Chapter 55 Learning to Be Independent
What starts as a well-intentioned act of helping can easily escalate into control and the taking of others' rights over time.
"mom!"
Zhou Haiqing opened his mouth, but the words caught in his throat.
He knew his mother's stubbornness, but he also knew her good intentions.
But this overly clear-headed restraint made him feel a pang of sadness.
We're clearly family, so why draw such a clear line between us?
“Don’t worry,” Zhou Shufen sighed softly, noticing her son’s struggle.
“I’m staying here to be with Guifang during her postpartum period. After she gives birth and I’ve finished taking care of her, I’ll move out again.”
She took this opportunity to tell her son her thoughts in detail.
“Living together like this all the time isn’t a long-term solution. You need your own space, and I should have my own life too. After the baby is a month old, I’ll go back to my hometown for a while. The house is still there, and I know all the neighbors.”
She spoke very calmly.
But Zhou Haiqing could hear a barely perceptible sense of loneliness hidden beneath that calm.
She knew this child too well; he was honest and not very talkative.
They tend to keep things bottled up inside and don't easily express their emotions.
That's why, once you've decided on something, it's especially easy to get stuck on it.
"But what's the reason for this? We're doing just fine, aren't we? Are you uncomfortable with your accommodations, or the food? Or are you upset? Is there something you haven't told us?"
Zhou Haiqing frowned, fidgeting with the hem of his clothes with his hands.
At this moment, Qin Guifang also heard the conversation outside and couldn't help but get up.
She supported her waist with one hand and slowly walked out of the house with some difficulty.
The baby in my belly is getting bigger and bigger, and I get a little out of breath after walking just a few steps.
Her brows were furrowed, and her face showed a hint of grievance and confusion.
"Mom, you're being too formal. We're not strangers, we're family. Why do we have to be so different? We feel more at ease with you staying here."
"That's true, but you two are the backbone of this family. We have to support you. As a mother, I'm getting old. It's time for me to step down. I can't keep clinging to my position."
Zhou Shufen smiled and looked at the two children in front of her with kind eyes.
She knew they were filial and sensible.
Even the most filial children cannot revolve around their elderly parents for their entire lives.
“I understand your good intentions, and I won’t go far. I’ll stay near the design class area, it’s not far, just a short walk away. I can come back anytime if anything happens.”
“But Guifang, you’ll have to take on more responsibility at home from now on. Make your own decisions on big and small matters, instead of always waiting for your mother to make them.”
She spoke frankly and honestly, every word of which was true and without a single falsehood.
Zhou Haiqing and Qin Guifang listened to what was said, and they looked at each other with a hint of sadness in their eyes.
Although the two were still a little reluctant to part, they felt empty inside.
But they all understood that their mother was doing this for their own good, and was making long-term plans for the family.
She doesn't really want to leave.
Instead, they gently handed the burden to them, allowing them to learn independence.
"Alright, go back and lie down. Don't stand for too long; it's not good for your health if you get chilled."
As Zhou Shufen spoke, she gently supported Qin Guifang's arm.
"You're feeling heavy right now, and you get tired easily. Resting is the most important thing. Don't push yourself too hard."
"Okay, please walk slowly and be careful on the road. Don't tire yourself out, or we won't feel at ease."
Qin Guifang responded softly, her eyes slightly red. She was afraid that she would burst into tears if she opened her mouth after only a few words.
After finishing her family business, Zhou Shufen packed her things quickly, taking only a few changes of clothes and daily necessities, not even filling a small bag.
She stood at the doorway, looked back at the small house where she had lived for many years, took a deep breath, and gave Zhou Haiqing some instructions.
"Take good care of your wife, make sure she eats on time, don't let her do heavy work, and call me if anything happens."
Then she went out the door, her shadow stretching long in the setting sun, and walked steadily towards the design class.
Meanwhile, Zhou Dajun's life became increasingly chaotic.
He is still living in the past, immersed in memories of his early years as a key worker and a respected figure.
He always thought of himself as a person of importance, and his words and actions were filled with an inexplicable arrogance.
He puts on airs and acts all day in front of Wu Haiyan, even though his salary isn't much.
They also insist on showing off, dressing decently, and eating high-class meals.
But Wu Haiyan had long since given up on acting and now only felt utter disgust for him.
The way she looked at Zhou Dajun was like looking at a product that had long expired but was still lingering on the shelf.
While eating breakfast, Zhou Dajun slurped down his noodles, making smacking noises with his mouth.
He lowered his head and slurped deeply, not caring that the soup splashed onto the corners of his mouth.
The soup in the bowl swayed from side to side with his movements, almost spilling out.
The whole house was filled with the sounds of him eating.
Wu Haiyan was annoyed by what she heard. Her brows furrowed tightly, and she stirred the porridge in her bowl a few times with the spoon, but didn't drink a drop.
She finally lost her temper and slammed her chopsticks on the table with a loud "smack".
"Can't you eat in peace? Making such a racket first thing in the morning, is that even proper? You're like a pig rooting for food, it makes me lose my appetite!"
Zhou Dajun's face flushed red, his lips twitched, and the chopsticks in his hand froze in mid-air.
He lost face, felt angry, and stubbornly retorted.
"What are you yelling about? We're eating, can't everyone make some noise? I didn't break any pots or bowls, is it really that big of a deal?"
"If you weren't so noisy, would I have said anything to you?"
Wu Haiyan rolled her eyes, her gaze full of disdain.
She pushed the bowl away and said coldly, "I'm exhausted from work, working overtime until nine o'clock every night, and I don't even have time to drink water. And when I come home, I have to see you like this, all greasy and slovenly, eating like you're fighting a battle, and snoring in your sleep. It's disgusting!"
"you……"
Zhou Dajun was so angry that he pointed at her, and the veins on his face bulged.
"That's not what you said at the time! You said you liked me the way I was, that this was what a real man was like! Full of spirit and life! What, are you going back on your word now?"
"I was blind! Besides, you had a job back then, you had money in your pocket, and you could barely support your family."
Wu Haiyan sneered, her tone sharp.
"And now? What are you going to rely on to save face? You haven't had a proper job in six months, and you're living off my meager salary! Don't forget, everything you eat, wear, and use now, wasn't it all earned by me?"
She became more and more agitated as she spoke, her chest heaving violently.
Suddenly, he casually slammed the bowl to the ground, making a loud "crack" sound.
Porcelain shards flew everywhere, and soup spilled all over the floor.
"Okay, you've finally told the truth."
Zhou Dajun was so angry that his hands trembled, his lips quivered, and his voice changed.
"You were only after my money! Otherwise, do you think I would have believed your sweet talk? You wanted my car and house back then, and now that I'm down on my luck, you're turning your back on me!"
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