However, before Ding Jiayi could reach Qiao Nan and order her to go away, Qiao Nan had found what she was looking for.
When Qiao Nan saw the fever medicine that was retrieved from the dustbin, she could not help it and her tears started rolling again.
Her mother was too heartless. There was apparently fever medicine in the house but she would rather throw it away than to let her have it. She would rather her be sick than enroll in school.
Qiao Dongliang, who has been following behind, also saw the medicine in the dustbin. He recognized it as the fever medicine that he had seen in the morning. "You told me that was none left? What is this?!"
Ding Jiayi, whose lie was exposed, blushed with embarrassment and then simply shouted, "The medicine has expired. I can't possibly give my own daughter expired medicine. What if she gets ill because of this!"
Qiao Nan firmly wiped away the tears on her face. "Mom, you just said you had already given me medicine? So, did I take the medicine or has it expired?"
Qiao Nan then realized that her illness and quitting of school was a ploy right from the start!"
Ding Jiayi held her neck straight. "Expired. If it has not expired, why do you still have a fever after taking the medicine? I am your biological mother. Would I harm you by giving you expired medicine?"
Qiao Dongliang was exasperated but also wanted to laugh at his wife's ridiculous words. "I know that this medicine has expired and there is no use taking it. But you just told me not to send Nan Nan to the hospital. You said Nan Nan would get well soon and we don't need to spend the money unnecessarily."
Having said something that contradicted herself, did his wife's pride hurt?
"Dad, the medicine did not expire." Qiao Nan took the medicine and ran to Qiao Dongliang. "You see, it did not expire!"
The expiration date of the medicine was printed on the back of its plastic packaging. The date clearly stated that there were a few more months to expiry.
This time, Qiao Dongliang was furious. "Ding Jiayi, what were you thinking!"
Obviously, there was medicine for their daughter, and she claimed that it had expired!
"You also said that you are Nan Nan's own mother. Does a mother behave in this manner? You would rather throw the medicine away than to give it to our daughter. And you said it has expired? Let me ask you again. Have you given the medicine to Nan Nan today!"
Qiao Dongliang was in the army. He thus exuded a sense of influence. He looked extremely scary when his face was as fierce as a tiger.
Ding Jiayi trembled. Her face was stunned and she could not answer for a long time.
Qiao Zijin quickly stepped before Qiao Dongliang. "Dad, it was my fault, it was all my fault. I must have seen it wrongly. I told mom that the medicine had expired. Mom had given Nan Nan the medicine. It was only thereafter that she realized that it had expired. She then threw it away. I'm the one to be blamed, not mom. "
With the elder daughter's support and cover for Ding Jiayi, she seemed to regather her strength. "She is my daughter. How could I not feel concerned? It's just a fever. She will recover after a good sweat. I don't know why you have to kick up such a big fuss and shout at me so furiously. Both old and young ones have no conscience."
"You." Qiao Dongliang was not good at words. Although he felt that something was amiss, he could not refute Ding Jiayi. "Nan Nan, let's go. I will take you to the hospital."
Qiao Nan ran to Qiao Dongliang and said. "Okay."
"Mom?" said Qiao Zijin, clutching and shaking Ding Jiayi's arm.
"Dad is going to the hospital with Qiao Nan. I don't know how much it will cost. The money is needed for other things and can't be wasted."
Ding Jiayi, who had come back to her senses, rushed forward to the front of Qiao Dongliang's bicycle and held the handle to prevent him from leaving.
Qiao Dongliang's bicycle swayed. Fortunately, he managed to stabilize himself by placing his foot on the ground. If not, he would had fallen down. "What are you doing?" he asked.
"Isn't it just a fever? I said, she will be well after a good sweat. Take a look at the situation now. Don't go to the hospital!" Ding Jiayi insisted. "A trip to the hospital. Don't you need money?"
Qiao Nan leaned gently on the back of Qiao Dongliang and said softly,"Dad."
Qiao Dongliang's face was red with fury. "Ding Jiayi, did you do it deliberately? You said that you are concerned for your daughter. Nan Nan has a fever and you said she will be well after a good sweat. I can't believe you said that. The last time… I won't talk to you now. Hurry, leave me alone, or don't blame me for being rude!"
Qiao Dongliang remembered the last time his elder daughter had a cold. She only had a couple of coughs and his wife had been so anxious.
If not for the fear of upsetting Qiao Nan, Qiao Dongliang would have mentioned this matter to chastise his wife.
Qiao Dongliang was so angry that he grabbed his wife's hand, flung it away, then pedaled his bicycle towards the hospital.
"Enemy, every one of them is an enemy." Ding Jiayi almost slipped and fell. At the thought of her husband who was angry with her due to her younger daughter, Ding Jiayi was furious. "I knew that this day would come. I really shouldn't have given birth to her!"
If she didn't have this daughter, she and her husband would still have their cradle-to-grave jobs.
When Qiao Nan was born, the couple lost their stable jobs, and as a result, they had to live in this quad with no dignity. This daughter was out to ruin their lives!
"Mom, go home." People had made jokes upon seeing Ding Jiayi's scolding at the door. Qiao Zijin quickly held Ding Jiayi and brought her back to the house. " Nan Nan's fever will definitely subside. What is going to happen?"
If Qiao Nan was to continue her studies, what about her tuition fees?
"Rest assured. Your dad's words are not final. As long as I can convince the wretched girl to decide not to study, your dad will have no way to stop this." Ding Jiayi signed heavily, patted the elder daughter's hand as she consoled her.
Having lived with the man for many years, Ding Jiayi understood her husband well.
Therefore, the most important thing for her now was to find a way to deal with the wretched girl and make her quit school voluntarily.
"Mom, you are so good to me, I will count on you. When I am successful, I will definitely be filial and treat you well." Qiao Zijin hugged Ding Jiayi's arms and smiled.
Ding Jiayi laughed too. "Of course, you are my daughter, if you are not successful, who will be. It does not matter that I do not have a son. I still have a good daughter!""
When she heard the word "son", Qiao Zijin was very unhappy and pouted. Her mother would still have preferred a son.
At that time, in order to give birth to Qiao Nan, her parents were willing to give up their cradle-to-grave jobs.
She clearly remembered that, during that time, her pregnant mother was always holding her tummy and talking to her "son". All the delicious food at home was not given to Qiao Zijin. It went to her mother's tummy for the sake of her younger "brother".
In the end, she gave birth to a girl!
If this had not happened, she would be the offspring of government officials. Their situation would not be the same.
"Doctor, how is my younger daughter?" Elsewhere, after Qiao Dongliang took Qiao Nan to the hospital, he was very concerned about her condition.
The doctor put away his stethoscope. He saw that Qiao Dongliang appeared strong and in the peak of health. He then looked at the young lady. With a strange look in his eyes, he said, "There is still fever. The effect of the medicine is slower. It is faster if we put her on a drip."