Chapter 559: Discussion
Chapter 559: Discussion
The next day, Zhou Mu asked Aunt He, a woman from the village, to deliver a message to Zhou Zhou’s grandparents.
Aunt He was also an out-married daughter from Zhou Zhou’s grandmother’s village.
When Zhou Zhou’s grandmother heard Aunt He’s words, she became anxious: "The Zhou family doesn’t want to raise Zhou Zhou anymore, do they?"
Aunt He had the same thought. Why else would Zhou Mu suddenly want to discuss Zhou Zhou’s upbringing with He Xiuhui?
It was clear they didn’t want to raise her. If they did, what was there to discuss?
They could just keep raising her!
But she wasn’t stupid and didn’t say it outright. She simply replied, "I don’t know! All Yinfu’s wife said was that she wanted to discuss Zhou Zhou’s future upbringing with Xiuhui. She didn’t say anything else."
Zhou Zhou’s grandmother immediately thought the Zhou family didn’t want to raise Zhou Zhou anymore.
"What do you think? Do you think Zhao Chenglei and his wife don’t want to raise Zhou Zhou?"
Aunt He: "I don’t know, but I don’t think so! They aren’t short of money, and raising one more child wouldn’t be a problem. Everyone says Xia is better to Zhou Zhou than her own daughter. Zhou Zhou is doing well now. In the whole village, only Zhou Zhou wears the newest, cleanest, and most fitting clothes. My granddaughter says Zhou Zhou’s school outfits are never the same. Other children’s clothes are almost worn through at the back."
Zhou Zhou’s grandmother was unconvinced: "A few pieces of clothing mean nothing. I suspect it’s Zhao Chenglei’s new wife who doesn’t want to raise Zhou Zhou. Before she had children, she naturally doted on Zhou Zhou. And back then, to secure her position in the Zhou family, she had to put on a show! Anyway, the money she spent on Zhou Zhou’s clothes came from Zhao Chenglei. Now that he’s so wealthy, buying a few clothes for Zhou Zhou is nothing. They wouldn’t even notice the cost."
"I don’t believe they treat Zhou Zhou like their own daughter! Zhao Chenglei is so rich now, with a large house, a vast beach, and many boats. Do you think they’ll leave everything to their own children or give Zhou Zhou a share?"
"At most, they might spend a thousand or so yuan on a decent dowry when Zhou Zhou gets married."
Aunt He believed this: "People are like that. Who doesn’t love their own children? To be honest, Lei and his wife are quite good. Zhou Zhou isn’t their child, just a niece, and they treat her well. Now that they have their own children, it’s normal they don’t have as much energy to care for others. Besides, Xia is lucky to have had three children at once. They can barely manage their own, let alone others. As for the family property, who wouldn’t want their own children to inherit more? Who would willingly share their wealth with others?"
Zhou Zhou’s grandmother felt a bit panicked: "That’s why I think Jiang Xia doesn’t want to raise Zhou Zhou anymore! She’s afraid Zhou Zhou will get a share of her children’s inheritance."
Aunt He: "I don’t know! I’ve delivered the message, so you’ll find out their intentions soon. I have other things to do, so I’ll be on my way."
Zhou Zhou’s grandmother, troubled and restless, didn’t try to stop her.
If the Zhou family didn’t want to raise Zhou Zhou, they might send her back to her mother?
That was absolutely out of the question!
Her daughter had been remarried for four years and still hadn’t conceived. Her mother-in-law already had a lot of complaints, and bringing back a burden like Zhou Zhou would only make things worse for her in her husband’s family.
She also feared that if the Zhou family didn’t want Zhou Zhou, her daughter might take her back out of pity, and Zhou Zhou would end up living with them.
Their life wasn’t easy, and they couldn’t afford to raise another child.
Zhou Zhou’s grandmother was afraid the Zhou family would go to Zhen Shang to find her daughter, so she hurriedly packed a basket of eggs and set off for Zhen Shang.
She couldn’t let her daughter recognize Zhou Zhou!
Jiang Xia waited for He Xiuhui to come by, but after four days, there was still no sign of her. She decided to wait two more days, and if He Xiuhui didn't show up by next Monday, she would go to her mother's house to ask.
Jiang Xia couldn't wait any longer. In a few days, she needed to report to Jing City.
Before she left for Jing City, she wanted to resolve Zhou Zhou's issue.
Over the past four days, Zhao Chenglei had gone out to sea every day. Today, as the sun began to set and the weather cooled down, Jiang Xia, Zhou Mu, and Tian Caihua, each holding one of the triplets, took the children out for a walk by the dock as usual.
The triplets had gotten used to their routine of going out for walks in the morning and evening. After their afternoon nap and a full meal, if they didn't go out to play, the youngest would start crying.
They had only walked halfway when they encountered He Xiuhui.
"Aunt, Sister-in-law", He Xiuhui said, still feeling a bit awkward seeing Zhou Mu and Tian Caihua. Her quick remarriage had made her uncomfortable, even though the Zhou family hadn't said anything about it.
Zhou Mu had no objections to He Xiuhui's remarriage; it was a normal human choice. She just felt sorry for her granddaughter because it happened so fast.
But now, she realized that the speed had its benefits. At least Zhou Zhou probably didn't have many memories of her, and without those memories, she wouldn't be sad.
Zhou Mu said, "Lei and Xia have something to discuss with you."
He Xiuhui looked at Jiang Xia and smiled, "You must be Lei's wife. Nice to meet you."
Jiang Xia smiled back, "Nice to meet you. Let's talk inside."
Jiang Xia held the youngest, and she said to Zhou Mu and Tian Caihua, "Mom, Big Sister, why don't you take the younger one and Xiao Bao for a walk? I'll take the eldest home."
The eldest was the most obedient. Jiang Xia was afraid that if she took the youngest back, she would start crying as soon as they entered the house.
But the eldest wouldn't.
"Alright", Zhou Mu agreed, and they switched the children they were carrying.
Jiang Xia, holding the eldest, said to He Xiuhui, "Let's go!"
The two of them started walking back.
He Xiuhui glanced at the child in Jiang Xia's arms and smiled, "Is this the eldest? He looks a lot like his father."
Jiang Xia smiled, "He does look more like his father."
They arrived back at the Zhou family's house, and Jiang Xia took out the key to open the gate.
He Xiuhui looked at the old house across the way and felt a bit nostalgic. The happiest days of her life had been spent in that old house.
But things had changed, and she couldn't go back.
She quickly refocused her attention on the three-story house in front of her.
"Come in", Jiang Xia said, opening the door.
He Xiuhui followed Jiang Xia inside and took a look around the yard.
She had heard from her family that the Zhou family was now very wealthy, but she hadn't really felt it until she saw this house and the lush garden.
Especially when she entered the house and saw all the furnishings, the impact was even more profound!
This was the kind of house she had only seen on TV.
She couldn't help but think about what her mother had said: Jiang Xia was afraid that Zhou Zhou would fight with her three children over the family's wealth, so she didn't want to raise Zhou Zhou.
She didn't believe it at first, thinking the Zhou family wasn't like that. But now, she wasn't so sure.
She was unsure about Jiang Xia.
"Please, have a seat", Jiang Xia said, gesturing for her to sit.
Jiang Xia placed the eldest in the stroller, turned on the fan, and then went to get He Xiuhui a glass of honey water. "It's hot, have a drink."
"Thank you", He Xiuhui said, sitting down on the sofa, feeling a bit uneasy.
She had never sat in such a comfortable chair.
Jiang Xia also sat down and smiled, "Lei and I want to discuss Zhou Zhou's situation with you." (End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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