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Chapter 201: Is Jiang Xia Doing This on Purpose?!
Chapter 201: Is Jiang Xia Doing This on Purpose?!
Zhou Chenglei returned to the room and gave the red envelope to Jiang Xia, saying it was from his second brother, and he also relayed Zhou Chengsen's message.
Jiang Xia took it and said, "Then I'll register it. I'll give this red envelope to Mom and Dad tomorrow, and we won't accept it. We'll return the favor to Second Brother later!"
"Okay, you decide," Zhou Chenglei knew she could handle these matters.
He picked her up horizontally, his forehead touching hers, his voice lazy, "It's late, time to sleep?"
Jiang Xia was lifted, and instinctively hugged his neck, their foreheads touching.
She was enveloped by the cool post-bath scent on his body.
Jiang Xia reminded him, "Tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival, we need to wake up early."
"Okay, then let's sleep early and wake up early."
The man laid her on the bed.
...
The wind was strong tonight, and the moonlight was bright, gently spilling over the courtyard.
In the middle of the night, after they were done, Jiang Xia was half-asleep when she saw Zhou Chenglei opening the window for ventilation.
The wind blew the curtains, and silver light filled the desk, creating a gentle atmosphere.
After midnight, it was the Mid-Autumn Festival.
The moonlight on the Mid-Autumn Festival was so gentle! Jiang Xia thought to herself and fell asleep, not even noticing when Zhou Chenglei helped her wipe her body.
Anyway, he always took good care of her.
"Goose feathers, duck feathers for matches!"
"Goose feathers, duck feathers for matches!"
...
Jiang Xia opened her eyes to the loud cries of "Goose feathers, duck feathers for matches!"
She took out her watch and looked: It wasn't too late, just past seven.
Zhou Chenglei had gotten up at some point.
After changing her clothes, Jiang Xia stepped out of the courtyard and saw Zhou Chenglei, Zhou Chengxin, and Zhou Father, the three of them slaughtering geese, chickens, and ducks. They were killing two of each, and one set was to be taken to Jiang Father and Jiang Mother.
Zhou Mother was holding a winnowing basket in one hand and rushing out, shouting, "I have two goose feathers and two duck feathers, I need matches!"
Jiang Xia also heard Zhou Mother's voice in the distance, "How many boxes of matches for one goose feather?"
Seeing Jiang Xia was awake, Zhou Chenglei washed his hands and stood up, "Breakfast is in the pot, I'll get it for you."
Jiang Xia went to the washroom to brush her teeth, "I'll get it myself in a bit, you go ahead."
But Zhou Chenglei still went to the kitchen to get her breakfast.
Breakfast was a bowl of sea cucumber and abalone porridge, a boiled egg, a corn cob, and two taro.
While Jiang Xia was having breakfast, Li Xiuxian just woke up. She came out of her room and saw Jiang Xia sitting there eating breakfast, with a sea cucumber in the porridge, a privilege only she had in the family. She couldn't help but feel envious, "Fourth Sister-in-Law, you're so lucky, getting to eat sea cucumber every morning after waking up."
Jiang Xia smiled, "These things are abundant in the sea. If Second Sister-in-Law wants to eat it, just ask Second Brother to dive for it."
Li Xiuxian: "..."
At this moment, Zhou Mother came in holding a few boxes of matches, knowing that the second daughter-in-law was feeling jealous, so she explained, "Xia's body is weak, and she's not used to our seaside life. Before, if she got wet, she'd get a fever at night. Alei caught some sea cucumbers and didn't want to sell them, keeping them for Xia to nourish herself. You need to eat this for a period of time before it takes effect."
Jiang Xia smiled, "It's effective, I haven't had a fever recently."
Zhou Mother laughed upon hearing this, "That's good, later tell Alei to dive for more. While the weather is still warm, he can dive and get more, enough for a year or so. It's good to have this for the children too."
As she spoke, Zhou Mother couldn't help but glance at Jiang Xia's abdomen, her face filled with kindness.
Are the couple expecting a child?
Jiang Xia: "..."
Speaking of children, Li Xiuxian felt uncomfortable. She walked away.
She felt that Zhou Mother was implying that she couldn't give birth to a son and didn't deserve to eat sea cucumber. Why didn't she mention eating sea cucumber when she was pregnant with Yingying? If she had sea cucumber to nourish herself back then, she wouldn't have taken so long to conceive after giving birth to Yingying.
The pain of not being able to have another son was Li Xiuxian's pain.
In the village, having only a daughter meant being talked about, questioned, and looked down upon.
The coastal people in this area all had the idea of raising sons to support them in old age, and they valued boys over girls. Even Li Xiuxian herself had such thoughts.
