Chapter 892: Chapter 891: Just Outsiders
Watching Zhou Xuennian turn and leave, Zhou Xueliâs expression was beyond unpleasant. What he was thinking about was how he would explain this to Wufu in the future; how could he possibly face her?
The same disappointment filled Old Lady Zhou; the repeated folly of the eldest was truly the last straw for her.
"Mother, eldest brother he..."
Old Lady Zhou slightly closed her eyes and then opened them again, saying, "Donât bother with him anymore, let him be. We canât manage him!"
"Mother!" Zhou Xueli hesitated for a moment, but eventually recounted how Wufu had given him money to buy farmland for the main family, only for him to keep an eye on the main familyâs people to prevent any trouble, and finally said, "Mother, with elder brother acting like this, how can I explain this to her? I must return the land to her, right?"
Old Lady Zhou hadnât anticipated this turn of events; she was somewhat stunned, and only after a while did she say, "What can be done now? If they are intent on destruction, can you stop them? No, leave it be!"
"Iâm just afraid, if Wufu gets angry, she might really deal with him harshly."
Old Lady Zhouâs body stiffened, her lips tightened, and she said with a face full of bleakness, "If it really comes to that, itâs his destiny, he canât blame others."
Zhou Xueli stared blankly at his elderly mother, seeing the murky look in her eye, his heart suddenly jumped.
Upon leaving his motherâs room, Zhou Xueli saw his pregnant wife standing under the eaves, stopped for a moment, and helped her back to their room.
"Did you hear everything?" Zhou Xueli asked as he helped her sit on the bed.
Lady Liang nodded and frowned, "Did eldest brother say the truth? Is Wufuâs father really a fifth-rank official now?"
Zhou Xueli sneered, "If not, why would he be in such a hurry? Even wanted Mother to persuade as well, itâs truly laughable. Being a small wife to someone, yet heâs full of pride. How utterly shameless this person is!"
Lady Liang looked at him with his face full of righteous indignation, couldnât help but jokingly say, "Husband thinks this inappropriate? After all, a fifth-rank great official is more significant than the County Magistrate and comes from a prestigious background. If Wufu can return to her ancestral roots, she becomes an officialâs daughter and can thoroughly shed the stigma of being a bastard child."
Zhou Xueliâs expression changed; he looked at Lady Liang and frowned, "Do you really think second sister becoming a small wife is right? Do you also think being related would grant us benefits?"
"Are you angry?" Lady Liang asked.
Zhou Xueli didnât speak, but the stern face he held said it all.
Lady Liang sighed, "I know well enough that being a small wife yields no benefits; one has to endure the main wifeâs torment, the establishment of rules, and even the concubine-born children are inferior."
"Since you know, why say such things?" Zhou Xueli replied.
"Iâm just speaking facts. Being a concubine-borne daughter is at least better sounding than a bastard child, right? If an officialâs concubine-born daughter is fortunate, she might marry into an officialâs family." Lady Liang caressed her pregnant belly and continued, "This matter has pros and cons; itâs up to them to choose."
"If it were you, what choice would you make?" Zhou Xueli scoffed, "Mother also mentioned that they donât worry about food and drink, so why debase themselves and risk humiliation? Is life too pleasant for them? The most important thing is, that man is not worth it! If he were any good, he wouldnât have disappeared without returning."
Lady Liang raised an eyebrow, "Husband sees through things well."
Zhou Xueli let out a wry laugh, sighing, "You know Iâm about the same age as Wufu; when second sister took care of me as a child, I saw her cry many times. Why? Because that person, even if he becomes successful, is not worth it. Otherwise, why take so many years to come looking?"
"Indeed. But husband, everyone has their choices. How we view things doesnât matter; itâs up to second sister." Lady Liang stroked her belly and said, "If she is willing, who can say anything?"
Zhou Xueli fell silent. Indeed, in such matters, no matter how well they see through things, they are merely outsiders.