Chapter 3: Learned in Prison

The main room was filled with the green glow of the fire in the stove, the atmosphere was stagnant, until Zhou Yu stood up straight, shifting his dangerous and provocative gaze.

Zhou Hongguang’s eyes flashed with hidden displeasure. He closed his eyes, forced a smile, and looked at Xu An, “Sister-in-law, my second brother has a bad temper, but he’s not a bad person, don’t take it to heart.”

Xu An frowned, this guy was acting like a hypocrite. He had already admitted that Zhou Yu had a bad temper, yet he was saying something vague about him not being a bad person.

Her gaze fell on Zhou Yu, who was standing beside her in a disheveled state, and she unexpectedly met the man’s slanted gaze.

“I know he’s a good person, we’ll have a good life, as Big Brother wishes.”

Even if he had a bad temper, her current goal was to marry Zhou Yu and stay in Kyoto. No matter how bad he was, she had to praise him to the skies.

Xu An repeated the words the man had just said, and unexpectedly found a hint of a smile in the man’s glance, but when she looked back, there was nothing there.

Her words made Zhou Hongguang’s eyes flicker with a hint of stiffness, which quickly disappeared. His voice was steady, like the pillar of the family, “Then I’m relieved.”

“Tsk.” Zhou Yu’s expression was as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world, full of mockery.

The atmosphere in the room was strange. Two more people came into the courtyard, Zhou Youlu and a man who looked younger than Zhou Yu, with delicate and handsome features. It was a cold day, and he was wearing a woolen sweater and a shirt underneath, making him look a bit scholarly.

As soon as he entered the room, he smiled at Xu An and said, “This is my future second sister-in-law, I’m Zhou Shuwen, the third son in the family.”

Xu An nodded slightly at him, as a greeting.

Zhou Shuwen looked at Zhou Hongguang and Feng Yirou who were standing beside him, his tone respectful, “Big Brother, Big Sister, you’re back.”

Zhou Hongguang nodded slightly, and Feng Yirou smiled gently at Zhou Shuwen.

Zhou Dandan went up to Zhou Shuwen and said with a smile, “Third Brother, you went to read books again.”

Zhou Shuwen lightly touched her head, Zhou Dandan immediately protected her exaggerated hairstyle, glared at him, full of affection.

This family, it seemed… they were isolating Zhou Yu, a clear division.

An invisible line ran in the middle, and Zhou Yu was alone, isolated on the opposite side of everyone else.

Xu An glanced at the Zhou family who were already gathered together and chatting happily, then turned to Zhou Yu, who was standing beside her with a nonchalant and indifferent expression. She lowered her eyes and said nothing.

“Hongguang, where’s your mother?” Zhou Youlu’s voice was deep, with the air of the head of the family.

Zhou Hongguang shook his head, “Dad, when Little Sister and I came back, Mom wasn’t here.”

Zhou Youlu frowned and stared at Zhou Yu, who was standing there carelessly, his voice sinking a bit, “Second Son, where did your mother go?”

Hongguang, Second Son, who was closer and who was farther away was obvious. Xu An’s lips, hidden under the cotton hat, twitched slightly. No wonder Zhou Yu was such a rogue, it was no wonder.

Zhou Yu’s tone was cold, “Who knows, maybe she’s dead.”

His indifferent and heartless words were like a drop of water falling into a boiling oil pan, making the Zhou family furious.

Seeing him act like a dead pig that’s not afraid of boiling water, Zhou Youlu raised his finger and pointed at Zhou Yu, trembling with anger.

“Who taught you to talk to your elders like that? Second Son, you’re twenty-two years old, how come you have no manners at all?”

“Second Brother, you’re going too far.” Zhou Shuwen also looked at Zhou Yu disapprovingly.

“Second Brother, how can you curse Mom? You’re so rude, I don’t want to recognize you as my second brother anymore.” Zhou Dandan crossed her arms and snorted heavily at Zhou Yu.

Zhou Hongguang stepped forward and said earnestly, “Second Brother, since you came back, Mom has been running around for your marriage, it’s not easy, you don’t even care about her, let alone say things that are heartbreaking.”

