Transmigration: On the Gossip Front
Chapter 206 True or False First Love 6_1

Chapter 206: Chapter 206 True or False First Love 6_1

The neighbor who was cooking in the hallway overheard Zhou Yong’s outburst and thought Zhang Shifen was picking on him.

To their surprise, they ended up hearing such explosive news. They had been skeptical at first.

But after waiting for a long time and not hearing Zhou Dajiang speak up to defend himself, they realized Zhang Shifen was telling the truth.

Zhou Dajiang was already in a foul mood, and he hadn’t expected to come home to find a serious issue waiting for him to handle.

He was really infuriated. Zhang Shifen let the cat out of the bag, and Zhou Yong as well. It was just a meal of noodles, why did he have to throw a fit?

"Let’s go back and talk about it," said Zhou Dajiang, pulling Zhang Shifen and signaling her to go back inside.

Zhang Shifen shook him off, "What’s there to talk about back home? This needs to be discussed in front of everyone."

"I work at the labor union. What would people think of me if this got out?"

"If I, as a stepmother, am accused of bullying, how can I carry on with my work?"

"In the middle of summer, of course we keep it simple."

Zhang Shifen scoffed, "Fine, since Zhou Yong has such a big problem with it, let’s eat separately."

"To avoid the complaints about not having a hot meal to eat after a day’s work."

With a furious look at Zhou Dajiang, Zhang Shifen said, "Xiao Na has just graduated from high school, and I plan to pass my job on to her."

"She’ll have a job and be able to live on her own."

Zhou Dajiang’s heart skipped a beat as he thought about the worst-case scenario. Once Zhou Lina moved into that apartment, would it still be available for Zhou Yong to use for his marriage?

"When Zhou Hong initially borrowed the apartment, he said it was just a loan, to be returned when the unit assigned him one or when Xiao Na needed it."

"It has been several years since Zhou Hong got his own place. It’s about time for him to return it," Zhang Shifen said with a serious look at Zhou Dajiang.

Zhou Dajiang’s lips quivered. That was indeed what Zhou Hong had said at the time of borrowing the apartment, and there was even a signed agreement with that stipulation noted on it.

Zhou Yong was stunned. He really hadn’t expected his usual temper tantrums to trigger such an enormous reaction.

To have to cook for himself, losing out on the independent marriage apartment; how did it come to this?

Zhou Yong didn’t dare look at Zhou Dajiang, even though he had already mentioned it to Zhou Hong, asking him to prepare to move out. But it wasn’t supposed to be this sudden.

And after what Zhang Shifen had said, leaving Zhou Dajiang without any respect, could he still expect to get money from the old patriarch?

"And about the apartment, I’ve already been to the steel factory’s logistics department today to change the homeowner’s name from Xiao Na’s father to her own."

It had not occurred to Zhang Shifen at first; it was her friend who reminded her that transferring the apartment ownership was the only way to ensure Zhou Dajiang’s family couldn’t covet it.

What? Zhou Dajiang was stunned. "Such a major decision as transferring the apartment ownership, and you, you didn’t even consult me?"

Zhou Lina hadn’t said a word. She had intended to speak up, but Zhang Shifen had stopped her, confident she could handle the situation.

Even knowing their schemes, the sight of Zhou Dajiang acting so self-righteously made her regret why she ever chose him in the first place.

"Do I need to consult you about this?" Zhang Shifen looked surprised. "The apartment was assigned to Xiao Na’s father by the steel factory."

"You have forgotten the agreement we signed when we got married," Zhang Shifen said, grateful for having heeded her friend’s advice to mark down everything that should be noted.

At that time, she hadn’t thought they would come to this point, but now she was thankful she had listened to her friend’s counsel.

An agreement? Zhou Dajiang had truly forgotten about that. He figured since they had children together and had spent more time with each other than they had with their respective first loves, there was no need to fuss over such things.

The result was unexpected: she actually brought up the matter. Zhou Dajiang wanted to stop it, but how could Zhang Shifen give him the chance?

"You talk to your nephew yourself."

"We should be able to move out by the middle of next month, right? His apartment has been vacant anyway." Zhang Shifen knew that after Zhou Hong got the apartment, he let a colleague live there.

"We can take advantage of this half month to clean up the place. That should be enough time."

She didn’t care about the details; as long as Zhou Hong said the apartment was available, then it was available.

Zhou Dajiang’s vision went dark at the prospect of claiming the apartment by mid-next month; Zhang Shifen might be unaware, but he knew that the apartment had always been rented out.

Given only half a month, it was not just about cleaning the place up, he didn’t even know if the current tenants would be willing to vacate the apartment.

Even if they got the apartment back, wouldn’t it need some repairs and refurbishment? That would take time.

He wanted to ask for a delay, but seeing Zhang Shifen’s cheerful expression, he panicked.

His instincts told him that maybe Zhang Shifen had known about it all along, she just hadn’t broached the subject.

"Fine, I’ll talk to Zhou Hong." Zhou Dajiang felt like crying. However, no matter what, he could only notify Zhou Hong.

Zhou Yong watched Zhou Dajiang descend the stairs, wondering what he should do.

Zhang Shifen prepared the noodles and noticed the motionless Zhou Yong, "Xiao Yong, if you don’t like noodles, we also don’t have many left. What do you think?"

Hmph, he thinks he can eat for free without contributing any money? She wouldn’t indulge them, father and son.

Zhou Yong glanced at the freshly cooked noodles and rubbed his protesting stomach. He initially wanted to say he wasn’t opposed to eating noodles.

But then Zhang Shifen declared there wasn’t a share for him. How could the proud Zhou Yong bear this? "I won’t eat. I’ll go to my uncle’s."

Hmph, she’s not the only one who can cook. He has places to eat; there’s no need to put up with Zhang Shifen and her family’s faces at mealtime.

With a huff, Zhou Yong turned and headed downstairs, his mood foul. He resolved that upon reaching his uncle’s house, he would complain and tattle. He couldn’t believe that no one would give Zhang Shifen a lesson or two.

Watching the vexed Zhou Yong leave, Zhang Shifen knew he was off to seek support from his so-called backers.

What a fool, Zhang Shifen scoffed inwardly. She wouldn’t have been intimidated by Zhou Dajiang, let alone by others.

Zhou Xuan could disregard Zhou Yong’s feelings; their brotherly relationship was mediocre at best.

But Zhou Dajiang was his father; he couldn’t just ignore him.

Zhou Lina didn’t care one bit about how unhappy Zhou Dajiang and his son were. She was instead preoccupied with how to arrange the apartment.

Even though the original host’s memories held a favorable view of Zhou Hong’s family, Zhou Lina didn’t think they were all that great.

Did he look after her while living in her apartment? Not at all.

When Zhang Shifen and her son were having a hard time, Zhou Hong’s family didn’t even help by saying a word in their defense.

Maybe for the sake of appearance, he would tidy up a bit when returning the apartment. But she shouldn’t expect too much.

Zhang Shifen, seeing Zhou Xuan’s restlessness, said, "Eat your meal."

"After your sister moves over there, you should move too."

"There are two desks; you and your sister can each have one." Zhang Shifen knew that after today’s confrontation, life in this home wouldn’t be peaceful. The best solution was to have Zhou Xuan move to Zhou Lina’s, to spare him from feeling torn.