Chapter 8: Splitting the Household (Part 1)
Chapter 8: Splitting the Household (Part 1)
Jiang Xia paused for a moment before asking, "If we split the household, where will we move to?"
Jiang Xia didn’t want to stay, but unlike other people who had crossed over, she hadn’t received any of her original self’s memories.
Not a single one!
She didn’t even know which direction her mother’s house was in, so how could she return there? Thus, when Zhou Chenglei didn’t provide her with a referral letter, she had no choice but to stay.
"The old house, it’s a decades-old dilapidated place, nowhere near as nice as this one. Plus, it’s closer to the sea, so it can be a bit damp. I’m not sure if you can handle it," Zhou Chenglei explained the situation to her, giving her the option to choose. He didn’t want her to throw a fit if she found it unbearable.
Jiang Xia didn’t really care; having a place to stay was enough for her. "I’m fine with it."
Zhou Chenglei didn’t believe she was that indifferent. She hadn’t even gotten used to this new house, so the old one would likely be even worse.
But if she couldn’t handle it, she could always return to her mother’s house.
"I’ll go talk to Mom and Dad about splitting the household. You should get some sleep."
With that, Zhou Chenglei left.
After Zhou Chenglei left, Jiang Xia waited for him to return after her hair dried, but he didn’t come back. It was probably better that way; they weren’t familiar with each other, and sharing a bed would have been awkward. She closed the door, turned off the light, and went to sleep.
In a daze, she felt someone touch her forehead and then leave. Zhou Chenglei, worried about her fever recurring, had come to check on her. Seeing that she was no longer running a fever, he went back to his nephew’s room to sleep on the floor.
The next morning, Jiang Xia was woken by the rooster’s crow. It was still dark, around 5:30 AM, but she had gone to bed around 10 PM the night before and felt refreshed.
Soft whispers and the sounds of work were already coming from outside. Jiang Xia, who didn’t have a habit of sleeping in, got up and went out.
In the courtyard, Tian Caihua was grating sweet potatoes to make sweet potato porridge. Seeing Jiang Xia up so early, she was surprised but smiled and greeted her, "Fourth Sister-in-Law, you’re up so early. You’re not feeling well, you should get more rest."
Her mood was clearly good; she had learned that Zhou Chenglei was going to split the household, so she decided not to hold a grudge against Jiang Xia.
Zhou’s mother was chopping vegetables to feed the chicks. Seeing Jiang Xia, she felt annoyed; the family was falling apart because of her! But she still cared enough to ask, "Is your fever gone?"
Her youngest son had later said he wouldn’t divorce and wanted to split the household. Zhou’s mother, despite her dissatisfaction with Jiang Xia, had to hold back her anger. She didn’t want her son to be caught in the middle and suffer.
Her son had joined the military at the age of sixteen and spent over a decade there, surviving countless battles. He had risked his life to return home, not to be caught in family disputes.
If others didn’t care about her son, she did!
As long as Jiang Xia was willing to live a good life with her son, she would tolerate any of Jiang Xia’s faults.
After all, her son was reluctant to divorce.
When people showed concern, Jiang Xia wasn’t ungrateful. She smiled and greeted them, "It’s gone, Mom, you don’t need to worry. What’s for breakfast, Big Sister? I can help!"
Calling Zhou’s mother "Mom" still felt a bit unnatural, but since they couldn’t get a divorce for now, she had to get used to it.
Zhou’s mother replied, "No need for you to help. I’ll be grateful if you don’t cause any trouble!"
Her resentment towards Jiang Xia slipped out unintentionally.
Jiang Xia: "..."
Tian Caihua also didn’t think Jiang Xia knew how to cook; she was just saying it out of politeness. But since they were going to split the household, she wouldn’t have to serve Jiang Xia after today, so there was no need to argue.
Feeling good today, Tian Caihua said with a smile, "No, no, it’s almost done. I just need to add these sweet potatoes to the porridge and let it simmer a bit longer. Go wash your face!"
Tian Caihua skillfully poured the grated sweet potato into the white porridge simmering on the small stove, pushed in a bit more firewood to increase the heat, and quickly finished cooking the porridge.
After breakfast, they could start the household division.
Jiang Xia went to wash her face and brush her teeth. Just as she finished, Zhou Chenglei came back from a run, drenched in sweat.
Seeing Jiang Xia up so early, Zhou Chenglei was clearly taken aback. He asked instinctively, "Why are you up so early? Do you still feel dizzy? Do you have a fever?"
Jiang Xia had never experienced such continuous concern, even if she knew it wasn't entirely genuine. She still felt a bit warm and smiled, "I'm fine, much better."
Seeing her rosy complexion, Zhou Chenglei didn't say anything more. He fetched two buckets of water to take a shower and brush his teeth.
The porridge wasn't ready yet, so Jiang Xia helped Zhou's mother chop sweet potato leaves, asking if they were for the chickens.
At first, Zhou's mother was worried Jiang Xia might chop her own hand, but seeing how quickly and skillfully she did it, she was quite surprised. "No, these are for the pigs' feed."
"Oh, you have to cook the pigs' feed?"
Seeing Jiang Xia's interest, Zhou's mother started talking, teaching her a few things.
Since her son had already moved out and started his own household, she knew a bit more and found it easier to manage.
Jiang Xia learned that the Zhou family raised three large fat pigs, one cow, about a dozen chickens, and a dozen ducks, along with a group of ten-day-old chicks.
The pigs needed to be fed, while the cow could graze on its own. The task of herding the cow usually fell to the children. The ducks could be driven to the beach to find their own food, and they would be herded back later. The chickens could be let out into the bamboo grove in the morning to find their own food, but they needed to be fed in the evening.
The chicks required more attention, needing to be fed chick feed. If they were given vegetable leaves, the leaves had to be chopped finely. Once they were a bit older, the mother hen could take them out to forage. No one would steal them; every household did the same, as long as the chickens, ducks, and geese were marked, such as by clipping their tails or a tuft of feathers on their heads, or tying a rope around their legs.
After chopping a large pile of sweet potato vines, Jiang Xia cleaned the courtyard. By then, the porridge was ready, and they could have breakfast.
Breakfast was just sweet potato porridge, but it was delicious, with the sweet, soft texture of the sweet potatoes and the savory taste of the shrimp. Jiang Xia had two bowls.
After breakfast, Guang Zongyao and Little Zhouzhou went to school on their own. Zhou's father called the family to the hall to discuss the household division.
"You brothers have all started your own families, so it's time to divide the household. The second son bought a house in town a while ago, so he's the first to move out. When he bought the house, your mother and I contributed two thousand yuan, and we agreed that the house here would have nothing to do with him in the future."
Tian Caihua pressed her lips together. Why was she unhappy? It was because of this! She and Zhou Chengxin had no education or jobs. Zhou Chenglei, after being discharged from the military, could have worked in the town government, but he didn't. Not only did he not take the job, but he even gave the opportunity to the second son, completely ignoring the eldest brother who was still fishing at home.
The second son was already a cadre in the village, with a job!
Why didn't Zhou Chenglei give the job to his eldest brother? Was it because he looked down on his brother who only graduated from elementary school?
Then Zhou Chenglei married Jiang Xia, who did all the household chores. She cooked for the whole family, took care of the elderly, and also served the couple. Why should she do all that and get nothing in return?
Zhou's father continued, "Chenglei says he'll give the new house to Chengxin, and he and Jiang Xia will move into the old house."
Tian Caihua's eyes lit up!
(End of Chapter)
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