Chapter 52: Visitors from the Lin Family (Part 1)

At this moment, the Zhang family courtyard was abuzz with chatter, but unlike the usual noisy quarrels, today Zhang Guoqing’s two older brothers were all smiles as they watched the commotion. Zhang Guoqing repeatedly reminded everyone not to get too excited and start a fight, and especially not to curse. “Just watch,” he said, “at most, talk to people you know. If we can sway public opinion and let people see how helpless and wronged our family is, that’s enough. If we can get some sympathy, even better.”

After saying his piece, Zhang Guoqing ignored his brothers’ eye rolls and went back to open the door of the west wing. Worried, he said, “Jiaojiao, maybe you shouldn’t go out. Let me handle it. I know what I’m doing.”

“Don’t! If you try to stop me again, I’ll get mad. I’ve been waiting so long—why are they only just arriving? It’s not that far, are they running away or what? Go out and check, don’t let her slip away. And don’t let her in the house, or she’ll dirty our place and ruin our feng shui. Look, aren’t more and more people gathering? The more, the better. Mom, Dad, everyone, go outside and watch. I’m planning to make a grand entrance at the end.” Zhou Jiao bundled herself up in thick clothes and a padded jacket, looking even smaller than usual. Her sallow face was now so pale it made people’s hearts ache.

Everyone in the courtyard burst out laughing, speechless. This confinement period was just too boring—she was itching for some drama. But could such a tiny person really handle it? Lin Juhua stepped forward and stared at Zhou Jiao’s face, unable to hold back her laughter, shoulders shaking as she covered her mouth. Watching as the elders all went outside.

Maimiao, who had come out from the inner room, looked at Zhou Jiao with concern. Zhou Jiao pushed the two children inside, gently comforting them, telling them not to come out and to help look after their little brother. She really didn’t want the kids to witness the scene outside—shouting matches and street brawls were bad for their upbringing and could have a negative influence. Besides, if the crowd got out of control, someone could get hurt.

Outside, Zhou Xue’s voice was already shouting, “Zhou Jiao, you bitch, you’ll die a miserable death! You’ve eaten our food, drunk our water—without my mother, you’d have died long ago!”

“Zhou Jiao, come out and explain yourself! When did I ever steal your dowry? You don’t dare come out, you bastard born of a mother but raised by no one!”

Fine. Zhou Jiao had originally planned to spare her, but now there was no need. This time, she’d finish her off once and for all—let’s see if Zhou Jiao is really that easy to bully.

Seeing that the time was about right, and not wanting her husband to bear the brunt, Zhou Jiao slowly walked out. She could still hear people in the crowd shouting, “The golden child is coming out!” If not for the fact that she had to keep a straight face, she would have burst out laughing.

Standing on the steps at the main gate, Zhou Jiao silently watched Zhou Xue, who looked every bit the shrew: hair disheveled, clothes in disarray, spewing filth and curses, flailing her arms, face twisted with rage, held back by the crowd. After a while, Zhou Jiao stepped down another step, her face calm and her eyes deep as water. She just stood there, silently watching, and gradually the crowd quieted, wanting to hear what the “golden child” would say.

Only Zhou Xue kept cursing, her foul language endless, crying and making a scene, using every trick she knew. Zhou Jiao remained silent, her expression calm and cold. Zhang Guoqing came to her side, holding her with one hand and ready to shield her from Zhou Xue if she lunged.

Looking around at the crowd—at least 500 people—Zhou Jiao finally spoke. “Zhou Xue, keep cursing if you want. I don’t know how to use that kind of language. I was never taught that.”

Zhou Xue screamed, “Zhou Jiao, you bastard born of a mother but raised by no one! You’ll die a miserable death!”

Zhou Jiao still spoke calmly: “My mother raised your whole family.”

Those nearby burst out laughing, and quickly spread the word further out. But Zhou Jiao wanted to push Zhou Xue to say even worse things—this wasn’t enough. She’d been holding a grudge for years, hating her mother for seventeen years. They’d twisted her thinking, tried to control her life, to benefit their own family. Why? What did Zhou Jiao owe them? Who had she wronged?

“You say my dowry was yours, that I stole it from you. Tell me, when did I ever take anything from you? This was always mine.”

Zhou Jiao knew it was almost time—Old Master Zhou would probably arrive soon.

With a look of disdain, Zhou Jiao said, “I know you’ve always been jealous of me. My grandfather was a general—what about yours? Oh, Huang Damao. Years ago, your whole family wore the same pair of pants as Huang Damao. You hate it, but there’s nothing you can do. You’re still you, and I’m still me.”

The crowd burst into laughter, and people outside shouted, “The whole family sharing one pair of pants!”

Zhou Xue, furious and humiliated, tried to charge forward but was held back, cursing, “You bastard! Your mother gave birth to you and didn’t want you. Born of a mother but raised by no one—if it weren’t for our family, you’d be dead!”

Zhou Jiao looked at her with the same disdain. “I know you’ve always envied me, wished you were me. You hate your mother, you envy that I have mine. My mother is noble and beautiful. And your mother? She only married into the Zhou family because she was pregnant. No matter how much you hate it, she’s still your mother.”

This time, no one in the crowd repeated her words, but there was plenty of whispering. After all, this was a family scandal.

Zhou Xue was so angry she wanted to jump up and hit someone, but was held back again. “You’re lying! Zhou Jiao, you’ll die a miserable death! Who envies you? You’re a bastard no one wants, a jinx who brings death!”

This time, Zhou Jiao raised her voice. “Ask your father. The Zhou family’s century-old reputation was ruined by your mother. She was the pride of the Huang family, made them rich. But in our Zhou family, she’s a disgrace—she ruined two sons, so stupid it’s shocking.

For generations, the Zhou family has been upright and honorable, contributing so much to this country. Every generation has stood tall and proud—no traitors, no collaborators, no scoundrels, no illegitimate children.

Have I ever complained about my grievances to outsiders? Never. Have I ever done anything to shame my ancestors? Never.

Family shame shouldn’t be aired in public, but you’ve been shouting for so long, repeating the same thing about dowries. I, Zhou Jiao, have the pride of the Zhou family in my bones. Money is just a worldly possession—I’ve never cared about it.

But since you insist on making a scene in front of everyone, trying to force me to admit to something I didn’t do, then let’s talk about it. Did you really think I’m just a lump of dough for you to knead as you please, for your branch of the family to bully and squeeze?

You say your mother raised me—then let me ask, how did she raise me? Besides the money my mother sent every month, the milk powder my grandfather, my mother, my two aunts, and my little aunt sent—who ate it? The four of you siblings ate it together. I was raised on the milk powder my grandmother managed to snatch for me. When I was ten, people said I looked like a scrawny chick—everyone here knows it. The four of you grew up tall and strong, bullying me behind the scenes, while your mother stood by and laughed.”"