9 Concession

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This was also Qiao Yuyan’s first time visiting her aunt’s new home. The old-style family housing wasn’t very spacious, with a two-bedroom, one-living-room layout. The living room was narrow, even less roomy than the guest bathroom in the Huo family’s residence, yet it was arranged with great warmth.

On the windowsill stood several pots of blooming begonias. A fabric sofa was adorned with beautiful soft cushions, and cute cartoon-patterned throw pillows were casually scattered about. Plush toys filled the backrest of the sofa.

Noticing the lilies on the coffee table glistening with dewdrops, Qiao Yuyan casually asked, “Sis, does your husband have a pollen allergy?”

“No, why do you ask all of a sudden?” Jiang Yunxi closed the door, poured a glass of water, and gently placed it in front of Qiao Yuyan.

“Nothing, it’s just strange that you love flowers so much, yet there’s not a single one in the house.”

“Your brother-in-law finds gardening troublesome and high-maintenance,” Jiang Yunxi replied with a smile, not taking it to heart.

What kind of excuse was that? Qiao Yuyan frowned, holding back her words but eventually couldn’t resist: “Mr. Huo surely can afford to hire even a part-time gardener, right?”

Yu Qingmei chuckled and lightly patted her hand. “You’re such a talker, always making things up.”

Qiao Yuyan stuck out her tongue and stopped criticizing Huo Lingchen.

Turning around, she grabbed a doll from the sofa’s backrest, holding it in her hands and squeezing it freely into various odd poses.

Seeing her still fooling around like when she was a child, Yu Qingmei’s eyes crinkled with a smile. “You’re just like your sister—still so fond of these little things.”

Qiao Yuyan paused, looked up at Jiang Yunxi with some surprise. Her sister liked dolls too? Then why hadn’t she seen a single doll in the Huo family?

Jiang Yunxi casually picked up a doll and hugged it to her chest, sitting beside Yu Qingmei. Noticing Qiao Yuyan’s gaze, she smiled softly, “Why are you staring at me like that?”

Rubbing the doll in her hands, Qiao Yuyan asked, “Sis, didn’t you say before that once you had your own home, you wanted to fill the living room with dolls?”

Jiang Yunxi was momentarily stunned, then resumed smiling. “Your brother-in-law doesn’t like those things. Even if I keep them at mom’s place, it’s the same. I often come back and see that.”

“If he doesn’t like them, can’t you keep them yourself? Does the Huo family lack a toy room?” Qiao Yuyan frowned.

Jiang Yunxi fell silent. She seemed never to have considered this question. Whenever Huo Lingchen expressed dislike, she would immediately give in.

“In a marriage, it’s better to give way on small matters. Don’t be too particular,” Yu Qingmei softly advised.

But Qiao Yuyan felt uneasy. Was it always one-sided tolerance and concession between a husband and wife?

Though these were trivial matters, in her eyes, it was clearly Huo Lingchen’s disrespect toward her sister.

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The Huo family had so many empty rooms—was it really impossible to fit a few plush dolls?

Everyone said he treated her sister well, but why did she only see her sister compromising?

Her sister loved flowers and dolls—these preferences wouldn’t harm Huo Lingchen in the least. Why did a casual “I don’t like it” from him mean her sister had to yield?

She glanced at Yu Qingmei. Her aunt was a typical traditional housewife of the Xia nation. In her mind, many things were just meant to be tolerated and endured. Even if her husband drank heavily and was abusive, she suffered in silence. Let alone something as minor as her son-in-law disliking fresh flowers and dolls.

The most rebellious thing her aunt had done in her life was probably standing up to her husband for Qiao Yuyan’s sake, and eventually divorcing him.

Looking at Jiang Yunxi, who also didn’t see anything wrong, Qiao Yuyan sighed inwardly. Growing up in a home with a drinking, abusive father and a loving but weak mother, her sister had never witnessed a healthy relationship between man and woman.

When faced with conflict with her husband, she didn’t know how to handle it, so she ended up always yielding.

Changing the deep-rooted beliefs of her aunt and sister would have to be a gradual process. She took the initiative to shift the topic: “Aunt, was that elderly gentleman just now Grandpa Shen?”

Yu Qingmei nodded. “Professor Shen is a retired professor from Chenxing University of Technology. The lady who came with him is his grandson’s nanny, surname Liu. She smiles at everyone and works efficiently, taking good care of Professor Shen. And she only charges 5,000 yuan a month. Many nearby residents tried to lure her away with higher pay but failed. She’s a straightforward and reliable person.”

