A few people were busy when they heard more commotion in the courtyard.
Xinyan glanced outside and saw her aunt and uncle’s family coming over.
She quickly told the people in the kitchen, "It’s Aunt and Uncle; they’re here."
They happened to have almost finished their tasks, and the kitchen didn’t need them to help anymore.
Sister Chen, who was very perceptive, said, "We’re almost done here as well. It’s rare for you all to gather together, so go and chat."
Xinyan looked around the kitchen to confirm there was nothing left to be done and then laughed, "Sister-in-law, Sister Zhenhua, let’s go over. I can introduce you to my cousin."
The reason she called Wu Shengfang "sister-in-law" was because her marriage to Big Brother had already been settled, and even the wedding date was chosen, so she was indeed her prospective sister-in-law.
As for Chu Zhenhua, although she had a good relationship with Second Brother and hoped they could be together, she didn’t dare to presume, to avoid causing any awkwardness.
As she stepped out of the kitchen, Han Chunxue greeted her with a smile, "Yanyan, come over quickly."
Xinyan turned her head and shouted, "Sister-in-law, Sister Zhenhua, come along."
Both of them nodded at her and followed her out of the kitchen.
Smiling, Xinyan introduced to Han Chunxue, "Aunt, this is my sister-in-law Wu Shengfang, and this is my Second Brother’s girlfriend, Chu Zhenhua."
The two beside her simultaneously called out, "Aunt."
Han Chunxue was so happy she didn’t know whose hand to grab. She was genuinely delighted. She had heard about her nephews having partners, but this was her first time meeting them.
Just then, Han Chaoyang and Han Chaoxu walked back from the backyard, and Han Chaoxu approached with a smile, "Aunt, you’re quite early today."
Their cousin Sun Zhenhai, who was doing the heavy work, said, "You guys don’t know, if it wasn’t for my mom being stuck at work, she probably would’ve been here waiting already."
Upon being exposed by her youngest son, Han Chunxue rolled her eyes at him and jokingly made a scissors gesture, "You’re just full of words."
After speaking, she turned to Xinyan, "Where’s Aunt Zhang?"
She always felt she owed Xinyan and her mother, knowing that if it weren’t for Granny Zhang’s kind help, Xinyan wouldn’t have been able to attend school. Her gratitude was beyond words, and she wanted to thank them in person.
After handling things at work, she couldn’t wait to call her family and let them know, so everyone indulged her.
Xinyan glanced inside the house, "She’s getting old, and the journey was exhausting. I let her rest inside for a while to avoid her being too tired later."
Han Chunxue nodded, "You did the right thing."
As they chatted, they entered the living room. Knowing that Granny Zhang was resting inside, they all lowered their voices.
Han Chunxue held Xinyan’s hand and, after a few words with Wu Shengfang, began inquiring about Chu Zhenhua’s situation.
Chu Zhenhua had no trouble sharing her situation, so she explained it all.
Everyone then learned that Chu Zhenhua’s mother passed away early, and she grew up with her grandfather. When she was six, her father remarried Cao Sanmei, who brought in a daughter of the same age as Chu Zhenhua.
The stepmother, on the surface, seemed impeccable, buying things in pairs. But Grandpa Zhenhua noticed that his lively granddaughter spoke less after the stepmother arrived.
Through observation, he discovered that the stepmother acted differently behind closed doors, treating Chu Zhenhua as invisible and not allowing her biological daughter to play with Chu Zhenhua.
In modern terms, this was cold violence.
The old man of the Chu Family couldn’t stand it, so he called his eldest son Chu Honglin over and gave him a good scolding. He then firmly took Chu Zhenhua to live with him.
What she didn’t mention was that her grandfather did far more than just that for her.
He directly instructed her father Chu Honglin to save half of his monthly salary into an account set up for Chu Zhenhua, ensuring it stayed there until her marriage.
Furthermore, he made her father promise not to interfere in Chu Zhenhua’s marriage decisions, and when she did marry, aside from taking the groom’s bride price with her, she should receive an equivalent dowry.