Chapter 5: Visiting the Young Bride

Madam Zhou was stunned, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

Zhou Zhao suddenly widened his eyes in shock and exclaimed, “Mother, just now… did you say, ‘Come on, let’s go inside’?”

Madam Zhou snapped back to her senses, equally astonished as she stared at him. “Zhao’er, can you hear?”

This time, she hadn’t used any hand gestures.

Zhou Zhao’s eyes turned red, and he nodded vigorously, his voice hoarse with emotion. “Yes, Mother, I can hear!”

Madam Zhou was dumbfounded. She quickly strode to Zhou Zhao’s side and inspected his ears from different angles. “You really can hear?”

Zhou Zhao grinned and nodded again. “Yes, Mother, I can hear now!”

Madam Zhou trembled with excitement, cupping Zhou Zhao’s face as tears streamed down her cheeks. “My son, you can finally hear again! Look at this—those people wanted us to suffer, but we must live well just to spite them! Now that your ears are healed, it won’t be long before your second brother’s eyes and your eldest brother’s legs recover too!”

Zhou Zhao threw his arms around Madam Zhou, sobbing uncontrollably.

As a woman raising three disabled sons in the village, Madam Zhou had endured countless sneers and ridicule.

When she first arrived, her sister-in-law had cruelly pointed at Zhou Zhao’s head, mocking him as a “little deaf-mute” and laughing that he would be disabled for life.

But now, at last, their family had someone whole again.

Watching from the side, Du Wanchun couldn’t help but smile with them, feeling genuinely happy. Quietly, she carried the duck eggs into the kitchen.

Although today was supposed to be a joyous occasion, the Zhou family had nothing to prepare a feast, so none of the Chen family relatives came.

Only Madam Zhou’s two younger sisters had stopped by yesterday, bringing some radishes and cabbage, ensuring that their new sister-in-law wouldn’t go hungry on her first day.

When Du Wanchun entered the kitchen, she noticed a pot of cooked cabbage and radish soup, likely prepared earlier by Madam Zhou.

She set the duck eggs aside, ready to leave, when she suddenly heard a loud voice from outside.

It was the sharp and aggressive voice of a woman.

“Oh! Second Sister! How could you get your son a wife without inviting me and your elder brother?”

Peeking through the window, Du Wanchun saw a plump middle-aged woman dressed in a dark green long skirt. Her round face was nearly swallowed by her chubby cheeks, and her small eyes were narrowed into slits, exuding a mean-spirited expression.

She lifted her chin arrogantly, speaking in a haughty tone as she called out to Madam Zhou.

This woman was none other than Madam Jiang, Madam Zhou’s sister-in-law.

Having heard that the Zhou family’s eldest son had married a foolish girl, she had deliberately come to mock them.

Moments ago, Madam Zhou had been overjoyed by her youngest son regaining his hearing, but with Madam Jiang’s sudden arrival and harsh words, her mood instantly turned cold.

She let go of Zhou Zhao and strode toward the doorway, her voice cold as she said to Madam Jiang, “Sister-in-law, didn’t you say you had severed ties with us? Since we are no longer connected, why should we entertain your presence here?”

Madam Jiang let out a loud laugh. “I think you’re just afraid we’ll see your foolish daughter-in-law and make you lose face!”

Madam Zhou sneered. “My eldest daughter-in-law is not only beautiful but also obedient and sensible. What’s there to be ashamed of?”

Madam Jiang refused to back down. She barged into the house, found a long wooden bench, and sat down with an air of arrogance. Mocking, she said, “Second Sister, stop bragging. I’ve heard that the daughter of the Du family has been a fool since birth. If she gives birth to a son for your eldest, won’t he be a fool too?”

She glanced toward Zhou Ruizhen’s room and continued in a sarcastic tone, “Your family already has a cripple, a blind man, and a deaf one. A couple more fools wouldn’t make much of a difference, would they?”

Her voice was loud, and Du Wanchun heard every word from inside the kitchen. However, she remained calm. Instead, she cracked two of the duck eggs she had just collected and stir-fried them with wild chives.

She had learned to cook from a young age. Although she had been considered foolish before, her hands were always nimble. Now, she cooked even more skillfully.

Soon, the dish was ready.

Carrying the plate of food, she lifted the curtain and walked out with a bright smile. “Mother, Second Brother, Third Brother, the food is ready.”

A delicious aroma filled the air, drawing everyone’s attention to Du Wanchun.

Madam Zhou was momentarily stunned—not because she didn’t expect Du Wanchun to be able to cook, but because she felt guilty. How could they let this young girl cook the moment she entered their home?

She quickly walked over to Du Wanchun and said, “Wanchun, go rest in Ruizhen’s room. I’ll take care of this.”

Du Wanchun placed the plate of stir-fried eggs and chives on the table beside Madam Jiang. Smiling, she turned to Madam Zhou and asked, “Mother, who is this?”

Madam Zhou replied, “She is your eldest aunt-in-law.”

“Hello, Eldest Aunt,” Du Wanchun greeted sweetly.

She was small in stature and had a charming appearance. Her large, bright eyes made her especially endearing—no one could dislike her.

Madam Jiang had been scrutinizing her the whole time. Looking at her delicate features, her composed smile, and the fragrant dish of eggs, she was utterly dumbfounded.

A daughter-in-law like this couldn’t be found within ten miles! The Zhou family had really struck gold.

Madam Jiang was fuming inside. She had come to make fun of them, but now it felt like she had slapped herself in the face.

Her eldest son was older than Zhou Ruizhen yet still unmarried.

Now, seeing the Zhou family’s gentle and lovely daughter-in-law, she was overcome with jealousy. She wanted nothing more than to flip over the plate of stir-fried eggs in frustration.