She really wanted to have another son, but family planning regulations had become much stricter. Since both she and her husband worked in units, they could only have one child. Even if she was willing to give up her teaching job to have another, Zhou Chengsen wouldn't agree.
Jiang Mu didn't say much more. She longed for a grandchild, but she also knew that these things couldn't be rushed. Her younger son and daughter-in-law had already tried their best; the sturdy bed they slept on was even shaking from their efforts. What more could they do?
She couldn't put more pressure on them; the added stress would only make it harder for them to conceive.
Lunch was a family affair, with Zhou Chenglei tending the fire, Jiang Xia cooking, and the others helping out.
In the kitchen, with just the two of them, Jiang Xia brought up Zhou Zhou's situation, saying, "Chenglei, what do you think about us adopting Zhou Zhou?"
Zhou Chenglei looked up at her.
The flickering firelight from the stove cast his features in sharp relief, and a hint of surprise flashed across his usually stoic and handsome face.
"What happened?" he asked softly.
Zhou Chenglei was merely surprised, not opposed.
He trusted that Jiang Xia wouldn't suggest adopting Third Brother's child without good reason, but if they did adopt Zhou Zhou, it would mean Third Brother had no heir in his parents' eyes.
This was a hurdle he knew his parents wouldn't clear.
Jiang Xia explained how Zhou Zhou was being bullied at school, then added, "It's just a nominal adoption, adding her name to our household registration. Zhou Zhou will still be Third Brother's child, still calling us Uncle and Auntie. I just think that as she grows up, when she fills out forms for school and education, the absence of a father and mother might make her feel inferior. If we adopt her, we'll be her support."
Zhou Chenglei said, "Mom and Dad won't agree."
Jiang Xia replied, "So you'll have to convince them!"
Zhou Chenglei was speechless.
It wouldn't be that easy to persuade them.
Lunch was a grand affair, with all three families gathered around a table laden with chicken, goose, duck, and seafood. The atmosphere was lively and cheerful.
The children, more interested in playing, quickly finished their meals and ran off, while the adults continued eating.
Seizing the moment when the children were absent and the adults present, Zhou Chenglei shared his idea of adopting Zhou Zhou under his name.
Jiang Xia added, "Zhou Zhou will still be Third Brother's child, and we'll still be called Auntie and Uncle. It's just that on the household registration, she'll be our adopted daughter."
The family was left dumbfounded.
Even Zhou Fu was surprised and turned to Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei.
Tian Caihua was the most perplexed, "Why? If you adopt Zhou Zhou, Xia, if your first child is a daughter, won't you be unable to have a second child?"
Zhou Mu immediately thought of Jiang Xia's urban household registration and how her younger son's registration hadn't been transferred back. They could only have one child! If they adopted Zhou Zhou, would they not be able to have their own? Although the registration could be transferred back to the village, and if the first child was a daughter, they could have a second.
But family planning policies were becoming stricter each year, and no one knew what the situation would be like next year.
Zhou Mu couldn't understand the purpose of this at all! After all, whether they adopted Zhou Zhou or not, the child would still be raised by them, but establishing the relationship on the household registration would be cutting off their own path to succession.
Zhou Mu said, "There's no need for this, is there? Why adopt her under your names? I don't see the necessity. You don't even have a child of your own yet, why adopt?"
Zhou Fu also couldn't fathom the meaning behind Chenglei and his wife's actions, so he asked, "Alei, why are you planning this? If you adopt, won't Third Brother have no heir?"
Zhou Chenglei replied, "I just want to ensure Third Brother has an heir, so I thought of adoption. Otherwise, if Zhou Zhou's mother comes to take him away, we'll have no reason to stop her."
Zhou Fu paused, seemingly considering this possibility.
Tian Caihua pursed her lips, "She's been remarried for many years. If she wanted to take Zhou Zhou, she would've done it already! You're overthinking it!"
Li Xiuxian said, "It's possible. Last time I took Yingying to the clinic, I saw her at the gynecology department. I overheard her asking the doctor why she couldn't get pregnant despite all the tests showing no issues."
Hearing this, Zhou Mu thought of Third Brother's wife, who had remarried years ago and seemed unable to have a child, her age increasing, and the possibility that she might not be able to have a child at all, making it uncertain if she could take Zhou Zhou away in the future.
Zhou Mu said, "But it can't be you two adopting! You don't even have a child of your own yet!"
Zhou Mu turned to Zhou Chengsen and Li Xiuxian, "How about Zhou Zhou's registration is under your names?"
Li Xiuxian's expression changed.
She never expected this matter to fall on her!
If she had known, she wouldn't have said so much!
No, wait!
Li Xiuxian looked at Jiang Xia, suspecting she had done this on purpose!
(End of Chapter)
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