Chapter 8

Zhong Miao was cracking the melon seeds that Li Hongmei brought. Hmm, they were very fragrant and a little warm. It was obvious that they were freshly fried.

Li Hongmei was irritated by her reckless behavior and couldn't help but raise her voice a little, "Song Xing and Wang Yingying from the village got married a day earlier than you did, you know."

Zhong Miao paused for a moment. Of course she knew. Aren't these the hero and heroine in the book? "Yeah, I know."

"Song Xing is also a college student. He got a promotion at the factory a few days ago, and everyone in the village is praising him to the skies. Praising him is fine, but he's also putting down our Ze Ge. Our Ze Ge is also a college student, so how is he any worse than him?"

"I don't know." He is the male protagonist and he is just the supporting male role in the control group. That's the only difference.

"You also think our Ze Ge is no worse than him, right? Wang Yingying has announced that she will also take the college entrance examination next year. Now everyone in the village is comparing them to you two."

"What's there to compare it to? It's just gossip."

"Why don't you understand? Now they are slandering you two, saying that Brother Ze is not as good as Song Xing and that he went to college for nothing. They say that you only have a pretty face but don't know anything, and you are not as sensible and motivated as Wang Yingying."

"Is that what you came to me for?"

"Not really, I'm just curious about how you two are doing. Brother Ze isn't home? Where did he go?"

Thinking that no one in the village knew about Pei Ze's furniture factory, Zhong Miao started to lie again, "I don't know. He left early this morning."

"Zhong Miao." Li Hongmei said seriously, a little angrily. "You two have only been married for a few days, and your man has already left? You don't even know where he went?"

"His legs are on his body, he can go wherever he wants." Zhong Miao continued to crack melon seeds.

Li Hongmei didn't know Pei Ze had a business, and just thought he was out fooling around again, "How did you become his wife?"

Zhong Miao found her cockfighting look amusing and couldn't help but smirk as she teased, "Then why don't you be his wife? She's definitely better than me."

Li Hongmei's face flushed red. "How can you say that? I like him, but I can't destroy someone else's family. Who do you think I am?"

"Don't be angry, it's just a joke. I know you're a good girl." Zhong Miao grabbed a handful of melon seeds for her, "Keep your mouth open, it's still warm."

Are you kidding? How could you make fun of your own husband like this? Li Hongmei's face turned even redder, and she didn't know whether it was out of shame or anger.

"Zhong Miao, don't think that our Brother Ze doesn't show it on his face. He is a warm-hearted and kind person. I hope you can live a good life with him, at least better than Song Xing and Wang Yingying, and piss off those gossipers to death."

"Warm-hearted? I really don't see it."

"Let me tell you something. Do you know why my brother and I are so close to Brother Ze?"

"I'm all ears."

"You're still trying to talk nonsense with me. You're so capable!" Li Hongmei was amused by her. "Three years ago, my brother was hit on the leg by a rock while working. The village doctor said it was a bone injury. If he didn't go to the city for surgery, he would have to take care of himself."

"But if we don't go to the hospital, the bones might grow crooked, and my brother's leg became lame. At that time, we had just built a new house, so how could we afford the surgery? My parents were so worried."

"Everyone in the village tried to persuade us that it was just a child falling down or getting bumped, and even if they were lame, it wasn't a big deal. There was no need to spend that kind of money. But guess what happened?"

"Did Pei Ze borrow money from your family?" Zhong Miao guessed.

"Humph, listen to me, why are you butting in? I didn't dare go home at that time, because I was afraid that my crying would make my parents even more upset. So I walked outside alone, crying, and happened to run into Aunt and Brother Ze going out."

"When my aunt asked me a question, I couldn't hold it in anymore and told her everything, crying and wailing. Ze immediately went home to get some money and came home with me. He even borrowed a tricycle and took my brother and me to the hospital in the city."

"It takes more than two hours to ride from here to the city, and Ze Ge never complained of being tired, nor did he rest. Forget about the medical expenses. I was in such a hurry to leave that I didn't have a penny on me, and Ze Ge paid for all my meals."

"My brother had surgery, and he was with him the whole time. After he recovered, he never mentioned the money. We only paid him back last year when we were financially well."

Zhong Miao thought about it, this matter was not written in the book, it only said that Li Guodong's brother and sister and Erwa were Pei Ze's lackeys.

This seems to be a bit of a character breakdown. Isn't Pei Ze a black-hearted person? How come he became a Bodhisattva?

I really don't understand whether it's the plot or the world that's outrageous.

"Yeah, I see. He's a good man."

"That's good to know. Just live your life well. Song Xing and Brother Ze don't have a good relationship. Aren't you and Wang Yingying old enemies too? Just live well and show them."

Li Hongmei became more and more excited as she spoke. "In my opinion, Wang Yingying is just jealous that you are prettier than her. She wants to step on you to compete with her in everything she does."

Zhong Miao poured her a glass of water, regretting that there was no happy water for fat otakus at home. Gossip is only pleasant to listen to with happy water.

"Drink some water and speak slowly. What did she compete with me for?"

Zhong Miao was puzzled. This was quite different from what was written in the book. The book said that the original owner wanted to compete with the heroine Wang Yingying in everything, so how could it be the other way around?

......

Pei Ze is not at home these days, and her mother-in-law is a very caring person. Although An An is a little naughty sometimes, he is much easier to take care of than other children. Apart from worrying about his father who is away from home, Zhong Miao lives a very comfortable life.

There was a knock on the door, and Zhong Miao put on his cotton jacket and ran out to open it.

