Rebirth to a Military Marriage: Good Morning Chief Chapter 5 - Nutrition

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.

Enraged, Qiao Dongliang wrenched his hand free from his wife’s grasp and stormed out on his bicycle, heading straight for the hospital.

“Every single one of them is an enemy.” Ding Jiayi nearly stumbled. The thought of her husband’s fury directed at her because of their younger daughter ignited a blaze within her. “I knew this day would eventually come. I truly shouldn’t have given birth to her!”

Without this daughter, she and her husband would have retained their lifelong, stable government jobs.

Upon Qiao Nan's birth, the couple forfeited their secure positions, forcing them into this undignified existence within the quad. This daughter, she felt, was bent on destroying their lives!

“Mom, let’s go inside.” Passersby, witnessing Ding Jiayi’s public outburst, began to snicker. Qiao Zijin quickly steered her mother back towards the house. “Nan Nan’s fever will surely break. What’s done is done now, what more can we do?”

If Qiao Nan were to pursue her education, who would cover her tuition fees?

“Don’t worry. Your father’s decision isn’t final. As long as I can persuade that wretched girl to willingly abandon her studies, your father will have no grounds to object.” Ding Jiayi sighed deeply, patting her elder daughter’s hand in a gesture of comfort.

Having shared a life with her husband for many years, Ding Jiayi understood his ways intimately.

Therefore, her immediate priority was devising a plan to confront their troublesome daughter and compel her to withdraw from school of her own accord.

“Mom, you’re so wonderful to me. I’ll be counting on you. When I achieve success, I promise to be a filial daughter and treat you well.” Qiao Zijin clasped Ding Jiayi’s arms, a smile gracing her lips.

Ding Jiayi chuckled in response. “Of course, you are my daughter; if you don’t succeed, who will? It matters not that I don’t have a son. I still have a capable daughter!”

Hearing the mention of “son,” Qiao Zijin’s expression soured, and she pouted. Despite her mother’s words, she felt a deep-seated preference for a male heir.

Back then, her parents had been willing to sacrifice their lifelong, secure jobs solely to bring Qiao Nan into the world.

She vividly recalled her pregnant mother constantly cradling her belly, speaking to her unborn “son.” All the delicacies in their home were not shared with Qiao Zijin but were instead consumed by her mother, all for the sake of her younger hoped-for “brother.”

In the end, a girl was born!

Had this not occurred, she would have been the child of government officials, and their family’s circumstances would be vastly different.

“Doctor, how is my younger daughter?” Meanwhile, at the hospital, Qiao Dongliang anxiously inquired about Qiao Nan’s condition after bringing her in.

The doctor retracted his stethoscope. Observing Qiao Dongliang’s robust appearance, he then turned his gaze to the young girl. With a peculiar expression, he stated, “Her fever persists. The medication is taking effect slowly. An intravenous drip would expedite the process.”