Chapter 61 Establishing a Fostering Bond

Zhang Xiao'e felt that this finally felt like a real family.

When her father-in-law was handling her late husband's funeral arrangements, her grandmother hadn't even shown her face, repeatedly muttering the phrase, "An adopted son has no place in the ancestral tomb."

Granny Zhou was much better; she had come over specially to help out.

They didn't finish until nearly a thousand tiles had been baked.

Throughout the entire process, the old lady never took a break, chatting and laughing merrily with them the whole time. She was exceptionally conversational.

Zhao Zheng brought over a basin of hot water. "Auntie, wash your hands."

Yang Zhaodi steeped a bowl of sugar water. "Granny Zhou, have some tea."

"Good, good, good." The old lady's eyes crinkled into smiling slits. After washing her hands, she took the bowl and took a sip. "Oh, it's even got sugar in it!"

"My father-in-law specifically instructed it," Yang Zhaodi said.

The old lady looked at Zhao Zheng and nodded with gratification. Sugar was a precious commodity; her own family had some, but that didn't mean everyone else did. The fact that Zhao Zheng was willing to spend it to give her sweetened water showed that he was a generous man.

Zhang Xiao'e linked her arm through the old lady's. "Granny Zhou, father-in-law said you must stay for dinner tonight!"

The old lady didn't put on airs either. "Alright, I'll tend the fire!"

Unlike the superficial decency put on by the Zhao family matriarch, Granny Zhou possessed a genuine composure. Even though she dressed very plainly, both her conduct and speech were bold and forthright.

If she had such a sensible elder in the household, Zhao Zheng would be more than happy to support her.

Dinner was quite abundant: white rice, pickled vegetables stir-fried with eggs, and the meat that Zhao Zheng had brought home from Golden Rooster Mountain yesterday.

Just two dishes, not many, but the portions were extremely generous.

Inviting the old lady to sit on the warm brick bed, she exclaimed in wonder, "It's so warm! I never imagined a clay stove could cook food and heat the bed at the same time!"

"My father-in-law built it," Zhang Xiao'e said proudly.

Zhao Zheng smiled. "Zhaodi, go down to the cellar and scoop out some pickled persimmons from the earthenware jar for us to taste!"

"I'll go, let me go!" Zhang Xiao'e had been craving the pickled persimmons for days, terrified that her sister-in-law would snatch this delightful task away from her.

Yang Zhaodi smiled dotingly. "Fine, I won't fight you for it!"

Granny Zhou asked, "What are pickled persimmons?"

"You'll know in a moment," Zhao Zheng replied with a mysterious smile.

Soon, Zhang Xiao'e emerged carrying a large ceramic bowl filled to the brim with pickled persimmons, placing it on the low table. "Father-in-law, the juice in this jar has gotten all thick!"

Zhao Zheng picked up a spoon and stirred it. "It's just the right time to eat them."

He first ladled a bowl for Granny Zhou, then for Yang Zhaodi, and Zhang Xiao'e in turn, before finally serving himself. "Auntie, have a taste!"

Granny Zhou had eaten persimmons before, but never persimmons prepared like this. She picked up a wooden spoon, scooped a spoonful into her mouth, and her eyes instantly lit up. "Delicious!"

Zhao Zheng smiled and urged his daughters-in-law, "Eat up, but don't eat too much. A bowl a day at most; eating too much of this stuff easily gives you a stomachache!"

The old lady nodded as well. "Your father-in-law is right. Persimmons are a poor man's treasure. Back during the famine years, we relied heavily on persimmons to get through the hard times. They're delicious, all right, but you mustn't overeat."

The two young women held their bowls, sipping the sweet juice, their faces beaming with contentment.

"These pickled persimmons are so delicious! Ten times better than dried persimmon cakes!" Zhang Xiao'e exclaimed.

Zhao Zheng shook his head with a smile, thinking that the common folk of Dakang were easily satisfied; in his modern era, nobody would even bother to look twice at this stuff.

He picked up a few pieces of meat and placed them in the old lady's bowl. "Auntie, you must be hungry. Let's eat!"

