Chapter 224 - 208: Self-Righteous
Chapter 224: Chapter 208: Self-Righteous
Tang Qingyun munched on a few Beijing shortcakes his mother had brought him. He’d loved them since he was a child. Afterward, he took a shower, dried his hair, and fell straight into bed, sleeping soundly. He slept until dawn and woke up feeling refreshed and invigorated. His body felt surprisingly good!
Secretary Huang brought over steamed buns and soy milk from the cafeteria and went over the day’s work schedule. Tang Qingyun nodded while wolfing down his breakfast. When he finished, he noticed Secretary Huang standing nearby with his mouth agape, staring straight at the empty plates on the table through his thick glasses. Only then did Tang Qingyun realize: that had been breakfast for two, and he’d eaten it all himself!
Tang Qingyun was a bit speechless. ’Shouldn’t I be suffering from insomnia, irritation, depression, and anger with so many troubles piling up at once? In the past, I would’ve chain-smoked several packs of cigarettes without calming down, working myself into a daze. I’d have no appetite and feel nauseous, wanting to throw up. But this time is so abnormal. I slept well, ate heartily, and feel clear-headed, calm, and methodical. My emotions are under control, without a hint of anger... What’s going on? I really can’t figure it out. Oh well, whatever. I should just get on with my work. I need to finish everything as well as I can so I can head to Gongdao Village tomorrow. Mom is there.’
’Mom!’ A flash of insight struck Tang Qingyun. ’That’s right! It must be because Mom’s illness is cured. A weight has been lifted from my heart, and I have one less thing to worry about. That’s why my emotions are stable and my spirits are so high!’
’My brother blamed me over the phone, saying Mom’s illness was all my fault. He’s right. I’ve been such an unfilial son! I took advantage of her favoritism and indulgence to act willfully and recklessly, and I broke her heart. I thought sending Hao Hao to live with my parents was a way of showing filial piety, but that’s not it at all!’
’Hao Hao is Hao Hao, and I am me. We’re different.’
’It’s like how Mom would secretly put a duffel bag in my room, filled with all my favorite foods and even a big pack of clothes! That was a mother’s love meant just for me, with no share for Hao Hao!’
’When I had that sudden stomach bug in Gongdao Village, Mom’s voice changed from panic!’
’This is the woman who gave birth to me and raised me. No matter how cold or domineering she acts, no matter if she says she can’t forgive me, she always carries me in her heart. I am still her most beloved youngest son!’
Tang Qingyun wiped his eyes and let out a long breath. ’The doctors had given Mom a death sentence, saying she only had a little over a year to live. Thankfully, Manman studied medicine. That little girl is really capable and amazing. She cured Grandma and gave Dad a second chance. From now on, I must properly honor Mom and Dad!’
On the same day, while Gongdao Village was filled with laughter and joy, and the Wancheng office was a scene of focused, orderly work, Wu Xiaowen in the provincial city was distracted and in no mood to work. She had originally only taken a half-day off to take her daughter for a shot, but in the end, she simply called her office, claimed an emergency, and requested a few more days off.
She hadn’t slept a wink the previous night. ’Qingyun actually hung up on me, and then wouldn’t let me call back. That’s never happened before. What is he trying to do?’
’And he said Grandma Hao Hao and his older brother came? How is that possible? The old woman was on the verge of death. Qingyun personally called her doctor to confirm it, and I was right there listening. That was a veteran doctor with decades of experience—an authority! If an authority’s words could be false, then what about every time we called Beijing? Xiao Zhang also said the old woman was bedridden, that she had just taken her medicine or was in a deep sleep, too thin and weak to have any energy... Would Xiao Zhang dare to lie too?’
’Besides, the only reason Hao Hao was able to come back to us was that the old woman’s condition worsened, and she didn’t want her grandson to see her in such a ghastly state. That’s why she let Hao Hao go!’
’How could a dying person travel all the way down south? How would she even get here? Carried on a stretcher? It’s ridiculous!’
’Why would Qingyun lie to me? It’s nothing more than a scare tactic, and a hint, right? He wants me to go down to Wancheng to be with him!’
