CHAPTER 277: CHAPTER 210: LEARNING THE TRUTH ABOUT HIS ORIGINS

Mrs. Zhou hadn’t even finished listening before she stood up abruptly, looking at him in shock, her eyes filled with disbelief. She pointed at him with a trembling finger and asked, "How do you know Liu Xizhi? Has she come to find you? Do you know everything now? Then why did you return to the Zhou Family?"

Zhang Guoqing stopped his mother-in-law from getting too close and signaled for her to stay silent. Lin Lishan looked at them in confusion; she had just come out of the inner room to see the old lady in such a state.

"I found out when the old clan leader was still alive," Zhou Xiaozheng said, not mentioning that he still hadn’t found the person. He initially joined the military to find Liu Xizhi, having a gut feeling that she was significant to him. But decades passed with not even a shadow found.

"Mother, sit down, let’s talk slowly. Back then, I was still young and only remember the old clan leader patting my head and whispering how unfortunate and pitiful it was; those eyes, I still remember.

By the time I learned the name Liu Xizhi, the old clan leader had already passed away, and I couldn’t ask anyone anymore. Whose hands is the Zhou Family’s genealogy record in? As soon as Jiao Jiao was born, I asked father to put her on the family registry. Is Zhou Jiao in it?"

Mrs. Zhou took a deep breath, sat down, and looked at him, saying, "You’ve long suspected that you weren’t born to us? But you’ve never mentioned it to me before."

Zhou Xiaozheng smiled bitterly at her, "How could I say it? How could I not know how you treat me? What’s the difference between being born and being raised? If it weren’t for the injustice Jiao Jiao suffered, and you being so troubled, I wouldn’t even want to mention it now. But I’m old too, and I want to know who my parents are.

Why is it that whenever we return home and the topic of ancestor worship or the family registry comes up, father changes his expression and does everything to prevent it? Just like this time, I didn’t even speak of ancestor worship upon my return. Logically speaking, having narrowly escaped death and with Jiao Jiao giving birth to a son, I should go to offer incense, but who exactly am I? To whom should I offer incense?"

"No, you should offer incense. I’ve done it for you. If you are not a Zhou Family flesh and blood, who has the right to say they are part of the Zhou Family?"

Zhou Xiaozheng stepped forward, squatted in front of her, and met her gaze, "Mother, since I am of Zhou blood, whose child am I really? Why does no one in the clan know? Is Liu Xizhi the one who gave birth to me? Is the amulet from her? Is that why you insisted I mustn’t lose it, saying it might be needed someday? I investigated; when I was fifteen, I left and looked into it, but found nothing. The amulet was sought from Jiangnan’s Lingyin Temple; the outer pouch isn’t from the temple but is made of rare material, using Su Embroidery, a technique not done by you."

Mrs. Zhou patted his head, looking into his hopeful eyes, and nodded, "Decades have passed, and if you wish to know, it’s time to tell you. Originally, it was because we were indebted to you, and we owed you this explanation.

The matter is complicated; initially, it had to be concealed. Later, I couldn’t bear to part with you and kept waiting for someone to come for you. As time went by, I even forgot you weren’t born to me. It was only later, as Jiao Jiao grew more and more like you, that I realized the truth when you were already gone. Today, if you hadn’t brought it up, I still wouldn’t have thought to tell you. It’s been over forty years; I think she’s long gone, those years were too chaotic; survival was hard, let alone for a woman so exceptional. If she is gone, telling you changes nothing; why let you be sad?

It all starts with your great-grandfather, get up and sit down. Listen, and you’ll understand why we were selfish, and the many reasons we didn’t want to tell you. You’ll also understand why your father loved and hated you so. He, you see, took his anger out on you.

The Zhou Family is considered a prominent family; our ancestors have held official positions since the Ming Dynasty. Branches of family members split away over time, but the eldest son of the main family always stayed in Beijing. After your great-grandfather had your grandfather, his first son from his legal wife, he had two concubine sons. In his life, he only had these three sons, and thus placed great importance on their upbringing. The three had different mothers but shared a close bond, devoid of the intrigues typically found in large households. Due to this, after your great-grandfather passed away, your grandfather disagreed with his brothers’ return to the ancestral land. Since the three brothers only had five sons combined, they seemed fewer in number, so the remaining family besides the oldest son’s direct line stayed in Beijing.

