Chapter 791: Chapter 532: They’re All Here
“Xiao Feng, big brother did the right thing. If he had told me at the time, I wouldn’t have listened either…” Zhou Zhongkang looked at his wife with a bitter smile. “Indeed, growth always comes at a cost. It’s just, you’ve suffered.”
“It’s worth it if you can grow after paying the price.” Mei Xiaofeng held his hand. “Zhongkang, stop saying flattering words. We are husband and wife.”
“Alright.” Zhou Zhongkang nodded. “I won’t say it anymore.”
Seeing his sister and brother-in-law getting along, Mei Yitong sighed silently. Such is fate in marriage; no matter how good it looks to outsiders, if it doesn’t work, it means no fate. Conversely, if outsiders think it’s inappropriate, but they fancy each other, it means there’s fate.
Seeing the young couple so harmonious, he couldn’t bring himself to say anything unpleasant. However, considering that both the Zhou family and the Mei family don’t know, he worried about his sister’s recovery, his brows tightly furrowed.
“Brother, what’s wrong again? You’re frowning like a knot.” Mei Xiaofeng examined Mei Yitong and asked.
“Only your mother-in-law knows. Can she take good care of you? Can your nutrition keep up?” Mei Yitong said as he felt inexplicably angry again. “You’ve lost so much blood, how long will it take to replenish?”
“Don’t worry, the meals my mother-in-law brought these two days are all nutritious and blood-replenishing…” Mei Xiaofeng intentionally changed the subject to avoid giving Zhou Zhongkang a hard time. “Brother, don’t worry about me anymore. Better worry about yourself and quickly find me a sister-in-law. Dad and Mom are probably worried sick about us.”
That’s right, one is so old and unmarried, while the other married a husband whom the family doesn’t like. Isn’t that something to worry about all day long? Thinking this, Mei Yitong smiled helplessly. “This kind of thing isn’t something that will succeed just because I worry. The last time with Yoon Duo was due to personality incompatibility. So this time, no matter what, I won’t ruin another girl’s life. Unless I truly find someone suitable, I won’t get married again.”
“But you must at least try to know whether someone is suitable or not. If you don’t look, don’t interact, how will you know who is suitable?
Take Zhongkang and me as an example; we dated for so many years, thinking we knew each other very well. But just after marriage, we realized that what we thought we knew wasn’t the case.
So, brother, you don’t know how badly we fought in the beginning. Later, gradually, we fought less because genuinely living together made us fully understand each other’s personalities and ideas. You wouldn’t be so angry over some things anymore.
Like in the past, when Zhou Zhongkang didn’t take me to the Zhou family, I’d be particularly upset, thinking he didn’t value me and was ashamed of me. Otherwise, how could he not take me to meet his parents?
But now, I don’t think like that anymore. If he himself doesn’t want to go back, how would he take me? It’s not that he doesn’t value me but doesn’t want the Zhou family not to value me.
This is the difference between understanding and not understanding a matter. So brother, don’t always make excuses for yourself; you must give yourself opportunities for happiness to find you.”
Mei Yitong stared at his sister for a moment before saying, “You speak so eloquently; since you know so much, why did you end up in the hospital?”
“Brother!” Mei Xiaofeng glanced uncomfortably at Mei Yitong. “Why are you still bringing this up? Didn’t I say, it was just a matter of anger.
Besides, living together as a couple doesn’t mean you won’t argue after adjusting to each other. At the time, it was just a burst of anger, thinking that while not visiting on ordinary days was fine, New Year was when families gathered happily, wasn’t it?
Moreover, if the two of us become estranged with both sides of the elders, how would we live the future? Once we have a baby, even the pot might not have a lid.
So when I suggested going home for New Year and he didn’t agree, I thought he was particularly irresponsible, not considering me, and wanted to leave me. All of a sudden, the pessimistic feelings took over, and life felt meaningless…” At this, Mei Xiaofeng spread her hands, “So brother, you must remember, after finding a sister-in-law, you can’t be harsh when she’s angry. Women, when impulsive, can do foolish things.”
“I…” Zhou Zhongkang stammered, not knowing what to say. He had already said he wouldn’t say flattering words anymore, but hearing what his wife said now, he felt he should say something. Not apologizing, not flattering, he genuinely didn’t know how to respond.
“Alright, alright, how did we end up back here again? Let’s turn the page on this matter. I won’t interfere in your affairs, and you shouldn’t worry about mine either.” Mei Yitong sighed, “I came today just to see how badly you’re hurt and to decide whether to tell the family.
Since you don’t want to say, I won’t push it…” He glanced at Zhou Zhongkang, “But you must promise me, during this period, nutrition must be kept up; don’t let Xiao Feng’s body suffer.”
Zhou Zhongkang quickly responded, “Big brother, don’t worry. I’ve figured it out. Once Xiao Feng is discharged, we’ll move back to the Zhou family. Until we have replenished her health, then we’ll decide where to live.”
