Qiao Dongliang knew that he spoke those words in a fit of pique. If he were not Qiao Nan’s father, he would not have said that.
It was only in front of Qiao Nan that he acted like a willful child, wanting her to be tolerant toward him.
Wang Yang might be up to no good, but Qiao Zijin was not a fool. She was an adult and should have the ability to think for herself. If not, then she was foolish enough for not being able to tell that she was used by Wang Yang. But Qiao Zijin was obviously aware of the situation, yet she willingly collaborated with Wang Yang.
No matter what happened in the future, she would have to bear full responsibility.
Since she was willing to do so, nobody was to blame for whatever that happened in the future.
Qiao Dongliang let out a long sigh. “I am such a disappointment. Whenever I am reminded about how much you have suffered in the past, I would tell myself not to let you down. But in fact, I have let you down time and again. Nan Nan, you don’t understand. No matter how angry I am with your sister, she is also my daughter. Both of you are my daughters. It’s a tough call. I cherish both of you.”
“When you grow up, get married, and have your own children, you will understand.”
Qiao Nan pursed her lips and replied after a short while. “Dad, even if I grow up and have children in the future, I will definitely not let my children grow up to be like my sister. My sister thinks that our family owes her. No matter how much we do for her, she deserves to be treated that way. Dad, my sister’s temperament is different.” Qiao Zijin could not be compared with her future children.
“Alright, it’s fine if you don’t want to have anything to do with your sister. I won’t make things difficult for you. It’s true that it is not your fault. It is your sister who got to know Wang Yang. It’s not that I don’t understand, but I just can’t let go.”
Qiao Nan did not know what she could say to her father. No matter what she said, she would be in the wrong. It was better to remain silent.
“Fortunately, you are very clear-minded. In our family of four, three of us are confused. If you cannot stay clear-minded at all times, then that is the end of our family.” Qiao Dongliang smiled bitterly. “For me, I can’t help doing this. When I know that your sister has landed herself into such a situation, I cannot think properly. Nan Nan, you have to remember that if such things happen again in the future, as long as you think that you are right, you must not listen to me. I am a father. I can’t just think of you. I have to consider for your sister’s well-being as well. You have to think for yourself. Your mom and I are muddle-headed, but you have to stay calm and clear-minded. Otherwise, you will stand to lose.”
Qiao Dongliang wanted to be good to Qiao Zijin and help her regardless of whether she was right or wrong. This had been a habit of his. He had been brainwashed by Ding Jiayi for more than ten years. It was not easy for him to change at short notice.
In the past, Qiao Dongliang was unaware of this, but he had improved gradually by being aware of his habit and way of thinking.
“Dad, you can rest assured that I will do so. It’s not easy to lead a life according to one’s wishes, but I can assure you that I will try my best to ensure my happiness whilst not hurting others.” Qiao Nan breathed a sigh of relief. She had thought that they were going to end up in a quarrel because of Qiao Zijin.
It was a relief that they did not end up in a quarrel.
“It’s okay. You should get busy. I just can’t think straight right now. Let me calm down.” Qiao Dongliang smiled reluctantly. He still needed some time to come to terms with it.
He had to be able to sort it out by himself so that he could move on and feel at ease.
“Dad, don’t coop yourself up at home. I remember that you have quite a lot of friends in the factory and some of them are fairly close with you. Take for instance the uncle who helped us move last time. Since today is the weekend and you are not working, and I suppose Uncle Yang is not working as well, how about you buy a bottle of wine and some food to go with the wine and go over to his house to have a chat with him? You can go out for a walk. It’s not good for you to stay indoors all day long.”
Women would have to go through menopause. As for men, they would also experience similar situations.
Her father stayed at home every day. Apart from going to work, he was alone by himself.
He would watch the television, but he was constantly by himself regardless. He might be very bored.
Qiao Nan realized that she had not been considerate enough. Her father was too lonely and did not have her mother to bicker with. Every half a month, she would only be back from school for two days. For the rest of the time, her father had nobody to talk to.
Not to mention the problem with her sister, this alone would be too much for her father to handle.
She had neglected this issue.
“I-is this okay?” Qiao Dongliang was slightly tempted. He also felt that it was too suffocating to be at home every day.
