Zhou Huakang and Liang Xiaohong entered the house to find the whole family packing. The living room was cluttered with a mound of boxes and various containers. Liang Xiaohong’s expression darkened, and she lowered her head to help.
"Not long after you left, the notice arrived..." Old Madam Zhou looked around and sighed, "It has come to this point. Sigh, go back to your room and pack the things you want to take. Xi Kang and Shanping are scouting out the new place. For now, no one can move in here quickly, so just pack the essentials. The rest can be left behind."
"Hmm," Liang Xiaohong responded and quickly went upstairs.
Chuxia was going to continue living at Grandpa Wan’s home, but she needed to sort out her belongings for the new house. Actually, there wasn’t much to sort. Zhou Xikang and Zhou Jiping had already sent her clothes to Grandpa Wan’s place. Furniture couldn’t be taken, and it seemed she could only pack blankets and bedding.
She understood the meaning behind being asked to sort out this room; no matter where she lived now, they truly considered her part of the Zhou family from the bottom of their hearts.
She took down the only photo of her and Zhou Mikang from the wall, unable to help but let out a small sigh, not knowing how he was doing now.
The fact that a notice was served for the Zhou family to move out meant their current situation was extremely dire. Could Grandpa Wan’s people still protect him?
When she was told to come pack her things, she knew it wasn’t appropriate, but she still pleaded with Grandpa Wan, hoping he could intervene on their behalf because she knew the weight the old master carried, and also, she knew that Old Master Zhou, who had been abandoned, chose to stand with that old man. Perhaps it was Old Master Zhou’s decision that angered the original patron, who then completely discarded the Zhou family.
Would Old Master Zhou have made the same choice today if it wasn’t for Zhou Xiaorao’s incident?
Just the night before, Zhou Jiping had discussed this matter with her, saying that if it wasn’t for the pain of losing Xiaorao and Third Brother’s estrangement over the years, the Zhou family members would have definitely continued to put the family first.
But sometimes, is that so-called "family" really a "family"?
In her eyes, the choice the Zhou family made this time was extremely right, but how outsiders saw it was another matter.
After all, Elder Wan had already warned her that for a while, many people might see the Zhou family as opportunistic.
Previously Elder Wan had not been visiting the Zhou family, as he did not want to put too much pressure on them, making them feel like he was forcing them to side with his old friend.
"Sister-in-law..." The door opened, and Yu Tao entered.
"Big sister, I’m almost done," Chuxia said as she carefully tucked the photo frame into the small carry-on bag she planned to take to the Wan family’s place. She looked up at Yu Tao with a smile and asked, "Have Third Uncle and Big Brother returned?"
"Not yet," said Yu Tao as she sat down beside her, glanced at the few suitcases and bags Chuxia had packed, and sighed lightly, "These past days, we have been in your debt. Originally, it was my responsibility to bear, but you took it up. My mother has told me more than once to thank you on her behalf."
"Why say that?" Chuxia gave her a puzzled look. "I haven’t done anything, has big sister misunderstood something?"
"No," Yu Tao chuckled, "With such a major event hitting the family, I should have stayed to be with our grandparents and mother, but my mother’s health has been poor since her surgery, and I worry about her. I had to go back and forth. If not for you, sister-in-law, it wouldn’t have been possible for me to leave home."
"Oh, that..." Chuxia waved her hand with a smile, "If big sister really wants to thank someone, don’t thank me. Mikang was in a hurry to marry me off. Once I entered this door, I became the Zhou family’s daughter-in-law; it’s only right that I do my duty."
"Have you ever resented Laosan?"
"No!" Chuxia shook her head without hesitation, "He didn’t know in advance, why should I blame him? If it were the case that he knew all along there would be such an ordeal but still deliberately married me into the family, then I would definitely have a score to settle with him."
"Laosan really has good judgment," Yu Tao said with a light laugh, "Sister-in-law, you truly are the lucky star of the Zhou family. Without you, Dad and Laosan would’ve suffered much this time."
Chuxia shook her head with a smile: "Big sister, let’s drop this topic. Talking about it over and over makes me feel like an outsider."
"Alright, we won’t mention it anymore." Yu Tao changed the subject, "Has Laosan ever discussed with you when you two want to have babies?"
Chuxia stared back at Yu Tao with a face that screamed ’are you serious?’ "We haven’t thought about that yet, nor have we had the chance to consider it."