Reborn in the 70s: Pampered by Regiment Commander
Chapter 165 - 133: Getting Along with In-Laws

Chapter 165: Chapter 133: Getting Along with In-Laws

The first watch arrived.

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"I’m so sorry, really sorry..." Zhao Yulan apologized as she frantically bent down to pick up the cup, holding it with both hands and placing it on the coffee table. Before she seated herself, Old Madam Zhou sternly scolded the maid standing aside, "Aunt Liu, what are you doing? How could you let the guest pick it up herself? Hurry up and get her a new cup!"

"Yes, Old Madam," responded Aunt Liu, who quickly took the tea cup that Zhao Yulan had placed on the table and hurried to the kitchen.

This was a slap in the face! Zhao Yulan, already uncomfortable, felt at a loss whether to stand or sit, not knowing where to put her hands and feet.

"My dear in-law, we are family now. You and your husband should feel at home here..." Lin Yanqiu said with a smile as she pressed Zhao Yulan to sit on the sofa and affectionately took her hand. "By the way, which year were you born in?"

Zhao Yulan’s mind was in a complete mess; she understood what Lin Yanqiu was asking, but her lips trembled and she couldn’t utter a word, clearly intimidated by the Zhou family’s demeanor.

Chuxia quietly took her other hand, squeezed it reassuringly, and smiled at Lin Yanqiu: "Auntie, my mother was born in ’38, the year of the Tiger, and this year she turns exactly forty-something."

Lin Yanqiu’s gaze towards Chuxia grew more appreciative; she had liked her from the first time she came, and although chuxia came from a modest background, she was straightforward and didn’t have a hint of pettiness, which made her very pleasant to observe.

Initially, she had thought that parents capable of raising such a child must possess an extraordinary calmness and dignity, but now it seemed she had misjudged. However, it didn’t matter anymore; the Zhou family was marrying a bride, not seeking in-laws.

Besides, her son was finally willing to marry, for which she was extremely grateful. How could she afford to be choosy?

"In-law, that means I should call you younger sister..." Lin Yanqiu said as she took a cup from Aunt Liu to pour water for Zhao Yulan, "I was born in the year of the Horse, eight years older than you."

"You... you are too kind," Zhao Yulan said, seeing the other person pouring water for her again; she wanted to get up but didn’t dare and, flustered, just held her hands to her chest, unsure of how to gesture properly.

Lin Yanqiu then smiled, "Younger sister, from the first time Chuxia came here, I liked her. Marrying her into the Zhou family, we are quite content. Just relax, nothing will distress her here, and I will treat her as my own daughter. We’re family now, why be so formal with me? You’ve come from so far, it is only right for me to pour you a glass of water, isn’t it?"

"Thank... thank you." After this while, with her hand held by her daughter, Zhao Yulan finally gained some confidence.

"I will follow my sister-in-law and call you ’younger sister’ as well. I’m several years older than you, hehe..." Second Aunt Zhou, Liang Xiaohong, smiled warmly at Zhao Yulan, "You’ll understand after being with us for a while, my sister-in-law is very easy-going. Chuxia marrying into our family will definitely not suffer any grievances."

Lin Yanqiu glared at her: "Why didn’t you speak up earlier? You just sit there and act like a guest!"

"Wasn’t I just not wanting to interfere with your bonding with the family?" Liang Xiaohong laughed as she spoke, "By the way, when my daughter-in-law’s family comes to meet us, you can’t steal my thunder." Then, looking at Zhao Yulan, "Younger sister, we weren’t quiet because we’re not hospitable; we were just worried my sister-in-law might get jealous."

Zhou Xiangping quickly took over the conversation, "Yes, yes, Auntie, didn’t you notice we were also quiet? My mom can be very demanding. Today she’s in charge, and the rest of us are just supporting her."

Zhou Jiping followed closely, "Auntie, my mom really is like that, but it shows how much she values you and Chuxia. Otherwise, she wouldn’t bother engaging at all."

Lin Yanqiu glared at them: "All of you, just making fun of me. Honestly, you just wanted to see if I would embarrass myself. You know I’ve been longing for a daughter-in-law for so long, and you want to see if I’d make a fool of myself. Don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking!"

Zhou Xiangping laughed, "Mom, you are indeed smart. But the facts have proven that you can withstand the test. For your performance, I’d give you ninety points!"

Lin Yanqiu smiled and looked at Zhao Yulan, "Younger sister, you see, my daughters are so irreverent towards me, truly embarrassing, but they all have good hearts. In the future, they definitely cannot mistreat Chuxia."

Zhou Xiangping rolled her eyes as she spoke, "Mom, you praise us too highly. With my third brother’s temper, even if we had ten times the courage, we wouldn’t dare mistreat our future third sister-in-law, right?"

Lin Yanqiu’s face displayed helplessness, "In-law, look at this mischievous bunch I have. They’re nothing like proper girls. Luckily, they are all married off; otherwise, they’d truly drive me to despair."

Everyone present, except Old Madam Zhou, burst into cheerful chatter, easing Zhao Yulan’s mood, and she began to chat and laugh comfortably with the others.