Zhou Yu lazily picked at his ear, with a complete “I don’t give a damn” expression.

This attitude of not taking anyone seriously was exactly what Zhou Youlu hated the most. He was stepping on his position as the head of the family. He said sternly, “Who taught you to be so disrespectful to your parents!”

Zhou Yu glanced at him sideways, his tone indifferent, “Oh, I learned it in prison.”

Zhou Youlu’s anger subsided.

The Zhou family members who had just been thinking about educating Zhou Yu all fell silent.

The room was once again frozen solid.

Xu An, an outsider, silently lowered her head, reducing her presence, suppressing the corners of her mouth that had been twitching with amusement.

“Oh, you’re all back, that’s great, quickly put up the window decorations, I’ve already bought them.”

Pan Hehua entered the door carrying a large red plastic bag. She only saw the room crowded and bustling, not noticing the stiffness on the Zhou family’s faces. She put the things on the dining table.

She had a smile on her face, her face was a little red from the wind, “It’s three o’clock now, get everything ready, invite the neighbors from the alley to come over for some wedding candy and melon seeds, tonight we’ll have the wedding night, and that’s it.”

Zhou Youlu finally stopped arguing with Zhou Yu. He glanced at the large red plastic bag Pan Hehua brought back and confirmed with her, “Did you buy everything?”

Pan Hehua strode forward, briskly unwrapping the bright red plastic bag, taking out the red paper window decorations one by one.

Finally, she took out two sets of clothes, “I bought everything, clothes and shoes.”

Zhou Youlu finally nodded, “Okay.”

Xu An sat silently in her seat, suddenly feeling a kick on her calf. Because she was still a corpse, her perception was a little weak, and it took her a while to react. She looked up at Zhou Yu who had kicked her, meeting his leisurely gaze.

She looked at the Zhou family who had already started to prepare and get busy, cleared her throat, and when the Zhou family stopped what they were doing and turned to look at her.

Xu An smiled, looking at Pan Hehua and said in a negotiating tone, “Auntie, actually, I have another request.”

Pan Hehua almost couldn’t control her impatient expression, she froze for a moment, and then smiled at Xu An, “It’s normal to have requests, just say it, Auntie will definitely satisfy you.”

“It’s like this, although I’m a girl from the south, we also have the three major items and dowry for our weddings. Now that I’m getting married, my parents aren’t around, so the three major items definitely need to be prepared, and the dowry… I want 1200.”

“1200! Xu An, are you trying to rob us!” Zhou Dandan, who reacted the most strongly, almost rushed forward and pointed at Xu An’s nose to scold her.

“You, a country bumpkin, should be happy to marry into our Zhou family, and you still want a dowry! The three major items and a dowry of 1200, why don’t you go rob someone? Don’t you look at yourself and see if you’re worthy!”

Only after she finished yelling did Zhou Hongguang pull on Zhou Dandan’s sleeve, his tone stern, “Dandan, how do you talk? You’re a girl.”

Zhou Dandan obviously disagreed, “Big Brother! Big Sister’s dowry was also 1200 when she married you, but Big Sister has a job, how can she compare to a country bumpkin?”

The Zhou family looked at each other with different expressions, all thinking in their hearts that Zhou Dandan was right.

Xu An glanced at Zhou Yu, understanding. No wonder he insisted on 1200.

This man had pushed her forward. Xu An gently pursed her lips, not wanting to give him any mercy, she said softly in a dejected tone.

“I know that I, a country girl, am not worthy of city people, but… Zhou Yu, he has been in prison, and he’s a cripple, my life is basically over. The three major items and this 1200 yuan, it’s just that I want some comfort.”

“Actually, the three major items are not necessary.”

Xu An stared at Pan Hehua, her dull and silly eyes carrying a hint of resignation, “From now on, for the rest of my life, Zhou Yu and I will rely on the family for support. No matter how we live, it’s a lifetime. In the future, if we have children, Zhou Yu won’t be able to do much, so Auntie, you will need to help take care of them.”