“Of course. Uncle Yang will definitely welcome you. Dad, go along. I am fine.” Qiao Nan pulled Qiao Dongliang out of the house. “Dad, you are always busy with work. You should reward yourself and have some fun. After your meal with Uncle Yang, you can walk around with him. Now that spring is here, there are a lot of beautiful scenic spots in Ping Cheng. I heard that there is a village called Xia Village in Ping Cheng, where the sunset is particularly beautiful. Though it’s still early, and you may not be able to see the sunset, you can see the peach blossoms. Dad, if you go to the village, you must remember to pick some for me. We can leave them at home and they can last for a long time.”
“Are you sure you can stay at home by yourself? Don’t you need me to accompany you?”
“No need. I need a quiet environment to read my books. Dad, if you stay at home, you will be watching television by yourself at most. That is so boring. Go and have a chat with Uncle Yang. Just come back home before dinner.”
Apart from working, her father had nothing to do. Whenever he was free, he would start to worry about Qiao Zijin and her studies. The more he thought about it, the more he felt helpless, and this would not be good for her father.
“Alright, I won’t disturb you. I will look for Uncle Yang. While I am not at home, you must remember to prepare your own lunch.” Qiao Dongliang was slightly tempted. Since Qiao Nan persuaded him to go, he finally agreed to it.
“Dad, don’t worry. I won’t starve myself. I won’t cook those difficult dishes. It’s easy to cook a bowl of noodles and fry an egg. I won’t let myself suffer.”
“Good, then I will go out now.” Qiao Dongliang pushed the bicycle out of the house.
Qiao Nan breathed a sigh of relief at Qiao Dongliang’s departure.
The phone rang as soon as Qiao Nan returned home. “Hello, how are you?”
“Nan Nan, it’s me.”
“Brother Zhai? How come you have the time to give me a call?” Qiao Nan was very surprised.
“Is it convenient to talk now?”
“Yes, my dad just went out to look for his friend.”
Zhai Sheng’s voice turned grim. “Nan Nan, do you remember that you made a promise to me before I returned to the army? It’s been more than half a month, so where’s your letter?”
Qiao Dongliang knew that he spoke those words in a fit of pique. If he were not Qiao Nan’s father, he would not have said that.
It was only in front of Qiao Nan that he acted like a willful child, wanting her to be tolerant toward him.
Wang Yang might be up to no good, but Qiao Zijin was not a fool. She was an adult and should have the ability to think for herself. If not, then she was foolish enough for not being able to tell that she was used by Wang Yang. But Qiao Zijin was obviously aware of the situation, yet she willingly collaborated with Wang Yang.
No matter what happened in the future, she would have to bear full responsibility.
Since she was willing to do so, nobody was to blame for whatever that happened in the future.
Qiao Dongliang let out a long sigh. “I am such a disappointment. Whenever I am reminded about how much you have suffered in the past, I would tell myself not to let you down. But in fact, I have let you down time and again. Nan Nan, you don’t understand. No matter how angry I am with your sister, she is also my daughter. Both of you are my daughters. It’s a tough call. I cherish both of you.”
“When you grow up, get married, and have your own children, you will understand.”
Qiao Nan pursed her lips and replied after a short while. “Dad, even if I grow up and have children in the future, I will definitely not let my children grow up to be like my sister. My sister thinks that our family owes her. No matter how much we do for her, she deserves to be treated that way. Dad, my sister’s temperament is different.” Qiao Zijin could not be compared with her future children.
“Alright, it’s fine if you don’t want to have anything to do with your sister. I won’t make things difficult for you. It’s true that it is not your fault. It is your sister who got to know Wang Yang. It’s not that I don’t understand, but I just can’t let go.”
Qiao Nan did not know what she could say to her father. No matter what she said, she would be in the wrong. It was better to remain silent.
“Fortunately, you are very clear-minded. In our family of four, three of us are confused. If you cannot stay clear-minded at all times, then that is the end of our family.” Qiao Dongliang smiled bitterly. “For me, I can’t help doing this. When I know that your sister has landed herself into such a situation, I cannot think properly. Nan Nan, you have to remember that if such things happen again in the future, as long as you think that you are right, you must not listen to me. I am a father. I can’t just think of you. I have to consider for your sister’s well-being as well. You have to think for yourself. Your mom and I are muddle-headed, but you have to stay calm and clear-minded. Otherwise, you will stand to lose.”