’Ever since March, when it was confirmed that my parents couldn’t return to Beijing, Tang Qingyun has been dragging his feet and not putting in any real effort. In a fit of anger, I started giving him and our son the cold shoulder. I stopped going down to Wancheng, and whenever Tang Qingyun came back to the provincial city, I’d ignore him. He was quite dejected for a while. He was too busy with work in Wancheng to come to the provincial city, so he even begged me to come down and see them, but I refused. This time, he’s stopped begging and resorted to scare tactics!’
Wu Xiaowen scoffed, feeling a bit better at the thought. ’I refuse to believe I can’t handle you, Tang Qingyun!’
’I’m naturally a gentle and elegant woman; I never wanted to be one of those shrews. You all forced my hand! When it comes to the Tang family’s power and connections, I have a share in that too. I married into the Tang family, gave birth to a son and a daughter, and continued the family line. So far, who in the entire family has contributed more than me? On what grounds can the Tang family’s influence not be used for my benefit? Ask anyone in the world, is that reasonable?!’
The more Wu Xiaowen thought about it, the more justified she felt. The little bit of panic caused by Tang Qingyun hanging up on her vanished completely. She took Tang Yaxuan to the hospital for her shot, and then the mother-daughter pair went shopping for a while. She bought Tang Yaxuan a few summer outfits, dresses, snacks, and daily necessities. Returning home with their arms full of bags, she started packing. She then called to arrange for a car, but the cars at her work unit were all too busy lately. Wu Xiaowen decided she might as well take the public bus early tomorrow morning. For the return trip, she’d have Qingyun arrange a car to take her back. Or maybe, just maybe, Qingyun would come back with her to the provincial city for a few days.
A smile appeared on Wu Xiaowen’s face. ’Keeping a marriage of over a decade feeling fresh isn’t just about being gentle and considerate. You have to throw a little tantrum from time to time, let him know he’s done something wrong so he’ll hurry up and admit it. If he doesn’t, just give him the cold shoulder and see if he submits!’
’After making up, we’ll be as close as glue, even better than when we were newlyweds. He won’t leave even if I try to shoo him away!’
’This time, however, I’m the one who has to go down to Wancheng. Qingyun had the guts to hang up on me, so he must have some confidence. After all, he has Hao Hao. That little ungrateful brat is annoying, but he’s still my own flesh and blood. The old man and old woman dote on him, and his status as the eldest legitimate grandson isn’t just for show. I have to coax him back one way or another.’
’Most importantly, there’s the situation with my parents. It’s so vexing. We thought they’d be able to leave, and we ended up straining relations with everyone at their work unit, but in the end, they couldn’t go after all. I can only imagine how much ridicule and scorn they’re facing. How can a man as proud as my father bear it? He’s gotten sick from anger several times. If this keeps up, things will get really difficult!’
’This really isn’t the time to be provoking Qingyun. It was a strategic error on my part; I went a little too far! I have to quickly win him back. A husband and wife working together can break metal. We absolutely need the Tang family to step in and get the Wu Family transferred back to Beijing!’
Tang Yaxuan finished packing her things into three large travel bags and said with some difficulty, "Mom, I can’t take this much stuff to school. I’m living in a big dorm room; there’s no space!"
Wu Xiaowen glanced over. "How could you not take it? You’ll need all of this. Put the towel blanket and soft pillow on your bed. Fold your new clothes and put them on the inner side of your bed. As for the food and other supplies, just stuff them under the bed. Don’t bother keeping the bags or anything, just throw them out. After you graduate and leave, you won’t need any of it."
She pulled a few large bills from her wallet and handed them to Tang Yaxuan. "This is your living allowance for two months. Keep it safe. Write to me when you run out of money. We have to be a little tight right now; we’re using the savings we put away before. Since Hao Hao isn’t there, the family in Beijing isn’t sending money over anymore. They probably sent it to your dad. He’s angry with me, you know. He hasn’t given me any money for two months. We’ll see how I deal with him when I get there!"