Zhou Jiao didn't bother to pack her luggage after returning to the compound. After settling Ping An, she immediately asked Zhang Guoqing to go to the Cheng family to invite the whole family to dinner, especially Cheng Ruzhu and her husband.

After seeing him leave, she hurriedly said a few words to Zhou Xiaozheng and went straight to the kitchen.

When Aunt Chen saw her, a smile appeared on her face. "I'll prepare it tonight. You go and have some rest."

"It's a pity that Auntie didn't go with us this time. Auntie Wang bought a lot of cheap stuff. I didn't know what you like, so I just bought some things for you. Don't mind, Auntie. We'll choose carefully tonight, and I'll give away the things I don't like."

Aunt Chen complained with a smile, "Why are you wasting money, kid? You asked me to bring back a lot of things before the New Year, and now you're bringing me more this time. You don't know how to save money."

Zhou Jiao said with a smile: "Aunt, please don't be polite. I treat you as a family member and I won't be polite to you. If you were an outsider, I would have to hide some things to avoid being an eyesore."

Aunt Chen nodded cheerfully. She was the most relaxed person in the compound. The Zhou family was simple, unfussy, and disliked gossip. Everyone got along well, especially Zhou Jiao and her daughter, who were incredibly kind.

She'd only been home a few days this time when she felt like coming back. She really missed Jiaojiao's cooking. She saw Xiao Wang and the others had gained weight, grinning non-stop. They were lucky to be assigned to the Zhou family.

"Jiaojiao, you were not at home for a few days. Your cousins ​​came over once, but I didn't let them into your room because they said they couldn't get in without the key. Remember to tell them that you forgot to give it to me." Aunt Chen looked outside and said in a low voice.

Zhou Jiao covered her mouth and laughed, then nodded quickly.

Aunt Chen rolled her eyes at her and whispered, "Don't be so heartless! They've got their eyes on you. Luckily, the clothes your mom bought you fit perfectly, otherwise she'd have borrowed them and never returned them." She couldn't say anything more. If she did, it would just start stirring up trouble.

Zhou Jiao started to clean up the dishes, and she laughed happily at what Aunt Chen said. As she said, the public has a sharp eye.

"By the way, a few people are looking for Xiaowu. I've written them down on a piece of paper and left it on the table in your study. They're all the boys from the compound."

"Auntie is really awesome. I guess they don't have anything to do, probably looking for Xiaowu to play. If they don't come tonight, they will definitely come tomorrow night. Has my dad been home for dinner these days?"

Aunt Chen smiled and shook her head. "It won't work if he doesn't come back to eat. Your uncle comes over to eat when it's time for dinner. Oh, and we need to make more dumplings. A few days ago, your uncle and aunt all came over to eat and didn't leave. They even brought two bags of flour."

Zhou Jiao laughed so hard after hearing this, "What kind of filling do they like? Last time I sent it over, my aunt told me not to bother and to wrap it when I wanted to eat it. They won't starve if my aunt isn't at home."

"Shrimp and lamb are my favorites, and leeks are the most left over. Your dad likes pickled cabbage and shrimp the best."

"Hmm, leeks have a smell, I guess you're not used to it. This is my grandpa and my uncle's favorite flavor. Has my grandpa not been home these days?"

Aunt Chen smiled and said, "Your grandfather and your aunt have been here two or three times. He also likes to eat shrimp and pickled vegetables. Jiaojiao, are these hairy crabs and razorfish? Will your dinner be too rich?"

"My uncle-in-law rarely comes over. This time, they were all sent by my aunt's friends. It would look bad if they weren't served on the table." Zhou Jiao didn't say that she had a lot of food at home. At this moment, she was considering whether to invite the Lin family over.

She wiped her hands, hid by the door and peeked out, seeing her mother holding the child and chatting with her father.

"What's wrong?" Aunt Chen asked curiously.

Zhou Jiao smiled and said, "It's okay. I saw that the guests haven't arrived yet." After she finished speaking, she heard several children from the Cheng family shouting for their sister.

"Go out and entertain the guests. There are only two dishes here. Leave the rest to me." Aunt Chen hurriedly urged her to go out.

Zhou Jiao checked her watch and realized it was getting late. She started to pack the dishes and take them out.

"Oh, our Jiaojiao is doing something again? Tell us quickly, what else is there to do?" Liu Ting, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Cheng family, hurried forward and said.