When Zhong Miao opened the door and saw Zhong Ming with all his bags, she smiled and immediately threw herself into her father's arms, "Dad, you're back."

"Don't jump, my dear daughter, Daddy is cold."

"Well, Dad, come in quickly." After taking the bag from his father's hand and looking at the easel in his hand, Zhong Miao almost cried again.

"Dad, do you have enough money? Why did you buy all these things?"

"That's enough. I just have to save some money. I didn't buy you any paint. I'll bring some to you next time Dad comes back."

Seeing that it was her in-laws who had arrived, Zhang Weilan came out to greet them, and An An followed her out.

"Grandpa, Grandpa, An An misses you."

"Hey, grandpa brought snacks for An An."

Several people entered the bridal chamber. Zhong Miao put away the easel and opened the snakeskin bag her father had brought.

There was a drawing board, several boxes of pencils, a box of erasers, several packs of sketch paper and other things for drawing, as well as two packs of snacks. She handed one pack to An An, which made the little guy very happy.

After a few pleasantries, Zhang Weilan took the child back to the main house, leaving space for the father and daughter to talk.

"Dad, these things must cost a lot of money."

"It's not much money, don't worry about it. I went to ask around, and the Qingmei school entrance exam will be at the end of March next year, less than four months away. Registration will start after the Spring Festival."

"Well, what's the test? Sketching and coloring again?"

"As for sketching, color, and propositional creation, I asked about exam questions from previous years. Sketching was mostly about plaster figures and portraits, and color was about still lifes and portraits. The creation was assigned by the school, and they were all about farmers working the land, telling stories to children, etc., usually with five or six characters."

"Well, that's easy to say. After passing the school exam, it's all about the cultural subjects. How are the cultural subjects?"

Zhong Miao was more concerned about this. She was not afraid of the school entrance examination, but it had been many years since she graduated from high school and she had long forgotten all the academic subjects.

"My dear daughter, you will definitely pass. Next time, Dad will bring you some books. You can pass with just over 300 points in the general subjects, or even over 200 points sometimes. These days, math scores are not even considered, so you don't need to study math."

"Dad, you don't need to bring the books, I have them here." Zhong Miao took out a few books from the drawer under the table.

Zhong Ming took it and flipped through it. There were also notes made by Pei Ze in the past on it. This kid's handwriting was quite elegant and graceful.

"These books are a bit old. Pei Ze was admitted to that university many years ago. Next time I will bring you new books. Just take a quick look."

Zhong Ming is very confident in his daughter. Not to mention college, his good daughter has even passed the postgraduate entrance examination.

"Okay, I'll do as you say." Zhong Miao naturally listened to her father.

"Where's Pei Ze? Isn't he at home?"

"I've been resting at home these past few days since my wedding. I guess I've been busy at the furniture factory."

Zhong Ming couldn't help feeling sad when he looked at his well-behaved daughter. His daughter should live in a mansion, drive a luxury car, and not have to worry about anything, just concentrate on painting.

But he was also grateful to God for allowing the father and daughter to be reunited alive.

"Dad, what do you do when you go out? How do you make money?"

Zhong Miao took her father's hand, which was wounded and swollen. Her eyes were red with heartache.

"We sell things. Clothes, soap, cosmetics, everything. Don't worry, it's just frostbite. Just apply some medicine and it will be fine."

"Do you have that much money to buy goods?"

"You still don't believe in your father's abilities. Didn't he start from scratch back then? He's still the same now. He can seize business opportunities in advance by living again. This is just the beginning, and it will only get better in the future."

"Well, Dad, you have to take good care of yourself. Buy a pair of gloves and wear them so you don't get frostbite again." Zhong Miao was so distressed that she almost couldn't hold back her tears.

"Okay, I understand. Dad will listen to you."

Zhong Ming returned to the city after a short while. He came back specifically to see his daughter and didn't want to stay at home.

Zhong Miao once again looked at her father's back as he left, and she couldn't help feeling a little sad, but she knew that her father was an ambitious man and would not be content with just one acre of land in the countryside.

That night, heavy snow fell. It was the first snow of the year and it came with great force.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law looked at the sky and couldn't help feeling worried. Zhang Weilan was worried about her son. Pei Ze hadn't been home for several days, and it was snowing heavily. She didn't know when he would be able to go home.

Zhong Miao was worried that her father, who had just left home in the afternoon, might not have arrived in the city yet.

When they opened the door the next day, there was thick snow in the yard. After finishing their morning work, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law started to clear the snow.

It snowed heavily that night, and Pei Ze couldn't help but miss home. He hadn't been home for several days, and he was a little anxious. The snow was so heavy that it would be difficult for him to sweep the snow without being at home.

The snow on the road was above his ankles and reached his calves. The furniture could not be transported in the next few days, so he walked on the snow for several hours to get home.

What a coincidence it happened just when he was returning home. It was really a joke of fate.

Pei Ze pushed open the yard door and happened to see Zhong Miao reaching out and pushing Zhang Weilan. The old lady staggered and fell straight into the snow pile.

How could he remain calm? Who else could remain calm after seeing such a scene?

"What are you doing?" Pei Ze instantly became furious.

He ran over and pushed Zhong Miao away, squatting beside his mother, "Mom, Mom, wake up."

Seeing that Zhang Weilan couldn't be woken up no matter what, Pei Ze's eyes burst into red bloodshot, and his whole body looked like he was on fire, fierce and violent.

"Grandma fainted, take her to see a doctor."

Zhong Miao was almost pushed on the butt by Pei Ze. She didn't have time to care about it and quickly reminded her. She was still in shock from her mother-in-law fainting.