Historically, the most outstanding sons of the Zhou Family have always been from the direct line of the main family. In your grandfather’s generation, it was unsurprising: he had only two sons, each more outstanding than the other. The elder son, Zhou Jia Yi, had keen insight, sensing instability in the times. He repeatedly refused the government’s invitation and was highly esteemed by the scholars of the time.

The younger son, Zhou Jia Heng, also known as Jinyu, was even more remarkable. A genius with a photographic memory and eloquence from an early age, he was famed across the nation. Not only was he talented, but he was also strikingly handsome. By fifteen, everyone jokingly called him Mr. Yu. Zhou Jinyu was the pride of the Zhou Family, famous as the Yu Junzi.

The Zhou Family, a scholarly lineage for generations, lived comfortably but with modest wealth. Zhou Jinyu had an engaged fiancée, Gu Mingzhu, with whom he was well-matched. The Gu Family was a prominent clan in Jiangnan, and Gu Mingzhu was the only child of the legitimate heir. As her name suggests, she was truly a pearl; not only was she talented, but she also had immense wealth.

Zhou Jinyu and Gu Mingzhu went abroad early on and returned to an increasingly chaotic country. One day it was restoration, the next it was rebellions. Soon after setting a wedding date, unexpected events transpired—the Eight-Nation Alliance arrived in Beijing. The Zhou Family was slaughtered by the invaders under the pretext of harboring members of the opposition. Publicly, the survivors were Zhou Jianren and Zhou Jinyu. Indeed, Zhou Jinyu had become driven and was active secretly upon returning home. On the fateful day, they happened to be celebrating at home. His personal servant disguised himself as Zhou Jinyu to cover his escape, allowing him to survive. Later, whether for his ambitions or revenge, he went into hiding.

At that time, the Gu Family, with its vast fortune, also suffered. With the unprecedented loss of Zhou Jinyu, exacerbated by the sudden deaths of Gu Mingzhu’s parents within a year, crises pressed upon them from all sides. To ensure safety, Gu Mingzhu faked her death after discussion with Zhou Jinyu.

After fleeing Jiangnan, the two married, and Gu Mingzhu joined the organization. The times were perilous; Zhou Jinyu perished in an accident, leaving Gu Mingzhu pregnant. Bearing the sorrow, Gu Mingzhu secretly gave birth to a son. For her child’s safety and to keep the family lines alive, she went to all lengths, ultimately deciding on the Northeast, the old home her husband mentioned. She feared exposure of her identity would endanger the child, be it from colleagues or enemies, seeking Gu Family’s vast fortune. The only person she could turn to was the old clan leader. Arriving in the Zhou Family Village, she learned that Zhou Jinyu’s cousin was in the military with two children. After discussions with the old clan leader, they secretly took the child to Beijing, agreeing to recognize him once things stabilized. In the family records, the child was under Zhou Jinyu’s name, and a new genealogy book was to be written and placed within the clan. Before leaving, Gu Mingzhu removed an embroidered pouch as a token, fearing she wouldn’t live to see her child grow up, agreeing on a contingency: if she doesn’t return for the child, a woman named Liu Xizhi would come for it, with the token as identification to hand the child over.

At the time, I had just lost my five-month-old premature son, so we took you in as our son. My husband’s premature death dispirited your father; he decided to retire and take the family back home. But back then, it wasn’t simply about retiring whenever one wished. Eventually, I took you and your siblings back to the Northeast, and slowly your father retired and returned, never leaving the Zhou Family Village. Your mother never came to see you, nor did anyone claiming to be Liu Xizhi arrive."

From Mrs. Zhou’s story, Zhou Xiaozheng had anticipated his parents’ likely passing, but he hadn’t expected such intricacies within. Leaning against the chair back, he closed his eyes, covering them tightly with his hand.