Chapter 2103: Means
No, that was not the case. “Of course, I know that you won’t listen to me, but I don’t care either way. If you have nothing else, go out. I want some space to think about something.”
Qiao Zijin nearly fainted from anger because of Qiao Dongliang’s unwelcoming attitude. Her dad was not taking her words to heart at all. He was even trying to poke fun at her by saying that she was the empress!
“Dad, you’ve changed! Since when have you become so unfamiliar and scary? I’m just trying to counsel you so that you’ll reconcile with Mom and live happily with her. I’m being considerate of you and Mom. How could you say that of me? What have I done wrong for you to talk about me in this way?” Leaving aside how she would benefit, both her parents would benefit from this situation as well. She was not doing it for herself alone.
Qiao Dongliang shook his head. “It looks like you don’t have anything else to say. Go out. I’m busy.”
He had been calculating how to scrimp and save in the coming days. He knew that the prices of newborn baby products were sky-high. Just a simple milk bottle would cause him a week’s worth of his living expenses.
Qiao Zijin wanted to strike back at Qiao Dongliang. What could a retired factory worker be busy with? The only person whom her dad was concerned about now was Qiao Nan. Qiao Nan had indeed married well. Her parents’ attitude toward Qiao Nan had changed drastically, especially her dad!
When she had been married to Chen Jun in the past, her parents had treated her this well too.
Thinking about the difference in her lifestyles in the past and now, Qiao Zijin’s heart ached. She had not wanted to get a divorce and she had wanted to marry well and live a good life with Chen Jun too. The problem was that Chen Jun had always loved that vixen, Qiao Nan, and had been unwilling to live with her. He had even found himself mistresses. What else could she have done?
If her parents had disciplined Qiao Nan well, Qiao Nan would never have been able to seduce her brother-in-law. Then, Qiao Zijin would still be married to Chen Jun and would still be the daughter-in-law of the Chen family. As long as she was still married to Chen Jun, her parents would never treat her in this way even if Qiao Nan married Zhai Sheng.
“Dad…” Qiao Zijin wanted to throw a tantrum but did not know how to do so in order for Qiao Dongliang to give in to her and Ding Jiayi’s plan. After thinking it through, Qiao Zijin decided she could only try to coax him into doing so. “Do you know how hurt Mom has been? She’s really lost a lot of weight. My heart breaks when I see her. Dad, I’m begging you. For the sake of our family and for my sake, will you coax Mom? You just want to get a divorce from Mom, but I’m sure you don’t want to see her die of a broken heart, right? Besides, I’m sure you have feelings for her after being married to her for so many years. How can you get a divorce just like that? Am I not a good negative example? Do you really think that divorce is such a trivial matter? There are some things that can’t be taken back once you say them.”
More importantly, there was no way her dad would find a partner of higher standards than her mom if he were to get divorced.
“Dad, as long as you reconcile with Mom, I’ll agree to any of your requests. What do you think?” She had already gone to the extent of sacrificing herself. Her dad had to be moved, right? She had never said such mushy words in this family.
Qiao Dongliang hesitated and did not chase Qiao Zijin out anymore. “Will you really accede to any of my demands as long as I get back together with your mom?”
“…” Did that mean that her dad would really be so shameless as to make unreasonable demands of his own daughter? She had only said that for the sake of it… Because Qiao Zijin had not answered immediately, Qiao Dongliang’s expression changed and he gestured for Qiao Zijin to leave.
Seeing that Qiao Dongliang’s face had soured, Qiao Zijin had no other choice. “Yes, as long as you reconcile with Mom, I’ll do whatever you want to the best of my abilities. Is that a deal? But I have one condition. Dad, I have to remind you that I’m just an ordinary person and my abilities are limited. If you insist on demanding something that is beyond my reach, I’ll have no choice either.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t make those demands.” He was not Ding Jiayi, who only made such unreasonable demands. “Since I’ve decided to ask you for it, I already made sure that it’s something you’re definitely able to do unless you’re unwilling to do it.”
Because of Qiao Dongliang’s firm tone, Qiao Zijin had a tingling sense that it would not go down well. Qiao Dongliang’s behavior was indeed unsettling. “Dad, tell me what it is.”
She would just listen to his demands. Listening would do her no harm anyway. If she could not do it, her dad would simply maintain his distance from her mom, at the very most. Her dad could not possibly try to kill her just because she could not accede to his demands, right?
She would do her best to fulfill his demands if she could. Otherwise, her mom had better not blame her either. She had already tried her best.
Although Qiao Zijin had come up with a backup plan for herself, she could not help but run out of Qiao Dongliang’s room in shock after hearing Qiao Dongliang’s request. Then, she went up to Ding Jiayi, sobbing. “Mom, I’ve tried my best for the sake of your happiness, but Dad has really gone overboard. Dad has only Qiao Nan in his heart now. He has completely given up on me for Qiao Nan’s sake. Even if I die, he won’t even spare me a glance!”
Ding Jiayi knew that Qiao Zijin had gone to talk to Qiao Dongliang to resolve the tension between the couple. Ding Jiayi was still angry at Qiao Zijin over the hundred thousand yuan, but compared to her husband, Qiao Dongliang, that sum of money meant little.
Her initial intention had been to appease Qiao Dongliang with the hundred thousand yuan from Qiao Zijin. All these years, Ding Jiayi had always cajoled Qiao Zijin with money that she had gotten from Qiao Nan every time Qiao Zijin got angry at her.
This was the method that Ding Jiayi was used to. Money was just a means to an end. It was not Ding Jiayi’s ultimate goal.
As long as Qiao Zijin managed to appease Qiao Dongliang such that the couple’s relationship returned to normal, Ding Jiayi would not care even if Qiao Zijin did not give her that hundred thousand yuan.