Reborn in a small village in the 1990s

Chapter 23

In no time at all, the rice was cooked and the dishes were ready.

When Li Qingmin served the food, Zhao Tiesheng's expression turned sour: rice and cabbage stew with vermicelli.

That's right, just one dish.

Wang Guixiang was also dumbfounded. She was thinking that she had finally come to the home of her favorite girl, so why was she being served this?

Braised cabbage with glass noodles, is it good to eat this at home every day?

Wang Guixiang waited a while longer and found that it was indeed only one dish, and there was definitely no other. This food was terrible.

Of course, compared to the cornbread and cold water we used to eat in the village, this cabbage stew with vermicelli is now considered a delicacy.

Wang Guixiang served herself a bowl of rice, and then served Zhao Tiesheng a bowl of rice as well.

Zhao Tiesheng shook his head, looking disappointed, and said, "I really have already eaten. Mom, you eat."

Wang Guixiang started eating by herself.

No one at the table spoke, and they finished the meal in an awkward silence.

Li Qingmin then poured tea and invited the two of them to drink it.

Wang Guixiang drank the somewhat bitter tea, her head down, seemingly lost in thought.

Zhao Tiesheng said, "Mom, then you can stay at your sister's place for the night. There's a bus tomorrow morning, and then we can go home."

Wang Guixiang asked cautiously, "How about we take a taxi home?"

Wang Guixiang could tell that her precious daughter and son-in-law weren't particularly enthusiastic. Since they weren't welcoming, Wang Guixiang didn't want to stay there either.

Zhao Tiesheng shook his head. He could tell that Wang Guixiang wanted to go home, but it would be very awkward for her to go home now.

Li Qingmin also said, "Mother-in-law, it's getting dark. Please stay here; there's a sofa..."

"Okay, then I'll stay on the sofa."

Zhao Tiesheng then took his leave and prepared to depart. As for Wang Guixiang, Zhao Tiesheng couldn't care less; after all, Zhao Chunqin was his own sister, and he couldn't very well let his mother sleep on the sofa while he slept in the bed.

"Second brother, why don't you stay here too? It's so late at night," Zhao Chunqin said.

Zhao Tiesheng refused.

Even trees have bark, and he doesn't want to be homeless. Is he really going to sleep on the floor?

Zhao Chunqin's apartment is a one-bedroom, one-living room unit, consisting of the master bedroom and the living room. There's only one sofa, and since Li Qingmin will probably sleep on it tonight, Zhao Tiesheng felt it wasn't appropriate for him to stay there, so he insisted on leaving.

Zhao Tiesheng then bid farewell to his mother and sister and returned to the hospital.

When they arrived at the hospital, Zhao Da'e was lying on the bed in his ward, gnawing on a roast chicken.

Zhao Tiesheng was stunned: "Big Goose, this roast chicken looks like you just bought it? You buy three roast chickens a day?"

As Zhao Da'e broke off a chicken leg and handed it to Cheng Jinxiang, he scoffed, "Dad, I've noticed you're being too nosy. Do I have to report to you what I eat? Besides, is it illegal for me to eat roast chicken?"

“It’s not illegal, but it’s too expensive…” Zhao Tiesheng said with difficulty, “We still owe the hospital several thousand yuan!”

Zhao Da'e slowly sat up: "Dad, I need to remind you of your wording. It's that you owe the hospital several thousand, but that doesn't include me or my mom."

"Whoever suggested coming to this hospital should pay for it. Besides, if it weren't for my grandma and aunt causing trouble, would my mother have gotten sick? Would my sister have needed emergency treatment right after birth? There's a cause and effect; it's because of their mistakes that the consequences occurred. I've already been incredibly lenient by not sending them both to the hospital. You still want me to pay you back? Dream on."

“Dad, let me make this clear. Mom and I will not pay a single penny of the money owed for this hospitalization. The best I can do is get Grandma out of here today and have my sister cause trouble at my aunt's workplace, otherwise my aunt will lose her job. I have done everything I can, so don't go looking for trouble. I, Zhao Da'e, am not only not a vegetarian, but when I'm angry, I'll take care of you too, Dad.”