CHAPTER 389: CHAPTER 298: MRS. LIN

The group arrived at the Lin Family Courtyard, where a large table had already been set up in the living room, with food and drinks laid out. Apart from them, everyone who should come had gathered in the living room.

From afar, Mrs. Lin caught sight of Zhou Jiao surrounded in the center. As Zhou Jiao took off her hat to reveal a face reminiscent of Gu Mingzhu, with that familiar smile on it, Mrs. Lin quickly lowered her head, closing and then opening her eyes again. After Zhou Jiao removed her coat and walked slowly towards her, Mrs. Lin felt her heart tremble.

This Zhou Jiao reminded her of the last time she saw Gu Mingzhu. That day Gu Mingzhu also came to her house with Zhou Jinyu, smiling when she arrived and when she left. What happened afterward?

Afterward, the two of them vanished, followed by a series of misfortunes striking the clan leader’s family one after another.

She steadied herself, fixed her gaze on Zhou Jiao’s eyes as the latter approached with a smile, stepped forward to hold Zhou Jiao’s hand and praised, "Is this our Jiao Jiao? So pretty, come give grandma a good look. No wonder your grandpa keeps talking about you all the time, praising you endlessly. Why didn’t you bring the children over?"

"The weather is too cold, Aunt helped take care of the children. How is grandma’s health? I was just thinking of having grandpa bring us to see you tonight."

Mrs. Lin patted her hand, smiling kindly, "Grandma is doing well, just old ailments, nothing serious. Is this our granddaughter-in-law? Let grandma have a look, so handsome, a perfect match with our Jiao Jiao. Are your parents doing well? When the weather warms up, invite them over to visit."

Zhang Guoqing nodded and smiled upon hearing her words.

Mr. Lin laughed heartily, "Kids’ mother, let’s eat first, chatting as we go. Jiao Jiao, sit beside grandma, Xiao Wu, drink with us."

Mrs. Lin took Zhou Jiao’s hand towards the dining table, "Grandma doesn’t know what dishes you like. Take a look to see if it’s to your taste, let Auntie know if you want something made. This is your grandma’s house, feel at home, don’t hold back."

Zhou Jiao nodded, supporting her as they took their seats, smiling slightly at Lin Xuelin on the other side. Only after her aunt and the others sat down did she seat herself.

Chen Jingru seeing her daughter first seated, glancing at Zhou Jiao opposite, said with a smile, "Jiao Jiao, make yourself at home, we’re all family here. Tomorrow your cousin doesn’t have work, let her take you shopping, and the day after your aunt will take you to the temple fair."

"Jiao Jiao, tomorrow sister will take you to Friendship Mall. Aunt, remember to get us tickets. Jiao Jiao, your clothes look nice, do you have such good clothes back there?" Lin Xuelin suspiciously scanned her.

"Thank you, aunt. Cousin, tomorrow I want to visit my grandparents, we can go shopping another day. I design my clothes and have them made by a tailor." Zhou Jiao listened calmly with a peaceful smile.

"Your coat yesterday looked nice too. In a couple of days, come with sis to have clothes made, just following your style, is that okay?" Upon seeing Zhou Jiao shaking her head with a smile, Lin Xuelin was delighted. Tomorrow she’d buy fabric and the day after pull her out shopping.

Mrs. Lin was busy nurturing two sons-in-law to serve dishes, not just focus on drinking, while lamenting Mr. Lin continuously having Zhang Guoqing drink, too much alcohol isn’t good for health.

Zhou Jiao could finally witness Mrs. Lin’s expert methods. Facing her father’s indifference, she still smiled amiably. Pretending to be deaf and dumb was a genuinely nice touch—quite a character!

Looking at the dishes in front of her that Mrs. Lin served, Zhou Jiao answered her aunt and cousin’s questions with a smile.

Midway through the meal, Mrs. Lin set down her chopsticks, smiling, "Continue eating, I will head back to my room for a rest. If the food isn’t enough, let Auntie add more."

Seeing this, Zhou Jiao knew the main drama was beginning, sensibly rising and supporting Mrs. Lin saying, "I’m full, I’ll accompany grandma, you all take your time eating."

"I’m full too. I’ll join you." Liyin’s eyes flashed with concern, quickly rising too.

Seeing this, Zhou Jiao slightly arched her brow, then looked at her mother, Lin Lishan, who had a confused expression, inwardly marveling at how indeed the nine sons of the dragon are so different from each other.

Mrs. Lin saw the women got up without stopped them, cheerfully letting the men continue drinking as she led them back to the bedroom.

In the bedroom, Mrs. Lin wore a smile listening to her daughter and granddaughter speak. After a while, she noticed her younger daughter, Liyin, was completely ignoring her gaze, and looked at Zhou Jiao, always maintaining an elegant demeanor and smile. She felt a growing anxiety.

