Chapter 293 The Last Time

Zhou Xiye was unusually tough, and he reached out and lifted Zhou Xiaochuan up: "Get out of here, or I'll have to hit you again."

Zhou Xiaochuan was startled and quickly scrambled to his feet, taking several steps back to keep a safe distance from Zhou Xiye. His eyes pleaded as he looked at Zhou Chengzhi: "Dad..."

Zhou Chengzhi, his face stern, waved his hand and said, "You're from the Fang family, so I'll only spare you out of respect for them. Now, get out of here..."

Zhou Xiaochuan could only leave, turning back to look at himself every step of the way...

After Zhou Xiaochuan left, Shang Shiying asked curiously, "Xiye, what exactly happened? Why did Xiaochuan make your mother so angry?"

Zhou Xiye had a headache: "Xiao Chuan has been staying at my uncle's house recently. I don't know where he heard that his parents' death was related to my mother, so he came to question him. My mother had already explained it to him before, and my uncle and his family had also told him the truth."

Zhou Xiaochuan, on the other hand, never believed what his own family said, but he would readily take a few words of encouragement from outsiders to heart.

This time too, someone told him not to be fooled by Fang Hua. If he wasn't guilty, how could Fang Hua and Zhou Chengzhi have supported him for so many years?

Although there are two sons in the family, only one son can join the army, but with Zhou Chengzhi's connections, he can go if he wants to.

It was because of him that Zhou Xiye was able to join the army and achieve great things in the military, as he had two sons listed on the Zhou family's household registration.

He even gave him an example: Song Dong, the only son in the Song family, went to serve in the army and came back, and is now working in the public security bureau.

Zhou Xiaochuan not only lacked common sense, but also considered himself very clever. While staying at Fang Guozheng's house, he even tried to find evidence. Then he discovered that he had gone out with Fang Hua on the day his parents had the accident.

Based on his analysis, he felt that his parents' deaths were not only due to Fang Hua, but also related to him.

Throughout his life, his greatest wish was to join the army, but Fang Hua and Zhou Chengzhi prevented him from doing so.

In a moment of impulsiveness, Zhou Xiaochuan ran back to question Fang Hua again, accusing Fang Hua of ruining his future and destroying his life.

She even questioned Fang Hua: "You've always been good at pretending, but do you dare to face what you've done? Aren't you afraid my parents will come looking for you in the middle of the night?"

Fang Hua was trembling with anger. She raised her hand as if to hit Zhou Xiaochuan, but she fainted.

Zhou Xiye, who had just returned from buying things for Fang Hua, witnessed this scene. He first took Fang Hua to the hospital, where she was admitted to the emergency room.

After asking Zhou Xiaochuan the reason, Zhou Xiye grabbed him and beat him up.

Jiang Zhizhi was furious when she heard this, and gritted her teeth, wishing she could drag Zhou Xiaochuan back and beat him up again.

Shang Shiying frowned and said, "What a tragedy! If you hadn't told me, I wouldn't have known that Zhou Xiaochuan wasn't your child. How good your parents were to him! Even their own son wouldn't have been treated this way."

“Xiao Chuan has really gone too far. I’ve always felt that this child’s personality is a bit unlike your family’s. He’s hesitant in his actions. Look, we’re all kids from the same compound, but he’s so petty. Today he thinks he’s on good terms with this person and not with him anymore.”

“Tomorrow I’ll feel like I’m on good terms with that other person and distance myself from him. Anyway, he’s always the one causing the most trouble. I’ve told Li Yuanchao not to hang out with Zhou Xiaochuan. He’s got more ulterior motives than a woman.”

Jiang Zhizhi frowned: "This time, we must discuss it with Mom, Dad, and Uncle. We need to sever ties with Zhou Xiaochuan, including the adoption. We need to be more ruthless towards him from now on. We've already raised him to be twenty-two. Whether he lives or dies is his own problem and has nothing to do with anyone else."

Shang Shiying nodded repeatedly: "I think this is the right thing to do. We should announce this news to the public so that everyone knows that Zhou Xiaochuan was adopted by your family, and then sever ties. That way, if he does something stupid in the future, it won't implicate you."

“Especially you, Nishino, if you have such a stain on your political background check, it will be a problem for your future promotion.”

Zhou Xiye frowned: "Auntie, I'll discuss your suggestion with my parents. It's getting late, I'll help you find a car, you should go home and rest first?"

Shang Shiying quickly waved her hand: "No need, no need, I can go back by myself. You guys should find a place to rest."

As they were about to leave, Zhou Chengzhi, who was on his way to the doctor's office, came over and thanked Shang Shiying again.

Shang Shiying had overheard Zhou Chengzhi and Zhou Xiye's conversation, and now she couldn't help but ask curiously, "Brother Zhou, you and your wife got divorced? When did that happen? How could you get divorced so suddenly?"

Zhou Chengzhi looked embarrassed: "A few days ago, she got upset because some people came to our house... and she got angry and insisted on getting a divorce."

Shang Shiying frowned and glanced at Zhou Chengzhi: "Brother Zhou, I'm not trying to criticize you, but although I don't usually have much contact with Sister-in-law Fang Hua, she is the most respectable person in the compound."

"No matter what, she always protects your reputation and never complains in public. But look around, how many families in this compound don't have a nanny? Only your family doesn't."

"How is hiring a nanny a sign of a decadent capitalist lifestyle? You've dedicated half your lives to this, shouldn't you hire a nanny to take care of your daily needs?"

"When you're at work, you have orderlys serving you meals. When you go to the grassroots level, your clothes are washed for you, right? Aren't you enjoying being waited on like that?"

"Why can't your sister-in-law enjoy herself? Does she have to work herself to the bone like a nanny?"

"Although you have a good reputation outside, being hardworking and frugal, we all see how much your sister-in-law has done. Now that she's lying in bed, wouldn't you panic? A young couple grows old together, but when you're old and need your partner, you'll be all alone. Would you be happy then?"

“I think your sister-in-law’s health is due to overwork! Why couldn’t she keep the baby? If she had been healthier and had more energy, would she have been able to keep the baby later in your family?”

Shang Shiying didn't give Zhou Chengzhi a chance to speak at all, and launched into a barrage of attacks.

She used to be a pillar of the Wengong Troupe; she had a beautiful voice and excellent eloquence. Her intonation and rhythm made Zhou Chengzhi sweat profusely.

Jiang Zhizhi almost wanted to applaud. She didn't expect Shang Shiying's temper to be so similar to Fang Hua's, but he was more talkative and outspoken.

Shang Shiying paused for a moment: "Well, Brother Zhou, you guys go ahead and do your work. I'm going back now. Zhizhi, if anything comes up, remember to come find me. Also, I'll bring you breakfast tomorrow morning."

After saying that, he ignored Zhou Chengzhi and turned to leave.

Zhou Chengzhi stared wide-eyed at her retreating figure, somewhat puzzled: "When...when did she become so close to your mother? Our two families have been interacting so frequently?"

...

Fang Hua didn't wake up until the second night, but he still couldn't leave the sterile ward, and Jiang Zhizhi and the others could only peek at him from outside the window.

Jiang Zhizhi noticed that when Fang Hua opened his eyes and turned to look at him, Zhou Chengzhi's eyes were red...