Chapter 783: Chapter 526: Conflict
Chapter 526
Zhou Hanliang washed his hands clean and came over. Without waiting for everyone to ask, he voluntarily reported the situation: “Doudou’s mom has basically accepted me, but she wants us to delay the wedding a bit.”
“Then why didn’t you stay for dinner?” Chuxia asked curiously.
“I was afraid of saying too much, so I took my leave.”
“Was my third cousin still there when you left?”
“Yeah, they were still talking.”
“Just say what you need to say.” Zhou Mikang looked at him, “We’ve known each other for so many years, do you think I can’t see through you?”
Being called out by Zhou Mikang like that, he laughed awkwardly, “In the heat of the moment, I rushed back, but now I think you all must have known already.”
Old Madam Zhou glared at him unsatisfied, “Xiaoliang, you’re getting worse. You never used to keep people in suspense like this. Where did you learn this?”
“No, it’s just…” Zhou Hanliang scratched his head, “I went with Doudou’s mom to settle accounts with Qin Xiangyi, and it just so happened that Deputy Jiang was home. He slapped Qin Xiangyi and said since he’s an ordinary citizen now, he wants to divorce Qin Xiangyi.
Hasn’t Qin Xiangyi always been unfair to Aunt Lin? I rushed over to tell you, but seeing everyone so happy, I felt like it would ruin the mood. I reckon grandpa and uncle probably already know, Captain, you do too, right?”
“No, I didn’t know.” Zhou Mikang looked at Old Master Zhou and Zhou Jingping, “Grandpa, Dad, did you know? Dad, was this your doing?”
“Yeah, I knew, but I didn’t think it would happen so fast.” Zhou Jingping looked at Lin Yanqiu, “I said I’d make it right for you, and now I’ve done it. Aren’t you relieved?”
Lin Yanqiu smiled happily, but her words were relentless, “Is this how you make things right? How long has it been? But aren’t you a bit devious, dealing with me is Qin Xiangyi, but you brought Jiang Xinyu down, is that appropriate?”
“If he hadn’t done something inappropriate, how could I have brought him down?” Zhou Jingping looked at Old Master Zhou, “Dad, this wasn’t abuse of power, Jiang Xinyu’s framing of Peng Dingguo wasn’t something I made up.”
“I know.” Old Master Zhou glared at him, “I’m your father, do you think I don’t know your temperament? Coming to explain to me, are you asking for a beating too?”
Zhou Jingping was speechless, couldn’t his father’s temper be a little less fiery? Especially in front of a bunch of the younger generation, where could he save face?
“Old man, the eldest isn’t young anymore, watch your tone.” Old Madam Zhou laughed and intervened, “Yanqiu, your dad thinks the eldest was too slow, haha…”
“Dad, in our hearts, you are absolutely remarkable.” Chuxia quickly said.
“Remarkable?” Zhou Jingping unconsciously repeated.
Realizing she had inadvertently used a modern term, Chuxia quickly clarified, “Remarkable as in esteemed, like an elder, meaning that in our hearts, you are a dignified, upright, and respectable elder.” She dared not explain it as something high-end and classy; high-end was fine, but suggesting her father-in-law was classy would be asking for trouble…
“This child really can create new words.” Old Madam Zhou laughed, “But I like it, remarkable, haha, so am I also remarkable?”
Chuxia nodded in agreement, “Of course, Grandpa and Grandma are both remarkable.”
Watching everyone chatting and laughing, Liang Xiaohong felt sour inside. She had gone to see her son and daughter-in-law several times but couldn’t persuade them, and while it was fine on regular days, during the New Year, it really didn’t sit well with her.
Noticing her expression, Old Madam Zhou sighed, “Xiaohong, tomorrow have Gangping go with you to find Zhongkang, just say it’s from me and his grandpa, he must move back home for the New Year.”
“Mom…” Liang Xiaohong looked at Old Madam Zhou with excitement, “Are you serious?”
“Would I joke about this?” Old Madam Zhou glared at her, “Zhongkang is also my grandson, equally dear to me, but when he couldn’t turn his mind around, I didn’t want to force him.”
Old Master Zhou chimed in, “Laoer’s wife, Zhongkang will be 26 after the New Year. No matter how dear he is, we can’t coddle him like a child, or he’ll never truly grow up.”
Liang Xiaohong nodded quickly, “Thank you, Dad, thank you, Mom, I understand, I truly understand.”
At that moment, Zhou Zhongkang was in a heated argument with Mei Xiaofeng.
Xiao Feng’s point was that if they weren’t going back to the Zhou house, then they should go to the Mei house for the New Year. Either way, they couldn’t stay in this shabby dorm room, but Zhou Zhongkang wasn’t interested in going to the Zhou house, much less the Mei house.
He felt that if they spent the New Year at the Mei house, it would be like being a son-in-law who married into the wife’s family.
