Zhu Jiaorong brought the food, and the whole Zhan family sat together to eat. After Zhan Aiping and her group came back, they filled up the entire large round table. Outside, the snow was flying lightly, and mist was floating on the glass windows, but the house was warm, festive and lively.
Zhanbo looked at the cheerful group of people in front of him and felt particularly happy. As people get older, they like lively places and crowds. He felt happy in his heart.
He found a few bottles of aged wine from his private collection and wanted to have a few drinks with his good son-in-law Gu Sheng.
Zhan Aiping was pregnant and didn't drink. She sat next to them with her two little ones, Sweet and Sour Pork, and Gu Xiangyi sat next to the three of them.
Zhu Jiaorong smiled as she spoke to Gu Xiangyi, saying a string of nice things, "You and our Ming Zhao are truly a match made in heaven, and you happened to be childhood sweethearts. It's really a perfect match..."
What she said made Zhan Aijia beside her stunned. What happened to her mother? She seemed to agree with this marriage. Could it be that she really wanted Zhan Mingzhao to marry Gu Xiangyi
Zhan Aijia didn't want this to happen, so she quickly interrupted and said, "It's good to be close relatives, but I'm afraid that others will gossip about it."
"You still have to think carefully about this marriage, Sister Gu, marriage is a big deal for a woman, don't do it rashly, you have good conditions."
Gu Xiangyi said: "I just think he is good."
Zhan Aijia sighed deliberately: "Don't seek his favor no matter what you want. Look at your sister Jiajia, I am a lesson for you."
Gu Xiangyi: “?!”
"Zhan Aijia!" Zhu Jiaorong glared at her and said, "Don't talk nonsense. Who do you think is as ungrateful as you? You are so young and a first-time bride, but you become a stepmother to three kids."
Zhan Aija's face turned pale. She didn't expect Zhu Jiaorong to say such impolite words.
Zhan Aijia whispered: "I just learned from you."
Zhan Mingzhao originally wanted to say something, but when he saw the scene in front of him, he stopped talking. The mother and daughter actually started to fight each other.
"Pingping is pregnant again?" Zhanbo's old face was wrinkled like chrysanthemums with laughter. He was so happy that he quickly poured a few more glasses of wine: "Xiao Gu, let Pingping give you another big fat boy!"
"It's better to have a daughter." Zhan Aijia interrupted: "Sister Pingping, you don't know, the boys are quarreling."
Zhan Aijia doesn't want Zhan Aiping to give birth to another fat boy. If she gives birth to a grandson for the Gu family, she will be the best daughter-in-law in the Gu family.
Zhan Aiping said: "You have four boys in your family, some of them are noisy."
It's not easy for Zhan Aijia. She has been married for more than two years and has aged a dozen years. Taking care of children consumes the most energy for a woman. And the man surnamed Lin doesn't seem to love his wife at all. He only treats her as a nanny.
Zhan Aijia felt a pain in her heart. She regretted it so much and felt that her brain was filled with water two years ago.
When Zhan Aijia was in the Zhan family, although she was an invisible person living under someone else's roof, she did not have to do any housework, and all the housework was done by the virtuous Zhu Jiaorong.
Later, she rushed to marry Lin Gang and became the so-called "team leader's wife", which meant she had to be a nanny for four men. She had to do all the dirty, tiring and hard work at home, and she couldn't say anything.
At the beginning, Lin Gang treated her well and coaxed her. A man is often not at home, so doesn't all the housework fall on her
If she dared to be lazy, those bitches in the staff quarters would spit in her face.
Zhan Aiping had a happy smile on her face and said with longing: "I just want to have another daughter, a daughter who can sing and dance well."
When Zhan Aijia caught a glimpse of the smile on Zhan Aiping's face, she felt even more uncomfortable in her heart, as if there was a fire burning in it.
She suddenly understood.
One’s face cannot be eaten. Two years ago, she was so stupid. She became the wife of the head of the group, which really made her successful. She was very proud in front of the Zhan family... But what happened next
Being the captain's wife was so miserable. She was exhausted from working like a slave, but the treatment she received was even worse than when she was living under the roof of the Zhan family.
Zhan Aija pursed her lips.
It is true that giving birth to a daughter is not as prestigious as giving birth to a big fat boy, but daughters are caring and worry-free. Daughters are their mothers' little cotton-padded jackets. If two of her three stepchildren were stepdaughters, Zhan Aijia would have lived an extremely comfortable life.
