Chapter 60: The Monthly Issue

Zhou Qing nodded and used a stick to knock the chicken, which was trying to run away, back.

"Let’s not even talk about what kind of person Grandpa is. Just take Granny and Auntie as examples—they value silver more than anything else.

Just now, Uncle specifically went home to get some silver—an entire forty taels, and he brought it without hesitation.

Moreover, usually we can't even get a single egg to eat, but today, not only did Uncle and Grandpa agree to give us pigs and chickens so easily, even Granny and Auntie didn't cause any trouble.

Why do you think that is?"

Zhou Huailin slowly started to understand.

He had been wondering why Qing suddenly asked for so much back at the clan elder's house, and asked for it so aggressively—pigs, chickens, and even silver.

She practically took all of the Zhou family’s savings.

That silver was meant to support Zhou Yuan’s education!

The pigs and chickens were also raised for Zhou Yuan.

And yet, without a second thought, they gave everything to them.

Just now, he was too shocked to react, but thinking about it now, Zhou Huailin understood and couldn't help but smile bitterly, "Third Uncle isn’t as perceptive as you."

The fact is, the main family must have firmly decided to sever ties, and fortunately, he didn't cause a scene by refusing earlier.

Zhou Qing smiled and said, "Third Uncle is upset and just hasn’t come around yet."

"Aren’t you upset?"

"Why would I be? I have my father, Third Uncle, Third Aunt, Ping, and Yao. Why should I be upset? Uncle was right—whether we sever ties or not, it doesn’t make much difference to us now."

Though he said that, Zhou Huailin still felt a bit of a sense of loss.

But compared to the guilt that had surfaced before, now it was just a mild sense of loss, very slight.

"What do you think? What kind of opportunity could Yuan have?"

Zhou Qing shook his head.

"I don’t know, but judging by Grandpa and the others, they’re probably going to move away."

Zhou Huailin let out a breath.

Yes, they would definitely move away; otherwise, how could Sun bear to give away the pigs and chickens to them?

Forget it, parents are still parents after all. Even though things have ended like this, deep down, he still hopes they live well.

A document was signed.

From now on, there were no more blood ties, bones no longer connected by tendons, the bridge was separate from the road, and everyone would go their own way and strive for their own future.

In this world, there was no longer the old Zhou family!

There was already a chicken coop in Shen Li’s courtyard, so the chickens could be driven straight in after being brought back.

But there was no pigsty.

When Zhou Huailin returned home, after telling Zhao what had happened, he immediately began digging a pigsty.

Zhou Huaihai and Old Zhou hurriedly ate their meal, then rushed off to town.

Buying a house is no easy task, and such a big expenditure requires careful comparison.

To facilitate their trips to town, Zhou Huaihai even bought a mule cart.

By the time the two of them drove back from the county, the news of their severed ties had spread throughout Qingyang Village.

"Father, you drive the cart back. I’ll stop by the clan elder's house to explain the academy matters to him."

Soon they would move to live in the county, so who would stay to teach at this run-down academy?

After all, his son was about to become the son-in-law of a noble family.

Old Zhou responded and drove the cart home.

In the cart were roasted chicken, pork knuckles, and osmanthus wine that they had bought in the county.

Zhou Huaihai got off the cart but didn’t go straight to the clan elder's house.

He made several turns and went to Widow Liu’s house.

As soon as Zhou Huaihai entered the courtyard, Widow Liu rushed out of the house like the wind.

"Brother Hai, I thought you didn’t want me anymore!"

Widow Liu threw herself into Zhou Huaihai’s arms, crying pitifully against his chest.

Widow Liu had married into Qingyang Village last year.

Less than a month after she married, her husband died.

Within less than a month after her husband’s death, she got involved with Zhou Huaihai.

She had hardly ever worked in the fields and was pampered by Zhou Huaihai.

At this moment, tightly holding onto Zhou Huaihai, with her body pressed against his, Zhou Huaihai’s heart melted.