Qiao Dongliang wanted to be good to Qiao Zijin and help her regardless of whether she was right or wrong. This had been a habit of his. He had been brainwashed by Ding Jiayi for more than ten years. It was not easy for him to change at short notice.
In the past, Qiao Dongliang was unaware of this, but he had improved gradually by being aware of his habit and way of thinking.
“Dad, you can rest assured that I will do so. It’s not easy to lead a life according to one’s wishes, but I can assure you that I will try my best to ensure my happiness whilst not hurting others.” Qiao Nan breathed a sigh of relief. She had thought that they were going to end up in a quarrel because of Qiao Zijin.
It was a relief that they did not end up in a quarrel.
“It’s okay. You should get busy. I just can’t think straight right now. Let me calm down.” Qiao Dongliang smiled reluctantly. He still needed some time to come to terms with it.
He had to be able to sort it out by himself so that he could move on and feel at ease.
“Dad, don’t coop yourself up at home. I remember that you have quite a lot of friends in the factory and some of them are fairly close with you. Take for instance the uncle who helped us move last time. Since today is the weekend and you are not working, and I suppose Uncle Yang is not working as well, how about you buy a bottle of wine and some food to go with the wine and go over to his house to have a chat with him? You can go out for a walk. It’s not good for you to stay indoors all day long.”
Women would have to go through menopause. As for men, they would also experience similar situations.
Her father stayed at home every day. Apart from going to work, he was alone by himself.
He would watch the television, but he was constantly by himself regardless. He might be very bored.
Qiao Nan realized that she had not been considerate enough. Her father was too lonely and did not have her mother to bicker with. Every half a month, she would only be back from school for two days. For the rest of the time, her father had nobody to talk to.
Not to mention the problem with her sister, this alone would be too much for her father to handle.
She had neglected this issue.
“I-is this okay?” Qiao Dongliang was slightly tempted. He also felt that it was too suffocating to be at home every day.
“Of course. Uncle Yang will definitely welcome you. Dad, go along. I am fine.” Qiao Nan pulled Qiao Dongliang out of the house. “Dad, you are always busy with work. You should reward yourself and have some fun. After your meal with Uncle Yang, you can walk around with him. Now that spring is here, there are a lot of beautiful scenic spots in Ping Cheng. I heard that there is a village called Xia Village in Ping Cheng, where the sunset is particularly beautiful. Though it’s still early, and you may not be able to see the sunset, you can see the peach blossoms. Dad, if you go to the village, you must remember to pick some for me. We can leave them at home and they can last for a long time.”
“Are you sure you can stay at home by yourself? Don’t you need me to accompany you?”
“No need. I need a quiet environment to read my books. Dad, if you stay at home, you will be watching television by yourself at most. That is so boring. Go and have a chat with Uncle Yang. Just come back home before dinner.”
Apart from working, her father had nothing to do. Whenever he was free, he would start to worry about Qiao Zijin and her studies. The more he thought about it, the more he felt helpless, and this would not be good for her father.
“Alright, I won’t disturb you. I will look for Uncle Yang. While I am not at home, you must remember to prepare your own lunch.” Qiao Dongliang was slightly tempted. Since Qiao Nan persuaded him to go, he finally agreed to it.
“Dad, don’t worry. I won’t starve myself. I won’t cook those difficult dishes. It’s easy to cook a bowl of noodles and fry an egg. I won’t let myself suffer.”
“Good, then I will go out now.” Qiao Dongliang pushed the bicycle out of the house.
Qiao Nan breathed a sigh of relief at Qiao Dongliang’s departure.
The phone rang as soon as Qiao Nan returned home. “Hello, how are you?”
“Nan Nan, it’s me.”
“Brother Zhai? How come you have the time to give me a call?” Qiao Nan was very surprised.
“Is it convenient to talk now?”
“Yes, my dad just went out to look for his friend.”
Zhai Sheng’s voice turned grim. “Nan Nan, do you remember that you made a promise to me before I returned to the army? It’s been more than half a month, so where’s your letter?”
