Chapter 10: Why Should I Keep Living With Them?

Chapter 10: Why Should We Always Live With Them?

Tian Caihua stared intently at the stack of ten-yuan bills in Mother Zhou's hands, mentally calculating how much money there was.

Mother Zhou: "There is still 1,200 yuan left in the family."

Tian Caihua: "Is it that little?"

Zhou Chengxin tugged at her clothes.

Father Zhou ignored her completely and took the stack of ten-yuan bills from Mother Zhou's hands: "Of this 1,200 yuan, 300 goes to the eldest, 600 to the fourth, and the extra 300 is for the fourth to renovate his house. The remaining 300 is for me, your mother, and Zhou Zhou. Do you have any objections?"

Zhou Chengxin quickly chimed in: "No objections."

Tian Caihua rolled her eyes. She did have objections; she felt that 300 yuan was too much for house renovations, and although the house was old and dilapidated, it could be lived in after a good cleaning without needing repairs.

However, since she had received a new house—which had cost over 3,000 yuan to build at the time—she felt embarrassed to say so, so she let it go.

She would just take a small loss; she wouldn't dwell on it.

"I don't have any objections either," Tian Caihua said reluctantly.

Zhou Chenglei didn't care about these things; he had plenty of his own private savings.

As a guest staying over, Jiang Xia had even less to say.

Father Zhou: "Then the money will be divided this way, and the matter of splitting the family is settled!"

Tian Caihua grew anxious. Settled just like that? They hadn't finished dividing everything!

She blurted out: "Then, Dad, Mom, will you and Zhou Zhou be living with the fourth brother and his wife from now on?"

As soon as these words left her mouth, the room fell silent.

Neither Father Zhou nor Mother Zhou had expected Tian Caihua to say this; they were both stunned.

Zhou Chenglei frowned. He had thought his sister-in-law didn't want to live with him and his wife, but he hadn't realized she also didn't want to live with his parents.

What was the environment like in the old house? And what was the environment like in the new house?

The old house was broken, old, drafty, and leaky!

Zhou Chengxin snapped angrily: "What nonsense are you talking about! Of course, Mom and Dad will live with us!"

Tian Caihua immediately replied: "I want to live with Mom and Dad too, but this house only has six rooms. Wenguang and the others are growing up; it's fine for the two brothers to share a room now, but it won't be fine when they get older. Wenguang is already in middle school and will be getting married in a few years. Besides, Zhou Zhou won't be able to sleep with Mom and Dad in two years, right? This house simply cannot accommodate so many people."

She could barely afford to raise her own four sons; she had no intention of raising a niece.

The elderly couple didn't have only one son; why should they always live with them?

Zhou Chengxin: "You don't need to say more. Dad, Mom, and Zhou Zhou will live with us."

Tian Caihua grew angry: "I didn't say anything wrong, why are you acting crazy? You're making me look like an unfilial daughter-in-law! I've lived with Mom and Dad for over ten years since I married you; haven't I been filial to them for over ten years? They don't have only me as a daughter-in-law, and I haven't complained once. Isn't it just a lack of rooms? There are plenty of rooms in the old house. I never said I wouldn't take care of them in the future. Besides, I'm doing this for the fourth brother's sake. If Mom and Dad live with the fourth brother, once he and Jiang Xia di—"

Zhou Chenglei interrupted her: "Dad, Mom, and Zhou Zhou will live with me."

After speaking, he realized he hadn't asked for Jiang Xia's opinion.

In truth, since they were going to divorce anyway, whether she was willing to live with his parents didn't matter, but Zhou Chenglei was afraid she would cause a scene.

He turned to look at Jiang Xia.

The matter of splitting the family had essentially arisen because of her, so Jiang Xia felt quite apologetic. Seeing Zhou Chenglei look her way, she followed his lead: "Dad, Mom, and Zhou Zhou, please come live with us! There are more rooms in the old house, so you and Zhou Zhou will have plenty of space. I don't know anything about farm work, so I'll have to trouble Mom to teach me."

She spoke sincerely, making it pleasant to listen to, unlike the things she would normally say. Zhou Chenglei couldn't help but glance at her again, feeling a sense of relief in his heart.

Tian Caihua also breathed a sigh of relief. She was also afraid Jiang Xia would make a fuss and force her in-laws to continue living with her. She quickly smiled and said: "Fourth brother and sister-in-law are thinking long-term. Since sister-in-law doesn't know anything yet, Mom and Dad living with you can help you with many things. Later, when the fourth brother has children, Mom can help raise them. Zhou Zhou is also a hardworking child and can help with the housework. With Mom, Dad, and Zhou Zhou helping out, the fourth brother and sister-in-law will have it much easier."

Her own sons had been raised by her mother-in-law. Her mother-in-law was indeed very hardworking and easy to get along with, but Tian Caihua was also a hardworking person; she could handle the small amount of housework in the house herself.

Besides, she had lived with her in-laws for over ten years. The in-laws had several sons; they should take turns supporting them.

Father Zhou and Mother Zhou actually didn't want to live with any of their sons, as they didn't want to be a burden. However, there were only two rooms available, and the eldest daughter-in-law clearly didn't want them to live with her. Father Zhou looked at Jiang Xia, unsure if her words just now were sincere or fake.

Jiang Xia then said: "Dad, Chenglei and I are sincere. Please, you, Mom, and Zhou Zhou, come live with us! I don't know anything, and I really need you."

They had already agreed to divorce, so since Zhou Chenglei wanted to live with his parents, she would follow his lead and persuade them.

Jiang Xia thought about how, in her past life, she had little connection to her parents and very little connection to her relatives.

When she was three, her father had an affair. Her mother had chosen a very violent way to die alongside her father, along with the third party. Later, they had to pay the other party's family a lot of money, and they lost their home.

After she started middle school, her grandmother passed away as well.

At that time, she felt as if she were the only person left in the world. The tiny basement was clearly cramped, yet it felt vast—too vast.

Back then, she was very afraid of going home to face the basement alone.

Later, she gradually got used to being alone.

Jiang Xia's sentence—"We, as a couple, need you"—moved Father Zhou and Mother Zhou.

When people grow old, the thing they fear most is not being needed by their children and being a burden to them.

Father Zhou nodded: "Then the two of us and Zhou Zhou will live with you two for the time being."

The youngest son was capable; once he built his new house, the two elders would live on their own and not live with the couple.

Jiang Xia smiled: "Okay."

Seeing that Jiang Xia's smile was sincere and showed no sign of reluctance, Mother Zhou also breathed a sigh of relief and felt a bit of joy. The youngest son didn't have children yet; she also wanted to live with him so she could help them out in the future.

Zhou Chenglei glanced at her. For some reason, he felt that she had looked a little sad just now.

It wasn't unhappiness about living with his parents, but rather a sense of loneliness and heartache. She had hidden it deeply, perhaps even for a fleeting moment, but he felt that she had just been sad and lonely.

Like an orphan longing for deceased parents—but why would she have such an emotion?

Her parents-in-law were still alive; had he misread her, or was she just homesick?

The matter of splitting the family was thus settled through discussion.

Father Zhou added: "As for our living expenses, we can still work for now, so you don't need to provide for us. When we can no longer work, then you can!"

Tian Caihua smiled: "Alright."

Father Zhou continued: "It just so happens that today is the first day of the lunar month, so there's no need to pick an auspicious day. Chenglei, come with me to clean the old house. Xiao Xia, you and your mother-in-law can divide the household belongings and pack up. We will move in today."