Ding Jiayi would only leave the worst job to Qiao Nan.
This time, Qiao Dongliang threw the task of cleaning up back to her. Ding Jiayi was dumbfounded, perplexed. Recently, Old Qiao had been very meddlesome with the affairs at home. She used to have the final say for things at home.
Thinking of the situation at home, Ding Jiayi had a terrible headache, her heart trembled. If she was to clean up by herself, there was no chance that she would able to sleep tonight.
It was impossible to make Qiao Nan do all the work at home anymore. In this house, Ding Jiayi, who had lost her sovereignty, was like a frosted eggplant. She felt weak and listless.
When Ding Jiayi stepped into the house and saw that her two daughters had helped Qiao Dongliang back to the room where Qiao Nan used to sleep in, she turned angry. “How foolish the both of you are! That room is so small, and your dad is recovering from his injuries. Why did you both bring him into that room?!”
She and Old Qiao did not intend to divorce, so there was no need to stay in separate rooms. Zijin was as foolish as Qiao Nan to have done such a thing.
Qiao Zijin was angry at being scolded by Ding Jiayi. “Mom, what are you yelling at? I did not want to help Dad into there as well. It was Dad who insisted to sleep in that room!” It had nothing to do with her. Her mother had no right to yell at her. If she dared, she should yell at her father.
For every grievance, someone is responsible. For every debt, there is a debtor!
As a mother, there was nothing wrong with lecturing her daughter, yet the elder daughter lashed back at her. Ding Jiayi would not take it lying down.
But Qiao Zijin was her favorite daughter after all. She was the one who made her proud. Ding Jiayi glared at Qiao Nan and released her pent-up frustration at her. “Are you stupid? Why do you bring your dad into that room? Do you wish for your dad to move about at home and aggravate his injuries? Do you have that much money to splurge?”
Qiao Dongliang was very disappointed by Ding Jiayi’s reaction.
The elder daughter had told the wife clearly that he asked for this room. It had nothing to do with the two daughters. At the very least, one could say that the two daughters were very obedient to him.
If the wife was angry, shouldn’t she direct her anger at him?
Parents always have their good reasons. Old Ding was biased toward Zijin and always sided with her, but Nan Nan never once yelled or disrespected Old Ding.
Old Ding pampered and doted on Zijin. She had wished to give her all the valuables in the house. Even though Zijin treated her disrespectfully, Old Ding did not reprimand her. Instead, she vented her anger on Nan Nan. Why was she so unreasonable?
Qiao Dongliang was not only disappointed with Ding Jiayi but also disappointed with Qiao Zijin.
Qiao Zijin had been spoiled by his wife and developed bad character traits all because of Ding Jiayi.
Nevertheless, his wife was oblivious to it and still indulged her elder daughter until now. Whenever he wanted to correct her, Old Ding would stop him and remind him that Zijin had a hard life and was very sensible.
Qiao Dongliang smiled sarcastically. Zijin might be wrong to lash out at her mother, but Old Ding asked for it herself!
“Have loads of money? Even if you do not have any money, you are still very capable, aren’t you? You can just borrow it from others, so what are you afraid of?” Qiao Dongliang’s eyes were red when he was reminded of what happened when he was sent to the hospital. “Zijin, Nan Nan, both of you should go out. I have something to discuss with your mom.”
“Wait!” Ding Jiayi panicked. Did Old Qiao know about what happened that day?
Ding Jiayi glared at Qiao Nan. It must be that wretched girl who told Old Qiao about what happened that day. If she knew this would have happened, she should not have given birth to her.
“You don’t have to blame everything on Nan Nan. You were shouting that day, and I was woken up by you. Everyone in the hospital would have known about it. There is no need for Nan Nan to tell me about what happened. I already heard it from someone else.” Qiao Dongliang sneered. “Both of you be good and leave us alone for now.”
“Both of you cannot leave!” Ding Jiayi’s face was pale. She quickly grabbed at both of her daughters, stopping them from leaving. They were her shields. “I… We are one family, and there should be no secrets between us all. They have the rights to listen to what you want to say.”
Ding Jiayi knew that Qiao Dongliang would be furious when he found out that she borrowed money from his comrades.
Regardless, she would not mind being disgraced. She placed Zijin’s future above everything. At most, she would be reprimanded by Old Qiao and it would pass eventually.
Ding Jiayi had never imagined that after spending all the money they had at home, Qiao Dongliang would be hit by a car, and that he would require major surgery at the hospital. What was worse was that it was a hit-and-run accident.
Things were totally different under such circumstances.
Whenever it crossed her mind that if Qiao Nan had not managed to borrow the money at that time, Qiao Dongliang could not have undergone the surgery and might have died, Ding Jiayi would break out in cold sweat and had nightmares for several nights. She would dream that she was a widow and had to raise two daughters by herself.
“Are you sure?” Ding Jiayi was so afraid that her legs were shaking from fear. She had no likings for Qiao Nan, yet she grabbed onto Qiao Nan now. Qiao Dongliang let out a long sigh. “Old Ding, I regret it. I really regret it.”
“Okay, all of you leave the room. Old Ding, you should do what you are supposed to do. Remember to clean the house. Otherwise, I will settle scores with you.” It was inconvenient for Qiao Dongliang to bring up certain stuff in front of the two children, especially in front of Qiao Nan. He did not want to hurt her.
In the past, Qiao Dongliang was a careless father. Now, Qiao Dongliang could not ignore her feelings anymore.
Since Ding Jiayi refused to face reality, Qiao Dongliang would just let her be. However, even though he did not say it out loud, it did not mean that it did not exist.
“It will be too tiring for me to clean up the house alone. I have to work tomorrow. Can Nan Nan help me with the cleaning?” Ding Jiayi was scared out of her wits. She gave in and agreed to clean the house. But at the very least, Nan Nan should help her out. Otherwise, she could not finish it by herself.
“You’re too tired to clean up? Didn’t you say that it’s easy? Ding Jiayi, as a mother, you should make your words count in front of your daughters! Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?!” Qiao Dongliang thought that Old Ding would not say another word and would finish the chores by herself.
It seemed that he thought too highly of Old Ding.
“Zijin, help me with the chores.” Ding Jiayi compromised once again and asked her beloved elder daughter for help.
Old Qiao stood firm and left no room for discussion. It must be his plans to make Zijin help her.
“Zijin can help you, but Nan Nan cannot.”
“Why!!!” Ding Jiayi screamed. Even if she had made a mistake, though she did not admit it verbally, she had acted submissive and apologetic.
She gave in to Old Qiao once and again. He should not go too far. “Didn’t you always say that we should treat the two daughters equally?”
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