"Stop right there."
Seeing the two leave so readily, Director Li was naturally unwilling to let it go. Ignoring the boss's displeasure, he covered his face and hurriedly stopped them.
"This toad, it doesn't bite but it's disgusting."
Song Qiao cursed inwardly. He had no patience for such people. Turning his head, he threatened fiercely, "If you dare to say another word of nonsense to me, no matter who tries to stop me today, I will break your dog legs."
Director Li shivered again at the sight, swallowed a mouthful of saliva, and mustered his courage to say, "Boss, I heard from Xia Yuqing that her husband is addicted to gambling. The money he's offering now might be of illicit origin."
"If the source of this money is improper, we'll be held responsible too."
With that, he shifted his malicious gaze to Song Qiao.
"You can investigate the source of this money. I am the owner of the newly opened Xiang Piaopiao Stinky Tofu. This money is the profit from the past two days," Song Qiao said coldly.
As soon as he spoke, countless surprised eyes turned to him. Xiang Piaopiao Stinky Tofu had become famous throughout the city recently. To think that the owner of the shop was Xia Yuqing's husband.
According to Song Qiao's personality, he wouldn't bother explaining to strangers. But for his wife's reputation at the factory in the future, he had to clarify this matter.
"And you, just you wait. Our business today is not over!"
With that, he left without looking back.
Director Li was left stunned on the spot. Recalling Song Qiao's departing gaze, which was like looking at a dead man, he couldn't help but feel some regret.
...
Exiting the door, Song Qiao ignored Xia Yuqing's obstruction, hailed another taxi, and took his wife to the hospital.
On the way, neither of them spoke first. The atmosphere in the car was eerily quiet.
"Song Qiao, you used all the money you earned from the shop these past two days to pay them off?" Xia Yuqing asked after a period of silence.
"Yes, almost. I only have a little over two thousand yuan left on me."
As he spoke, he took out all the remaining money from his wallet and handed it to his wife.
"Take this money for now, and I'll handle the rest."
"Don't worry, I will definitely redeem our house within the deadline."
Xia Yuhe stared blankly at her husband, recalling everything that had happened today, and finally couldn't help but cry out.
"I'm sorry, it's all my fault..."
"If it weren't for me, you should have saved enough money quickly."
Song Qiao hugged the sobbing Xia Xueqing tightly, gently patting her shoulder to comfort her.
"It's okay, it's okay. It was all my fault for being too much of a scoundrel before. You've suffered so much these past few years."
"I earned over twenty thousand in less than a week, am I afraid I can't redeem our house from Duan Kun?"
"Your boss has already given you leave to stay home and recuperate. Just rest well during this time, take care of Qianqian for me, and don't worry about anything else. It's all on me."
As he spoke, an indescribable confidence flickered in his eyes. The demeanor of one of China's top ten businessmen in his past life surged from within him.
The taxi driver, who had been watching the scene, couldn't help but shudder.
Looking at the man before her, Xia Yuqing felt all the grievances that had accumulated in her heart over the years burst out at this moment. Finally, she let go of all resistance and sobbed uncontrollably in Song Qiao's arms.
"Song Qiao, you scoundrel, you bastard, you son of a bitch, do you know how I've managed all these years?"
"Can you promise me you won't gamble anymore?"
"Ever since you started gambling, our family has been a mess."
"Do you know, I've thought about divorcing you many times, leaving you, you good-for-nothing."
"If it weren't for Qianqian, I would have already..."
Her voice became choked with emotion, and in her distress, she fainted.
Song Qiao was immediately panicked. He urged the driver to speed up, gently patting Xia Yuqing's shoulder with one hand. His other hand clenched tightly, so tense that he didn't even notice his fingernails digging into his flesh.
Upon arriving at the hospital, Song Qiao carried the unconscious Xia Yuqing on his back and rushed into the emergency department. After a brief examination, the emergency doctor explained to Song Qiao, "It's nothing serious. She just got too emotional. Let her sleep, and she'll be fine when she wakes up."
Song Qiao breathed a sigh of relief and quickly completed the hospitalization procedures for his wife.
"Song Qiao, you bastard, get out here!"
Before Song Qiao could even rest after arranging Xia Yuqing in the ward, her mother and sister, Xia Xueqing, rushed to the hospital. Before entering, Xia Xueqing began shouting at him.
Rubbing his temples, Song Qiao glanced helplessly at his unconscious wife, then turned to greet them.
"Yuqing is fine now and resting. Keep your voices down, don't wake her."
"It's all your fault. My sister has never made a mistake at the factory. If it weren't for you yesterday... how could she have gotten into this situation?"
Xia Xueqing rained down a barrage of accusations on Song Qiao.
Her mother, standing by, was confused. "What happened yesterday? Yuqing never told me."
Xia Yuqing had told her sister and daughter yesterday not to mention it at home to avoid worrying their parents.
"Yesterday, he secretly took Qianqian away without telling me or my sister. If I hadn't found out in time, who knows what other trouble he would have caused."
Xia Xueqing no longer cared about her sister's instructions from yesterday and blurted everything out.
"What?"
Her mother was instantly enraged.
"What do you want to do to Qianqian, you scoundrel? Don't forget, you're her biological father!"
Song Qiao stood dumbfounded before them, unsure how to explain. Xia Yuqing's distractedness today was indeed because he had taken Qianqian away yesterday.
"This family is already struggling enough, and you still cause trouble for Yuqing every day. Are you even human?" the mother berated him angrily.
"Get lost, we don't want to see you." Xia Xueqing pushed Song Qiao aside and rushed into her sister's room.
Seeing that his presence would only make the mother and daughter more agitated and disturb the unconscious Xia Yuqing, Song Qiao decided to leave for now. Since Yuqing was fine, he would go prepare some lunch for his wife. With her mother watching, there shouldn't be any problems.
He left a message for Xia Yuqing via pager and then went home to cook. Passing by the market, he used his last bit of change to buy a hen, intending to stew it for his wife. Xia Yuqing had been unhappy lately and looked noticeably thinner.