"Jiaojiao, have you remembered? Let your eldest aunt and uncle come home when they come back. Grandpa said that your youngest aunt and uncle will also be here tonight. Guess what it is?" Lin Xuezhen asked with a frown.
Zhou Jiao held the child and casually replied to her, "The younger generation can't be present, it must be a big deal. It must be a good thing."
"Do you think it could be about my eldest sister getting married? Could the Yang family have changed their minds? I see my eldest sister hasn't gone out much in the past two days, it must be her marriage." Lin Xuezhen said with her imagination running wild.
Zhou Jiao smiled but didn't answer. Lin Xuelin alone in the Lin family wasn't enough to alarm the two sons-in-law. If she was right, the old man must have realized he owed her family money and was trying to give her father an explanation. With Li Jianjun, his son-in-law, present, he'd probably just offer a few perfunctory apologies. But what good would such an explanation do?
Zhou Xiaozheng came home from work and learned that Mr. Lin had asked them to come over. He smiled at Zhou Jiao, and both father and daughter knew that going over was just a few nice words.
When they saw Lin Lishan asked what was going on, they didn't explain and just said that everyone knew what was going on.
Zhou Jiao prepared dinner early this time, letting Lin Lishan, who was anxious to get there, eat with them first before leaving. If she was right, the Lin family would probably wait until the guests arrived before preparing dinner.
That day, Zhang Guoqing went out to visit Liu Zhang's family who had returned to Beijing. Sometimes fate is so strange. Who would have thought that Liu Zhang and Cheng Sijin were old friends?
Zhou Jiao watched her parents leave and took care of the child at home alone.
In the living room of the Lin family, Lin Aiguo, Lin Aidang, Lin Liying and other couples had been waiting there for a long time. Except for Lin Dingsheng and his three brothers, all the girls hid in the outer room.
When Mr. Lin saw Lin Lishan and his wife coming, he went back to the room and called Mrs. Lin to come to the living room together.
Zhou Xiaozheng declined the Lin brothers' offer of a seat and sat down next to Li Jianjun. He heard his stomach growl. He lowered his head and raised his lips slightly. Only the Lin family would show such hospitality.
After coming out, Old Mrs. Lin kept her head down with a cold face and said nothing.
Mr. Lin beside him said with a smile, "Everyone is here. I called you back today because I have a few things to announce.
First of all, our Xiaolin and the Yang family's marriage was finalized after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, and the wedding will take place in February. Remember to come and have a drink then.
Secondly, the return of Lao Da and Xiao Zheng is the happiest thing for our family. After so many years, the family can finally have a reunion dinner.
Now that we've had our reunion dinner, while you and your wife are home, Dad is dividing up the family today. While it's called a division, there's really no real property being given to you. Speaking of division, I want to talk about the contributions Shanshan and her husband have made to the family. All of you brothers, sisters-in-law, and nephews should remember their kindness.
Zhou Xiaozheng saw that no one responded after he finished speaking. He didn't interrupt, just quietly waiting for them to finish quickly. If he had time to waste on talking nonsense here, he might as well go back and rest.
Mr. Lin observed everyone's reactions and sighed secretly.
He went on, "Shanshan, Dad feels bad for you. You know our family situation, and we old couple can't pay you back anytime soon. Your mom isn't talking about paying you back anymore, she's planning to give you some things from her personal savings. It's a token of her appreciation, isn't it?"
Zhou Xiaozheng looked up at the expressions of everyone present, and when his wife Lala was about to speak, he said, "Dad, don't mention that money anymore. Just think of it as us husband and wife honoring you. Do you have anything else to do? If not, we'll leave first."
"Hey, don't leave so quickly. You can't just let the money go like this. If you don't accept the items, I'll give all my salary to Shanshan..."
Zhou Xiaozheng didn't wait for him to finish, shook his head and said, "If you still consider me your son-in-law, then stop talking about this. Just keep talking about other things."
Lin Lishan kept pulling him from behind, and he patted her soothingly.
He wanted to pay it back—but did he need to wait for the old man to come forward and ask for it in front of everyone? He hadn't failed to notice Gu Ruyi's unwillingness to bow her head, and neither of the Lin brothers had said a word of agreement. He hoped they wouldn't pay it back. With this handle, his family would have less to do with the Lin family in the future.
Old Master Lin looked at him, hesitant to speak. Seeing his determined expression and Lin Lishan's unhappy face, he could no longer laugh. He winked at his eldest grandson, hoping the child would say a few nice words to ease the situation.
Lin Dingsheng smiled and said, "Uncle, we have to pay this money back. It doesn't make sense for us to borrow money and not pay it back. How can we borrow money from you in the future? Uncle, can you calculate how much we still owe? I think you shouldn't take out grandma's things. I'll pay you back."
Zhou Xiaozheng looked at him playfully when he heard that, then turned his gaze to Old Lady Lin.
He cursed inwardly, "What a fucking way to talk." "Repay the borrowed money? Who said it was borrowed money?" "He's so thick-skinned, and he's so thick-skinned!" "Repay the money?" "Can he afford it?" It wasn't that he looked down on this kid. If the Lin family thought a child like this could shoulder the burden of the Lin family, he figured the old man would die with regret.
