The doctor told Ding Jiayi that there was no hurry for her walk by herself. The priority now was for her wounds to heal and recover.
“Old Qiao, you haven’t been home for a long time. I am feeling much better now. Why don’t you take a rest at home and come back tomorrow?”
It had been half a month. Qiao Dongliang was the only person who stayed by Ding Jiayi’s side.
Although Qiao Nan would bring clothes for Qiao Dongliang to change during this half a month’s time, it was, after all, the hospital. He had to live and eat simply and could not sleep comfortably like when he was at home. Qiao Dongliang looked haggard and had lost a lot of weight.
Qiao Dongliang’s eyes grew dark and he looked at Ding Jiayi intently. “How can you be so kind-hearted?”
A few days ago, he had only been away for a while and Ding Jiayi made a fuss about it, saying that he felt it was a hassle that she was hospitalized and that he had to spend a lot of money on her.
“I… I was just talking nonsense. You must know that if one is bored for a long time, one will think too much. I must have been out of my mind. But I have calmed down now. I heard from others that women will go through meno… yes, that’s right, menopause. Women will lose their temper easily during this time. Rest assured. I will try to calm down and will not create any trouble for you. Old Qiao, go back and have a good sleep. I still have to rely on you to take care of me.”
As for Qiao Nan, that wretched girl, she harbored no hopes that she would take care of her.
She was an adult, yet she had been drinking plain porridge for almost two weeks. Qiao Nan might have been good at cooking plain porridge, but Ding Jiayi was sick and tired of having plain porridge.
Qiao Nan was vicious. She knew that Ding Jiayi could not fault her for cooking plain porridge. She also knew that Ding Jiayi preferred savory food. In fact, Ding Jiayi had been very patient to eat plain porridge for three consecutive days.
Ding Jiayi, who could no longer bear the taste of plain porridge, insisted that Qiao Dongliang bought some savory food at the small retail stall near the hospital for her to go with the porridge.
Qiao Nan came up with a solution after she learned about this.
In the previous life, Qiao Nan had been skilled in doing household chores under Ding Jiayi’s strict training.
Qiao Nan bought fresh cucumbers and pickled mustard at the market and went back home to pickle them.
Qiao Nan did not spend a lot of money, but the pickled dishes were more than enough for Ding Jiayi. She could have it if she was hospitalized for the second and third time.
In the previous life, whenever Ding Jiayi took all her money and left her without any money to buy food for herself, Qiao Nan would prepare pickled dishes for herself.
In this life, it was rare that she had the chance to let Ding Jiayi have a taste of her own medicine. She was using what Ding Jiayi taught her on Ding Jiayi herself.
With the pickled vegetables as side dishes, Ding Jiayi was able to have the plain porridge for a few more days. But it was not too long before she grew sick of the dishes. However, Qiao Dongliang no longer gave in to her requests. When she asked him to buy some dishes for her-especially those that were expensive—he would ignore her pleas.
Ding Jiayi’s mood changed like the weather. At times, she repented her past deeds and promised to behave herself in the future.
At times, she would throw her tantrums and pick on everything that he did. It really seemed as if she was undergoing menopause.
“Alright.” Qiao Dongliang felt exhausted to the bones after taking care of Ding Jiayi for half a month. He might be a man, but he was drained as well.
Qiao Dongliang stood up slowly. “I will go back first. I will visit you tomorrow morning.” The only thought that Qiao Dongliang had in mind right now was to go back home to have a bath. After scrubbing himself clean, he wanted to have a good sleep right away. He had no plans to eat dinner.
“Dad, how come you are back?” Qiao Nan was cleaning the house. She had finished washing the bedsheets and quilt cover in Qiao Dongliang’s room. She had just laid out the dried bedsheets when Qiao Dongliang was back at home. “Mom…”
“Your mom is much better now. She can take care of herself. Therefore, I can come home to rest for a night and go back tomorrow.” It was summer now. The freshly washed blanket gave off a nice soapy smell. It felt fluffy and warm to the touch. Although Qiao Dongliang felt tired to the bones from taking care of Ding Jiayi, he felt much refreshed at the warm and clean sheets.
That was what a house should be like.
“Dad, there is hot water at home. Do you want to take a shower and have a nap?” Qiao Nan’s heart ached at the sight of Qiao Dongliang. He looked listless and was so tired that he did not wish to engage in a conversation.
Qiao Nan spread the blanket that she had just folded deftly on the bed. She did it so that the heat from the blanket would dissipate. She made use of the time while Qiao Dongliang showered to use the water from the well to wipe the mat that Qiao Dongliang would be sleeping on. She repeated it several times to cool it down, making sure that Qiao Dongliang could have a comfortable sleep.
By the time Qiao Dongliang came out of the bathroom feeling refreshed, Qiao Nan had finished cooling down the mat. Her face was flushed red and she broke out in a sweat. “Dad, I have switched on the electric fan in the room. You can take a nap now. It is five o’clock now. Director Shi will only be back at half-past seven. Shall I wake you up at eight to have dinner?”
“Sure.” Qiao Dongliang’s neck felt stiff. He nodded slightly. “I will go to sleep. If you can’t wake me up at eight, all of you can go ahead to have dinner. Don’t wait for me.”
“Oh, okay.”
Qiao Dongliang was too tired to think of anything else. He opened the door and windows, took off his shirt, and fell right onto the bed. The bamboo mat felt cool to the touch. Qiao Dongliang smiled. Nan Nan must have wiped it with the water from the well.
Qiao Dongliang had one thought in his mind before he drifted off to sleep: Such a good child…
Qiao Nan had just finished with her chores when Shi Qing came over. “Why are you taking your time today? Aren’t you coming over to my house?”.
“I can’t go to your house today. My dad is back. He will go to the hospital tomorrow. Tonight, I will stay at my house. When it’s dinner time, Director Shi and you can come over to my house for dinner.” No matter where they had dinner, she would be in charge of preparing dinner.
“Uncle Qiao is back! How is he?” Ding Jiayi was very good at tormenting people. It was lucky that Uncle Qiao came back alive.
“He is okay, but exhausted. Even saints would be tired from taking care of people like my mom.” Qiao Nan knew that Ding Jiayi was temperamental and Qiao Zijin was not by her side to cajole her.
As long as Qiao Zijin was around and did not egg Ding Jiayi on to be up to no good, the latter would not throw her tantrums easily.
Shi Qing was full of sympathy for them. “It must have been hard on Uncle Qiao and you. Why did both of you end up with such a person?”
“What was done could not be undone. It is useless to complain further. Let’s not think about it lest we are upset by it.” Qiao Nan was able to take things in stride and did not continue to dwell on this matter.
Qiao Nan turned silent afterward. She seemed to be thinking about something. Shi Qing tapped her on the shoulder. “Uncle Qiao is back. What is on your mind? Could it be about the college entrance examination?”
“No.” Qiao Nan shook her head. “I am wondering why my dad came back today. What is my mom up to this time? I feel that something is wrong.”