She has suffered enough from the three boys, Zhan Aiping deserves to suffer it now!
Zhan Aijia changed the subject: "Sister Pingping, everything is always contrary to one's wishes. You want to have a daughter, but you might end up with a big fat boy. You had twins last time, so maybe you will have twins this time too."
"Doesn't my brother-in-law have twin brothers?" Zhan Aijia smiled and said, "Maybe you will give birth to twin brothers this time too! You will give birth to three grandchildren for the Gu family!"
Zhu Jiaorong's hand holding the chopsticks trembled. What was her bastard daughter saying? Zhan Aiping gave birth to three big fat boys? Was she so lucky? If she really had three big fat boys, wouldn't she be in heaven
Zhu Jiaorong glared at Zhan Aija. What nonsense are you talking about
"Don't talk about your sister. Just have another child of your own."
Zhan Aijia smiled and said proudly: "I have four boys now, and I will be satisfied if I can have another daughter!"
Regardless of whether she is a stepmother or not, it is true that she has four sons. Four sons, who wouldn’t be envious if that were told to others
Zhan Aiping said calmly: "Sister, everything always goes against one's wishes. You might give birth to another boy. Five boys, five hearts."
Zhan Aijia was choked: "..."
When Zhan Aija thought of five boys, her eyes went dark. If she could have five sons, she would indeed win face, but Lin Gang was not a good man. In his old-fashioned and decadent concept, men should not do any housework. He did nothing at home and he did not allow his sons to do anything, thinking that it was a woman's job.
If a man does what a woman does, it will affect his ability to achieve great things.
Zhan Aijia no longer cared about her face at this moment. She just wanted to have two more daughters to reduce her burden.
She really did want to have a daughter.
Zhan Bo said happily: "You two sisters both gave birth to boys, so give birth to more big fat boys."
As a grandfather, Zhanbo actually doesn't care much about gender. He is happy whether he has grandsons or granddaughters.
Zhu Jiaorong put down her chopsticks with a snap. Five or six walnuts were stuck in her throat, making it hard for her to breathe. She wanted to give birth to a big fat boy more than anyone else, but she could only have one son, Zhan Mingkang, in her life.
She only gave birth to one son, but her two daughters had more than one son. Zhu Jiaorong felt so uncomfortable that it felt like there were millions of ants crawling inside her.
Zhu Jiaorong glared at her disobedient daughter Zhan Aijia, thinking to herself, "Zhan Aijia, you are already a mother, so worry less. You are a younger sister, but you look older than your sister Pingping."
When Zhan Aijia heard Zhu Jiaorong's words, her eyes widened. Zhu Jiaorong's words were like a sharp knife, stabbing into her heart.
Gu Xiangyi drank the soup silently: "..."
The Zhan family is not very peaceful. It seems calm on the surface, but in fact it is full of verbal battles and rebellions. This is a real battlefield full of smoke of gunpowder. It seems that she needs to learn more in the future.
After all, Gu Xiaomei comes from a military family. Faced with such a situation, she would not back down at all. Instead, she felt eager to try.
After she gets married, will she also join the battlefield
Gu Xiangyi was extremely excited!
Come on! Let's fight.
Although Gu Xiangyi comes from a military family, she has five older brothers and she is the only sister and daughter. Most of the disputes in the family are caused by her brothers. They are too lazy to argue with Gu Xiangyi or quarrel with her.
As for Gu Ze'an and his wife, they also take care of Gu Xiangyi most of the time.
In the compound, because she had five brothers at home, no one dared to bully her, the only remaining little sister, so... most of the time, disputes stayed away from her.
Although Gu Xiaomei seemed to have won without any effort on the surface, she always felt like an invisible person who was excluded from the chariot.
—She can obviously drive a tank too!
When in the military hospital, Gu Xiangyi heard many stories about the battles between mothers-in-law, daughters-in-law and sisters-in-law, and now she was waiting for her turn with great interest.
While Gu Xiangyi was gathering his emotions, Zhan Mingkang, who had been sitting in his seat without saying a word, put down his bowl and chopsticks.
Before Zhan Aiping came back, Zhan Bo warned Zhan Mingkang that if he caused the same incident two years ago again, he would be kicked out...