Zhou Jiao didn't bother to be polite with them. "Aunt, just help bring the dishes up. Why didn't Xiaowu come back with you?"

"He's going to call your grandpa's house." After saying that, she winked at Zhou Jiao. Seeing that she understood, she smiled and walked towards the kitchen. Just now, her father-in-law also asked Xiaowu to go and call them.

Zhou Jiao thought about it, followed her to the kitchen, and whispered, "How long has it been? Why hasn't she come yet?"

"Your uncle just happened to meet us. It seems that everyone gathered at their house to discuss the dowry for their eldest granddaughter. Don't pay attention to them, they will be here soon." Liu Ting said in an unhappy tone.

Seeing how grand the Lin family was treating their granddaughter's wedding, she resented them for letting Jiaojiao marry into the Zhang family alone and helpless. They acted as if they had never seen a man in their entire lives, so brazenly that everyone in the compound knew about it. If Jiaojiao's marriage was delayed, she would make sure it was handled properly.

"We don't compare ourselves with them. A family is built on mutual affection, not dowry. Our Xiaowu is a hundred times better than those people."

Seeing her worried face, Zhou Jiao took her arm and said with a smile, "Yes. I'll listen to you. I really don't feel wronged. They like extravagance and excitement, but I'm afraid of trouble. I have my father and you now. Who can compare to me in my mother's family? But, aunt, you have to love me more in the future."

"Silly girl!" Liu Ting clapped her hands and sighed with a smile.

Except for Old Lady Lin, who excused herself as ill, everyone else in the Lin family came. Perhaps because Old Lady's illness was so natural, no one took it seriously. Everyone in the Lin family was beaming with joy.

Zhou Jiao hurriedly added another table. She didn't bother to chat with the Lin family. She nodded and smiled, saying hello and returning to the kitchen to serve the dishes.

Fortunately, she had prepared large plates, so it was still possible to split the table into two. After sending Liu Ting and Cheng Ruzhu to sit outside, she began to cook the hot dishes herself.

As the hot dishes were served one after another, she returned to the ladies' table in the living room after finishing.

At this time, Lin Liying was talking excitedly at the girls' table. She didn't say anything and quietly came over to listen to the gossip.

When Old Mrs. Cheng saw her, she pulled her to sit next to her and pointed at the food in the bowl, telling her to eat quickly.

"This girl should be satisfied now. My sister-in-law has lost both the wife and the army this time. She will take all the betrothal money back with her, and she will also give her so many things as a dowry. The Yang family should be very happy." Lin Liying said with a smile.

"72 legs, a radio, a bicycle, a watch. The only one of its kind in the compound." Old Mrs. Cheng whispered to Zhou Jiao with a smile. She was too embarrassed to say that the other party only gave a betrothal gift of about 300 yuan and yet she was giving such a large dowry.

Zhou Jiao looked up at her and smiled without saying a word, then lowered her head and ate her meal. She sneered inwardly, thinking that the thirty thousand yuan her mother had swallowed by Gu Ruyi was enough to make the Lin family suffer for several generations.

Ever since Uncle Wang from the Northwest returned to Beijing, she had become even more disdainful of the Lin family after she learned that he had entrusted the Lin Aidang couple to mail watches and other high-end items to her.

People say they're extremely poor and vicious, but the Lin family hasn't even reached that point of poverty, yet they've already lost even their dignity. Showing off now is nothing but a joke. The most ridiculous thing is that they're so good at hiding the fire under the quilt. Even when people outside can smell it, they still comfort themselves that no one else can.

Especially at this moment, seeing Lin Aidang at the men's table talking loudly without any guilt. It's true that like mother, like son! All the delicious food she had worked so hard to prepare was wasted.

After the banquet, Zhou Jiao deliberately kept Old Madam Cheng with her. After seeing the guests off, she and the old lady returned to Zhou Xiaozheng's study. Originally, the Lin family was her maternal family, and she hadn't intended to let Old Madam Cheng know. But now that she was returning to Northeast China, those people would undoubtedly try to confuse right and wrong to clear their name. She worried that there were things her father couldn't intervene in, let alone her mother. She could only rely on Old Madam Cheng to ensure she had the peace of mind she needed.

After hearing this, Mrs. Cheng didn't know what words to use to comfort the child. She walked forward, silently hugged Zhou Jiao, and patted her back gently.