Chapter 879: Chapter 752: You Must Love Me Even More From Now On

In less than fifteen minutes, from the four pant legs, more than a dozen heavy and light gold rings, six gold bracelets, and several gold chains of varying thickness were dug out. Some were inlaid with gemstones, clearly indicating they were acquired treasures.

Mother Zhang took out a handkerchief from her pocket, quickly wrapped the items before Zhou Jiao could speak, and stuffed them to the bottom drawer of the kang table, covering and closing it again.

"Mom?"

"What mom, what’s so strange. These were all exchanged for at the Black Markets in the provincial city by your dad and me over those two years, no one knows except your dad. I took the opportunity since you’re pregnant to get them for you from your dad, in case your dad makes a muddle-headed decision in a few years and divides them when Xi Zi and the others grow up."

Zhou Jiao was indifferent; others might cherish these things, but her space had countless such items.

She said nonchalantly, "If they get divided, then let it be; you and dad, as elders, will have face in the future too."

Upon hearing this, Mother Zhang frowned with worry and gave her a sidelong glance, "These were exchanged for the money and grain you gave us, why give them to outsiders? A daughter-in-law is just so, will the granddaughter-in-law honor us?"

Zhou Jiao, with reddened eyes, let out a laugh.

Mother Zhang also realized what she said and burst into a laugh, "This old lady forgot you were the daughter-in-law."

Zhou Jiao looked at her emotionally. Her mother-in-law genuinely regarded her as her daughter; otherwise, she would certainly have handed them to Zhang Guoqing, her elder son, not her.

"Don’t look at mom like that. I’ve kept those gold bracelets you all gave to me," Mother Zhang hesitated for a moment and whispered, "Jiao Jiao, mom has selfish motives. You must remember, these things, in the future, mostly go to Ping’an."

Zhou Jiao understood her intent and dared not harbor any resentment. The child who is adopted out bears the surname Zhou; although said to be her grandson, there is still a difference.

"Mom, thank you."

Mother Zhang sighed, "It’s not that mom is biased towards any grandson, even if the child carries your surname, he is still my own grandson. By rules, your mother’s family possessions won’t include Ping’an in the future. Save more for the child’s foundation, and don’t let the kids below him differ too much later on."

Zhou Jiao didn’t explain that her dad wouldn’t be biased or that Zhang Guoqing wouldn’t mistreat Ping’an; talking about things that haven’t happened is empty talk. She solemnly said, "Mom, don’t worry, they are all my sons; I will definitely find a way to level the field."

Mother Zhang gave her a side-eye, "You mean to say mom is biased?"

Zhou Jiao just laughed in response.

Is there any doubt? Her mother-in-law was biased towards Xiao Wu, and then biased towards Ping’an. Hmm, later she would secretly add more to these so that they could be distributed equally among the sons, ensuring the children properly honor their grandparents.

Outside, Lin Juhua’s voice was heard.

Mother Zhang immediately went forward, pulled open the latch behind the room door, opened it, and replied, "In the room."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Jiao hastily took out a needle and thread basket and a pack of cotton from the kang table cabinet and placed Mother Zhang’s two pairs of pants on her knees.

Mother Zhang saw this and smiled contentedly - she said Jiao Jiao was clever in her family.

When Lin Juhua came in and saw Zhou Jiao stuffing the cotton, she complained, "Mom really, why not let me? Jiao Jiao’s pregnant body compressing it is exhausting."

"Second sister-in-law, come, sit down. Where’s my big sister-in-law?"

"She’s keeping Grandma company, busy absorbing experiences." Lin Juhua glanced at the pants and said, "Give them to me; I’m used to doing it quickly."

Mother Zhang pulled her to sit next to her, "No need, it’s usually you at home doing work for us, now let Jiao Jiao express her filial piety, let her do it slowly."

Zhou Jiao pursed her lips in a smile and nodded along. Some areas had marks left by jewelry pressing on them, if one were careful, they would notice something suspicious; her mother-in-law would never let others amend it.

