Chapter 790: Chapter 531: Past Misunderstandings (Part 2)
"I know my parents’ capabilities, but since we haven’t separated the family, and Eldest Uncle’s Wife’s family is here and unimplicated, why can’t they take care of us a bit?
What frustrates me is that the whole family only sees Third Brother’s excellence, but have they ever considered whether the environment I grew up in can compare to Third Brother’s?
If I had the same favorable conditions as Third Brother, I truly believe that my achievements wouldn’t be any less than his. Why can’t they treat us fairly?"
Zhou Zhongkang spoke his true thoughts.
"You know I used to be classmates with Zhou Mikang, right?"
"I know." Zhou Zhongkang nodded, thinking to himself, not only do I know you were classmates, but I also know you both liked the same woman.
"Back then he, Wang Jie, and I were not just friends but also rivals. In every respect, the top three were always us, and we took turns being the first.
We admired each other, yet secretly competed. I watched as Zhou Mikang worked hard, and I can honestly tell you that his success today is entirely due to himself.
In those days, when their mother stayed with four siblings, they couldn’t possibly make ends meet. Their grandmother’s family was well-off, but their mother was proud and didn’t want her family to talk behind the Zhou family’s back, so she never went back.
In the hardest times, their family would only have one meal a day. Every night, the four siblings would make matchboxes by the oil lamp to earn some money for household expenses.
You know Eldest Uncle’s Wife’s personality, right? Even if the family is so poor they can’t make ends meet, she would still dress the children neatly so outsiders wouldn’t laugh at them.
Thus, many people back then thought they didn’t suffer much and were happier than other children, but only we, who often hung out with him, knew what kind of life he lived.
Every morning, he and Zhou Xikang delivered matchboxes. Only after inspection and accounting could they go to school. In the evenings after coming home, the brothers would get more boxes to work on, and they only went to bed when they finished.
To earn more for the family, they would take on more boxes each time than the previous day, so they would sleep later and later. Zhou Xiangping was still young then, so the main workforce was him, his brother, and Eldest Uncle’s Wife. Yet in those days, he still held onto his top three spot in class, though Wang Jie and I usually took the first place.
It was only after the Zhou family was vindicated that he truly had the time to focus on his studies, and from that point on, Wang Jie and I never beat him again.
There was a time I was also not convinced by him, even cutting off contact for a while. But as I got older and understood more, I realized how immature I was back then.
If you weren’t my brother-in-law, I would never have told you these things. Since we are relatives now, I hope both families can live harmoniously and not be laughed at by others. Now, do you know what to do?"
After being silent for a long time, Zhou Zhongkang finally came to his senses and looked at Mei Yitong, full of bewilderment: "Did my Third Brother’s family really live such a tough life before?"
"What do you think?"
"Thank you, Big Brother." Zhou Zhongkang looked sincerely at Mei Yitong, "If it weren’t for you, I might have forever lived in my own delusions, thinking Third Brother achieved everything today because of Eldest Uncle’s Wife’s family. From what you say, they indeed had no ability to take care of us siblings back then, and materially speaking, we probably lived better than Third Brother’s family."
Mei Yitong sighed: "It’s good you know now. Don’t act foolishly anymore, hurting yourself and your family."
"Big Brother, I will apologize to Third Brother’s family, and to my parents too. I truly am unfilial; for so many years, I always felt they owed me, feeling that the Zhou family owed me. In fact, I owe them, and probably in this lifetime, I can never repay it..."
Mei Yitong interrupted him: "Parents never expect their children to repay. They always consider their children first, respecting their children’s wishes.
Like this time, Xiao Feng is so badly hurt. Do you think your mother feels good hiding this secret? Yet she still chose to cover for you. What does that tell you? You should understand, right?"
"Big Brother, why didn’t you tell us earlier?" Mei Xiaofeng looked at Mei Yitong with a face full of conflict. "I also always felt Grandpa Zhou and Grandma Zhou favored Third Brother too much, so when I went back with Zhou Zhongkang, I uncontrollably targeted Third Brother and his wife, making everyone unhappy. If I had known, how could I have targeted them?
You’re so mean, knowing Zhou Zhongkang always misunderstood Third Brother’s family, you kept this secret, waiting until everything blew up before telling us, I hate it."
"You’re typically shirking responsibility. Why does someone else need to plan your life?" Mei Yitong glared at her in dissatisfaction. "If when you were together, I had come in and told you all this, would you have listened?"
Would I have listened back then? Zhou Zhongkang asked himself, and the answer was, NO! He believed if it was him back then, his first reaction would have felt Mei Yitong was embellishing for Zhou Mikang’s benefit, wanting to shine in the Zhou family’s spotlight. As for Mei Yitong and Zhou Mikang’s disputes, he would think there are only lasting interests, not lasting friends. That is how he was back then, always imagining the worst of others! (To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to recommend it on Qidian () and vote for it. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read at .)