As soon as Qi Taiguoâs own words had left his mouth, he immediately realized his mistake. Seeing Cheng Suâs face change in an instant, he hurriedly reached out to grab her hand, panicking, "No, thatâs not what I meant. Listen to me..."
Cheng Su shook off his hand, stood up, and sneered, "So youâve been fooling me all along, saying youâd agree not to have kids for now, taking my side, it was all to pacify me. In your heart, you actually blame me for blocking your path to fatherhood."
"If thatâs the case, then why did you agree to it in the first place?" Cheng Su yelled, "Why wait until a conflict arises, and then blame me? It was you who made the promise, so why blame me for it?"
"Iâm not blaming youâI was just talking nonsense because I was so worked up. Thatâs not what youâre suggesting, is it?" Qi Taiguo was anxious as he said, "Susu, Iâve already convinced Mom. We can have kids in a few years. She knows that, and Iâm sure nothing like what happened today will happen again. She wonât interfere with us anymore. You can rest assured! Can you please not be angry for my sake?"
Qi Taiguo was truly caught between two fires. He had just managed to pacify his mother, and now he had to cajole his wife all over again. Damn, it was exhausting!
In all those past years, whom had he ever coaxed or persuaded?
Full of disappointment, Cheng Su looked at him, "Now, is it a problem between your mother and me? Do you think Iâm making a fuss over nothing? Is it my fault?"
"So what do you want? Iâve told you, Mom wonât bother us anymore. Besides, even if I do want to have kids, I havenât said anything against you. You say you donât want to, and I agreed to that. Why are you holding onto this issue? Now that Mom has backed down, as a daughter-in-law, shouldnât you stop arguing with an old person and be inflexible? She is still my mother! Thatâs enough, isnât it? Why do you always have to argue about whoâs right or wrong?" Qi Taiguo lost his patience and scowled.
All he did was momentarily misspeak during a checkup at the doctorâs. Did Cheng Su really need to take it so seriously and make a mountain out of a molehill?
He, a grown man, had humbled himself to persuade and cajole. Wasnât it about time for his wife to let things go?
"Thatâs enough, is it? So thatâs how it is, Iâm just being unreasonable, am I? Qi Taiguo, you bastard!" Cheng Su let out a harsh laugh, gave him a fierce glare, and stormed out, slamming the door behind her.
"Susu!" Qi Taiguo chased after her, but Cheng Su had already grabbed her canvas bag, put on her shoes, and ran off.
"Whatâs going on? What happened?" Qi Fenglian and the others, hearing the commotion, came running out just in time to see Cheng Su leaving in a hurry, and said, "Whatâs all this arguing about? Taiguo, arenât you going after her?"
Qi Taiguo moved to follow her but, driven by male pride, he stopped himself and said, "Chase her for what? Sheâs just throwing a temper tantrum, acting like sheâs some wealthy capitalistâs daughter!"
"Right, donât chase after her. Spoil her and sheâll become too full of herselfâwhat will become of her in the future?" Mother Qi firmly stood by Qi Taiguoâs side, adding, "Sheâs a grown woman and sheâs playing runaway from home? Sheâll be back when itâs time. Taiguo, just head to the army!"
Qi Taiguo pursed his lips and nodded.
Seeing this, Qi Fenglian opened her mouth to speak, but Mother Qi pulled her back vigorously, silencing her with a look that said if you speak, youâre no daughter of mine.
Qi Fenglian couldnât help but shake her head and sighed in her heart, looking at Qi Taiguo with deep concern.
How could her brother, even now, not see the true nature of Cheng Su? She had such a strong sense of self-respect!
Just watchâhe refuses to go after her now, but he will suffer for it in the days to come!