Cheng Tao feigned distress, shaking her head. "It might be a bit difficult. With Cheng You stirring things up, how could Sister-in-law listen to Mom?"
Wang Hongxia rolled up her sleeves and walked out. She didn't care what happened to Zhou Yunru, but the baby in her belly was the grandson of their Zhao family!
Zhao Yunlin glanced outside. "Is something going to happen?"
Cheng Tao snorted coldly. "Zhou Yunru is pregnant. Mom cherishes the baby, so what could possibly happen?"
"Tsk! Keep your voice down!"
"Why should I keep my voice down? How much I've suffered at home these days, and you don't see any of it!"
Zhao Yunlin said helplessly, "It's not that I don't see it. You know my mother's personality."
Cheng Tao said mournfully, "If only we could split the family. Big Brother has already split off."
Zhao Yunlin, however, said, "My elder brother has a place to live. Even if I split off, I can't build a house. If we still live together, what's the difference from not splitting?"
He was actually tired of it too.
Every day, he either saw Wang Hongxia scolding or Cheng Tao complaining.
These two were born incompatible; they were not suited to live together.
Cheng Tao said, "If I could be like Cheng You, then I'd have money, wouldn't I?"
Zhao Yunlin felt she was thinking about unrealistic things.
However, he didn't discourage her.
"Then you work hard."
Cheng Tao gave him a sidelong glance. Effort alone was useless.
The books Uncle Li gave her were completely incomprehensible.
...
Wang Hongxia walked to Uncle Li's door and saw Zhou Yunru busily attending to Cheng You.
Her eyes widened in anger, and she rushed over to snatch the things from Zhou Yunru's hands.
"Is this what you should be doing? You are carrying the baby of our Zhao family, you should be resting properly!"
Her sudden arrival startled everyone.
Zhou Yunru coldly pushed her hand away. "The baby in my belly has the surname Zhou. No matter how you count it, it won't be a child of the Zhao family."
Wang Hongxia said as a matter of course, "That won't do! The child you give birth to must have the surname Zhao, unless Zhao Jianguo is not my son!"
Zhou Yunru sneered. It was not up to Wang Hongxia to decide the surname of her unborn child.
Cheng You ignored Wang Hongxia and let Zhou Yunru take the medicinal herbs into the pharmacy.
Unexpectedly, Wang Hongxia, unable to persuade Zhou Yunru, turned to Cheng You.
"Cheng You, you are not allowed to order her around anymore. Stay away from my daughter-in-law!"
Cheng You didn't look at her, keeping her head down as she prepared the medicine.
She said indifferently, "Your words don't count. You're all about grandchildren now, but what were you doing before? You almost let your grandson die before, and you didn't seem that sad. Aunt Wang, I'm technically your grandson's savior, and this is how you speak to your savior?"
Wang Hongxia choked, her face turning ashen.
Because of what Cheng Tao had done before, she would have to bow her head to Zhou Yunru for the rest of her life.
"That was because Cheng Tao instigated me. If it weren't for her, how could I have done that!"
Cheng You let out a scoff, giving her a mocking glance.
Wang Hongxia stood there motionlessly, but she made a fuss about everything Zhou Yunru did, determined to be difficult.
It wasn't until Uncle Li spoke, "Whether she does these things or not has nothing to do with your Zhao family. Her surname is Zhou! The entire Wujing Village knows your son married into her family. What did you say back then, have you forgotten?"
Wang Hongxia said righteously, "I've changed my mind!"
She had thought Cheng Tao was pregnant then, and compared to Zhao Jianguo's child, she naturally wanted Zhao Yunlin's more.
But who would have known it would end up being a futile effort.
She could give up on Zhao Jianguo, but Zhao Jianguo couldn't disown her as his mother!
Zhou Yunru gave a cold laugh at her shamelessness. "What does your changing your mind have to do with me? You should say these things to Zhao Jianguo, and to my parents."
She figured Wang Hongxia wouldn't dare to see Granny Zhou.
Wang Hongxia rolled up her sleeves and left with a threat, "Then you just wait!"
Zhao Jianguo was simple-minded and extremely filial; he would definitely agree to her.
After she left, Zhou Yunru felt much more comfortable, her ears finally at peace.
Cheng You said, "With your mother-in-law like this, she'll probably keep causing trouble for you."
Zhou Yunru snorted, "Whatever."
Originally, Zhao Jianguo was nominally marrying into her family, but her parents had said they wouldn't truly let the baby have the surname Zhou.
Otherwise, Zhao Jianguo would be looked down upon.
But Zhao Jianguo didn't care. His parents didn't care about it anyway, so he had nothing to worry about.
As long as his wife and child were safe, the surname didn't matter.
Zhou Yunru thought, if Wang Hongxia dared to make a scene, she would truly let the child have her surname.
Cheng You had been busy here these past few days, preparing goods for the health center.
Seeing that today was New Year's Day, she didn't plan to rest.
By evening, Cheng You finished the last bottle of hemostatic powder and rubbed her wrist.
"Sister Yunru, let's stop here for today. Thank you for your hard work."
Zhou Yunru smiled, "What hard work? From now on, I'll assist you. I find that this way I can understand Uncle Li's teachings better."
Cheng You blinked, "Okay, I'll pay you a salary each month."
"Hmph! Do you need to pay me?" Uncle Li shot her a glare.
Cheng You stuck out her tongue, playfully saying, "That's right, that's right. It's not my place to pay, Uncle Li will pay you."
Zhou Yunru patted Cheng You's head, "Okay, enough talk. Hurry up, don't you know how long Qi Zhiqing has been waiting?"
Cheng You then ran over, standing before him with a beaming smile.
"I'm done. Let's go."
The sun had already set by then, painting the sky with a rosy glow.
Qi Chengyan had been waiting here patiently for two hours.
Upon finally getting her, he had no complaints.
"Is it too cold?"
Cheng You tugged at her scarf. "Not cold, I'm wearing thick clothes."
Qi Chengyan said goodbye to Uncle Li before leading her out.
He had been somewhat restrained in front of Uncle Li, but as soon as they were outside, he grabbed Cheng You's small hand and put it in his pocket.
Cheng You's face lit up, and she exclaimed, "Your pocket is so warm."
Her hands had been almost frozen after a day of work.
In Qi Chengyan's pocket, they instantly became warm.
"Wen Yu was called home by Grandma Liu for dinner. I'll take you somewhere."
"Where? A hot spring?"
It was too late for that.
Qi Chengyan squeezed her palm. "You'll know when we get there."
A hot spring would be too far, and arriving in pitch darkness wouldn't be fun.
Cheng You held a hint of expectation in her heart. The place he would take her for a surprise surely wouldn't be bad.
But the darker it got the further they walked.
Cheng You's eyesight wasn't as good as his. Once it was dark, she couldn't see anything.
Qi Chengyan, without a word, scooped her up into his arms.
After walking for quite some distance, he didn't even breathe hard, his stamina astonishing.
"This is it," his deep voice sounded next to Cheng You's ear.
Colorful river lanterns floated on the water. A cold wind blew, making them swirl on the surface.
The warm firelight reflected on the water, dispelling the chill of winter.
"Where did you buy these?" Cheng You asked with surprise.
How come she didn't know the commune sold these.