Chapter 57: Visitors from the Lin Family (Part 6)

Lin Lishan burst out laughing when she heard this. She felt relieved as long as Jiaojiao was fine—she’d been so anxious seeing her collapse earlier. “Good thing you noticed those little signals. But Xiao Zhou, do you think anyone else noticed?”

“No, I’ve observed carefully. Besides Xiaofei, no one else caught on. 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 quite shrewd too. We were sitting in a rather secluded spot. When he saw us, he just raised his eyebrows slightly and clenched the hand that was supporting your daughter, but he stayed calm and acted as if nothing had happened. When we were leaving, Xiaofei used lip-reading to tell me, ‘Jiaojiao, they’ve all arrived.’ I guess he said it while running home. Chief, how did they figure out we’d come today?”

Lin Xinsheng gazed out the window, listening to Xiao Zhou’s analysis, which was even more detailed than what he’d seen himself. He knew Xiao Zhou was capable, and if he praised these two kids, they must be truly outstanding. But no matter how outstanding, he wasn’t in the mood to think about that now. He was pondering his wife’s words and what things would be like after Zhou Xiaozheng returned. Meeting Zhou Jiao and Zhang Guoqing today had been quite different from what he’d expected. The Zhang family seemed well-off and upright, with a harmonious household. As for his granddaughter Zhou Jiao, she was clearly no ordinary girl—she’d probably already guessed their intentions. He wasn’t as worried as his wife; Jiaojiao wouldn’t embarrass them, nor would she ever blame her mother. But as for truly letting them into her heart, that would be difficult. With her pride and temperament, most people didn’t even register in her eyes, let alone her heart.

She was decisive, never one to drag things out, disliked trouble, and preferred to avoid disputes. Just like Zhou Xiaozheng, she liked to rely on herself. Sigh, as for his own daughter Shanshan, who knew what would happen when Zhou Xiaozheng returned. There were many reasons they hadn’t visited the child all these years, but in the end, it was still their fault.

Lin Xinsheng said, “She guessed it. She mentioned that she’d received 28 parcels in the past eight months. You didn’t notice her tone—at first, when there weren’t many parcels, she’d say what was in each one, but when she mentioned the 28 parcels, she didn’t specify the contents. She probably didn’t know herself until she checked with the post office this year. As for the earliest parcels, do you really think she traced them? She just deduced it.

With her cautious and steady nature, she’d definitely wonder why we suddenly changed so much—there must be something big happening, maybe even something that involves her. What would make us suddenly send so much stuff? It must be something of benefit, or a major happy event. The young couple can’t provide us with any benefit, so the only person closely related to her is her father. Her father is a soldier, and she’s smart enough to figure that out.

If something big is happening, we’d have to meet her in person. She’s been pregnant these past eight months, and with 28 parcels, if you count the due date, unless she gave birth early, her mother would definitely come before the due date to be with her. But as it happened, she gave birth early, so on the day of the three-day celebration, her maternal family would just happen to show up. She’s calculated the timing perfectly.

She’s certain her father Zhou Xiaozheng is still alive, and has deduced that he’s coming back soon. So she has to separate the Zhou family’s main and second branches before the three-day celebration. Once Zhou Xiaozheng returns, everything will be settled. She’s very protective of her father and has planned everything out—she absolutely won’t let the Zhou family drag him down. She’s probably already planned the next steps for after her father returns. If I’m not mistaken, her only wish for her mother is to live a peaceful life with her father. She doesn’t care about her father’s position—she really doesn’t care about those things, she’s very proud.

She made sure everything was exposed before the three-day celebration. Before we showed up, public opinion was that she was a lone girl being bullied by a Zhou family brat, forced to sever ties. If we showed up after the celebration, and things blew up after her father returned, it would be too late—the narrative would be different, and most people sympathize with the weak. Before we appeared, she was the weak one, all alone. Once we appeared, the main branch became the weak one in everyone’s eyes, and she had people backing her. But she doesn’t want to rely on us—she’s just like Zhou Xiaozheng, proud to the core.

And did you hear her say, ‘If my grandfather stamps his foot in Beijing, the whole city shakes three times’? That was probably the main reason—she’s afraid that if time drags on, that reputation will stick to her. She doesn’t care about money or material things, but she absolutely won’t let danger linger. Smart people plan ahead and always leave themselves a way out. So she used this chance to cut ties, and in front of so many people, she proved Zhou Xue wrong and refuted her. Think about what she said to Old Zhou at the end—she emphasized that the Zhou family suffered because they were loyal to the cause, and her father gave his life for the country at a young age. She also kept stressing that she followed the Chairman, that the Lin family has served in the military for generations, and that the 28 parcels were her mother scraping together her cousins’ shares for her, saving every penny to buy things for her. Isn’t that what she said? This child is very low-key, afraid of flaunting her wealth and making others jealous. She emphasized that her grandfather’s family are old revolutionaries, that she’s not some golden child, just that her whole family saved up out of pity for her. This shows she’s very aware of the situation and has a good political sense!