“That’s more like it.” Mei Yitong breathed a sigh of relief. “As Xiao Feng said, if I’m married and have a wife, I won’t need to worry about Xiao Feng’s nutrition not keeping up.”
Mei Xiaofeng squinted and smiled, “Yes, big brother, for my sake, you must hurry and get married.”
Mei Yitong glared at her: “You really know how to take advantage, I say, are you really my sister? Just for yourself, you’d let your brother marry just any woman to make do?”
“Big brother…” Mei Xiaofeng felt exasperated, what is he even talking about…
“Yitong is here?” Liang Xiaohong stood at the door, awkwardly smiling as she greeted Mei Yitong. These days, she had been on edge, feeling guilty whenever she saw the Mei family.
“Hello, Aunt.” Mei Yitong smiled at her, “Thanks for all your hard work these days, Aunt.”
“No trouble, no trouble, it’s what I should do.” Liang Xiaohong said as she opened a thermal container and scooped out a bowl of ginseng chicken soup to hand to Zhou Zhongkang, “Give this soup to Xiaofeng first.” After that, she placed various small dishes on the table, “Once you’ve finished the soup, you two can have your meal.”
Mei Yitong glanced at everything and found it all suitable for an illness recovery diet, so he felt relieved: “Aunt, did you specially make all this? You’ve really put in a lot of work.”
“It wasn’t especially made by me…” Liang Xiaohong said bashfully, glancing at her son. Seeing he had no objections, she continued, “Nobody at home knows; I just find reasons to put some aside every meal.”
“They must have figured it out by now, right?” Mei Yitong pointed at the dinner on the small table, “This is all suitable for someone who lost a lot of blood, plus, with ginseng chicken soup, why also make sticky rice red date porridge? As far as I know, the daily meals at the Zhou family aren’t usually this abundant, right?”
What Mei Yitong said made Liang Xiaohong unsure. True, Zhou family meals were typically home-style dishes. These days were especially sumptuous, she assumed it was for the New Year, didn’t think much of it. But now, she wasn’t so sure.
She didn’t particularly mind if the family found out, but she was worried Zhou Zhongkang might dislike it. Her greatest fear was losing her son.
Zhou Zhongkang realized, “I think they probably know, but since mom doesn’t want to speak about it and worried I’d overthink, everyone just pretends not to know.” He sighed, “I used to be so unfilial.”
An initially anxious Liang Xiaohong was surprised when he said that. Shouldn’t her son be furious? All along, what Zhou Zhongkang minded most was being looked down upon by the Zhou family elders. He was very keen to keep this concealed, otherwise, she wouldn’t have hesitated back then and chosen to keep it secret.
“Mom, I’ve figured it out. I’ll get along with the family from now on.” Zhou Zhongkang bowed to Liang Xiaohong, “Mom, I’m sorry for all the worry and grievance I’ve caused you over the years.”
“Zho…Zhongkang…” Liang Xiaohong’s lips trembled. She had hoped for this day for so many years, dreamed of it countless times. Now that it was real, she found it unbelievable.
“Mom, it was big brother and Xiaofeng who made me realize how wrong I used to be.” Zhou Zhongkang put an arm around Liang Xiaohong’s shoulder, “The person I owe the most apologies to is you, always putting you in a difficult place.”
“Not at all, it’s not difficult at all for mom.” Liang Xiaohong mumbled, mind in a fog, not knowing what she was saying. In the next second, seeing a group of people suddenly appear at the door, she was even more confused… was this a dream or reality?
Of course, it was the whole Zhou family who came, including Old Master Zhou and Old Madam Zhou.
In an instant, the spacious hospital room became crowded. Old Madam Zhou first sat by the bedside, holding Mei Xiaofeng’s hand tenderly, “Child, the Zhou family owes you an apology for what you have suffered.”
“Grandma…” Mei Xiaofeng stammered, not knowing what to say. Everything happened so suddenly, she found it hard to believe as well.
Above all, she never imagined Old Master Zhou and Old Madam Zhou would personally come to see her.
Seeing all this, Mei Yitong quietly retreated outside; this was what he most wished for since his sister got married, he has been waiting for this day.
Now, he could finally be at ease, his sister’s happiness in this life should have no more setbacks.
“Thank you.” Zhou Mikang patted his shoulder, thanking him seriously.
“It’s what I should do.” Mei Yitong smiled, “She’s my own sister, of course, I want her to be happy.” He shook his head, “Actually, she was unhappy because of you, though of course, you’re not to blame—Zhou Zhongkang just wasn’t mature enough back then. Thankfully, that won’t be the case anymore.”
This was his way of telling Zhou Mikang that Zhou Zhongkang has come to his senses.
“Did you tell him about the past?” Zhou Mikang quickly understood; he knew Zhou Zhongkang’s character too well. Unless he knew he had been worse off before, he wouldn’t have really accepted the Zhou family’s goodwill.