Perhaps because she was older, Yu Qingmei was more talkative than before. She told Qiao Yuyan that most residents in the area were retired university professors. Everyone was very friendly and got along well.

Qiao Yuyan listened patiently, though she was actually more familiar with this house than Yu Qingmei and her daughter.

Three years ago, when Yu Qingmei casually mentioned on the phone, “I don’t feel comfortable living at my son-in-law’s,” Qiao Yuyan had asked around and found this place, a harmonious neighborhood perfect for retirement.

University family housing was never sold to the public. Qiao Yuyan owed many favors to secure this home. She had even made sure her identity was concealed when gifting it to her aunt.

Now, seeing her aunt’s content smile, Qiao Yuyan felt all the effort had been worth it.

“Mom, why don’t you come stay with me for a while?” After Yu Qingmei finished babbling, Jiang Yunxi quickly interjected. She really didn’t feel at ease leaving her mother alone here.

“I won’t. I’ll be fine tomorrow. Running around is too exhausting,” Yu Qingmei refused without hesitation. She wasn’t used to living at the Huo family’s place.

Qiao Yuyan didn’t like the Huo home either and smiled, “Sis, don’t worry. I’m free for now. I’ll take care of Aunt.”

“That won’t do,” Jiang Yunxi and Yu Qingmei opposed simultaneously. “You’re a young girl, and you’re finally back. You can’t just stay home all the time. Go out and have some fun. You don’t need to worry about adult matters.”

Qiao Yuyan was quite helpless. Although she was already twenty-three, her aunt and sister still treated her like a child.

“This place is too small. You won’t fit in. You should stay at your sister’s,” Jiang Yunxi said, pulling Qiao Yuyan to her feet. She told Yu Qingmei, “Mom, I’ll go back and pack some things. I’ll bring dinner over later. You should lie down and rest. Don’t wander around.”

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Qiao Yuyan obediently followed Jiang Yunxi out without arguing.

When they returned to the Huo residence, upon hearing that his wife intended to go back to her parental home to care for her mother, Huo Lingchen’s face darkened instantly.

“Mom’s health is important. Yunxi, you know I can’t do without you.”

Jiang Yunxi felt guilty but was genuinely worried about her mother.

Seeing the difficulty on his wife’s face, Huo Lingchen fell silent and thoughtfully served her some food. As he raised his hand, a jagged scar on his shirt cuff was clearly visible.

Jiang Yunxi, seeing the scar, felt her hesitant heart grow heavier.

Qiao Yuyan’s gaze flickered. She said nothing and quietly lowered her eyes to eat.

As expected, not long after dinner, Jiang Yunxi approached Qiao Yuyan with a face full of apology.

“Yanyan, I’ll have to trouble you to make another trip to help take care of Mom. My brother-in-law doesn’t seem well. I have to stay and look after him.”

Qiao Yuyan wouldn’t let her sister suffer. She grasped Jiang Yunxi’s hand firmly. “Sis, how is this a bother? I’ll pack and go right away.”

“Okay, I’ll have the driver take you,” Jiang Yunxi said, visibly relieved by Qiao Yuyan’s quick agreement, her previously furrowed brow relaxing.

Back at the Chenli University family housing, Yu Qingmei saw that it was Qiao Yuyan who had come and chided lightly, “I told you I’m fine. You didn’t need to make this extra trip.”

“I haven’t seen you in a long time, Aunt. I wanted to spend more time with you,” Qiao Yuyan said affectionately, wrapping her arms around Yu Qingmei’s neck and acting playfully.

“You’re such a good girl,” Yu Qingmei beamed, completely won over. “Then stay and have a good chat with your aunt.”

They talked until ten o’clock at night, well past Yu Qingmei’s usual bedtime. When Yu Qingmei could no longer keep up, Qiao Yuyan helped her to the bedroom to rest.

Once Yu Qingmei’s breathing steadied and she fell into a deep sleep, Qiao Yuyan silently slipped out the third-floor balcony and leapt down.

By then, the retired professors in the family housing had long since gone to bed. The surroundings were quiet, and the lights gradually dimmed.

Qiao Yuyan, seldom enjoying such peaceful and serene moments, walked leisurely toward the factory meeting point.