Chapter 127

Chapter 127

Zhou Jiaojiao and Wang Qingqi returned around the same time as Bai Xiuxiu, but they took a different route.

When Wang Qingqi and Zhou Jiaojiao came back, Bai Xiuxiu and the others had just entered the alley.

Zhao Guifen was about to confront Bai Xiuxiu and Wang Qinghe when she saw her youngest son and daughter-in-law return.

She felt both excited and angry. Zhou Jiaojiao had caused their family to lose a large sum of money, and if she hadn't come back, Zhao Guifen would have wanted to die.

But... now that she was back, Zhao Guifen couldn't help but think about the money they had lost.

If not for Zhou Jiaojiao, they wouldn't have had to pay any compensation.

Zhao Guifen's emotions were complex.

"Mom, I brought Jiaojiao back. Where’s Dad? Where are the others? When is dinner? Jiaojiao and I are hungry. She suffered all day; you should make something good for her."

Wang Qingqi rushed Zhao Guifen for food as soon as he entered the courtyard.

Zhao Guifen's eyes narrowed as she glanced at Zhou Jiaojiao: "Do you two even have the heart to eat? Our home is in shambles, and you still want to eat! Go inside first; there’s no rush for food. Your second sister-in-law and third sister-in-law went to pick mushrooms in the mountains. We’ll cook once they return."

Zhao Guifen said a few more words.

Zhou Jiaojiao felt guilty. On the way back, Wang Qingqi had already told her that the family had split from the eldest brother and his wife, and they had paid a hefty sum in compensation.

Such a large amount of money—it was practically extortion by Bai Xiuxiu!

Looking at her mother-in-law's face, Zhou Jiaojiao felt an unprecedented sense of urgency.

Feeling wronged, she looked at Bai Xiuxiu, who was about to take her child inside, and choked out, "Elder Sister, I’ve heard about what happened to our family. It was my third sister-in-law who tried to harm you, not me. How could you use this incident to extort money from Mom and Dad?

And Elder Brother, we’re family.

Even if you feel that Mom and Dad treated you poorly, at least they gave you life.

How could you use my situation to force them to give you money?

This is utterly heartless.

If you have any grievances, take them out on me. Why do you treat Mom and Dad like this?"

Zhou Jiaojiao’s words resonated with Zhao Guifen.

Her expression softened as she looked at her: "Hmph, what’s the point of talking to someone so heartless? You two go inside first; she’s not part of our family anymore."

Zhou Jiaojiao felt pleased. Indeed, saying a few words against Bai Xiuxiu always made her mother-in-law happy.

Bai Xiuxiu waited until Zhou Jiaojiao was about to enter the house before calmly responding: "Why would I target you? You’re the one who helped us split the household; I should be thanking you. As for being heartless? That’s a bit too much.

I still pay Qinghe and your parents monthly for their support.

Compared to those who haven’t split yet, we’re doing much better.

If we’re heartless, what does that make you?"

With that, Bai Xiuxiu took her child and her husband inside.

Zhao Guifen suddenly remembered that the real culprit was Zhou Jiaojiao!

Seeing her mother-in-law’s face darken again, Zhou Jiaojiao hated Bai Xiuxiu even more.

"Mom..."

Zhou Jiaojiao wanted to explain.

Inside the house, Wang Shoucheng’s voice echoed: "Enough, let’s talk inside. We can discuss things within the family."

Wang Qingqi and Zhou Jiaojiao entered the house.

The room seemed darker than usual.

Wang Shoucheng sat on the bed, looking at his son and daughter-in-law standing before him.

His wrinkles seemed deeper than usual, and his cloudy eyes made it hard to guess what the old man was thinking.

Zhou Jiaojiao was on the verge of breaking down.

Wang Shoucheng finally spoke: "Old Fifth’s wife, on your way back, Old Fifth should have told you everything. Our family has sacrificed a lot to preserve your reputation and ensure your husband and brothers’ job stability.

Your family also contributed significantly.

All of this happened because of you, so don’t tell me it was your third sister-in-law’s fault.

What grudge did your third sister-in-law have with the eldest sister-in-law?

Since you’re Old Fifth’s wife, we acknowledge this responsibility.

However, you can’t avoid this debt."

Hearing her father-in-law’s words, Zhou Jiaojiao felt overwhelmed.

What did he mean?

Was she expected to repay all this money? Just one day away, and she was saddled with such a huge debt? Were the Wangs even human?

"If your mother and I only had Old Fifth as a child, we would break our bones to repay the debt. But there are other people in this family."

Old Fifth's wife, from now on, this family must pull together.

If you and Old Fifth live well while others don't, you won't be truly happy either.

Now that the family has supported you, you must also support the family."

Wang Shoucheng kept persuading Zhou Jiaojiao.

Zhou Jiaojiao felt even more distressed. If she hadn't married Wang Qingqi, she wouldn't have encountered that damned Bai Xiuxiu, and none of this would have happened.

How could she face her third brother when she goes back to her parents' home?

Clearly it was all the Wang family's fault, yet they were asking her to pay the price?

However...

Zhou Jiaojiao thought about the person she unexpectedly met when she returned from being interrogated, and her mind began to churn with ideas.

The black market business was indeed beyond her capabilities alone.

The Wang family still had their skills; for now, she needed to keep them at bay. If they could really make a fortune, paying off the debt wouldn't be an issue.

She didn't want to spend her whole life in this wretched village.

She planned to study and go to college in the future.

Given how the Wang family treated her now, they shouldn't expect her or Wang Qingqi to take care of them in the future.

After some consideration, Zhou Jiaojiao agreed, crying as she spoke: "Dad, I'll do as you say. I do bear some responsibility for what happened. I kept telling my third sister-in-law about everything my eldest sister-in-law did in our house, and she got angry too.

That's why she acted impulsively."

Zhou Jiaojiao continued to blame Bai Xiuxiu and Xu Xiaojuan.

No matter what the family thought, she couldn't admit to anything.

Yesterday, during the interrogation, she was truly terrified.

With so many eyewitnesses to Xu Xiaojuan's actions, there was no escaping it. Even though no one died, a few years in prison was likely.

Xu Xiaojuan tried desperately to drag her down with her. If she hadn't insisted that she had nothing to do with it and had no evidence against her,

plus running into an old classmate who helped her out,

she might not have made it back!

She absolutely didn't want to spend years in jail; it would be better to kill her.

"Um, hearing you say this, I'm relieved. By the way, how are you progressing with the black market business? When can we start? We still need to give money to the eldest every month." Wang Shoucheng urged Zhou Jiaojiao, mainly because the family needed money!

He and his wife didn't have much left.

They needed to find a quick source of income soon.