Is she complaining about her in-laws? Zhou Jiao felt a bit uncomfortable. The old folks aren’t spending your money, so why do you care? You’ve got legs, if you want to see your man, can’t you go?
Zhou Jiao, who had just returned from abroad, didn’t yet understand that Mr. Zhang and Mother Zhang often took turns bringing the four Xi Zi siblings along, otherwise, she really would have given her the cold shoulder!
Who has nothing better to do than ddle in your family’s affairs?
Huang Cuilan muttered a bunch of complaints, only to feel relieved after venting, but quickly realized Zhou Jiao hadn’t responded at all. Reflecting for a mont, she realized her words might have been misunderstood by Zhou Jiao.
Thinking of this, she smiled and said, "There was once when Dad and Mom went over in heavy rain, and Mom caught a cold. Spending so money is fine, but with all this back and forth, how can they handle it physically, don’t you think?"
Hearing this, Zhou Jiao furrowed her brow slightly, "Was it serious? Did she go to the hospital? She didn’t just stay ho to sweat it out, did she?"
"No, no, she took the dicine you left for her, drank a big bowl of plain rice porridge the next day, and got better. We were scared to death at the ti, good thing nothing serious happened, otherwise I’d have felt so guilty."
Finally, she said sothing worthwhile.
Learning that her mother-in-law’s condition wasn’t serious made Zhou Jiao feel better, and she didn’t want to quibble with outsiders. She smiled and said, "What’s that got to do with you? Mom is a competent and caring mother. No matter how old the kids are, if they’re not in front of her, she worries. Once eldest brother cos back from his training, they’ll be right in front of her every day."
Huang Cuilan sighed and said in a low voice, "Mom is really a good mother-in-law too..."
"Sister-in-law, today’s Mom’s birthday, let’s be happy."
After Zhou Jiao spoke and saw her stunned, she thought for a mont to encourage her, "There’s no hurdle in life you can’t get over. If you have nothing to do, go out more often. Staying ho doing endless chores all day long—how can that be uplifting? Now even Mai Miao can take care of herself, you don’t have to stay ho all day. When you have ti, you can visit elder brother in the provincial city."
Huang Cuilan sat by a chair hesitantly, smiled bitterly, and shook her head. In a low voice, she asked, "Have you t your older brother’s classmates? I went there before, but they seed..."
Zhou Jiao continued her sentence, speaking slowly, "Seed superior? Seed to ostracize you?"
Huang Cuilan nodded, "Your second sister-in-law has never t those ladies, I don’t even know how to describe them. You’ve probably t them, right? They call themselves educated, but aren’t your mom and your godmother educated too? They aren’t like that. Honestly, they look down on , and I don’t even like mixing with them."
Zhou Jiao gave her a sympathetic look. Silly woman, those people either want to steal what you have, or they can’t stand you having what they don’t. It’s jealousy in its nastiest form and needs treatnt!
In the courtyard, Lin Juhua saw her mother-in-law standing motionless not far from the kitchen. Out of curiosity, she went over, only to be pulled away by Mother Zhang.
"Let your sister-in-law vent a bit before going in."
"Mom?"
Mother Zhang rolled her eyes, "What, mom? They’re all idiots! I’ve three sons and three daughters-in-law, any of them can’t be shown off? Look down on them? I’d have already slapped them if it were up to , noway should one take such humiliating stints!"
"Ah?"
With a snort, Mother Zhang turned and headed back inside the main room.
She still needed to check on her youngest son to ease her mind. Once the eldest gets back, she needs to knock so sense into him. What is a wife? A wife is his face; if others don’t give face to him, what’s the point of smiling at those bastards!
Mother Zhang muttered inwardly, cursing her stupid son and daughter-in-law...
Lin Juhua watched as her mother-in-law left with her chin held high and prideful. What was that all about? Could soone tell her?
In the main room, the kids were huddled around the snacks, whispering and giggling happily.
Zhang Guoqing, seeing his mother’s expression, quickly went up to her and said, "Mom, where did you go? Co and rest."
Seeing her youngest son, Mother Zhang brightened up, a smile appeared on her face, "I’m not that old, why rest? Has your father run off again?"
Hearing this, Zhang Guoqing chuckled, "Dad took Ping’an to the backyard. Dad can’t run off today, the little one is sticking to him closely."