The Zhou family was hoping that Zhou Yu, this troublemaker, would move out after getting married. How could they let this cripple and fool couple depend on them?

Originally thinking that she was easy to handle, but now that things were almost done, she was waiting for them. Pan Hehua really felt that Xu An wasn’t worthy.

“Look, it’s already late, where are you going to get the three major items for you? You’ve already gotten the marriage certificate, we’ll talk about it later.”

Xu An silently stood up and wanted to walk out, “It’s fine if I don’t get them, I’ll go back to the south. Our place is small, and we all live together when we get married, we don’t need a marriage certificate. Just pretend I never came, and if you want a divorce, Auntie, you can go by yourself.”

Pan Hehua had no choice but to stop Xu An. She had finally found someone, how could she let her go so easily.

But…

The three major items plus a dowry of 1200, Pan Hehua not only felt that Xu An was not worthy, but she also looked at her eldest son’s wife, who was already a bit unhappy, and it was really difficult.

“Give her!”

With a shout, Zhou Youlu, the head of the family, spoke in a deep voice.

Feng Yirou’s face immediately changed. If she gave Xu An all this, she, a knowledgeable person with a job, would be reduced to the same class as a country woman. What did the Zhou family think of her!

“Dad!”

Feng Yirou wanted to object, but Zhou Hongguang grabbed her wrist and stopped her with his eyes.

His father was the most concerned about face, he couldn’t allow anyone to question his position as the head of the family, especially his decisions.

Feng Yirou could no longer continue to show her gentleness and magnanimity. Comparing her to a country woman was an insult to her.

Zhou Hongguang’s gaze fell on the lazy and watching Second Brother, meeting his raised gaze, he took a deep breath, maintained his composure, pulled Zhou Yirou out of the room, entered the bedroom that belonged to the eldest son and his wife, and slammed the door shut.

The eldest son and his wife left, and no one spoke in the main room.

Zhou Dandan glared fiercely at Xu An, then rolled her eyes at Zhou Yu.

Why couldn’t her second brother stay in prison for the rest of his life? He had only been back for a short time, and he had already stirred up the whole family, it was annoying.

Her sister-in-law was such a good person, why should this country woman ask for so much from their family?

Zhou Shuwen stepped forward and explained to Xu An, “Second Sister-in-law, what you want is reasonable, as Dad said, our Zhou family is willing to give it to you, but it’s really too late today, the three major items are not something you can just buy. Dad has already agreed, you and Second Brother get married first, and we’ll make it up to you later.”

His words took both Zhou Youlu’s face and time into consideration, he was tactful and reasonable.

Xu An smiled at Zhou Shuwen, “I know, it’s hard to buy the three major items these days, I’ve calculated, if I convert the three major items into cash, I have no objection, you can give me a dowry of 1600.”

She looked like she was very easy to talk to. The smug smile on Zhou Shuwen’s face froze. He didn’t expect this country bumpkin second sister-in-law to be a soft knife, she wouldn’t draw blood until she had stabbed you in the stomach.

Zhou Youlu slammed his hand on the wooden table, “Give her the money, get it done today, don’t let anyone make a fool of us.”

Since Second Brother came back, they had had enough jokes about the Zhou family. Originally, the eldest son had a job, the third son was in college, and the youngest was in high school. These three years, as long as they didn’t mention the second son who had been in prison, everyone would say that Zhou Youlu was a good father.

This unruly Second Brother came back and turned the whole Zhou family upside down, eroding his father’s only guilt, stepping on his face, he didn’t know where to put his face, he was so embarrassed.

He just wanted to get rid of them as soon as possible.

Zhou Youlu had spoken, and no one dared to object.

Having achieved her goal, Xu An turned her head, meeting the gaze of Zhou Yu, who was standing there carelessly. She smiled and raised her eyebrows, momentarily forgetting the man’s danger, and winked at him.

Zhou Yu’s lips curled slightly, but he quickly pulled them down, he glanced at Xu An with a bland expression.

He was back to his usual annoying self.

Xu An’s teeth itched, but she didn’t dare to really provoke him, so she could only snort softly in her nose.