“Pearl! Old Zhou’s health isn’t very good. He’s only awake for two or three hours a day at most, and he’s in a coma the rest of the time. The day before I came back, Old Zhou had just been moved out of the intensive care unit and met with Bingchen,” Tao Jiadong said.
"Oh," Zhao Zhenzhu replied.
Tao Jiadong had originally wanted to wait for Zhao Zhenzhu to ask about the meeting between Zhou Bingchen and Zhou Jin, but seeing that Zhao Zhenzhu seemed uninterested, Tao Jiadong didn't know what to say.
Zhou Jin had three children in her lifetime.
The eldest daughter is Zhou Ruonan, the second son is Zhou Rufeng, and the youngest daughter is Zhou Yinan.
Zhou Rufeng and his wife died more than 20 years ago.
Five years ago, Zhou Jin learned that Zhou Bingchen was still alive, and in her excitement, she fell seriously ill.
Taking advantage of the opportunity to take care of Zhou Jin, Zhou Ruonan moved into Zhou Jin's house with her family.
In recent years, Zhou Ruonan has presented herself to the public as the successor of the Zhou family.
In her heart, she had long considered everything about Zhou Jin as her own. Zhou Ruonan was unwilling to let go of Zhou Jin's connections, Zhou Jin's assets, and everything about Zhou Jin.
Zhou Bingchen's return will inevitably affect Zhou Ruonan's interests.
On the first day Tao Jiadong and his group arrived in Beijing, Zhou Jin was admitted to the intensive care unit. It was Zhou Ruonan who met them at the Zhou family home.
After scrutinizing Zhou Bingchen for a long time, Zhou Ruonan asked Tao Jiadong rather rudely, "This time, you didn't find a fake to fool my father because you know he's about to die, did you?"
Tao Jiadong and his group were thoroughly angered by Zhou Ruonan. After sitting at Zhou's house for a few minutes, they took their leave.
On the first day after Tao Jiadong returned to Peach Blossom Town, Zhou Jin was transferred to a regular ward and immediately had someone call Tao Jiadong and Zhou Bingchen to meet her.
Upon seeing Zhou Bingchen's face, which so closely resembled his son Zhou Rufeng's, and the markings on Zhou Bingchen's body, Zhou Jin couldn't help but burst into tears.
Zhou Jin was exhausted and had no strength left after saying a few words.
Zhou Ruonan stepped forward to act as Zhou Jin's "spokesperson".
Upon learning that Zhou Bingchen had married and had children in the countryside, Zhou Ruonan belittled Zhao Zhenzhu, her "niece-in-law" whom she had never met. She even said that such a country woman was of no help to Zhou Bingchen's future and that it would be better for him to divorce her; she had already picked out a suitable girl for Zhou Bingchen to marry.
Zhou Bingchen's expression changed on the spot.
Zhou Jin also lost her temper and told Zhou Ruonan to "get out".
Tao Jiadong would definitely not say those things Zhou Ruonan said to Zhao Zhenzhu in front of Zhao Zhenzhu, to avoid being suspected of sowing discord.
If his wife had encountered a domineering, unreasonable, and picky older sister-in-law, Tao Jiadong would definitely wish the two of them could stay far apart for the rest of their lives.
However, Tao Jiadong could not disobey Old Zhou's instructions.
Tao Jiadong thought for a moment and asked, "Pearl, could you take the children to Beijing during your winter vacation? Old Zhou would like to meet you."
"What did Zhou Bingchen say?" Zhao Zhenzhu glanced at Tao Jiadong and asked.
"Huh?" Tao Jiadong was stunned.
"Does Zhou Bingchen want us to go to Beijing, or not?" Zhao Zhenzhu asked.
"Bingchen didn't say anything, but he'll probably call you in the next few days." Tao Jiadong smiled ingratiatingly at Zhao Zhenzhu.
"Okay, I understand," Zhao Zhenzhu nodded and said calmly.
“No matter what Bingchen chooses, I believe you will understand.” Tao Jiadong breathed a sigh of relief.
