Sharp-eared
Sharp-eared
"…" Qiao Nan had a complicated look on her face, as if she was in a dilemma. "Who asked me to be his daughter? Who asked him to be slightly better as compared to Qiao Zijin and Ding Jiayi? If I could be tolerant of the both of them, then my tolerance level for my father would naturally be higher." However, regardless of how high it was, she would still feel hurt and upset. "Don't change the topic. What happened?"
Brother Zhai was her father's son-in-law. As such, Brother Zhai would only be like her. It wouldn't be convenient for him to lay a heavy hand on the Qiao family.
"Nothing much. It was just that my father was free and in a good mood one day. Thus, he had a chat with your father. That's it. How could the people from my family use violence on your father? You have thought too much." Zhai Sheng patted Qiao Nan's shoulders and smiled. "It's so late. It's not good if we disturb others by not sleeping. Let's do this. If you can't sleep, let's do some 'exercise'. You're sure to sleep well after that."
"…" Before Qiao Nan could roll her eyes, Zhai Sheng had already suppressed her. Men on bed were really bullish. No matter what topic they were talking about, it could always be linked to this. It was really not easy.
After understanding the circumstances, Qiao Dongliang didn't take the initiative to contact her. Qiao Nan also didn't give Qiao Dongliang a call. As for living expenses, Qiao Nan had long given Qiao Dongliang and Ding Jiayi a card each. She would transfer money to these two cards monthly. This way, Qiao Nan could avoid Qiao Dongliang more completely.
In the blink of an eye, it was close to the end of the year. It was the eve of Lunar New Year tomorrow. According to the habits of previous years, knowing that Qiao Dongliang was alone in the capital, the Zhai family would invite him over for the new year. However, the situation was a bit awkward this year.
Miao Jing didn't dare to ask Qiao Nan. As such, she could only ask Zhai Yaohui. "Are we inviting him or not this year?" It was highly likely for Qiao Dongliang to spend the eve of Lunar New Year alone. When Miao Jing thought of how Qiao Dongliang probably wouldn't even be in the mood to celebrate the new year, she couldn't help but pity him.
Zhai Yaohui turned the newspaper over. "Women are capricious. No wonder Qiao Dongliang would have such a temper. If Qiao Nan could be ruthless, there's no reason why Qiao Dongliang couldn't change all his habits."
"Isn't Nan Nan Qiao Dongliang's daughter? Is it right for a daughter to cure her old man?"
"No one else would know. What's there to be afraid of?" Zhai Yaohui looked like he couldn't care less. "Qiao Dongliang is a coward and doesn't treat Qiao Nan well. He changes his mind more frequently than women. However, we have to admit that he really didn't think of not letting Qiao Nan lead a good life. If Qiao Nan really did something to Qiao Dongliang, he would only tolerate it."
This could be considered the biggest shortcoming in Qiao Dongliang's character. When a child needed to be disciplined, stronger means had to be used to let the other party understand that this was definitely unacceptable and to prevent a situation like this to happen a second time.
He didn't manage when he should, and his love as a father grew when he shouldn't be managing. That was why Zhai Yaohui found him unpleasing to the eye. Qiao Dongliang's love never seemed to happen at the right time.
If Qiao Zijin could do this, Qiao Nan could naturally do so as well. However, if Qiao Nan was half as ruthless as Qiao Zijin, would Qiao Dongliang have dared to make unreasonable demands to her? Qiao Dongliang's issue was formed out of habit.
He didn't even pamper his own son and grandchildren. Would he let the people around him pamper an 'outsider' like Qiao Dongliang? What a joke!
"Let Qiao Dongliang spend the new year alone this year. However, let Qiao Nan know to transfer more money to him such that he could eat to his fill alone outside. I do want to see how he feels spending the new year alone with a large sum of money." Nowadays, most children reached out to their parents for money.
It was commendable for Qiao Nan to provide for her parents. Now, Qiao Dongliang was left with only one daughter, Qiao Nan. Qiao Dongliang was good to Qiao Nan and their father-daughter relationship had improved. However, Qiao Dongliang would only have to prepare for the new year alone in the years ahead.
Miao Jing was happy to give Qiao Dongliang a lesson. "Sure. I'll tell Nan Nan then. Old Zhai, you're right. Nan Nan is too easy to talk to and has treated Qiao Dongliang well. We have to be cold toward Qiao Dongliang so that he can appreciate how good Nan Nan had been to him all along by bringing the triplets to see him from time to time!"
Without a daughter like Nan Nan by his side, how different was Qiao Dongliang from a walking corpse?
After the discussions, Qiao Nan's attitude was calm. On the 29th, she transferred a sum of money to Qiao Dongliang. Even if banks weren't operating on the new year, he could withdraw the money from ATMs. In terms of material needs, Qiao Nan had never treated Ding Jiayi badly before, let alone Qiao Dongliang.
It was the eve of the Lunar New Year, and the atmosphere was lively in all households. Even if they were planning to head outside for a meal, the house was full of festive decorations with red flowers and words of blessings. As for those who were celebrating at home, preparations for the reunion dinner were in full swing.
"Mom, I've stir-fried the vegetables." Qiao Nan followed Miao Jing and became her little assistant. San Bao joined in the fun and helped wash or cut the ingredients. She was only short of personally cooking up a meal in the kitchen now.
"It's crooked. Move to the left a little. Yes, that's it. Very good." Er Bao and Da Bao were putting up words of blessings and spring couplets. As for spring cleaning, the whole family had already worked together on the 27th to get that done early.
"Oh, it's really not easy. It's already six in the evening. I'm getting confused." After a busy day, Er Bao's face was a little dirty. Da Bao looked at Er Bao with disdain. "Before having the reunion dinner, I would advise you to wash your face as well as your hands. I don't know which dirty monkey from the zoo ran over to our house for a meal."
Er Bao, who had started paying attention to his looks, became anxious and ran to the washroom without a word. Before washing his hands, he cleaned his handsome face.
Da Bao snorted. "You're not San Bao. Why do you like to look pretty like her?"
San Bao glared at Da Bao. "Don't think that I can't hear you just because I'm helping Mom and grandma. Don't say bad things about me behind my back."