When Zhang Guoqing arrived, the Chen family, their husband and children, had just arrived home. Huang Juan was about to start cooking in the kitchen when she heard Zhang Guoqing's voice and quickly responded.

When she came out, she saw that Lao Chen and the two children had already opened a box of cakes and were eating them.

She walked up to the little girl, patted her on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "Why are you giving so much? Do you have any left at home?" As soon as she finished speaking, the child stuffed a piece of osmanthus cake into her mouth.

Zhang Guoqing held up the black bag and said with a smile, "These are not for you. The old ladies in front are so welcoming, I have to invite them to try some. I'll leave first, come to my house to play in the evening." After that, he waved to them and left.

"This kid runs so fast! He must have gone to the south to play this time. I also want to ask what the situation is like outside now." Old Chen said anxiously after swallowing.

Huang Juan rolled her eyes at him. "You can come over tonight and talk about anything you want. Xiaowu is very busy right now. You guys are not going to eat after eating this box? You can save some for your grandparents."

After Zhang Guoqing finished delivering the package to Wang's house, he continued to deliver it to the several houses in the courtyard ahead. He didn't know if anyone had delivered anything yet, so he just had to make sure everyone was present. Fortunately, there were only a few houses ahead. Finally, he stopped by Aunt Wang's house and asked Zhang Meili to come over to discuss something that evening.

After going out for a walk, he came back and saw Zhao Yuanyuan already at his house.

At this moment, she was secretly whispering with Zhou Jiao, and no one knew what they were talking about. When she saw Zhang Guoqing come in, she immediately stopped the topic.

Zhou Jiao asked her to stay at home and have lunch together.

After dinner, the three of them moved to the bedroom. Zhao Yuanyuan couldn't help but say, "Xiaowu, Aunt Fen will be home in the next two days, so don't keep her here. Don't blame me for being nosy this time!"

Zhang Guoqing looked at Zhou Jiao after hearing this. He really couldn't understand these incoherent words.

Zhou Jiao looked outside and whispered, "When we were not at home, Uncle Dashan asked Yuanyuan to come over and visit often. Yuanyuan felt that the mother and son's behavior was inappropriate. It just so happened that Aunt Fen's son didn't want her to suffer here. Uncle Dashan said that he would let Aunt Fen go back when we get home." After that, she winked at Zhang Guoqing.

Zhang Guoqing suppressed his laughter and said repeatedly: "Well, listen to Yuanyuan! If you don't like it, just quit. Later, help Jiaojiao prepare a gift for her to take back."

Zhao Yuanyuan raised her chin proudly and said, "You don't know that I'm the best at judging people. That guy is no good at all. I came to monitor him every two days, and I watched the things in the warehouse dwindle before my eyes. Do you know what he said? He actually said there weren't many things to begin with. I immediately went home to complain, and my dad was so angry that he scolded me. Later, my dad came to ask how they were doing. That idiot actually said he couldn't bear to see his mother suffer here. Well, my dad was so angry that he laughed and said that after you and your wife go home to hand over the things, Aunt Fen can go back to enjoy her life."

Zhou Jiao was still confused. After they returned home, Aunt Fen hadn't mentioned leaving. It seemed she didn't want to leave at all. She immediately stood up and said, "Yuanyuan, can you help me think of a gift for her to take back home?"

"Wait a minute. I'll go ask her what she likes. My dad asked me to find out, and he just happened to be buying tickets." After saying that, Zhao Yuanyuan ran out.

The couple breathed a sigh of relief. Since Zhao Dashan had offered to let Aunt Fen leave, that was the best thing that could happen.

Zhang Guoqing gestured to Zhou Jiao to be quiet, and he climbed to the window to listen outside. He could hear Zhao Yuanyuan's chattering in the distance, but he didn't hear Aunt Fen's response.

After a while, Zhang Guoqing immediately got off the kang and whispered, "I can't bear to leave, so I came here!" After that, he flipped through the book seriously.

Zhou Jiao focused her attention and saw that the footsteps were approaching and heading this way.

As soon as Aunt Fen came in, she came to the kang and said to Zhou Jiao, "Jiaojiao, I can't bear to leave Ping An. If I leave, what will happen to you two?"

Zhao Yuanyuan came in later, her eyes widened when she heard what was said, she pointed at Aunt Fen and shook her head vigorously at Zhou Jiao.

Zhou Jiao couldn't help but smile when she saw this. "Thank you, Aunt Fen. We're fine. My mother-in-law said that Xiaowu's nephews are grown up and want to come over to take care of the children. Once they come, our lives will be better."

Zhang Guoqing interjected, "Jiaojiao, pack some things and take them back to Aunt Fen. I'm sorry Aunt Fen had to come here this time. This afternoon, you and Yuanyuan will go shopping with Aunt Fen to see what she likes and buy some to bring back to her."

Aunt Fen saw Zhang Guoqing say this. She shook her head in disappointment and said, "Don't waste it. Just give me some of the extra stuff at home. Don't go out to the streets. There's nothing good on the streets. It's better than what you have at home."

Zhou Jiao laughed and said, "How can it be considered a waste? Yuanyuan, how about we go out? Brother, are you okay with taking care of the kids?"

Zhang Guoqing was eager for them to buy the things and send them back home as soon as possible. He kept saying, "Leave the family to me. You go now, and remember to bring your tickets."

"Jiaojiao, you really don't have to buy it. If you want to give it to Xiaowu, see if he has any clothes he doesn't wear. He is about the same height as my son." Aunt Fen said quickly when she saw that they were about to leave.

