Zhang Xiaoe felt that this was what a family was like.
When my father-in-law was holding a funeral for my husband, my grandmother didn't show up at all, and kept saying, "Adopted sons cannot be buried in the family tomb."
Grandma Zhou is so nice, she came specially to help.
It took nearly a thousand tiles to complete the work.
The old lady didn't stop the whole time, she kept talking and laughing with them, and she was very talkative.
Zhao Zheng brought some hot water and said, "Auntie, wash your hands."
Yang Zhaodi made a bowl of sugar water and said, "Grandma Zhou, have some tea."
"Okay, okay." The old lady smiled. After washing her hands, she took the bowl and took a sip. "Oh, it's still sugar water!"
"My father-in-law specifically instructed me to do this." Yang Zhaodi said.
The old lady looked at Zhao Zheng and nodded with satisfaction. Sugar was a precious thing. Her family had it, but that didn't mean everyone else had it. The fact that Zhao Zheng was willing to make tea for her showed that he was a generous person.
Zhang Xiao'e took her hand and said, "Grandma Zhou, my father-in-law asked you to stay at my house for dinner tonight!"
The old lady didn't act pretentiously. "Okay, I'll light the fire!"
Different from the pretending decency of the Zhao family's old lady, the Zhou family's old lady was truly calm and composed. Even though she was dressed very simply, she was very generous in both her actions and words.
If there is such a sensible old man at home, Zhao Zheng would be very happy to support him.
The dinner was quite sumptuous, with white rice, scrambled eggs with pickles, and the meat that Zhao Zheng brought home from Jinji Mountain yesterday.
Two dishes, not many, but the portion is sufficient.
The old lady was invited to sit on the warm kang. She exclaimed in surprise, "It's so warm! I didn't expect that the earthen stove can not only cook but also warm the bed!"
"My father-in-law made it." Zhang Xiaoe said proudly.
Zhao Zheng smiled and said, "Zhao Di, go to the cellar and take out the canned persimmons from the ceramic jar and try them!"
"I'll go, let me go!" Zhang Xiao'e had been craving canned persimmons for a long time, and was afraid that her sister-in-law would snatch this good job from her.
Yang Zhaodi smiled indulgently, "Okay, I won't fight with you!"
Mrs. Zhou asked, "What are canned persimmons?"
"You'll know in a moment." Zhao Zheng smiled mysteriously.
Soon, Zhang Xiao'e took out a large bowl of canned persimmons and placed it on the low table. "Father-in-law, the water in this can is thick!"
Zhao Zheng picked up the spoon and scooped up some food. "It's time to eat."
He first served a bowl to the old lady of the Zhou family, then served a bowl to Yang Zhaodi and Zhang Xiaoe, and finally served himself, "Auntie, please try it!"
Mrs. Zhou had eaten persimmons before, but she had never eaten persimmons like this. She picked up a wooden spoon and scooped some into her mouth. Her eyes immediately lit up, "Delicious!"
Zhao Zheng smiled and urged his daughter-in-law, "Eat quickly, but don't eat too much. One bowl a day at most. Eating too much of this stuff will easily give you a stomachache!"
The old lady nodded and said, "Your father-in-law is right. Persimmons are a treasure for the poor. In the past, during famines, we relied on persimmons to get through the hard times. They are delicious, but you can't eat too much!"
The two women held the bowls and drank the canned juice, with satisfaction on their faces.
"This canned persimmon is so delicious, ten times better than persimmon cake!" said Zhang Xiaoe.
Zhao Zheng smiled and shook his head. He could only say that the people of Dakang were easily satisfied. If this thing were put into modern times, no one would be willing to eat it.
He picked up a few pieces of meat for the old lady and said, "Auntie, you must be hungry. Eat!"
The old lady was very emotional. There was rice, eggs, and big pieces of fat meat. It seemed that Zhao Zheng's family had more food than hers.
And this can of persimmons reminded her of the time a few days ago when the Wang family came to cause trouble.
This child is indeed very honest, but he is not stupid.
Make money quietly and don't show it off. This is how you should live.
Although she didn't know where Zhao Zheng's rice and meat came from, she had no intention of asking. In her eyes, this was a sign of ability.
"Thanks to you, I can eat meat again." The old lady laughed. "If you tell others about it, I don't know how many people will envy me to death!"
"I wouldn't say I eat meat every day, but every now and then is no problem," Zhao Zheng said. "I found a job in the countryside, collecting hides for a big merchant in the city. I can earn some money, so I asked him to bring me some meat and rice when he went to the countryside. I can't handle just rice bran porridge and wild vegetable cakes."
The old lady suddenly realized, "So that's how it is!"
However, when she thought about how capable Zhao Zheng was, she began to hesitate.
If Zhao Zheng's family is in trouble, she will help them and they will have someone to rely on in the future.
But now, even without me, the Zhao family is doing well, and I am the one who benefits from it.
"Come on, pick up your chopsticks!" Zhao Zheng said to the two women, and started to eat with relish. After he reminded her several times, Yang Zhaodi was willing to add oil. Zhao Zheng ate with his mouth full of oil, and he felt so happy.
The result was that all four of them ate too much.
Zhao Zheng was chatting with the old lady on the kang while the two women were cleaning up the dishes.
"San'er, I didn't expect you to be so smart. In that case, I'm relieved!" said the old lady of the Zhou family.
Zhao Zheng understood her meaning immediately and said, "I was forced to do this. If I didn't do this, I wouldn't be able to support this family, and outsiders would bully me. I didn't mean to deceive you."
"No, you're right. Life is tough these days. If you're too rich, there will be people who will be jealous."
The old lady of the Zhou family sighed, "You have achieved both life behind closed doors and life with open doors. I am really envious of your mother for giving birth to such a good son!"
Does the old lady feel that her family is doing too well and that she can't help much, so she wants to give up?
Zhao Zheng hurriedly said, "Auntie, if you don't mind, just treat me as your son. I will take care of you in your old age. Although I, Zhao San, don't have much ability, I still say that as long as I have a bite to eat, you will have a bite to eat, and as long as I have a piece of clothing, you won't be cold."
"I do want to, but you have elderly parents and young children to take care of, so I won't cause you any trouble." The old lady of the Zhou family said listlessly.
"An old man in the family is like a treasure. How can this be a nuisance?" Zhao Zheng consoled him. "If you're willing, I'll take you as my godmother. You can consider me your house and land as my own, okay?"
The old lady of the Zhou family laughed and said, "If your picture is real, I'd be happy."
Zhao Zheng got off the kang and knelt down without saying a word. "I don't want anything else, I just want you to speak up for me and really think of me."
"My mother gave birth to me and raised me. Even if she is not a good person, as her son, I cannot say that she is not a good person. This is what I was born with. I have no choice."
"But I chose my godparents myself. The old lady is both kind and sensible. I respect her from the bottom of my heart. My son said before he died that Grandma Zhou was a very good person. I wish she was my grandma."
"My son is gone now, and as his father it is my duty to fulfill his wish. Please don't despise me, Auntie!"
Upon hearing this, the old lady of the Zhou family burst into tears.
She knew that these were all Zhao Zheng's excuses. The child was honest and only cared about the good things about others.
She was deeply moved by these sincere words.
"My son, hurry up and get up. I recognize you as my son!"