Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

  “I’ve already thought about that.” Qiao Zijin might have come up with such a good excuse, but Qiao Dongliang came prepared too. “Nan Nan may not be able to bring the three children to visit me but that’s no problem at all. Now, transport is so convenient. Very quickly, there will be a train from Ping Cheng to the capital. Then, it’ll be faster and even more comfortable to come to the capital by train than by car. I’ll just have to travel for a few hours to see my grandchildren. That’s nothing much. I’m still strong. You don’t have to worry about me.”

  This time, Qiao Dongliang had made up his mind to return to Ping Cheng. No matter whom Qiao Zijin brought up, he would never agree. Qiao Nan’s life was finally improving now that she had gotten married to Zhai Sheng. Even if he couldn’t help Qiao Nan, he shouldn’t drag her down in front of the Zhai family, at the very least.

  He had already gotten a clear idea of Qiao Zijin’s plan, so he was never going to give Qiao Zijin the chance to hurt Qiao Nan.

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  “Dad, are you sure you want to go back?” Qiao Zijin frowned. She had not expected her dad to be willing to give up the Zhai family’s three children to return to Ping Cheng. She had always thought that her dad would remain in the capital for the sake of those three children. “When are you going back? The triplets will be turning one month old in half a month’s time. It wouldn’t be good for you to be absent from that celebration or the hundred-day celebration, right? What if the children misunderstand that you don’t love them when they grow up? It wouldn’t make any sense for you not to be at their most important celebrations to bless them.”

  That wouldn’t do. She had to find a way to convince her dad to stay.

  It went without saying that the Zhai family would take back this house once Qiao Dongliang left. Then, Qiao Zijin would have no choice but to rent her own apartment if she wanted to remain in the capital. Putting aside the rent, she would still have to pay for her utilities and miscellaneous fees. Perhaps, she wouldn’t even earn enough to cover her expenses. If that was the case, why would she bother getting a job? She might as well move to another capital to save her money.

  “So, did you really only come to the capital for a holiday? Or are you planning to find a job and stay here? You’d better think it through in the next twenty days. I only intend to attend the triplets’ month-old celebration. Then, I’ll go back. You can stay if you want to.”

  Even if Qiao Zijin wanted to leech off him, she would only have twenty days left. The triplets had not turned a month old, and Qiao Nan had to go through forty days of confinement. As long as Qiao Zijin had no way of contacting Qiao Nan, her schemes would mean nothing.

  After letting Qiao Zijin know about his plans, Qiao Dongliang returned to his room quietly. His days in the capital were numbered. As such, he would have to cherish the time he had left to spend some time with the triplets and to carry them.

  Qiao Zijin knew that Qiao Dongliang was not going to change his mind and that angered her. Qiao Zijin whipped out her phone and made a call to Ding Jiayi. “Mom, Dad said that he’ll be returning to Ping Cheng once the triplets turn a month old. Mom, I don’t want to go back. I want to stay in the capital. You have to help me.”

  “How-how am I supposed to help you?” Ding Jiayi was confused. Given her current situation, there was nothing she could do to help Zijin. “Have you forgotten that you said that I wouldn’t be of any help to you now? And that I’d only create more trouble for you?”

  Qiao Nan had not died after giving birth to her children, and knowing that she wouldn’t die, Qiao Zijin had called Ding Jiayi in a rage to throw a tantrum. Qiao Zijin couldn’t wrap her head around the situation. She had spent a good sum of money consulting specialists, and those experts on the internet had even told her that it was dangerous for pregnant women to be in such a situation. If possible, it was best to get rid of the child. Otherwise, it would be dangerous for both the mother and the child.

  But what was the final outcome?

  Not only had the three children survived, but they had even grown stronger by the day. As for Qiao Nan, she was still well and alive as the Zhai family’s daughter-in-law. No one could shake her position. Qiao Zijin could not help but wonder if she had wasted her money, or whether the experts she had found earlier were fake.

  The enraged Qiao Zijin had gotten into a huge argument with Ding Jiayi. While Qiao Zijin had already forgotten about that, Ding Jiayi had taken it to heart.

  Qiao Zijin sighed. Her mom was so incapable but had such a terrible temper and was so petty. “Mom, are you still angry about last time? Didn’t I tell you that I said the wrong things because Qiao Nan treated me like a fool and I got upset over that? Qiao Nan didn’t die and my plan didn’t succeed. I spent three to four thousand on those bus tickets and spent almost two thousand after only two days in the capital. Mom, what I was upset about was the money. I wasted all that money. If I had known that this would happen, I would have spent that money on you for a good meal or some clothes instead.”

  “Alright. Stop trying to flatter me. Tell me why you’re calling.” Ding Jiayi could not do anything about her daughter. She was hurt, and she had been hurt several times recently. But she could not bear to let her go either. After all, she had pampered Qiao Zijin for decades. There was no way she could really leave Qiao Zijin in the lurch.

  Qiao Zijin laughed. “I knew it. Mom, you’re the only person who treats me well. My dad can’t even compare to you. Mom, it’s quite easy. My dad said that he’ll return to Ping Cheng once the triplets turn a month old. I was thinking that you should come to experience the capital as well. I’ve planned it out. Once my dad returns to Ping Cheng to look after the courtyard, you can get a ticket to the capital. Isn’t it because of you and Dad that Qiao Nan managed to marry so well and get such a good status now? It’s time for her to repay you for that.”

  “Mom, the apartment that Qiao Nan’s renting for Dad might be a little small but it has everything you need. If she can afford to give Dad such a good place, there’s no reason for her to give you somewhere worse than this, right?”