Chapter 1297 - 1169: Before the New Year 3

Chapter 1297: Chapter 1169: Before the New Year 3

In the old courtyard’s main room, Zhang Guoqing accompanies Mr. Zhang as they sit on the kang. When May Day enters, he hands candied hawthorn to Zhang Ziwen, his eyes flickering before he cheerfully listens to Mr. Zhang speak.

As for any disagreements between the younger generation, as long as his son is happy, it’s fine by him. He just needs to remember his parents’ kindness.

Some matters can’t be forced.

After the new year, his father turns seventy. He may need to discuss celebration plans with his two older brothers.

His mother is only a year younger than his father. Next year, he might not have leave for their birthdays. But why not celebrate together when it’s time?

Unlike before, this time Mr. Zhang’s three sons and two daughters are all present.

Aside from two tables in the main room, the kang table is also filled with food and drink. Mr. Zhang, three sons, two sons-in-law, and a grandson-in-law sit on the kang.

The remaining women and children sit at one table, and the next generation of grandsons at another.

Before eating, Mother Zhang introduces each grandson’s wife and granddaughter-in-law to Zhou Jiao, which should have been Huang Cuilan’s responsibility.

However, it’s unclear what Huang Cuilan is thinking, as she appears distracted.

Seeing this, Zhou Jiao avoids her, fearing she might accidentally upset her and create a tense atmosphere, which would be disastrous.

Moreover, she realizes those nieces-in-law and grandnieces-in-law seem afraid of her, making her reflect on any inappropriate behavior she might have exhibited.

As it’s already late, apart from Mr. Zhang’s table chatting over drinks, others are busy attending to their little ones or hurrying to fill their bellies.

After the meal, Zhou Jiao finally breathes a sigh of relief, having eaten so much it hurts. Anyone would be unsettled if there were occasional glances when someone moved.

Zhou Jiao invites her two sisters-in-law to stay at her house overnight, but they’re amused by the idea of sleeping on the floor. She’s not upset, as her house indeed lacks space.

After exchanging a few words with them about topics they’ve already discussed, and seeing them busy with children, Zhou Jiao squeezes her mother-in-law’s hand and excuses herself to return home.

The Ping’an Brothers see her leaving with the excuse of tending to the still-burning stove in the backyard, and after sitting for a while, they also make their excuses, saying they are tired from going up the mountain that morning.

Once their family leaves, leaving only Zhang Guoqing with Mother Zhang, she looks at the relieved granddaughter-in-laws and laughs heartily.

Mr. Zhang turns to his wife in surprise, "What makes you so happy?"

Mother Zhang shakes her head with a smile, saying nothing. With sons-in-law around, how can she say everyone seems afraid of her daughter-in-law Jiao Jiao? Nobody would believe her.

As Zhang Meili leads her daughter-in-laws to the west wing to rest, she scolds them, "Why do you all become mute in front of your little aunt?"

Zhang Ziwen’s wife shrinks her neck, chuckling, "Mom, I don’t know why, but I’m just nervous when I stand before my little aunt."

Zhang Ziwu’s wife laughs in agreement, "Mom, the eldest sister-in-law is right. Whenever little aunt’s eyes are on me, I feel a chill down my spine."

Zhang Zicong’s wife glances hesitantly at her sisters-in-law and her mother-in-law, "Is it the kind of gaze that sees through you?"

The three sisters-in-law exchange a look and fall silent. Saying more might imply they have ill thoughts and fear being seen through.

Zhang Meili, seeing this, doesn’t pursue the matter further. They just aren’t familiar with her enough to know how good a person she is.

To help her daughters-in-law better understand her sister-in-law’s character, Zhang Meili talks about the care her brother and sister-in-law have shown her family over the years.

Similar to the mother-in-law and daughter-in-laws in the west wing, Huang Cuilan and the daughters-in-law in the kitchen washing dishes also discuss Zhou Jiao, with Huang Cuilan answering.

"Mom, what kind of person is little aunt?"

Huang Cuilan quickly turns to the kitchen door, "Lower your voice. Haven’t you noticed how much your grandmother adores her youngest daughter-in-law? Even more than her own daughter."

Zhang Mingzuo’s wife, Wei Qiulian, immediately lowers her voice, "Grandma is with little aunt, she won’t come out. Mom, why do I feel little aunt differs from what the kids’ father said?"

Huang Cuilan glances at her, "She’s very kind to the kids. Whenever she had something good, she’d share it with them. Yaya caught a cold recently and didn’t want to pass it to her little aunt, otherwise she would’ve come by."

Wei Qiulian looks thoughtful, "What about outsiders?"

"Did you know how many close friends she made in the years living here?" Huang Cuilan raises one finger, "Just one! Zhao Yuanyuan, from your Uncle Dashan’s family, that’s it."

Zhang Mingyou’s wife, Fang Xiaoxian, gasps, "That’s odd?"

"Not odd, she just doesn’t like being in crowded gatherings. If someone doesn’t invite her, she won’t visit. She’s a bit reserved but is a good person and those who know her find her kind.

I don’t know how she is now. But back at home, with your uncle around, others wouldn’t bother her. Your uncle was afraid she’d be bullied."

Wei Qiulian and Fang Xiaoxian immediately stifle their laughter.

Huang Cuilan shakes her head seeing this, "What’s funny? You’ll see how good your uncle is to her after spending time with them. You can’t compare women to women."

Wei Qiulian, sensing her sadness, quickly changes the subject, "Mom, you haven’t said how she treats outsiders?"

"Yeah, Mom, I noticed though she smiles at us, she’s not too warm."

"That’s just her nature."

Huang Cuilan sighs and leaves. How does she treat outsiders? She doesn’t want to explain to her daughters-in-law; they’ll understand eventually.

"Elder sister-in-law, why are you so silent tonight? You’ve always said you hadn’t seen her in person. Now that you’ve met her, what’s your impression?"

Gong Xiaoya watches her mother-in-law leave and stands to stretch with a smile, "As I imagined. She’s truly beautiful and young. Facing her is stressful, lucky she’s not my mother-in-law."

Wei Qiulian looks speechless at her. Mother-in-law? She’s the vice-chairman’s daughter, the only daughter. How virtuous must you have been?

Fang Xiaoxian nods in agreement, "Elder sister-in-law is right. If she were my mother-in-law, I wouldn’t dare marry Mingyou. Just the thought makes me uncomfortable."

Wei Qiulian chuckles and glances at them skeptically, "That’s enough."

"Aren’t you afraid of her?"

Wei Qiulian smiles silently. Being afraid isn’t the issue; it’s the sense of distance.

Zhou Jiao at home is unaware of the evaluations the young wives at the old courtyard are giving her. Of course, even if she knew, she wouldn’t care because they’re not her daughters-in-law.

Her current worry stems from her three sons: each is practicing calligraphy in the dead of night. What’s bothering them?