To My Dear Mr. Huo

Chapter 395: Don’t Flatter Him

“Don’t you flatter him. I’m afraid he’ll get cocky from it,” Su Qingsang said to Xiang Caiping jokingly.

“You’re a good girl too.” Xiang Caiping smiled. Suddenly, she let out a shout.

“Mom, what’s wrong?”

“Where’s my bag? There’s something important in it.”

“Are you referring to this?” Su Qingsang was a step ahead of her. She grabbed and lifted up the bag.

“Yes, yes, that’s the one.” Xiang Caiping smiled. “Open it. Go ahead.”

Su Qingsang had already seen it, yet she still opened the gift like it was the first time she set sight on it, not forgetting to squeal in surprise when she saw what was inside.

“Do you like it?” Xiang Caiping smiled. “I thought of getting you a jade Buddha to wear because you’re always in places like hospitals, and your work is so taxing. Who knows—”

Su Qingsang already knew about it, but her eyes were still a little red. She took the jade Buddha out and looked at Xiang Caiping.

“Mom. Seriously. Why would you waste so much money? That must have cost a few hundred thousand.”

“That’s nothing. Won’t my money eventually be yours?” Xiang Caiping held her hand. “Wear it and show me.”

“Alright.” Su Qingsang did not object. This was a mother’s gift, and she simply could not refuse it.

She put the jade Buddha around her neck. The emerald-green pendant felt silky-smooth and warm when she held it in her palm.

“Thank you, mom. I like it very much.”

“That’s good.” Xiang Caiping glanced at her bag again. “There is also a bangle which was a gift from the shopkeeper. See if you can wear it.”

“Mom. A bangle won’t do.” Su Qingsang shook her head and explained, “I have to conduct surgeries. I can’t wear a bangle.”

“Then keep it. Wear it when you can in the future.”

“Thank you, Mom.” Su Qingsang placed the box aside and the bag at a corner.

“Mom, get better soon. You can wear this bangle when you’re well.”

As she spoke, she held Xiang Caiping’s hand. “Your wrist is delicate and your bones are small. It would look great on you.”

“I’m old. Why waste it on me?” Xiang Caiping flashed a smile. “I just hope for both of you to live well and happy. Nothing else is important.”

Looking at Su Qingsang, she sighed, thinking about how much she had hustled on her own for decades.

“Truthfully, at this age, I’ve got nothing much to miss if I pass on. I got to know you as my child, and now I’ve got no regrets. Really.”

“Mom! Listen to the nonsense you’re spouting right now.” Su Qingsang clenched her hand and refused to listen to her. “You can’t say that. You haven’t even seen the birth of your grandchild yet, right? You should take good care of yourself. I’m still waiting for you to care for my child.”

Xiang Caiping widened her eyes. She seemed astonished at this proposal but quickly broke into a smile.

“Alright. Yes. I have to live longer. I still want to see your child born. I want to be a grandmother.”

“Mmhmm.” Su Qingsang nodded, knowing that Xiang Caiping now had the motivation to live on.

In reality, many old folks often found themselves depressed during their elderly years, constantly feeling that they were a burden to their children. Many people might be prone to think that way, but she would not allow Xiang Caiping to think like that.

In fact, later she learned that Xiang Caiping just seemed a little older than she really was, but she actually wasn’t past fifty yet. She was not elderly at all.

Xiang Caiping might’ve been thinking of how she would get to hold a grandchild in the future, for suddenly the smile on her face was more radiant and she was in better spirits.

Su Qingsang worried less. Noticing that the contents of the I.V. bag were almost running out, she replenished it herself.

Xiang Caiping looked at her daughter’s deft movements and smiled. “Look at you. How great it is to have a daughter who is a doctor. I don’t even need somebody else to change the I.V.”

“Mom, anybody can do this.” Still, Su Qingsang was very happy. It felt good to be able to take care of her mother.

Xiang Caiping couldn’t eat, and she was unable to move due to her spine injury. To pass the time, Su Qingsang took out her phone and read the news for her.

The mother and daughter discussed popular news topics with each other, and the atmosphere between them was quite a pleasant one.

However, Xiang Caiping soon got sleepy from the painkillers and exhaustion. It didn’t take long for her to drift off.

Su Qingsang smoothed out the corners of her blanket and glanced at Xiang Caiping’s face, thinking about the idea of giving her a grandchild.

Perhaps she should have a discussion with Huo Jinyao – stop using contraception?

But will Huo Jinyao want children? Su Qingsang suddenly became a little uncertain.

Truthfully, Su Qingsang wasn’t so sure she could be a good mother. She was always worried that she wouldn’t know how to bring up her children.

This was especially so when she thought of Su Peizhen. Su Chenghui and Li Qianxue always wanted to give the best to Su Peizhen, but she ended up being spoiled and unkind.

On the contrary, Su Yuxin, who wasn’t pampered by Su Chenghui as much, might still be a little sheltered, but he had a much nicer personality.

Thinking of that, she had actually prepared a gift for Su Yuxin. Today was Friday. He would be back from school, but she had no way to pass him the gift given the circumstances.

At noon, Huo Jinyao had someone send lunch over. Xiang Caiping was still sleeping when lunch was delivered, but she wouldn’t have been able to eat even if she was awake.

Su Qingsang ate and tidied the place up a little. The nurses and physiotherapists Huo Jinyao invited for interviews had also arrived.

Su Qingsang was a doctor, so she naturally knew what sort of caretaker she should go for. After asking a few questions, she hired a woman named Ning.

She was in her thirties and had vast experience. Her physique was muscular, and she looked strong.

Those who worked as private nurses would have to help their patients turn over from time to time. If they were too thin or too weak, they wouldn’t be able to carry out the task.

As for physiotherapists, Xiang Caiping couldn’t even get out of bed – how could she carry out the rehabilitation process? She had to recover for a bit before she could do that.

Su Qingsang took down the physiotherapist’s number and agreed for him to visit again when Xiang Caiping was ready to undergo rehabilitation.

Although he wasn’t around, Su Qingsang was quite satisfied with Huo Jinyao’s care.

With a husband who always anticipated her needs, Su Qingsang truly felt that she couldn’t be more blessed than this.

She was thinking that maybe after they got through this hectic period of time, and when Xiang Caiping had fairly recovered, they could have a child together.

She believed that Xiang Caiping wouldn’t be the only one delighted at that. Far away in Rong City, Old Master Huo would be ecstatic too, right?

…

Su Yuxin realized that something didn’t seem right when he got home.

He would occasionally communicate with his parents – if it wasn’t a call, it was WeChat or that sort of thing.

He rarely called. However, if anything had happened, somebody at home would definitely tell him.

When he made his way through the door, Li Qianxue didn’t look too good. It wasn’t just a displeased look, she really had an ugly expression on her face.

Su Chenghui didn’t look very pleased either. He was sitting on the sofa opposite Li Qianxue, a coffee table between them.

Su Peizhen was seated on the big sofa in the middle. Her eyes were red and she looked as if she had been crying. Seated next to her was Old Master Li, who was also wearing a cold expression on his face.

The atmosphere seemed a little tense.