After a quarrel, Cheng Tianhua was the one who compromised in the end.
If Cheng Tao wasn't called over, this matter wouldn't be settled today.
However, when Cheng Tao arrived, she was supported by Zhao Yunlin, crying and appearing very weak.
She had to stay and listen to the scolding, and then write a self-criticism.
Zhao Yunlin initially wanted to ghostwrite Cheng Tao's self-criticism, but Sixth Aunt reprimanded him, "If you write her self-criticism, it means today's criticism was in vain. She must write it herself!"
"Sixth Grandma, Cheng Tao isn't feeling well. You know she's pregnant," Zhao Yunlin said indignantly.
Sixth Aunt could see through Cheng Tao's little schemes and said sternly, "No! She must write it herself!"
Zhao Yunlin's pupils widened in disbelief. "Sixth Grandma, don't push your luck too far!"
Sixth Aunt looked at him coldly and said sharply, "I think you're not only blind, but also heartless! You can say I'm bullying or unreasonable today, but this self-criticism must be written by her!"
Her firm stance made Zhao Yunlin back down a bit, despite his anger.
Cheng Tao bit her lip, clutching her stomach and on the verge of tears.
"Yunlin, let's forget it. I'll write it."
Zhao Yunlin tenderly helped her sit down and handed her a pen.
"I'll stay here with you."
He looked very devoted.
Sixth Aunt, being an old woman, wanted to roll her eyes.
After a long wait, the family of three finally finished writing their self-criticisms.
Especially Song Yulian, who was not very literate, found it even more difficult, managing to squeeze out only a few sentences.
After submitting the self-criticisms, they were allowed to leave after Sixth Aunt gave her word.
Cheng Tao leaned weakly against Zhao Yunlin, gave Song Yulian a look, and then fainted.
Song Yulian played along perfectly, immediately shouting, "Cheng Tao! Cheng Tao! Hurry, hurry, she must have been upset! I said we shouldn't have come today. Sixth Aunt is so heartless, forcing Cheng Tao to come! Yunlin, quickly carry Cheng Tao home."
Sixth Aunt snorted and ignored them.
If it were that serious, they would go to the commune health clinic, or at the very least, find Uncle Li. Why go home?
Having lived so many years, she wasn't afraid of a few rumors.
If they had the guts, they should say it to her face!
Meanwhile, Song Yulian ran and shouted, making it sound as if Cheng Tao was on the verge of death.
Zhao Yunlin carried Cheng Tao into the house. Wang Hongxia didn't know what had happened, but it looked serious.
"Yunlin, why are you coming home? Go to your Uncle Li's house!"
Cheng Tao quickly opened her eyes. "No need, I'll be fine after a rest."
She wasn't sure if Uncle Li would be able to see that she wasn't pregnant, so it was best not to go anywhere. Home was the safest.
Seeing her insistence, Zhao Yunlin didn't press further. "Are you sure you're okay?"
Cheng Tao smiled. "I know my body best. I'm just a bit dizzy, maybe because I haven't eaten enough."
Wang Hongxia: ...
She wasn't eating enough?
For the sake of this grandson, she had been serving Cheng Tao with good food and drinks every day. Just at lunch today, she had a bowl of pork belly.
If it weren't for her pregnancy, she would have slapped her.
"Alright, then you rest. Yunlin, take good care of her."
Wang Hongxia waved her hand and walked out, not wanting to see it.
Zhao Lifang pouted. "She's definitely faking it."
Wang Hongxia glared at her. "What are you saying? Be careful your sister-in-law hears you. If you affect my grandson, I'll smack you!"
Zhao Lifang pouted and stomped her feet forcefully.
"Ever since Cheng Tao came, you've disliked me. I'm not talking to you anymore."
This sister-in-law was not as good as Cheng You.
Cheng You knew how to make chapped skin cream and make medicine. If Cheng You were her sister-in-law, she wouldn't need to spend money on these things.
...
Many people in the village were saying that Cheng Tao was almost miscarried because Sixth Aunt bullied her. The story became more exaggerated, with everyone saying Sixth Aunt was using her age to bully others.
Cheng Tianhua originally wanted to stop it, but it was too late. Song Yulian had already spread the word.
He was also worried now, as offending Sixth Aunt wouldn't do him any good.
The news naturally reached Cheng You's ears, and she dismissed it as a joke.
Sixth Aunt was not someone who would be careless; she had seen more than Cheng You had eaten rice.
"Cheng You, take these medicinal herbs out to dry."
Cheng You answered and walked into the pharmacy.
As soon as she entered, she heard Uncle Li asking, "What's going on between you and Qi Chengan?"
A while ago, Qi Chengan hadn't visited, so he knew Cheng You had broken up with someone.
He had started coming again these past few days, but the two still didn't talk much.
It wasn't that. Qi Chengan had spoken up, but Cheng You had been very cold.
"Just like that."
Uncle Li squinted at her. "What do you mean 'just like that'? Are you dating again?"
Cheng You pulled at the corner of her lips. "Sort of."
"What do you mean 'sort of'?"
Before she could answer his question, Cheng You pulled the herbs and walked out.
Cheng You couldn't lift them, so Qi Chengan actively came to help. There was no verbal communication between them from beginning to end.
Cheng You really wanted to tell him that he didn't have to do this, as she only wanted a nominal title and didn't need him to pretend to be dating.
But after saying it, he still acted this way, so Cheng You stopped talking.
After drying the herbs, the door creaked open.
"Is Cheng You here?"
Cheng You turned her head and saw Zhou Wenxuan leaning by the door like a hooligan, a blade of grass in his mouth.
However, he was handsome, so even looking like a hooligan didn't make him too repulsive.
"What is it?"
Zhou Wenxuan lazily said, "My mom asked you to come to our house for dinner."
Old Mrs. Zhou had wanted to invite Cheng You over for a long time, but the family hadn't been free.
Later, she heard that Cheng Tianhua wanted to sell her, and she was so angry that she threatened with a knife at home.
Coming to invite her was to show everyone that the Zhou family would support her from now on.
"Sure, when?"
"In the evening, perhaps."
Cheng You nodded. "I know. I'll give you a few jars of chapped skin cream to take back with you."
Zhou Wenxuan flicked the grass from the corner of his mouth and waited by the door.
He glanced at Qi Chengan and raised an eyebrow.
"Are you Cheng You's boyfriend?"
Old Mrs. Zhou had always wanted to set him up with Cheng You, but Cheng You already had a boyfriend.
Qi Chengan looked at him and his thin lips parted. "Yes."
Zhou Wenxuan curled his lips, swept his hair, so that's the type Cheng You liked.
Like an old cadre.
Cheng You took out the chapped skin cream and handed it to Zhou Wenxuan.
Zhou Wenxuan took it and left, waving goodbye to Cheng You familiarly.
"Then remember to come early tonight."
After saying that, he provocatively glanced at Qi Chengan.
Qi Chengan's expression remained unchanged, but his eyes deepened slightly.
Although he didn't say it, an alarm had already sounded in his heart.
After seeing Zhou Wenxuan off, Cheng You continued to tinker with the herbs, not showing any inclination to speak with Qi Chengan.
But this time, Qi Chengan approached her himself.
"You talk to him, but not to me."
Despite his cold expression, he sounded like a child who couldn't get candy.