Zhou Jiao paused as she reached for the coat. She hadn't expected the man to truly appreciate the value of the item. He'd actually said, "If you're willing to give it to me," so confidently.

You have to know that since coming to the county town, Zhang Guoqing has been wearing all new clothes, all carefully prepared by her mother. They are made of fine material, not to mention a woolen coat, even the most ordinary coat is not something that ordinary people can afford.

Zhou Jiao remained silent, staring intently at Aunt Fen. She wondered if she was too easygoing. Why did so many people find pleasure in a quarrel?

Aunt Fenn shifted uncomfortably under her gaze.

"Aunt Fen, you're Uncle Dashan's cousin, so I never thought of you as someone I'd hired to help. Just because I don't say something doesn't mean we don't know it. And don't try to provoke me by saying things like 'I'm giving it to you'. My mom carefully prepared Xiaowu's clothes for him, so I really can't give them away! Since you don't want to go out, forget it. You can leave tomorrow, and I'll give you money anyway."

After saying that, Zhou Jiao walked straight out of the bedroom, unwilling to pay any attention to the other party.

She'd been fed up with these people lately—they were idiots who wanted to be virtuous. The Lin family, in particular, were the worst of the worst, which made her even more disgusted. If it weren't for her father's recent return to the compound and her concerns about the overall situation, she'd have been so ruthless.

Now, a servant she paid for dared to act so hypocritically towards her. Where did he get the confidence from? Did he really think that Zhao Dashan could make her give in?

Zhang Guoqing glanced coldly at Aunt Fen. It seemed he'd truly underestimated her. No wonder she'd managed to raise a son alone. Why had he initially thought she had such self-respect and self-esteem that he admired her?

He said to Zhao Yuanyuan, "You go and accompany Jiaojiao first. I'll talk to her." After he said that, Zhao Yuanyuan ran away in fright.

"Xiaowu, stop talking. Jiaojiao misunderstood. I didn't mean anything else. I really didn't mean anything else." Aunt Fen really didn't expect that the soft-hearted Zhou Jiao would turn against her so easily.

Zhang Guoqing frowned, looked at her and shook his hands vigorously, saying, "Aunt Fen, you don't understand Zhou Jiao. She has one advantage, which is that she doesn't get angry easily. It's good enough that you can make her angry.

Also, during the time we were away, you and your son's behavior was a bit out of line, especially your son. Do you understand what I'm saying? Besides these little things, there's one more important thing. Before I left, I specifically told you not to accept any gifts from anyone. But you accepted them anyway. I don't want to say anything more. Just pack your things, and I'll take you to the station tomorrow."

Aunt Fen lowered her head to read after he finished speaking. She knew her son had taken something and the other couple had noticed. No matter how much she said, it was useless. She thought Zhou Jiao was easy to talk to and generous, so she couldn't help but say something. If she had known earlier, she would have kept quiet and let them give it to her.

After a while, she quietly left the bedroom, returned to the yard, looked around, and found that Zhou Jiao and Zhao Yuanyuan had already left. Standing in the yard, she hesitated for a moment, then hurried back to her room.

She immediately pulled out three pieces of fabric, a large bag of candies, and some odds and ends from under the cupboard, rolled them all together, and stuffed them into the quilt. Noticing a bulge in the quilt, she pressed down hard.

Fortunately, Zhang Guoqing didn't have X-ray vision, otherwise he would have regretted his polite words. At that moment, he was teasing his son, thinking hard about how to find a suitable servant as quickly as possible. After learning the truth, he repeatedly chased away the rats in his house.

Zhou Jiao took Zhao Yuanyuan to the county hotel to visit Sister Wang. This time, they left the county and did not attend Sister Wang and Cheng Feng's wedding. She planned to come and see the bride and apologize.

"Jiaojiao, did Aunt Fen do something else? Otherwise you wouldn't be so angry. It's over. My mom has already scolded my dad for making things worse. Now my dad must be feeling guilty."

Zhou Jiao smiled and patted her, "What nonsense are you talking about? Uncle means well, why should he feel guilty? Then how dare I ask him for help in the future? I'm not angry, I just don't want to bother with him. Besides, this person is like tea, you need to taste it slowly to know whether it's good or bad. Didn't I say Aunt Fen was very nice at the beginning?"

"If she leaves, where can we find a suitable person? Are you really going to let your mother-in-law come over to take care of Ping An? Forget it! I'll come to your house every day to help you take care of the child, but you have to make me delicious food!" Zhao Yuanyuan was open-minded and thought what she said made sense. Then she happily made a request.

"You're such a big eater, I can't afford you. You'd better go somewhere cooler. I plan to take care of the child myself. I have nothing to do anyway." Zhou Jiao joked.

Arriving at the restaurant, she discovered Sister Wang wasn't there. Zhou Jiao handed the gift to the chef, asking him to pass it on. Since his and Sister Wang's gifts were the same, there was no worry of getting them mixed up. She didn't feel like staying and waiting for Sister Wang to return.

She was beginning to worry that Aunt Fenn might be unwilling to leave and might tamper with their meals. She planned to cook dinner herself that night and be on guard against her before she left.

After dinner, while waiting for Zhang Guoqing to go out to return the gift and do some business, Aunt Fen kept lingering beside Zhou Jiao. Facing Zhou Jiao's smiling face, she wanted to say a few words, but when she saw her big dark eyes, she found herself unable to speak.

Seeing her expression of wanting to speak but hesitant, Zhou Jiao waited for her to respond with a question. She secretly laughed to herself. If she had known this would happen, why would she have done it in the first place? She didn't want to waste any more time on the subject.