The night before leaving, Zhou Xiaozheng took Zhou Jiao to the Shikumen in private and again asked the elderly couple to follow him. After being rejected, he could only return with regret.
When they set out, the troops split into two groups. After seeing off Zhao Chuangguang and his wife who were heading to the Northeast, the group set out on their return journey.
When she returned home, she learned that Mr. Lin had returned from his business trip. She had to deal with what needed to be dealt with, so Zhou Jiao arrived at the Lin family's gate that evening, carrying gifts.
"Are you back? Why are you two here? Why didn't you bring your children?" Grandpa Lin happily pulled the two of them to sit down and asked them several questions in a row.
Zhou Jiao noticed that Mrs. Lin and the others were not there and paused. Seeing that Zhang Guoqing had already started chatting with the old man, she did not ask.
"Your grandma had another minor illness a few days ago and is still in the sanatorium. How was your trip to Jiangnan this time?"
Zhang Guoqing didn't mention visiting the patient and changed the subject: "That's all. Grandpa, how was your trip to Province G this time? Is the weather there very hot now? I heard there are many varieties of fruits there."
Mr. Lin shook his head when he heard this.
Zhang Guoqing pretended not to see him and shook his head, then picked up the teacup with a smile.
"I brought some fruit with me this time. You can take some back and try them later. How long will you be staying this time? Has Jiaojiao met your cousin?"
Zhou Jiao laughed and said, "My dad took me away as soon as I got here, and I just came back today. I haven't seen them yet. How come they haven't come back yet?"
"The hospital called to say there's a new movie showing tonight, so they went there early this morning. They'll be back later, so why don't you go look for them there?"
Zhou Jiao thought to herself: How bored must she be to go looking for someone in person? But it was a good excuse to leave. She glanced at Zhang Guoqing.
"Grandpa, I'll take Jiaojiao there first." Seeing this, Zhang Guoqing stood up and said goodbye.
After watching Zhang Guoqing and his wife leave, Mr. Lin hesitated for a while. When he came to the intersection, he found that there were no lights on in the Cheng family's house, but the Zhou family's house was brightly lit. He shook his head.
He returned to the living room and told his aunt to go with him to his son-in-law's house with a basket of fruit.
Zhang Guoqing and his companions had no idea that Old Master Lin had returned. Fortunately, although they were too lazy to pay attention to the three Lin sisters, they did not go home, otherwise they would have been exposed.
After leaving the compound, the couple strolled along the streets. Whenever they came across a crowded place, they would stand by and listen to the gossips of the old men.
The gossip these old men tell may not be very appealing, but when they make fun of people, every word they say is really hilarious. They can be funny and talkative! A whole bunch of Kanyes!
After hearing the fun, I laughed along with everyone else.
The two continued to wander the alleys. There were tall trees, bright lights, and old people and children gathered together to gossip about the neighbors and where to find bargains, their conversations revolving around daily life.
After listening to stories about family and outside, and drinking the big bowl of tea poured by the enthusiastic lady, I thanked everyone.
The two of them walked through the alley and came to the street, bought some toys for the children, and went home happily.
When he came back and stood outside the yard, Zhang Guoqing heard the conversation inside and smiled at Zhou Jiao.
Zhou Jiao smiled helplessly. After entering, she said hello to Mr. Lin and the others, left Zhang Guoqing alone, took the child from Aunt Chen, and slipped back to her room.
After feeding the child and washing him, Zhou Jiao played with him and listened to his happy laughter. She forgot about the Lin family.
When Lin Lishan came in, she saw her daughter and grandson lying on the bed stacking blocks - the colorful wooden blocks drawn by Zhang Guoqing were standing tall under Zhou Jiao's stacking. At this moment, Zhou Jiao held the child's hands and tried to stack a wooden duck on top of them.
She happily waited for the collapse...
Ping An was so anxious that he grabbed the wooden block and screamed. Seeing this, the unscrupulous mother and daughter burst into laughter.
Lin Lishan took the wooden blocks and quickly stacked them together, comforting the little guy, "Okay, it will be fine soon. Let's not let it fall this time, okay?"
Ping An mumbled an okay and stretched out his little hand to grab something, but Zhou Jiao patted it. He immediately opened his eyes and looked at Zhou Jiao. Seeing her smiling face, he quickly climbed into her arms.
"You little rascal." Zhou Jiao scolded with a smile, rubbing the child's head.
She looked at Lin Lishan and asked in confusion, “Mom, why didn’t you come here with grandpa?”
"I'm not interested in what they're talking about. I have to go to work again tomorrow and won't have time to take you out. Do you want to go somewhere? I want to see if I can sneak out."
Zhou Jiao laughed when she heard this, "Mom, do you want to go shopping and are you making up an excuse?"
"What nonsense are you talking about?" After saying that, Lin Lishan laughed.
After joking, Zhou Jiao asked about Lin Xuelin.
Lin Lishan frowned slightly and shook her head. "Something happened on the man's side, and Xiaolin took it upon herself to postpone the wedding to May Day. There's been no movement on May Day yet, and I don't know what that means. I just came back and haven't received any news yet. Your aunt will come over tomorrow to find out the exact wedding date."
Zhou Jiao asked softly, "So, is grandma going to the sanatorium to hide?"
Hearing this, Lin Lishan smiled and nodded. She didn't say that this was only part of the reason. The main reason was the discord between the two families. With her husband in a high position, the old lady couldn't bear to see the Zhou family outperform the Lin family, and she deeply hated Jiaojiao and his daughter.
