A hundred flavors of life

Chapter 1236: Selfish to the core! (Please subscribe!)

Zhou Rong's decisive words made Zhou Zhigang, the old father, feel a little disappointed, and also made Zhou Bingyi, the eldest brother, feel surprised. It was as if they all met this daughter and sister for the first time.

This is completely different from the impression they have of Zhou Rong, who is smart, well-behaved, pretty and sweet-talking.

Zhou Rong also realized that her words were too sharp, but the words had already been spoken and it was difficult to take them back.

She looked at her father's slightly hunched back and her elder brother's complicated eyes, and her heart suddenly ached, but her stubbornness forced her to suppress her weak thoughts.

She bit her lower lip, took a deep breath, raised her face, her eyes were still stubborn, but her voice was a little lower:
"Dad, brother, I'm not ignorant, but I can't back down from this matter!"

"You don't know what kind of life I lived in Guizhou. I don't want to live that kind of life for even a day. Even if I go back to Jichun, what development can I have at my age? Should I live a mediocre life or be content to be a housewife raising children at home?"

Zhou Rong's tone became firm:

"No, that's not the life I, Zhou Rong, should live. I was admitted to Yan University and I want to go to college. This is the only way for me to change my destiny. I don't want to give up!"

The scene fell silent again. As if sensing the solemn atmosphere between the adults, the three children who were originally running around became quiet and well-behaved.

What Zhou Rong said is all right, but for whom is going to college not an opportunity to change their destiny? Moreover, she avoided talking about filial piety and taking care of children, which are the obligations that children and parents should fulfill!
Zhou Bingyi sighed: "Or I..."

Before he finished speaking, Hao Dongmei rushed to say:
"Dad, Mom, my parents have settled the issue and are about to return to Jilin Province to work. They have a very good impression of Bingyi and think he is very capable. They want to help Bingyi avoid detours in his career. But a good iron must be made with its own strength. If Bingyi does not go to university for further studies, his future achievements may be limited. My father often said that the current cadre team needs fresh blood with knowledge and professionalism."

At this point, Hao Dongmei suddenly realized that her words were a little inappropriate, and quickly added:
"Of course, I'm not saying that Zhou Rong shouldn't go to college. It's just that Bingyi is the eldest son and has accumulated a lot of experience at the grassroots level. If he can seize this opportunity."

"I mean, let's discuss it and see if there is a better way!"

Li Suhua suddenly said:

"Oh, you guys just think too much. I can walk and leave my children alone, why do I need anyone to take care of me? Mom knows it's not easy for you to get into college, so just go and don't worry about me. I'm an adult now, why do you still need to worry about me?"

Although she said this, everyone knew that the old lady didn't want to embarrass her children.

Given Li Suhua's physical condition, high blood pressure, and a history of cerebral hemorrhage, even if she maintains good condition, she cannot live without someone around her, otherwise if there is any emergency, the consequences will be disastrous.

Hua Twelve quickly interrupted, "Mom, that's not what the doctor said. He said you need someone to look after you. Is your self-judgment better than the doctor's diagnosis?"

Hearing the teasing in his son's words, Li Suhua patted him and said, "Just be quiet for a while. Why are you everywhere?"

Zhou Rong looked at Zhou Zhigang and discussed with a concerned tone:

"Dad, you've been working in the Third Front for so many years. The conditions there are poor, and it's hard and tiring. Have you ever considered retiring early?"

Everyone understood what she meant. She wanted Zhou Zhigang to retire early and stay at home to take care of Li Suhua and their three children so that she could go to college without any burden.

Hua Twelve burst out laughing. Zhou Rong is really so shameless.

Zhou Rong glared at Hua Twelve fiercely, but the latter didn't care. He smiled and grabbed a handful of melon seeds from the plate on the table and started cracking them. Now was a good time to eat melons and watch the show!
Zhou Zhigang frowned and refused:
"No, we have a tight deadline and heavy tasks. There aren't many level 8 workers. If I leave again, I don't know if it will be approved, but it will definitely affect the construction schedule. How can I hold the Guo family back at this time!"

Zhou Rong was so anxious that her face turned pale. Suddenly she thought of something and her face lit up:
"By the way, Zhou Bingkun, you and Zheng Juan both have jobs, why did you go to college? You are the factory director of the Red Star Group, but you quit your job as a factory director because you went to school?"

