In the living room, Old Mrs. Cheng took the tea brought by Aunt Chen, took a sip, and looked up at Zhou Jiao and her son with hesitation.
Zhou Jiao was a little surprised when she saw this: "Aunt, is there anything else you can't tell me directly?"
The old lady smiled and shook her head.
"Something happened at home?"
"No. Do you have any plans to visit Old Man Lin before the New Year?"
Zhou Jiao frowned slightly. Even her aunt felt sympathy for her? Was she being too much? But she didn't feel that way at all.
"Jiaojiao, those in power shouldn't give others a reason to criticize you. You should think about this more when you have time. Especially Xiaowu, he must not give others a reason to criticize him."
Zhou Jiao glanced at her thoughtfully: "Did someone say something in front of you? Or did Mr. Lin say something outside?"
The old lady looked at her with admiration and smiled. "When that kid from the Miao family showed up, it was natural for people outside to gossip about him. Regardless of their motives, as time goes by, everyone will naturally miss the past and remember the kindness of Old Man Lin. There's a sense of grief for the rabbit, but there are also other factors."
Zhou Jiao gently patted her son in her arms and looked outside in a trance.
"Plus, that woman Gu Ruyi has taken all the blame, which makes Old Man Lin appear innocent in the eyes of the world. The Lin family is declining, while you are a loving father and a filial son, and your life is thriving. Some people will remember how he doted on and protected your mother in the past."
Zhou Jiao understood that this was another bout of jealousy. She had recently made a great contribution by killing a gangster, and these past few days, she had been following those important figures around every day, and some people were getting restless.
"The grace of giving birth and raising a child is inherently different. Morality and public opinion are a double-edged sword, so we must be more cautious in what we say and do."
Old Lady Cheng patted her comfortingly as she spoke. Given the child's temperament, she was likely completely unhappy. Being too straightforward or too stubborn wasn't good. Her temper was just like her older sister's. She hated being threatened and refused to bow to anyone.
"Especially Xiaowu, he has to go see Old Man Lin. No matter what the old man's intentions are, he has been very nice to Xiaowu over the years."
Zhou Jiao understood the meaning of this statement very well. Wasn't it just that someone was beginning to imply that Zhang Guoqing was ungrateful? It was a pity that she couldn't go out and compete with others. Otherwise, she really had to ask herself how much advantage her man had taken.
All of this couldn't be separated from the secret push from Mr. Lin. She really couldn't understand why she thought that just because she visited, the relationship between the two families would be reconciled?
Thinking of that face that looked like Grandpa Zhang, Zhou Jiao felt a fire burning inside her. Because she thought of Zhang Guoqing's temper, she thought that he might really take advantage of her.
Mrs. Cheng saw that her expression remained unchanged and she could not tell what she was thinking. She could only talk to her about the profound topic of human nature.
"It's said that after your mother went to see him the other day, he ate two bowls of rice and boasted to his old friends about how wonderful his eldest daughter was. Lately, he's been constantly talking about how smart you are, and even making bets with others about whose granddaughter will be more promising."
Zhou Jiao smiled bitterly to herself: This was exposing herself to the world. If she appeared before him, his words would become reality. If she didn't appear, he would become even more pitiful, and she would be in a difficult position.
She didn't believe that Mr. Lin had much love for her. How could someone who abandoned his own granddaughter care about a granddaughter who wasn't related by blood? You must be kidding!
Unfortunately, even though people understand the truth behind this, they are still not afraid of the fire and are busy adding fuel to the fire. Am I really going to fall into the trap he set?
Zhou Jiao narrowed her eyes at the thought. Was she living for other people's gossip and ridiculous social conventions?
Zhou Jiao internally despised herself—she'd almost wavered! He made a move, and she was supposed to respond? Who said that?
"Mother?"
Zhou Jiao glanced at the children who ran into the yard, smiled and patted him: "Go, ask Grandma Chen to come over and help you. Don't quarrel with your friends, and ask Grandma Chen to help you with anything you need."
Xiao Ping'an smiled and nodded, said hello to the old lady, and rushed out of the living room.
Zhou Jiao watched him run away, smiled and shook her head.
"Son, what do you think? Do you want to discuss this with your dad?"
Zhou Jiao shook her head again: "My dad is extremely busy, so it's better not to bother him with these trivial matters. Didn't my mom go to see him last time?"
The old lady thought about it and nodded in agreement. "Indeed, your father has enough to worry about at work. So when do you plan to go? Do you want me to help you prepare things?"
Zhou Jiao looked at the old lady with amusement: "Aunt, where did I say I wanted to go?"
"ah?"
"Do you think I'd be controlled by others? If the old man didn't have so many tricks, I would have gone to visit even a stranger, a hero, but now..."
Zhou Jiao said sternly, "I don't want to! I'm not happy about it! No matter what those people outside say, if they dare to show up in front of me and say one more word, just wait and see."
The old lady was shocked by the domineering tone in her words. This child looks so much like her grandmother!
"If politics is such a servile path, I'd rather not pursue it. If personal relationships can replace rules and regulations, then what's the point of the law? I'm being led around by the nose by Old Master Lin, and now what?"
Zhou Jiao asked calmly, "Have the two families reconciled as he wished? Then who will give justice to my parents for the injustice they have suffered? At this point, who has given my Zhou family an explanation? Regardless of whether the Lin family has done my mother any favors, I, Zhou Jiao, have never received any favors. I have a clear conscience!"
Now that she's speaking out, Zhou Jiao doesn't intend to hide her thoughts: "I don't trust Mr. Lin. If I could have trusted him at all back then, after all these things came out, I'm extremely disappointed in him."
Mrs. Cheng knew the talks had fallen through. She didn't want her child to suffer any injustice, so she was thinking about how to get some clarity out to others.
Zhou Jiao understood everything when she saw her expression.
She gently advised, "Let's just let the Lin family's affairs pass. Just ignore it. If someone asks, just pretend you don't know. If pressed, just reply, 'Did the Zhou family's door block his legs?'"
The old lady laughed: "Aren't you afraid that he will really come to your house?"
"Just come here. Do you think we should welcome you with a parade? What a hassle."
"You kid..."
Zhou Jiao smiled and stood up: "Let's eat at home tonight. I'll cook some dishes that Aunt Master likes."
"No, the aunt at home should have cooked it." Seeing that the matter had been discussed, Mrs. Cheng stood up and prepared to go home.
Seeing this, Zhou Jiao saw her out and said as she walked, "Then I won't keep you here anymore. I'll cook the food and send it over later. Please eat slowly."
"Don't bother, leave some food for the child. It's so cold on the road, it would be a shame if he fell."
Zhou Jiao didn't argue, she would just take her there when the time came. She walked her all the way to the intersection, watched her leave, and then went home.
On the way, she met a few old ladies and they greeted each other. She didn't see anything unusual about them. Zhou Jiao guessed that the old ladies who came to talk to her were probably the ones from the Jiang family!
Unfortunately, she guessed wrong...
When Mrs. Cheng returned home, Mr. Cheng had already come home from get off work. When he saw his husband come in, he looked at her expression, hoping to see something.
When the auntie returned to the kitchen, the old lady shook her head and said, "No hope! You guessed it right."
"Yeah. Just let her know about it. The result is not important. This child has started to walk in the open. She knows when to deal with some things and won't panic."
The old couple had been married for half of their lives and they understood each other very well. After they finished speaking, they looked at each other and smiled.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
