Transmigration: On the Gossip Front
Chapter 267 True or False First Love 67_1

Chapter 267: Chapter 267 True or False First Love 67_1

Whether to return home for the New Year’s celebration, upon Zhou Dajiang’s second visit, Zhang Shifen did not invite him to stay for a meal.

"Are you having a gathering at your mom’s place for lunch?" She was somewhat aware of Zhou Yong’s delivery of New Year’s goods to the Luo family.

Zhang Shifen didn’t want to bring up her stepson—knowing full well the nature of the Luo family, she had thought he wouldn’t be as naive as before.

But to her surprise, this guy, after being taken advantage of and looked down upon, seemed to have forgotten all about it and kept on flattering the Luo family.

"Yes, that’s the plan," Zhou Dajiang confirmed it was still the same as before.

"Alright, Xiao Xuan and I will come over for lunch, and I’ll bring a pound of meat with me."

"Isn’t Xiao Na going?" Zhou Dajiang had a hunch that Zhou Lina was unlikely to attend, but he felt obliged to ask.

"Right, she’s not going. We’ll have lunch, and then we won’t be joining you for dinner. It’d be very lonely for Xiao Na to celebrate the New Year by herself."

Not joining for dinner? By tradition, lunch would be at Zhou Dahai’s place, then they would return to their own home for the evening meal.

"Then I’ll be spending New Year’s alone..." Zhou Dajiang said dejectedly.

Spend New Year’s alone? Zhou Lina and the other two looked up at him.

"Isn’t big brother keeping you company?" Zhou Xuan was quite surprised.

Zhou Lina also looked at Zhou Dajiang in surprise—was he putting on an act of being pitiful, or was he genuinely that pitiful?

Zhou Dajiang, feeling helpless, mentioned Zhou Yong’s claim of not having money for the New Year’s celebration, to which Zhang Shifen and the others just responded dismissively.

"To actually say there’s no money for the New Year’s, asking me to contribute a hundred."

"I really don’t get it, just for celebrating New Year’s, they want a hundred."

"Now, after deducting expenses, I might not even save up a hundred in a year," Zhou Dajiang was increasingly nostalgic for the past.

Back then, there was at least someone to cook, someone to wash clothes and clean the house, someone to consult when there were issues.

Zhang Shifen kept silent, knowing that their relationship was beyond the possibility of returning to how it used to be.

"We used to pay for our own expenses," Zhang Shifen said indifferently.

He used to take advantage of every opportunity, and now he wants to continue taking advantage? she thought.

What else could Zhou Dajiang say, "My parents, after the New Year’s, they’re going to live with my brother."

Zhang Shifen responded, "I thought Zhou Hong hadn’t gotten his house back."

"No choice, living there was unpleasant," Zhou Dajiang sighed lightly, thinking of the drama at Zhou Dahai’s house.

Through the grapevine, Zhang Shifen knew how lively and chaotic it was for an entire family to live under one roof.

"Living separately is better, one can be their own master," Zhang Shifen murmured, "I think my life now is pretty good."

But my life isn’t good, Zhou Dajiang cried inwardly, knowing full well that Zhang Shifen had been living quite well since she moved out.

"By the way, I’ll come a bit earlier that day, you find all the clothes at home that need mending for me."

Zhang Shifen, during her infrequent visits, would help mend clothes, but she didn’t involve herself in much else.

That really touched Zhou Dajiang, "Okay, also, by the way, do you have enough cloth coupons on your side?"

Cloth coupons? "They’re alright, what about them?" Relying solely on issued coupons was truly not enough; they always had to buy through connections, like some defective cloth.

Zhou Dajiang, recalling what Zhou Yong had mentioned, hesitated before speaking, "It’s just that Xiao Yong’s wife is having a baby, maybe for diapers?"

This meant they were running out of fabric. Initially, Zhang Shifen thought maybe Zhou Dajiang wanted to make clothes for Zhou Xuan?

Once again, it became clear that she shouldn’t expect Zhou Dajiang to remember he had a younger son, Zhou Xuan.

Zhang Shifen turned to look at Zhou Xuan and noticed that he had already picked up a book and started reading, so she understood that unlike her, who still held some hope, Zhou Xuan had completely given up any expectation.

"For the diapers, I think you could ask your older brother. Zhou Hong’s family just had three children; I’m sure they must have plenty of diapers."

After all, Zhang Shifen never really intended to help out. It was Zhou Dajiang’s grandson, so it was naturally his concern.

Asking Zhou Hong and his wife was out of the question for Zhou Dajiang, remembering how Luo Lili had argued countless times with Zhou Hong’s wife. The thought of asking them for help wasn’t worth considering.

Zhou Dajiang didn’t want Zhang Shifen to have a laugh at his expense, and she pretended to be oblivious to the matter, "Old diapers will do just fine."

"Otherwise, if we used new fabric, there’s no telling how many cloth coupons we’d need."

"I remember you used to buy flawed material," Zhou Dajiang said helplessly, having to speak up himself.

"Do you think flawed material is available every time?"

"Even if it is, who am I to get my hands on it?" Even flawed material was as sought-after as it could get.

"That, that..." Zhou Dajiang knew that Zhang Shifen was telling the hard truth, "But it’s not like you’re the only one with a wide network, knowing many people."

"Is that the reason why I should help?" Zhang Shifen also got angry, "I’m telling you, Zhou Dajiang, don’t come to me with your family’s mess."

"I certainly don’t have the time to bother."

"If your family can solve it, then solve it yourselves."

"If you can’t, that’s your fate."

"Can’t even shoulder the responsibility of providing for the family, and yet you’re thinking about new diapers."

"Are you naive, or just unwilling to think more? That’s your problem."

"I’m not foolish enough to use flawed material for diapers, treating your grandson like he’s some precious commodity."

"Who knows, it might just be for your dear daughter-in-law to support her own family."

"If you two father and son want to suck up to Luo Lili, leave me out of it."

Zhang Shifen simply didn’t believe that Luo Lili was considering the baby in her belly—chances were high that she was thinking of her own sister.

Her sister had taken over her job, and although it was temporary work, it was still a job; the Luo Family was counting on finding a son-in-law better than Zhou Yong.

If possible, they were hoping for someone more generous than Zhou Yong, with better family conditions, especially since Luo Lili’s sister was prettier than she was.

But the impression everyone had of the Luo Family wasn’t good, another temporary worker, a household with heavy burdens.

Luo Lili remembered how she had won over Zhou Yong by wearing her cousin’s new clothes, and despite Zhou Dajiang’s objections, she ended up marrying him.

The Luo Family intended to continue down this path, hoping to successfully deceive someone.

Even though the Luo family now had an additional five yuan of income each month, the couple still didn’t want to spend it, saving up for their future daughter-in-law.

As for how to dress up the sister, that was Luo Lili’s affair—did Luo Lili and her husband have much money?

Of course not, so they figured they’d save where they could and set their sights on Zhang Shifen.

"It’s not enough to have everyone’s eyes on you all the time; now they’ve set their sights on me too."

"Right, Zhou Dajiang, Luo Lili’s child is your grandchild, regardless of whether it’s a boy or a girl, and it has nothing to do with me."

"Don’t expect me to give anything for the child’s New Year’s money."

"Think about when he got married—I even gave a wedding gift, and I didn’t even get to eat a single bite of the food."

Some experiences really only need to happen once, and as for the rest, forget it.