After hearing what Zhou Rong said, Zhou Zhigang and Zhou Bingyi also thought of this and breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhou Bingyi said:
"Yes, Bingkun, the reason you go to college is to find a good job, but your current achievements are beyond the reach of many people in their lifetime, so why not..."

Hua Twelve didn't wait for him to finish and sneered:
"Not as good as what? You still want the top scorer in the college entrance examination to give up school? You want to be in the newspapers!"

Zhou Bingyi waved his hand quickly: "That's not what I meant. I wanted to ask you how you're going to handle your work here after you go to school!"

Hua Shierchao, the people who all hoped that he would give up his studies, grinned:
"I'm afraid I'll disappoint you. Zheng Juan and I have already arranged our work!"

"Zheng Juan is on paid training. Our Red Star Group plans to expand the scale of the factory-run clinic and build it into a formal hospital that can serve the public. Zheng Juan's college education was the result of a unanimous vote by the group's leadership team. Her college education is equivalent to work. After graduation, she will be better qualified for the position of director of the factory-run hospital in the future."

Everyone was surprised when they heard this. How fast is the Red Star Group developing? They are even planning to open a hospital.

Hao Dongmei looked at Zheng Juan with envy. She was admitted to Jichun Medical College, but after graduation she could only work as an intern in a hospital. Zheng Juan, on the other hand, graduated from Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and became the director of a hospital after returning. They were both daughters-in-law of the Zhou family who studied medicine, so why was there such a big gap in their careers?

Hua Twelve continued:
"My situation is similar. The Red Star Group is getting bigger and bigger. As the helmsman, I feel that my ability is limited. So I discussed with Secretary Qu of the Group and decided to go to Yanjing University for further studies to recharge myself. This is also for better work in the future!"

After he said that, he raised his eyebrows at a few people and said, "Going to school is like going to work, and I get paid. I just want to ask if you are envious or not."

Zhou Bingyi was of course envious, but Zhou Rong sneered:

"Everyone knows that you have absolute control over the Red Star Group. You make all the decisions yourself!"

Hua Twelve's face turned cold:
"Oh, you're right. It doesn't matter if I go to college or not, but I won't let you go. What can you do about it?"

Zhou Rong was so angry that she was about to explode: "Zhou Bingkun"

Hua Twelve shouted coldly:
"Shut up right there. Zheng Juan and I have taken care of mom for so many years, and now it's your turn, but you're trying to hold back. What's the matter? Comrade Li Suhua isn't your mom?"

Zhou Rong's face turned red like a monkey's butt, and she couldn't say a word because she was in the wrong!

Zhou Bingyi sighed: "Bingkun, you've gone too far. Take a break. I'll talk to Zhou Rong!"

At this moment, Zhou Rong couldn't stop tears from falling, and her face was full of grievance.

Zhou Bingyi said as gently as possible:

"Zhou Rong, our mother needs someone to take care of her, but your three children are also a big problem. Even if Bingkun and I stay, do you think we two grown men can take good care of the children?"

Zhou Rong didn't look at Zhou Bingkun, and said stubbornly: "Aren't there my sister-in-law and Zheng Juaner?"

Hua Twelve spat, "What do sister-in-law and Zheng Juan deserve from you?"

Zhou Bingyi's face also darkened:

"Zhou Rong, now is not the time for you to act out. Your sister-in-law's parents have clear plans for her future. Zheng Juan is also going there to work and study. How can they be the same? Besides, although they are daughters-in-law of the Zhou family, you are the daughter of the Zhou family. No matter how close they are, can they be as close as you and your mother? Why are you so ignorant!"

Hua Shier, who was eating melon seeds, spat out the melon seed shells:
"She has been selfish for more than just one or two days!"

Seeing that Zhou Rong was in a passive position, Feng Huacheng, who had been silent all this time, finally couldn't sit still anymore. He pushed his glasses:

"Brother, you can't say that. Zhou Rong has the right to pursue progress. The resumption of the college entrance examination is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

"Okay, stop talking!"

Hua Twelve interrupted him, with a look of sarcasm in his eyes:

"Chen Huacheng, if you really wanted to do good for Zhou Rong, you shouldn't have kidnapped her back then. My mother wouldn't have had a cerebral hemorrhage because of her, and she still needs someone to take care of her. Now you can say nice things, what the hell were you doing before!"

Feng Huacheng's face flushed red immediately. After a long pause, he managed to utter:
"My name is Feng Huacheng, not Fen Huacheng. I'm your brother-in-law. Please respect me."

