to Qiao Zijin. Now, Qiao Zijin only wanted to take a little sum of money from her mother.

  1161 Nourish the Pregnancy

  “Did Tian Dong find out whether Qiao Zijin had done anything to anger my mom? It cannot be. Given Qiao Zijin’s personality, if my mom were to be angry with her, she would have done so a long time ago and Qiao Zijin would not have any say in the Qiao family.”

  What made her mother change her attitude all of a sudden and refuse to spend any more money on Qiao Zijin?

  Even though she had been through rebirth, she was not invincible. Qiao Nan was not able to understand what Ding Jiayi was thinking about.

  “No matter what, now that the two troublemakers are gone, you can have a good night’s rest today. You must not overtire my nephews or nieces. You are carrying twins. The doctor said that you will have premature labor. This is not even your seventh month, but your tummy is already so large. I have already made arrangements with the hospital. I don’t think you will be able to go to school when school reopens in September.”

  Zhai Hua sighed with relief. Qiao Nan was indeed lucky.

  It was likely that Qiao Nan was pregnant in January. In normal cases, she would be due for delivery after ten months of pregnancy. After one month of confinement, she would be able to go back to school earliest by the end of this semester.

  However, Qiao Nan was carrying twins, and she would have premature labor.

  Perhaps Qiao Nan would have been done with her confinement and she would be able to go back to school before November. If that was the case, she would have only missed half of the semester.

  “Yes, Mom has discussed it with me. She will help me apply for at least two months of leave at school in September.” Qiao Nan touched her round tummy.

  She had been mentally prepared. “Sister Zhai Hua, it is summer break now. Do Zhu Baoguo and Shi Qing have a summer break? I haven’t seen Uncle Zhu and the two of them. Could they have returned to Ping Cheng?”

  They did not have any family or relatives in Ping Cheng. What would they be doing in Ping Cheng?

  “They are in a different school. They must have received a special task. For them, going to school is similar to going to the army. Zhu Baoguo and Shi Qing would not be able to come home frequently. Their situation is similar to that of Zhai Sheng, except that Zhai Sheng is busier than them. They might not be able to make it back to see your babies after your delivery.”

  Zhai Hua had no wish to talk about Zhai Sheng, the father of the children.

  \r \r \r

  She knew that it was even more impossible for Zhai Sheng to make it back in time. She had no wish to bring him up lest she upset Qiao Nan.

  “Are the two of them still very active?” Zhai Hua was immersed in doing two tasks recently.

  Firstly, it was to lift Qiao Nan’s clothes, placing her hands on her tummy and talking to the babies.

  Secondly, it would be to accompany Qiao Nan to go for walks, ensuring that she had been exercising so that she would have a smooth labor.

  “.……” Qiao Nan had yet to reply when Zhai Hua felt a bulge at the part of Qiao Nan’s tummy where she rested her hands on. “Are they saying ‘hello’ to me?”

  Qiao Nan knitted her eyebrows. As time passed by, her babies seemed to be more active and would exert more force when they moved about in her tummy.

  When she first experienced the fetus movement, she was startled. She did not feel any discomfort.

  However, whenever the babies threw punches or kicks in her tummy now, she would feel a piercing pain. “I don’t think they are saying their greetings. They are doing the military drill instead. They want to learn from you. It is still alright if my babies are boys. It will be troublesome if they are girls.”

  If they were sons, they would grow up to be outstanding like Brother Zhai, and they would become real men with an indomitable spirit.

  However, things would be different if they were daughters.

  The Zhai family would have Zhai Hua juniors then.

  At the thought of Zhai Hua’s behavior and temperament, Qiao Nan felt giddy and helpless.

  If she had daughters, she hoped that they would be well-behaved and adorable.

  “Military drill? That’s great. The two of you must behave yourself while in your mom’s tummy. After you come to the world, I will show you the military drill and train you, okay?”

  Zhai Hua’s eyes lit up. She spoke in a gentle tone, unlike her tough lady image.

  In order to show that they liked their auntie, the babies gave a fierce kick to Qiao Nan again. Qiao Nan could not help but suck in her breath in pain. “Sister Zhai Hua, stop teasing them. If this goes on, I will be moaning in pain. The two brats exert a lot of force in their kicks. I don’t know how long they will be able to stay in my tummy.”

  Babies would be able to receive double the nourishment when in the mother’s womb than when they were born.

  Therefore, premature babies would be weaker than full-term babies.

  If the babies were born more than one month earlier than the due date, they might take more than ten years to make up for the deficit in nourishment.

  It was challenging to have twins, particularly when they were so naughty and mischievous.

