Chapter 54: The Lin Family Arrives (Part 3)

Lin Lishan burst out laughing when she heard this. She was relieved as long as Jiaojiao was fine—she’d panicked earlier when she saw her collapse. “Good thing you caught the little trick, Xiao Zhou. But do you think anyone else noticed?”

“No, I’ve observed carefully. Other than Xiao Fei, no one else at the scene picked up on it. Besides, everyone’s attention was on what was being said at the time. And, big sister, you don’t know—your daughter is very smart, and your son-in-law is sharp too. We were sitting in a relatively secluded spot. When he saw us, he just raised his eyebrows slightly, and the hand supporting your daughter clenched into a fist for a moment, but he stayed calm and acted like nothing happened. When we were leaving, Xiao Fei mouthed a reminder: ‘Jiaojiao, they’re all here.’ I guess he said it while running home. Chief, how did they figure out we’d come today?”

Lin Xinsheng looked out the window, listening to Xiao Zhou’s analysis, which was even more detailed than what he’d witnessed himself. He had a general idea of Xiao Zhou’s abilities, and the fact that he praised those two kids meant they were outstanding as well. But no matter how outstanding, he wasn’t in the mood to think about that right now. He was pondering his wife’s words and the situation after Zhou Xiao Zheng returned. Thinking back to meeting Zhou Jiao and Zhang Guoqing today, they were very different from what he’d expected. The Zhang family was relatively well-off in the area, upright, and harmonious. As for his granddaughter Zhou Jiao, she was no ordinary person—she’d probably already guessed their intentions. He wasn’t as worried as his wife; Jiaojiao wouldn’t embarrass them, nor would she blame her mother. But as for winning her over, that would be difficult. With her temperament and pride, most people didn’t even register in her eyes, let alone in her heart.

She was decisive, never dragged things out, hated trouble, and preferred to avoid disputes—just like Zhou Xiao Zheng. She liked relying on herself. Sigh, as for his own daughter Shanshan, who knew what would happen when Zhou Xiao Zheng returned. There were many reasons they hadn’t visited the child all these years, but in the end, it was their fault.

Lin Xinsheng said, “She guessed. She said she’d received 28 packages in the past eight months. You didn’t notice her tone—at first, when there weren’t many packages, she’d list what was inside, saying it was all hers. But when she mentioned the 28 packages, she didn’t specify what was in them. She probably didn’t know herself until she checked with the post office this year. Do you really think she found out which post office sent the first one? She deduced it.

With her steady, cautious nature, she’d definitely suspect why we suddenly changed so much—it could only mean something big was about to happen, maybe even something involving her. What would make us suddenly send so many things? It must be something beneficial, or a major happy event. She and her husband can’t bring benefits to our family, so the only close connection is her father. Her father is a soldier, and she’s smart enough to think of that.

If something big is about to happen, we’d have to meet her in person. She was pregnant these eight months, and with 28 packages, if you calculate her due date, if she didn’t deliver early, her mother would definitely arrive before the due date to be with her. But she gave birth early, so the day of the baby’s third-day celebration would be when her maternal family showed up. She had the timing all figured out.

She’s certain her father Zhou Xiaocun is still alive, and she’s deduced he’ll be back soon. So she made sure to separate the main and second branches of the Zhou family before the third-day celebration. By the time Zhou Xiao Zheng returns, everything will be settled. She’s very protective of her father—she’s planned it all out to make sure the Zhou family can’t drag him down. She’s probably already planned her next steps for after her father returns. If I’m not mistaken, her only wish for her mother is to stay by her father’s side and live a peaceful life. She doesn’t care about his position—she really doesn’t. She’s proud.

She arranged for everything to be exposed before the third-day celebration. Before we appeared, public opinion was that she was a pitiful girl, bullied and forced to sever ties by a brash Zhou family girl. If we showed up after the celebration, and things blew up after her father returned, it would be too late—the narrative would shift, and most people sympathize with the weak. Before we appeared, she was the weak one, all alone. After we showed up, the main branch became the weak one in everyone’s eyes, since she now had support. But she doesn’t want to rely on us—she’s as proud as Zhou Xiaocun.

And did you hear her say, ‘If my grandfather in the capital stamps his foot, the whole city shakes three times’? That was probably the main bait—she’s afraid that if time drags on, that label will stick to her. She doesn’t care about money, but she won’t let danger linger. Smart people plan ahead, like to be prepared, and always leave themselves a way out. So she used this opportunity to cut ties, and in front of so many people, she proved Zhou Xue’s words wrong. Think about what she said to Old Zhou at the end: it was mainly about the Zhou family suffering because of their loyalty to the Party, and her father dying young for the country. Before that, she kept emphasizing that she followed the Chairman, that the Lin family had generations in the military, that the 28 packages were her mother scraping together her cousins’ shares for her, that her mother scrimped and saved to buy her things with her leftover wages. Isn’t that what she said? This child is very low-key, afraid of showing off and attracting envy. She stressed that her grandfather’s family were old revolutionaries, that she wasn’t some golden child, just someone the whole family pitied and saved for. This shows she’s very aware of the situation and has a good political sense!

Later, have Xiao Fei write down what she said today and send it to your brother and the others, so the kids can see it too. She’s only 17, grew up in the countryside, only finished junior high, but her insight and strategy are impressive. Our own family needs to tighten up as well.

