Different from her previous visit, this time when the family reunited, Lin Lishan no longer wanted to take care of the daily necessities of life at home, nor the social interactions that gave her a headache.
The next morning, as soon as Zhou Xiaozheng left, she immediately handed over the household affairs to Zhou Jiao and happily rushed to work. Zhou Jiao looked at her graceful back and had no choice but to take over.
Fortunately, the Zhou family was small, and the interpersonal relationships were not complicated. With the guidance of Old Lady Cheng and the help of Aunt Chen and other staff, she was able to take on the position easily.
After that, she was busy taking care of her family's three meals a day, busy taking care of her father's health, busy entertaining relatives and friends, and had already forgotten about the Lin family.
Old Mrs. Lin, who was thinking about her, had been counting the days since she learned that Zhou Jiao and his wife had really been admitted to university, and she was looking forward to their return to Beijing day and night.
Finally, she heard that they had returned to the compound. She waited anxiously for a whole day, but they never came to visit her. Finally, she became discouraged and hurriedly asked her husband to send someone to pick up Zhou Jiao.
Old Master Lin knew it all. He didn't have any secret recipe, and even if he did, he wouldn't share it. Forced into a corner by her, he could only turn to his youngest daughter, Lin Liying.
After get off work, Lin Liying rode her bike back to her parents' home with a tired look on her face.
Along the way, she kept thinking about what the old man had to send someone over personally. Ever since the two sisters-in-law moved in, her house had become a mess.
After finally arriving at her mother's house, Lin Liying observed the old man's complexion and breathed a sigh of relief. "Dad, is there something urgent? Wait a moment, I'll go see Mom first."
Mr. Lin motioned for her to sit down, "Your mother is still here. Please sit with me for a while."
After Lin Liying sat down, she saw that the old man hadn't said anything. She couldn't help but ask, "Dad, if you have anything to say, just say it. Are you not used to living here? Why don't you move back?"
The old man pointed to the inner room and said, "Your mother doesn't want to go back to the compound, so she'll stay here for a while. Have you made arrangements for your two sisters-in-law?"
Lin Liying nodded. With one of them working part-time and the other attending school, there wasn't much she could do. She didn't want her father to worry about her family's affairs; every family has its own problems.
"I heard Jiaojiao and the others are back. Have you seen her?"
Lin Liying slapped her forehead and said in frustration, "I haven't been to my eldest sister's house for quite a while, and I actually forgot that Jiaojiao's registration time is almost up. She might even come back early."
The old man glanced at her with disdain. What are you busy with all the time?
Lin Liying glanced at him cautiously, "Dad, when did they arrive? My eldest sister and the others haven't come yet? They might come to see you after they finish their work."
Old Master Lin chuckled twice, "You also said you came to see me. But your mother doesn't know that she has been excluded from her family, and she is so anxious to see Jiaojiao. What do you think is going on?"
Lin Liying frowned and whispered, "My mother still thinks Jiaojiao has a secret recipe? Didn't the prescription she gave me before say it was from the Huang family? Where did she get the prescription for treating stroke?"
"Alas...you should go to the compound and ask her, so that your mother will give up. I think your mother has other intentions, so don't let them come. Just say I will be back to the compound in a few days."
Lin Liying sighed, "I'll go over tonight." Then she remembered something, "Dad, my second brother should retire from the army. He can get a better job if he returns early."
Mr. Lin hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "I'll consider it. I'll let him come back when the opportunity is right."
Lin Liying didn't know what to say. Her mother still wasn't giving up on her second brother. If she wanted to change her job, she would have returned long ago. This matter really wasn't something that could be decided by the old man alone.
At this time, there was a sound in the room. Lin Liying hurried in and saw that the old lady had woken up and was pointing at the small notebook with her hand.
"Tell her to come see me immediately!"
Lin Liying knew who she was referring to without asking. She sat down beside the old lady's bed, grabbed her right hand, and seeing her anxious face, she had no choice but to coax her.
After coaxing her for a long time, Mrs. Lin still pointed at the paper.
