Chapter 19: Washing Her Hair for Her

Zhou Chenglei gave Zhou Yongguo a flat look.

"Grandpa Sun!" Zhou Yongguo immediately cowered. "Drinking watermelon juice is fine! Little Xia can just drink watermelon juice!"

He had forgotten to call her "granddaughter-in-law."

The grandfather had turned into a grandson in a split second!

Jiang Xia had excellent alcohol tolerance, a trait developed in her previous life. After graduating with her master's degree, she had co-founded a venture capital firm with a senior colleague.

In venture capital, social engagements were unavoidable, and where there were engagements, there was alcohol. Especially when she was the host, she had hospitalized several times due to gastrointestinal bleeding from drinking too much, only to continue drinking after being discharged.

In her past life, she had no choice, but now she could be more spontaneous. Having already made her toasts, she picked up the glass of watermelon juice and smiled. "My tolerance is indeed low; I'd pass out after one glass. So, I will use this watermelon juice to toast you, Great Uncle."

Zhou Yongguo’s spine immediately straightened. He was of the "Grandfather" generation, after all! Why should he cower?

"Grandson, hurry up! The granddaughter-in-law is about to toast me! Move it!"

Zhou Chenglei didn't argue with him and picked up his glass.

The meal was enjoyed to the fullest by both hosts and guests, and every dish was finished.

The four brothers of the "Glory to the Ancestors" clan even used the leftover sauce to mix with their rice, leaving not a single drop behind.

Even the picky Zhou Jie ate an extra bowl of rice.

Everyone was full of praise for Jiang Xia's cooking.

Great-Grandmother: "I have never eaten braised pork this delicious in my life."

Zhou Chengxin: "Even though they are both poached shrimp, the ones my fourth sister-in-law makes are exceptionally sweet and fresh."

Unlike his own wife, who boiled the shrimp until they were tasteless.

"I only just realized that sponge gourd and white clams are a match made in heaven!"

"Even the chefs in state-run restaurants don't cook as well as A-Lei's wife."

Listening to the praise, Mother Zhou beamed with a smile, finding Jiang Xia much more pleasing to the eye.

Tian Caihua felt a bit envious. She had married into the Zhou family and worked herself to death for years without a single word of praise, yet after just one meal from Jiang Xia, they were practically praising her to the heavens.

*With that much oil used for cooking, even a sow would taste good!*

However, she also admired Jiang Xia's knife skills; they were truly superb!

*

After the meal, the men arranged the tables and chairs while the women cleared the dishes.

Just as Jiang Xia was about to wash the dishes, Zhou Chenglei stopped her. "Let my mother and the others do it."

She had already done enough by managing the kitchen, and while using a spatula didn't require much contact with water, washing dishes was different—it would soak her hands.

Zhou Chenglei then said to Mother Zhou, "Ma, Jiang Xia was the one weeding the yard with a hoe. Her hands are covered in blisters; you wash the dishes!"

Mother Zhou: "..."

*Have sons! Have sons! Once they marry wives, they forget their mothers!*

However, Jiang Xia had actually weeded the yard? This meal had already changed Mother Zhou's perception of Jiang Xia, and now she felt even more that Jiang Xia was willing to build a life with her son.

Otherwise, why would she be so proactive with the chores?

As long as Jiang Xia was willing to live well with her son, Mother Zhou was not the type of person to make things difficult for a daughter-in-law. Moreover, seeing their relationship develop well made her very happy.

Mother Zhou smiled and said, "A-Lei, you should have said sooner that your hands were blistered. We'll handle the dishes; go and sit down for a bit."

He Xinghuan, Great-Grandmother's daughter-in-law, smiled upon hearing this. "If Xia's hands are blistered, she shouldn't get them wet. We can wash a few dishes. You must be tired after cooking so much."

Jiang Xia didn't insist; she disliked washing dishes most of all. "Then I'll go sweep the floor."

Tian Caihua pursed her lips. *What was so great about having blisters? When I once got a large cut from a sickle, I still did everything just the same.*

Though she thought this, she didn't show it. She merely echoed the sentiment, and after finishing the dishes and wiping down the stove, she carried her family's large iron pot and clay pot away.

