Chapter 17 The Zhou Family’s Little Schemes

“Mm,” Zhou Yubai responded, skillfully wrapping the bicycle seat with cotton.

He had heard Shen Chuning gasp several times while sitting on the back of his bicycle.

The seat must have been uncomfortable and hurt her.

“Did you pay for those things Shen family’s girl bought today?”

Lin Shulan asked anxiously.

Before Zhou Yubai could answer, she lamented, “Third son, even if you like Shen Chuning, you can’t spend money like this!

We’ve already given a five hundred yuan dowry and the ‘three turns and one ring’ coupons. Now you’re buying her so many things? That bicycle alone costs over a hundred yuan, you, you, you…”

Lin Shulan became increasingly agitated, finally sighing, “Your partner is already spoiled by her family and doesn’t know how to manage money. You’re spending so much money with her, how will you two live in the future!”

Seeing his mother’s distressed expression, Zhou Yubai calmly said, “Those things were Ningning’s dowry, and the bicycle was also hers. The Shen family said that Ningning will bring back the dowry, and they will also give her two hundred yuan as a nest egg. We will use that money for our small family.”

Lin Shulan’s lamenting stopped abruptly.

Her face turned slightly awkward, “Oh… is that so! Ningning has grown up. I heard that the things she bought today are all useful for your small family, that’s good, that’s good.”

“Then Mother will go cook.  After you fix the bicycle, come over for dinner.”

“You have to come! Your second brother is also coming home for lunch, your father wants to discuss your wedding banquet,” Lin Shulan said, turning back as she reached the courtyard gate.

She knew her son was stubborn. If she didn’t say they were discussing the wedding banquet, he might not come for dinner.

At noon.

Zhou’s lunch was always cooked by Sun Fengjiao and Xia Yue’e.

Lin Shulan returned and told them that Zhou Yubai would be coming for lunch, asking them to cook more.

They cooked a large pot of braised green beans with rice, a large basin of pumpkin soup, and a large basin of stir-fried chopped Chinese broccoli stems with pickled mustard greens.

During the meal, everyone scooped a bowl of rice and a spoonful of stir-fried Chinese broccoli stems with pickled mustard greens, mixing them before eating.

After everyone had almost finished eating, Zhou’s father said, “Since the second son is home today, let’s discuss the third son’s wedding.”

Zhou Jun, the second son, worked as a temporary worker at the lumber mill. He usually didn’t come home for lunch, and he returned late at night and didn’t eat at home.

Today was his day off, so he wasn’t at work.

“Dad, whatever you and Mother arrange, we’ll listen to you,” Zhou Jiakang said casually.

“Yes, Dad, we have no objections to what you and Mother arrange,” Zhou Jun agreed.

Zhou’s father took a puff of his pipe, “Brothers should settle accounts clearly. We need to be clear about this.”

“When you two got married, the dowry was fifty yuan each, paid by the family. For the third son’s marriage, he decided himself and paid five hundred yuan and the ‘three turns and one ring’ coupons for his wife. Do you have any objections? If you do, speak up now.”

As soon as Zhou’s father finished speaking, Sun Fengjiao nudged Zhou Jiakang.

Zhou Jiakang looked at his wife in confusion, “Why did you nudge me?  Are your hands itchy?”

Suddenly, everyone’s attention focused on Sun Fengjiao, who blushed with embarrassment.

She was almost angry at her husband!

Why did she nudge him?

Even if the dowry was paid by the third son, he hadn’t officially separated from the family, so his money should be returned to the family.

Wasn’t the third son’s money the family’s money?

Why did she only get fifty yuan as a dowry, while the third son gave five hundred yuan?

She didn’t dare say this herself, and her husband was too simple-minded, so she could only awkwardly smile at everyone.

“Dad, we have no objections, please continue,” Zhou Jiakang said.

Zhou Jun frowned slightly but didn’t say anything.

Zhou’s father continued, “For the eldest and second son’s weddings, we held ten tables, inviting only close relatives and friends and people from our production team.  For the third son’s wedding, let’s be fair and do the same as the eldest and second son’s weddings. Third son, what do you think?”

Zhou Yubai’s expression was calm, only asking, “Father, how do we do it if we want a grand wedding?”

“If you want it grand, thirty tables, invite the whole brigade.”

“Okay, thirty tables then.” As soon as Zhou Yubai said this, the Zhou family was shocked.

“I’ll pay for the food and meat for the banquet, the family only needs to provide the vegetables,” Zhou Yubai said calmly under everyone’s gaze.

It was the season when fruits and vegetables grew abundantly. The family lacked everything except vegetables.

Zhou Yubai was holding thirty tables, but only asked the family for vegetables, not requiring anything else. Father Zhou and Mother Zhou naturally had no objections.

Zhou Jun was silent for a moment, saying, “Third brother, this isn’t appropriate.”

“Why not?” Zhou Yubai’s deep eyes calmly looked at Zhou Jun.

Even Xia Yue’e looked at her husband in confusion. She didn’t think there was anything inappropriate.

Although the third son’s wedding was grander than hers, he earned the money himself, and the family didn’t pay anything, so she had no objections.

Sun Fengjiao nodded in agreement with Zhou Jun.

Zhou Jun felt pressured under Zhou Yubai’s gaze.

He cleared his throat, “Third brother, although the dowry you gave your wife was from your own money, it’s already much more than what your sister-in-law and second sister-in-law received. Now you’re making the wedding even grander. How will your sister-in-laws feel? Isn’t this detrimental to our family’s unity?”

“Furthermore, we haven’t divided the family yet. The money you earn should be managed by Mother.  You secretly saved it and made a big show of it at your wedding, aren’t you hurting your sister-in-laws’ feelings?” Zhou Jun looked as if he was concerned about family harmony.

Zhou Yubai’s eyes deepened.

Father Zhou and Mother Zhou’s faces also darkened.

The room fell silent.

“Fine, since Second Brother thinks it’s unfair, let’s divide the family now,” Zhou Yubai said calmly.

The atmosphere in the room became even more tense.

Xia Yue’e felt nervous and nudged her husband.

She had just been scolded by her mother-in-law because of Sun Fengjiao a few days ago, and now her husband was being foolish. Dividing the family now, what good would it do them?