20 years of restarting life

Chapter 3482 The Morning Glow Outside the Window

Humans are such creatures that once they have a goal and motivation, they can immediately become invigorated instead of continuing to feel lost and listless.

Zhao Chang'an no longer felt hungry. He put aside all thoughts of mutton soup and hot dry noodles, restarted the car, turned it around, and headed south.

The innermost one even unconsciously hummed a little tune, 'How many good sisters do you have? Why does every sister marry tears? —'

The story of Coolidge visiting the farm came to mind, which led to an interesting concept: the Coolidge effect.

It seems I'm just an ordinary person, unable to escape this aspect of human nature.

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Hu Qian was pleasantly surprised to learn yesterday afternoon that Zhao Chang'an had returned. She excitedly shared the good news with her husband and in-laws, but they responded with utter indifference.

My father-in-law said he already knew about this, but what does it have to do with our family?
My mother-in-law even said that when we visited his house last year for the New Year, he said he had something to do and wouldn't stay for a meal, and he didn't have time to come home for the New Year. He just picked out two random things from the house and gave them to us. Who does he think he is?
His family looks down on our family. They feel that since they did us a little favor back then, we should be treated like dogs by them!
Back then, my mom took me to someone's house to express our gratitude. My mom and I knelt down, but he just stood there and didn't even try to pull my mom up.

Xiao Zhou said something even harsher: "He wants to be Zhou Zhou's godfather? Does he deserve it? He has money, that's his money. Our family doesn't need a single penny from him!"

Hu Qian was shocked, feeling as if her integrity had been shattered.

Because her parents-in-law were busy opening their shop the next day, Hu Qian thought about how her parents-in-law, including Xiao Zhou, had become increasingly impatient with her since Zhou Zhou was born, a girl. She couldn't help but advise Xiao Zhou to have a conscience.

As a result, Xiao Zhou suddenly stood up and loudly questioned Hu Qian: "Conscience? What's a conscience worth! You talk about conscience, but how did your family get that two-story house? Don't think that my parents and I are stupid and don't know. My family feeds you, and you still steal money to give to your family. From now on, you don't need to collect money in the shop anymore. I'll collect it myself! I don't expect you to be of any use at home, and you don't need to cause trouble at the shop. What else can you do besides collect money and flirt with men? What else can you do? At home, you just need to cook dinner, wash clothes, and mop the floor every day. Don't say you can't do it. A rural woman, do you really think that just because you've stayed in the city for a few years, you've become a city person and can't do anything!"

This led to a heated argument, and Hu Qian, unable to contain her anger, took her daughter and returned to her parents' home.

But when she returned, her parents and brother and sister-in-law, without asking any questions, all complained that Hu Qian was being unreasonable, saying that it was wrong to quarrel with her husband during the New Year, and that harmony in the family was essential for everything.

Enraged, Hu Qian retorted, "It's because I've been sending money home these past few years that his family of three is arguing with me. If we really wanted harmony in the family, Xiao Zhou would be coming to ask you for money! And he won't let me collect money in the shop anymore. Don't even think about me squeezing money out of the shop for you every few days!"

His parents and brother and sister-in-law were terrified.

In fact, Hu Qian is a very smart woman. Back then, she was trapped in this remote mountain village. She didn't finish junior high school and started helping with chores at home, such as cooking, cleaning pig feed, and herding cattle. Then, she was unknowingly chosen by Xiao Zhou's parents to be their daughter-in-law.

According to what Xiao Zhou's father said in his drunken state while drinking with the commune director, the young girl is pretty and, if she dresses up, she won't embarrass the Zhou family. Moreover, she's big-bellied and can give birth to sons.

Hu Qian sat up in bed, thinking about these words. She couldn't help but reach out and touch herself. To say she was big wasn't an exaggeratedly big one, but given her slender waist, thin arms and legs, and petite frame, her proportions were still considered large.

However, he did not give birth to a son for the Zhou family, so he was disliked.

Actually, when she was arguing with her husband yesterday, she suddenly understood why her mother-in-law had specifically hired two female waitresses like that.

The mother-in-law's explanation is that she's hardworking, of average appearance, and not very cunning. Once she gets a little familiar with city life, she complains about the shop being too tiring and the pay too low, and wants to leave. Now, family planning is very strict; the Zhou family has completely given up on the idea of ​​Hu Qian getting pregnant with a second child. The local community committee is also constantly urging her to get an IUD, and their pressure is getting increasingly harsh.

So, for the Zhou family, if they still want to have a son to carry on the family line, the most realistic way is to divorce and leave with their daughter, while Xiao Zhou marries a young woman who has never had children.

Thinking of this, Hu Qian was already heartbroken. She had never loved Xiao Zhou, just as Xiao Zhou had never loved her.

Xiao Zhou's behavior stemmed from a male animal's possessive instinct to protect its property, fearing that other stray dogs might take advantage of the situation.

Mr. and Mrs. Zhou were only thinking about having a grandson, so they always listened to her every word.

Now that the truth has been revealed, Hu Qian felt a chill run through her heart.

Last night, Hu Qian fell asleep with tears in her eyes. It wasn't because of her daughter; she really wanted to take her ID card, buy a train ticket, and fly far away.

As for where to go, she wanted to go to Lin'an.

Because there is the White Snake Lady, the Broken Bridge, Xu Xian, and those beautiful encounters and romances.

She had given all her money to her family, and now she only had a few hundred yuan left. She also had to take care of a daughter who was less than a year old. The world was vast, but where could she go?
However, Zhao Chang'an's phone call this morning pulled her out of all her unpleasant negative emotions. Thinking that Zhao Chang'an was coming over, she realized that at this time, besides herself and her daughter, the only other people at home were her two large wolfhounds.

This was only the second time she and Zhao Chang'an had met alone since they had known each other for so long.

The last time was when Zhao Chang'an came to her house at night. At that time, the old man, the little bastard, and the old hag were all not at home.

She felt so relaxed and happy during that half hour, so much so that for nearly a year now, Hu Qian has often recalled that precious half hour, fragment by fragment, frame by frame, her heart filled with sweetness.

In particular, she suddenly mustered up her courage and, as if possessed, said, "Could you listen to his (her) heartbeat?"

Those ten-odd seconds will be etched in Hu Qian's memory for a lifetime.

"My darling daughter, your dad's here to see us! Hehe, hehe~"

Hu Qian felt as if a tree full of happy little birds was hiding in her heart. She happily teased her daughter, making her daughter giggle.

At this moment, Hu Qian seemed to have returned to her eighteen-year-old self, with the joy and sentiments of a young girl. She had forgotten everything else in her mind, only remembering that Zhao Chang'an was coming to see her and her daughter.

In this secluded courtyard halfway up the mountain, she and her daughter, Zhao Chang'an, were isolated from the corrupt and materialistic world, like a carefree and joyful Eden.

At this moment, Hu Qian suddenly noticed a plate of three bright red apples in the bedroom. She was stunned for a moment, and her pretty face slowly flushed red, just like the color of the morning glow outside the window.