Chapter 11: Zhou Family's Affair
Chapter 11: Zhou Family’s Affair
“That’s what she said, but you have to leave extra length for them, as they grow up fast.” Mother Zhou still loved them a lot, so she said it like this.
“That is a must,” Third Sister-in-law complied.
Mother Zhou nodded and said nothing more. In fact, except for Fourth Daughter-in-law, none of the other three made her worry.
Third Sister-in-law started to estimate in her heart. After finishing Zhou Da Wa’s and his brothers’, there was still a lot of fabric left and adding the bits from last time, she can still make a warm jacket for her daughter.
Coupled with the two jin of brown sugar given by fourth’s wife, this action was still very generous.
Just looking at it, Third Sister-in-law was very satisfied. But now was not the time for this. She placed the cloth and cotton in her room and went to the kitchen to help Mother Zhou.
As a matter of fact, everyone was dissatisfied with the matter that the original owner had moved out at the beginning, but as time passed, everyone felt it was really fortunate.
Because the original owner never worked at all. When she first got married, she would say this hurt, this ache. In short, she didn’t work no matter what.
But where does the work point come from if she didn’t work? This was a person who eats free rice. She had hands and feet, and still want the whole family to support her!
Everyone had an objection at that time.
Especially because Mother Zhou felt like she was in debt to the original owner, as at the time her son left within a day of their wedding. So she let the original owner take Zhou Qing Bai’s allowance.
Then asked her to pay the living expenses to the family, so even if she did not go to work, it was Zhou Qing Bai who raised her. Others can’t really say anything.
However, Mother Zhou did not expect that it was because of this that the original owner gained more courage. Otherwise, she would not dare to act suicidal once she confirmed pregnant.
Made it looked like no one else had been pregnant before.
Contrary to expectation, Father Zhou and Mother Zhou, happened to eat this cake (fall for this act).
The reason for this, in the final analysis, was because Father Zhou and Mother Zhou doted on their little son.
However, when the original owner was there, their family was very crowded. Because they were newly-wedded and it was the youngest son of Father Zhou and Mother Zhou, the family arranged for a room for them when Zhou Qing Bai married.
Others don’t have this treatment. They were all crowded in a room, but at that time there were not many children, so it was okay. It was just that the couple’s nightlife was somewhat embarrassing.
At that time, it wasn’t that the three branches didn’t have other thoughts toward the original owner getting a room for herself. It was the same phrase, who made Zhou Qing Bai the most doted and youngest son of Father Zhou and Mother Zhou?
Another thing was that before Zhou Qing Bai got married, the money was sent to the family. It can be said that adding up the earning of eldest three brothers in the Zhou Family didn’t even meet the amount Zhou Qing Bai earned.
So even if they have an objection, they have to hold back.
Originally, the only original owner got special treatment, but after she fought to split from the family…
At that time, all three sisters-in-law were watching the drama but didn’t expect her to use her tummy as a protection amulet, and she was able to move out on her own.
However, after she split up, in order to appease the other three daughters-in-law, Father Zhou and Mother Zhou gave each of them their own room. Which was much better than being crowded together.
At that time, the original owner’s initial room was included and was given to Third Sister-in-law.
Eldest Sister-in-law and Second Sister-in-law were all divided into one room each.
Now the other three branches in the old Zhou’s family were all at ease. Father Zhou took out all the allowance bills sent back by Zhou Qing Bai in the last three years, as at that time the original owner was moving out after all.
At that time, the allowance was only a bit over 20 yuan per month. So it was more than 200 yuan a year, and more than 600 yuan in three years.
To build the original owner’s two-bedroom house with a small central room and other inexpensive bits, it cost more than two hundred yuan altogether.
It wasn’t a small sum.
But compared to what Zhou Qing Bai sent back, it wasn’t really much.
Mother Zhou used the reason that the money was Fourth Son’s filial piety to them, old couple, and did not intend to give it to the original owner. Truthfully she was worried that the original owner will cause harm to the saving.
The original owner got her share of grains and oils, naturally. And what’s more, she would receive the allowance from Zhou Qing Bai every month.
So she really didn’t make trouble with Mother Zhou again.
As everyone had a room, and their family can live in a much more spacious room as well as knowing Zhou Qing Bai sent that much money home, they weren’t onto the case of building a house for the original owner.
Because five years ago, Father Zhou and Mother Zhou were still young, they didn’t need to be financially supported by their children. Even if Father Zhou and Mother Zhou were still under 60 years old, they were still healthy!
It can be said that even if the original owner had split away, the original owner was more filial respected toward Father Zhou and Mother Zhou by a few hundred yuan than them.
Although this money was earned by Zhou Qing Bai, it made no difference.
With the family divide, they did not need to watch the original owner do nothing did or her expression of everyone owe her. So after all these years, old Zhou Family was extremely harmonious.
Although there was occasional envy toward the original owner not needing to go to the field to work and just wait for her man to send allowance back to support her, there was nothing to hold a grudge for on the surface.
At about six o’clock, the rest of the old Zhou Family returned.
It was now the autumn harvest time, it was very busy. Being busy from the start of the year was all for this big harvest. No one dares to be lazy, otherwise, with one autumn rain, their one-year effort will be in vain. The whole family’s livelihood can’t survive.
Therefore, they all need to swiftly collect the grain. Then they can be at peace.
“There is brown sugar water in the room, specially made for you father and daughter. Hurry, go drink it.” Third Sister-in-law saw her man and daughter’s sunburnt face and then whispered quickly.
Third Sister-in-law’s daughter ranked fifth among the daughters of old Zhou Family, so she was named Zhou Wu Ni. (T/N: Wu= fifth Ni= girl)
Zhou Wu Ni was initially a bit exhausted, but her eyes brightened when she heard this.
Zhou Qing Sen didn’t ask anything, just took his daughter back to their room. The father and daughter were satisfied after drinking brown sugar water.
The next step was everyone to wash their faces and hands and prepare to eat.
The food at old Zhou Family’s home was good. Cornmeal pancakes are served with rice soup and a pot of scrambled eggs. Although the scramble only had five or six eggs, there were few other dishes. Although they were all vegetarian, other families may not even have this food.
This was because the current autumn harvest was too busy and very tiring, otherwise, they wouldn’t usually eat like this and don’t have such food.
After eating, everyone went to rest.
Third Sister-in-law held her stomach as she returned. Now that her month was getting bigger, the tableware and chopsticks were left for Second Sister-in-law to clean up. Eldest Sister-in-law was also pregnant, so she also rights to rest.
Although Second Sister-in-law curled her lips in displeasure, she said nothing. As the other two had done it when she was heavily pregnant previously. This was the rules of the old Zhou family and it had always been fair.
Eldest Sister-in-law and Second Sister-in-law didn’t know what happened at home today. They all went on with what they should be doing.
Third Sister-in-law returned to the house and was greeted by the father’s and daughter’s question.
Zhou Wu Ni was six years old. At this age, children were already sensible and understood very well that brown sugar was so precious. How could her mother have it?