"Pearl, Jiadong, what kind of riddle are you two playing? I don't understand it at all," Wu Meiyun asked.
Zhao Qingshan's lips twitched, as if he wanted to say something, but he didn't.
"Sister-in-law, it's nothing. Everything will be clear once Bingchen calls back," Tao Jiadong said with a smile.
"Can't you say it now?" Wu Meiyun asked, somewhat displeased.
"Mom, don't make things difficult for Uncle Tao. Let me tell you! If I'm not mistaken, Zhou Bingchen and Old Master Zhou have become relatives, but the Zhou family probably thinks that I, a village woman, am not good enough for Zhou Bingchen, and they're advising him to divorce his wife and find someone better. Zhou Bingchen is still considering it. Uncle Tao, am I right?" Zhao Zhenzhu chuckled and said.
"Hehehe..." Tao Jiadong chuckled awkwardly.
Can he say that Zhao Zhenzhu guessed everything correctly?
"What? Zhou Bingchen actually wants a divorce? All that praising him to Zhenzhu was for nothing. Jiadong, what do you think it means that Bingchen is still considering it? Does he really want to divorce Zhenzhu?" Wu Meiyun was furious.
“No, no, Bingchen didn’t say he wanted a divorce. Sister-in-law, it wasn’t Old Master Zhou who brought up the divorce, it was Bingchen’s aunt, Zhou Ruonan. Old Master Zhou is sick and has difficulty speaking. When Zhou Ruonan told Zhou Bingchen to get a divorce, Old Master Zhou even scolded her.” Tao Jiadong smiled awkwardly and said.
"Where's Zhou Bingchen? Didn't he yell back? As the saying goes, it's better to tear down a temple than to break up a marriage. Bingchen, that aunt, is really outrageous." Wu Meiyun was still furious.
“At the time, Bingchen probably didn’t want to upset the old woman, so he didn’t say anything. He and Zhenzhu have a good relationship! He probably doesn’t want a divorce,” Tao Jiadong said.
In fact, Tao Jiadong couldn't help but feel a little guilty when he said this.
After leaving the ward, Zhou Bingchen went straight back to school.
The next day, Tao Jiadong went to the school to find Zhou Bingchen, wanting to ask him what he was really thinking.
After all, the candidates Zhou Ruonan chose for Zhou Bingchen's "nephew's wife" were all not only from impressive families, but also young and beautiful.
No matter which one Zhou Bingchen marries, he'll definitely save at least ten years of hard work, if not twenty.
Compared to those rich young ladies, Zhao Zhenzhu, a village woman, had absolutely no chance of winning except for her beauty.
Unfortunately, Tao Jiadong did not find Zhou Bingchen.
The school said that Zhou Bingchen and his classmates had started a week-long closed training program and were not allowed to leave the school during this period.
Tao Jiadong had no choice but to leave dejectedly.
Tao Jiadong felt that if he hadn't brought Zhou Bingchen back to the Zhou family, Zhao Zhenzhu and Zhou Bingchen's marriage wouldn't have faced such a test.
Therefore, after much consideration, Tao Jiadong revealed this news to Zhao Zhenzhu in advance.
This is to prepare Zhao Zhenzhu mentally, so she won't be stunned by the bad news.
“The Zhou family is really going too far. How is Pearl not good enough for Bingchen? They have been married for more than seven years and have two children. How can the Zhou family say they are not good enough?” Wu Meiyun became more and more agitated as she spoke.
"Mom, don't get upset. Whether they're a good match or not is what others say. Bingchen hasn't said anything yet! Everything depends on Bingchen's decision." Zhao Zhenzhu patted Wu Meiyun's back and gently comforted her.
“Pearl! Bingchen isn’t heartless. He wouldn’t abandon you and your children.” Wu Meiyun said, holding Zhao Zhenzhu’s hand tightly.
"If my brother-in-law dares to abandon me after starting something, I'll make him pay even if it costs me my life!" Zhao Tianyu was also furious.
Such a wonderful older sister, such wonderful nephews and nieces.
How could the Zhou family look down on them?
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