Chapter 1352 - 1224: Another Secret?

Chapter 1352: Chapter 1224: Another Secret?

When it came to family planning, the couple didn’t really pay much attention. Everyone around them was a public employee, not because they were so open-minded, but because of the fear of losing their iron rice bowl for having another child.

This issue never really arose around them.

In Zhou Jiao’s view, one reason was that military personnel were under too much pressure to enforce the regulations without causing a stir, and another was the different environment, with people not having the time to air their dirty laundry.

But soon, she was slapped in the face.

It happened during a weekend get-together with old friends.

Wan Dayong’s wife, Qi Meizhen, nudged her elbow and signaled her to look at the eastern corner.

This time their gathering was at a private restaurant. Although it was called a private restaurant, it was quite upscale and the whole hall could accommodate two or three hundred people.

Zhou Jiao was thinking at that moment whether she should set up a high-end club? In a few years, private restaurants and clubs would be popping up like bamboo shoots after the rain.

Besides making money, it would be a great place for networking.

If you don’t plan for the future, you will have immediate worries.

One day, her dad, her husband, all of them would retire, or even pass away, and even if their three sons took over, who would mind having more intangible assets?

Moreover, if it was going to be run by some people later on and become a mess, she might as well be the one to start a sunny club, like those high-class leisure clubs in novels.

But the most suitable person to run it at present, National Day, was abroad, so who should be the face for it? That’s a big problem.

Zhou Jiao was pondering this when she was interrupted by Qi Meizhen’s nudge. She glanced at the eastern corner and looked at her in confusion.

"I knew you hadn’t heard the rumors."

"Oh my, is there a secret again?"

Although the two of them spoke softly, the few close friends nearby heard them and immediately teased Zhou Jiao: Don’t like gossip?

Qi Meizhen raised her chin and pulled her hand, "Let’s go get something to eat."

Zhou Jiao knew she was looking for an excuse to leave and followed her lead to stand up, playfully glaring at the few sisters beside her: Friendship over!

Giggling, she hooked her arm with Qi Meizhen and avoided the crowd, indicating she wanted her to spill the beans.

Qi Meizhen was the most favored daughter-in-law in the Wan family. If she didn’t have some skills, how could she keep the flirtatious Wan Dayong in check? He only became a good man after marriage.

Zhou Jiao couldn’t forget that back then, when people were starving, this guy was still messing around claiming to be a virgin friend. It was a good thing Zhang Guoqing knocked some sense into him, or there wouldn’t have been a lovely wife and son now.

It was no surprise that Qi Meizhen knew some of the inside scoop. She was different from Zhou Jiao, very articulate, and the married aunts in the Wan family enjoyed chatting with her.

Especially the nearly eighty-year-old Mrs. Wan, who had been a little leader of the Big Courtyard Committee back in the day, knowing every small secret of the families.

She was very willing to share little secrets with the granddaughter-in-law she favored the most.

"You saw her, didn’t you?"

"Who? There are three people over in the eastern corner."

"It’s Xiao Yu. Her big daughter-in-law recently gave birth to a little girl, didn’t she? I heard she wants to bring back her eldest grandson. Isn’t that shameless?"

"Really? So her eldest son did marry and have children in the countryside back then?" Zhou Jiao smacked her lips, "What a slap in the face."

"Exactly, now with family planning, it can’t be hidden anymore. Did you notice who’s beside her? Those two are from her in-law’s side, I guess she wants them to agree with her daughter-in-law’s family."

"Will they agree?"

Qi Meizhen pouted and leaned closer to her ear, "Actually, the girl’s family knew about it back then. I heard from my big aunt that she wanted to be the matchmaker, but she found it embarrassing.

Do you know why? The family said they didn’t get a marriage certificate, which is like an illicit union, not considered a second marriage, and the child was just seduced."

Zhou Jiao shook her head speechlessly.

Though she didn’t know much about these families, she remembered the boy was three or four years older than her Ping’an, and back then he was scrambling to claim he was some sort of active member, or he wouldn’t have been sent to the countryside for labor.

or 19-year-old boy seduced? He’s wrapped up in innocence!

"Is she nuts?" Zhou Jiao pointed at her head, "After five or six years, now she wants to bring back the kid? The kid has a biological mom."

"Probably because the woman has remarried, otherwise why would she be considering it? I heard she doesn’t intend to take back the mother and child, just the child. If she wants a divorce, she wouldn’t be lurking with those two right now."

Zhou Jiao nodded in agreement.

"Let’s not talk about her family. Jiao Jiao, did you know Sheng Mei wants to call me cousin?"

Zhou Jiao rolled her eyes at her, "Don’t beat around the bush. Is this your idea or your cousin’s? My Ping’an has no drama going on."

If the Qiu family was worried about this, it’s better to break ties early. Her son couldn’t bear such injustice. No matter how good Qu Shengmei was, it’s useless!

"Come on, you know my cousin is so fond of Ping’an, she wishes he was her own son." Talking about that, Qi Meizhen frowned, "It’s me, you know I don’t have a daughter, she’s almost like my own. I’m worried in case she has daughters in the future, what should I do?"

Zhou Jiao believed her words and joked, "Then treat them to a good deal!"

"Really? I can’t believe it! Jiao Jiao, Sheng Mei is such a good kid, if my son wasn’t so young, I’d want her in the family. See, it was just you and your dad, and he’s doing well."

Zhou Jiao laughed and patted her, "Alright, stop pretending! With our families, who is like who, the girls in my family are valuable, don’t dream of something irrelevant."

"I’m not the only one thinking this way, haven’t you noticed another friend among us who’s also worried? She’s just afraid you’ll misunderstand and didn’t bring it up."

With this said.

If Zhou Jiao didn’t realize she was a lobbyist by now, she should really smack herself. The Dayi couple sure did overthink!

"Whether it’s a son or a daughter, I won’t force it. But if it’s truly a daughter, I’ll let you in on this, it’s not guaranteed that a son-in-law will be brought in, but having a child with our family name is a must."

This concerns the ancestral estate; she definitely didn’t want it flowing into outsiders’ hands. At least as long as she’s alive, she hoped not to see that.

"That’s good, that’s the next generation’s concern."

Zhou Jiao shot her a sidelong glance, "Done with your task yet? Such a pity the matchmaker isn’t you!"

"Why not?"

"Punishing you for not trusting me."

"Come on, who are we among ourselves?"

The two of them teased each other for a bit and returned to the hall. Regarding the Dayi family’s couple, Zhou Jiao didn’t show a hint of emotion. Putting herself in their shoes, if it were her, she’d worry too.

Just never expected the family planning storm would blow onto her family. She thought it had nothing to do with her, but who knew the Emperor isn’t so anxious as the eunuch is.

She couldn’t say she’s superstitious, but she had calculated for three sons and five grandchildren. What if she’s slapped in the face? What’s wrong with having granddaughters?

As long as they’re raised well, they don’t lose to grandsons.