Zhou Family Daughter-in-law — 8.1

　　After Zhou Sinian got married, he discussed his plan with his father and brothers. He used the family’s remaining savings, plus the money supported by Zhang Xiaoyan, to contract a large piece of barren hills and cultivate some cash crops.

　　Although the Zhou brothers were not optimistic, they still gave their support. The initial stages were not easy, and Zhang Xiaoyan even specially invited experts from the city to come and give guidance. Later on, the project went in full swing and was busy every day.

　　Zhang Xiaoyan also followed him to run in the mountains every day. Originally, Zhou Sinian was worried that she would get tanned, but after two months, he found that her skin was still so white and tender, so he stopped trying to persuade her.

　　Despite being busy, the family of seven was still very harmonious. However, they did not expect that something unexpected would happen. Two months later, on a rainy day, Zhou Sinian took a shortcut down the mountain. He slipped on the road and fell halfway up the mountain. Although he was sent to the hospital in time, he died of internal organ rupture and blood loss on the way.

　　This incident plunged the whole family into a gloom. Old Man Zhou was devastated and managed to hold on until the funeral was over when he suddenly fell ill. Although the other brothers were equally sad, they still had to go on with their lives and work in the fields, so Zhang Xiaoyan volunteered to take on the responsibility of taking care of her father-in-law.

　　”Dad, take your medicine.” She came in carrying the medicine soup. Old Man Zhou looked very sick and didn’t respond much to her voice. He just stared blankly into space. Seeing him like this, Zhang Xiaoyan couldn’t help but sigh. She put down the bowl, sat down beside the bed, put her hand on his forehead, and found that he was no longer feverish.

　　”Dad, you have to cheer up…” She comforted softly, wiping away her tears. After all, Zhou Sinian was sincere to her, and she felt bad about this accident.

　　Hearing her sobs, Old Man Zhou’s distracted vision finally cleared up. Looking at her slightly red eyes, his heart ached. He propped himself up and sat up, drank the medicine obediently, and while suppressing his sadness, he asked her, “Fifth’s wife, what are your plans for the future?” She had been married for less than half a year, and her husband died. He was not the only one who was sad in the family.

　　”Dad, what else can I plan? Of course I want to live with you guys…”

　　”But, but you are still so young…” She was stunned by what Old Man Zhou called her. After calming down, he said, “Xiao Yan, if you remarry, I don’t think Si Nian will blame you…” He couldn’t let her be a widow at such a young age for his son.

　　Zhang Xiaoyan blinked her red eyes and shook her head, “Now that I’m married to Si Nian, I’m a member of the Zhou family. Even if he’s gone, I’ll still be the daughter-in-law of the Zhou family. Dad, don’t chase me away…” After she finished speaking, she felt sad and threw herself into Old Man Zhou’s arms and cried sadly.

　　Father Zhou was moved and sad. He hugged her and stroked her soft hair. “You child, why are you so silly? You are still young…”

　　She shook her head and choked up, “I am a member of the Zhou family in life and a ghost of the Zhou family in death. Once I marry in, I will be a daughter-in-law of the Zhou family for life, unless my father drives me away…”

　　Hearing this, the annoyance and pain in Lao Zhou’s heart turned into relief. He couldn’t help but sigh, what a blessing it was for the Zhou family to marry such a good woman. It was a pity that Si Nian didn’t have this blessing…

　　”If you want to stay, why would Dad chase you away? You can stay for how long you want. Whenever you find a good family to go to, Dad will be happy too…” Father Zhou wiped his tears and patted her back, “We will take good care of you for him…”

　　The whole family was naturally happy that Zhang Xiaoyan stayed. Old Man Zhou recovered from his illness under her care and finally cheered up. The whole family devoted themselves to taking care of the mountain behind them.

　　Zhang Xiaoyan had become a new kind of village girl. Although she was still a village girl, she was very different from other village girls in their eyes. Although she couldn’t lift anything, and her duties were limited to providing technical guidance or serving tea, they only needed to see her smile or hear her gentle voice to get the energy to work. They didn’t want her to do any rough work in the fields.

　　It was midsummer now, and although the weather was scorching, my father and brothers were still working in the back mountain. The medicinal tea trees planted on the mountain had now grown lush and green, and it was time to take good care of them, so they didn’t care about the heat.

　　Zhang Xiaoyan cooked some sweet soup at home, put it in the refrigerator, and brought it to the men. It was past three in the afternoon, the sun was blazing, but the men were still working. She put the food on a wooden table in the shed on the mountain before sending them a message.

　　In the past, when working in the fields, you always had to shout to call for help so that the whole mountain could hear it. With the mobile phone she gave, it was much more convenient. They came over in a few minutes, and everyone’s face was sunburned. Zhang Xiaoyan wiped their sweat with a towel. Only after being a farmer myself did I know how hard this job is.

　　”Dad, I cooked some white fungus and red dates water. It’s still very cold. You should drink it quickly…” She poured a bowl for each of them. They took the water with smiles on their faces and took a sip. They felt it was cool and sweet, cool in their mouths and sweet in their hearts, and they felt very refreshed.

　　Seeing that Old Man Zhou was still sweating, Zhang Xiaoyan fanned him with a fan and frowned, saying, “Dad, the sun is too strong. Why don’t you take a rest this afternoon and not go out…”