Help one more time?

How many times had Zhou Yi helped Tong Lili already?

She had created opportunities for Tong Lili to appear in front of Zhou Cheng, but he barely noticed her.

Later, she directly acted as a matchmaker, trying to introduce Tong Lili to Zhou Cheng, but he showed no interest and rejected the idea.

During the Zhou family’s New Year’s Eve gathering, Zhou Yi’s seemingly random mention of Zhou Cheng dating a rural girl from another province was another roundabout way of helping Tong Lili. Otherwise, why would Zhou Yi act as a messenger for no reason?

Helping Tong Lili one more time meant she had to continue being this messenger.

She felt somewhat uneasy. Zhou Cheng genuinely liked Xia Xiaolan – in front of so many people, his priority was protecting Xia Xiaolan’s dignity.

Zhou Yi also feared offending Xia Xiaolan too much. Although the chances of the Zhou family accepting her were slim, what if – just what if – Xia Xiaolan married Zhou Cheng? Wouldn’t that put her in an awkward position?

After much consideration, Zhou Yi figured since she had already offended, she might as well ensure Xia Xiaolan couldn’t marry into the Zhou family.

Early in the morning, when Guan Hui’e heard that Old Mrs. Zhou had a slight cough, she planned to visit Grandmother Xia before heading to work. However, she ran into Zhou Yi. Guan Hui’e had long forgotten about the New Year’s Eve incident – as an aunt, why should she hold grudges against the younger generation?

“Zhou Yi, also coming to see your grandmother?”

“I heard Grandmother has a cough, so I brought her some pear soup with fritillaria bulbs.”

Zhou Yi carried a thermos containing pear soup with fritillaria bulbs and rock sugar, good for soothing the lungs and stopping coughs – a show of filial piety from a younger family member. The Zhou elderly couple had their own healthcare physicians and certainly didn’t lack pear soup, but Zhou Yi’s thoughtfulness impressed Guan Hui’e.

“How filial of you. Let’s go in together.”

Guan Hui’e casually praised her, but Zhou Yi wore an expression of having something to say.

This was what Guan Hui’e disliked most – if you have something to say, say it straightforwardly, why hold back waiting to be asked? She ignored Zhou Yi and was about to enter the old residence when Zhou Yi couldn’t hold back any more: “Second Aunt, I saw Zhou Cheng last night.”

Her son was Guan Hui’e’s primary concern, and she was genuinely puzzled. “Isn’t Zhou Cheng staying at his workplace? Where did you see him?”

Zhou Cheng had taken too much leave last year and hadn’t had any time off since. He didn’t even come home for Spring Festival, only returning for one meal on the third day of the New Year. Due to the matter of Zhou Cheng’s out-of-province girlfriend, that meal between mother and son hadn’t been pleasant. Guan Hui’e hadn’t even touched the Chinese yam Zhou Cheng brought home.

Zhou Yi hesitated, “I was having dinner with friends at the Beijing Hotel last night, and ran into Zhou Cheng with Kang Wei and others.”

Why were they eating at the Beijing Hotel?

That rascal, probably took time off to dine with friends but couldn’t spare time to visit home.

Guan Hui’e grumbled internally but didn’t care too much. Young people had their social circles; parents couldn’t keep their children tied to their apron strings like when they were young. But then Zhou Yi dropped a bombshell:

“…I saw Zhou Cheng with a young woman, he said she was his girlfriend. In front of more than ten people, he said he was just waiting for her approval to bring her to the Zhou family. Second Aunt, I think all of Beijing knows Zhou Cheng is getting married.”

After saying this, Zhou Yi hurried inside with her pear soup.

It was like a thunderbolt hitting Guan Hui’e, leaving her dazed and confused.

What was Zhou Cheng trying to do?

Deliberately coming up with such an idea to openly defy the family?

Guan Hui’e was furious, but before she could ask for details, that slippery Zhou Yi had already gone inside with the soup. Such matters weren’t appropriate to discuss in front of the elderly, so she suppressed her curiosity and showed no signs of disturbance in front of her in-laws.

The old lady’s cough was from catching a chill. With spring arriving in March, young people had already switched from their thick cotton-padded jackets to thin wool coats or sweaters. The old lady had changed to spring clothes too early – elderly people’s bodily functions weren’t like young people’s, and she had caught a chill.

The old lady missed Zhou Cheng – just one Spring Festival without seeing him felt like several years.

“Can’t Zhou Cheng get any leave?”

Zhou Yi had originally intended to help Tong Lili, but now she felt genuinely upset. Zhou Cheng had time to accompany that vixen but couldn’t come home to see his grandparents. She felt undervalued – granddaughters just couldn’t compare to grandsons. She was the one frequently showing filial piety, yet her grandparents still missed Zhou Cheng the most.

Guan Hui’e’s heart skipped a beat, fearing Zhou Yi would mention seeing Zhou Cheng last night in front of the old lady.

Fortunately, Zhou Yi had enough sense not to upset the old lady while she was ill. Zhou Yi had the impulse but managed to suppress it.

The elderly’s favoritism had its reasons, but the most important factor was Zhou Cheng’s secret mission to the front lines. His rapid promotion was due to his achievements there, achievements earned by risking his life in truly life-threatening situations.

Zhou Cheng was so young and from such a good family background – he didn’t need to push himself so hard or go to such dangerous places. At the time, only Zhou Cheng’s grandfather knew about it; other family members were kept in the dark.

After the truth came out, Grandmother Zhou developed anxiety. Whenever she didn’t see Zhou Cheng for a while, she would worry he was on some dangerous mission.

“Enough! Zhou Cheng’s unit has its discipline. Only those without promise hover around you all day!”

Once Grandfather Zhou spoke, Grandmother Zhou fell silent.

Zhou Yi almost cried while holding the pear soup. Only those without promise hover around the elders. Wasn’t that directed at her?

Just as she was about to recklessly reveal Zhou Cheng’s situation, Guan Hui’e cut her off:

“Zhou Yi, let me give you a ride on my way to work. The doctor said your grandmother needs to rest after taking her medicine. We shouldn’t disturb her anymore.”

Guan Hui’e had a job, and she was doing well at it.

Zhou Yi also had a job – the Zhou family didn’t support idle people. Those not in school were certainly arranged with work.

With Guan Hui’e’s interruption, Zhou Yi became hesitant. If she insisted on speaking, she would offend Guan Hui’e. They were all Zhou family members, but their circumstances and abilities differed. Zhou Cheng’s father was the second son, yet he was the most successful in the Zhou family.

Zhou Yi left with Guan Hui’e feeling wronged. Grandmother Zhou muttered, “I feel like Zhou Yi had something to say. She and Second Brother’s wife were acting strange.”

Grandfather Zhou remained noncommittal: “She’s always been indecisive, a muddle-head who can’t distinguish between inside and outside matters.”

The family hadn’t mistreated her, yet somehow Zhou Yi had developed such a personality. Being a girl wasn’t an excuse – lack of ability was the real issue. With her indecisive nature in handling matters, Grandfather Zhou had long seen that Zhou Yi was hopeless.

Why should the Zhou family waste resources on someone hopeless?

Guan Hui’e asked Zhou Yi to explain the situation in detail.

Zhou Yi didn’t embellish much, only omitting that they had deliberately arranged the “chance encounter” at the Beijing Hotel. She recounted everything Zhou Cheng had said, what Xia Xiaolan had said, including Tong Lili’s words.

Finally, she advised Guan Hui’e, “I think Zhou Cheng’s girlfriend is decent – she held her own in front of a large group.”