Chapter 42: Qiao Jianguo Returns Home from the Hospital

Qiao Fangfang glanced at the receipt and signed it without hesitation.

The Chen family paid her 300 yuan.

Leaving the coffin shop, Qiao Fangfang was still dazed.

It was too easy. She regretted not asking for more.

She could have asked for 80 or 100 yuan more.

What a loss.

Holding the money, Qiao Fangfang went to the hospital.

Lei Honghua was pacing in the yard. Seeing her daughter, she rushed over.

“Fangfang, how did it go?” she asked excitedly.

Qiao Fangfang grinned, “Mom, don’t you trust me?”

She took out the money, then put it back, “It’s done. I got the money.”

Lei Honghua’s face beamed. She pulled Qiao Fangfang to a corner.  “Good, good, let’s go.”

They shouldn’t show the money in public. The hospital was crowded, and the wards were shared.

Under a tree, Qiao Fangfang counted the money.

She stopped at twenty, “Mom, this is 200. Count it.

You said I’d keep 100 yuan for my savings and commission.”

She put the rest in her pocket.

“Aiya, child, give it here,” Lei Honghua tried to grab it.

Qiao Fangfang moved aside, “No. We agreed. You’ll use it for your sons. I’m your daughter too.  After deducting the 50 yuan you lent me, I only got 50 yuan for this trip.  My brothers got 100 yuan for doing nothing.”

Lei Honghua retracted her hand, “Fine, fine. I’ve spoiled you.”

“When will the Chens come to Gaoshi Village?”

Qiao Fangfang said, “They didn’t say, but they got the money.  It’ll be in the next couple of days. Why?  Want to watch the fun?”

Lei Honghua snorted, “I won’t miss such an important moment. Jianguo has been getting injections, and the doctor said he’s fine. We’ll take him home.”

Lei Honghua glanced at Qiao Fangfang’s pocket, “You know our situation.  Staying in the hospital costs money.  You and Jianhua are married, but Jianguo isn’t.”

Seeing Qiao Fangfang didn’t respond, Lei Honghua stopped hinting.

“I swallowed my anger because of Jianguo. Now that he’s fine, it’s time to deal with those ungrateful brats.  They’ve gone too far.”

Lei Honghua packed her things after Qiao Fangfang left and asked Qiao Jiuwang to find Qiao Jianhua’s classmate.

Li Xiaoping had rented a car from him when she left the hospital.

In Gaoshi Village.

The dried corn cobs were beaten with sticks, and most of the kernels fell out.

Qiao Jiangxin, with her uncle and parents, harvested the corn from two acres of land, dried it, threshed it, and took it to the grain station to sell.

Firstly, conditions are better now, they don’t eat as many cornmeal cakes, and secondly, money is safer in their pockets.

The storm hadn’t passed yet.

Qiao Jiangxin and her uncle returned from selling corn, and an aunt stopped them.

“Daya, Daya, your grandparents are back!”

Qiao Jiangxin and Qiao Youfu’s faces tightened, and they ran home with the wheelbarrow.

Several people were watching the Qiao house, the door ajar.

“Daya and Youfu are back.”

“They’re back.”

“Youfu, your parents are back. They haven’t made a sound. Your mother hasn’t yelled. Go see if they’re angry.”

A man joked, “Yeah, did something happen to Jianguo? Did he become an eunuch? Is your mother upset?”

Qiao Youfu was uneasy. Lei Honghua wasn’t yelling?

Before they could speak, the door opened, revealing Lei Honghua’s livid face.

“What the hell are you talking about? You’re the eunuch! Your ancestors were eunuchs! Spreading rumors will send you to hell! Mind your own business!”

The man’s face turned green, “You old shrew! What rumors? Didn’t Jianguo become useless and try to kill himself under the wheelbarrow?

Who doesn’t know?  Why are you calling me a liar?

Since you insulted me, I’ll let everyone know! I’ll change my surname to yours!!!”

While Lei Honghua and the man argued, Qiao Jiangxin rushed inside.

Seeing Qiao Youcai and Liu Afang unharmed, though anxious, Qiao Jiangxin was relieved.

“Mom and Dad, are you okay?”

Qiao Youcai glanced at Qiao Jiuwang, then shook his head.

At the door, Lei Honghua and the man were evenly matched.  She slammed the door and stormed in.

Qiao Jiuwang looked at the corn husks in the yard and seemed calmer. He said to Qiao Youfu’s brothers, “Did you harvest the corn?”

Qiao Youfu’s brothers looked at each other.

Qiao Jiangxin said, “Yes, we harvested it. It was exhausting, but we got a good price.”

Qiao Jiuwang’s face turned livid, “You sold the corn?”

Qiao Jiangxin met Qiao Jiuwang’s gaze, “What else?  Were we going to raise Jianhua and Jianguo under the scorching sun?”

Qiao Jiuwang’s suppressed anger exploded. He pointed at Qiao Jiangxin, trembling, “Are you possessed? How dare you talk to me like that? You sold all the grain!  Do you want us to starve?”

Qiao Jiangxin took a step back, muttering, “Whether you live or die is your business. We’ll live.”

Qiao Jiuwang said coldly, “What do you want?”

Qiao Jiangxin said calmly, “We don’t want to support your crippled son. We don’t want to be exploited anymore.”

Lei Honghua, furious, pointed at Qiao Jiangxin, “Who are you calling crippled, you little bitch? You want to anger us!”

Qiao Jiangxin looked up sharply, “How did you know?”