Zhao Yunxiang felt annoyed with Zhou Chunping and the others, so she used the term "your family" instead of "our family". She didn't know if Zhou Zhixin was worried about something, as he didn't even notice it at the moment.
From the time Zhou Yuanyuan fell into a coma until now, Zhao Yunxiang knew most of what happened to Zhou Zhixin that night. These days, Zhao Yunxiang has been extremely angry whenever she thought of how Zhou Zhixin was "treated" by Zhou Chunping and his son.
In Zhao Yunxiang's view, Zhou Chunping's family were ruthless and heartless. If you get close to them, you can't be sure they'll plot against you at any moment. Zhou Zhixin was lucky to have escaped this time. Zhao Yunxiang, just thinking about the thrill of that night, wanted to stay away from Zhou Chunping's family, and it would be best if she never had any contact with them again.
"Yunxiang, they... they are my parents after all..." When Zhou Zhixin said these words, he found it difficult to open his mouth.
Could anyone else in the world harm their own sons? Zhou Zhixin didn't know, but he was certain he wouldn't. Yuanyuan and Jiasheng were both treasures in his heart, and Zhou Zhixin would rather be hurt than let his children suffer. After all, he was the man of the family, and no matter how big or difficult the task, he was the one who took the helm. Zhou Zhixin also wanted to ignore Zhou Chunping's family, but that was simply impossible in the countryside.
Despite Zhou Chunping's treatment, Zhou Zhixin couldn't bear to see him as such. In rural areas, "family" was a powerful concept, deeply ingrained in everyone's minds. If elders threatened to kill younger ones, it was because they weren't fulfilling their responsibilities. However, younger generations couldn't be disrespectful to their elders. In the eyes of the masses, filial piety was the most important principle in the world.
These are deeply ingrained beliefs, unwritten and faithfully followed by generations. Even if Zhou Zhixin had spoken out about the plot against Zhou Chunping and his men and asked the villagers to judge, they would likely have responded with something like, "There's no such thing as an overnight grudge between a father and a son."
Although Zhou Chunping is a black-hearted person, as long as he is still labeled as "Zhou Zhixin's father", Zhou Zhixin cannot stand up and accuse him in public. Otherwise, not only will Zhou Zhixin be accused of being unfilial, but the lives of Zhao Yunxiang and her son will also be affected by Zhou Zhixin and they will be ostracized by everyone.
This was the biggest reason Zhou Zhixin decided to compromise. He preferred to suffer himself rather than let his wife and children live under the contempt of others. This is also the sorrow of many people in China for thousands of years. Blind "filial piety," indiscriminate "filial piety," is the very breeding ground for cancers like Zhou Chunping.
Zhou Zhixin also once doubted his own background. Why had Wu Jinfeng always been so unfriendly to him since he was a child?
In this era, many families were short of food and clothing, and it was not uncommon for them to abandon their newborn babies in order to keep the whole family alive.
Zhou Zhixin felt that regardless of whether he was Zhou Chunping's biological son or not, he should be grateful to Zhou Chunping and his family for raising him. In those days, families couldn't even raise their own children, so the fact that Zhou Chunping and his family had raised him was a great favor in itself.
If he was really adopted by Zhou Chunping from outside, was it because his family abandoned him?
Whenever he thought of this, Zhou Zhixin didn't dare to think about it any further. He would rather retain a little hope, hoping that he was not a child abandoned by his parents, so that he could go and find the truth.
Zhao Yunxiang was very disappointed. She couldn't understand why Zhou Zhixin could still think of Zhou Chunping as his father at this point. Is there really a father in the world who would kill his own son?
In ancient times, there was a man named Nezha. His father threatened to kill him, but Nezha, in order to sever ties with his father, even cut off his flesh to return to his mother and removed his bones to return to his father! After that thrilling night, Zhao Yunxiang felt that Zhou Zhixin had already returned his life to Zhou Chunping. Why couldn't he be a little tougher and sever ties with Zhou Chunping?
If I break off relations with Zhou Chunping, there will undoubtedly be gossip. However, people don't just live for themselves or for a hollow reputation. Do I really have to wait until my entire life, and the lives of my children, are ruined before I realize this?
Zhao Yunxiang recalled her nightmare, and the events of the dream had begun to play out in real life. Zhou Zhixin, who was nearly beaten to death, and the early morning encounter at Widow He's house, caught him in adultery—all of it was like an invisible rope tightly wrapped around Zhao Yunxiang's neck, terrified and choking her.
Zhao Yunxiang could foresee that if they pretended this incident had never happened, if they continued to get along with Zhou Chunping's family, the dream might one day become reality. No! She didn't want that. She didn't want her children to have such a tragic end in the future!
"Zhixin, I know you can't let go of them. No wonder, they are "your" parents." When Zhao Yunxiang spoke, she deliberately emphasized the word "you".
Zhou Zhixin opened his mouth and wanted to defend himself.
Zhao Yunxiang waved her hand, signaling Zhou Zhixin not to speak and to listen to her first.
"You've been very good to me over the years. I thought we could grow old together." Zhao Yunxiang's expression was filled with sadness. She didn't want to talk about these things with Zhou Zhixin today, but Zhou Zhixin would be returning to the army in a few days. Their marriage was a military marriage, and without Zhou Zhixin's consent, Zhao Yunxiang would have no chance of divorcing him. Zhao Yunxiang planned to use these few days to persuade Zhou Zhixin.
"Yunxiang, what are you talking about?" As expected, Zhou Zhixin was shocked. He had never thought of making a choice between his parents and his wife. Couldn't they just get along well with each other like before?
"Zhixin, you know it's all a lie, how can you still get along with them? I can't." Zhao Yunxiang sniffed, fighting back tears, and said, "Yuanyuan was unconscious the night she was rescued from the pond. I sat by her bed for most of the night, and none of your family members came to see our child. Your parents didn't even say a word of justice. I endured it."
"The day you came back, your mother went to town to report me for speculation and wanted me to go to jail, but I put up with it." Zhao Yunxiang was really furious, and her words were merciless: "This time, your father and your brothers wanted to beat you to death, and you put up with it, but I couldn't! Living under the same roof with a family like that, I'm afraid my children and I will die at any moment."
"Yunxiang, no, I will protect you. They won't dare." Zhou Zhixin's heart tightened as he listened to Zhao Yunxiang's increasingly sharp words. He knew Zhao Yunxiang didn't get angry easily, but by the time she did, many things were already irreversible.
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