Seeing this, Lin Lishan hurriedly said, "Your monthly salary of several dozen yuan is not enough for you to spend, how can you pay me back? Dad, why are you talking to Brother Zheng about the money? My mother asked me to keep it for her, and only my mother can pay me back. Why do I need your salary?" After saying that, she smiled awkwardly and apologetically at Zhou Xiaozheng.
Let alone her nephew paying back the money, even if her brothers from her mother's side all paid it back together, it would take several years. She wasn't stupid; she had secretly asked Zhou Jiao to do the math for her. Forget her salary, even if the family savings were kept in a foreign bank, the interest would be huge. Her wife's Jiao Jiao had already told her privately not to take the money, and not to mention the matter if she could. It would be even worse if she mentioned too much!
Zhou Xiaozheng saw that she was still quick-witted and had exposed the truth with one sentence, and he couldn't help but laugh out loud. His wife had no other advantages, but she was very good at speaking the truth.
As soon as the old man mentioned repaying the money, Li Jianjun immediately grabbed his wife Lin Liying's hand and stared at her, not letting her speak. At this moment, he looked at everyone's expressions and pressed his wife's palm hard again.
He sighed inwardly. Money is alluring. No one had noticed the crux of the conflict between the Lin family and his brother-in-law, Zhou Xiaozheng. And now they were still asking for a loan. Wouldn't that only make them even more angry? Who said it was borrowed money?
He was now skeptical of Lin Dingsheng's character. Who did this kid think was more foolish than him? He couldn't help but remind him that the money was in Zhou Jiao's name. They hadn't asked you to take control of it. You should have returned it to Jiaojiao long ago.
Old Master Lin looked at his son-in-law, Li Jianjun, and winked at him, hoping that he would speak up to smooth things over.
Li Jianjun groaned inwardly. He had rushed here on an empty stomach, and was even involved in this matter. How could it be easy for him? But looking at his father-in-law's graying hair and the sincere look in his eyes, he couldn't help but feel sad.
He cleared his throat, smiled, and said, "Haha... let's not talk about the money for now. Have you forgotten that the money already belongs to Jiaojiao? Dad, apart from Xiaolin's marriage, what else is there?" He didn't dare to say that this was a big happy event. He had not forgotten that Zhou Jiao got married alone.
Upon hearing this, Mr. Lin immediately slapped his forehead and ordered, "Old man, go and call Jiaojiao over. It really takes Jiaojiao to tell it."
Zhou Xiaozheng frowned impatiently and said, "Jiaojiao is home alone taking care of the child, don't go and call her. She'll still say the same thing as me if she comes over. Dad, it's okay, you guys should eat first."
"Where's Xiaowu? It's the same if he comes over."
"Xiaowu went out to meet an old friend and won't be back until tonight. Dad, hurry up. Didn't you say we should split up the family? Does our family still need to split up?" Lin Lishan said to the old man with a curious look on her face.
She really didn't understand why the family had to be divided. Why divide the family if there was no money? Was it just about the debts? So, should she take it or not? At this moment, she immediately frowned at the thought.
Zhou Xiaozheng lowered his head and smiled silently. He really wanted to run away. Still looking for Xiaowu? What would his son-in-law say? I don’t know what the master said.
Is the son simply confused or feigning ignorance? If he really wanted to repay the money, wouldn't he have sold the items and returned them privately? Did he need to ask everyone in the family for advice? Now, he's in a difficult position, isn't he?
Old Master Lin asked with great interest, "Xiaowu has old friends in Beijing? Whose child is this? Have you invited him to visit? Bring him to me when you have time. This kid is really good, he knows people wherever he goes..."
Zhou Xiaozheng immediately looked up at the other person. He narrowed his eyes slightly, stood up and said, "I have something else to do later, so I'll be leaving first. You guys can chat slowly."
Mr. Lin was a little dumbfounded and said quickly: "Don't leave in a hurry. There are still some things that haven't been resolved."
"No, someone is waiting for me." Zhou Xiaozheng said, and walked out of the living room.
After leaving the yard, he ignored his wife who followed closely behind him and walked home. He really didn't expect that the old man had the leisure to take care of his own affairs even in such a state.
He walked all the way home, and as soon as he arrived at the door, he saw his daughter Zhou Jiao waiting there with a smile on her face, and his mood immediately improved.
He smiled and said, "Your grandfather wanted you to come over, but I pushed him away. I'll probably talk to you about money again in the future."
Zhou Jiao snorted, glanced at Lin Lishan not far behind, and whispered, "No matter how good the words are, actions are worse! Wouldn't it be better to just pay back the money if you really want to? You really think everyone else is a fool. Gu Ruyi swallowed it, but she's willing to spit it out?"
Zhou Xiaozheng and his daughter came to the living room. He took the tea Zhou Jiao handed him and looked at his wife, who looked confused. Finally, he decided to talk about what happened tonight so that they would have a clear mind.
From the old lady's appearance, Mr. Lin's reaction, the two brothers-in-law of the Lin family remaining silent about the repayment, to Lin Dingsheng's clever excuse of borrowing money and repaying it, he narrated the story objectively, without a trace of emotion.
Zhou Jiao remained calm after hearing this. Unlike Lin Lishan, who kept complaining and regretting, she had anticipated this outcome. She simply wanted to confirm once again whether anyone in the Lin family, besides Gu Ruyi, had any moral integrity.
It was good that she now understood the Lin family's true colors. She wasn't as easygoing as her father—if you really asked her, she would calculate every penny. What right did the Lin family have to spend the Zhou family's money?
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