Chapter 53 - 43: Jiao Jiao Loses Her Temper (1)

At this moment, the Zhang Family Courtyard was also abuzz with discussion, bustling and noisy. Unlike the usual trouble, this time Zhang Guoqing’s two brothers were watching with grins. Zhang Guoqing repeatedly instructed everyone not to get physical out of excitement and especially not to use foul language. Just watch; at most, speak to familiar people about it. It’s enough to let people know about their helpless grievances and even better if it garners some sympathy. After speaking, Zhang Guoqing didn’t care about his brothers’ eye-rolls. He went back and opened the door to the west wing, worriedly saying, "Jiao Jiao, maybe you shouldn’t go out, let me go instead, I know what to do." "Don’t. If you keep persuading me, I’ll get anxious. I’ve been waiting for so long, why is she only coming now? Could she have run off on such a short road? Go check quickly, don’t let her run away, and definitely don’t let her in to dirty our home and mess up our feng shui. Look, are there more and more people? The more people, the better. Dad, Mom, everyone, go outside and watch. I’ll make my entrance last." Zhou Jiao put on thick clothes and a heavy cotton jacket, looking smaller than ever. On her wax-yellow face, somehow looking pitifully pale now. The whole yard burst into laughter, at a loss for words. This confinement was too boring; she was eager for a fuss. Could such a small person like Jiao Jiao really handle it? Watching as the father-in-law and mother-in-law all went out, Lin Juhua stepped forward and stared at Zhou Jiao’s face, covering her mouth, her shoulders shaking from holding in laughter. Mai Miao, coming out from the back room, looked at her worriedly, while Zhou Jiao pushed the two children back in, softly comforting them not to come out and to help look after their younger brother. She truly didn’t want the children to witness such a scene, for a shrew cursing in the street and quarrels are harmful to their character education and future influence. Besides, if the crowd got out of control and they were squeezed, it would be terrible. Zhou Xue’s voice was already shouting, "Zhou Jiao, you wretch, you won’t die a good death. You ate my family’s food, drank my family’s water. Without my mother’s help, you’d be long dead." "Zhou Jiao, come out and make yourself clear. When did I steal your dowry? You don’t dare to come out, you bastard born with a mother but not raised by one." Well, originally I wanted to spare her life and let her go unscathed, but now there’s no need. This time, I’ll nail her once and for all. Let’s see whether Zhou Jiao is really easy to bully. Seeing it was about time, she couldn’t let her husband bear it anymore. Zhou Jiao slowly walked out. From the crowd, voices shouted, "The golden baby is coming out." If it weren’t inappropriate to laugh now, she would have been thrilled. Standing on the step of the gate, Zhou Jiao quietly watched Zhou Xue, who resembled a street shrew: disheveled hair, disordered clothes, spewing foul language, gesticulating wildly, her vicious face exposed. She was blocked by the crowd trying to come forward. After a while, Zhou Jiao stepped down a step, maintaining a calm face and eyes as deep as water, quietly looking at her. Gradually, the surrounding crowd quieted down, eager to hear the golden baby speak. At this moment, only Zhou Xue continued cursing, spewing filth endlessly, bawling and making a scene. Zhou Jiao remained silent, watching her with a calm and cold demeanor. Zhang Guoqing came to her side, supporting her with one hand, while with the other, he was on guard for Zhou Xue’s sudden aggression. Looking around at the crowd, which was about 500 strong, Zhou Jiao finally spoke, "Zhou Xue, keep cursing. I won’t stoop to such crude words; I wasn’t raised to speak like that." Zhou Xue screamed insults, "Zhou Jiao, you bastard born with a mother but not raised by one. You’ll die miserably." Zhou Jiao remained calm, "My mother raised your whole family." Those standing nearby burst into laughter, spreading words outward eagerly. Zhou Jiao still wanted to push Zhou Xue to say more; these were too mild. She had always harbored resentment, hating her mother for 17 years. They twisted her thoughts and attempted to manipulate her life for their family’s gain. Why should she? What did she owe them? How was she in their way? "Tell me how much of my dowry is yours, stolen from you. Clarify when I’ve ever taken your belongings, which were originally mine." Zhou Jiao knew it was about time; she didn’t want to drag it out, guessing that Old Sir Zhou would be arriving soon. With eyes full of disdain, Zhou Jiao stated, "I know you’ve always envied me; my grandfather is a general. And your grandfather, oh, Huang Damao, merging pants with the son and daughter-in-law, years ago. You hate it, but there’s nothing you can do; you’re still you, and I’m still me." The crowd erupted in laughter, the messengers outside shouting loudly, "The son, daughter-in-law, and grandparents wear one pair of pants~" Zhou Xue, furious and embarrassed, tried desperately to rush forward but was blocked, cursing, "You bastard, your mother birthed you but didn’t want you. Without our family, you’d be long dead." Zhou Jiao looked at her with disdain, saying, "I know you’ve always envied me, wishing you were me. You resent your mother, jealous that I have mine. My mother was noble and beautiful. And yours? Only married into the Old Zhou Family by banking on the flesh in her belly. No matter how much you hate, she’s still your mother." This time, no one spread it outside, but whispers were loud. After all, it was a family scandal. Zhou Xue was so angry she wanted to jump and hit someone, but was stopped again, "You’re talking nonsense, Zhou Jiao, you won’t die a good death. You deliberately say this, who’s jealous of you, you unwanted bastard, bane to others." This time, Zhou Jiao raised her voice, "Ask your dad. The hundred-year reputation of my Old Zhou Family was ruined by your mother. She was the pride of the Huang Family, enriching them. In our Old Zhou Family, she’s a disgrace, raising two useless sons pitifully stupid. For a hundred years, generations of Old Zhou Family descendants have lived with integrity, contributing greatly to this country, standing straight-backed through the ages. Never has there been a traitor, a renegade, a vile person, or a bastard among us. All these years, have I ever complained outside? No; have I ever done anything disgraceful to my ancestors? Never. Family shame should not be spread abroad, but today you’ve cursed for so long, repeating the dowry again and again. I, Zhou Jiao, bear the pride inherent in the Zhou Family. Wealth is just an external object; I’ve never cared about it. Since today you want to openly speak in front of everyone, denying things upon our doorstep, pushing me to admit to false crimes, then let’s talk. Lest you truly think I’m a piece of dough easily shaped, letting the elder branch bully and exploit me at will. You’ve said your mother raised me. Then I want to ask how she did it. Apart from my mother sending money regularly every month, my grandfather’s home, my mother, my two aunts, my little aunt always sent baby formula, which was consumed by you four siblings together. I was raised on the formula my grandmother snatched. When I turned 10, others said I looked like a small chick. These villagers know. You four grew up tall and strong, secretly bullying me, with your mother smiling on the side.