Zhan Mingkang has become smarter now. He is the one who feels uncomfortable when he is hungry, so this time, when the food was served, he ate silently and did not speak, waiting for himself to fill his stomach first before talking.
Zhan Mingkang pushed away the dishes in front of him. He raised his eyes and really looked at his elder brother, Zhan Mingzhao, the elder brother who went to the countryside to be an educated youth.
In Zhan Mingkang's memory, this eldest brother has always been useless. He was either scolded by his father at home, or his sister came home to quarrel with Zhan Aiping... Unexpectedly, after a few years, he turned into a pretty pretty boy with red lips and white teeth.
Zhan Mingkang said maliciously: "Brother, didn't you go to the countryside as an educated youth? Why don't you marry a country wife? My mother said that country wives are the best at serving men. You can enjoy your life now."
As soon as he said this, Zhan Bo's face turned unhappy and Zhu Jiaorong's smile was forced.
Zhan Mingzhao smiled and said, "I would like to pick a wife from the village, but I don't have the chance. I have already found a partner. Zhan Mingkang, when you go to the countryside, you can go to the village and pick a good wife."
Zhu Jiaorong: "Ming Zhao, please don't joke around. Ming Kang doesn't need to go to the countryside."
It would be enough for one person in the family to go to the countryside. Zhu Jiaorong had already planned to find a leisurely job for her son in the city.
With Zhan Mingkang's temper, he is not suitable to be an official. With the protection of his parents, it would be a good thing for him to find a leisurely job in the city. If he can also find a virtuous and sensible wife, the family can live in harmony.
Zhu Jiaorong took care of Zhan Aijia during her confinement, and her efforts were not in vain. Instead, she wanted to build a good relationship with her daughter Zhan Aijia. Although Zhan Aijia became a stepmother, she was still the wife of the team leader and would definitely take care of her younger brother in the future.
"Yes! Go to the countryside!"
Zhan Bo was stunned at this moment. He looked at Zhan Mingzhao, and then at Zhan Mingkang whose fat face was distorted. At that moment, he seemed to have his Ren and Du meridians opened up, and he thought of a good thing!
—Let Zhan Mingkang go to the countryside to serve as an educated youth!
Zhan Mingzhao smiled slightly: "It's good to be an educated youth, respond to the call..."
Zhan Mingzhao spoke eloquently about the benefits of being an educated youth. All of his words were high-sounding and inspiring, and could make people excited... Zhu Jiaorong was so angry that she wanted to curse, but she really couldn't refute.
Going to be an educated youth is something the government encourages. If she dares to oppose becoming an educated youth, wouldn't that be going against the government policy
At that moment, Zhanbo felt that going to the countryside to carry out reform was a great thing.
Look, his eldest son worked as an educated youth for a few years, and he became a completely different person, becoming a popular commodity that everyone is vying for.
The idea of sending Zhan Mingkang to the countryside immediately filled Zhan Bo's mind like a curse. If Zhan Mingkang went to the countryside as an educated youth and accepted reform, he would not be as lazy and ignorant as he was in the Zhan family. He would become a positive and motivated man.
Now he is just as pale, fat and inconspicuous as his brother, with shapeless facial features. If he is sent to the countryside to reform himself for a while, he can become tanned, thin and handsome... Maybe Zhan Mingkang will be favored by many girls from good families.
Zhanbo's chest rose and fell countless times. Wonderful! It was really wonderful!
It's good for Zhan Mingzhao and Gu Xiangyi to get married. What if they ruin their marriage and hurt the relationship between their Zhan family and Gu family? Now they are even closer, it's getting better and better!
Zhanbo is not afraid of what outsiders say about their family.
At that time, Zhanbo will release the news that he will let his youngest son go to the countryside as an educated youth next year! In this era, going to the countryside as an educated youth is a very glorious thing.
He, Zhanbo, sent his two sons to the countryside to become educated youth!
Zhanbo, who did this, was very proud of himself. Even if it was published in the newspapers, he would be praised. Who would dare to attack him? Both of his own sons became educated youth!
He is so righteous and progressive in his thinking.
Zhan Bo was intoxicated in such fantasy. If Zhan Mingkang became an educated youth, he would be proud. If Zhan Mingkang became thinner and more handsome, he would be able to find a daughter-in-law from a good family, which would make him even more proud.