You need to think carefully about how to handle her—you and your husband only have this one child. If she were ordinary, it wouldn’t matter. That old Zhou said she was timid and indecisive, only fit for a simple rural life and a steady marriage. Would you believe that after meeting her? She’s only ignoring him because she can’t be bothered. If she hadn’t been pushed, she wouldn’t have bothered to fight back.

I’ve looked into it—Jiaojiao lives in her own world under Zhang Guoqing’s protection. Apart from her in-laws and grandmother, she’s indifferent to everyone else, keeping her distance from people and things around her. She has no close friends, no topics in common with her peers, just likes reading. The impression she gives is quiet and steady.

She and Zhang Guoqing both had excellent grades in school and could have gone straight to high school. Zhang Guoqing didn’t even join the army, but rushed to get married. Something must have happened that made her eager to leave the Zhou family—I suspect it was your eldest sister-in-law scheming against her.

Zhang Guoqing is well-known around here—strong as an ox, loyal and righteous, praised by everyone from old to young. His family is honest and kind. The two of them grew up together, so I agreed to the marriage. Otherwise, who would believe Old Zhou? He’s just a muddle-headed old man. Jiaojiao only tolerated him for her grandmother and father—otherwise, ten Old Zhous wouldn’t be enough to handle those two.

They say poor kids grow up fast. We weren’t around when she was little; only her grandmother and Zhang Guoqing kept her company. Her grandmother was too weak to protect her, and Zhang Guoqing couldn’t always be there. In that Zhou family environment, she learned to keep her distance, be cautious, and act steadily. She’s only 17—just look at the difference between Xuezhen and her. That’s the difference between having a mother and not. You need to treat her well in the future. Love isn’t just about writing it in a letter or sending enough money—it’s not about letting her do whatever she wants, either. Back then, your mother and I had no choice—wherever the army went, we had to follow, so we left you kids with others. At least you had siblings to rely on, but she really had no one here.

You’re smart, but you’re not scheming. You wanted to rush up there just now, thinking mother and daughter would hug and cry. Do you think Jiaojiao would do that? She’d probably just coldly ask you to wait, and get mad at your foolishness for messing up the atmosphere. With over 500 people there, any mishap would be a big deal—she had to control the whole situation and win public sympathy. Why would you go up and cause trouble?

Do you know why your son-in-law stayed calm when he saw us, instead of greeting us? Because we couldn’t show up—if we did, it would look like the elders bullying the younger generation, like the Lin family didn’t care about the Zhou family. Did you see the Zhang family say anything today? And your son-in-law only spoke to Old Zhou at the end—do you know what that means?

It means Zhou Xue came to pick a fight with Jiaojiao, and their family is reasonable. You can come and argue, but you can’t hit Jiaojiao. The Zhang family surrounding them was a warning to the Zhou family—if you want to fight, the Zhangs aren’t afraid.

After it was all over and we left, the couple knew we were there—so why didn’t anyone come after us? Strange, isn’t it? You’ll see—when Xiao Fei gets back, he’ll say Zhang Guoqing found him and asked him to pass on a message.

Jiaojiao is very low-key—she doesn’t want to be the center of attention. Did you hear that ‘golden child’ thing? At first, I didn’t get it, but then that old man said, ‘Oh, the golden child! Who else but the Zhou family’s golden child? Everyone in town knows she’s the golden child. The Zhang family must have burned incense for generations to get such a good daughter-in-law.’

But look—apart from Jiaojiao’s clothes having no patches, their whole family lives simply. Even Zhang Guoqing’s clothes, though not patched, are so faded from washing. The Zhang family is low-key. I heard someone say that when they got married, the Zhangs gave 800 yuan as a bride price, and the Zhou family only sent a wardrobe and a few sets of clothes—Jiaojiao married in with nothing but those. She used the 800 yuan to buy a sewing machine and nothing else.

If the Zhangs could give 800 yuan, do you think they’re poor? You can’t tell, right? They just like to keep a low profile.

Let’s drive back first—don’t say anything when we get to the county, there’ll be people reporting and putting on pressure anyway. Let’s eat lunch first, and when people have mostly left in the afternoon, we’ll go back in a high-profile way. Daughter, be careful when you bring things—your daughter said you scrimped and saved for months to send her those things, and that you took her cousins’ shares for her. To keep up that story, be careful when you hand things over.”

The three of them laughed in the car. Xiao Zhou was considered one of their own, so there was no need to be embarrassed. Besides, after seeing Zhang Guoqing, he liked him—he was soldier material. “Chief, that Zhang Guoqing is made to be a soldier. I think highly of him.”

Lin Xinsheng shook his head. “No need for him to join the army—there are already plenty of soldiers in the family. Our Jiaojiao has had a hard enough life. Her grandmother told us not to let him join up. If the couple comes to the capital, they can keep her grandmother company. If not, we’ll ask old friends to arrange work for them here and see what they want. They’re not ordinary people—they probably have their own plans. I only have a week before I have to go to the Northeast Military District. Once I’ve made arrangements, I’ll leave. Daughter, are you going to wait here for your husband to come back?”

“Dad, I’m not going back so soon—I’ll be doing my confinement for at least a month. I can’t just wait here, so I want to go pick him up myself, and then we’ll come back together. No matter what, after more than ten years, he should see his parents.”

“Alright, do as you see fit. The most important thing is not to let anything happen to the child. You only have this one, so make sure everything is arranged properly.”"