Phi-Fic Chapter 18 Bah!
Chapter 18 Bah!
After finishing their work in the orchard, the students began the spring semester.
With the new semester approaching, new stationery and books are essential, keeping He Qiaoyun's shop extremely busy.
The students swarmed in, turning the shelves upside down. She had to tidy up the shelves morning, noon, and night, and then restock the missing items.
Although it's tiring, the income is good. Most of the New Year's money that students snatch from their parents' hands is spent on her small shop.
At the end of the month, He Qiaoyun finally had some free time. Thinking that she hadn't contacted her daughter for a long time, she gave her a call.
More than half a month has passed, and the unpleasantness of the last parting has faded with time; there is no lingering grudge between mother and daughter.
After finishing her work at the small supermarket, she went to the farmers' market to buy groceries, and then invited her daughter to have lunch at her one-bedroom apartment.
At noon, Xu Hemei arrived, changed her shoes, and looked around the small house. "Mom, this house is really nice."
He Qiaoyun went into the kitchen and brought the dishes to the table. "I've had enough of living alone. A small house can gather energy. Go wash your hands and eat."
Xu Hemei went into the kitchen to wash her hands, then sat down at the dining table with a smile and said, "Mom, I quit my job, so I'll have more time to spend with you in the future."
He Qiaoyun paused, her hand holding the chopsticks still, staring straight at her with a look of helplessness in her eyes.
What's done is done, there's no point in saying anything now. Just like Feng Jiashu said, this is his daughter's growth.
"Okay, whatever makes you happy."
Xu Hemei's eyes lit up when she didn't expect He Qiaoyun to change her mind. "Mom, you're not scolding me anymore?"
"If scolding you were effective, you wouldn't have resigned."
Xu Hemei said helplessly, "Actually, we started trying to conceive right after we got married last summer. I wanted to have a child when I was 26, but more than half a year has passed and there is still no sign of pregnancy. I was under too much work pressure and too anxious. I was working late into the night to finish my thesis, and my body was exhausted, which is why I couldn't get pregnant."
He Qiaoyun blurted out, "You are my daughter, how could there be a problem? Is it possible that Duan Fei is impotent?"
Xu Hemei immediately said, "How could that be? Duan Fei is fine; he's always been in good health."
"Is your health really that bad? He also works night shifts. Why doesn't he quit his job and come home to help you conceive? Why do you have to make such a big sacrifice? Getting pregnant isn't just your responsibility."
Xu Hemei couldn't stand anyone talking about her man. "Oh my god, why are you always targeting Duan Fei?"
"Daughter, if a man isn't right for you, we'll find another one. Don't make things harder for yourself."
Xu Hemei wouldn't listen to any of the advice and didn't want to argue with He Qiaoyun, so she changed the subject.
“Mom, last time I saw Dad’s illegitimate daughter and that mistress at the hospital. She called me in a panic. What’s the use of calling me? I’m not a pediatrician. I can’t be bothered to talk to her.”
He Qiaoyun did not have an overflowing sense of compassion, and she did not teach her daughter that she should not do such things, saying things like the child was innocent.
Being born as the daughter of a mistress is bad luck for her. She doesn't even love her own two sons, so why would she care whether the mistress's daughter lives or dies?
Moreover, the mistress and her daughter are the beneficiaries; they spend all their money on her and Xu Hui's joint marital property, so they don't deserve her sympathy at all.
"I heard from Duan Fei's department that his daughter's preliminary diagnosis is a brain tumor, which is related to my specialty. My dad has been calling me a lot these past few days, asking if it was a misdiagnosis and if there are any other options."
“The scans are right there, the tumor is so big. My teacher also went to the consultation, how could it be a misdiagnosis? Besides, the result would be the same no matter which hospital you consult. Based on the current situation, you need to be hospitalized for observation and then prepare for surgery. This incision will not be easy to endure.”
"It's quite pitiful. The adults are courting death, but the consequences are falling on the children. Even if the tumor is completely removed, there is still a risk of recurrence."
He Qiaoyun made no comment, but said to her daughter in a very annoyed tone, "Stop worrying about others and mind your own business. If you can't get pregnant in six months, then go back and study for your doctorate, okay?"
As a mother, even though I know I shouldn't interfere too much, I can't help myself; I don't want my child to get any more involved...
Xu Hemei frowned, "Mom! You brought this up again, I'm not going to study."
He Qiaoyun sighed silently in her heart, then poked her head in annoyance, "Read it or not, eat!"
As spring deepens, the lychee trees' flowers fade, and the longan trees begin to bloom as the fruit sets.
This time, He Liang took the initiative to deliver three boxes of bees.
"I'm really sorry about last time, you know He Ping..."
One doesn't hit a smiling face, so He Qiaoyun smiled and said, "Thank you."
I was originally planning to borrow bees from the herb base in the mountains for pollination, but now I don't have to shamelessly owe them a favor. However, I feel inexplicably melancholy.
After finishing her work at the orchard, she returned to the city, where Xu Hui came to visit her.
He Qiaoyun looked at his haggard face, raised an eyebrow, and said with a smile, "Oh, ex-husband is here. What brings you here?"
Xu Hui saw her beaming face, a stark contrast to his own, and felt annoyed and irritated. "He Qiaoyun, you lied to me back then, saying your little supermarket was so profitable!"
He's been going crazy lately. He's owed his employees two months' wages, several long-term partners aren't renewing their contracts, and his factory's bank loan is a month overdue.
These external matters were causing him a great deal of distress, and things at home were even more chaotic. His six-year-old daughter was hospitalized with a brain tumor and was scheduled for surgery, but they couldn't afford the fees. The surgery was repeatedly postponed, and relatives and friends refused to help, all thinking it was bad luck.
But He Qiaoyun lives a free and easy life. Why should she?
He Qiaoyun laughed angrily, "Xu Hui, what did I lie to you about? I started this supermarket myself, and I made money through my own abilities. Besides, you signed the divorce agreement yourself; I didn't force you."
Xu Hui wouldn't listen to anything anyone said. All he knew was that the supermarket was under He Qiaoyun's name and brought in about 100,000 yuan every month.
He was green with envy.
No wonder He Qiaoyun bought a bag worth 20,000 to 30,000 yuan without batting an eye!
Over the years, she may have secretly squandered money behind his back, and he still thought she was thrifty and good at managing the household. In fact, she is just like those other women!
"Lend me two hundred thousand." He angrily reached out his hand to ask for it.
These days, those who owe money are the ones in charge. Even if they say they're lending it, they almost never get it back.
He Qiaoyun crossed her arms and said, "Xu Hui, are you stupid? We're divorced. What does it have to do with me that you don't have money? You don't have money to sell your house? Your four-bedroom apartment is a bit old, but it's in a good location. It should fetch a good price."
Want her retirement money to treat her mistress's daughter's illness? Dream on! Pshaw!
Xu Hui gritted his teeth, "He Qiaoyun, don't be so cold-blooded. That's a human life. You're just letting this money sit there gathering dust. Lend it to me, and I'll give you three times the bank interest rate."