Zhan Aiping: “…”
Zhan Aiping and Gu Sheng looked at each other. As Zhan Bo's biological daughter, how could Zhan Aiping not know what Zhan Bo was thinking
My younger brother Zhan Mingzhao has become really smart after working in the countryside for a few years. The whole Zhan family has found Zhan Bo's weak spots.
Let Zhan Mingkang go to the countryside to become an educated youth
It's indeed a good thing.
Zhu Jiaorong was restless. Having been Zhanbo's bedmate for more than ten years, how could she not know what Zhanbo was thinking? Why did the topic turn to Zhan Mingkang's becoming an educated youth
That damn kid Zhan Mingzhao said all that!
When they returned to their room at night, Zhu Jiaorong quickly whispered to Zhanbo, "Do you really want Mingkang to become an educated youth?"
Zhanbo said excitedly: "I think this can be done. Xiaokang is old enough to be sent to the countryside as an educated youth next year, or this year? The sooner the better!"
Zhu Jiaorong's eyes almost popped out. Was Zhanbo crazy? Was he mentally ill? Did he really want to send his own son to be an educated youth
"Xiaokang is our only child. I can't bear to let him go to the countryside to suffer. Being an educated youth is so tiring. Life in the countryside is not easy..."
Zhanbo frowned: "Zhu Jiaorong, you didn't say this when Mingzhao went to the countryside. You said that men should exercise more. Originally, Mingzhao didn't need to go to the countryside, but he took Jiajia's place."
Zhu Jiaorong's breath was choked: "..."
"Have you forgotten what you said at the beginning? Boys need to exercise more when they grow up. Girls like Jiajia don't need to go to the countryside to suffer, but what does it matter to men? Men should not be afraid of hardship or fatigue. I think we should let Xiaokang go to the countryside to gain experience."
Of course, the most important thing is to save face for Zhanbo.
Zhan Bo had everything planned out in his mind: his eldest daughter, Zhan Aiping, was the vice president of the hospital, his son-in-law was a regiment commander and might become a division commander or army commander in the future; his youngest daughter, Zhan Aijia, also married a regiment commander; Zhan Mingzhao married someone with a good family background... Now Zhan Mingkang was the only one left in the family.
Zhan Mingkang is a loser. Keeping him in the city would only give him a leisurely job. Girls from good families would definitely look down on him.
Instead of keeping Zhan Mingkang to eat and drink for free in the city, it is better to send him to the countryside as an educated youth. This way, it can give Zhan Bo face. Secondly... Zhan Mingkang has lost weight and become more handsome. Hehehe, maybe he can marry a wife with a good family background.
Zhu Jiaorong gritted her teeth and said, "I can't bear to let him go. I will never let him go to the countryside as an educated youth. I want Xiaokang to stay with us."
Zhanbo advised her: "You can't catch a wolf without sacrificing a child."
Zhu Jiaorong: "... I don't want to trap a wolf."
Zhu Jiaorong's mind was in a mess.
Zhan Bo added, "Look, Xiaokang's brothers and sisters, all of them are promising. Pingping and Jiajia both married officers and regiment commanders. Mingzhao is going to marry the commander's daughter... Now Zhan Mingkang is the only one left at home. Do you really want him to marry a rural wife?"
"Only those poor people in the city want to live in our house."
"… You can afford to lose face, but I can't."
"You want your youngest son to lose face because he is not as good as his older brothers and sisters?"
Zhu Jiaorong opened her mouth, she had no idea what to say. Yes, there were four children in the family, three of them married well, and only Zhan Mingkang was left. If he was useless and married an ordinary girl... it would be a great disgrace to the couple, and Zhan Mingkang would not be able to hold his head up.
Zhu Jiaorong said uncomfortably: "If Xiaokang is sent to the countryside, he can marry a girl from a good family?"
Zhan Bo said: "Look at his brother Ming Zhao. This is not a ready-made example. Look at the photos of me when I was young."
Although Zhan Bo's temperament and appearance are a mess now, he was still a handsome young man when he was young. Otherwise, he would not have married Ai Feihong, and he would not have given birth to two good-looking children, Zhan Aiping and Zhan Mingzhao.
Zhu Jiaorong: “…”
When Zhu Jiaorong married Zhanbo, Zhanbo was already a middle-aged man, and only from the black-and-white photos of his past could one tell that he was quite good-looking.
