Xuemei smiled as she felt something was amiss. Seeing Shengnan still laughing, she quickly asked, "Shengnan, Zhou Zhiqing often beats his two younger brothers at home. He won't develop a habit of beating people whenever he's not happy, will he?"
"Sister, you think too much. Zhou Bing told me that he beat his two younger brothers just to show his father and stepmother. He didn't kill them. His two younger brothers just felt pain for two days. Zhou Bing also told me that he would not beat people indiscriminately. He would only do it if the person or his family really provoked him." Shengnan explained.
"Yeah, I was overthinking it just now. Zhou Zhiqing has been here for so long, but I've never heard of him fighting with anyone. Last year, Zhou Zhiqing was just trying to scare him about the Wu Lian incident." Xuemei recalled.
"Zhou Bing told me that he usually doesn't fight with women, unless he has to. When he was in the city, his stepmother and stepsister were always mean to him, but he never touched them." Shengnan said.
"It seems that Zhou Zhiqing is a smart and successful man. He will not be threatened by family ties, but he also knows how to repay favors. My parents also have a good opinion of Zhou Zhiqing. They think he is upright, enthusiastic, and a hard-working young man. Now it seems that his financial conditions are not bad. If the two of you work out, it will be really good. But now that you two are interested in each other, why don't you settle the relationship? Does he not want to marry into the family?" Xuemei asked in confusion.
Shengnan said with a worried look on her face, "It's not that I don't want to marry into the family. I just told you that his father is a live-in son-in-law. He takes his mother's surname. He said he wants to leave a descendant for his mother. As long as one of the children we have has his surname, it's fine."
But I'm afraid my mother won't agree, so I haven't told her yet. And then, yesterday, his aunt wrote to me, saying she'd only agree to Zhou Bing and I dating and getting married if we had a boy with his last name. I'm even more afraid to tell my mother. Who can guarantee we'll have two boys in the future? What if we only have one? Will he take my last name or his?
Xuemei's head hurt after hearing this. They were silent for a while before Xuemei said, "If Zhou Zhiqing and his aunt agree, you two can have any future children, regardless of gender, as long as one of them believes in him.
Then I will definitely help you persuade your aunt. After all, Zhou Zhiqing has the conditions to build two houses in the village and marry a wife. If you two get married in the future, it will be much easier for you to raise children.
But his aunt insisted on having a boy with his last name, and his aunt would definitely not agree. Who knows whether the next child will be a boy or a girl?"
After hearing what Xuemei said, Shengnan looked even more disappointed. She asked weakly, "Is there really no other way? Big Sister!"
"You must be Zhou Zhiqing!" Xuemei asked with a headache.
Shengnan remained silent, and finally nodded under Xuemei's gaze.
Xuemei sighed and said, "Then you should discuss it with Zhou Zhiqing. It would be best not to require that future boys have his last name. Otherwise, you'd better break up with him as soon as possible!"
As Xuemei finished speaking, she heard Feifei's voice outside calling her to go home for dinner.
Xuemei stood up and patted Shengnan on the shoulder. She looked at the hopeless Shengnan and said, "Tell your aunt about you and Zhou Zhiqing as soon as possible, and ask her to reject those two guys first. If you don't mind, I'll tell my parents about this and ask them to find a solution for you!"
A glimmer of hope ignited in Shengnan's eyes, and she said, "Sister, please help me. Let my uncle and aunt come up with a foolproof plan for me!"
Xuemei nodded tiredly, and went out and took Feifei home.
"Sister, what took you so long? Brother Han came to look for you just now, but when he saw you weren't there, he went back to the educated youth institute!" Feifei said.
"I was talking to your sister Shengnan and forgot the time. What does your brother Han want to talk to me about?" Xuemei asked.
"Brother Han said he's free tomorrow and plans to go to the county town to deliver some things, and by the way, pick up the photos we took last time! He also asked if you have anything he wants him to bring." Feifei walked into the yard and answered.
When Xuemei heard this, she knew that Han Chen must be going to the recycling station to deliver the repaired radio.
"Okay, I got it. I'll go to the educated youth institute to find him after dinner." Xuemei replied.
After dinner, Xuemei went to the Youth League Institute alone. Liu's father wanted Ruirui and Feifei to follow her, but Xuemei refused. It was only two hundred meters away, so it would be better to let the two brothers read and do homework at home.
When they arrived at the Youth Institute, Han Chen and his friends had just finished their meal. Han Chen took Xuemei to his room, leaving the door open.
"Han Chen, is there anything else you want to talk to me about today?" Xuemei asked directly.
"Xuemei, I will send the photos directly to Uncle Lin and the others tomorrow when I get them!" Han Chen asked expectantly.
"Sure. Didn't we agree on this last time?" Xuemei replied.
During this time, Han Chen slowly told Xuemei about his relationship with the Lin family. His grandparents died on the battlefield when his father was in his teens, and his father had lived with the Lin family ever since. His grandfather and grandmother had always treated his father as their own youngest son.
Grandpa Lin and Grandma Lin were both veterans. Grandma Lin passed away a few years ago, and Grandpa Lin has now retired. They have two sons. The second son died on the battlefield more than ten years ago and never married. The eldest son, Lin Jianye, is 48 years old and is now a brigade commander. He was transferred back to Beijing this year. Lin Jianye's wife is a government employee who manages the Women's Federation. They have two sons and a daughter.
The eldest son, Lin Hongwen, worked in the government and is now the county magistrate of a county below the capital. His wife is an elementary school teacher, and they have two sons, ages six and three. The second daughter, Lin Ziying, is also married to a soldier and has joined the army. The youngest son, Lin Hongzhi, grew up with Han Chen and is a year older. He has always treated Han Chen like his own brother. After graduating from high school, he joined the army and is now in Beihu Province. The last time he wrote to Han Chen, he said he had been promoted to deputy platoon leader.
The entire Lin family had always been concerned about Han Chen after his father's death. Although Han Chen's mother had grown increasingly distant towards him after remarrying, often excluding him from his stepfather's family, the Lin family had always treated him like their own child, repeatedly suggesting that Han Chen move in with them, but Han Chen, still holding out hope for his mother, refused.
Later, when Han Chen was looking for a job, the Lin family also put in a lot of effort. They also spent a lot of money to get inside information about the machinery factory. Fortunately, Han Chen was admitted based on his own ability. After Han Chen got a job, he moved from his stepfather's house to live in the staff dormitory of the machinery factory.
Later, when he went to the countryside, the Lin family prepared clothes and quilts for Han Chen, and even exchanged a lot of banknotes for him. The watch he was wearing was also a gift from the Lin family for his eighteenth birthday. All the packages he received after going to the countryside were sent by the Lin family.
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