After a moment, the Lin Family’s eldest daughter-in-law, Chen Jingru, finally detected the atmosphere, found an excuse, and left with her daughter.

Once Chen Jingru and her daughter left, the room suddenly fell silent.

Lin Lishan and her sisters, along with Zhou Jiao, all looked at Mrs. Lin.

"Xiao Ying, you go out first. I have some things to discuss with your elder sister and them."

After Liyin left, Mrs. Lin showed helplessness, sighed deeply, and looked as though she had something to say but couldn’t.

After a moment, seeing Zhou Jiao mother and daughter still unmoved, she didn’t speak.

She paused and said, looking guilty, "Jiao Jiao, take back what your mother prepared for you later. Time flies, seventeen years have passed, I remember you were so little when you were born, now you’ve become a young woman. You must have had a lot of hardships over the years, grandma’s sorry didn’t take care of you..."

Zhou Jiao interrupted her with a smile, saying, "Grandma, nothing to be sorry about. See, I’m doing well, aren’t I? Let’s not bring up the past."

Mrs. Lin being cut off revealed a smile, retorting, "Alright, we won’t mention the past, we’ll listen to our Jiao Jiao."

After speaking, she watched Zhou Jiao intently, paused to remove her smile, and said earnestly, "Jiao Jiao, your grandmother and grandma are cousins, you should know this, right? You are also of the Gu Family blood. Some things outsiders don’t know might be misunderstood. Grandma, today, just wants to talk to you about our Gu Family matters."

Zhou Jiao kept smiling.

Listening to Mrs. Lin speak fondly of her sisterly bond with Gu Mingzhu.

Listening to a narrative about the decline of the Gu Family’s main branch.

Listening to Mrs. Lin’s repeated sighs at her old father’s helplessness.

Listening to Mrs. Lin mention the dwindling Gu Family population, self-talking inviting Gu Family’s eldest uncle to visit Zhou Xiaozheng.

At this moment, Zhou Jiao felt absurd. How, when people go against conscience, they could be so self-righteous, could be so shameless.

She realized here, Mrs. Lin was probing how much she and her father knew? Rejecting the Gu Family’s side branch, had Mrs. Lin concluded? Facing Gu Changqing, could it actually soften her resolve?

Twisting facts and ignoring key issues, this is Mrs. Lin’s sincerity?—No trace of apology, not a word of truth. That blood debt from the main Gu Family can only be repaid with blood!

Zhou Jiao remained silent for a while, then raised her head, "Grandma, our father-daughter sort likes quiet, not good at dealing with others. My dad has always been saddened by my grandparents’ early passing, why recall it by meeting acquaintances again? Let’s forget it. Unnecessary to visit, with you here, there’ll be chances to meet in the future."

"You’re too young and don’t understand the importance of clan members, outsiders can never be better than your own relatives. Several in the Gu family junior generation are in Beijing, grandma wants you to interact more, so you can support each other in the future. You’re the only child in your family, you’ll need siblings to help you."

Zhou Jiao laughed with a chuckle, "Grandma, you might not know my nature. Ask my mom, I’m terrified of socializing, all the noise and favors. If they all surround me, I’ll run away. Besides, my dad and mom are together now, I’ll have plenty of siblings."

Lin Lishan nodded repeatedly, frowning, "Don’t just say Jiao Jiao, even I’m annoyed. Back and forth dealing with people, work tires me out, where’s the energy to entertain others? Jiao Jiao needn’t fear lacking siblings, she’s got her immediate cousins. Those distant ones leave alone. The junior generation of her uncles like to play and aren’t sensible, they aren’t like our Jiao Jiao, Xiao Wu. After New Year, she’ll return, no need to interact with them."

Zhou Jiao secretly laughed seeing Mrs. Lin glaring at her mom, and thinking her mom’s witty hit stopped Mrs. Lin cold. Then she’d have to praise her thoroughly.

Lin Lishan seeing the displeased Mrs. Lin, impatiently said, "Mom, stop mentioning the Gu family. I’m Lin by name, my Jiao Jiao is Zhou. Their affairs, you shouldn’t dwell on. Let’s get out, avoiding the eldest sister-in-law, aren’t you afraid they’d think you’re giving Jiao Jiao secret money?"

Mrs. Lin angrily slapped her, scolding, "That’s my family. You ungrateful child, turned your back on relatives!"

Zhou Jiao saw this and quickly sneaked out, better to avoid her and her mom’s interactions. If she stayed around, perhaps they’d compel tears demanding filial piety soon.

Back at the table, Zhou Jiao cited caring for the child to bid everyone goodbye. Refusing Chen Jingru’s seeing off, she left the Lin Family Courtyard. She chuckled self-deprecatingly, gazing at the sky released a long breath.