If Old Master Mei liked him, treated him well, it would be fine. But whenever he saw him, Old Master Mei always had a cold and indifferent expression, and until now hasn’t given him any substantial help. Deep down, he resented the Mei family, so naturally, he wouldn’t go to the Mei family for New Year.
“So what you’re saying is, we’ll stay here for New Year?” Mei Xiaofeng looked at him with anger, her face flushed red.
“What, regretting marrying me and living a hard life now?” Zhou Zhongkang gave her a cold glance, “If you don’t want to be with me, want to go back to your parents, I won’t stop you.”
“Zhou Zhongkang, you bastard!”
“Is it that I’m a bastard or you’ve changed? From the time you met me, I told you that in the Zhou family, I’m a marginal person, and the family’s resources cannot be allocated to me.
I also said that I’ve never been close to the Zhou family members, and if we marry, we’d have to set up our own household, and in the beginning, life might be very tough.
What did you say at the time? You said you liked me as a person and didn’t care whether I got along well with the Zhou family members. You also mentioned the Mei family, and that they would help when appropriate.
But in the end? You started to resent me for not going back to the Zhou family, for not being able to please them, and as for your Mei family, they simply wouldn’t even give me a serious look.
If it truly was like you said, that it’s because you love me that you’re willing to be with me, then you shouldn’t be forcing me like this. Going back to the Zhou family isn’t impossible, but it was just my mother asking us to return, what does that count for?
As for going to the Mei family, you say no one cares about me, if I go, I won’t be able to hold my head high in the Mei family later. I also have my pride, Mei Xiaofeng, don’t make me lose face, okay?”
“Don’t you think you’re overthinking a lot of things? You’re the junior in the Zhou family. We’ve gone back before without any irreconcilable conflicts occurring, yet you decide to flip out, decide not to go back. Just who do you expect to invite you?
In the Mei family, you’re the son-in-law. All respect needs to be earned by you, not by doing nothing while expecting the Mei family to treat you like a treasure.
Zhou Zhongkang, do you even know your own worth? According to this logic, if you start working and your boss doesn’t value you, would you just not work well and stay at home waiting for the boss to invite you?
If it’s a job that can’t function without you, fair enough! But if you’re merely dispensable, do you think anyone has a reason to bow to you?
Right now, if we take the initiative to visit the Zhou family and get along well with grandparents, and elders, they’ll certainly accept us and treat us well.”
“You go if you want, I won’t.” Zhou Zhongkang nestled on the sofa, closing his eyes, “I like this free lifestyle. Why should I go back and look at their faces? Mei Xiaofeng, you’re my wife, the person you should stand up for is me, not others.”
“Just what are you stubborn about?” Mei Xiaofeng angrily punched him, “In front of outsiders, whether something would offend people or not, I would certainly stand by you, because I’m your wife. If I don’t give you face, who else would?
But at home, I can’t knowingly support you in your wrongs and let you keep going astray, how will we live this way? What will happen when there’s a baby?”
“We’ll talk about it when it happens.”
“You…” Furious, Mei Xiaofeng threw herself onto the bed and cried.
Marriage is indeed different from dating.
Back then, she fell for Zhou Zhongkang at first sight, and at that time, although he was indifferent to others, he was still gentle with her and attentive when eating out.
Now he waits for home-cooked meals after coming home and doesn’t lift a finger to do any chores. The crucial point is he doesn’t even notice everything she’s done, thinking it’s what she should be doing.
Mind you, before marrying, she was also the pampered daughter who didn’t do any housework. Why is it that after marrying her, she has to become like a maid?
Fortunately, every time her mother-in-law visits, she helps tidy the house to perfection, otherwise, she’d really go mad, not to mention how doing laundry in the dead of winter is a brutal task.
Thinking about the other two daughters-in-law in the Zhou family, Yu Tao and Lin Chuxia, she feels even more aggrieved. They’re in similar positions, why do they live like ladies, while she has to endure this?
“Enough, stop crying!” Zhou Zhongkang’s volume unconsciously amplified, “During the New Year’s, crying is out of place, do you really think life has been too easy for us?”
Mei Xiaofeng sat up, glaring at him hatefully: “Zhou Zhongkang, I don’t want to be with you anymore.”
“Alright.” Zhou Zhongkang nodded, “I’ll have the advisor draft divorce papers tomorrow.”
“You…” Angrily said, she hoped he’d comfort her a bit, but the cold reply made Mei Xiaofeng’s blood rush to her head. Spotting the kitchen knife hung on the wall, she rushed over, grabbed it, and slashed her wrist, blood gushing forth…
“You!” Zhou Zhongkang thought she was bluffing. Seeing her like this, he panicked, rushed over, grabbed the knife from her hand, picked her up, and ran outside.
“You still care about me…” Mei Xiaofeng giggled foolishly, the expression tugged at Zhou Zhongkang’s heart, what on earth has he done? (To be continued. If you like this work, please go to Qidian () to vote for recommendations or monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit to read.)