  Qiao Nan was worried at how active her babies were. She feared that they might be born prematurely.

  “How can a mother say this of their babies? Don’t worry. They will be well-behaved and they will make it easy for you. Hopefully, they will not be born prematurely. There are so many of us. We will be able to take good care of them. The doctor already said that a pregnant lady would think too much. I will not take issue with you.”

  As long as Qiao Nan did not give birth right away, it was alright if the babies were born slightly before their due date.

  Notwithstanding twins, some babies were born one month, two months, or even three months before their due date.

  But it was true that babies born three months before their due date would be weaker and smaller.

  “Let’s go. It’s time for your walk. Given your condition, you cannot have too many exercises, but you can’t sit at home every day either. Let’s do some exercise.” Zhai Hua acted like the clock. Once it was time, she would get Qiao Nan to do simple exercises like taking a walk.

  Zhai Hua was the only person who took care of Qiao Nan for the past few months.

  Zhai Yaohui was busy with work. Although Miao Jing did not need to accompany him on his business trips like how she did back then, she would still have to attend and accompany him to certain events from time to time.

  Furthermore, Miao Jing was not familiar with the practices of pregnant ladies nowadays as well as the nourishment needed for babies. It was vastly different from what she had in the past.

  Zhai Hua had learned a lot about how to take care of pregnant ladies from the female doctor.

  1162 Pregnant Lady Had the Final Say

  At times, what Zhai Hua said made more sense than Miao Jing, and she knew more than Miao Jing.

  As such, the Zhai family handed the task of taking care of Qiao Nan to Zhai Hua. They also hoped that she would be more ladylike, detailed, and patient while taking care of Qiao Nan.

  Fortunately, Zhai Hua seemed to be doing a good job. It had been more than three months and she had been taking good care of Qiao Nan. She never behaved recklessly or caused harm to Qiao Nan and the babies.

  “It’s so warm.” Zhai Hua had postponed their walk to seven o’clock in the evening to avoid the hot and stuffy afternoons in July and August.

  Qiao Nan would feel unwell in the summer. Particularly now that she, a pregnant lady, had a higher body temperature, the evening stroll was a torture to Qiao Nan.

  Whenever she was back from her stroll, her blouse would be drenched with perspiration.

  Thankfully, after strolling for a few months, Qiao Nan noticed that she was physically stronger.

  “Nan Nan, I have applied for leave for you. You can rest well at home.” As her elder and mother-in-law, Miao Jing made a phone call to the principal of Peking University at the end of August to help Qiao Nan apply for leave, hoping that he would approve of her leave.

  Since Madam Zhai made the phone call personally, the principal had no way to reject her request.

  Although Miao Jing did not state clearly Qiao Nan’s reasons for applying for leave or when she would return to school, the principal had no other choice but to approve the leave.

  “Thank you, Mom.” Qiao Nan sat on the sofa, touching her tummy. She did not look well.

  She was in her eighth month of pregnancy. Qiao Nan knew that her tummy was especially large.

  The weight of her tummy was almost unbearable for her. Qiao Nan did not feel comfortable sitting, standing, or even lying down on the bed. She felt unwell and exhausted.

  \r \r \r

  Her fair and slender legs were swollen due to pregnancy.

  Her lower limbs were swollen and her upper body felt bloated as well.

  Qiao Nan could not fit into all the clothes that she bought in the past and she had to buy new clothes.

  Qiao Nan could only wear slippers and she had to buy large sizes in order to fit into them.

  Qiao Nan went through a lot of suffering for the babies. Outsiders would not be able to know the tortures that mothers went through.

  Zhai Hua was startled at how swollen Qiao Nan was. She moved into Zhai Sheng’s and Qiao Nan’s room so that she could share a room with her and take care of Qiao Nan when she woke up feeling unwell in the middle of the night.

  Zhai Hua, the auntie, had done everything that Zhai Sheng, as a father, should have done. Zhai Hua would wake up in the middle of the night to massage Qiao Nan’s legs when she woke up crying due to leg cramps.

  “Mom, Nan Nan doesn’t look well. The doctor reminded us that Nan Nan will have premature labor. Nan Nan’s tummy is very large and she is in her eighth month. I am worried……”

  Zhai Hua’s heart ached seeing how Qiao Nan suffered due to the pregnancy. Giving birth was a torture to women.

  It was no wonder that people used to say that giving birth was akin to making a trip to hell.

  Apart from her tummy, Qiao Nan’s figure looked like that of a young lady when she was in her sixth month of her pregnancy. But once she was in her seventh month, she started to become swollen and went out of shape. She had the figure of a middle-aged auntie, doing her groceries in the market.