The old lady felt deeply emotional. White rice, eggs, and thick fatty pork—it seemed Zhao Zheng's household had even more grain than her own.

And these pickled persimmons reminded her of a few days ago when the Wang family had come over to cause trouble.

This young man was indeed honest and sincere, but he wasn't foolish.

Making a fortune quietly without flashing one's wealth—that was the proper way to live life.

Though she didn't know where Zhao Zheng had gotten the white rice and meat, she had no intention of prying. In her eyes, this was simply proof of his capability.

"Thanks to your blessing, this old woman gets to eat meat again," the old lady chuckled. "If word gets out, who knows how many people will die of envy!"

"I wouldn't dare say we eat meat every day, but having some every few days isn't a problem," Zhao Zheng said. "I found a job in the township, helping a big merchant from the city collect furs. I can make a bit of money, so I asked him to bring me some meat and rice when he comes to the countryside. If we only ate rice bran gruel and wild vegetable cakes, our bodies simply couldn't handle it."

The old lady suddenly understood. "So that's how it is!"

Yet, the moment she thought about how capable Zhao Zheng was, her heart wavered a bit.

If Zhao Zheng's household had been struggling, she could have helped out, giving herself something to rely on in her old age.

But now, even without her, the Zhao family was doing quite well. If anything, she would be the one benefiting from their success.

"Come on, everyone use your chopsticks!" Zhao Zheng told the two young women and began to dig in heartily. Following his reminders a few times, Yang Zhaodi had finally become willing to use enough oil in the cooking. Zhao Zheng's mouth was shiny with grease, and he felt utterly satisfied.

The consequence was that all four of them stuffed themselves to the point of being overly full.

Zhao Zheng and the old lady chatted idly on the brick bed while the two young women cleaned up the bowls and chopsticks.

"Third, I never expected you to be so clever. Since that's the case, Auntie can rest easy!" Granny Zhou said.

Zhao Zheng instantly grasped the implication behind her words and said, "I was forced into it. If I hadn't done this, I couldn't have fed this family, and outsiders would have walked all over us. I didn't mean to deceive you, Auntie."

"No, you did the right thing. Life is hard for everyone these days; if you act too well-off, there are plenty of people who will envy you."

Granny Zhou sighed. "Closing the door to live your own life, opening the door to conduct yourself in society—you've managed both. Auntie honestly envies your mother for giving birth to such a fine son!"

Was the old lady feeling that her own household was doing too well, believing she couldn't offer any help, and thus harboring thoughts of backing out?

Zhao Zheng hurriedly said, "Auntie, if you don't disdain us, treat me as your own son, and I will support you in your old age. Although I, Zhao Third, don't have much ability, I'll say this again: as long as I have a mouthful to eat, you will have a mouthful to eat; as long as I have a piece of clothing to wear, you won't freeze."

"I'd certainly like to, but you have elders above and children below. This old woman won't add to your burdens," Granny Zhou said despondently.

"An elder in the house is like a priceless treasure; how could that be considered a burden?" Zhao Zheng consoled her. "If you're willing, I'll acknowledge you as my foster mother. Just pretend I'm eyeing your house and fields—how about that?"

Granny Zhou gave a hearty laugh. "If you really had your eyes on them, I'd actually be glad."

Zhao Zheng got down from the brick bed and knelt without a second thought. "I'm not after anything else. I'm after your sense of justice, the fact that you genuinely stood up for me and cared about me."

"My mother gave birth to me and raised me. No matter how flawed she might be, as a son, I cannot speak ill of her. That is something I was born with and cannot choose."

"But choosing a foster bond is my own choice. You are both kind and sensible, Auntie, and I respect you from the bottom of my heart. Before my son passed away, he said Granny Zhou was a very good person and wished you were his grandmother."

"My son is gone now, and as his father, I have an obligation to fulfill his wish. I beg you, Auntie, please don't look down on us!"

Hearing this, Granny Zhou instantly burst into tears.

She knew these were all excuses made up by Zhao Zheng; the truth was simply that this child was sincere and remembered others' kindness.

Touched by these heartfelt words, she was overwhelmed with emotion.

"My child, get up quickly! This son, Auntie accepts him!"