Everyone gathered together, with laughter and joy, and it took a whole jar of sorghum liquor before they bade farewell and dispersed, each returning home. It was already late, the night was quiet, and tomorrow everyone would be busy with their tasks, so it was advised to go back and rest well.
Zhou Xiaozheng also did not disturb his daughter’s rest. He avoided the crowd and instructed Zhang Guoqing and Jiao Jiao to tell her that he would not come over to chat tonight and advised her to go to bed early, then he explained in detail how he would handle things in the village the next morning.
Returning to the guest room, Lin Lishan was already lying down and asleep. This month was spent on the train, and the long-term worries changed such a lively, talkative, carefree girl like her into a middle-aged woman nearing her age, showing fine lines when intricately examined. When she saw him return, she let go of her past concerns and her spirit seemed invigorated.
Lin Lishan drowsily opened her eyes and saw him enter, and she quickly woke up, trying to get up. Zhou Xiaozheng pressed her down, not letting her get out of bed, "Don’t get up, Xiao Wu is taking care of Jiao Jiao there, it’s so cold, don’t get up, be careful not to catch a cold."
"I wanted to prepare some hot water for you to soak your feet, you drank so much tonight, are you okay?"
Zhou Xiaozheng quickly used hot water from the thermos to freshen up and lay down on the kang. After lying down, he sighed comfortably and reached out to embrace her.
Lin Lishan was still wide awake, "Brother Zheng, you’ve seen Jiao Jiao, are you relieved?"
Zhou Xiaozheng sighed and said softly, "I’m even less relieved after seeing her, our Jiao Jiao is still feeling aggrieved. Even if this family is good, they will still pose a burden to Jiao Jiao. Even in the most harmonious of families, everyone has their own little calculations in their hearts. The bigger the gap, the easier it is for conflicts to arise, thankfully they took precautions. They’ll be taken away in no more than two years. Don’t you think Jiao Jiao stands out like a sore thumb here?"
"But she and her mother-in-law, sister-in-laws, they seem to get along well, from what I can see they are taking good care of Jiao Jiao. As for standing out, that’s inevitable, Jiao Jiao is different from them."
Zhou Xiaozheng looked at her puzzled expression and silently sighed in his heart, this temperament still hasn’t changed, she doesn’t think about people’s selfishness. Thankfully, Jiao Jiao is like him, otherwise, there wouldn’t be a shred of bone left.
"Then think about it, if we hadn’t come back, Jiao Jiao wouldn’t even have food, in the countryside toiling hard all year still doesn’t provide enough food, and is there no grievance? Thıs content belongs to 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹·𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲·𝗻𝗲𝘁
Even if they had separated, relying on Xiao Wu to support her. Our daughter’s physique, what work could she really do? Her mother-in-law spoils Xiao Wu so much, wouldn’t she have any objections? It’s also because she married in a short time, coincidentally got pregnant, and with her mother-in-law managing things, that’s why her sisters-in-law aren’t arguing. Who knows what gossip might be circulating behind closed doors, would Jiao Jiao ever tell us with her temperament?
You and the old man came, of course, to take better care of Jiao Jiao. Even a fool would understand that Jiao Jiao’s identity and status, if it wasn’t for Xiao Wu, she couldn’t have married into the family."
"This child has a heavy mind, doesn’t like speaking ill of others, just talks about others’ good points, you’re right about that."
"Hm, I observed today, apart from us and Xiao Wu, Jiao Jiao maintains a very standard demeanor towards her father-in-law and mother-in-law, keeping a boundary. The child has everything figured out in her mind, people with heavy thoughts don’t like to spill their grievances."
Lin Lishan pondered, "You didn’t mention it, I didn’t notice. Last time I was here, I felt Jiao Jiao didn’t care about money and spent generously, probably yielding to them. Xiao Wu also gets up early every day to wash diapers and clothes himself, doesn’t ask them for help, he takes care of Jiao Jiao and the child himself. Such a smart person surely has it figured out."
"That lad is not bad, worthy of Jiao Jiao. In the countryside, there’s no postpartum confinement period, after only three to five days they’re back to working and doing chores, it’s the same in every family. He organizes things and takes care himself, he’s not afraid of what others say, and he can afford it.
You say Jiao Jiao is generous, she doesn’t care about those little favors, you see if she would let any of those pieces of jewelry slip away from her hands, she has it figured out.
As for money, she definitely doesn’t care, our daughter is proud, ordinary things don’t catch her eye, and things that aren’t hers wouldn’t tempt her, she has her own bottom line, as long as it’s not crossed there’s no issue, she can be cordial with everyone. Would you believe if her mother-in-law set her sights on that box of jewelry, she’d definitely explode?"
"Brother Zheng, then what if I wanted something, would she give it to me?"
Zhou Xiaozheng proudly said, "What I gave her, she definitely wouldn’t want to part with, not because it’s expensive, but because of its sentimental value, she might reluctantly give one piece. Anything more than that, she’d rather buy something more expensive for you. As for others, dream on! No one can get anything from her."