Chapter 901: Chapter 774: You Think Everyone Is Like Your Dad?

Back home, life has returned to calm, with Zhou Xiaozheng, a father who deeply loves his daughter, blocking the storms from the outside world, not a ripple appeared.

Zhou Jiao constantly remembers her father’s words, idle watching flowers bloom and fall in the courtyard, leisurely following the clouds as they roll and stretch outside.

— Yes... now that she’s in confinement, she needs to cultivate herself and rest.

With two more sons, seemingly much busier, but with Mother Zhang as the mother-in-law, plus Aunt Sun, who was introduced later, in her fifties. Not to mention Zhou Jiao, even Aunt Chen was much more relaxed, focusing intently on studying confinement meals.

When Yi Shumin brought her big, chubby daughter over for a visit, seeing Zhou Jiao’s confinement life orderly and leisurely relaxed, she couldn’t help but be envious.

"I can’t manage even just one child. How do you live so comfortably? It’s really the case of people comparing will die, goods comparing will be thrown away, there really is no comparison."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Jiao covered her mouth and laughed quietly.

"Why not leave Yueya’er at your place too?"

"What nonsense are you talking about. Yueya’er is so well-behaved, just look at how pretty she smiles. Sit down and let the child play on the kang. How come you have time to visit today?"

"Shift change and rest." Yi Shumin sat down but didn’t really settle the child in her arms. This little girl, besides speaking late, crawls really fast. If she accidentally hurts the twins, how embarrassing it would be.

"Have you named them yet?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Jiao couldn’t help but laugh.

"What’s the matter?"

"The formal names haven’t been decided yet; the nicknames were decided last night by Ping’an, but the kid said he still needs to think about it for another day and finalize it tonight."

Yi Shumin remembered that little clever one and chuckled with delight: "Tell me what names the little fellow has come up with?"

"Childish words, just to listen to." Zhou Jiao avoided this topic and observed Yueya’er, "This red bellyband is nice, summer is indeed better, without worries of getting cold."

"That’s why you’re fortunate. If it’s confinement in the big winter, not just other things, even the twins’ diapers would make you cry. By the way, don’t give away all your child’s baby clothes, save some for me."

Zhou Jiao really couldn’t hold back her laughter, clutching her stomach, glancing at her: "Enough! Aren’t you somewhat cultured, really believe in all that?"

"Just seeking peace of mind."

"Rest assured! I’ll save the best for you, if you’re not opposed, I’ll even keep the diapers for you."

"Good sister!"

Zhou Jiao, seeing her smile so widely that her teeth are showing, inexplicably felt heartache. Turns out having a daughter for the first time comes with this much pressure; the Fang family treats Yueya’er as a treasure, even so, you can imagine how families that favor boys over girls feel? It’s not easy being a woman, going to work with a big belly, still having to endure pressure.

"There’s food on the cabinet, you help yourself." Zhou Jiao pointed toward the place, "Is Brother Xiao Fei busy recently? Haven’t seen him around?"

"He’s on a business trip, will be back next month. Are you looking for him for something?"

"It’s nothing major, just that Brother Xiao Zhou is getting married on the Eighth of August, Xiao Wu is worried he may not know."

Of course Yi Shumin knows Xiao Zhou, usually they keep in contact, Xiao Fei and Zhang Guoqing are friends with him. When her Yueya’er was born, he even sent over two bags of milk powder.

"Brother Xiao Zhou is twenty-eight, right? Finally settling down now. Do you know where the bride is from?"

"Yesterday Brother Xiao Zhou brought her over; she’s one meter sixty, very thin. I heard she’s his comrade’s sister, from Jingjiao. She has a very nice surname — Shi, the time Shi, Shi Xinglan. Xing as in happy, Lan as in blue."

Yi Shumin nodded thoughtfully: "At home she should be quite cherished, that name clearly follows the family tree order. Not a kind of orchid, but blue. Seems her parents aren’t illiterate old farmers."

Zhou Jiao wasn’t surprised by her analysis. She could see long ago that Yi Shumin speaks cautiously outside, having been raised by Mrs. Yi, how could she really be a naive girl?

Thinking of Mrs. Yi, she suddenly remembered her father Yi Ming. This person suddenly wants to apply to transfer back again, is there some further plan?

"Is your mom still with your brother? She’s been there for quite some time this time, right?"

Thinking about the phone call from her mom, really every family has its difficulties. Never thought her sister-in-law is still a workaholic, busy to the point of neglecting husband and son.

Yi Shumin felt quite helpless: "Yes, she can’t let go of her grandson, neither can she let go of my dad. Maybe when summer is over, she’ll take the grandson home herself to care for."

Zhou Jiao glanced at her, "Your mom’s plan is pretty good. If you must bring back the grandson, really have to wait until summer is over to go back to the Northeast. Otherwise, when the weather turns cold, it’s not safe for the little child."

Yi Shumin smiled bitterly and shook her head: "How can my mom take care of a child? She still needs to rely on my grandma for guidance. From her tone, my dad might transfer back, she doesn’t plan to return to the Northeast."

Upon hearing that, Zhou Jiao lowered her eyelids, casually saying: "That’s not bad, with parents nearby, it’s always different. When they return to the Big Courtyard, they’ll be closer to you."

"My family and Xiao Fei’s aren’t the same. My mom has already made my dad prepare a yard, they won’t move there. At most just come to accompany the elders during holidays."

"That’s convenient too; your dad can’t live in the suburbs. It’s a bit of distance, you can even stay for a couple of days, how comfortable, like a vacation."

"Do you think everyone has the same father like yours? If I frequently visit back home, my dad would definitely slam the door in my face. My dad is somewhat patriarchal, plus he’s always busy, our father-daughter relationship isn’t as good as yours with Uncle Zhou."

This time Zhou Jiao was somewhat surprised. Didn’t see that smiling fox is still feudal-minded?

"Surprised, right? If I didn’t say, nobody would know. Usually in families with just one daughter, she should be cherished, but except for my grandmother, even my mom prefers my brother and them."

Zhou Jiao didn’t know how to comfort her.

No wonder when Yi Shumin was pregnant, rarely did anything come from the Northeast to the Fang family. Before, she thought Yi Ming was keeping low, letting Mr. Yi privately handle it.

"Now you know why I like going to the Jiefang’s house? My uncle and aunt don’t have daughters, they like us few cousins, and we also love going to their place."

"Aunt Yi is kind, hospitable, and straightforward; even I like going to her place. She’s similar in personality to my aunt-grandma; I see that courtyard and they all get along very harmoniously."

Upon hearing this, Yi Shumin beamed and nodded repeatedly: "Whenever she returns to her hometown, there isn’t an empty seat at home. My grandma says she didn’t waste her talents as a women’s director."

Zhou Jiao cheerfully agreed with her; in her heart, she’s certain Yi Ming will definitely transfer back. She tried hard to recall what major events might happen in ’63 and ’64?

During her pregnancy, she had plenty of free time, plus she read quite a few newspapers and documents. It seems that before a change of era, many mindful people are already raring to go.

Yi family... Yi Ming...

At this moment, Zhou Jiao again forgets her dad’s advice. As they say, it’s hard to change one’s nature easily; no matter how much she practices remaining calm amidst praise and blame, she still habitually speculates.