Transmigration: On the Gossip Front
Chapter 204 True or False First Love 4_1

Chapter 204: Chapter 204 True or False First Love 4_1

Zhou Juan finally calmed down after a long while when she got home.

She was fuming about not completing the task even after going out today.

There really wasn’t much time left for her, and if Zhou Lina didn’t register to become an educated youth, even if Zhang Shifen’s application was approved, it wouldn’t be for her.

If she didn’t get a job, she could only go to become an educated youth, but there was still one chance.

That was if Zheng Weijian’s family got him a job, she could stay in the city by marrying him.

But even this way was risky because, no matter how much the Zheng Family Couple doted on Zheng Weijian, they had many grievances against her.

They felt she couldn’t support Zheng Weijian and was just a burden.

She admitted there was nothing wrong with that statement. Did she have to grovel and coax Zheng Weijian like Zhou Lina did?

Didn’t she wish to be pampered and made happy by someone? But she simply didn’t have the means, especially if she didn’t coax Zheng Weijian, could he like her?

Could she witness Zhou Lina looking embarrassed yet having no choice but to ask for her help?

No, no matter what, she had to stay in the city and couldn’t go to the countryside to become an educated youth.

Zhou Juan stood at the window, staring down at the building below while thinking about how to deceive her.

As she waited and waited, Zhou Lina didn’t appear, and a thought suddenly flashed through Zhou Juan’s mind—could she have gone to see Zhang Shifen?

Even though she had discussed this with Zhou Dajiang and he agreed, it was still something that couldn’t be openly acknowledged.

If it ever came to light, not to mention Zhou Dajiang’s denials, even Zhou Dahai and his wife wouldn’t acknowledge it.

Zhou Juan took a deep breath, telling herself not to worry, over and over. Maybe Zhou Lina had gone to see Zheng Weijian, which was also quite likely.

Hadn’t she often done this before? At this thought, Zhou Juan felt much better.

Wait, Zhou Juan noticed that Zhou Lina was coming back empty-handed, without the household registration booklet.

How could she be without the household registration booklet, such an important item not brought back?

Impossible, how could she register to become an educated youth if it was lost?

If Zhang Shifen had even slightly discouraged her, and her application was approved, wouldn’t Zhou Lina be the one to get the job?

After planning for so long, was Zhou Lina going to reap the benefits in the end?

No, absolutely not, Zhou Juan’s expression turned extremely displeased.

No matter what, she couldn’t just let this go; she had to ask and get it clear.

Standing at the door and seeing Zhou Lina’s figure, "Xiao Na, are you back home?"

Zhou Lina hummed a response, "I’m back, went to see my mom and gave her the household registration booklet."

"No more talking, it’s so hot outside, I feel all sticky." Knowing why she was nervous.

It wasn’t a secret anyway, and by saying it, she could make her even more worried, instead of holding onto false hopes.

What? This fool actually gave the household registration booklet to Zhang Shifen, Zhou Juan’s expression changed drastically.

"Why would you give the household registration booklet to your mom, you’re not supposed to—" Zhou Juan was frantic.

"What’s wrong with me?" On the way home, she had thought for a long time, realizing that besides the Zhou Family, outsiders didn’t know she was going to become an educated youth.

"There’s no reason for the household registration book to be with me," Zhou Lina smiled at Zhou Juan, "I’m tired from going out, I need to rest."

Zhou Juan wanted to keep talking to Zhou Lina, to persuade her to think about Zheng Weijian, who was still waiting to go build the countryside with her.

But she turned around and went upstairs without the intention to continue the conversation.

Zhou Juan helplessly returned home, Old Madam Zhou hadn’t gone out, but she had overheard their conversation, "Did you give the household registration book to her mom?"

Zhou Juan pursed her lips and hummed an acknowledgment, knowing that nothing good would follow from Old Madam Zhou.

As expected, Old Madam Zhou began to lecture Zhou Juan on how she lacked brains and ability yet still tried to scheme against others.

Of course, this wasn’t the main point Old Madam Zhou wanted to make; what she wanted to say was, "Every individual should be responsible for their own actions."

Just as she thought, it worked this way: when there were benefits, the whole family would share them, such as when Yang Zhaodi had already mentioned to her, how much living expenses she should give to the family once she started working.

Now, discovering that the situation was grim, it suddenly became her own problem, despite the fact that grandparents, parents, and siblings were all relatives. Yet, compared to Zhou Lina, Zhang Shifen, and Zhou Xuan, she truly felt at a great disadvantage.

Zhou Juan sighed inwardly and started to ponder more pressing issues, such as the question of going to the countryside.

Now that they had graduated from high school, they could avoid registering, but the local authorities wouldn’t allow her to delay for long.

She did have a backup plan, which was to marry Zheng Weijian, but when he would get a job was an unknown.

Last time, there was a decent job opportunity, but the Zheng Family turned it down deeming the price too high.

They also tried to lower the price with the seller, but didn’t expect the job to be sold quickly to someone else.

There were other job offers after that; they were either too expensive, the jobs were deemed unrespectable, or they despised it was manual labor that was too tiring.

Given that job sellers were scarce, and the Zheng Family was so picky, finding work was a problem in itself.

Zhou Juan was genuinely worried she would be sent to the countryside before Zheng Weijian’s employment was settled.

Once she was in the countryside, and Zheng Weijian remained in town, would she still have a chance to marry him?

Zhou Juan knew that even if there was a chance, it would be extremely slim; the Zheng Family Couple wouldn’t grant her that opportunity.

Zhou Juan was full of worries, unsure about what to do next.

Zhou Lina, on the other hand, wasn’t so troubled. She entered her home and took a casual glance around the modest house, first seeing the living room, which was, in fact, partitioned from a bedroom on the south side.

Currently, Zhou Dajiang and his wife were living in the back, and one whole southern room was occupied by Zhou Yong, Zhou Lina, and Zhou Xuan.

Even though it was a large room, it was cramped with three beds and wardrobes.

They had placed two bunk beds facing each other; Zhou Yong slept on one, using the upper bunk for storage, while Zhou Lina slept on the upper bunk of the other, with Zhou Xuan beneath.

In between the two beds stood a desk, meant for doing homework. However, according to the original owner’s memory, even though Zhou Yong was a poor student and now already working so didn’t need it, neither Zhou Lina nor Zhou Xuan needed to use it as well.

Zhou Lina and Zhou Xuan did their homework at the dining table in the living room, amidst the hustle and bustle, which was hardly an ideal place for studying.

But it didn’t matter, "Just endure it for a few more days, we’ll move away from here soon."

Zhou Lina had made up her mind; once she moved out, she would definitely take Zhou Xuan with her. If she left the child here, he would surely be bullied by Zhou Yong.

Besides, if the two siblings moved away, Zhang Shifen would certainly worry and spend more time over there. How could she spend less time in the future?

As for Zhou Dajiang and his son, let them fend for themselves—no, they both earned salaries, so even if they didn’t eat at restaurants, at the very least, they could afford to eat in the factory canteen.

If they didn’t like the food at the canteen, they could have Zhou Yong get married to Luo Lili earlier. Then they would have someone to cook and take care of household chores, wouldn’t they?