But how could she say these words? Now the old lady faced her alone, asking her to help transfer her second brother back while saying all kinds of unpleasant things.
She has a temper, doesn't she? That's her husband and her biological daughter. If that's the case, it's better to have less contact. Anyway, we'll be moving to Xishan in two years, and the two families will be far apart.
Lin Lishan wasn't good at hiding her thoughts, and as her expression changed, how could Zhou Jiao not see it? But Gu Ruyi was a thorn in her side, so she could only pretend she didn't know.
"Jiaojiao, was Wang Dawei transferred back by your father?" Lin Lishan couldn't help but ask. She didn't believe her mother, but after seeing her at the birthday party last time, she had some doubts.
Zhou Jiao sighed deeply. Provoking someone doesn't require skill, but it's a shame to say too much. This dark-minded old woman really has every trick up her sleeve. There were some things Zhou Jiao hadn't intended to say, but actions wouldn't cut it.
"Grandma told you? Do you think my dad has that much power? Can Grandpa transfer my second uncle back? Uncle Wang's time in the Northwest, his achievements, and his personal abilities are all beyond my second uncle's reach. If it were a vote, my dad would probably vote for him. If you think my dad was instrumental in transferring him back to Beijing, that's ridiculous. Don't forget how long my dad has been back? How many superiors does he have?"
Mom, do you think Uncle Wang has a very good relationship with my dad and godfather?"
Lin Lishan listened to Zhou Jiao's words and felt that they made sense. How could it be so easy to transfer someone back home? If it were so easy, her father would have transferred his son back long ago.
"Yeah. You have a point. I also think it's impossible. Your dad can't even take care of himself, so how could he have the time and connections to help Wang Dawei. Your grandma is just suspicious. But, Jiaojiao, your dad does treat them better than he does your two uncles."
Her mother was truly a living treasure. Zhou Jiao suppressed a smile and said, "Don't you understand my dad's personality? Why is he so close to them? Uncle Guang, you don't need me to tell you, right? There are many things my dad and I don't want to tell you, for fear that you'll be sad and embarrassed. Those uncles have sent me things for the past seventeen years, and they were all sent to the Lin family."
Lin Lishan's eyes widened as she stared at Zhou Jiao in disbelief. "Could it be that you made a mistake? Are you sure those were sent to you? Did they say so themselves?"
Zhou Jiao lowered her head and raised the corners of her mouth sarcastically.
What's so strange? What's so unbelievable? Mother! Mother? Haha... Aside from her biological father, Zhou Xiaozheng, which blood relative in both lives hadn't treated her like a piece of trash?
Zhou Jiao treated her mother sincerely. Unfortunately, the mother in front of her still didn't trust her when it came to the Lin family, a family she cared about deeply. She even doubted the credibility of her father and daughter. This was fate, she couldn't force it!
Zhou Jiao didn't want to say more, and she was too lazy to say it, but she didn't want to hide the truth anymore. She was worried that Lin Lishan would be embarrassed, but so what? If you dare to do it, you must dare to lose face!
"Uncle Wang gave my package to your second brother every year, and he and his wife readily agreed to pass it on! Uncle Wang has never mentioned it to us, let alone revealed the actual amount, but my dad found out through a friend - your second brother and his wife swallowed most of it, and sent a small amount to me in their own name;
You know that my godfather has been mistaking Lin Xuelin for seventeen years. But who ever explained it to me during my two visits to Beijing? Did your sister-in-law ask Lin Xuelin to apologize to me? Could it be that your eldest brother, after all this time back, still hasn't heard of it?
The remaining uncles followed my godfather's lead, sending packages for seventeen years. I spent last year in Beijing, long enough, wasn't it? Didn't anyone from your mother's family mention it?
Now do you know why my dad is so polite to those people like my godfather? He owes them too much.
After a while, Lin Lishan asked, "Jiaojiao, tell me the truth. Do you hate us after knowing all this?"
Zhou Jiao looked at her immediately after hearing this, "When you say we, do you mean you are included?"
Seeing her daughter's eyes, Lin Lishan's heart suddenly moved. She quickly shook her head and said, "No! Mom knows you protect me and never blame me. I want to know, do you hate your grandma and the others?"
"Hate? Mom, do you know what hate is? I never hate anyone! What do I hate about the old lady? Do I hate that she plans to swallow up the property my father left me? Or do I hate that she wishes my father and I would die? What's the point of hating?"
"Jiaojiao, you can't think like that? You are your grandma's biological granddaughter. How could she want you and your daughter to die? Don't say certain things carelessly. Your father will be angry if he hears it." Lin Lishan hurriedly advised.
Zhou Jiao closed her eyes tightly. She could hear Lin Lishan nagging about how good Old Madam Lin was. She thought of her own grandparents, who had met with misfortune, and the Gu family's ancestral tomb where her murdered great-grandfather was buried. Waves of rage surged from her heart, but she suppressed them with all her might.
I heard Lin Lishan say again that Gu Ruyi gave birth to her, and she gave birth to Zhou Jiao, and they were the closest relatives in the world.
Zhou Jiao opened her red eyes and shouted hoarsely, "Don't mention Gu Ruyi in my ear. What do you know? Gu Ruyi's family poisoned my great-grandfather to death, colluded with bandits to force my grandparents away, caused my grandparents to die young, and almost killed my father. How many lives are owed? Can you count them?"
There was a sound of "thump" falling to the ground outside, mixed with Cheng Lao's exclamation, which interrupted Zhou Jiao's unfinished words and also woke her up.
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