Chapter 23 Grandparents Arrive

Chapter 23: Grandpa and Grandma Are Here

Zhou Nan took the cloth shoes An Zhixia had chosen and checked the size. "Zhi Xia, your shoe size is the same as your eldest sister-in-law's. Why don't you skip the cloth shoes and pick out a pair of leather ones instead? I remember your sister-in-law made several new pairs recently and hasn't worn them yet. When we get back, I'll have her give you a pair to wear."

Although the family wasn't short on money, Zhou Nan was a practical person who believed in saving where possible.

An Zhixia had no objections but worried, "Won't that trouble Sister-in-Law too much?"

"It's fine. Your sister-in-law isn't the difficult type. I still have a few worn-out clothes at home that can't be worn anymore. In a few days, I'll use them with paste to make new shoes and return them to her." Zhou Nan's easy manner showed that she and her daughter-in-law had a good relationship.

Indeed, Liu Ling was the daughter-in-law An Jingzhi had personally chosen for his son. If she were the petty type, he wouldn't have picked her for his own son, especially not as the eldest son's wife, who held an important position in the family.

As for Zhou Nan, she was also someone Grandpa An had initially approved of before bringing her into the family for his grandson.

An Zhixia picked a pair of size 37 black leather shoes, and Zhou Nan took them to get the slip. After buying a few everyday household items and paying, they left the department store.

At the entrance, Zhou Nan asked An Zhiang to take An Zhixia to buy some sesame pancakes while she went to the meat and vegetable stands across the street to buy groceries.

There were local co-ops, meat stands, and vegetable stands near their home, but the selection wasn't as complete as at the department store. Besides, going out of their way to buy groceries would require taking a detour, so it was better to get everything here before heading home.

An Zhixia ate a sesame pancake that cost seven cents and broke off a piece to give to An Wenqing.

The young boy held a rattle drum in one hand and ate the pancake with the other, so An Zhiang had to hold him with both hands to ensure he didn't fall.

As a result, An Wenqing ended up with a head full of sesame seeds, which annoyed An Zhiang so much that he took him down and held him in his arms, playfully threatening to spank his bottom.

Zhou Nan returned with a piece of pork belly, along with some scallions and green vegetables, and asked, "Is there anything else we need to buy? If not, let's head back. When your dad comes home tonight, he can take you to see your grandpa and grandma. Now that you're back, we should tell them."

"I don't need anything else," An Zhixia said.

Zhou Nan then announced, "Let's go home, then."

Zhou Nan packed all the purchased items into bags, keeping the fabric and clothes separate. An Zhixia continued to hold An Wenqing and sat on An Zhiang's bicycle's back rack.

As soon as they entered the house, they noticed two bicycles parked in the yard.

An Meiyun came out looking upset. "Mom, Grandpa and Grandma are here, and Jian Guo Ge is here too."

The An family's grandmother had never been particularly fond of An Meiyun. When she was younger, she found her willful and mischievous, and in recent years, she disapproved of her scheming nature and excessive flattery toward certain people.

The "certain people" referred to those who, in An Meiyun's memories from her previous life, would later achieve great success.

An Jingzhi hadn't returned yet, and upon hearing that the old couple had arrived, Zhou Nan instantly panicked.

She was the granddaughter-in-law Grandpa An had chosen, but the old couple had always dismissed her for her low social status and treated her with indifference.

After the founding of the People's Republic, the An family donated their property and were no longer as well-off as before. Additionally, Zhou Nan's background as a third-generation poor peasant later proved somewhat advantageous, and with the birth of several children, the grandmother began to treat her slightly better.

Even so, Zhou Nan still felt nervous whenever she saw the grandmother.

"Aunt and Zhiang are back?" Pei Jianguo also emerged from the house, greeting them cheerfully. His gaze suddenly fell on An Zhixia, but his expression remained unchanged. "This must be the newly found Zhi Xia, right? She really does look like you, Aunt."

Seeing that Pei Jianguo was also there, Zhou Nan felt somewhat relieved.

Although the family situation was rather uncomfortable, with an outsider present, the old couple probably wouldn't take it out on her.

If she could just get through this moment, she could leave everything to her husband to handle when he returned.

So, Zhou Nan warmly greeted Pei Jianguo.

An Zhixia remained silent. She recognized this Pei Jianguo. During the years she had followed An Meiyun as a spirit, she had heard An Meiyun mention him multiple times. In their previous lives, Pei Jianguo was supposed to be her future husband.

Unlike the An family, the Pei family came from humble origins. Old Mr. Pei had made a name for himself in Jincheng through his military achievements. During the war years, he had frequently come to the An family to ask for supplies and money.

Grandpa An had greatly admired Old Mr. Pei back then, and the two addressed each other as uncle and nephew.

As a result, the two families became close friends.

Now, Old Mr. Pei had retired, and his home was right next to Old Man An's.

In fact, Old Man An had joined the military with Old Mr. Pei's recommendation, and the two were sworn brothers who had been through life and death together.

From An Meiyun's accounts, An Zhixia learned that Pei Jianguo himself wasn't particularly accomplished. As the only grandson in the Pei family, he was somewhat pampered and unmotivated. Currently, he held a secretary position in a government department, thanks to his family's connections.

However, Pei Jianguo had a younger uncle, only a few years older than him. When Old Mr. Pei joined the revolution with his two sons, he left his wife at home to care for his parents. This younger son was born years later when the couple reunited, so there was a significant age gap between him and his older brothers.

Pei Jianguo's younger uncle was remarkably successful. At a young age, he had already attained a high position in the military. Later, he retired due to injuries and became the director of a steel plant. Riding the wave of the Reform and Opening-up, he quickly rose to become a prominent economic figure.

Unfortunately, due to health issues, he never married or had children and passed away before turning fifty, leaving a substantial inheritance to his nephew, Pei Jianguo.

Pei Jianguo, who had been mediocre all his life, suddenly inherited a fortune in his forties. The sudden wealth went to his head, and with the loosening of social restrictions, he kept several mistresses.

Unfortunately, he was too foolish to hold onto his wealth and was eventually swindled out of a significant portion.

In An Meiyun's eyes, An Zhixia was fortunate because she had a capable son who took over the business from Pei Jianguo and turned things around.

After suffering a major setback, Pei Jianguo became more subdued and continued his unremarkable life, relying on his uncle's inheritance in his earlier years and his son's support later on.

An Meiyun thought An Zhixia was spineless because she tolerated Pei Jianguo's behavior and continued to live with him.

And indeed, An Zhixia herself felt the same—it was truly spineless.

But to be fair, An Meiyun, upon rebirthing, used her foreknowledge to harm An Zhixia and string Pei Jianguo along as one of the fish in her pond, all because she secretly envied the luxurious life An Zhixia had led in her previous life.