"Mom, I'll definitely go to my eldest sister's house tonight. Don't worry, she might not be home if you go now. Don't worry that she won't give you the prescription. I've already asked someone to contact Old Lady Zhou privately, and we'll have news soon."
Lin Liying had no choice but to coax her. She was a doctor herself, and she didn't believe in any secret remedies for stroke. If there were, the Zhou family would have prospered long ago, wouldn't they still need to stay in the countryside? It was all just the old lady's imagination. As her eldest brother had said, the old lady wouldn't feel comfortable until she'd done some hard work.
Lin Liying began to doubt the old lady's motives. Was she deliberately spreading rumors to make others suspect Zhou Jiao and thus take revenge on her and her daughter? Otherwise, with the old lady's shrewdness, how could she come up with such an outrageous thing?
There were some things that she, as a daughter, couldn't say. But Zhou Xiaozheng and his daughter weren't fools, and she didn't believe that if she had thought of this, they wouldn't have.
Seeing that she was still angry, Lin Liying sighed secretly. Some things can't be just your idea, it also depends on whether the other party accepts it.
"Okay, don't be angry, I'll be there right away. Is there anything else? Take your time writing it down and I'll take care of it."
Old Mrs. Lin wanted to smile with satisfaction, but soon found that she was powerless. She scratched the paper with a pen in frustration, and then carved deeply on it - let them come over immediately.
Seeing this, Lin Liying couldn't quite describe her feelings. There was sadness, but mostly a mixture of laughter and tears. She couldn't even invite Zhou Jiao, and she wanted Zhou Xiaozheng to come. Where did she get the ability?
She looked at the old lady with sorrow. She was still so self-righteous, so self-righteous. The saddest thing was that she didn't even dare to visit Zhou's house in person. If she felt guilty, why couldn't she figure it out? Why wouldn't she just stop?
"Okay. I'll convey your intention. I'll go over first." Lin Liying didn't say the implication, but she believed the old lady could hear it - she was going, and there was nothing she could do about whether she would come or not.
After leaving the retirement home and reaching the intersection, Lin Liying hesitated for a moment, then hurried home to get her pass. Without even saying a word to her sister-in-law and children, she pushed her bike out the door.
"Sister-in-law, where are you going? Eat something first before you leave."
She heard her sister-in-law's call from behind. Lin Liying said, "I'll eat when I come back." She no longer cared about her rumbling stomach and hurried to the compound.
In the living room, Lin Lishan and Zhang Guoqing were laughing together when they were chatting about something funny. Zhou Xiaozheng and his daughter Zhou Jiao were playing chess. I smiled along with them, and Xiao Ping'an was busy building a "house" next to them.
The family was having a great time. At this moment, Lin Liying came in with Aunt Chen.
"Oh, I'm starving. Sister, is there anything to eat at home? Give me something quickly."
Lin Lishan asked Aunt Chen to get her something to eat and looked at her curiously, "Why haven't you eaten yet? Are you in such a hurry to come here for something?"
"Oh... don't mention it. I just came back from Dad's place. Jiaojiao, when did you and Xiaowu arrive? Why didn't you go to visit your grandpa? He misses you so much and wants you to visit him."
Zhou Jiao looked up and exchanged glances with her father, and the father and daughter smiled at each other.
Seeing her daughter smiling but not replying, Lin Lishan said with a smile, "She just arrived the night before yesterday and has been busy until now. It's still not done. I'll go see Dad when he returns to the compound. The retirement home is too far, so I didn't let her run back and forth in such hot weather."
Zhou Jiao lowered her head and continued playing chess.
Seeing this, Lin Liying glanced at the father and daughter who were playing chess with their heads down, then looked at Zhang Guoqing, said hello to her, and immediately left to accompany her child.
She felt upset and glared at Lin Lishan, "The child is afraid of heat, and you are afraid of heat too? How long has it been since you last visited your mother? My father called me back today, and I'm sweating all over and hungry."
"You know the old lady doesn't want to see me. Why did Dad ask you to go back?"