Hua Twelve's face was still ridiculed. He suddenly reached out and grabbed Feng Huacheng's hair, pulling him off his seat. He raised his right hand and slapped him in the face:

"I don't even recognize my sister, so my brother-in-law is nothing!"

No one expected that Hua Shier would suddenly take action. There was chaos in the living room and several children started crying loudly.

Li Suhua, who was closest to him, quickly pulled him and said, "Bingkun, what are you doing?"

Halfway through his words, his blood pressure started to rise and his body began to sway. Hua Twelve quickly kicked Feng Huacheng away and held Li Suhua.

Zheng Juan immediately stepped forward and performed acupuncture, massage and acupressure with great skill. It was obvious that she had done it thousands of times to become so proficient.

Zhou Rong pointed at Hua Twelve and said, "Zhou Bingkun, you are not a human being. You just can't stand seeing me doing well. You even beat your brother-in-law. Look how mad you made Mom!"

Facing the dirty water thrown by Zhou Rong, Hua Twelve immediately retorted:

"Zhou Rong, you are talking nonsense. We all know who made me so angry. Incineration is nothing. I just beat him to death. What I am worried about is whether I will be punished for it!"

"It's you, on the other hand. How did mom treat you? I treated you like the apple of my eye since you were little! Now mom is old and sick, and you are not willing to accompany me for a few years. Your parents raised you because they were blinded by greed. If we had known this would happen, even if we raised the placenta as our daughter, it would be better than raising you. At least eating it can nourish your body!"

When had Zhou Rong ever heard such fancy swear words? She was unable to fight back. She was so angry that she saw stars, her throat was dry, and her body was shaking. She managed not to faint, but she was unable to speak.

"enough!"

Seeing that the situation was getting out of control, Zhou Zhigang suddenly slammed the table and the enamel teacup on the table began to clang.

He first looked at Hua Twelve seriously, then turned to Zhou Rong:

"Rong'er, besides yourself, do you still have this family in your eyes?"

The old man who always loved his daughter was so angry that his face was shaking:

"Who do you want to throw your three children to if you don't take care of them yourself? Your mother is so sick, and you still..."

Li Suhua had recovered a lot under Zheng Juan's massage. Seeing that the old man was about to say something harsh, she quickly opened her mouth and said weakly:

"His father."

Zhou Zhigang looked at his daughter's pale face and finally couldn't bear to say anything harsh, but he still made the final decision:
"Zhou Rong will stay to take care of the family, Bingyi and Bingkun will go to school, and at home...someone has to take care of the family, that's it!"

Zhou Rong's tears fell on the table.

She bit her lips tightly until she tasted blood, then let go: "Okay."

The word "good" was said with gnashing teeth, and anyone could hear the reluctance in it.

Things got to such a point that Hua Shier even beat Feng Huacheng and had no intention of staying for dinner. After Li Suhua felt better, he left the building with Zheng Juan and went back to his home.

On the way back, Zheng Juan breathed a sigh of relief:

"Fortunately, your sister finally agreed to stay, otherwise who knows what would have happened!"

Hua Twelve sneered: "You really believed what she said. Wait, the best is yet to come!"

Zheng Juan was shocked and asked, "Is this true? How can your sister go back on her word after she promised?"

Hua Twelve laughed:

"Zhou Rong is a selfish person to the core. She knew that going to Guizhou to look for Feng Huacheng might bring trouble to the whole family. She also promised her father in front of the whole family that she would not go to Guizhou again. But what happened? As soon as her father went to the third-tier cities, Zhou Rong went to Guizhou!"

"Just as she said, getting into college this time is a chance to change her destiny. How could someone like her give up such an opportunity?"

Zheng Juan was half-believing and half-doubting what Hua Twelve said. It was not that she did not trust her husband, but she had never met such a selfish person.

The Spring Festival came in a blink of an eye. Because of the unpleasantness before, this year was dull. Others at least maintained a harmonious relationship on the surface, but Zhou Rong would not pretend. She had a cold face and did not look like she was celebrating the New Year at all. Instead, she looked like someone who was collecting debts.

Apart from making faces, Zhou Rong seemed absent-minded in everything she did. When serving dishes for the New Year's Eve dinner, she even dropped the prepared spare ribs on the ground. In the end, Li Suhua simply stopped her from helping out.