Mother Zhang disliked the second daughter-in-law watching Zhou Jiao’s handiwork and immediately changed the topic, "Tomorrow night when Xiao Mi comes over, we’ll leave. Second daughter-in-law, where do you sisters-in-law want to visit? While we still have time, let’s go downtown once more."

Lin Juhua let out a breath of joy and quickly waved her hands, "Nothing more, nothing more, finally going back after being here so long. I wonder what the house is like?"

Zhou Jiao disapprovingly shot her a glance, "Only been here a few days? Why the rush to go back?"

"Beijing, Beijing, everyone said how wonderful it is before coming, but it’s just a name. Jiao Jiao, it’s not that second sister-in-law is unwilling to stay with you, in a few days you’ll need to return to school, and the kids at home need to go to school too. Entrusting them to your second brother, I’m really not assured. Taozi is still so young, and I don’t know if there have been any fits of mischief?"

Zhou Jiao was only joking, and in good humor replied, "Then leave mom here, or none of you should go out."

Lin Juhua cheerfully looked at Mother Zhang. She didn’t dare respond, not knowing whether leaving her mother-in-law might offend her, nor could she say not leaving without sounding inhumane.

"Don’t listen to Jiao Jiao. This time mom brought you here, mom will surely take you back. When Jiao Jiao is about to give birth, mom will come again. Not just for you, even mom is thinking of home, wondering how they’re faring, those three men together?"

Lin Juhua sighed, "It’s too far, might be better if Jiao Jiao were in the provincial city. Jiao Jiao, when you’re in confinement, I won’t be able to come; whatever you crave, just jot it in a letter, and I’ll get it ready for you."

Zhou Jiao promptly agreed with a smile.

"Have more walnut powder, no need to worry it’ll be insufficient. This time going back, I’ll gather some more walnuts and grind them into powder to send to you. Come spring, pickle more salted eggs for you to eat with meals, now with Xiao Mi, no worry of parcels being squashed."

Zhou Jiao quickly declined, "Second sister-in-law, no need, you see I eat anything the same way."

Upon hearing this, Lin Juhua and Mother Zhang exchanged a look and both burst out laughing.

Zhou Jiao recognized that earlier her mother-in-law worried about her pregnancy nausea and purposely prepared a lot of sour and spicy snacks. But she ended up having no special cravings, making their laughter understandable.

At night, once everyone was asleep, in the bedroom, Zhou Jiao showed Zhang Guoqing the items Mother Zhang gave her and recounted her mother-in-law’s words from earlier.

Hearing them, Zhang Guoqing remained silent for a long time until, while going to bed, holding his wife, he quietly said, "I feel guilty."

Zhou Jiao knew what he felt guilty about?

She sighed inwardly; one could say it was largely due to her doing. Without her father’s appearance, perhaps they would’ve stayed in the provincial city, not traversing a thousand miles to Beijing.

In her previous life, Zhang Guoqing kept accommodating her favoritist parents because of her, and this life, he still forsook his long-desired kinship for her.

Zhou Jiao asked herself, she loved this man, but what had she brought to him? If the so-called love for him was simply enjoying the deep affection he gave, how much emotion could withstand such indulgence?

Zhang Guoqing regretted speaking the moment he started, understanding how sensitive Zhou Jiao was. Sure enough, lowering his gaze, he saw guilty eyes and gently kissed them.

He wanted to say that having her was enough. Wanted to say so much...

But in the end, all his words condensed into one sentence: "Wife, you must love me more."

Zhou Jiao listened to the man’s voice, similar to how Ping’an would plead, then smiled, gazing deeply at him, her words brimming with an undeniable resolve: "Okay, we’ll grow old together and leave this world hand in hand the same day."

What are the most beautiful vows? Not to be born the same day, but to die the same day.

Such inauspicious words, Zhou Jiao couldn’t bear to utter. Yet, she understood more than anyone that without Zhang Guoqing, no amount of attachments would keep her in this world.