Chapter 35: Tearing a Hole

Chen Xiang and Zhou's mother returned home.

They had just parked the car in the yard when Zhou's father heard the noise and hurriedly came out of the house, holding up the curtain.

He was wrapped in a tattered cotton jacket, his hands were wet, and his haggard face was flushed red, obviously from a coughing fit.

Chen Xiang called him sweetly, "Dad."

Father Zhou: “Hey.”

The man shook the water off his hands and smiled.

He said with concern: "It's almost frozen, hurry inside and warm up."

Zhou's mother stared at her husband, frowned suddenly, and asked coldly: "Did you cook at home?"

Father Zhou: "Well, it's done. We're just waiting for you to come back for dinner. Come into the house and leave the things there. I'll clean them up later."

When Zhou's mother heard this, she was not happy but angry.

She angrily ripped off her headscarf, slapped her husband hard, and yelled in a low voice: "Is it necessary for you to clean up this mess?"

Father Zhou hid behind Chen Xiang, pointed at his daughter-in-law, and complained aggrievedly: "Li Qiuju, you have a bad temper recently. You even dared to hit me in front of the children!"

Chen Xiang was sandwiched between the two people: "..."

Zhou's mother was so angry that her eyes gradually turned red: "How dare you say that I have a bad temper? Look at yourself, can you cook with your condition? What if your illness gets worse?"

Father Zhou explained in a low voice: "I am just worried that you will have nothing to eat when you return..."

Zhou's mother said firmly, "You don't have to do that!"

"Is it easy for me to cure your illness over the years? I've been so worried and worked so hard! And you're still so dishonest, doing whatever you want! You! You're just going to piss me off to death!"

She was so angry that her lips were shaking.

Mr. Zhou's illness involves the lungs and respiratory tract.

This is a precious disease. Patients need to keep warm, eat nutritious food, and avoid physical work, otherwise it will easily cause inflammation.

Also make sure not to inhale dust and smoke.

If someone smokes around Zhou's father, he can't stand it and will cough violently, which will worsen his condition.

Therefore, during the eight years of my illness, I relied entirely on my mother's meticulous care.

Only then could Zhou's father recover to such a good condition now.

The man felt guilty after hearing what his wife said. He curled his lips and said, "I, I am..."

Zhou's mother: "What are you? Tell me!"

The man stared at me for a long time, but couldn't say anything. In the end, he only dared to mutter in his throat: "You can't do that. If you hit me, the pain will be felt in your heart."

Zhou's mother glanced at her husband and snorted, "I've been using this to threaten me for my whole life."

"It's OK as long as it works."

Zhou's mother was furious and glared at him again: "Say it again!"

"No more talking about it."

Zhou's father waved his hands repeatedly, not daring to provoke him again.

Can't afford to offend.

Chen Xiang watched from the sidelines as the two elderly people in the family lost their tempers quickly. Now they were no longer quarreling, but were fighting like children playing house, which made her laugh and cry.

But in this matter, she definitely stands on the side of her mother-in-law.

Chen Xiang turned around and looked at Zhou's father, and said softly, "Dad, my mother and I know that you want to share the burden with us, but you don't have to worry about these housework. The most important thing right now is to take care of your health."

"Think about it. Our county will soon have a train, and it's a railway that Mengzi helped build. You and my mom should take the first train after it opens, and go to other cities to have a good look around."

After hearing this, Zhou's father blushed and said, "Okay, okay, I will pay attention next time."

See him agree obediently.

The corners of Zhou's mother's mouth curled up slightly without her husband noticing.

Chen Xiang turned around and walked to the tricycle, bent down to pick up the money bag and water bottle, and smiled at Zhou's father: "Dad, let's talk, but you can't think about being lazy."

"For jobs like this where you have to carry things, you have to step forward and help."

Zhou's father came over happily, saying, "Okay, Dad won't be lazy! Just listen to Xiaoxiang."

Chen Xiang passed the things over and said, "Then go ahead."

"Okay."

Father Zhou took the things and went back to the house.

In the yard, Chen Xiang and Zhou's mother simply packed up the tricycle.

Zhou's mother whispered, "Your father is a good person in every way, except that he has a stubborn temper. He was very hardworking when he was young, but now he is hampered by this disease and can't do anything. His hands itch when he sees work."

Chen Xiang was busy cleaning up the ashes.

Hearing this, she didn't even raise her head: "Mom, in my opinion, you and my dad are the same, both of you are the kind of people who can't sit still."

Zhou's mother laughed and said, "How could I like your father? I just liked him because he was diligent..."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xiang raised her eyes and glanced at her mother-in-law.

It was obvious that he didn't believe what she said. Zhou's mother pursed her lips and said awkwardly, "Actually, your father was also quite handsome when he was young."

But now he is suffering from illness and has become so thin that he is unrecognizable.

After packing up the tricycle, they turned back to the house and saw that Zhou's father had already set the table and laid out the dishes.

Zhou's mother urged him: "Hurry up and get on the kang."

Zhou Gui, who was almost fifty years old, was particularly obedient. He took off his shoes and got on the kang quickly.

Sitting at the dining table waiting for them to come up, I even put a cotton coat on my shoulders to keep warm...

Chen Xiang scooped some hot water, poured it into the basin and washed her hands.

Seeing these actions of Zhou's father, she couldn't help but smile, but there was a hint of sadness in her eyes.

In fact, she can especially understand Zhou's father's thoughts.

I once lay on the bed, with only my eyeballs still able to move.

She looked at the healthy people around her who could go wherever they wanted and do whatever they wanted, but still had to ask Zhou Dongmeng to do rehabilitation, change clothes, and feed them every day...

During those days, she was living a life worse than death!

It would be better to let her be thrown into a corner like a pile of garbage, allowed to rot and stink, and finally turn into dust.

I don’t want to be a burden to others.

However, she is lucky!

In the struggle of wanting to survive desperately but also wanting to die alone, it was Zhou Dongmeng who tore a hole in the abyss.

With a scorching light, he stretched out his warm hands to her and held her tightly.

Gave her the courage to face death.

Therefore, no one understood better than her the anxiety, uneasiness, embarrassment and the desire to prove that he was not a burden to Zhou's father.

She will definitely cure her father-in-law in this life.

Chen Xiang lowered her eyes, collected her thoughts, then stood up, took the towel handed to her by Zhou's mother, wiped the water droplets on her hands, and sat down at the dining table.