On the second day of the Chinese New Year, Hua Shier and Zheng Juan were going back to her parents' home. After the couple had packed their things and were about to leave with their gifts, they saw Zhou Bingyi running over breathlessly:
"Bingkun, this is terrible! Zhou Rong and Feng Huacheng left without saying goodbye!"

Hua Twelve had expected this and looked towards Zheng Juan:
"See, that's what I said. A dog will always eat shit!"

The two first went to Zheng's house to put down the gifts, and then went to Zhou's house on the first floor of the same community. As soon as they entered the door, they saw Zhou Zhigang sitting on a stool, bent over, his elbows supporting his knees, puffing on a cigarette.

Li Suhua wiped her tears while Hao Dongmei comforted her.

Zheng Juan also hurried to her mother-in-law's side:
"Mom, don't be sad. Zhou Rong doesn't care about you, but I do. I won't go to college. I'll stay and still be filial to you like before!"

Zheng Juan had never discussed this with Hua Twelve, and Hua Twelve was also very surprised.

What was even more surprised were the other people, the elderly couple Zhou Zhigang and Li Suhua, who were both surprised and moved.

Zhou Bingyi and Hao Dongmei both felt a little ashamed. If it were them, it would be extremely difficult for them to give up the opportunity to go to college for further studies. Even if they finally agreed reluctantly, it would definitely not be as easy as Zheng Juan said.

Zhou Zhigang's lips trembled: "Zheng Juan, you are a good child!"

Zhou Bingyi picked up a letter on the table and handed it to Hua Twelve:
"This morning I discovered that Zhou Rong and Feng Huacheng were missing, leaving only this letter!"

Hua Twelve took the letter and said casually:
"It's OK. He knew to take the three children away. He still has some humanity."

In fact, as soon as he listened, he knew that the three children were sleeping in the inner room. They were still asleep at this time on New Year's Day.

But he said this on purpose to flatter Zhou Rong.

Sure enough, after he said this, everyone else's expressions became even worse, except for Zheng Juan who was unaware of the situation.

Zhou Bingyi said angrily, "She didn't even take Yueyue away. The three children played a little late last night and are still sleeping now!"

Hua Twelve sneered and said nothing more. He looked at the letter Zhou Rong left and read:

"Mom and Dad, please forgive me for being unfilial. I've thought about it and realized that there are only a few chances in life to fight for something. The opportunity to go to college is really rare. I don't want to miss it, so I have to go to college. I entrust the three children to you. When I have completed my studies and Huacheng and I have established ourselves in the capital, I will definitely take you there to enjoy a good life and compensate you well."

Hua Twelve laughed after reading it: "This Zhou Rong is okay. She didn't say that she would repay her parents in the next life. At least her parents still have something to look forward to."

If it were normal for him to tease like this, Zhou Zhigang would at least glare at Hua Twelve, but this time the old man seemed to have completely lost his temper. He just sighed and said nothing.

Zheng Juan advised: "Bingkun, stop talking, just do as I say, I won't go to the capital, I will stay here to take care of mom and the three children!"

Li Suhua quickly shook her head: "Mom can do it herself"

Hua Twelve waved his hand:
"Okay, don't worry about this, Mom. I'll find someone to take care of you. As for the other three children, I'll take them to Beijing and send them back to Zhou Rong. If she doesn't take care of her own children, who will take care of them? She's so shameless every day, and she just wants to take advantage of them!"

Zhou Zhigang passed away on the fourth day of the Chinese New Year. In just two days, half of his hair turned white and he looked like he had aged ten years. It can be seen how deeply the old man was hurt by his beloved daughter this time.

Before leaving, he seemed to want to say something to Hua Twelve, but when the words came to his lips, he sighed and said no more.

Hua Shier discussed with Qu Xiuzhen and decided to use the group's unplanned income to build a separate floor in the health center and set up a sanatorium.

During the past few months when he went to Beijing to study, he usually let Li Suhua live here. There was someone to take care of her, someone to cook for her, someone to chat with her, and she was given physical examinations every now and then.

Of course, Li Suhua cannot be the only one to enjoy this benefit. The families of other employees who have made significant contributions to the Red Star Group can also enjoy this benefit.

After everything was arranged, Hua Shier, Zheng Juan, Zhou Bingyi, and their three children boarded a train to Beijing, ready to give Zhou Rong, who thought she was high up in the sky, a surprise - big gift packages for the three burdens.

Thanks to: 08a, Brother Xiao Xiaohu in the Demon World for the reward, and thanks to the brothers who voted for monthly votes and recommendation votes, thank you very much.