Meanwhile, Lin Baohe was surrounded by Old Master Zhou, Father Zhou Zhou Jingping, Second Uncle Zhou Zhou Gangping, and Zhou Mikang’s elder brother, Zhou Xikang, with Mikang of course accompanying them.

Lin Baohe, typically reserved and taciturn, wasn’t accustomed to such attention. Surrounded by a group of imposing adults, all he could do was smile, unable to do anything else.

Zhou Jingping handed a cup of tea to Lin Baohe, "In-law, you must have had a tough journey, have some tea."

Lin Baohe awkwardly accepted it and, tilting his head back, downed it!

Everyone stared in astonishment—the tea was scalding hot!

Zhou Mikang hurriedly went to pour a glass of water and handed it to him, "Dad, have some water."

Zhou Jingping cast a resentful glance at his son, who had scarcely started speaking and was already calling him "Dad." How hard was it for his own son to call him that?

In that instant, he felt a mixture of envy, jealousy, and hatred toward Lin Baohe, wishing he could switch souls with him right away.

Lin Baohe took the water, tilted his neck back, and downed it!

Zhou Xikang, who had just refilled Lin Baohe’s tea, now found himself in a difficult position. He was afraid to pass it over in case the other person downed it again, but it seemed impolite not to offer it. Unsure of what to do, he turned expectantly to his younger brother, his look conveying, "This is your father-in-law, it’s your call!"

"Dad, have a smoke." Zhou Mikang pulled out the good cigarettes in front of Old Master Zhou, and directly placed one in Lin Baohe’s mouth, then diligently lit it for him, intently watching as he did so, "Dad, try the smoke, is it smooth?"

Not just Zhou Jingping, even Old Master Zhou couldn’t stand watching this anymore.

In all his years, he hadn’t seen his grandson light a cigarette for him once. Incredible, his daughter-in-law hadn’t even entered the family, and here he was, arms twisted to who knows what country.

Old Master Zhou was upset but didn’t dare make any movement, afraid that if he protested, it might upset the marriage arrangement, and his daughter-in-law might blow the roof off!

As for Second Uncle Zhou and Zhou Xikang, at this point, they could only widen their eyes and open their mouths slightly, unsure what other expression could properly portray their feelings.

Especially Second Uncle Zhou, if not for a sliver of rationality, he would’ve slapped himself to test whether this was a dream or reality.

As for this nephew—who was the most capable and had the worst temper—he understood him too well. Forget catering to others, even getting him to say a few nice words was a feat! How else would his relationship with his elder brother have become so strained?

Glancing covertly at his beloved elder brother, his appearance as if about to snatch the cigarette from the other’s mouth and take a couple of puffs nearly had him laughing so hard he almost choked. Who could have imagined, the mighty military commander being jealous over his future in-law like this?

With everyone staring at him, Lin Baohe, not knowing what else to do, kept smoking. Before long, all that was left of the cigarette was the butt!

"Dad, how was it?" Zhou Mikang asked again.

Lin Baohe: "Mmm."

"Another one?"

"Okay!"

...

Old Madam Zhou suddenly frowned, "Why is it so smoky?"

Chuxia reflexively looked toward her dad, only to see Old Master Zhou, Old Dad Zhou, Second Uncle Zhou, along with Brother Zhou and Zhou Xikang, all intently watching her dad smoke!

"Dad..." Chuxia stepped forward and removed the cigarette from Lin Baohe’s mouth, "Smoke less, it’s bad for your health."

"Mmm." Lin Baohe sighed in relief. He didn’t want to smoke, really, but everyone was too enthusiastic. He felt it was rude to accept one person’s offer and refuse another’s, so he ended up smoking whatever was given to him. In truth, the cigarettes were tasteless; after smoking for so long, his mouth was numb but he wasn’t satisfied. Ah, the things wealthy people enjoy weren’t for him after all; his own tobacco was much better!

"Dad, have some water." Zhou Mikang hurriedly handed him the tea again.

Lin Baohe took the teacup, his expression one of wanting but hesitating to speak, then he looked toward his daughter for help.

Chuxia, examining the cigarette butts in the ashtray—six in total—knew from her last visit that the men of the Zhou family hardly smoked. They were okay with drinking, but cigarettes were almost just for show.

Seeing her daughter’s slightly furrowed brows, Lin Baohe quickly explained, "Xia, I didn’t want to smoke, it was just..." He was at a loss for how to continue, feeling that it would seem ungrateful if he said he was forced to smoke.

"Dad, try to smoke less in the future, it’s bad for your health." In the presence of outsiders, Chuxia, of course, wouldn’t let her own father be embarrassed. She was annoyed with Zhou Mikang—not him being dead—and just watching her dad smoke so much?

Feeling Chuxia’s displeased gaze, Zhou Mikang also felt a belly full of grievances with nowhere to vent. He knew he shouldn’t have let his father-in-law smoke so much, but every time his father-in-law finished a cigarette and he was pouring him water, someone else would hand over another cigarette and light it up. He couldn’t just snatch the cigarette from his father-in-law’s mouth and throw it away, right?

At the same time, he also couldn’t scold those who offered the cigarettes in front of his father-in-law...(To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation.)