Chapter 1283: The Fool’s Daughter (62)

“Xiaoguo is quite the clever little thing. She really doesn't seem like those two people's daughter. I bet she won't bother with them either. Anyone who does would be a fool.”

“Did they really think they could live in our house for free without spending any money? Dream on.”

“Keep your voice down. What if they hear?” Tang Liping hurriedly said. “I never planned to completely fall out with Lide. Who knows what the future holds? What if he gets back on his feet someday? He still has to remember how well we treated him. We can't afford to offend him beyond repair.”

“I know, I know. I'm just venting.”

Standing outside the door, the two of them no longer had any desire to knock.

Their faces were deathly pale. Tears filled Song Jinghua's eyes. She reached into her pocket and discovered not only tissues, but also the necklace she had come back for. Wiping away her tears, she grabbed Tang Lide's hand and turned to leave.

“Lide, let's not go in. The necklace was in my pocket all along. Come on, let's go.”

Tang Lide's face went from pale to flushed red, a lump of anger lodged in his chest.

Only after they boarded the bus with all their bags did he speak.

“I never imagined Big Brother and Sister-in-law were like that.”

Song Jinghua remained silent.

Tang Lide muttered to himself for several sentences, lamenting that he had misjudged people, that his devotion had been misplaced, that he should never have believed his elder brother cared for him most. He apologized to Song Jinghua over and over again, all the way until they got off the bus.

The two arrived at Old Madam Song's house.

Seeing the luggage they were carrying, Old Madam Song asked in surprise, “Lide, Jinghua, what are you doing? Why are you carrying so many bags? Where are you headed?”

“Mom, I want to stay here for a while,” Song Jinghua said.

“Weren't you staying comfortably at Lide's brother's place? Why are you suddenly coming here?”

Song Jinghua pursed her lips before replying, “It's not appropriate to keep living in someone else's home forever. Besides, Sister-in-law's parents are moving in, so we can't make things difficult for them.”

“So you've moved out and plan to stay here?”

Old Madam Song's eyes widened. “Jinghua, where exactly do you expect to stay? You know this place is small. There are only three rooms. I need one room, Yuyu needs one room, and my little grandson needs one too.”

“Let the two children squeeze together,” Song Jinghua suggested.

“Squeeze together?” Old Madam Song immediately shook her head. “How can they? Yuyu is a girl, and my little grandson is a boy. That's inappropriate. Besides, both children like having their own rooms.”

“Mom, we'll only stay for a while. Just a while, and then we'll move out.” Song Jinghua was practically begging.

Old Madam Song shook her head again. “You two should just rent a place. When you're paying for it yourself, that's when you live comfortably. Jinghua, don't make things difficult for your mother. You've been married for decades. What's with always coming back to trouble your natal family whenever something happens? Lide earns such a high salary. Is it really not enough for the two of you to rent a place?”

It would have been enough.

But after Song Jinghua's hospitalization, Tang Lide had already advanced two months' wages.

His next paycheck wouldn't come until the fifteenth of the following month.

Old Madam Song's words left Song Jinghua utterly humiliated, and one sentence in particular finally extinguished any thought she had of staying with her family.

“Jinghua, you're already in your fifties. Don't go doing something as shameless as living off your elderly mother. I won't indulge you. Off you go, and don't stay for dinner. Find a place to live first and come back another day. I have to pick up Yuyu from school today, and I don't have time to cook for you.”

Old Madam Song waved her hand dismissively.

Too ashamed to remain, Song Jinghua pulled Tang Lide away. The two wandered around a nearby park for quite some time, utterly lost and bewildered.