MGASC -Chapter 28 To Appease Her, the Whole Family Joins In

Lin Tianyue returned to the hospital looking utterly dejected.

The three kids had already finished their lunch. Seeing their father’s state, the three of them exchanged glances, sensing something was wrong.

“Dad, you’re back? What did she say?” Lin Xun asked considerately, pouring him a glass of water.

Lin Tianyue plopped down and immediately started unbuttoning his shirt.

It had been so tight it almost suffocated him. “Did you guys have lunch?”

“Yes, yes. Did you give her the movie tickets?”

Lin Tianyue patted his pocket and sneered—he’d forgotten!

Seeing the untouched movie tickets, Lin Xun sighed silently.

Apparently, his dad was competent at making money, but when it came to wooing women, he was hopeless.

Lin Xun turned and retrieved the lunch they had left for Lin Tianyue.

In the aluminum lunchbox were dishes and rice bought from the cafeteria at noon. Lin Xun said, “You didn’t get to watch the movie, so I’m guessing you didn’t eat either. Here, Dad, your wife’s gone—don’t let your stomach suffer too.”

Lin Tianyue heard the jab in his son’s tone. Normally, he would have snapped back, but today he was so downhearted he didn’t even feel like arguing.

He didn’t say much and just grabbed the lunchbox to eat.

Mentally, he scolded himself—how could he forget the movie tickets? It must’ve been Zhou Junlin that threw off his focus.

If he had suggested a movie this morning, maybe she wouldn’t have been angry.

Or perhaps he needed to buy her more things. Wasn’t it the principle of “not just buying, but also praising”?

Easier said than done.

…

In the afternoon, Zhang Qiao took a nap and then started translating her second book in her room.

Fortunately, she had bought an English dictionary that day, so whenever she hit a snag, she could just look up the word and move on.

Having skipped lunch out of annoyance with Lin Tianyue, she picked a grape from her enamel cup and popped it into her mouth.

The sweet juice burst with each bite, dancing on her tongue, sweet with just a hint of tartness. As Lin Tianyue had said, the grapes were truly delicious.

Suddenly her appetite soared, and Zhang Qiao ate a dozen more in quick succession.

Although this man occasionally made her feel frustrated, when he put effort in, he was genuinely heart-fluttering.

Especially today, in a white shirt and black trousers—so unbelievably tempting.

Ah!

What was she thinking!

Deciding to get some food downstairs, Zhang Qiao locked her door and reached the first floor of the guesthouse, only to hear harsh yelling from the reception desk.

“Go away, you look like beggars, don’t come here!”

“Out! Do you even belong here? Are you looking for someone? I bet you’re petty thieves pretending to look for someone—planning to steal if we don’t notice?”

“If you don’t leave, I’ll call the cops and have you locked up!”

“Why are you talking so nastily? We’re actually looking for someone. Aunt Qiao, Aunt Qiao, where are you?”

It was the voice of the youngest, Lin Jin. Zhang Qiao turned toward it, her heart skipping a beat.

Wasn’t it just the three kids from home?

They had actually made it to the guesthouse?

The three children were still wearing the patched-up clothes, hair messy as ever, though their small faces and hands were relatively clean. Lin Jin, probably worried, shouted at the top of his lungs.

Seeing the reception staff refuse to let them in, he quickly hugged the attendant’s legs and yelled to his brothers, “Go! You guys go! I’ll handle the big bad guy!”

Lin Ran and Lin Xun were carrying a mesh bag, charging upstairs, nearly colliding with Zhang Qiao.

“Lin Ran, Lin Xun, what are you doing here?”

Seeing the attendant bending down to spank Lin Jin, Zhang Qiao rushed forward and shouted sharply, “Stop! These children are here to see me. Try touching them and see what happens!”

The attendant froze, loosening his grip immediately. Lin Jin bolted into her arms, crying out, “Aunt Qiao, help! The bad people here are so scary!”

Tears welled up in his eyes, a few rolling down his cheeks.

Zhang Qiao, seeing the attendant scold the kids, pulled Lin Ran and Lin Xun behind her while holding Lin Jin.

Putting on a stern face, she said, “What are you trying to do? Child abuse is a crime! And how do you run a business like this? Judging people based on their clothes? Rich people get in, poor people get kicked out? Do you want me to call the police and report you for bullying my children?”

Though the guesthouse was state-run, and the staff usually acted arrogantly, Zhang Qiao’s commanding tone, combined with the fact that they were clearly in the wrong, made them hesitate.

“Sorry, I just thought they were beggars because of their ragged clothes. Didn’t realize they were here for a guest.”

Lin Xun: “We said from the start we were looking for someone!”

Lin Ran: “Yes, exactly!”

The attendant forced a smile: “Yes, yes, you said so. But your parents are dressed so neatly and yet the kids look like this… who would believe you’re a family? Could they be stepchildren?”

The words struck straight at Zhang Qiao’s heart.

“What’s wrong with being a stepmother? A stepmother is still a mother! Where’s your manager? Call him here—I need to ask how he manages his staff! Bullying children like this, don’t you fear divine punishment?”

Although she had some distance with Lin Tianyue, Zhang Qiao couldn’t stand seeing children bullied.

Seeing her unwavering stance, the attendant pouted and fell silent.

Just then, a man in a managerial position arrived. After hearing what happened, he sharply reprimanded the attendant, then politely apologized to Zhang Qiao, speaking a few kind words that finally eased her anger.

“Running a business requires proper attitude. Basic customer service is the minimum. Seeing well-dressed guests and treating them nicely, seeing poor ones and yelling at them, judging children—it’s outright kicking customers out. Don’t think I’m picking a fight. In a market economy, service and customer experience are core competitive advantages. Reflect on this!”

Zhang Qiao had vented her frustration thoroughly. Unexpectedly, the manager listened intently.

Seeing her finish, he still seemed a bit impressed: “Comrade, what you said is very reasonable. Once again, I sincerely apologize to you and your children. Perhaps you’d like some compensation?”

Feeling protective of the three kids, Zhang Qiao bent down and asked Lin Jin: “Xiao Jin, did that mean lady hit you just now? If she did, don’t be afraid—we can hold her accountable!”

Lin Jin shook his head obediently.

“Really?”

“She just tried, but Aunt Qiao came in time.”

He hugged her waist tightly, pressing his little face against her stomach.

Sniff, sniff—Aunt Qiao’s embrace is so warm.

Aunt Qiao scolds people so impressively, standing up for us. She really is the best, kindest, most beautiful person in the world.

He regretted calling her a vixen before—it was completely undeserved.