When Zhou Jiao heard this, she looked at her father sympathetically, but was patted on the head by Zhou Xiaozheng and finally behaved herself.
"The old lady wants to see Jiaojiao and wants you to come over."
Lin Lishan looked at her unhappily, "Is this another prescription? Let her rest. Our Jiaojiao only learned a few basic skills from Old Madam Zhou, so where did she get the prescription?"
Zhou Jiao heard the voice, and it seemed that she was also involved. She really didn't know about this. Then she looked at her father and saw him nod. She smiled slightly and continued playing chess.
What's the remedy? She's used to using covert tactics, and now she's trying to shift the blame to Jiangdong and trap her?
Lin Liying was too lazy to argue with her elder sister. She shouted at Zhou Jiao, "Jiaojiao, can you just take a prescription and go see your grandma?"
Zhou Jiao subconsciously frowned—it was truly disturbing. Then she looked up and smiled, "Auntie, there's no need for me to go, and no need for any messy prescriptions. I have a good idea. Have the old lady practice in front of a mirror every day. It can heal both the illness and the mind. Over time, she'll naturally recover."
Lin Liying said angrily, "What nonsense are you talking about? Get up and go with your aunt."
Zhou Jiao waved her hand to signal her mother not to interrupt. She glanced at Lin Liying and said, "You should understand what your mother means. Grandpa won't let me go."
After saying that, she didn't want to say another word and lowered her head to continue playing chess.
There are always some people in this world who think they are in charge. She, Zhou Jiao, doesn't want to pay attention to them, but they always jump in front of her. Genetics are indeed crucial. Where does this so-called aunt get her confidence from? Why would she just follow her?
Give it some face and start coloring!
Ever since she got the news from Cheng Ruzhu the day before yesterday, whenever she thought of Zhang Guoqing being besieged and maliciously insulted by the Lin family in the ward that day, it was already a good thing she didn't take action. How dare he even come to disgust her?
"What are you thinking about, kid? The old man is sick and says he misses you, so it's only courtesy for you to go visit him. Why are you thinking so much? Besides..."
Zhou Xiaozheng stared at Lin Liying with a cold expression until she stopped talking out of guilt. He raised the corner of his lips playfully, "You're concerned about the wrong person. My Jiaojiao's last name is Zhou."
The implication is, who do you think you are? When did it become your turn as an outsider like Zhou to jump around and teach my child a lesson?
Lin Liying certainly heard it, and she quickly argued, "Brother-in-law, you misunderstood, I'm not..."
"Okay, it's time for you to go home. Aunt Chen, please see you out." After saying that, Zhou Xiaozheng touched Zhou Jiao's head, handed her the fruit plate, and continued playing chess.
Aunt Chen stood in front of the father and daughter with a fierce look on her face. Lin Liying stamped her feet in frustration and turned to leave. She had never expected to be kicked out.
Aunt Chen came in after a while, glanced at Lin Lishan who was still dumbfounded, and informed Zhou Xiaozheng that the other party had left home.
Zhou Xiaozheng nodded and instructed: "From now on, when anyone from the Lin family comes to visit except the old man, you can find any excuse to send them away."
Aunt Chen nodded in agreement, and when she saw that she had nothing to do, she hurried out. Returning to the yard, she patted her chest, thankful that she didn't blame herself for not letting anyone in.
"No wonder I always feel like something's wrong. I was wondering why the old lady always smashes the cup when she sees me, and tries to get over me with her eyes. My dad even says I'm overthinking it. But what good can a prescription do?"
Zhou Xiaozheng snorted. "The prescription is secondary, but the subsequent suspicion she aroused is her real purpose. Do you think the prescription she conjured out of thin air was meant for someone named Huang, not someone named Gu?"
Zhou Xiaozheng might misunderstand Gu Ruyi tomorrow. But since many things involve his daughter, he must use the greatest malice to weigh the other party.
That old woman was poisonous to the core, so he had to give up his wife's affection so that she would be more careful and not bring all the stinky things from the Lin family home.
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