CHAPTER 403: CHAPTER 306: LIN FAMILY AND JIANG JIANGYU

After liberation, she followed her husband back to the Big Courtyard. She was a restless and diligent person. Each season, the corners of the yard were planted full of fruits and vegetables.

Jiang Jiangyu entered the house and immediately saw her mother with a head full of white hair, bending over, kneading dough. Last night, she hurried back to see her parents briefly. At the time, she didn’t notice it, but now, upon taking a closer look, she realized her mother had aged significantly. Looking around the house, aside from the military-provided furniture and supplies, there wasn’t anything decent.

She frowned tightly and complained to her mother, who greeted her with a look of delight, "Those people still won’t leave you and Dad alone? Are we even going to live like normal? All these years and every debt has been repaid. Look at your clothes; they’ve been patched up multiple times? This coat is from when I made it for you after having the second child."

Old Mrs. Jiang’s smile faded, and she glared at her, saying sternly, "Have you forgotten your oldest brother was nearly killed, and it was your uncles who saved him? Your second brother was constantly ill in the deep winter, and it was your aunts who pawned their dowry to save him. Have you forgotten you were raised at your maternal grandparents’, fed and nurtured by your aunts? Without these relatives and friends, how could I—a single woman—raise all of you? In life, you cannot forget your roots. Do people come to your door if they are not in need? Next time, don’t let me hear such words. If you can’t stand it, then don’t come back to your parents’ house."

Jiang Jiangyu was at a loss for words, sighed with a complicated feeling, and nodded her head.

In the kitchen, Jiang Jiangyu helped Old Mrs. Jiang with chores, while asking about everyone at home. Learning that aside from relatives occasionally visiting, everyone at the maternal home was doing well, she immediately smiled.

Then she thought of the reason she came. She paused, glanced at her mother, and spoke casually, "Mom, do you know the Lin Family’s eldest son-in-law? It’s Zhou Xiaozheng who just returned and is staying in the small courtyard at the back."

Old Mrs. Jiang nodded her head. How could she not know?

The small courtyard at the back housed only Zhou Xiaozheng and two other young chiefs; all others were older men. They attracted a lot of attention! Moreover, he was the in-laws’ eldest son-in-law.

"How could he not be known? The courtyard has many people, yet he is absolutely known to everyone. When he first returned, all the women, old and young, in the courtyard secretly ran over to see him. They all said they went to see the handsome man.

Haha... He is indeed quite good-looking. Now his family’s treasure has returned, and it’s the young lads’ turn to go see their family’s girl daily. Who wouldn’t recognize his family?" After speaking, she couldn’t help but laugh.

Jiang Jiangyu hadn’t seen Zhou Jiao yet, but she knew Zhou Xiaozheng. She wasn’t in the mood to discuss handsome men. She was troubled at the moment.

She nudged Old Mrs. Jiang and asked quietly, "I think my mother-in-law mentioned something odd about her eldest son-in-law. Did something happen? I haven’t seen her eldest son-in-law’s family visited since I got back last night."

Old Mrs. Jiang looked outside and whispered, "In the courtyard, it’s said your mother-in-law has poor character. They say she is always meticulously dressed, wandering around, but leaves her granddaughter suffering in the countryside.

I heard your father mutter that your mother-in-law and Chief Zhou’s biological mother are cousins within five generational distances, related through the same great-grandfather’s sister. Their family matters are complex, and he told me to be cautious. As for you, don’t talk too much. Just remember that the Zhou Family’s grandchildren are now being taken care of by Old Madam Cheng."

Jiang Jiangyu looked at her mother puzzled, further confused. Isn’t closer blood ties supposed to be better? Why is it getting more mysterious?

"Anyway, remember not to talk too much about your in-laws’ affairs. I don’t know all the details, just what your father said — if Shanshan hadn’t borne such a good daughter, Zhou Xiaozheng surely wouldn’t want this daughter-in-law; there are plenty of women wanting to marry him." Old Mrs. Jiang was unwilling to say more as her husband had specifically instructed her to be careful.

Jiang Jiangyu sighed again. She had planned to borrow money from her sister-in-law, but now it seems impossible. She hesitated, looking at her mother, glanced at the withered cabbage beside the stove, and sighed once more.

Rejecting Old Mrs. Jiang’s invitation to stay, Jiang Jiangyu returned home, preoccupied with many thoughts. As soon as she entered the west wing, she collapsed on the bed, her eyes restless, constantly shifting.

Unable to come up with any solutions, she suddenly smelled the aroma of food and immediately sprang up, rushed to the living room, and cheerfully called for her sister-in-law, stepping forward to help serve the dishes.

Curiously, Jiang Jiangyu noticed that while the old man and the men at home had come back from offering New Year greetings, her own children were nowhere to be seen. She sidled up next to Chen Jingru, nudged her sister-in-law silently, and learned that all the children in the family had gone out shopping. Using the opportunity, she inquired about Zhou Jiao.