He picked up Widow Liu in his arms, kissed her fiercely, and carried her into the house.

After a bout of passion, the two of them finally finished their activities after almost half an hour.

Holding the woman in his arms, Zhou Huaihai smiled and said, "Are you still crying now?"

Widow Liu, resting her head on Zhou Huaihai's chest, said, "Everyone is saying that your son Yuan has achieved great success, and you’re all going to move away. I was afraid you wouldn’t want me anymore."

Zhou Huaihai pinched her cheek.

"Silly, you’re the apple of my eye. If I don’t want you, how can I live?"

Although Zhou Huaihai often scolded and hit Wang, he was very affectionate and tender towards Widow Liu.

"Really?"

Widow Liu looked at Zhou Huaihai with teary eyes.

Zhou Huaihai wiped the tears from her eyes and then licked them off his fingers.

"Of course it’s true. These past few days, my father and I have been going to the county to look at houses. Once we find the right one, I’ll bring you over."

Widow Liu lightly hit Zhou Huaihai’s chest. "Your mother won’t let me in the house."

Zhou Huaihai said, "Don’t worry, I have a way."

Widow Liu clung tightly to Zhou Huaihai and kissed him on the cheek. "I have something to tell you."

"What is it?"

Feeling the soft warmth of the woman beside him and thinking of the great days ahead, Zhou Huaihai was full of joy.

"My period hasn’t come this month."

Zhou Huaihai, hearing this, quickly rolled over and sat up. "What did you say?"

Widow Liu shyly lowered her head.

Zhou Huaihai excitedly grabbed Widow Liu. "Really?"

"Mm."

Zhou Huaihai rubbed his hands together in excitement. "Good, good, that’s great! Tomorrow, you’ll go to town!"

Widow Liu looked shocked. "Huh?"

Zhou Huaihai said, "This is our first child. You need to take good care of yourself!"

Then, he looked at Widow Liu reproachfully. "Why didn’t you tell me earlier? During this time, you shouldn’t have intercourse before three months; it’s very easy to miscarry."

Widow Liu hadn’t expected Zhou Huaihai to value this child so much.

She thought he might ask her to abort it.

"First thing tomorrow, you’ll go to my house and say you want me to take you to town. Once you’re there, go to Fushun Restaurant and wait for me. Once I’ve rented a house, you’ll move in."

"Rent?"

"First, take care of yourself and ensure the baby is born safely. Once the child is born, I’ll bring you into the family. I wouldn’t feel comfortable having you live in the same yard as Wang while you’re pregnant."

Hearing Zhou Huaihai say this, Widow Liu felt reassured. "I’ll do whatever you say, Brother Hai."

Widow Liu, accustomed to being gentle and attentive, wrapped her arms around Zhou Huaihai’s neck, coaxing him until he couldn’t stop smiling.

With both his future and a child secured, Zhou Huaihai felt like he was already on top of the world.

Time passed, and in the blink of an eye, the final day of the county exams arrived.

Early in the morning, Zhao got up to prepare.

After the last exam, Zhou Huaishan would return home, and Zhou Qing said they’d celebrate by having lamb spine hotpot for dinner.

Zhou Yao helped Zhao in the kitchen, while Zhou Huailin drove the mule cart, taking Zhou Qing and Zhou Ping to the county to pick up Zhou Huaishan.

It was Zhou Ping’s first time in the county, and he was as excited as a monkey.

Shen Li had been waiting at the city gate for a long time, genuinely missing Zhou Qing after not seeing her for seven days.

From afar, Zhou Ping spotted Shen Li and excitedly jumped off the cart, running towards him.

"Senior Brother! After the exams, will you take Master to Fushun Restaurant to celebrate, ordering every dish to celebrate?"

Zhou Huailin’s eye twitched, and he raised the whip, aiming it at Zhou Ping.

"You brat, what are you saying! Get back here!"

However, Zhou Ping ran too fast, and the whip hit the ground, raising a cloud of dust.