Chapter 8: 8. Chapter 8: Dividing the Family (Part 1)

Chapter 8: Splitting the Family (I)

Jiang Xia fell silent for a moment before asking, "Splitting the family... where will we move to?"

Jiang Xia didn't want to stay, but while other transmigrators at least inherited the original host's memories, she had nothing.

Not a single memory!

She didn't even know which direction the door to her parental home opened; how was she supposed to go back?

Therefore, since Zhou Chenglei wouldn't issue her an introduction letter, she had no choice but to stay.

"The old house. It's a decades-old house and very dilapidated; it can't compare to this one. Besides, that house is closer to the seaside, so it might be a bit damp. I don't know if you can stand it," Zhou Chenglei told her the truth, letting her choose to avoid any future outbursts if she couldn't tolerate the conditions.

Jiang Xia didn't care much; as long as she had a place to settle, it was fine. "I don't mind."

Zhou Chenglei didn't believe she truly didn't mind. If she wasn't used to this new house, she would likely find the old one even harder to bear.

However, if she couldn't stand it, she could go back to her parental home.

"I'll go talk to Mom and Dad about splitting the family. You should get some sleep early."

Then, Zhou Chenglei went out.

After he left, Jiang Xia waited until her hair was dry, but he hadn't returned. He likely wasn't coming back to sleep. That was fine; since they weren't close, sharing a bed was a bit awkward. She closed the door, turned off the light, and went to sleep.

In her daze, she felt someone enter, touch her forehead, and then leave.

A person with a fever is prone to relapses in the middle of the night. Worried, Zhou Chenglei had come to check on her. Seeing that her fever hadn't returned, he went back to his nephew's room to sleep on the floor.

The next day, Jiang Xia was awakened by the crowing of a rooster. It wasn't light yet, probably around 5:30 AM, but since she had gone to sleep around 10:00 PM the previous night, she woke up feeling refreshed.

Low voices and the sounds of chores were already drifting in from outside. Jiang Xia had no habit of lingering in bed, so she got up and walked out.

In the courtyard, Tian Caihua was grating sweet potato shreds to cook sweet potato porridge. Seeing Jiang Xia up so early, she froze for a moment before greeting her with a smile, "Fourth Sister-in-law, you're up early. If you're feeling unwell, you should sleep more to feel better."

Her mood was visibly good; she already knew Zhou Chenglei was going to split the family, so she had decided not to hold a grudge against Jiang Xia.

Mother Zhou was chopping vegetables to feed the chicks. Seeing Jiang Xia, she felt frustrated—this girl had caused the family to break apart!

Still, she offered a word of concern: "Has the fever broken?"

Her youngest son had said last night that he wouldn't divorce, but would instead split the family. No matter how much Mother Zhou resented Jiang Xia, she had to endure it; otherwise, her son would be caught in the middle and suffer.

Her son had joined the army in his teens and was gone for over a decade. He had survived the battlefield, returning from the brink of death, only to come home to family strife.

If others didn't pity her son, she did!

As long as Jiang Xia was willing to live a good life with her son in the future, Mother Zhou would endure whatever faults she had.

After all, her son couldn't bear to divorce.

Since the girl's words were framed as concern, Jiang Xia was not ungrateful. She greeted her with a smile, "It's gone, Mom. Don't worry. What are you making for breakfast, Sister-in-law? Let me do it!"

Calling Mother Zhou "Mom" still felt a bit unnatural, but since she couldn't divorce for the time being, she had to call her that even if she wasn't used to it.

Upon hearing this, Mother Zhou immediately said, "No need for you to do it. If you don't cause trouble, I'll be thanking the Buddha for good luck!"

Her resentment slipped out unconsciously.

Jiang Xia: "..."

Tian Caihua also felt that Jiang Xia wouldn't know how to cook and was just talking; however, since they were about to split the family, she wouldn't have to serve her after today, so there was no need to argue.

