Chapter Twenty-Seven

"Father...Father and Mother, you've come."

Amidst the barking of the little owl, Zhou Lin stammered as he spoke, glancing nervously at Mu Jin.

Hibiscus gently scolded the little owl, who let out a howl and, perhaps seeing there was no danger, wagged its chubby little bottom and ran to the side.

Zhou Wushi and Zhou Laosan gave the little night owl that had run away a disdainful look.

He glanced around the dilapidated courtyard, his eyes completely unmoved, showing not a trace of pity.

Zhou Ming, who came along, had his face full of contempt, looking down on his older brother Zhou Lin as always.

"I heard you're learning carpentry from the carpenter?"

Even though the matter had already been confirmed, Zhou Laosan still put on airs and asked Zhou Lin a question.

Seeing Zhou Lin nod, Zhou Laosan spoke directly, his tone forceful: "Give it to your second brother."

Zhou Lin was stunned for a moment, and Mu Jin's face lost all trace of a smile.

"Father and Mother, we were so happy to see you. But to our dismay, you've taken away my husband's livelihood. Since we separated from the family, all we have are the red envelopes from relatives we received at the New Year. We don't even have a pot to cook in. The house leaks and the windows let in drafts. My family brought us a pot, and Brother Nianjun lent me money to tide us over. That's how we were able to have a hot meal. You didn't help us then, but now you're trying to overturn our table. Are you trying to make my husband, Si'er, and I starve?"

Seeing this, Zhou Ming stopped looking around and quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

"Brother, don't be angry. Father is straightforward and speaks his mind. He didn't explain things clearly. You know my brother is clumsy with words and doesn't know how to talk. Father and Mother were worried that my brother wouldn't earn much money even if he learned the trade, so they let me learn it. Then my brother will help me. We brothers will work together to make the business bigger and stronger, and in the future, all the villages within a ten-mile radius will know about our Zhou family's timber shop."

Mu Jin scoffed, "Second brother, you're really acting like a younger brother. Your elder brother has a skill, why should he work for you? Besides, who to take as an apprentice is decided by Uncle Heng, how could my husband and I possibly make that decision?"

Zhou Ming looked embarrassed. "Mother, my eldest brother is sharp-tongued. You should talk to him."

This was an attempt to intimidate him with a powerful figure, but unfortunately, Mu Jin wasn't buying it.

“A-Lin, what are you standing here for? I will take care of Father, Mother and Second Brother. Do you think I will neglect them? You just became an apprentice. If you are late, Uncle Heng will be angry. Hurry up and get on with your work.”

Zhou Lin dared not look at Zhou Laosan and Zhou Wushi, and hurriedly left with his head down.

Before Zhou Wu could finish calling out to him, Zhou Lin had already run several feet away.

Zhou Wu opened her mouth and said sarcastically, "You've really taught my eldest son very well."

"Mother, you flatter me. Is there anything else you and Father need? I have a lot of chores to do at home, and there's not a proper place to stay. I'm afraid I haven't been able to entertain you and Father properly."

The implication was clear: they didn't have time to entertain them and should leave immediately.

Zhou Laosan's expression was displeased. "We've come to inform you, not to discuss anything with you."

Mu Jin looked at Zhou Laosan in disbelief. This domineering tone made him think he was some kind of landlord.

"Tomorrow your second brother will go to the carpenter's place, and tell the eldest brother not to go."

Mu Jin wondered if the old couple couldn't understand human language.

“Father and Mother, I will not agree to this. If my second brother is capable, he can go and become an apprentice and take my eldest brother’s job. It would be shameful if word got out.”

Zhou Ming's expression turned somewhat grim. "Big brother, do you want to tarnish my reputation as an unfilial son? That reputation won't be any better."

Mu Jin chuckled. If Zhou Lin were truly unfilial to his parents, the old couple, he would laugh himself awake.

The truth is, among the four children of the Zhou family elders, Zhou Lin, the least favored son, was the most filial.

"Go ahead and tell them that I have other matters to attend to and will not be able to entertain you all."

Mu Jin was too lazy to pay attention to them anymore, so she turned around and went to tidy up the bamboo in the yard that hadn't been split in half yet.

"You...you..."

Zhou Wu was so angry that she pointed at the hibiscus but couldn't speak.

Zhou Si heard their voices but didn't even come out of the kitchen.

Zhou Wu's trip to the embroidery shop completely chilled his heart.

The only sound in the courtyard was the sound of Mu Jin splitting bamboo. Zhou Wu Shi cursed a few times, but Mu Jin pretended not to hear it, as if the cursing was directed at herself.

Zhou Laosan had no choice. The group still had some sense of shame and couldn't throw a tantrum, so they could only go home in a huff.

After they left, Mu Jin quickly closed the courtyard gate, sighed, and thought that his stepfather had really found him a good marriage.

When Zhou Lin returned home at noon, Mu Jin looked unwell. Before they could even have lunch, she pulled him to the bedroom.

"Ah Lin, there's probably still a lot of trouble with your parents. You don't need to worry about the rest. When you meet them, don't say anything. If you agree to their demands, then there's no point in us continuing our relationship. It's better to break up sooner rather than later, before the children get to hold us together."

