Chapter 560: Aunt
Chapter 560: Aunt
"Adopt Zhou Zhou?" He Xiuhui couldn't believe that the Zhou family was contacting her for this reason.
"Right, the middle school conditions in Zhen Shang are not that great. I have a city household registration, so if I adopt Zhou Zhou, it will be easier for her to attend a city middle school."
He Xiuhui was a bit confused. To send Zhou Zhou to a city middle school, adoption wasn't necessary, right? Given Jiang Xia and Zhao Chenglei's connections, it shouldn't be hard to get her in, right?
Jiang Xia saw through her doubts: "Of course, Zhou Zhou could still attend school without adoption, but the last time she filled out her school registration form, she hesitated for a long time at the parents' section. When I went over to look, she asked if she could write Lei and my names there. That's when I thought about officially adopting her in name."
Jiang Xia was right. This had happened last semester when Zhou Zhou had to fill out her school registration.
He Xiuhui felt a sharp pain in her heart, feeling utterly ashamed and her eyes welled up with tears: "It's my fault to Zhou Zhou."
Jiang Xia didn't give her much time to wallow in guilt. She didn't want to see He Xiuhui feeling guilty because guilt often comes after one has chosen their own interests, and it's the least useful emotion. She said, "This is just a nominal adoption. Zhou Zhou will still be Third Brother's child, and you will still be her biological mother. Zhou Zhou will still call Lei 'Uncle' and me 'Aunt.' You know Lei is a retired soldier, and having Zhou Zhou under our household registration will benefit her future college applications and job prospects. Don't you think this is a good idea? If you agree that this is good for Zhou Zhou, sign this certificate. We need your signature to complete the adoption procedures."
He Xiuhui was a person who lacked initiative. She had never made any decisions on her own and was afraid that signing this document would mean abandoning her daughter in black and white. She asked, "Do Zhou Zhou's grandparents agree?"
If Zhou Zhou were adopted, she would no longer be Chengyan's daughter, which would mean the end of his lineage. Could her in-laws really agree to this?
Jiang Xia explained, "We're not really adopting Zhou Zhou, just registering her under our household. We will still be her aunt and uncle. Third Brother is gone, and you find it difficult to take care of her. Zhou Zhou has no parents to raise her, and we just want to give her the same opportunities as our children, like attending a better middle school and university. We're not trying to take Zhou Zhou away or cut off the Zhou lineage. This is a good thing for Zhou Zhou, so why wouldn't her parents agree? Zhou Zhou herself has agreed."
Jiang Xia's words about Zhou Zhou having no parents to raise her made He Xiuhui feel even more ashamed.
"I, I've actually thought about it..." He Xiuhui found it hard to continue when she met Jiang Xia's clear, piercing eyes.
She had indeed thought about bringing Zhou Zhou back to live with her and take care of her.
As she grew older, she hadn't had a child in the four to five years since her remarriage, and she was afraid that she would have no one to take care of her in her old age.
However, her current life wasn't easy. Her mother-in-law was always making things difficult, and she feared that Zhou Zhou would lose her standing in her current family if she brought her back. That's why she hadn't brought Zhou Zhou back.
Her current family was far from as easy to get along with as the Zhou family.
She had genuinely thought about waiting until she had a son and established herself in her current family before bringing Zhou Zhou back to take care of her.
But now, no matter what she said, it couldn't change the fact that she had once abandoned Zhou Zhou.
Jiang Xia wouldn't believe that she had planned to bring Zhou Zhou back to take care of her, would she?
He Xiuhui felt like she was seen as a selfish person in Jiang Xia's eyes. She felt a bit ashamed and took a deep breath.
"Since Zhou Zhou and her aunt and uncle have agreed, I'll agree too."
Jiang Xia pushed a sheet of paper with a certificate and a pen toward her. "Then please sign your name here."
He Xiuhui picked up the pen, wanting to read the content carefully. She had attended primary school for a few years and could recognize some words. Just then, a voice called from outside the courtyard: "Xiuhui! Xiuhui!..."
Zhou Zhou's grandmother ran in, out of breath. "Hurry home, Zhihai has come to pick you up!"
He Xiuhui's face changed, and she put down the pen, standing up. "Meet me at the Town Supply and Marketing Cooperative next market day, and I'll sign then."
Jiang Xia frowned. "It doesn't take long to sign."
Zhou Zhou's grandmother rushed in, stunned by the room's decor, feeling like her eyes couldn't take it all in.
He Xiuhui hurried out in a panic.
Zhou Zhou's grandmother smiled and greeted Jiang Xia. "You must be Lei's wife. I'm Zhou Zhou's grandmother. You can call me Auntie He. I'll come back to see Zhou Zhou another time. We have to go now!"
"Auntie!"
"Auntie!"
Zhou Zhou and Zhou Ying rushed in happily. "Look what we picked for you!"
He Xiuhui was caught off guard and met Zhou Zhou's gaze.
Zhou Ying, noticing the guests, greeted them politely. "Aunt, Auntie!"
Zhou Zhou recognized He Xiuhui. She wouldn't have remembered if not for the village women who often asked her, "Zhou Zhou, have you gone to see your mother?" "Zhou Zhou, don't you recognize your mother? That's her, don't you remember?" This is how Zhou Zhou knew He Xiuhui was her mother, the one who always walked away quickly whenever she saw her.
She hesitated for a moment before joining her sister in greeting. "Aunt, Auntie."
Then she rushed into the house. "Auntie, we picked a lot of Huangpao fruit for you to eat!"
Zhou Ying also ran inside.
He Xiuhui glanced back and saw Zhou Zhou holding a bunch of yellow Huangpao fruit, offering it to Jiang Xia.
Jiang Xia reached out with both hands, took a fruit from each of the little girls, and bit into them, then took two more.
He Xiuhui heard Jiang Xia laugh. "So sweet! Auntie, a few will do. You two should wash them first and then enjoy them slowly."
Zhou Zhou called her Auntie, but she seemed especially close to Jiang Xia!
Zhou Zhou's grandmother tugged at He Xiuhui. "Let's go!"
He Xiuhui couldn't help but look back at the garden full of flowers.
It was just like the gardens of wealthy families on TV!
Too bad her daughter didn't have that kind of luck!
But her granddaughter did!
So she absolutely couldn't take her granddaughter away.
Zhou Zhou, growing up in the Zhou family, would receive a better dowry than they could ever provide.
He Xiuhui turned away and left.
The weather was hot, and Zhou Zhou's little face was flushed red. "Auntie, have some! We found a secret spot, and there are more!"
Zhou Ying's face was even redder, and she said excitedly, "There are also bamboo shoots over there. The older boys are watching them, and we came back to get a basket. Let's go pick them now!"
Jiang Xia poured them some water. "No rush, drink some water first, and don't get heatstroke!"
The two sisters drank the water in one gulp and grabbed a basket to run out.
As He Xiuhui and her daughter walked a few meters away from the Zhou family courtyard, they saw Xu Zhihai.
Xu Zhihai had come with He's mother and had been standing outside, taking in the impressive three-story bungalow and the motorcycle at the entrance. "Ah Hui, is this your relative's house?"
This place is so wealthy!
(End of Chapter)
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