"You know what's going on in your heart." Zhao Zhenzhu sighed and said, "In this family, I'm an outsider, and you're not much better off. Compared to your older brothers, your son is like an adopted child."
"Pearl, do you feel the same way? I feel the same way too. Sometimes I don't even feel like my parents' biological son. From childhood to adulthood, I've never been favored by my parents, and my treatment of my older brothers and sisters... is far inferior." Zhou Bingchen recalled the past, his face somber.
"You know what's going on in your heart. Don't be so naive. Just because your parents say a few nice words, you want to treat them with all your heart." Zhao Zhenzhu said calmly, "Regarding that allowance, I didn't mean to spend your money. I just felt it was too unfair, so I told you. But you thought I was taking money from your mother and told me not to argue with her."
"Pearl, I was wrong about that." Zhou Bingchen said, his face full of shame.
Perhaps it was because I lacked love as a child.
After Zhou Bingchen went to the army, every time he came home, Zhou Fugui and Ding Ermei would praise him for being successful.
Before he had this dream, Zhou Bingchen always thought that if he sent money home, his parents would know how good he was and would genuinely like him.
"Forget it, let's not talk about the past. Before you leave this time, you need to talk to your family about how your monthly pension can't be paid by you alone. It has to be split equally between the first and second wives. Otherwise, I won't stand for it," Zhao Zhenzhu said, giving Zhou Bingchen a sidelong glance.
"Yes, I know." Zhou Bingchen nodded in agreement.
Zhao Zhenzhu did not speak again.
Zhou Bingchen doesn't easily agree to things, but if he does, he will do it.
"Pearl, there's something I think I should tell you..."
After hesitating for a moment, Zhou Bingchen leaned close to Zhao Zhenzhu's ear and whispered about the dream in which he was "poisoned" to death by Zhou Fugui.
Zhou Bingchen felt he could no longer keep it from Zhao Zhenzhu.
If Zhou Fugui is indeed a spy, and if he is not Zhou Fugui's child, then this family is full of danger for Zhou Bingchen and Zhao Zhenzhu.
This time when he goes home, Zhou Bingchen will definitely test him in various ways.
With Zhao Zhenzhu on guard, her safety would be greatly improved.
Even if it turns out to be a false alarm, it's nothing.
Zhao Zhenzhu's expression changed.
No wonder Zhou Bingchen died at Widow Liu's house in his previous life.
It turns out that Zhou Bingchen didn't have an affair with Widow Liu. Instead, he was murdered by Zhou Fugui and Zhou Dazhu after discovering the affair between Zhou Bingqiang and Widow Liu.
So, the theft of her dowry might have been a joint act by Zhou Fugui and Zhou Dazhu?
They robbed her of her means of livelihood, leaving her nowhere to go and forcing her to work like a slave in the Zhou family.
Yunyun is not Zhou Fugui's biological granddaughter, which is why Zhou Fugui married her off to an abusive man for a high dowry.
Was Jia Kai's killing of someone after he became an adult in his previous life also a trap set by Zhou Fugui and his group?
A storm raged through Zhao Zhenzhu's heart, and her face turned deathly pale.
"Pearl, don't be afraid, I will protect you." Zhou Bingchen hugged Zhao Zhenzhu and whispered comfortingly.
Zhou Bingchen has this confidence.
In the dream, Zhou Bingchen trusted Zhou Fugui too much, which is why he was tricked.
Now that Zhou Bingchen is on guard, are Zhou Fugui and Zhou Dazhu planning to scheme against him? Zhou Bingchen hasn't been wasting his more than ten years in the army.
"Mmm," Zhao Zhenzhu responded, leaning against Zhou Bingchen's chest.
Zhao Zhenzhu was filled with guilt.
She must have lived a muddled life in her past life, never suspecting anything about Zhou Bingchen's death.
She hated Zhou Bingchen for betraying her, but she never considered the possibility that Zhou Bingchen might be framed.
After a long while, Zhao Zhenzhu straightened up and asked, "Bingchen, what are you planning to do next?"
"I want to do this and that..." Zhou Bingchen leaned close to Zhao Zhenzhu's ear and whispered his plan.
“Okay, be careful. Just let me know if you need my help.” After a moment of silence, Zhao Zhenzhu nodded in agreement.
The couple had just finished discussing their plan when the door was pushed open.
The next second, Ding Ermei's loud voice rang out: "Bingchen, what are you two doing in there with the door closed in broad daylight?"
Zhou Bingchen and Zhao Zhenzhu exchanged a glance.
Zhao Zhenzhu raised her chin, gesturing for Zhou Bingchen to get up and open the door.
As soon as the door opened, Ding Ermei peeked inside, her eyes darting around.
Zhao Zhenzhu turned around, pretending to be busy.
"Mom, I asked Pearl to help me change my dressing! Is something wrong?" Zhou Bingchen asked helplessly.
"Mom made you a bowl of egg drop soup, come out and eat quickly," Ding Ermei said with a smile.
"Pearl, Mom made frangipani for us, let's go." Zhou Bingchen turned around and called to Zhao Zhenzhu.
Before Zhao Zhenzhu could speak, Ding Ermei hurriedly said, "Just do yours. Aren't you injured? You need to nourish yourself. Zhenzhu is fine; she doesn't need to eat eggs."
Zhao Zhenzhu pursed her lips as she listened.
Ding Ermei really treasured a bowl of frangipani flowers.
She doesn't care.
If you want to eat it, just take a few eggs and make a bowl yourself in the kitchen, right?
"Bingchen, your mother made this especially for you. Go and eat it! I ate too much at noon and I'm still full," Zhao Zhenzhu said casually.
"Mom, let's go!" Zhou Bingchen had no choice but to close the door and follow Ding Ermei to the kitchen.
While Zhou Bingchen was eating, Ding Ermei was also making a racket.
"Bingchen! I heard that there are a lot of foreign goods in your Guangzhou! Tape recorders and watches don't require coupons. I sent you a letter the day before yesterday, telling you to buy one of them. Did you buy it?" Ding Ermei asked.
While Ding Ermei was detained at the police station, she listened to Xiao Fang and his friends brag a lot. Now she can be considered a "wise" old lady from the countryside.
Watches, tape recorders, and televisions—these are in-demand items—Xiao Fang said there are plenty in Guangzhou; you don't need coupons, you can buy them as you please. Aside from being a bit pricey, there's nothing wrong with them.
"Mom, the letter you sent just the day before yesterday won't reach the army base for another week. I haven't even seen the letter, how would I know you wanted to buy it? Besides, watches and tape recorders are very expensive, I can't afford them." Zhou Bingchen said helplessly.
He had a mother who was like a leech, constantly trying to suck his blood. Zhou Bingchen was speechless.
"What else? Didn't you buy any candy or anything? There are so many children at home! You, as their third uncle, have come all this way back, how can you let the children down?" Ding Ermei was unhappy.
When she went home last time, Zhou Bingchen bought her a bag of pastries.
Ding Ermei thought it wasn't grand enough at the time.
This year, things got even worse; Zhou Bingchen came back empty-handed. Her pastries... were gone.
"Mom, I came back too soon this time, and I was injured and spent more than half a month in the hospital. I finally managed to squeeze out a few days to come home. Apart from a few changes of clothes, I didn't bring anything else," Zhou Bingchen said apologetically.
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