"Xiaokang has such a pig head, which good girl would like him?" Although the elders now like the fat and white young people, in order to let his youngest son marry into a rich family, Zhanbo knows that those girls like thin, tall and handsome ones.
He is as fat as a pig's head. Which girl would like him
"Let him go to the countryside as an educated youth and reform himself!"
Zhu Jiaorong: “…” If you say it’s reformation, then isn’t that just making her son suffer
"I can't bear to do this."
Zhanbo advised her: "Even if you can't bear to do this, you have to be cruel. This is for the good of your son. Can you bear to let Xiaokang lose face?"
"If Xiaokang becomes handsome, he can find you a daughter-in-law with good conditions. Do you remember the ones I counted with you yesterday? The old Lu family, the old Cheng family..."
Zhanbo listed them one by one to her, including all kinds of positions, posts and family backgrounds, and said, "Look, if Xiaokang can become his son-in-law, wouldn't that be great?"
Zhu Jiaorong: “…”
Zhan Bo added another bombshell: "Think back carefully, in the past two years, after Zhan Aijia became the head of the group's wife, what was she like in front of you, and what was she like before that?"
"You wait on her eagerly, just to get Gangzi to take care of Xiaokang."
Zhu Jiaorong remained silent.
Zhanbo added, "If Xiaokang becomes someone's son-in-law, with several powerful brothers-in-law above you, won't you be honored and shine? Then Jiajia will be begging you, not you begging her."
Zhu Jiaorong: “…”
Zhu Jiaorong was vaguely persuaded.
Although this was not her original intention, Zhu Jiaorong did not have any ambitions. She thought that if her son was useless, then he was useless. She hoped that his biological father would take care of him when he was still alive. Now that his biological father was gone, her biological brother-in-law would also be able to take care of him.
All Zhan Mingkang needs to do is find her a daughter-in-law who is obedient and does housework - this has always been Zhu Jiaorong's plan.
But now, Zhanbo has pointed out a new way for her.
Let Zhan Mingkang become someone else's son-in-law!
Zhu Jiaorong's heartbeat paused for a moment, and a whole new world unfolded before her.
She and Zhanbo are worthy of being husband and wife. Zhanbo's words touched her heart. The transformation of Zhan Aijia before and after marriage gave Zhu Jiaorong a heart attack. Because she still had to rely on her daughter and son-in-law, Zhu Jiaorong didn't dare to say much.
But what if Zhan Mingkang’s identity changed
Zhu Jiaorong also wants others to beg her!
Zhu Jiaorong asked: "Let Xiaokang go to the countryside as an educated youth? Where should he go as an educated youth?"
She had almost agreed in her heart that Zhan Mingkang should go to be an educated youth, but Zhu Jiaorong still didn't want Zhan Mingkang to go to a place that was too hard. Life in the frontier was too bitter and cold.
Zhanbo answered without thinking: "Is there any need to ask? Of course I went to Yunnan Province to be an educated youth."
Zhu Jiaorong was dumbfounded: "..."
"Yunnan Province is good. Our benchmark is Yunnan Province. There are more places available and it is easy. His brothers and sisters are all there. It's good there. It's just a little hot, but it's better than being cold in the north. Don't you think so?"
Zhu Jiaorong's face was gloomy and she thought to herself, what the hell is this
Let Zhan Mingkang go to Yunnan Province as an educated youth, and become an educated youth right under the noses of his half-brothers and half-sisters... It's a miracle that Zhan Bo could think of this.
Zhan Bo smiled from ear to ear: "His sister and brother-in-law can also take care of him!"
Zhu Jiaorong felt that Zhan Bo was full of shit in his brain. It was unbelievable that he could think of such things. Sending Zhan Mingkang to Yunnan Province as an educated youth was like sending a sheep into the tiger's mouth.
But Zhan Bo himself really doesn't think there is any problem. In his eyes, his Zhan family is harmonious and happy, and all family members are happy. Their Zhan family is a happy and warm big family.
The next day, Zhanbo got up early. He was in the mood and ground the ink and spread the paper himself. He didn't want anyone to help him and asked his family to watch. He shook his sleeves, spread the calligraphy paper on the table, and wrote down the words that middle-aged men love most:
—A harmonious family brings prosperity.
The expressions of the other members of the Zhan family were all very excited, except for young comrade Gu Xiangyi who was the most enthusiastic.
(End of this chapter)