Chapter 68 - 57: Persuading Mother

Zhang Guoqing was speechless. This mother-in-law, really, shares secrets but doesn’t tell them to anyone else? How does her brain work? Not telling the father-in-law but sharing with the first-time met son-in-law—isn’t she afraid of trusting the wrong person? I suppose the father-in-law must have been quite troubled back then too. "Here we go again, you’re not being cautious. These things should be secretly kept in your heart, don’t let them slip next time. I’m the son-in-law you’ve just met, you’re too careless. What if you encounter someone scheming?" "Silly child, I trust my daughter’s judgment. Even your grandfather praises you. I can judge people well; who’s good or bad, a glance is enough. That old man from the Zhou Family, you can tell he’s not a good person, and your grandfather didn’t believe me, but now he knows." Lin Lishan said pridefully. Zhang Guoqing was even more speechless; you know Old Man Zhou isn’t good, yet you’re fine with your daughter being raised in his house. Is this loving your daughter or resenting her? Even if you want to say this, you shouldn’t tell him and Zhou Jiao directly, right? Someone petty might hate you for it. Luckily, you met Zhou Jiao, who’s carefree. "Yes, yes, Mom, you’re as sharp as Jiao Jiao, can tell good from bad with a glance. Oh my, Mom, why did you bring rice and flour here, they’re so heavy." Zhang Guoqing didn’t know what to say anymore, finally understanding Fang Fei’s meaning when she said a mother-in-law always had a youthful heart. This is just a big kid that never grew up; thinking about the previous mother-in-law, it’s worlds apart—one frugal, one generous, it made him laugh and cry inside. "Your grandfather said other things in the countryside are easy to deal with, but rice and flour are scarce. Besides, if there’s too much stuff and people ask, just say they’re clothes and blankets. You’re strong; move the food to your mother. The rest, let Jiao Jiao handle." Even with Divine Power, he had to move them three times! But the small living room became spacious. Looking at the remaining packages, Zhang Guoqing started moving the boxes one by one into the inner room, convenient for the mother and daughter to view. Watching the mother and daughter laughing and hugging together, he was genuinely happy. Putting aside the Lin Family, Zhou Jiao could get along with her mother-in-law, finally able to embrace her mother. His Jiao Jiao’s kind, gentle nature, not prone to enmity, always considering others—his Jiao Jiao should have been a princess cherished by parents, yet suffered through hardships in both lives. Though Zhou Jiao didn’t speak of it before, the lack of motherly and fatherly love was her regret deep down, similar to how he feels grounded having parents now, naturally thinking of them, partner, and children when away from home. Parents represent a different kind of love than that between spouses, a selfless devotion, making him realize the family affection he most desired and longed for in past lives. When his grandfather passed away after a brief companionship, the grandparent-grandchild bond made him want to immerse in that sorrow, yet the kick from new life later woke him. A family with spouse and children can only be incomplete; adding parents makes it complete. That family he cherishes, motivating him to strive, wanting his father to have no regrets, wanting his mother to be proud without sadness. Like children in kindergarten showing off a little red flower to their parents—immature, yet deeply touched inside, grateful for the world’s best parents bestowed by heaven. In the kitchen, looking at the cellar full of rice, flour, oil, cured meat, and dried fish. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law stared at each other in confusion. What’s this, never seen anyone bringing so much stuff while visiting. Not feeling joy, rather feeling negligent towards the other. Suddenly, Zhang Guoqing thought of his mom, went to the kitchen to see her, waking up Zhang mother. Mother Zhang looked around, made sure no one was there before speaking: "Xiao Wu, why did your mother-in-law bring so much stuff? Isn’t your grandfather staying just a few days before leaving tomorrow? She can’t eat much alone; we feel awkward. Did you decline? Why did you move it to the cellar yourself? How will people view this?" Zhang Guoqing looked at his mom, feeling deeply moved. That’s his mom, neither surprised nor greedy, only worrying about future discrimination. Seeing his mom and sister-in-law so helpless, he quickly reassured them: "Mom, sister-in-law, rest assured, I know what to do. I’ll be filial to her in the future. Anyway, you saw the west wing piled high, people coming and going. Mother-in-law asked me to put the food in the kitchen for you, I guess she doesn’t know how to cook. I moved other boxes to the inner room, they’re looking at them now." After speaking, seeing his mom still frowning, he smiled at her, took her aside, "Mom, relax, when they leave I’ll prepare specialties for them to take back. You know your son—won’t let anyone take advantage of him." Lin Juhua felt she had seen the world, seeing people bring things like this, thinking it was for Jiao Jiao, surprisingly all given to the mother-in-law. Lin Juhua sighed: "I understand now why people call her the golden baby, indeed she is. I saw them moving things earlier, wow, four soldiers plus two family men, six people moving, with two carts coming over." Huang Cuilan glanced at the mother-in-law, sister-in-law, then Xiao Wu, added: "This time we owe a big favor; Xiao Wu see what specialties we have, prepare more, ask around who has, give your grandfather to take back to Beijing. I have money on hand, not enough, we’ll add." Lin Juhua also nodded, "I have no money, just give orders if you need manpower, I’ll let my child’s dad prepare some stuff too. Mom, whatever amount you prepare, I won’t be envious. I see now sister-in-law’s personality resembles her mother’s." Mother Zhang and the others laughed, it’s the first time the second family generously offered without calculating. Knowing she usually counts thoroughly, fearing losses. Zhang Guoqing nodded with a smile: "Fine, listening to the two sisters-in-law, no need to give the elders directly, just send packages, multiple families will send. Consider it repaying past favors. I have money to arrange it first, if it’s not enough, we’ll figure it out later." He certainly wouldn’t ask his brothers for money, their goodwill was enough. "Mom, let’s have a good dinner tonight, life will improve gradually. The elder asked me to accompany him to the military district tomorrow, meet his old friends. You see, he’s helping me network, treating us as family, just act like relatives, no need to be nervous." "Alright, go talk nicely, see the world. Alright, don’t linger in the kitchen, chat with them, we’ll manage. Later, I’ll properly thank the in-laws." Mother Zhang straightened his collar, smoothed the creases, pushed him out. Watching him enter the living room, she turned with a smile to instruct, "Juhua, you cook, Cuilan assist, tonight we’ll eat what we have, prepare more rice, there are soldiers here with big appetites, don’t let guests go hungry, make two portions of rice. I’ll wrap more buns, leftover can be eaten tomorrow, just right with pork stuffing, wrap with sauerkraut filling. I’ll have Xi Zi call your uncle’s wife and aunt over to help, luckily we have a big pot, a large kitchen, or it’d be truly overwhelming."