Zhou Lin was quite frightened, his face turned pale, and he hurriedly said, "Ah Jin, this morning Master saw that I looked strange, so he went to my parents' place and talked to them. They shouldn't be looking for us anymore."

Mu Jin breathed a slight sigh of relief; Mu Heng was truly a good craftsman.

"As for the money, you can tell Uncle Mu to give it to me directly. You're too soft-hearted. I'm afraid if I give it to you, I won't even see the copper rust."

Zhou Lin looked embarrassed and nodded slightly.

Mu Jin's expression softened considerably. "Maybe we can get the cabinets out in a couple of days? If it doesn't rain, the bamboo in the yard can be painted in three to five days."

Seeing that Mu Jin had calmed down, Zhou Lin breathed a sigh of relief.

"Yes, it can be finished the day after tomorrow. It will cost one hundred coins. I will go there this afternoon and bring it to the master."

Mu Jin nodded and went out of the house to the kitchen to cook lunch.

Seeing this, Zhou Si, who was in the courtyard, quietly walked over.

"Brother, there's something I'm not sure if I should say."

Zhou Lin smiled and said, "We're brothers, what's there to hide?"

Zhou Si bit her lower lip, composed herself, and said, "Big brother, I think you're really not manly at all."

Zhou Lin was stunned, somewhat confused as to why he had been scolded like this.

“Big brother, your brother has been so good to you. With his looks, even if he remarried, he could easily find someone from a better family. But your brother has never complained about your poverty, and even with the family in such a state, he has never thought of leaving you.”

Zhou Lin was stunned by Zhou Si's words.

“But brother, didn’t you take what I said the night before we separated the family property to heart? Our parents are still alive, they don’t need your fatherly devotion. You’re married now, you have your own family, and you’ve already separated the family property.”

Zhou Si glanced at her overly honest and simple-minded older brother and sighed.

“This morning, your elder brother told you to leave, and you left, leaving your elder brother to deal with our parents alone. You don’t know how harsh their words were after you left. Your elder brother had to bear it all by himself. As the head of the family, the man in charge, you should stand in front of your elder brother.”

Zhou Lin opened his mouth but couldn't say a word, feeling extremely ashamed.

Since their marriage, Mu Jin has been intelligent and capable, and gradually in his mind, there is no problem that Mu Jin cannot solve.

This morning was no different. Because she was afraid of her parents, she left as soon as Mu Jin spoke.

Zhou Si's words hit him like a blow to the head.

No matter how powerful Mulan is, she's still a boy and needs someone to support her and rely on.

Zhou Si sighed, "Brother, do you know what the truth is?"

Not hearing a response, Zhou Si didn't mind and replied to herself.

“True affection is like that of an elder brother, who would feel sorry for you if you don’t eat well or stay warm. If you treat him well, he will repay you fivefold. It’s also like how Nianjun treats his elder brother, who would worry that he doesn’t eat well or stay well, ask Musheng to help repair the house, and always keep money on hand, afraid that his elder brother will not have money to spend, will become thin from hunger, or will get cold. It’s not like taking you for granted, drinking your blood, eating your flesh, and then you are still treated like a piece of trash in their eyes.”

Zhou Si paused for a moment, then continued, "Brother, if our parents truly consider you their son, when you're worried sick about the family's food supply, and when we're completely broke, they should come and bring us things."

He glanced at Zhou Lin, who was standing there in a daze, and continued, "Brother, I said these words only because I felt sorry for you. Someone like you really shouldn't have gotten married. My words were a bit harsh. Think about it carefully. I'm going to the kitchen to help you cook."

Zhou Lin felt guilty and distressed after hearing Zhou Si's words, and his feelings were a mix of emotions.

He always felt that his parents gave birth to him and raised him to adulthood, and that was all he was supposed to do.

But a good boy like Mu Jin shouldn't, and shouldn't, suffer this injustice with him.

Yes, he felt wronged. Every time he worked his hardest, he just wanted his parents to praise him, just like they praised his fourth brother.

But he never got his wish, and with each disappointment, how could he not feel wronged?

"Ah Lin, what are you standing there for? The food is ready, come and eat."

Hibiscus called out from the kitchen doorway.

Zhou Lin snapped out of his daze and hurried over.

He made up his mind that he would never let the boy he had taken a liking to from the beginning suffer with him.

Since Zhou Qiang went to town, the Zhou family's meals consisted of pickled vegetables and coarse steamed buns; they hadn't seen any meat for a long time.

Mu Qing's face turned a salty color from eating, while Zhou Ming looked displeased.

"Mother, go buy two pounds of meat tomorrow. Even if it's not for me, you have to think about your grandson in Qing'er's belly."

"Eat, eat, eat! Even your older brother can be favored by the carpenter, but he doesn't even look at you. How dare you eat?!"

Zhou Ming's face stiffened, then he stood up angrily, "I am not as good as your eldest son, but unfortunately, the money your eldest son earns has nothing to do with you."

"you……"

Zhou Ming also lost his appetite, so he pulled Mu Qing up and went to his father-in-law's house.

Zhou Wu clutched her chest, indignant. "It has nothing to do with us? Humph, dream on."