Feeling in a good mood, Tian Caihua said cheerfully, "No need, no need. It's almost done. I'll just put these sweet potatoes in the porridge to simmer a bit longer, and then it'll be ready. Go wash your face!"

Tian Caihua deftly poured the grated sweet potato shreds into the white porridge simmering on the small stove, pushed a bit more firewood in to increase the heat, and hurried to finish the porridge.

Once the porridge was cooked, they could eat breakfast, and once breakfast was over, the family would split.

Jiang Xia went to wash her face and brush her teeth. Just as she finished, Zhou Chenglei returned from outside, drenched in sweat, clearly having just finished a run.

Seeing Jiang Xia up so early, Zhou Chenglei was visibly startled. He asked instinctively, "Why are you up so early? Do you feel dizzy? Is the fever back?"

Receiving one piece of concern after another so early in the morning was a feeling Jiang Xia had never experienced. Even knowing his sincerity might not be deep, she smiled and said, "I'm fine, much better."

Seeing her complexion was rosy, Zhou Chenglei said nothing more and fetched two buckets of water to rinse off and brush his teeth.

The porridge wasn't ready that quickly, so Jiang Xia helped Mother Zhou chop sweet potato leaves, asking if they were for feeding the chickens.

At first, Mother Zhou was afraid she might chop her own hand, but seeing her chop quickly and skillfully, she was quite surprised. "No, they're for making pig feed in a bit."

"Oh, does the pig feed need to be boiled?"

Seeing Jiang Xia's interest, Mother Zhou began to chat with her, teaching her a few things.

Since her son had lived away from her before, she knew more, and it would make things easier for her son.

Through this, Jiang Xia learned that the Zhou family raised three large, fat pigs and one cow, had about a dozen chickens and ducks each, and a brood of chicks that were only ten days old.

The pigs needed feeding, but the cow could just be let out to graze; the task of herding the cow was usually done by the children. As for the ducks, they would find small fish and shrimp if driven to the beach, and they just had to be herded back later. The chickens could also be let into the bamboo grove in the morning to forage, but they needed one meal at night.

The chicks required more careful tending, fed with chick starter; if fed vegetable leaves, they had to be finely chopped. Once they were older, the hens could lead them out to forage. There was no one stealing them; every household did this. One just had to mark the chickens, geese, and ducks—for example, by clipping tails, plucking a tuft of hair from their heads, or tying strings around their legs.

After the two finished chopping a large pile of sweet potato vines, Jiang Xia cleaned the courtyard. The porridge was ready, and it was time for breakfast.

Breakfast consisted only of sweet potato porridge, but it was delicious—sweet and soft from the potatoes, with a savory aroma from the dried shrimp. Jiang Xia ate two bowls.

After breakfast, Guangzong Yaozu and Little Zhou Zhou carried their schoolbags and walked to school by themselves. Father Zhou called the whole family into the hall to discuss the matter of splitting the family.

"You brothers have all started your own families; it is time to split the household. The second brother bought a house in town a while ago, so he was the first to move out. When he bought the house, your mother and I contributed two thousand yuan. It was agreed then that once the family split, the house would have nothing to do with them."

Tian Caihua pursed her lips. Why was she dissatisfied? It was because of this! She and Zhou Chengxin were uneducated and had no jobs. When Zhou Chenglei returned from military service, he could have taken a job at the town government, but he refused. Not only did he refuse, but he actually gave the job opportunity to the second brother, showing no consideration for his eldest brother who was still fishing at home.

The second brother was already a cadre in the production brigade and already had a job!

Why didn't Zhou Chenglei give the job to his eldest brother? Was it because he looked down on his brother for only having a primary school education?

Then, after Zhou Chenglei married Jiang Xia, he didn't do any housework. She alone cooked for the whole family, cared for the elders, and had to look after the couple. Why should she receive no benefits and still have to serve them?

Father Zhou continued, "This new house, Chenglei says will go to Chengxin. He and Jiang Xia will move to the old house."

Tian Caihua's eyes lit up!