Chapter 966 Punishment
"Mom, are you angry too?"
Zhang Ziqi's mother finally realized that her actions without prior notice had angered not only her father-in-law but also her mother-in-law.
If only the father-in-law is angry, the mother-in-law can help mediate. But if the mother-in-law is also angry, then no one can help them.
"Shouldn't I be angry?"
The old woman slapped her own face repeatedly: "Who taught you to do things like this?"
"If you do this, what about my reputation?"
Seeing her grandmother get angry, Zhang Ziqi knew things were going badly.
"Grandma, please don't be angry. It was my fault this time!"
She quickly admitted her mistake.
The old lady looked coldly at her granddaughter: "If you don't teach your adopted daughter properly, it's the parents' fault. I'm taking the blame for your parents."
"Qiqi, I'm just asking you, in all these years in the Zhang family, have I ever caused you any harm?"
"I've tried my best to fulfill Zhang Zimo's wishes."
"What else are you dissatisfied with?"
"Don't think that you're only inferior to others because of your background. You were already at a disadvantage, so why do you have to compete with them in everything?"
"I've never been one to give up in this life, which is why I refused to accept my fate back then."
"But in reality, what's there to be dissatisfied about?"
Some people are just lucky.
Zhang Ziqi opened her mouth, still wanting to argue.
If their own grandfather were still alive, their family might not have had to live under someone else's roof and would have been better off than they were living with the Zhang family.
“I know what you’re thinking, but your own grandfather is definitely not as good as Old Zhang.”
"He is reckless and impulsive, and he acts solely on loyalty."
"If he hadn't saved that person back then, he would definitely have been demobilized before Lao Zhang. What could he have done after that?"
"You're just a minor leader, you'll never be able to come to the capital in your lifetime, and your lives won't be any better than they are now."
The old lady understood perfectly, which is why she held onto Lao Zhang tightly when he went to visit the orphans and families of his fallen comrades.
But it's no use if she understands it; her family members aren't smart.
These people all inherited their genes.
"Moreover, your grandfather's parents were biased in his original family. Perhaps after he was transferred back to his hometown, he would have to give way to his younger brother in all his work."
"Then your father is just a farmer's son, what qualifications do you have to compare with Zhang Zimo?"
Every word the old lady spoke was a heart-wrenching stab.
"Grandma, you've never said this before—"
She never said that her biological grandfather was a brute.
If the old lady had spoken up, she wouldn't be so clueless.
The old lady just found it funny: "What's there to say?"
"Isn't this just trying to save face for him in front of the children?"
If the man before her was really good, how come she could live so harmoniously with Lao Zhang?
Zhang Ziqi felt as if her worldview had collapsed.
The daughter-in-law, on the other hand, was very critical of her mother-in-law.
If she hadn't portrayed her former father-in-law in such a positive light, how could the child have believed that their family would have been better off if their grandfather hadn't died?
It's that damned old hag who ruined her children and grandchildren!
Why is your husband pretending when he's clearly impotent?
She says it's for her children and grandchildren, but maybe she remarried because she wants a better life!
Although she cursed her mother-in-law to the core in her heart, the daughter-in-law still tried to please her on the surface: "Mom, it's my fault and her father's fault for not raising the child well."
"Tell me what we should do now, and I'll do it."
The old lady looked exhausted: "No need, you can go."
"Do whatever you want. I'm too old to care about anything else."
The daughter-in-law almost ground her teeth to powder: "Alright, then we'll be going now. We'll come to see you and Dad another day!"
Zhang Ziqi's mother took her away from the old house.
The old lady sighed as she watched their retreating figures, then found the old man sitting listlessly in the study.
"I'm sorry, Brother Zhang, I've caused you trouble."
"Brother Zhang" was a familiar term of endearment, reminding the old man of his visits to the widows and orphans of his fallen comrades.
He patted the old lady's hand: "Why are you calling me Brother Zhang? I'm old now."
"Don't talk about trouble or not, we're all family."
The old lady smiled wryly: "I'm afraid Momo's parents will have a problem with me again."
"They'll understand."
Although that's what Old Master Zhang said, he knew in his heart that his eldest and second sons would probably laugh at him again.
If I regret being too soft-hearted and not handling things smoothly back then, I now know that regret is useless.
He paid the price for the mistakes he made in a moment of impulse for the rest of his life.
“It was my fault. I shouldn’t have let the children misunderstand that Yonggang was very capable just to protect Yonggang’s image in their eyes…”
The old lady apologized in a low voice; what could the old man do?
You'll just have to swallow the bitter pill yourself!
When Zhang Zimo and Shen Lu were complaining, Shen Lu was genuinely stunned.
“My grandfather and that grandmother were supposed to have a big fight this time, but unexpectedly, the old lady resolved the conflict.”
"Tell me, what kind of curse did that old witch cast on my old man?"
Shen Lu: "...Old ginger is spicier." That's all I can say.
The old ladies are quite something, otherwise the square dancing aunties wouldn't have so many gold bracelets on their hands that they can't even wear them all.
“My grandfather had no hope in this life, and he never announced that he would kick that branch of the family out.”
Zhang Zimo was utterly disappointed in his father.
Shen Lu felt that the old man knew he had made a mistake, but he didn't want to admit it.
We're all getting old, so what do the mistakes we made when we were young matter?
He is now reaping the bitter fruit of his actions and has witnessed the shameful behavior of his stepson's family brought by his second wife.
But he's already halfway to the grave.
Why care so much?
"Kicking them out would only make them a laughingstock for everyone."
“Your step-grandmother lived with him for so many years, even if you don’t care about the monk, you should at least consider the Buddha.”
Shen Lu thought it was normal for the old man to do this.
"However, he probably won't give your uncle any more resources in the future."
If they give them more, the Zhang family's two sons will become a laughing stock.
“It’s fine if you don’t give me resources, but I can’t stand seeing idiots rise to power. Who knows how many stupid decisions they’ll make that will affect ordinary people.”
Zhang Zimo looked down on this uncle.
Isn't it harmful to both oneself and others that someone who can only retire in a sinecure insists on squeezing into a powerful department?
"They'll probably be marginalized."
Shen Lu did have some insight, and not long after, Zhang Zimo shared the good news with her again.
“My uncle has really been marginalized. This time, the old lady didn’t help him at all, and the old man didn’t care at all.”
Zhang Ziqi's parents alone have no way to advance her career.
Zhang Zimo was quite satisfied with this.
The others also changed their tune, knowing that the Zhang family's stepdaughter had angered the old man with her unruly behavior last time.
"Isn't this your old man's punishment for them?" Shen Lu said with a smile.
"Great minds think alike!" Zhang Zimo was finally happy.
