CHAPTER 33: CHAPTER 23: NI DUAN DISPELS DOUBTS (PART 2)

After saying all this, Grandma Zhou was utterly shocked, angry, and ashamed, particularly when I mentioned the 28 parcels. She genuinely didn’t know and was stunned on the spot. But that Old Sir Zhou was quite interesting, very calm, and showed no reaction to what I said. It was obvious that he was aware, as I kept an eye on his expression.

That shrew was reduced to a heap on the ground, like a dead dog. Outside, none of her daughters-in-law or sons made a sound; they all stayed far away. Even Old Sir Zhou ignored her this time, sitting there quietly without even glancing at Grandma Zhou. After finishing my words, I thought for a moment. Old Sir Zhou seemed peculiar; why were there no sheets of paper in those few letters, no content at all? What was there to hide in the letters? Every letter I received was empty, even Xiao Yi’s was empty.

If the envelopes from Grandfather were empty, but the other letters had content, I wouldn’t speculate—maybe there’s a secret between the two elderly people. But even Xiao Yi’s, Second Uncle’s, and Big Aunt’s letters were empty, which was interesting. Usually, when people send letters, they just write a few words of care, ask how things are, express longing, then write what thing is being sent this time. Looking at the envelopes, it wasn’t hard to guess that Old Sir Zhou destroyed the content of the letters after reading them because he wanted to hide it from Jiao Jiao. He feared she would see what her grandfather wrote, what her Xiao Yi, her Second Uncle, and her Big Aunt wrote that made him leave nothing at all, which would change Jiao Jiao’s view of her Lin Family grandparents. As for why he left the envelope addresses, that was in case something happened and he needed to contact them.

Why did Old Sir Zhou hide this from Jiao Jiao? Thinking of the farce just now, I guessed he was reluctant to give up Jiao Jiao as a chess piece. If Jiao Jiao returned to the Lin Family, who would send money and items to the Zhou Family? The Lin Family sends several parcels a year, and my mother-in-law sends regular monthly remittances enough to sustain the entire Zhou Family. In their family, only the eldest uncle works the land, and the eldest cousin and second cousin also have a few children each. How could they let go of Jiao Jiao, this piece of meat? So what could they do? Anyone would know that as long as Jiao Jiao doesn’t like her Lin side of the family and doesn’t return to Beijing, she has to stay with the Zhou Family unless she gets married; therefore, they must make Jiao Jiao stay away from Beijing, making her think her mother and her grandfather’s family don’t love or want her, and then she wouldn’t ask to return to Beijing.

Jiao Jiao always believed the Lin Family didn’t want her. Who told her that? The Zhou Family. If they didn’t want her, would they have not stopped for 17 years? Then why is her residence still registered in Beijing? They even bought a large quadrangular courtyard directly under her name. And look at the things sent over—each one is very precious. Are the Lin Family people so foolish to not want her yet vastly spend money?

I thought about it and used words to provoke him, just to see if there was an agreement between Old Sir Zhou and her grandfather about what plans they had for Zhou Jiao in the future. So I told Old Sir Zhou, actually today I didn’t plan to expose these things. I was planning to get the addresses of Grandfather Lin’s family, Uncle, and Xiao Yi, so I could send some mountain goods to report joy and incidentally tell them not to send things anymore, as it’s not easy for anyone these days. No matter how high-ranking they are, they have fixed salaries and every family has kids to support. Aunt isn’t the same as an uncle, how can they not mind sending things for 17 years? Besides, Jiao Jiao belongs first to the Zhou Family, then the Zhang Family. The Lin Family has no obligation to support her forever, and even if they stop sending things, it’s nothing to say. Apart from my mother-in-law’s support of her till adulthood, the Lin Family has given enough. Plus, Jiao Jiao is married with a child now; if she still relies on the Lin Family and my mother-in-law for support, I’m afraid I’ll have trouble standing tall in front of the Lin Family later. I said all this, and Old Sir Zhou still didn’t respond, as if he hadn’t heard.

