About an hour or two later, Xia Yuqing slowly woke from her slumber.
She felt as if she had dreamt. In her dream, Song Qiao had successfully quit gambling, earned money to redeem their house, and her family was reunited, living a very happy life.
Song Qiao's career was thriving, the tofu shop's business was booming, with branches opening across the country, and they even had a baby boy.
When she opened her eyes, she found her sister and mother standing before her. For some reason, a faint sense of disappointment washed over her.
"Mom, why are you here? Where's Song Qiao?" Xia Yuqing looked around, her voice hoarse as she asked her mother.
"Hmph, that scoundrel left as soon as he saw us," Xia Xueqing pouted dismissively from the side.
It was as if she hadn't been the one who had threatened to kick Song Qiao out just moments ago.
"Yuqing, I heard from your colleagues that you damaged the machinery at the factory," her mother-in-law said from her seat.
Xia Yuqing's face instantly fell, and she nodded dejectedly.
"How much do we have to pay them?" her mother-in-law's voice was filled with anxiety.
The elderly couple had some savings, but that was their burial money. They had been discussing using it to help their daughter if Song Qiao couldn't redeem the house.
If they now had to bear a huge compensation payment, that money might not be enough.
Xia Xueqing chimed in:
"That's right, sister. You're suspended now, and Song Qiao is useless. Qiqi is still in school, how will we manage the household expenses?"
Xia Yuqing frowned. "Mom, don't worry for now. Song Qiao has already compensated the factory for the twelve thousand yuan on my behalf."
"What? What did you say? Song Qiao has already paid the money for you?" Her mother-in-law looked incredulous.
"Where did he get so much money?"
Xia Yuqing hesitated for a moment before replying, "He said he earned it from that stinky tofu shop."
"No way, sister, you believe that? When has Song Qiao ever told the truth? I bet he went gambling again. I wonder what kind of dumb luck he's had this time."
"Have you ever seen a snack shop that can earn over ten thousand yuan in less than a week after opening?"
Xia Yuqing added sarcastically.
Xia Yuqing felt a pang of annoyance. Even now, she couldn't be sure if Song Qiao was still gambling.
Her sister was partly right; in this era, a snack stall making over ten thousand yuan in profit within a week sounded too fantastical.
"Alright Xueqing, say less. Regardless, Xiao Song paid Yuqing's debt," her mother-in-law quickly interjected to silence her younger daughter.
Just as Xia Xueqing was about to say something more, she saw her mother frantically signaling her.
She could only shake her head in resignation and stopped talking.
"Knock, knock, knock."
Song Qiao's timely knock interrupted the awkward silence in the room.
"Oh, look who it is, the big shot who earns ten thousand a week," Xia Yuqing said sarcastically the moment she saw Song Qiao.
She had now made a habit of lashing out at Song Qiao.
"Yuqing, you're awake. The doctor said you need more rest. I went home and made you chicken soup." As he spoke, he raised the insulated food container in his hand.
Xia Xueqing raised an eyebrow, her face filled with disdain. "Tsk, he's putting on a good act now. Who knows what he was doing before."
Song Qiao ignored her and walked up to Xia Yuqing with the chicken soup.
"I bought this chicken specifically at the market today. It's a free-range, slow-growing chicken, packed with nutrients. Hurry and drink it while it's hot."
Xia Yuqing stared blankly at her considerate husband, her heart a mix of emotions.
Having not eaten anything since that morning, she was now famished. If Song Qiao had come any later, she would have had her sister buy her something to eat.
Song Qiao gently poured the chicken soup from the container into a bowl, picked up a spoon, blew on it, and brought it to Xia Yuqing's lips.
"Here, open your mouth."
Xia Yuqing felt embarrassed with her mother and sister watching, and hesitated to open her mouth.
She wanted to take the bowl herself, but her wound was still throbbing.
Furthermore, the fragrant aroma of the chicken soup was like a little snake, tempting her appetite, and her stomach audibly rumbled.
Xia Yuqing's face was instantly etched with embarrassment.
"Xiao Song, have Xueqing feed her. Come out with me, I need to talk to you."
Her mother-in-law seemed to sense her daughter's shyness in front of them, and stood up, calling Song Qiao out of the ward.
Since his mother-in-law had spoken, Song Qiao dared not refuse. Besides, if he insisted on feeding Yuqing, knowing her strong will, she might even stubbornly resist.
As soon as his mother-in-law stepped out, she took out a bankbook, her face showing hesitation. Finally, she gritted her teeth and said to Song Qiao,
"Xiao Song, I am very gratified that you were able to produce that twelve thousand yuan today."
"I hope you truly are the prodigal son who has returned, as we all hoped."
"I have over thirty thousand yuan here, it's my husband's and my burial money. Take it first and redeem your house."
She then offered the bankbook to Song Qiao.
"Mom, how can this be? I can't take your money." Song Qiao quickly waved his hands, declining.
"You child, why are you being so stubborn at a time like this?"
"Yuqing told me that you spent all your savings to help her repay the compensation. When will you be able to scrape together thirty thousand yuan? If the house redemption is delayed, how will you and your family of three live?"
Seeing Song Qiao's reaction, his mother-in-law couldn't help but scold him softly and pushed the bankbook back into his hand.
"I really don't need it, Mom. I promise to redeem that house within the specified time with my own hands."
Song Qiao stopped talking, and with that, he turned and entered the ward.
Thirty thousand yuan would take some time to accumulate even for his business.
Especially after the various top-up and card-issuing promotions held recently, the shop now needed to settle down properly to recreate the profits from the previous week.
But from the bottom of his heart, Song Qiao was unwilling to accept his mother-in-law's assistance.
Earning thirty thousand yuan was the first goal he had set for himself since his rebirth. If he carelessly accepted the bankbook and redeemed the house today, his future goal of providing a happy family for his wife and daughter would become meaningless.
The path to redemption, though difficult, had to be completed by him personally.
If he accepted help from his family, he would be filled with regret for the rest of his life.
Besides, the pride he had accumulated over decades of ups and downs in the business world made him incredibly confident that he, having lived another life, would become even stronger!