Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
She was not stupid. She knew that Zhou Zheng’s words were as sweet as honey because Qiao Nan and Madam Zhai were back. Since he did not say those good words because of her, there was nothing for her to be happy about.
“Well…” Zhou Zheng contemplated for a while. “It will be very tiring tomorrow. Have a good rest today. Don’t tire yourself out.” Zhou Zheng was sounding Qiao Zijin out, checking to see if Qiao Nan met up with Qiao Zijin now that she was back.
Qiao Nan seldom brought the three children to Ping Cheng. She could not possibly coop herself at home. Even if she could stay at home, her children would feel bored.
If they played with the children, the adults would not be able to match up to their stamina.
Qiao Zijin crossed her arms. “Why don’t you be more direct? Qiao Nan is back to attend our wedding. She had been through her wedding and definitely knows that it will be very hectic tomorrow. Today is the National Day. Everywhere in Ping Cheng is bustling with activities. She and my dad went out with the three kids. Are you satisfied with this answer?”
“Don’t be angry. I am just concerned for you.” Zhou Zheng smiled, guilty. “Have a good rest tonight so that you can be a beautiful bride tomorrow. I won’t disturb you.” After hanging up the phone, Zhou Zheng told his mother the important information that he got through the conversation. “Mom, it seems that the relationship between Qiao Nan and Qiao Zijin is not as bad as the rumors.”
Mother Zhou rolled her eyes. “Don’t take things for granted. I don’t know much about them, but I feel that Qiao Nan is back not because of her good relationship with her sister. Instead, it is because she is educated and polite and knows her manners.”
Father Zhou agreed. “You must bear in mind what your mother said. Don’t think that just because they give you face and come back to attend your wedding, you and Zhai Sheng will have a close relationship like normal brothers-in-law. Your wife didn’t figure this out in the past, so she ended up having a bad relationship with them.”
When she bullied Qiao Nan, she felt that she was older than Qiao Nan, so it was alright for Qiao Nan to make sacrifices. When she wanted to benefit from their relationship, she would remember that they were siblings. She would have the impression that before getting married, they were the closest apart from their parents. There was no such thing in the world. How could one choose to forget that one used to hurt the other party and want the other party to fulfill all their requests under all circumstances?
One’s parents might not even be able to stand on the children’s side under such circumstances.
This kind of behavior was simply taking things for granted, being heartless and ungrateful.
Whose heart was not made of flesh? One would feel disheartened and weary when faced with such circumstances.
“Is it that serious?” Zhou Zheng was unwilling to accept the truth. “Dad, Mom, you know that she does not have a good temper and will flare up and raise a rumpus for the slightest thing. But they are biological sisters, one family. Although they have arguments, they will forget about it eventually.”
This time, Mother Zhou felt that the problem was indeed serious. “Zhou Zheng, if this is your honest opinion, I feel that it’s better to call off the wedding tomorrow. If this goes on and you and Qiao Zijin stir up troubles, the Zhou family might stand to benefit from the Zhai family now, but we will have to pay twice the price in the future.”
It was already bad enough if one did not know one’s limits. What made things worse was that her son was marrying Qiao Nan’s sister, Qiao Zijin. If her son was muddlehead and the daughter-in-law was bent on making trouble for her sister, the two of them would cause the Zhou family’s downfall.
Mother Zhou was full of regrets. “Old Zhou, judging from what Zhou Zheng said, I think this is a bad marriage. It will bring serious trouble to the Zhou family. Zhou Zheng, we are getting on in years. We cannot handle any scares and frights that you and your wife might cause. We are not in good health. We will not be able to take it.”
Zhou Zheng’s expression darkened. “Mom, is that so serious?”
“Of course!” Given the Zhou family’s situation, it was already good enough if they could make a small fortune. But they did not have the fortune to strike it rich. If they harbored thoughts of striking rich or grabbing hold of the dragon’s tail to soar into the sky, they might lose their grip when they were in the sky and fall to their deaths.
“You must listen to your mom!” Father Zhou could not help but give Zhou Zheng a few smacks. “Otherwise, if anything happens in the future, don’t come asking for advice from us!” Father Zhou had been listening to his wife for most of his life, and his wife had proved to be making correct decisions.
This was the only time that she appeared to be undecided as to whether she should allow her son to marry Qiao Zijin and to collect the marriage and hold the wedding banquet.
If Qiao Zijin was being muddlehead, the three of them would be able to stop her and made her listen to them. However, if his son listened to Qiao Zijin, the Zhou family would be like what his wife had said. They would be down in their luck. “I used to tell you that a man should listen to his wife. There’s no harm in doing that. But that is only provided that your wife is as brilliant as your mom. Take for example your ex-girlfriend. Other than spending your money to buy things that she liked, she was not helpful to you or had your interests at heart.”
Father Zhou looked gloomy at the mention of this. “Why is it that you resemble me in all aspects except that you do not have good foresight like me? I might have taught you to listen to your wife, but since you did not manage to get a wife like your mom, you must forget what I taught you and don’t listen to her!”
Zhou Zheng, who was already undecided and uneasy, turned angry and was speechless at the way his father praised his mother. “Fine, I will listen to Mom. Will that do?” Forget it. Anyway, he never dreamed of working in the capital. He heard that the capital had steep housing prices and serious air pollution.
He should be down-to-earth and stay in Ping Cheng. Although he did not have a close relationship with the Zhai family, it was already good enough that he would be doing better than his current situation.
Zhou Zheng was not an ambitious man. Now that his parents gave him a serious lecture, he no longer harbored any thoughts of striking it rich. It was a good idea to be down-to-earth.
However, he felt upset that his father complained about his ex-girlfriend. Zhou Zheng lifted the corners of his mouth and refuted his father in his head. It was alright that she was not smart, had a bad temper, and was a spendthrift. What was important was that she had good looks. He felt happy looking and being with her. Anyway, he did not marry her. She would make a good girlfriend.
“Grandpa, I want to come down.” The triplets had lots of fun in Ping Cheng and they were exhausted. Qiao Dongliang carried San Bao all the way home. Once she reached home, she no longer felt like being carried by Qiao Dongliang. She kicked her legs, wanting to walk by herself. Qiao Dongliang’s arms were aching as well. Since she asked to come down, he let the chubby and sweet-smelling San Bao go reluctantly.
