At this point, Zhai Hua, who was convincing Father Zhai, never expected that to Zhai Sheng, the appearance of this exception would lead to many other “exceptions”.
Ding Jiayi had caught a cold after leaning and sleeping on the study room door for an entire night. Fortunately, she did not have a fever but the runny nose and sneezing were non stop.
“Mom, drink some hot tea.” Hearing the sound of Ding Jiayi blowing her nose, Qiao Zijin smirked and knitted her brow. She reluctantly poured a cup of hot beverage for Ding Jiayi.
Ding Jiayi was feeling so sick that tears welled up in her eyes. “Zijin, stay away from me in case I pass the cold virus to you.”
Although she was drinking the hot tea, Ding Jiayi did not feel any better.
“Mom, have you taken your medicine?”
“Not yet.”
“I will bring you the medicine.” Qiao Zijin went and searched for a long time. “Mom, there’s only the fever medicine leftover by Qiao Nan when she had fever last time. The cold medicine ran out. Mom, you give me money, I’ll go and buy for you.”
Ding Jiayi gave a long sigh. “Forget it. It’s just a cold. I will drink more water later and get well soon.”
Of course, she did not buy the medicine as she was unwilling to part with the money.
Otherwise, she could have bought and taken a few tablets of the medicine on her way back from work.
At this juncture, Ding Jiayi truly felt a little regretful over mindlessly spending so much money during the Lunar New Year period.
Ding Jiayi could not predict Qiao Dongliang’s stand now. Also, the money in her pocket could barely afford Qiao Zijin’s one month of living expenses. There was no way that she could cough up the tuition fees.
Having been married to Qiao Dongliang for so many years, this was the first time that Ding Jiayi felt so desperately poor.
“Mom? Is Dad reluctant to pay my tuition fees?”
“Your Dad, I don’t wish to say anything. Why do you think I caught a cold? Your Dad is too heartless and stubborn.” She was married to Old Qiao for so many years, yet he could bear to let her lean against the door and slept through the night. He did not even cover her with a piece of outerwear. Where was Old Qiao’s conscience?”
“Then what should we do now. School is starting the day after tomorrow. I have to go to school tomorrow!” Qiao Zijin’s eyes were red and she was close to tears. “Without the tuition fees, I will not study anymore. It is so humiliating to owe the tuition fees. I can’t do this!”
“Don’t cry, don’t cry. Mom is sick but it’s bearable. But when you cry, my heart goes out to you. Don’t be anxious, Mom has an idea.” Ding Jiayi pinched her nose, stomp her feet and rushed into her bedroom.
Following that, Ding Jiayi turned the bedroom upside down.
Qiao Nan that wretched girl hid the money well, but she did not believe that Old Qiao would do the same.
Clearly both are Old Qiao’s daughters, there was no reason that only that wretched girl could use Old Qiao’s money?
If Old Qiao was unwilling to hand over his money, then she would take herself!
“Mom, let me help you.” Qiao Zijin hesitated for a while at the entrance. But at the thought that she had to go to school tomorrow, she daringly entered her parent’s bedroom and helped Ding Jiayi on the search.
Ding Jiayi thought for a while and said, “If your Dad discovers this later, just push all the blame on me. Say that I am the only one who searched the room. You tried to stop me but could not.”
“Mom, I know.”
“Dad, you’re off work?” Outside the Qiao residence, Qiao Nan, who was on the way back from the Zhai residence, coincidentally met Qiao Dongliang who was coming back after work.
“Nan Nan, where have you been revising your studies all this while? Is that place convenient?” Qiao Dongliang saw his daughter carrying the books and only realized the problem at this point.
“It won’t be inconvenient. It’s quite good.” If Brother Zhai did not help her, then it would be very inconvenient. After all, she was not only storing books but also money. If she had put them away at any public place or any Tom, Dick or Harry’s place, how could she not worry?
Most probably she would have sleepless nights from worrying about the tuition fees.
“Fine, then let’s go home.” Qiao Dongliang could not think of where Qiao Nan had hid her books and money. But judging from how assured Qiao Nan looked, Qiao Dongliang was not worried anymore.
While at work today, he behaved like a wandering soul. He could not concentrate and made a few blunders when working.
One year had passed, undoubtedly, his wife did not have any money left on hand. But the elder daughter was going to school soon. Was he really going to let his elder daughter owe the tuition fees?
He knew that his elder daughter was afraid of losing face. Qiao Dongliang was in a dilemma. What if the elder daughter refused to attend school. Then they would have wasted the 5000 yuan spent earlier. Moreover, the elder daughter’s grades had improved and were good now.
After putting in so much efforts and facing the prospect of giving up halfway, Qiao Dongliang was in a dilemma. “Nan Nan, your sister is starting school soon, you know your Mom’s character. Do you think… ”
At a loss of what to do, he was not sure why, but Qiao Dongliang suddenly asked Qiao Nan for her opinion.
When she heard Qiao Dongliang’s words, Qiao Nan was silent for a while. She actually felt very disappointed.
Her father was relenting and thinking of paying Qiao Zijin’s tuition fees.
However, her father had already made his point harshly to her mother, and even quarreled so badly with her yesterday, he needed an excuse so that he would not lose face. Hence, he asked Qiao Nan about it.
To let Qiao Dongliang give the money to Qiao Zijin was contrary to what Qiao Nan thought.
In her previous life, the family was adamant about her quitting school and there was no room for negotiation. In this life, despite spending all the family savings, Qiao Zijin happily enjoyed herself for one year. Now, Qiao Zijin had to let her father to clean up the mess when she did not have enough money to pay the tuition fees.
Although her father kept saying that he would like to teach her mother and Qiao Zijin a lesson, at the critical juncture, he would always soften his stance. No wonder her mother and Qiao Zijin were fearless.
However, if she rejected him outright, Qiao Nan was afraid that this would affect her image before Qiao Dongliang. If she met with any problems in future and her father did not help her, she would have no status in the Qiao family. Her well-being was at stake.
Qiao Dongliang was the only backing that Qiao Nan had to allow her to continue staying in the Qiao family instead of living independently outside.
“Dad, why don’t we do this. Both of us know Mom and Sister too well. My sister has a bad temperament and can’t endure hardship, but you can’t let her spend all the money at home then quit school because of her pride. That will be equivalent to dumping the 5000 yuan into the sea. However, what my Mom and Sister did during the Lunar New Year was definitely unacceptable. If they continue to spend like this, don’t mention about saving money, they will probably owe money. After you go back, have a good talk with Mom and Sister. If they are willing to admit their wrong and change for the better, then you can consider giving the money to my Sister?”
Without a choice, Qiao Nan could only portray a more neutral stand.
Qiao Nan was only hoping that with, given her mother and Qiao Zijin’s character, they might flare up further without constraint. This would provoke her father and then they could forget about receiving the money.
These were just thoughts. However, what would happen eventually was beyond her control.
So, on the way back home, Qiao Nan did not look too good. She looked gloomy.
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