Chapter 174: Chapter 129: Heart-to-Heart Talk (Part 2)
I always thought your mom would take care of you. With her personality, even if she couldn’t, she would definitely hand you over to your grandmother. Our family has money, so we’re not afraid that your grandmother wouldn’t take care of you or worry about you being wronged. I thought I’d be back after one or two years.
Who knew your mom always believed I wasn’t dead and was keen on finding me, leaving you to your grandfather. After seeing you and returning, I secretly compared you with other five-year-olds and increasingly felt you were thin and weak like a three-year-old, so I tried every possible way to hint to your mom. But she was dumber than a pig, even your uncle helped think of many ways.
When there was no other option, I secretly prepared a house and told the two elders if you hadn’t come at eighteen, they should secretly find you and take you to Shanghai. If I had died, and you couldn’t make it in the countryside, you could return to Shanghai and have your own house, plus the courtyard in Capital City. You would never be without support, though I never thought you’d still be forced to marry in the end."
Zhou Jiao saw her dad was very unwilling about her getting married. Indeed, fathers-in-law and sons-in-law are rivals. Unlike her mom, the mother-in-law was quite satisfied with Zhang Guoqing.
"The summer when I was ten, I couldn’t stand it anymore; I missed mom. I finally pleased grandpa to give me a chance to call mom, telling her I wanted to see her, but mom refused. At that time, my heart felt cold, thinking no one in this world cared about me anymore. Plus, since childhood, they always told me I was abandoned by mom, fatherless. I received letters from her for six years but never opened or replied to them.
Later, after having a child, realizing you were still alive, I opened them to see. I wanted to seriously think about how to find my way out of confusion and revisit those around me, only then did I know it wasn’t my mom who didn’t want me. She repeatedly said in her letters you were still alive, wanting to follow your footsteps to find your presence. Seeing those hints, I knew she wasn’t unloving. It’s just that her living belief was to find you. So, I don’t blame my mom, but deep inside I resent grandpa for why he left those things to be said by the family.
From around the age of three or four, I understood a lot of things, learned to read people’s expressions, and knew who truly cared for me and who feigned it. My only friend was Xiao Wu; only he would say he’d share half his mom with me, and only he would sneak eggs for me. When I was most helpless, he said he wouldn’t join the army, fearing if he left like you, who would care for me as sincerely as he did. At that moment, I decided to marry him. I could have sought help in Beijing, but I never thought of relying on others, not even my grandpa. So, Dad, rest assured, I know what I’m doing."
Zhou Xiaozheng gently exhaled, patted her head, and said, "Well, luckily the outcome isn’t too bad. This time Dad is back to help get everything arranged, you’ll move to the county on your own. Being far away from here, live as you wish, the village has too many people; they get envious if you’re doing well. Later, Xiao Wu will go to work, you’ll peacefully stay at home, and don’t need to do anything. If you don’t pass the exams, it’s okay, Dad will directly take you to Beijing, and you’ll be gone at most two years. Meanwhile, Dad will be busy, and when you return to Beijing, our family will have more leisure time.
This time I’ve also transferred your hukou back to the county. Transferring it back to Capital City anytime is okay. Both your mom’s and my hukou are in Beijing, you also have a courtyard there. I’ve checked, there’s no issue.
This time Dad arranged it perfectly for you. Just rest at home and take care of your health, don’t neglect it like this. I’ll buy a not-too-big, quiet place with convenient shopping; best have a guard for safety, and I’ll also clear out a sunny room as a study for you. You can read in it, do embroidery, and I’ll make an inside and outside bedroom like this for you too. How about that? Anything else to add? Tell Dad." After finishing, Zhou Xiaozheng looked at her, waiting for her to make any requests.
Zhou Jiao happily nodded and said, "Dad, do you still have money? It doesn’t need to be so good, just a transitional period. Tell me if you’re short on money. Also, I have money; mom gave me six years of rental income, plus the money you and the army gave, along with Xiao Wu’s private savings, I don’t lack money."
Zhou Xiaozheng thoughtfully nodded, lowered his voice, and asked, "Didn’t your grandmother secretly ask your mom to bring money to you? Is it just the rent and your mom’s secret money to you? If so, pretend you don’t know at your mom’s place. After my incident, all the money is with your grandmother, quite a sum. It’s strange she didn’t send it with your mom. The deposit books given to you are all from Beijing, can’t be retrieved here either. Be mindful about it, don’t stupidly tell everything to your mom. Your mom has no scheming, she’s very naive."