Qi Taiguo helped Cheng Su set the dishes on the table, and as Mother Qi walked over to take a look, she murmured with a pained expression on her face, "The eldest daughter-in-lawâs hand with the oil has really become heavy, itâs like everythingâs soaked in it!"
Qi Fenglian was holding Xiao Bao and coaxing him to sleep when she heard this and said, "Mom, youâve got a point. Taiguo has it tough with the military training, and if the food isnât rich and oily, wonât he become as thin as a flat bean?"
That was true, after all, nobody should be shortchanged, especially not her eldest son!
Mother Qi said no more.
Once the meal was served, the family sat down together, sipped soup, ate, and chatted idly about family matters.
"What does my brother-in-law do at home these days?" Qi Taiguo casually asked.
Qi Fenglianâs chopsticks paused, and she said, "He just picks up some carpentry work, heâs not very skilled."
Qi Taiguo frowned.
"Back when it was just Yunyun, I wouldnât have said anything, but now with Xiao Bao, just farming and doing odd jobs isnât enough. In the future, with the kidsâ education and everything, itâs all about money!" Mother Qi said at this time.
Cheng Su agreed with her inwardly, thinking to herself that her mother-in-law was quite sensible about this issue.
"Neither of us are educated, and I was thinking that when Xiao Bao gets a bit older, Iâll leave him with his grandma and go work in a factory," said Qi Fenglian.
Mother Qi picked up a piece of vegetable with her chopsticks and suddenly turned to Cheng Su, "Since itâs about working, why donât the two of you go work where Taiguoâs wife works? Besides, with family, itâs easier to talk."
Cheng Suâs head buzzed.
The most dreaded nepotism in the company came at her so unexpectedly.
Seeing Cheng Suâs silence, Mother Qiâs face grew dark and she said, "Eldest daughter-in-law, donât you need people to work for you too? Hiring your elder sister and brother-in-law is surely better than hiring outsiders, right?"
Qi Taiguo saw the complicated look on Cheng Suâs face and intervened, "Mom, itâs hard work at the restaurant, busy from dawn to dusk, and I donât think Elder Sister and Brother-in-law can handle it!"
"Yeah!" chimed in Qi Fenglian, "Besides, Qing City is too far from our home; a round trip would take a whole day, and I canât bear to leave Xiao Bao and Yunyun."
"When it comes to making money from labor, sometimes you have to let go," Mother Qi said, not convinced.
"Weâll talk about it later. Xiao Bao hasnât even been weaned yet!" Seeing that Cheng Su wasnât saying anything, Qi Fenglian gave her mother a look.
Mother Qiâs face turned extremely sour, and she stopped talking.
Cheng Su felt quite out of sorts and didnât know how to reply. Feeling somewhat empty-headed, she simply fell silent.
After dinner, Qi Fenglian and Mother Qi helped Xiao Bao bathe while Cheng Su went to wash the dishes, Qi Taiguo came over.
"Are you upset? Mom just cares about Elder Sister, and you..." Qi Taiguo said cautiously.
Cheng Su glanced towards the kitchen entrance and lowered her voice, "Iâm not angry or upset, itâs just that I donât know what to say. Do you agree with having Elder Sister and her husband work for me?"
Qi Taiguo met her gaze and after a long pause finally said, "If you think itâs not right, then Iâll talk to them!"
That was essentially an agreement!
Cheng Su lowered her head and said, "I really havenât thought about it, and I donât have a clue right now. Give me some time to think!"
Qi Taiguo wanted to say something but then pressed his lips together.
In the bathroom, Qi Fenglian was also softly persuading Mother Qi, "Itâs only the first day, Mom, why are you rushing things? You saw how uncomfortable Taiguoâs wife was just now."
"I didnât say anything wrong. In the end, we have to hire someone, so why not hire you? Youâre family, after all. But look at her," Mother Qi was quite dissatisfied with Cheng Suâs attitude.
Qi Fenglian was really troubled and said, "Mom, just drop it, will you? Otherwise, Iâll be too ashamed to face her!"
Mother Qi wasnât convinced. If Cheng Su wouldnât respond, sheâd go and convince her son. She refused to believe that her son wouldnât protect his elder sister and her husband.