Neither Jiang Conghe nor Lu Shufen knew anything about Chiang Qingâs self-harming behavior; they both reveled in their daughterâs apparent improvement.
"Qingqing seems to be getting better; itâs such a stroke of luck. I think she will fully recover after a bit more time!" Lu Shufenâs greatest joy was her daughterâs recovery.
"Donât get careless, after all, itâs psych..." Jiang Conghe caught his wifeâs warning glance and didnât finish his sentence, coughing instead and saying, "Anyway, the treatment must continue. Doctor Zhong is an authoritative doctor; unless she says itâs okay, we must continue. You need to keep a close watch, the medication canât stop, sheâs our only daughter!"
"Yes, I know that," Lu Shufen replied. "But I think itâs about time. Qingqing herself wants to go out for a walk; she says itâs too stifling staying at home."
Jiang Conghe frowned upon hearing this.
"What? Is there a problem?" Lu Shufen, observing his expression, couldnât help but ask.
"Itâs better to recuperate at home for now. Once this commotion has died down, then she can go out," Jiang Conghe said hesitantly.
"What commotion? My daughter isnât a criminal," Lu Shufen was disgruntled and said, "People outside are quick to make assumptions based on rumors, always talking nonsense. How is one to get better if theyâre cooped up at home every day?"
"Of course, I know she needs to go out, but what if she hears what people are saying about her? What if sheâs affected by that?" Jiang Conghe said, adding that there was something he hadnât mentioned: the focus was currently all on the Chiang Family, and if they were to make a spectacle of themselves now, that focus would not shift away.
Lu Shufen was speechless.
"The main thing now is for Qingqingâs illness to improve, isnât it?" Jiang Conghe comforted her.
Lu Shufenâs eyes reddened as she said, "This way, neither of us can leave the house, but I donât have the face to go out anymore!" She had been genuinely suspended from her job.
"I just came back from my father-in-lawâs place. Dad said if youâre not a director anymore, then youâre not. Later we can transfer you to another department. For now, while youâre resting, stay at home with Qingqing. When youâre free, you can arrange flowers or learn tea ceremony or something. I hear itâs quite popular in our circles now," Jiang Conghe reassured her.
At the mention of this, Lu Shufen felt even more distressed, voicing her grievance: "Whatâs the use of learning that, when all those people probably donât know how to view us, mother and daughter alike? You have no idea how arrogant Xiao Meilan sounded over the phone when she told me about the suspension."
Lu Shufen had been proud for most of her life and never expected to stumble over something like this now that she was older.
It was all that bitch with the surname Chengâs fault!
"Forget it, forget it. Donât bother with them. Dad said we need to keep a low profile for now. Once this blows over, itâll all be fine!" Jiang Conghe said. "Prepare some nutritional supplements or something; Iâll send someone to Qing City. The Chief said that I should take good care of Qi Taiguo."
"The decision has been made?" Lu Shufen was startled.
Jiang Conghe nodded, saying, "They noted an infraction on my record, which is why Iâm telling you to keep a low profile. Once I rise higher up, youâll have plenty of people trying to curry favor with you, even kneeling and licking your shoes!"
Lu Shufen scoffed, "Having to apologize to those lowlifes is so revolting. Director Wang is doing this on purpose, isnât he? Just to make a laughing stock out of us." "Donât talk like that anymore. Whether or not I can occupy that position depends on him!" Jiang Conghe warned.
Lu Shufen sullenly said, "Regardless, I just canât accept it, it makes me uneasy."
For people like them to have to apologize to someone of lower status, what kind of situation was that?
Jiang Congheâs expression grew very grave, and after a long while, he finally said, "Donât worry, weâll get our own back eventually!"
Qi Taiguo, hmph, whatâs he compared to us!