Qin Han immediately stopped talking, slumped into a chair, and sulked with his head tilted.
"Go ahead, I’m listening. Even if you spin a nice tale, I’ll never reconcile with him."
Zhang Guilan’s tone also softened, "Who said you need to love him? I still remember him reporting us back then."
"Then why are you still..."
He cut himself off mid-sentence, caught Zhang Guilan’s eye, and let the rest go.
Zhang Guilan poured him a glass of water, then continued slowly.
"Today, Aunt came by again and mentioned that Ma Suyun kept talking about strawberries, unaware that they caused the problem with her unborn child."
"How could your aunt be so unaware," grumbled Mrs. Qin nearby.
"Mom, it’s not that Aunt’s unaware. Ma Suyun is carrying her grandson; what can she do? She came to apologize today, but I know she really wants the strawberries. If they want them that badly, let’s just give them to her. As my sister-in-law wisely said, ’If you don’t stand high enough, all you see is problems; with a narrow mind, you’ll fuss over trivialities.’ The fact that they hold such a grudge over a few strawberries shows their short-sightedness and dark intentions. There’s no need for us to argue over such trivial matters. If their child ends up being born with complications because of us..."
"Could he really blame us? I’m not scared of him," Qin Han scoffed.
"You may not be scared, but I am, Zhuangzhuang is, and Yaoyao too," Zhang Guilan stated bluntly.
Qin Wen is a scoundrel; if anything really happens to Ma Suyun’s child, there’s no telling what he’ll do. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖
They have a loving family and good fortunes ahead.
It’s said that those with nothing to lose don’t fear those who do, and Zhang Guilan is indeed afraid of someone like Qin Wen who has nothing to lose.
Living in the same village, there would be too many opportunities to be targeted.
It’s just a few strawberries, consider them fed to dogs.
If Lin Chuxia knew Zhang Guilan’s thoughts, she would completely agree with her actions.
This is the principle of the happiness retreating.
Conceding isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a form of self-protection.
Mrs. Qin also realized this, "Guilan is right, Da Wen was misled by your aunt and uncle, and this child with Ma Suyun didn’t come easily. We should avoid trouble if we can."
Qin Han clenched his fists angrily but said nothing more.
He knew his wife and mom were right. It’s not stealing itself that’s scary; it’s being targeted that’s terrifying.
Qin Wen wouldn’t dare attack him, but if he targeted his kids, he couldn’t handle it, whatever the outcome.
"This is fucking humiliating," Qin Han cursed angrily, "Letting him take strawberries like that? Did you ask for money?"
"Yes, how could I not? Even among brothers, clear accounts are needed," Zhang Guilan said, "I charged him the same as apples."
"The same price as apples? My strawberries are much more precious; it was too cheap for him."
Zhang Guilan widened her eyes at her husband.
Those little strawberries, priced the same as apples, and he still thought it was too cheap?
Even if growing them wasn’t easy, big apples are much more precious, and who would buy his expensive little strawberries?
Even if priced like apples, she believed people would only buy apples and not his little strawberries.
Qin Han saw her expression and knew what she was thinking.
Zhang Guilan took them and opened, "Oh my God, did my sister-in-law make this? I think it looks better than store-bought clothes. Look at this little pocket, and there are even little lace trims."
"I said the same, you can’t find this style in stores."
"Sister-in-law is well-informed; these little clothes are just right for Yaoyao to wear during the holiday."
The mother and daughter-in-law chatted while watching the children, while elsewhere, Qin Wen brought the strawberries back home.
Ma Suyun, finally able to eat strawberries, felt beyond comforted.
Bite after bite, a face full of contentment.
"You can’t deny it; strawberries taste best in winter, you can’t find this flavor in summer."
She looked at Qin Wen, "I heard your second aunt went to Yan City with Qin Han today?"
Qin Wen nodded, "Seems like it. They weren’t home when I went over, otherwise, with Qin Han’s temper, he would’ve never sold me strawberries."
Ma Suyun popped another strawberry into her mouth, "Hmm, looks like the old lady is anxious. After all, Qin Yang and Lin Chuxia have been married for years with no news. How can they not worry? They wanted to make fun of us before; now I’ll wait to see them embarrassed. Once my son is born, I’ll show him off around the village, make them envious."
Qin Wen agreed wholeheartedly, "Exactly, what’s the point of making money when you’re childless? In the end, all that money is left for others, no matter how successful Qin Yang is; he’ll still be beneath me at the end."
The thought of such a scene made him feel ecstatic.
"How are you feeling? Does your stomach still hurt? You must take care of it for me."
Ma Suyun rubbed her belly and pouted, "It doesn’t hurt now. If it weren’t for Qin Han and them giving us a hard time, nothing would’ve happened. I think they did it on purpose, can’t stand to see us doing well."
She paused, suddenly remembering, "Hey, did you say the strawberries were sold to you? They charged you for those few strawberries?"
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