Chapter 1211: 1084: Wife, I’m So Wronged

"Wife, I feel so aggrieved.""Hehe, it’s okay, I care for you."

"You said it, you can’t regret it."

"Ah..." Before Zhou Jiao could finish her words, she was lifted into the air, frightening her into covering her mouth.

Zhang Guoqing mischievously weighed her, "Little lady, even if you cry, it’s useless. Tonight you are mine."

Zhou Jiao looked at him timidly, shrank her neck, "Master, no... Master, have mercy, this concubine already knows her mistake, Master, please pity this concubine."

Zhang Guoqing laughed, hugging her, and fell onto the bed... Turns out, the three little drama queens in their family all inherited it from their mother.

Zhou Jiao swiftly climbed onto him and, full of color and expression, leaned over him, "What a flower thief, the path to Heaven you didn’t take, yet you barged into Hell, ending up in this lady’s hands, hehe..."

Zhang Guoqing loved her little demeanor to death, his eyes darkened, and with a turn, he was on top of her...

After the storm...

Zhang Guoqing caressed the skin he couldn’t let go of, looking at his wife pretending to be an ostrich, he let out a light chuckle, "We’re old married folks, and still so shy."

"Shameless."

"Yes, yes, your man is shameless."

Zhou Jiao glanced at him with a smile, twisted his waist.

"Little vixen, are you playing again!"

Zhou Jiao was frightened and quickly withdrew her hand, sticking out her little tongue, "How about I finish work tomorrow and first go tidy up the courtyard? The blankets and coal balls are enough, but I need you to help find two people to wash and tidy up."

Zhang Guoqing’s eyes narrowed, "You want to move there? No way! Dad and I often have meetings, occasionally have to travel, and the kids are in school. Leaving you and Mom alone in such a big courtyard, I can’t rest easy."

"Dad seems to be sixty-seven, right? This time since they’re here, let’s persuade him and Mom to stay. It’s no problem if they stay a few days, but it’s definitely not suitable long-term."

Zhang Guoqing understood her meaning. The desire to care for one’s parents but finding it’s too late.

"Even if you apply for housing, I can’t focus solely on them. I’ll be worried about Mom and Dad, and over time, I might get annoyed with them.

After thinking about it, it’s still more fitting to live together. If Dad and Mom are unwilling to live with their daughter-in-law’s family, then let’s buy a small yard nearby. Does that sound okay to you?"

"It’s really troublesome!"

Zhou Jiao laughed heartily. Indeed, it’s a headache. Although during the separation, it was agreed the in-laws would live with the eldest, things have gone messy, haven’t they?

Furthermore, as children, if one really must argue over this, they aren’t truly human. Who decreed that elderly must live with the eldest child?

"I reckon even if Second Brother’s family wants to stay in Beijing, they won’t be settled here. Their generation can’t let go of relatives and friends and cannot leave their native land."

"Look at those years, they always secretly worship their ancestors. At home, there are granduncles, uncles, uncles, older brother, and two sisters; they’re not leaving, at most they’ll come over for a month to see the grandchildren."

"But now the children are grown, they won’t have the time to accompany elders. I think there’s no way they’ll stay over here. Just say Mother, if she doesn’t go home for a long time, she’ll be worried sick the home yard is occupied."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Jiao laughed even more happily. Her mother-in-law might really be that way.

"So, let’s wait until Dad and Mom come over before discussing. These things can’t be rushed; also need to see what Older Brother and Second Brother plan."

Zhou Jiao looked at him with a half-smile, "Feeling soft-hearted, wanting to meddle again?"

"It’s not really meddling. Didn’t Uncle Liu say during the New Year, that Older Brother had a chance to transfer to the provincial city? I thought if Second Brother hasn’t planned to move to Beijing, and Zuo Lin gets transferred, he should move over to the provincial city. If they all transfer to the provincial city, wouldn’t Dad and Mom have to rearrange things again?"

Wu Jiao suddenly realized, "So before you said, we might have to go back during summer vacation this year?"

Zhang Guoqing patted her, "That’s the idea. Don’t worry about others; Dad and Mom are old now; must arrange their later-life properly."

"Really troublesome!"

"Haha... That’s why I don’t want you to have more children. One more means one more worry. Once the three sons take over the responsibility, I’m done, and I’ll take you touring all around the country, living carefree days."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Jiao snuggled him a bit, thinking how great it would be if such a day really came.

"You don’t have to worry about the hometown matters, including Dad and Mom’s situation; I’ll arrange it all. You, don’t think about their affairs. Sweetheart, is there anywhere you’d like to go play?"

"Play with woolen thread!" Zhou Jiao speechlessly poked his chest, busy like a dog, yet he’s tempting her.

"Hehe, be good, baby, I’ll pat you to sleep." Zhang Guoqing really started humming a lullaby like he meant it.

Zhou Jiao giggled and pinched him, and hummed along with him... gradually falling into dreams.

A good night’s sleep, waking hazily in the morning, Zhou Jiao glanced outside and closed her eyes again, suddenly sitting up immediately.

Turns out it was really raining.

Winter’s rain mixed with snow is truly deadly. Zhou Jiao instinctively shrank her neck, but still had to go to work, so what was Zhang Guoqing suggesting about going to play?

Even heaven looked down on those lies of his.

During lunch break, Zhou Jiao was still uneasy and went to their own courtyard.

"Mom, you’re here? We were just thinking about finishing up here and taking you home together."

Ping’an heard the commotion at the door and immediately came out; upon seeing Zhou Jiao, his originally uninviting face instantly lit up with dimples, smiling brightly at her.

Seeing outsiders scrubbing the door frame, Zhou Jiao asked, "Did your dad instruct this?"

"Nope," Ping’an raised his brow, "Could it be you and Dad thought alike?"

"Your dad won’t agree on moving here in the short term; let’s prepare first." Zhou Jiao entered the main room, took a look around, "Where’s your brother?"

"He went to the second courtyard and brought people to clean up. Mom, we’ve made arrangements with these aunties; they’ll come over to tidy things up every Friday."

Zhou Jiao looked at her son amusingly, "So I’m a spoiled mom."

"Isn’t this expected?"

Ping’an pushed her to the backyard, "Come on, your son will show you your and Dad’s courtyard."

Passing through the corridor is the third courtyard...

The third courtyard is connected to the previous one where Zhou Xiaozheng will reside, identical in layout, with three north rooms, side rooms, all included, the only difference is the size.

As an old courtyard suited for elders in ancient times, apart from having some scale, it separates the inner courtyard from the outer.

While the following courtyards are independent yet interconnected, if an elder feels unwell, children and grandchildren can go along the corridor to greet them even during bad weather.

Of course, this five-courtyard’s third section, unlike traditional courtyards, has a garden behind, surrounded by rocks and transplanted bamboo between three small courtyards, with a row of back rooms by the rear door.

Compared to the newly acquired three-courtyard of the Cheng family, although similar in size, it appears more well-arranged. Thus, Miao Lishan refused, being both heartache but not quite lost.