Chapter 147 Burden
I started working ten years earlier than him, but he ended up becoming a "college student".
The moment he saw Zhou Hairong, his resentment exploded.
Seeing the other person wearing brand-new sportswear and a pair of Warrior sneakers, with a beaming smile on their face.
Looking at himself, his trouser legs were covered in mud, his face was ashen, and he had a stubble beard.
Now, standing in front of Zhou Hairong, he looked just like a poor relative who was freeloading off him.
I came here to offer my congratulations.
But the words stuck in my throat.
His lips moved, but in the end he could only manage a stiff smile.
What surprised him even more was that Zhou Shufen was also on Zhou Hairong's side.
She was sitting in the main room mending a shirt.
She looked up and saw her eldest son come in, and paused in her needlework.
When Zhou Haiwei saw her, he was overwhelmed with mixed feelings.
She's still my biological mother, no matter what.
She treated me well back then; at least I wasn't hungry or cold.
Even if I go to ask for some leftovers now and stay overnight, I probably won't be kicked out.
But before this idea could even take hold, it was doused with a bucket of cold water.
When Zhou Shufen saw him, it was as if she saw air.
Her gaze remained fixed on the wall in the distance, not even glancing at him out of the corner of her eye.
In Zhou Shufen's eyes, this son was long gone.
She no longer considered him her own flesh and blood.
She no longer considered him a family member.
They're not even as good as strangers.
Zhou Hairong understood the reasons behind this and knew that her mother's attitude towards her brother was already beyond redemption.
So at this moment, he didn't offer any mediation.
When Zhou Shufen got up to leave, he just silently lowered his head and ate his food.
Zhou Haiwei was holding back a lot of anger.
He opened his mouth, but in the end he could only grit his teeth, turn around and leave.
It's truly pathetic to be so useless.
He had disappointed his parents, wasted his youth, and squandered opportunities.
But what really hurts isn't that you're doing poorly, but that you're seeing others living a glamorous life.
Especially seeing how much their younger brother is now loved by their mother.
But I am like a forgotten shadow, standing in a corner, ignored by everyone.
Zhou Shufen didn't take this meeting seriously at all.
She didn't even mention Zhou Haiwei once at home.
On the other side, Guo Zhenyi received a call from Huang Chuanzhen.
I was quite happy to learn that my mother was coming to stay in the city for a few days.
He hadn't had a proper get-together with his mother in a long time, and he had been thinking about letting her meet Zhou Shufen.
He started preparing two days in advance, repeatedly reminding Zhou Shufen to dress appropriately.
He also specifically chose a high-end restaurant with a good reputation.
Before leaving, he checked the car one last time, worried that something might go wrong on the road.
In his mind, this dinner was not just a meal, but an important family ritual.
Zhou Shufen also valued this meal and prepared everything well in advance.
She arrived almost half an hour earlier than agreed and brought a gift.
Guo Zhenyi and Huang Chuanzhen arrived late, only after footsteps were heard outside the door.
As soon as they arrived, Guo Zhenyi immediately introduced the two with a smile.
"Mom, this is Shufen, whom I've always told you about!"
He had a big smile on his face.
But when Huang Chuanzhen saw this situation, she immediately had a question mark in her mind.
She looked Zhou Shufen up and down a few times.
Seeing her son's eagerness and enthusiasm, she unconsciously frowned slightly.
So attentive? What makes this woman so capable that she dotes on her son like this?
In her opinion, if her daughter-in-law is too pampered, won't the family fall into chaos in the future?
Noticing that Huang Chuanzhen's expression was off, Guo Zhenyi quickly changed the subject.
"Mom, Shufen has recently won a lot of awards in design competitions, and even the TV station came to interview her."
"Did you know? Several of her works have been featured at industry exhibitions, and many companies are eager to collaborate with her!"
"You tell me, I have a particularly good eye for talent, don't you?"
He looked very proud.
"She is also preparing to do online business, has opened her own studio, and is also preparing to start live-streaming sales."
He wasn't bragging; he genuinely felt that Zhou Shufen was quick-witted and had innovative ideas.
She wasn't like other women who would just stay at home.
She is adventurous, hardworking, and visionary; her future potential is limitless.
Huang Chuanzhen twitched the corners of her mouth and smiled, but didn't reply.
She remained outwardly calm, but inwardly she had already begun to make her plans.
Isn't this daughter-in-law incredibly capable?
Will he eventually surpass his mother-in-law?
Fortunately, the waiter brought out the dishes at that moment, and steaming hot dishes were placed on the table one by one.
The group finally had a reason to take action, temporarily avoiding the awkwardness of verbal sparring.
Guo Zhenyi invited the two to sit down and eat.
"Come on, everything's ready. Let's eat and chat."
He attentively served his mother food, then turned to ladle a bowl of soup for Zhou Shufen, his face full of concern.
However, Huang Chuanzhen never gave Zhou Shufen a kind look at the dinner table.
She ate slowly and deliberately, occasionally responding to her son's words.
However, he never took the initiative to talk to Zhou Shufen.
"I heard you were married and divorced, and you have a child. Is that true? The neighbors are all talking about it, and I find it hard to believe."
Upon hearing this, Guo Zhenyi felt a pang of anxiety and immediately stood up to speak up for Zhou Shufen.
"Mom, Shufen's children are all very easy to take care of. Especially the fourth and second children. The fourth child is already married and settled down. Not only does he live a stable life, but he also has a lovely daughter. The second child is even more promising. He was admitted to a key university last year and his grades have always been among the best. Everyone in the village praises him as a promising student."
He originally intended to use these words to change his mother Huang Chuanzhen's opinion of Zhou Shufen.
These words, which were originally full of warmth, made Huang Chuanzhen even more unhappy.
"So what if you went to college? You still don't have a job, do you? You haven't even gotten your diploma yet!"
Huang Chuanzhen snorted coldly.
"Who paid for the tuition? Wasn't it the family who supported us? When we graduate, it will be very difficult to find a job. The little money we earn each month won't even cover the rent! Besides, where will we get the money for food, clothing, and starting a family in the future? Are we going to have to subsidize us again?"
"And that granddaughter, she's only two or three years old, right? Zhou Shufen has so many things to take care of herself, how can she have time to look after other people's children? Don't let things turn out badly and end up with a bunch of burdens for herself!"
Her voice rose a few decibels.
If Zhou Shufen still couldn't detect the sourness in his tone, then she would have lived in vain all these years.
She knew that Huang Chuanzhen was Guo Zhenyi's biological mother.
But she wasn't the kind of person who would swallow her anger.
So, Zhou Shufen took a deep breath and forced a faint smile onto her face.
"I suddenly remembered that there was soup simmering on the stove at home, and I was afraid it would boil dry, so I had to hurry back to check on it."
Guo Zhenyi quickly reached out to stop her.
"Shufen, sit down and talk for a while. There's nothing urgent that you have to leave now."
Before he could finish speaking, Huang Chuanzhen glared at him fiercely.
Guo Zhenyi's hand froze in mid-air.
Once Zhou Shufen's figure disappeared at the door of the private room, only Guo Zhenyi and his mother Huang Chuanzhen remained in the room.
"Mom, you went too far today!"
Guo Zhenyi slammed his hand on the corner of the table.
“I know you mean well, but have you considered my feelings? Shufen is the person I truly want to spend my life with. I don’t care if she’s rich or powerful; I just want to live a simple and peaceful life with her, as long as she’s by my side!”
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