  There was once when Qiao Nan had terrible leg cramps and she cried in pain until her eyes were swollen. Zhai Hua made a phone call to the army and gave Zhai Sheng a lashing. “You are a brat. You had happy times fooling around with Qiao Nan, but do you know the pain that she is in now that she is pregnant with your babies? You can’t even stay by her side to take care of her and she has to face everything by herself. Zhai Sheng, although you are my brother, I can’t stand it anymore. If you do not treat Nan Nan well in the future, I will take your children away and we will despise and ostracize you for being such a bad father!”

  Zhai Sheng wanted very much to stay by Qiao Nan’s side, but he could not do that.

  He was not angry that Zhai Hua lashed out at him. In fact, he felt heartbroken.

  Even though he did not see it for himself, he could tell from Zhai Hua’s tone and anger that Qiao Nan, who was carrying twins, must be going through a lot.

  Zhai Sheng worked extra hard to complete his missions and the orders from his higher-ups in order to go back as soon as possible to accompany Qiao Nan and to be by her side when their babies were delivered.

  “Stop saying nonsense.” Miao Jing gave Zhai Hua a light smack. “Nan Nan will panic at your words.”

  Miao Jing had seen a lot of cases whereby the pregnant ladies would go into premature labor after being affected by the people around her.

  “Nan Nan, you are in your eighth month. It will be harder on you. If you can’t take it, let’s go to the hospital in advance. We can ask the doctor if we can deliver the babies earlier than the due date.”

  Since Nan Nan had such a large tummy, her babies must be well-nourished.

  If she carried the babies for a few more months, the babies would be fine but the mother might not be able to take it. “The babies should be well-developed in the eighth month. It will not be a problem to deliver them.”

  Qiao Nan took a deep breath, forcing a smile on her face. “Mom, I understand your intentions. There is no need to expedite the delivery. I can still take it. Perhaps I am too dainty. Other ladies feel especially well despite carrying twins or triplets. They will not feel as tired as me.” It was better not to have premature labor.

  After reading many books on pregnancy, Qiao Nan knew that it would be better for the babies to stay in the mother’s womb for as long as possible.

  They were Brother Zhai’s and her babies. They were very precious to them.

  If other mothers could do it, so could she. She believed that she would do a better job.

  Since Qiao Nan was insistent, Miao Jing had no other choice but to go with her decision.

  Miao Jing was worried for Qiao Nan. It was not that she was dainty, but it was because she was too young.

  Qiao Nan did not lead a good life when she stayed with the Qiao family. Miao Jing knew that there was a period of time where she was undernourished.

  Miao Jing was unhappy with Ding Jiayi. It must be due to Ding Jiayi that Qiao Nan had such a difficult time carrying the twins.

  If Ding Jiayi was not so biased and had taken better care of Qiao Nan, she would have a stronger constitution, and she would not have such a difficult time now.

  Miao Jing had never seen such a vicious mother.

  The Zhai family was concerned for Qiao Nan and her babies. Miao Jing and Zhai Hua spent all their time taking care of her.

  1163 Prepare Gifts

  Zhai Yaohui was too busy to take care of his daughter-in-law. He had done his best by leaving Miao Jing at home to take care of Qiao Nan.

  As for Old Master Zhai, as an old man, he could do nothing to help his granddaughter-in-law.

  What he could do was to share interesting anecdotes that he heard from his friends with his granddaughter-in-law, making her happy.

  Apart from that, one other thing that he could do was to take good care of himself.

  It was only then could his daughter-in-law and granddaughter put all their attention on taking care of his granddaughter-in-law. He was being helpful by not creating any trouble for them.

  Now that Qiao Nan was already eight months pregnant, the Zhai family became increasingly worried for the babies as the days passed.

  Aside from the Zhai family who was worried for Qiao Nan, Qiao Dongliang, who was at the Qiao family’s residence in Ping Cheng, was worried for Qiao Nan as well.

  When Qiao Dongliang first learned that he was going to be a grandfather, Qiao Nan was already more than four months pregnant and she knew that she was carrying twins.

  Now that Qiao Zijin went back to school after the summer break, Qiao Dongliang suddenly remembered that Qiao Nan was heavily pregnant. “Nan Nan is eight months pregnant. She will probably deliver in more than a month.”

  Since his daughter was about to give birth, as the maternal grandfather, he should make time to visit her.

  Someone from the parental family had to visit her after she had her babies.

  He wondered how Nan Nan was doing now. Did the babies make life difficult for her?

  To Qiao Dongliang, his responsibility to Qiao Nan had been completed now that she was married. He could focus all his attention on helping his elder daughter, Qiao Zijin, search for her happiness.