Later, have Xiaofei write down everything she said today and send it to your brother and the others, let the kids read it too. She’s only 17, grew up in the countryside, only finished junior high, but her insight and strategy are impressive. Our family needs to tighten up as well.

You need to think carefully about how to guide her—you and your husband only have this one child. If she were ordinary, it wouldn’t matter. Is the girl Old Zhou described really your daughter? After seeing her, do you believe it? He said she was timid and indecisive, only suited for a quiet rural life, marrying a simple man. Jiaojiao just couldn’t be bothered with him—if she hadn’t been pushed, she wouldn’t have bothered to fight back.

I’ve looked into it. Under Zhang Guoqing’s protection, Jiaojiao lives in her own world. Aside 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 to read—quiet and steady is the impression she gives.

Both of them 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 to make her eager to leave the Zhou family—I suspect it was when she grew up and your eldest sister-in-law started scheming against her.

Zhang Guoqing is well-known around here, said to have great strength and a sense of justice. Everyone, young and old, who knows him, praises him. His family is honest, and the two grew up together as childhood sweethearts. That’s why I agreed to the marriage—otherwise, who would believe Old Zhou? He’s just a muddle-headed old man. Jiaojiao only went along for her grandmother and father’s sake; otherwise, ten Old Zhous wouldn’t be enough to handle those two.

They say poor children grow up fast. We weren’t around when she was little—her grandmother and Zhang Guoqing were her only company. Her grandmother was too soft to protect her, and Zhang Guoqing couldn’t always be there. In the Zhou family’s environment, she learned to keep her distance, be cautious, and act steadily. She’s only 17—look at the difference between Xuezhen and her. That’s the difference between having a mother and not. You should treat her well—not just say you love her in letters or think sending enough money is love. Nor is letting her do whatever she wants love. Back then, your mother and I had no choice—soldiers never knew where they’d be sent, so we left you with others. You had siblings to rely on, but she really had no one here.

You’re smart, but you lack cunning. You wanted to rush up there, thinking mother and daughter would embrace and cry. Do you think Jiaojiao would do that? She’d probably coldly ask you to wait, and get angry at your foolishness for disrupting things. With over 500 people there, even a small incident would be a big deal. She had to control the whole situation and win public sympathy. Why would you go up and mess things up?

Do you know why your son-in-law stayed quiet when he saw us, instead of greeting us? Because we couldn’t show up—otherwise, it would look like elders bullying the younger generation, like the Lin family looking down on the Zhous. Did you see any of the Zhang family speak up today? And your son-in-law only said one thing 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 standing around was a warning to the Zhous: if you want to fight, the Zhangs aren’t afraid.

After it was over and we left, the couple knew we’d been there. Why didn’t anyone come after us? Strange, isn’t it? You’ll see—when Xiaofei comes back, he’ll say Zhang Guoqing found him and sent a message.

Jiaojiao is very low-key—she doesn’t want to be the center of attention. Did you hear that ‘golden child’ comment? At first, I didn’t get it, but then an 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 Zhangs are really lucky to have such a good daughter-in-law.’

But look—except for Jiaojiao’s clothes, which have no patches, the whole family lives simply. Even Zhang Guoqing’s clothes, though not patched, are faded from washing. The Zhang family is very low-key. Later, I heard someone say the Zhangs gave 800 yuan as bride price, and the Zhous only gave a wardrobe and a few clothes as dowry. Zhou Jiao 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, can you? They’re just discreet in everything they do.

Let’s drive back first, and don’t say anything when we get to the county—someone will report and put pressure. We’ll have lunch, and when the crowd has dispersed in the afternoon, we’ll go back in style. Daughter, when you bring things over, be careful. Your daughter said you scrimped and saved for months to send her those parcels, and that you took her cousins’ shares for her. To keep up that story, be careful when you bring things.”

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, he liked Zhang Guoqing—a real soldier’s 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 enough soldiers in the family. Jiaojiao has suffered enough all these years. Her grandmother specifically said not to let him join the army. If the two of them come to Beijing, they can keep her grandmother company. If not, I’ll ask old friends to arrange work for them here. We’ll see what they say—they’re not ordinary people, probably already have plans. I’ll only be here for a week before heading to the Northeast Military District. Once things are arranged, 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 in confinement for at least a month. I can’t just wait here—I want to go pick him up myself, and then come back together. No matter what, after more than ten years, he has to 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 she’s well taken care of.”"