RBCT Chapter 111 A Happy Reunion
Chapter 111 A Happy Reunion
Chapter 111 A Happy Reunion
When the group returned home, all the Zhou family members were present, except for Zhou Shijie's eldest son who was away from home.
Dinner time.
Seeing his children and grandchildren all around him, Zhou Yong'an was very gratified.
There were twelve people in total!
Even one table seemed crowded, but Zeng Jiamei didn't add another table because she knew that it would only create distance.
It would be better for the whole family to sit around a table, even if it's a bit crowded.
However, those who wanted to step back did so, while some children stood and ate in other parts of the house, asking their elders to serve them whatever dishes they wanted.
This has eased the situation considerably.
The Zhou family didn't have many rules about not standing or moving around while eating.
The family ate together peacefully and harmoniously. The dishes were all home-style cooking, with only one meat dish and a deer bone soup. Everyone enjoyed the meal very much.
The venison is all gone. The last harvest of water deer has been almost entirely consumed, leaving only a few bones in the pot.
After this meal, the bones in the pot should be thrown away.
Now that the Zhou family has plenty of meat, in terms of food alone, they have firmly established themselves as one of the top families in the village.
The deer antler that was kept had already been used by Zhou Rui to make medicinal wine, but it would take some time before it would have any effect.
Unlike deer blood, it can't be directly mixed and drunk.
Moreover, Zhou Rui used fine wine to soak that deer antler.
At the dinner table, everyone was eating, but no one was drinking. Only Zhou Shijie, who loved to drink, poured himself a small amount to savor alone.
"Dad, I just discussed it with my eldest brother, and I'm planning to divorce Yingzi. As for Xiaoyun, she can stay with my sister-in-law and second sister-in-law for the time being. Do you think that's a good idea?"
"Because Yingzi—"
Zhou Shiping then recounted the whole story to his family.
The Zhou family did not disregard filial piety, and Zhou Rui was not the kind of person who lacked conscience; it was just that they had progressive ideas and did not have that kind of distorted family relationship.
Instead, they place even greater emphasis on the true way of filial piety.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yong'an nodded, showing little hesitation compared to Zhou Shiwei's cautiousness.
Because the old man had seen a lot of the world, he had a general idea of what kind of people were like. He had married Zhang Yingzi somewhat reluctantly, but he never expected that she would turn out to be this kind of person after all these years.
With the old man's approval, Zhou Shiping secretly breathed a sigh of relief; he had been afraid the old man wouldn't support his idea.
However, Zhou Yong'an then added, "It's possible, but you need to take good care of Zhou Yun. Let Jiamei and Lai Di handle this, especially Jiamei, who is very good at educating children."
Zhou Yong'an was concerned about the children's upbringing and the development of their habits, so he suggested that Zeng Jiamei take charge of it. After speaking, he looked at Zhou Rui and Zhou Ming with a calm gaze.
Zhou Yong'an's approval of the two was evident in his words.
"Alright, then thank you for your hard work, sisters-in-law."
Zhou Shiping immediately thanked Zeng Jiamei and Yang Laidi.
Zeng Jiamei behaved very well, while Yang Laidi, because of what happened a few days ago, became even more timid. When she heard Zhou Yong'an mention her, she, who had been eating quietly, quickly nodded in agreement.
Zhou Shijie, his wife's husband, could clearly sense that his wife had changed, and he didn't know how to describe the feeling.
It was as if he had truly integrated into the Zhou family.
Yang Laidi wasn't stupid; she eventually found out what her so-called "family members" were really there for.
What moved her was Zhou Yong'an's willingness to step forward. Of course, she also learned that Zhou Rui had later firmly refused her request to lend him money.
But she didn't blame Zhou Rui; on the contrary, she subtly expressed her support for him.
So, although she seems more timid than before, she has more facial expressions, such as smiles.
After Zhou Shiping finished speaking, he felt relieved and then went on to express another idea of his.
"Dad, Mom, I just discussed it with my older brother on the way here. I want to take turns with him to support you."
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"I'd been thinking about this for a while, but as you know, my wife—sigh..."
Zhou Shiping's eyes were full of hope; he wanted to make up for the regrets of previous years.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yong'an pondered for a long time.
Finally, his loving eyes swept over Zhou Shiwei, over Zhou Rui, and over the youngest generation present. He actually preferred to live in the old house and didn't want to keep moving around, but the old man had other plans in mind.
He knew how heavy the burden was on Zhou Shiwei's shoulders, and he didn't want to be a burden to someone forever.
Instead of directly answering Zhou Shiping's question, he looked at Meng Dan beside him.
"Old woman, the kids want to be filial—we're going to enjoy our retirement now!"
Meng Dan was just an ordinary old woman, nothing special.
"Alright, old man, wherever you go, this old woman will go too."
The elderly couple smiled at each other. Their love story had been going on for a long time; they had always been inseparable and did everything together.
With Meng Dan's consent, Zhou Yong'an smiled and said to his youngest son, Zhou Shiping, "I'm happy that you're so kind. Let's stay in one place for a month then, haha, it'll just be a bit of trouble for you guys—"
"People can't deny getting old. Now I can't do anything, I can't help you with anything, I can only wait day by day—"
Before Zhou Yong'an could finish speaking, Zhou Rui immediately interrupted him.
"What are you saying, Grandpa? Now is the time for you to enjoy your retirement. You've done so much already, fighting the Japanese and carrying timber to build houses."
The wood used in the Zhou family's house was carried from the mountains piece by piece by Zhou Yong'an when he was young, and the earthenware was also shaped by his own hands.
Zhou Yong'an smiled when he heard that his grandson didn't want him to say that word.
"Okay, okay, I won't say anymore, haha."
Zhou Shiping chimed in at this moment: "Yes, Dad, you've worked hard for most of your life, now it's time for us, your children and grandchildren, to take care of you."
"As for trouble, that's even more of a stretch."
At this point, other family members also chimed in one after another.
The complex expression on Zhou Yong'an's face finally disappeared.
The elderly person blames themselves for being too old to protect their children and grandchildren, and instead has to trouble their children to take care of them.
However, people always grow old. Birth, aging, sickness and death are the natural course of life. He wanted to protect his descendants forever, but while protecting thousands of families, he also led Zhou Shiwei and his group very well.
Zhou Rui, Zhou Ming, and Zhou Shiwei—this group of people kept telling the old man one thing, hoping that he wouldn't have any lingering resentment.
Finally, Zhou Yong'an regained his amiable demeanor, and also seemed relieved.
After a lively meal at home, Zhou Shiping gave his son Zhou Yun a few words of advice and then went home alone.
After Zhou Shiwei and his son Zhou Rui saw him off at the door, Zhou Rui looked at his uncle's back and felt a little sad.
On one side was a lively family of eleven, and on the other was a solitary figure leaving.