“Look, the person who’s taking this is here.” Qiao Dongliang liked the things that Qiao Zijin didn’t. This big bag contained food, clothes, and some gadgets that Qiao Dongliang was planning to bring back to the closer neighbors in the quad.

  Qiao Dongliang wanted to live in Ping Cheng. Qiao Nan would definitely not let the Qiao family cut off all contacts with their neighbors. A far relative was not as helpful as a near neighbor. Qiao Dongliang and Ding Jiayi were no longer young. Qiao Nan wasn’t someone who wouldn’t care about her parents. As long as they maintained good relationships with their neighbors, even if something happened to Ding Jiayi and Qiao Dongliang, the neighbors could first help take care of them before informing her.

  As such, there were naturally so many things that Qiao Nan wanted Qiao Dongliang to bring back that they couldn’t board the plane.

  Zhai Sheng had found this person. Of course, his attitude toward Qiao Dongliang couldn’t be bad. After politely addressing him as ‘uncle’, he moved Qiao Dongliang’s things away. As for the expensive shipping cost back to Ping Cheng, Zhai Sheng was naturally the one paying for it. How could he let his father-in-law do so?

  “Look, it’s already seven. Zijin, I have to go. I’ve already told you about the house. Figure things out yourself. You’re an adult now. I don’t care if you really want to stay in the capital to develop yourself. It’s okay as long as you’ve thought it through.” After the big packages were taken away, there was nothing left. Qiao Dongliang only had to board the plane now.

  \r \r \r

  Qiao Zijin looked at Qiao Dongliang with grievances. “Dad, are you really prepared to leave me alone here and return to Ping Cheng? Dad, we’re going to celebrate the new year soon. You’re not going to care about me anymore?” Qiao Zijin was really feeling aggrieved. Regardless of her marital status, Qiao Zijin had always been the Qiao family’s focal point. The ingredients that were bought were Qiao Zijin’s favorite. Qiao Zijin’s advice had to be sought for everything.

  Now, her mom ignored her and her dad was returning alone. In this cold winter, Qiao Zijin couldn’t feel the lively atmosphere of the new year. She only felt that she was being abandoned by the whole world.

  Qiao Dongliang took a deep breath. “It’s not that I don’t want to care about you, but I can’t. If you feel that you’re alone, do you want to return to Ping Cheng with me?”

  “What for? Ping Cheng’s not as good as the capital! Dad, we can stay together and fetch Mom over. Our family of three can celebrate the new year in the capital.” Why did they have to stay in Ping Cheng when the capital was such a good place? “Dad, you and Mom used to respect my opinions and consider my thoughts. I just want to celebrate the new year happily. Is it that difficult?”

  Qiao Dongliang laughed bitterly. “It’s not difficult to celebrate the new year. However, the new year that you want to celebrate is difficult. Zijin, if you have a house in the capital and aren’t lacking anything, your mom and I don’t have to eat anything good to feel good if you want us to come over to the capital to celebrate the new year together. You’re an adult now. Why don’t you even have this basic reasoning? The point isn’t the location where we celebrate the new year. The point is whether our children are successful and living well.”

  “Don’t become anxious and flare up first. It’s nothing if you couldn’t be compared to Nan Nan. It’s not as if Nan Nan didn’t experience worse times before. However, Nan Nan has never made me worry or burden you, the sister. You always think that since Nan Nan married well, she should take care of you more. You always try to think of ways to see how you can get more benefits from Nan Nan but never think about relying on yourself. In your heart, your mom and I are probably just two chess pieces to help you control Nan Nan. Our hearts are made of flesh. Haven’t you realized that even your mom’s attitude toward you has changed? Your mom treated you well, but you broke her heart. Zijin, one must have a conscience.”

  After knowing that Qiao Zijin wanted to bring Ding Jiayi over to the capital, Qiao Dongliang was worried. He could guess what Qiao Zijin was up to. However, he had no choice. He could control himself, but could he control Ding Jiayi?

  What surprised Qiao Dongliang was that he was about to leave the capital now to return to Ping Cheng, but Ding Jiayi didn’t come over to the capital. When he heard Qiao Zijin trying to make him stay, Qiao Dongliang guessed that Ding Jiayi wasn’t on her way to the capital yet. They didn’t manage to meet, which meant that Qiao Zijin could no longer continue living in the house that the Zhai family had initially arranged for Qiao Dongliang. As such, Qiao Zijin was so anxious that she started to throw tantrums at her dad. Now, she sounded wronged and was trying to act pitiful.

  Seeing that Ding Jiayi wasn’t here, Qiao Dongliang guessed that she shouldn’t be helping Qiao Zijin. But why? Didn’t Ding Jiayi cherish Qiao Zijin, this daughter, the most? No matter if it was right or wrong, she would have defied all difficulties and dangers for her.

  “Dad, it’s fine if you don’t help me. Why do you have to say such words to agitate me? How did I break my mom’s heart? My mom treats me well. I was still talking to her over the phone yesterday night. She asked me to return to Ping Cheng to celebrate the new year as she felt that the capital wasn’t good and was too unfamiliar. If we are celebrating the new year, it would be livelier and more comfortable to return to Ping Cheng and reunite. Mom even asked me what I wanted to eat during the new year so that she could buy the ingredients.”

  How was Qiao Zijin willing to admit that her relationship with Ding Jiayi was unlike before and even Ding Jiayi wasn’t willing to help her? That call had already agitated Qiao Zijin. Now that she was being lectured by Qiao Dongliang, she felt even more agitated.

  “So?” Qiao Dongliang looked at Qiao Zijin. “Your mom asked if you’re returning to celebrate the new year. Are you prepared to stay and find a house to rent? Or are you returning with me to Ping Cheng to celebrate the new year?” Wasn’t Ding Jiayi’s attitude of wanting Zijin to return enough to explain everything?

  It was just that he couldn’t control Qiao Zijin, his daughter. He similarly couldn’t control Ding Jiayi, his wife. He couldn’t control both of these women. He would let them fight it out themselves.

  “I…” Qiao Zijin was reluctant, but it seemed that besides returning to Ping Cheng with Qiao Dongliang, there wasn’t any other choice for her. “It shouldn’t be easy to buy train tickets to return now. Everyone else had bought it in advance.” Upon thinking that she had to take the car for half a day, Qiao Zijin felt irritated in her heart.

  When she came over, she knew that she was rushing for a luxurious life. Qiao Zijin didn’t pay attention to how tough the journey was. However, she would be going back sullenly this time. She wouldn’t get anything from the huge amount of money spent, let alone marry Zhai Sheng. It was equivalent to a loss-making business.

  With the influence of these negative emotions and upon thinking that she had to take a long-distance ride home again, Qiao Zijin felt that the sky was gloomy.