Chapter 161: Chapter 161: Two Decisions
Zhou Anran scanned her children’s reaction, especially Xiao Qingya who was nestled in Xiao Yuxi’s embrace.
They all froze, eyes full of questions as they stared at her.
"Mother, why?" Xiao Fenghao asked the question in everyone’s hearts.
Zhou Anran waited for a while and was relieved when she didn’t hear her youngest daughter’s inner thoughts. She didn’t want her children to know about their father’s whereabouts yet.
She wasn’t really mentally prepared to explain to them yet.
"The situation in the county is better," she began. "We have gathered enough money to buy a house there."
Zhou Wenzhi immediately interjected them. "What house do you need to buy? Just live with us. Do you think it’s not quiet enough with just Shu’er and Tianliang with me?"
He added. "It’s also good that you decided to move to the county. Use your money to buy more fields instead."
With their ability to produce more high-quality rice seeds, it wouldn’t be long before they earn back the money if they really buy more fields.
Xiao Yuxi suddenly opened her mouth and asked in a joking tone. "Are you really alright with us living with you, Grandfather? If we are noisy, wouldn’t you kick us out?"
Xiao Fenghao rolled his eyes. "If you are noisy, you can go and sleep with the chickens. They are just as noisy as you."
"Second Brother, you are the one who is noisy!" She retorted angrily. "And you can sleep with the oxen. No one can tell the difference between you and them either."
The siblings began to argue a little bit before Zhou Wenzhi eased the atmosphere between them. He smiled, and the gloom that had occupied his heart since the past few days faded away.
"Ran’er, look, the children are already excited about living in the house together." He turned to his daughter. "What do you think?"
Zhou Anran had a troubled look on her face. She actually was still worried Chen Huayun would someday also live in the Zhou family’s old house.
Although it was unlikely, it didn’t mean there was no chance of it happening. After all, Zhou Wenzhi and Chen Huayun were still a married couple.
Zhou Shuran who was sitting beside her suddenly took her hand, her eyes hopeful. Zhou Anran bit her lip, and fell into a deep thought.
She considered the pros and cons for a while, and eventually she nodded. Anyway, if Chen Huayun or Liu Hua were to move in someday, she could still buy a house once their fields gained more harvest.
"Great, great!" Zhou Wenzhi smiled.
Zhou Anran once again heaved a sigh of relief. Fortunately, her children didn’t show any aversion to her decision. Now, they just needed to sell to find buyers for the house and fields.
"Elder Sister, when are you starting to move to the house? I want to help you transfer your things." Zhou Shuran’s eyes sparkled.
Helpless, Zhou Anran could only answer, "Once we settle the matter here, we will start moving the things to the county."
"Mother, we can start by moving the important items first..."
The family discussed their plan; from the topic about the day they would start transferring things to a topic about available fields they could buy in the county.
Zhou Wenzhi stared at his excited descendants and decided not to ruin the atmosphere with the decision he was going to announce.
However...
Even without him ruining the atmosphere, someone else would.
All of a sudden, they heard a familiar shrill voice coming from the front door.
Chen Huayun’s voice was incredibly loud as she knocked on their door with such force as though she wanted to smash it open. "Anran, open the door!"
"We need to talk!" She continued to slam her hands on the door.
Zhou Anran got up from her seat, and when she saw her father and sister were also about to follow, she shook her head. "Father, Shu’er, stay here for a while. I will see what Mother needs."
She gave a look to her children before she walked quickly toward the front door. Xiao Jingran followed after her.
Meanwhile, Xiao Qingya sent the kitten to protect her mother, worried that the mad Chen Huayun would do something to her.
"Mother," Zhou Anran said after she opened the door. She glanced at her eldest son but didn’t say anything.
Chen Huayun put her hands on her hips. "Where is your older brother? What have you done to him?"
"Grandmother hasn’t heard about what happened to Uncle?" Xiao Jingran lifted his eyebrows.
She narrowed her eyes on him, his words have made her unhappy. Obviously, she already knew what had happened, but...
"When the adults are speaking, a young one like you shouldn’t interrupt." She scolded. "Anran, teach your son some manners later. He has no regard for his own grandmother at all."
Zhou Anran pursed her lips and said with certainty. "Mother, you already know what happened to Elder Brother."
Her expression hardened as she continued. "There is no need to comment on the way I taught Jing’er if your son even tried to kill his own niece and nephew."
"Y-you..." Chen Huayun’s finger trembled as she pointed at Zhou Anran. Her angry face was as red as a boiled shrimp. "You unfilial thing! I raised you and this is how you talk to your mother?!"
Zhou Anran stayed silent.
Chen Huayun took a deep breath, trying to control the anger that was affecting the way she tried to speak. "Release your elder brother at once! Go to the yamen and tell them to release him!"
"Don’t you feel pity for your elder brother’s family?! You should have felt how hard it’s like from your first hand experience after you lost your husband!" Chen Huayun took a deep breath, her scolding continued. "You are simply too heartless!"
Zhou Anran simply didn’t want to listen anymore. She was about to leave this village and no longer wanted to care about her useless reputation. "Mother, have you finished talking?"
All of a sudden, Chen Huayun’s anger reached its peak. She took a few steps forward and her hand flew to Zhou Anran’s face.
Chen Huayun failed to slap her.
Someone else had grabbed her hand first.
Originally, she thought it was Xiao Jingran, but... to her horror, she saw the dark expression on her husband’s face instead.
"Chen Huayun, I am going to divorce you!"