Once the house was cleaned and everyone had left, Zhou Chenglei moved the last few chairs back to Great-Grandmother's house and shut the courtyard gate.

Father Zhou and Zhou Zhou had already washed up and gone to their rooms; they were used to sleeping early.

Seeing Jiang Xia coming out of the kitchen carrying a bucket of hot water, Zhou Chenglei hurried forward to take it from her.

Jiang Xia said, "I need to wash my hair. Just leave it in the yard."

The washroom was too narrow and had no light; she wasn't sure if there were snakes, so she didn't dare stay in there for too long. She had to endure the bath, but she had to do it.

Zhou Chenglei frowned. "Can't you wait a few days?"

"I can't stand it if I don't wash." Between cleaning and cooking, her hair was full of dust and the smell of cooking oil; she couldn't tolerate it.

"Don't your hands hurt?"

"Even if they hurt, I have to wash. I can't stand having dirty hair."

Mother Zhou came out of the washroom just then and said, "A-Lei, just help Xia wash her hair."

The two of them: "..."

Seeing them both stunned, Mother Zhou asked, "What's wrong? Isn't it only natural for a man to help his wife wash her hair? When my hands were injured before, your father helped me too."

Once a couple spends enough time together, affection naturally develops. Her son was already twenty-eight and didn't even have children yet. Zhou Yongguo was the same age as A-Lei, and Zhou Jie was about to start primary school.

Zhou Chenglei looked at Jiang Xia. "I'll help you!"

Jiang Xia blurted out, "No need. You can help with hair, but what about bathing?"

Mother Zhou added, "He can help with bathing too. When you're too old to move, won't you rely on your partner for that?"

Zhou Chenglei: "..."

Jiang Xia: "..."

*Did I get on the wrong bus?*

Mother Zhou simply pulled out a small stool and sat in the yard to dry her hair, staring at them. "Hurry up, A-Lei! Why are you just standing there? Help Xia wash her hair!"

Helpless, the two had no choice but to brace themselves and proceed.

*

On an August night, cicadas chirped, a gentle breeze blew, and the stars twinkled as if peeking at the pair on the ground.

Jiang Xia sat on a small stool, her head covered in bubbles.

These were bubbles from Bee Flower brand shampoo. In the entire village, only Jiang Xia used shampoo; the villagers usually washed their hair with boiled water containing soap pods, arborvitae leaves, or tea seed oil.

Zhou Chenglei stood behind her, his fingers gently massaging her scalp. His hands were covered in bubbles, and he was a bit clumsy.

It was his first time washing someone's hair, and he had no experience. When Jiang Xia said there weren't enough bubbles and to pour more shampoo, he poured a bit more, and then it was too much!

It left them both looking quite disheveled.

"Does it hurt?" He was afraid his grip was too strong.

"It doesn't hurt. You can rinse it now." Jiang Xia used a towel to wipe the water and bubbles flowing onto her face, eyes, and neck.

It was more painful than washing it herself!

Jiang Xia lowered her head, facing the enamel basin printed with large red flowers, exposing the smooth, fair skin of her nape, her neck slender and graceful.

Zhou Chenglei scooped a ladle of water from the bucket nearby. As he slowly poured the water over the back of her head, he used his hands to comb through her hair, allowing the clear water to wash away the bubbles.

"If only I could wash my hair lying down, then I wouldn't have to worry about water getting in my eyes," Jiang Xia said, wiping the water from her eyes.

Zhou Chenglei didn't speak, but he thought about buying a lounge chair when they went to the market the day after tomorrow.

Tomorrow wouldn't work; he had to go out to sea.

His eldest brother likely felt guilty, letting him go out to sea first, with the second day being his turn, and the final day being their father's.

As Zhou Chenglei's mind wandered, the clear water that had been cascading down her silk-like black hair took a playful turn. The stream flowed down Jiang Xia's slender, porcelain-white neck and slipped into her collar.

Zhou Chenglei instinctively reached out to wipe it away, and inadvertently, he caught sight of the firm curve inside the collar of her floral print shirt.

(End of Chapter)