Chapter 14 : Zhou Tingyue Protects His Wife

Shen Xiu’e also said that they hadn’t bought many things yet, but they had prepared money, industrial coupons, and furniture tickets. Since Zhou Tingyue was a soldier and his wife would accompany the army, after getting married, they would use these tickets and money to buy whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted!  

Look, where else could you find such a mother-in-law?  

Song Shiwei’s eyes unconsciously fell on the television beside her.  

Although the televisions of this era were bulky 18-inch black-and-white models, she understood their value. They weren’t something you could buy just because you had money, there were fixed quotas issued every year and month, making them nearly impossible for ordinary people to obtain!  

It seemed that her future in-laws were truly kind to her!  

But whenever she saw the greedy expressions of Feng Chunmei and Old Lady Song, she couldn’t help but frown.  

She wouldn’t let them take advantage of this!  

“Auntie, thank you. Just a few days ago, Miaomiao told me how envious she was that her classmate’s family had a radio that could play English. Her English foundation is weak, so with this TV and radio, my sister’s studies will definitely improve. She might even be able to get into university in next year’s college entrance exam!”  

She was deliberately asserting her claim, this TV and radio were hers. No one else should even think about taking them. She wanted to leave them untouched. These were betrothal gifts from the Zhou family, meant for her parents and sister!  

Shen Xiu’e, of course, had her own way of thinking. Besides, she wasn’t about to let these things fall into the hands of Feng Chunmei and the others!  

She smiled and said, “Oh, come on, we’re family no need to thank me! This is for you, Weiwei. Miaomiao is your biological sister. If she can use it to help with her studies, that would be wonderful. If she gets into college next year, we’ll all benefit from it! Hehehe!”  

Sure enough, Feng Chunmei and Old Lady Song’s expressions immediately changed.  

Especially Old Lady Song, she had never even watched TV before! This thing was so rare! She wanted to keep it in her own room so she could show off to the other elderly men and women outside!  

When she looked at Song Shiwei again, her eyes were filled with resentment!  

But Song Shiwei didn’t care whether they liked her or not. She just wanted to make sure her parents and sister lived well before she left!  

As for her eldest brother, he was still in the countryside. In 1977, many educated youths took the college entrance exam, but he didn’t participate. He said he wasn’t capable enough and wasn’t cut out for it.  

In the past two years, more and more educated youths had been returning to the city. Song Shiwei felt that her eldest brother should be coming back soon!  

Before long, Miaomiao had called Zhao Huili and Song Zhiyong back home.  

When they saw the car parked outside, their hearts skipped a beat.  

It seemed that Weiwei’s boyfriend was very capable!  

Zhao Huili was worried that her daughter would be looked down upon, and thinking of her sister-in-law’s attitude made her even more anxious.  

As soon as she entered the room and saw Yingying had also been called back, she instantly understood everything.  

She shot a glare full of resentment at Feng Chunmei, then immediately put on a smile and went over to greet Shen Xiu’e and the others.  

Zhou Tingyue also smiled and called out, “Uncle, Auntie!”  

When Zhao Huili and Song Zhiyong saw how handsome and energetic the young man was, what was there to be dissatisfied with?  

Besides, Shen Xiu’e didn’t seem like a difficult mother-in-law, so Zhao Huili quickly found herself getting along well with her.  

In just a short time, the two of them were chatting like real sisters!  

Zhou Runde and Song Zhiyong were laughing heartily.  

Zhou Runde took a box of tea out of his bag.  

“Brother Song, this is for you. A colleague of mine brought it back from the south. I thought it tasted good, so I got a box for you!”  

Song Zhiyong was overjoyed. This was tea! Most people couldn’t even afford food, so who would be willing to buy tea just to drink? At most, they would buy some leftover tea leaves and soak them in water, just having a hint of tea flavor was enough to feel luxurious!  

He took the tea with trembling hands, just as Eldest Brother Song and his sons walked in and saw him.  

Eldest Brother Song’s eyes turned red with jealousy!  

He noticed the car parked at the door, with a dedicated driver!  

Song Shiwei’s boyfriend’s family was no ordinary family!  

How great it would be if this marriage had been arranged for their daughter, Yingying!  

With such a well-connected relative, who wouldn’t respect him when he walked outside?  

Just look at the TV, the sewing machine, the Maotai liquor in the main room… and now the precious tea in Song Zhiyong’s hands!  

The jealousy was so overwhelming that he felt like grinding his teeth to pieces!  

Feng Chunmei was just as envious. Shen Xiu’e was really something, she had been so indifferent to her earlier, yet she acted so warmly towards Zhao Huili, as if they were real sisters.  

Was Zhao Huili really better than her, despite having a “bad elements” background?  

Thinking of this, her eyes darted around, and she quickly signaled Old Lady Song with a wink.  

How could Old Lady Song not understand her meaning?  

Glancing at her eldest son standing at the door, she saw that he had the same greedy expression. She immediately hardened her resolve and spoke up.  

“Ahem, in-laws, speaking of which, our Weiwei just graduated from high school and doesn’t even have a formal job. Her brother is still in the countryside, and her younger sister is still in school. My second son’s family really isn’t as promising as my eldest son’s. Yingying, on the other hand, has a job, and all three of her brothers are key workers at the factory! There’s no burden in their household!”  

As soon as she said this, the entire room fell silent, and everyone turned to look at her.  

Zhao Huili’s eyes suddenly reddened.  

The smile on Song Zhiyong’s face instantly disappeared. He placed the tea canister back on the table, his eyes filled with regret.  

Song Shiwei couldn’t help but sneer.  

Even now, her grandmother and uncle’s family were still scheming to swap the bride?  

Did they really think this was still the old society?  

Even Shen Xiu’e and Zhou Runde looked completely dumbfounded.  

Only the eldest family had excited and eager expressions.  

Old Lady Song pursed her lips, took a deep breath, and delivered the final blow.  

“My dear in-laws, how about letting Tingyue marry Yingying from the eldest family instead? Yingying can cook and do laundry, and she’s hardworking, unlike the second family’s girl, who can’t endure hardships or bear suffering! She is much better than the second family’s girl, and she will definitely take good care of Tingyue if she follows him to the army!”  

The atmosphere in the entire room instantly shifted.  

Song Shiwei and her parents’ expressions darkened, and the smiles on Shen Xiu’e and Zhou Runde’s faces completely vanished.  

Feng Chunmei, on the other hand, was overjoyed.  

“Oh yes, yes! Our Yingying is such a good girl, very capable, and if she follows Tingyue to the army, she’ll definitely take great care of him! Next year, they’ll have a big, healthy baby boy…”  

“That’s enough!!”  

A cold and forceful shout echoed throughout the hall, cutting off Feng Chunmei mid-sentence.  

She, who had been speaking so smugly, was suddenly startled into silence.  

Everyone turned to look at Zhou Tingyue.  

He had been quiet all this time, but now his face was dark, and his eyes were filled with fury.  

“I’m looking for a wife! Not a maid to serve me! I don’t need anyone to wait on me! If she becomes my wife, I will cherish her, protect her, and take care of her for my whole life! I can wash my own clothes and cook my own meals! I will also hand over all my money to her! She just needs to live happily every day!”  

“Besides, the person I want to marry is Weiwei. She is my partner! What exactly is your family doing? Are you still indulging in outdated feudal traditions? Treating marriage as an exchange? This is ridiculous!”  

“I finally understand what kind of life Weiwei has been living in this household! Having a grandmother and an aunt like you is truly her misfortune!”