The Fat Wife of the 1980s Awakens

A warm feeling welled up in Xu Xiaoyu's heart; his sister's caring always made him feel greatly comforted and supported.

However, to his surprise, with the addition of Xu Xiufang, the whole family seemed to be driven by some invisible force and came forward to help. In just a moment, all the luggage was moved efficiently and tacitly.

Xu Xiaoyu stood there in a daze, with mixed feelings in his heart: It seems that my "picked up" identity is confirmed.

But even so, he could still feel the warmth and tolerance from his family's actions. The family smiled, crossed the threshold and entered the warm home.

Zhou Lijuan gently tugged at her mother's clothes, deliberately slowed down her pace, lowered her voice, and had a sly look in her eyes: "Mom, let's be nicer later. You're easily misunderstood."

"What's the misunderstanding?"

Zhou's mother's brows were knitted into knots, with a puzzled look on her face. "Do I have to be like your parents-in-law, caring and attentive to you? That's not my style! Besides, look at her when she came back. She looked like a returning princess. How could she be as simple and natural as you were when you first came back?"

"mom!"

Although Zhou Lijuan's voice was very low, the eagerness contained in it was difficult to conceal, "How many times have you said this? Remember that time when the car broke down halfway, although we came back by bus, my parents-in-law still prepared a table of delicious food for us. You should understand how much they meant to us."

Mother Zhou frowned and was silent for a moment before finally saying, "Okay, that was a special case. But aren't you worried?"

"worry about what?"

Zhou Lijuan looked confused.

"His sister and her family are visiting. It looks like they're not leaving, are they?"

Zhou's mother mentioned the matter again.

"She has finished the college entrance examination. I think she passed the exam and she may not leave."

Zhou Lijuan explained patiently, "Even if she wants to leave, her parents-in-law and Hengwen will not agree. Mom, what are you worried about? Are you going to chase her away? This is her home!"

Zhou's mother's retort was full of stubbornness: "But she's already married!"

"Can't I go back to my parents' home after I get married? Mom, I'm married too, so can I go back home whenever I want?"

Zhou Lijuan asked back.

"How can it be the same?"

Mother Zhou's tone was mixed with helplessness and anxiety. If she hadn't been holding her grandson in her arms, she might have really tapped her daughter's forehead to remind her of the cruelty of reality. "Your father and I only have you as a child, but there are more than one in the Xu family. Moreover, although the Xu family looks glamorous, the two old people are actually unemployed. Although you are in college, you don't have a job for the time being. Her brother is also about to go to college, and his future job is still unknown. This whole family is counting on Hengwen! If she really brings her family back, will Hengwen have to bear the burden alone? Why don't you think more about him?"

"Mom, you always think too far ahead."

Zhou Lijuan's brows furrowed. "My sister-in-law has her own savings. Her husband works in a transport team and has a stable income. Besides, I am in charge of the family's finances. I give money to my parents-in-law according to my ability. They just want to show their filial piety and won't take any extra money. They also said that my sister-in-law will also subsidize the household expenses."

"The past is the past, and the present is different."

Zhou's mother insisted, "Her husband doesn't have a job in Beijing."

"You can find a job," Zhou Lijuan said confidently, "My brother-in-law doesn't look like a vegetarian."

"I really can't say enough about you."

Zhou's mother said angrily, "Don't regret it when they come to borrow money!"

"Just lend it to me. Everyone has difficulties. Besides, my sister-in-law is a college student. It won't be a problem for her to find a job and support the family in the future."

Zhou Lijuan seems very open-minded.

Zhou's mother stopped arguing and walked straight forward with her grandson in her arms. Zhou Lijuan followed closely behind, "Mom, please don't talk nonsense to my sister-in-law, so as not to hurt the relationship. Do you also hope that I can live well in my husband's family?"

"Okay, okay, I won't say anything."

Mother Zhou's tone returned to her usual impatient tone, but when she saw Zhou Lijuan breathe a sigh of relief, she couldn't help but nag again: "If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have let you and your father marry so far away. If you were wronged, your father wouldn't even be able to help you in time!"

Zhou Lijuan had heard such complaints countless times. She pressed her forehead, feeling helpless.

As the only daughter in the family, she knew that her mother's wish was for her to find a man willing to marry into the family.

When her mother learned that she was in love with Xu Hengwen, especially since the Xu family lived in the capital, she felt a sense of resistance.

After finally accepting the reality, she now begins to criticize the Xu family's financial situation, always feeling that the Xu family is just a facade and cannot provide the kind of affluent life that her mother expects.

"Mom, I'm really happy now. Hengwen treats me very well, and the Xu family is living in harmony. Please stop talking about this, lest they feel upset when they hear it."

Zhou Lijuan eased the heaviness with a wry smile.

"Aren't you worried that I'll be sad?"

The mother did not intend to let go of this topic easily.

"How could I not consider your feelings?"

Zhou Lijuan quickly comforted her, "You are my most beloved mother."

The mother finally smiled and walked into the house.

The Xu family's house is a two-story courtyard house, which is simple and spacious with many rooms.

Xu Hengwen's family lived in the east wing, while Xu Xiaoyu lived in the corresponding west wing.

In Xu Xiufang's childhood memory, she lived with her parents in the main house, which had five spacious rooms.

Now, Xie Yi, Xiaoyun and Xu Xiufang share a room, while Sanbao occupies an independent room.

When helping to carry the luggage, Xu Xiaoyu deliberately picked a package that looked lighter and was about to deliver it to Xu Xiufang's room. However, he did not expect Xu Xiufang to stop him: "Xiaoxuan, that package is dried vegetables. You don't need to bring it into the room. Just leave it outside."

"Dried vegetables?"

Xu Xiaoyu put down the bag curiously, untied the rope, and found that it was indeed filled with various dried vegetables. He was a little surprised.

At this time, Zhou's mother walked into the yard and saw the bag of dried vegetables. She couldn't help but laugh: "Your sister-in-law is the same. She brought so much luggage from a long distance. I thought it was something rare, but it turned out to be dried vegetables!"

After she finished speaking, an irrepressible smile hung on the corners of her mouth, as if she was mocking this simple rural sentiment, or perhaps admiring her sister-in-law's frugality.

These words were spoken softly, but they were like a sharp ice blade hidden in the breeze, revealing a hint of contempt, as if Xu Xiufang had traveled thousands of miles to bring back not only dried vegetables, but also a less than decent gift of gratitude.

"mom……"

Zhou Lijuan's voice was soft but with a barely perceptible nervousness. She tried to ease the awkwardness in this delicate atmosphere with a gentle call.