Qiao Lihua was awakened by the aroma of food.
The smell of meat.
The Qiao family did buy meat, but not often—because more often than not, the Qiao father and son ate and drank lavishly outside with colleagues and friends. Naturally, Old Madam Qiao would never deliberately buy good food for Shen Yunchu and her daughter.
Nan Lingyi had just finished setting a table full of dishes. When she looked up, she saw Qiao Lihua swallowing her saliva, her big round eyes looking at her timidly.
To be honest, aside from being thin from malnutrition, the little girl was quite the beauty in the making.
Nan Lingyi beckoned to her, signaling her to come over and eat.
Qiao Lihua shook her head instead. “Mama doesn’t let me eat other people’s food.”
Nan Lingyi was instantly amused by the way she swallowed her saliva while forcing herself to hold back, and said solemnly, “Then why don’t you ask your mama whether you can eat if I’m the one giving it to you?”
Shen Yunchu and Sister-in-law Li had gone to the washroom to fetch hot water and pour it into the newly bought basin so everyone could wash their hands.
Nan Lingyi’s words happened to be heard by Shen Yunchu as she returned.
She couldn’t help pressing her forehead—her mom really had a mischievous side.
Qiao Lihua asked in her childish voice, “Mama, can I eat it?”
Shen Yunchu pulled her daughter into her arms, carefully wiping her hands and face as she said, “You can eat the food this grandma gives you, but not from others.”
Qiao Lihua tilted her head in confusion. “Why?”
Shen Yunchu chuckled. “Because she is my mother. You shouldn’t call her Grandma—you should call her Maternal Grandma.”
Qiao Lihua’s eyes immediately widened like a kitten’s. She wrinkled her little brows. “Maternal Grandma is bad. I don’t like maternal grandma.”
She was talking about Shen Yunchu’s stepmother. Whenever Shen Yunchu brought her back, that maternal grandma would be just as fierce as her paternal grandmother when no one was around!
Shen Yunchu pinched her little nose. “This maternal grandma is different. She’s my real mother, just like how I’m your real mama.”
Sitting next to Shen Yunchu, Qiao Lihua curiously examined this new maternal grandma.
She realized this maternal grandma was completely different.
This maternal grandma gave her candy.
This maternal grandma put the meat she liked most into her bowl.
This maternal grandma looked at her with such gentle eyes.
Today’s meal was really delicious. Qiao Lihua ate until her belly was round and said coaxingly, “If only Lihua could eat her fill every day!”
Nan Lingyi’s expression changed slightly.
Shen Yunchu bit her lip. “Mom, it’s all my fault for being useless.”
Nan Lingyi immediately slammed her chopsticks down. “What nonsense are you talking about! How is this your fault? Learn this well—rather than wearing yourself down from the inside, it’s better to go crazy and wear others down instead!”
Shen Yunchu: “???”
Even Sister-in-law Li, who was picking fish bones out for Li Jiaojiao, looked at her curiously.
Nan Lingyi cleared her throat. “It means, when something goes wrong, don’t always look for faults in yourself—think more about other people’s problems!”
She snorted. “Is this your fault?”
Shen Yunchu replied blankly, “No!”
“Good. As long as you understand. Leave the rest to me. You just focus on recovering in the hospital. In a couple of days, once I’ve chosen a place, you won’t need to go back to the Qiao household—just move straight home!”
Shen Yunchu froze, then her eyes reddened. All these years, she had had no way out. Now, things were different.
She nodded hard.
Still, she couldn’t help worrying. With all this eating, drinking, and buying a house, her mother surely wouldn’t have much money left. Once she recovered, she would work harder to earn more money!
Two or three days passed, and Shen Yunchu and her daughter still hadn’t returned.
Old Madam Qiao could no longer hide things when faced with questions from her husband and son.
“How would I know where she went! I only know she’s a woman with no sense of propriety. What kind of wife stays away from home for days? That day she said she took Lihua to look at her forehead injury—how long could applying some medicine take?”
Old Madam Qiao muttered.
Old Qiao puffed on his tobacco pipe, blowing out a smoke ring.
He didn’t interfere much in family matters, and even less so in matters concerning his daughter-in-law.
Qiao Wengang, who had just returned late from overtime, suddenly stood up. “Mom, such a big deal like Lihua going to the hospital—how could you not tell me!”
He immediately turned to leave.
Old Madam Qiao instantly collapsed onto the floor. “Oh heavens! I’ve worked myself to the bone caring for this whole family, and now I’m the one at fault! Oh my, I’m dizzy, my eyes are spinning… I can’t live anymore!”
Qiao Wengang hesitated. Old Qiao pretended not to see and walked out.
Usually, with a father like that, what could a son do?
He could only helplessly go take care of his mother.
But Qiao Wengang—an only child—was naturally cold-hearted. And Shen Yunchu was the woman he had fought tooth and nail to marry back then.
So he kicked his legs, dusted off his pants, and left anyway.
Old Madam Qiao lay on the ground, unable to cry or stop crying. She silently ground her teeth—she knew it, it was all that fox woman’s fault. Otherwise, her child had been so filial before. Now he had married a wife and forgotten his mother!
Damn it. Damn it!
Anxious and frantic, Qiao Wengang rushed to the hospital, sweating profusely as he ran to the information desk. “Shen Yunchu, Qiao Lihua—are they in this hospital? Which ward are they in?”
Shen Yunchu and Qiao Lihua were now quite well-known in the hospital.
After all, most people who came to the hospital were frowning, penny-pinching their expenses. But that ward was different.
Expensive fruits people had never even heard of were sent there nonstop. It was said someone had even specially bought imported milk powder—supposedly outrageously expensive.
As for the medicines needed for treatment, the elderly lady had said that as long as the effect was good, price didn’t matter.
“And you are?” the nurse asked.
Qiao Wengang hurriedly patted himself, then took out his identification. “I’m Shen Yunchu’s husband—Qiao Lihua’s father.”
The nurse looked at the notes. The two elderly ladies had instructed that he was allowed to visit, so she told him the ward number.
Qiao Wengang quickly thanked her and rushed off.
Before he even reached the room, his voice was already ringing out. “Wife! Daughter! Where are you? You’re hospitalized—where are you hurt? Does it hurt?”
His voice was all too familiar to Shen Yunchu. Embarrassed, she covered her face.
Nan Lingyi raised an eyebrow and looked toward the door.
Soon enough, a tall, handsome man appeared—around 1.8 meters tall, his face filled with anxiety.
“Wife, I finally found you! Are you okay? Why are you hospitalized? Where’s Lihua? What happened to Lihua?”
Qiao Wengang looked at Shen Yunchu nervously.
Shen Yunchu gazed at him with complicated feelings. He truly loved her and their daughter—but because of his work, he was often away from home for long periods.
She knew that if she told Qiao Wengang about all the suffering she and their daughter had endured, he would protect them without hesitation. But once he went back to work, Old Madam Qiao would only find even more ways to torment them.
(End of Chapter)