Chapter 43 Starting Over

Zhou Shufen was both amused and exasperated.

"Stop making fun of me... I just had a meal with someone, nothing else, don't talk nonsense."

After saying that, a slight blush appeared on her face.

As she spoke, she tried to hide inside her house.

“We’re not just making things up; the neighbors all support you starting over.”

Someone raised their voice.

"You've had it pretty tough too, especially since Zhou Dajun wasn't a good person to begin with, and he doesn't really care about the kids after the divorce. Why are you making yourself suffer like this?"

"While you're still young, you should think about yourself. We're just telling the truth."

Just then, Zhou Haiwei walked over.

He originally came to deliver this month's living expenses, but happened to overhear everyone advising Zhou Shufen to find a boyfriend.

After listening outside the door for a while, he was instantly enraged.

He then rushed over and pointed at Zhou Shufen, cursing her.

"Mom! Have you lost your mind? You've only been divorced a short time and you're already flirting with other women? Have you been seeing someone else for a while already?"

The sudden outburst of scolding startled Zhou Shufen.

But she quickly calmed down.

Which eye of yours saw me do what?

Zhou Shufen frowned.

"Stop making wild guesses all day long, as if you know me so well."

“Your father and I separated a long time ago. I can make my own decisions about my private affairs, and I don’t need your judgment.”

"You can't even manage your own affairs, yet you're meddling in other people's."

At her age, does she have the right to tell Zhou Haiwei what to do?

She has shouldered all the responsibilities at home all these years.

I've been worrying about my child since they were little.

Zhou Haiwei was enjoying his leisure time away from home, and now he has the nerve to come back and interrupt.

Zhou Shufen was furious.

Calling you ungrateful is too kind! Stay away from me from now on, just seeing you makes me angry!

After being scolded like that, Zhou Haiwei got angry.

He was about to retort, but after glancing at the neighbors around him, he swallowed his words.

"I'm just worried that you'll get taken advantage of or that you'll be scammed."

He knew that arguing would only make the situation worse.

"I don't need your fake kindness, and I can't afford it!"

Zhou Shufen pushed the door open and slammed it shut.

"Bang!"

A loud bang shook the hallway so much that it felt muffled.

Zhou Haiwei stared at the tightly closed door, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes.

He had intended to offer her some advice, but this was the kind of treatment he received in return.

"I've raised this son for nothing, he's really been raised for nothing."

"That's right, Shufen has had a tough time. She single-handedly supported the family all those years ago, but all the children sided with the man who ran off with her and didn't appreciate her suffering at all."

"Sigh, this is a lesson learned. Let's all be more careful in the future."

Zhou Haiwei was furious at the neighbors' gossip.

He actually felt a bit resentful towards Zhou Shufen.

Why can't you give me any face?

In front of so many people, are you just going to refuse to give me a way out?

He felt wronged.

I was acting out of good intentions, but I was treated like a bad person.

There was nothing he could do but leave silently.

Inside the room, Zhou Shufen took a few deep breaths.

He barely managed to suppress the anger in his chest.

She didn't regret the argument at all.

She had long been fed up with Zhou Haiwei.

She looked around the old house where she had lived for decades and was very familiar with it.

A thought suddenly popped into my head.

Let's sell this house.

She was fed up with being questioned every few days.

She has lost count of how many times she has been blocked at the door and forced to listen to those cold words.

She didn't want to endure it anymore.

Although they had long since separated from their good-for-nothing children.

But the house is still there.

This house serves as a marker, reminding all of the Zhao family's relatives.

She's still here.

Aunts, uncles, sons, and daughters can all find her.

Some people want to borrow money, and some people want to occupy the house.

Some people even tried to force her to change her will.

She knew that as long as this house existed, she would never find peace.

After she sells the house, she will divide the money equally among her children.

She completely severed ties with the Zhao family.

She will ask a notary office to intervene with the proceeds from the sale of the house to ensure that each child receives their due share.

From then on, she was no longer the mother of the Zhao family, nor was she the center of the family's conflicts.

No one should bother us anymore.

She's moving to a small apartment in the suburbs.

No one will knock on her door every day.

The moment the thought popped into her head, she felt it was the right thing to do.

She even started planning her future life.

For example, take a walk in the park every day, or enroll in a calligraphy class at a senior university.

She can live for herself for once.

This decision gave her a sense of freedom she had never felt before.

The next morning, Zhou Shufen went to Zhou Haiqing's house.

They brought a copy of the property ownership certificate and the allocation plan.

This is a big deal; she needs to talk to someone about it.

Zhou Haiqing is her most reliable son.

She believed he would understand her predicament.

Upon hearing the sound, Qin Guifang quickly went to open the door.

"Mom? You didn't go to school today? Come in, come in!"

She quickly took the bag from Zhou Shufen's hand.

Seeing her mother-in-law's serious expression, she sensed that something was different today.

"Yeah, nothing's wrong today."

Zhou Shufen sat down on the sofa.

She glanced at the faded family photo on the wall and then looked away.

Qin Guifang poured a glass of warm water and handed it over.

Hearing the commotion, Zhou Haiqing came out and greeted them.

He sat opposite her, quietly watching Zhou Shufen.

Zhou Shufen held the water glass and composed herself.

"Mom came today because she has an idea. After thinking it over, she felt it was best to discuss it with you two first."

She stared at the envelope on the coffee table.

"Please speak, please speak!"

Zhou Haiqing sat up straight with nervousness.

"It's not a huge deal."

She paused.

“I want to sell the house I live in. The money will be split equally among you siblings. Once the house is sold, the last bit of the Zhao family’s property will be left to you. I will have a clear conscience and no longer owe anyone anything.”

Zhou Haiqing became anxious.

"Mom, this won't do! This house is your only support. After the divorce, this is the only property left. If you sell it all and divide it up, how will you live in the future? You need a place to stay in your old age. People will gossip if they hear about it."

Zhou Shufen shook her head.

“I really don’t want to stay anymore. As long as this house is here, they will always find a reason to bother me. One minute they say they want to see the condition of the house, the next they say they want to make repairs, and they come knocking on the door every few days. I don’t expect them to be filial, I just want some peace and quiet. It’s better to sell it as soon as possible, so everyone can live their own lives and no one will bother anyone else.”

After listening, Zhou Haiqing remained silent for a moment.

He knew that his mother had suffered a lot of injustice over the years.

After thinking about it, he finally nodded.

“Mom, if you’ve thought it through, I support you. Selling the house is your right, and no one has the right to interfere. But where will you live after you sell the house? You can’t just rent a small room, can you? Why don’t you come stay with us for now? It’s close to the hospital, and it’s convenient for buying groceries.”

"That won't do!"

Zhou Shufen waved her hand.

“You two are doing just fine. Your house isn’t big, and your daily routine is quite compact. What would it look like if an old woman like me got involved? Besides, my schedule is different from yours. You go to bed late at night and get up late in the morning. I wake up before dawn, turn on the lights, and cook. All that noise would disturb your rest. You work so hard, and I don’t want to become a burden.”