Then I continued, saying that today I came just to report the good news, without intending to bust the matter open. I was just angry that the eldest aunt still didn’t realize her mistake. Previously, they didn’t send things so frequently; this year, they’ve been sending things non-stop. The attitude toward Jiao Jiao and this child was clearly very different. Look at the very precious items being sent. I don’t know what the Lin Family is thinking. Having interacted with them, you should understand their character, how they conduct things, why suddenly there’re many more parcels than before. There are things we need to think about properly, rather than scrambling for solutions when everything is upon us. I estimate after the Chinese New Year the Lin Family will definitely come to see Jiao Jiao and our son, so I’m planning to write to get a sense of their intentions.

After I said all this, Old Sir Zhou’s expression could no longer remain calm. His face changed, like acting in a play, he exchanged a look with Grandma Zhou, seemingly wanting to hear her thoughts. But unfortunately, Grandma Zhou looked bewildered, trying hard to think but hadn’t figured anything out. Old Sir Zhou looked at her, seeing she didn’t know, remained silent, his face very stern, thinking without acknowledging anyone." Zhang Guoqing said this, drank a cup of plain water, and wanted to give them time to think.

Mr. Zhang looked at him with a complex expression, always aware his son was smart and good at navigating relational affairs. He didn’t expect he also had a knack for scaring people, while simultaneously provoking the other side with words, silently observing, and maintaining control over them, knowing when doubts arose until he returned home for dinner and stayed calm. After the family headed to work, only then letting him stay behind, nothing showed the odd, and unless he opened up, others wouldn’t know. But poor Zhou Family, likely to get into trouble, constantly on edge. He, on the other hand, settled it and left the mess to return home directly. Now, Old Sir Zhou is reluctant to return the items to Jiao Jiao, and if he doesn’t return them, when the Lin Family comes, it won’t be face-saving, could drive that old man to worry to death.

"Good boy, with you scaring them like this, those who received things will struggle to sleep for several days, reluctant to return them to Jiao Jiao. But if not, afraid you might write a letter of complaint, someone’s bound to come pleading tonight. No wonder you want us to discuss with your mother! Now, Old Sir Zhou is caught and can’t get out. Once he realizes, all he has to do is admit he sided with the eldest son, and would the Lin Family let him go to jail? He’s Jiao Jiao’s own grandfather. When they meet the Lin Family they just need to apologize, suffer a little loss of face, return a few items to show sincerity, and the Lin Family will see it from Jiao Jiao’s perspective on handling things. Besides, right now we don’t know how the Lin Family really is, must meet them to find out.

Jiao Jiao, this will depend on how you think. If you accept the things sent by your grandfather, it shows you don’t care about these things—family is still family. If you reject these items, then it means with the things returned you’re repaying all these years of nurturing and the care from your uncle and aunt at the Zhou Family, then it’s more or less cut off. People won’t say things like the Lin Family supported and all, only see you weren’t even a month old when your grandparents took you back to the Zhou Family and it was your grandmother and aunt who raised you to adulthood.

In this world, you need to compromise. If you want to cut ties, don’t value those external things which can tether you indefinitely. Should they seek your help, you can choose; if you sever them, there’s less worry later. Even if they try to hang on, it’s up to you if you feel like accepting or not?"

Zhou Jiao nodded, understanding Mr. Zhang’s point to use money to sever troubles and avoid future turmoil. She and her husband still young; who knows what the future holds, can’t let themselves be drawn into public opinion.

"Mom and Dad, I understand, if people come to plead, just say I’m doing my confinement and family isn’t allowing me to worry. We’ll discuss again later. Brother Xiao Wu told me, my dad is still alive, and the Lin Family is coming these days. Really when they do arrive, let my mother handle it herself; you just decline to avoid doing offense. We are still living here; if they come over to move closer, it’s good intentions, we always have to let people save face, right? Who wouldn’t do good deeds?"

Mr. Zhang and Zhang Niang turned their heads to look at Zhang Guoqing, "Xiao Wu, is your father-in-law really still alive? How did you know this? You can’t make baseless claims. Also, how do you know the Lin Family is coming?"