"Your father’s like a lost soul if he’s not wielding his hoe for a day."
As they chatted, mother and son sat down on the heated brick bed.
Zhang Guoqing gave his mother a once-over, "Why aren’t you wearing new clothes? Jiao Jiao was worried you’d feel they’re too conspicuous and embroidered lots of good luck symbols inside. You have to wear it; it’ll bring you longevity."
Mother Zhang nodded enthusiastically, beaming, "I’ll change later."
Zhang Guoqing glanced at his nephews and whispered in his mother’s ear, "You’ve got to put it on. And make sure Dad changes too later. Jiao Jiao spent days embroidering those good luck symbols. I saw her even chanting scriptures while stitching."
"Oh my, then I must find your dad so he can change clothes too."
Zhang Guoqing noticed her haste to get off the bed and quickly arranged her shoes, "Take it slow, no rush, watch out for any bumps..."
As Mother Zhang left the main room, she heard loud laughter from the kitchen by Lin Juhua and shook her head repeatedly. Great, now she has another foolish daughter-in-law to deal with!
"...I didn’t dare go out at first, but after getting used to it, I think it’s no big deal. Having short hair in the sumr is easy to wash. Sister-in-law, you’ll look great with a cut. Just ask Jiao Jiao."
In the kitchen, Zhou Jiao looked at Lin Juhua with amusent. As soon as she ca in, she complained about the heat and egged on Huang Cuilan to cut her hair. There were deeper intentions here, unspoken!
"Jiao Jiao, why don’t you accompany your sister-in-law for a short haircut?"
Zhou Jiao shook her head with a smile.
"Oh, if you don’t, your sister-in-law won’t do it either."
This ti, Zhou Jiao didn’t even bother to respond. She’s not afraid Zhang Guoqing won’t fancy her anymore. If she had to compromise for a man like that, she’d rather die.
She glanced at Huang Cuilan, who seed eager yet hesitant, then lowered her eyes and began cleaning the rolling pin.
"Let’s hurry to the room. It’ll be quick; last ti it didn’t take long for to cut soone’s hair. Co on, hurry up. Jiao Jiao, stop washing, let’s go to sister-in-law’s room."
Zhou Jiao watched as the rolling pin was taken by Lin Juhua, and she followed her out of the kitchen, smiling helplessly.
And so, in a half-voluntary, half-forced manner, Huang Cuilan was taken to the slaughter—her long tresses were swiftly cut up to her ears by Lin Juhua, wielding a pair of big scissors.
Zhou Jiao really couldn’t bear to look. If it were her, she’d be setting out to fight Lin Juhua. No wonder it took little ti to cut.
"Sister-in-law, you can open your eyes now. Look in the mirror; don’t you look energetic? Much younger?"
"I don’t know, it just doesn’t feel like ," Huang Cuilan stared at herself in the mirror for a mont, "Jiao Jiao, what do you think?"
Zhou Jiao was genuinely worried that as soon as Zhang Guofu walked in and saw his wife’s ghostly look, he’d turn around and run. It wasn’t youthful; it was more like his mom.
She sighed quietly. To lessen her sins, she’d better accumulate so virtue. Zhou Jiao took a long sleeve from the brick bed and handed it to her, "Put it on first."
"Why?"
This pair of sisters-in-law actually responded in unison, "Why?"
Zhou Jiao shook her head, took the scissors and comb, and started to reshape Huang Cuilan’s hair. She didn’t dare do anything too distinctive, just gave it so layering from her thick hair.
As the layers of hair fell to the ground, Huang Cuilan nervously twisted her neck.
"Don’t move!"
This ti, not only did Zhou Jiao speak, but Lin Juhua also shouted, holding Huang Cuilan’s head down, "Jiao Jiao, help tidy mine up too."
"Snort"
Lin Juhua heard Zhou Jiao snicker but wasn’t at all bothered; her eyes were fixated on hers. Seeing her nod, she cheerfully released Huang Cuilan’s head and stepped back a bit to observe.
"Sister-in-law, you look even better now. Jiao Jiao cut it short inside, which looks neater on the outside. Don’t worry, in a mont it’ll be the front turn."
An hour later, Zhou Jiao dusted off her clothes, glanced at the two sister-in-laws giggling foolishly, and quickly dragged them back to the kitchen. Any more delay and her mother-in-law’s birthday celebration could be forgotten.
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