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  He knew that Qiao Nan was unhappy with his decision, but he could not leave the elder daughter in the lurch. He could only distance himself from the younger daughter so that she would not be upset or affected by the matters in her parental family.

  When Qiao Nan studied in the capital last year, she made a phone call to Qiao Dongliang every week in the four months that she was there.

  This year, apart from telling him that she was pregnant and calling him on Tomb-Sweeping Day, she did not contact him or chat with him.

  Qiao Dongliang had a guilty conscience. Since Qiao Nan did not call him, he dared not call her as well.

  He finally gave a phone call at the end of June, but it was because Qiao Zijin wanted to go on a holiday in the capital and he wanted Qiao Nan to take care of Qiao Zijin.

  The call ended in a rush and Ding Jiayi kept disturbing his conversation with Qiao Nan.

  Two months had passed. The person who was the cause of the awkwardness, Qiao Zijin, was not around. Qiao Dongliang did not feel as guilty and he felt that he should give Qiao Nan a call to ask about her.

  He was the maternal grandfather. He should be notified of the delivery date of his grandchildren.

  Qiao Dongliang forgot to prepare a dowry for his daughter half a year ago as it was his first time marrying off a daughter.

  This time, Qiao Dongliang remembered that this was his first time being a maternal grandfather and he had to prepare red packets and presents for his grandchildren.

  “Where are you heading to?” Ding Jiayi had been staring at Qiao Dongliang for a long time. She noticed that he sat down by himself, frowning at one moment and smiling to himself in the next instant. He was behaving abnormally.

  If not for the fact that Qiao Dongliang went home to the Qiao family’s residence every night and he did not stay out late or have other woman’s belongings with him, given his suspicious behavior, she would have suspected that he had a woman outside.

  The two of them had not remarried. Even though they stayed in the same house, they did not share the same room or bed.

  Ding Jiayi would try to sneak into Qiao Dongliang’s room in the middle of the night to be intimate with him or just to share a bed with him.

  However, Qiao Dongliang would wake up when she laid down beside him.

  Seeing that Ding Jiayi was next to him, Qiao Dongliang would get up without another word, put on his jacket, and slept in another room, not forgetting to lock his room this time.

  It was as if Qiao Dongliang was a single young lady while Ding Jiayi was the lecher who was dying to lay her hands on Qiao Dongliang.

  They had been divorced for several years. Ding Jiayi had learned her lesson and dared not kick up a fuss. She was able to stifle her anger and keep silent.

  However, she would not be able to tolerate seeing Qiao Dongliang behaving oddly.

  Ding Jiayi stopped Qiao Dongliang in his tracks. “You don’t have to go to work today. Where are you going with your bicycle? I will go with you!” She had found out in the past half a year that after Old Qiao divorced her, he did not have any other woman.

  Even though his friends would introduce eligible women to him and asked him to go on blind dates, Old Qiao would reject their kind intentions.

  Old Qiao did not have another woman when she was not by his side.

  She would not allow other women to snatch Old Qiao from her now that they were staying together.

  “Stop your nonsense. Stay at home.” Qiao Dongliang was unhappy. Although they lived together, he would not allow her to interfere with his life. Unless it was to do with Qiao Zijin, Ding Jiayi had no right to stop him from doing what he wanted.

  “Why can’t I go with you? Are you up to no good? Also, don’t forget that Zijin’s and Chen Jun’s relationship are still not confirmed yet. Don’t stir up any troubles at this time.” Her elder daughter refused to listen to her a month ago. Instead of staying in the capital, asking for some money from Qiao Nan, and getting to know other good men, she came back to Ping Cheng in defeat. Ding Jiayi was furious at Qiao Zijin for not listening to her.

  Qiao Dongliang parked his bicycle and stared at Ding Jiayi.

  True enough, Ding Jiayi dared not make up a fuss at Qiao Dongliang’s attitude.

  After the divorce, Qiao Dongliang had finally mastered the way to deal with Ding Jiayi. “Do you want to pick a fight with me?”

  “No, I don’t wish to quarrel with you.” She wanted to lead a good life with him, but he was not willing to do that!

  “If so, stand aside. If you want to quarrel, I can do so as well.” But he would never allow Ding Jiayi to tag along with him.

  Ding Jiayi did not need to take care of Qiao Zijin, and there was no need for Qiao Dongliang to provide for Qiao Nan as well.

  Since that was the case, the couple had each saved up their money diligently. Ding Jiayi was hoping that she could save up the money for her retirement, whereas Qiao Dongliang was saving the money for his two daughters as well as his grandchildren.