Stepmother Reborn: Dad, my mom hasn't hit me for three days

On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, Zhang Xiuhua received a letter from the postman. It was a letter from her stepmother's eldest son, saying that her father had a stroke and asked her to go back.

Zhang Xiuhua was a little surprised when she received the letter, because in her previous life, it was her stepmother who was sick. Now it was her father, which was a little abnormal. However, since her father was sick, she had to go back as a daughter.

The children were also packing their bags and preparing to return to their respective jobs.

Zhang Xiuhua told Youcai and Zhenzhen, "You two just had a baby, and all your attention is on October. I understand. But don't forget August. With a new member in the family, she will definitely feel that her position has been taken away."

Youcai has always been a rough person. When he heard this, his fat face was a little surprised, "Really?"

Zhang Xiuhua nodded confidently, "Yes! Before October was born, all your love was for her. Now that October is here, only one parent loves her. She will naturally feel that her things are being taken away."

Youcai and Zhenzhen really didn't notice this. They were busy with work, and when they got home, one had to help October with her homework, and the other had to breastfeed their little daughter. They thought they were being fair, but when their mother pointed it out, they realized that their approach was problematic.

Zhenzhen felt that although her mother-in-law was not well educated, she was very good at educating children. Seeing how well she had educated her six children, all of them had become successful, she humbly asked Zhang Xiuhua for advice, "Mom, what should we do?"

Zhang Xiuhua felt that both children had just become parents, and they couldn't ask too much of them, as no one was born knowing how to be a parent. Moreover, many parents have a compensatory mentality towards their children, and they don't want their children to suffer the same pain they went through in their childhood. But that doesn't mean their approach is right. There is a saying that too much is as bad as too little. She could only advise them carefully, "You must put the eldest daughter first, so that she will love October. The relationship between the two sisters will be good."

This somewhat subverted their perceptions. They had always wanted to treat the two children fairly. Zhenzhen hesitated, "Will October feel that this is unfair?"

"If she thinks it's unfair, you can tell her that your sister came before you. We should follow the order of first come first served." Zhang Xiuhua replied, "Children don't want fairness. They want preference! When August finds out that you love her very much, she will be happy to share your love with her sister. By then, she and her sister will have developed feelings for each other. When the two children are older and understand the truth, you can talk to them about fairness, and August will be able to accept it. You must proceed step by step."

Zhenzhen and Youcai didn't quite understand, but still agreed to do as they were told, "We will correct it."

As soon as the children left, Zhang Xiuhua planned to return to Jiangxi Province. Li Jianguo learned about this and said, "Why don't I go with you? Your father is a man, and it's not convenient for you as a woman to take care of him closely. I can at least lend a hand."

Zhang Xiuhua refused. She had agreed to take care of her own relatives, so how could she ask him to help take care of them? "I don't plan to bring him back!"

Li Jianguo looked at her in surprise, "Didn't they say he had a stroke?"

Of course, Zhang Xiuhua would not tell him about her rebirth. She sighed, "When I was a child, he didn't care about me at all. He treated the two stepchildren better than me. But he raised me after all, and he never beat or scolded me. I will also support him according to the state regulations. It's impossible for me to take care of him like you take care of your mother!"

You reap what you sow.

Li Jianguo was loved by his mother since he was a child, so he couldn't understand Zhang Xiuhua's feelings. However, seeing Ergou hating his biological father so much, he felt that people's situations are different, and we should not arbitrarily criticize others for being filial. How can there be so many irresponsible parents in this world?

He didn't dwell on it, but just reminded her, "If you can't handle it alone, call me back. I'll come over to help you."

Zhang Xiuhua nodded.

On March 10, Zhang Xiuhua returned to her hometown in Jiangxi Province. When she returned to her hometown, she felt that everything had changed.

Compared to the last time I came here, this time Jiang Province has changed significantly. There are more high-rise buildings in the county town, the narrow roads have become wider, there are cars on the streets, and many private factories have opened in the county. Workers riding bicycles in the middle of the street after get off work are quite shocking.

She got on a bus and asked the salesperson about the situation in the county. She learned that the private factories here were all invested by bosses from Pengcheng.

Compared with the lukewarm development in the Northeast, the South has undergone tremendous changes under the spring breeze of reform, and people's lives are much better than before.

I still remember the 1960s and 1970s when people were hungry and children were crying. Now, the children have smiles on their faces and their cheeks are plump. Their mental outlook is much better than before.

On the contrary, the Northeast has been abandoned by the times. Although it is changing, that little change is like removing a mole from a person's face, which does not cause any ripples at all.

After getting off the bus, Zhang Xiuhua walked into the village carrying large and small bags.

As soon as she entered the village, someone stared at Zhang Xiuhua to identify her. It seemed like they knew her, but they couldn't remember where they had seen her before!

After a long while, an older woman came up to him, clapping her hands and saying, "Hey, isn't this Xiuhua? You haven't been back for years."

Zhang Xiuhua's memory was not very good. She could no longer recognize the other person, but that did not stop her from greeting him, "Auntie, are you okay?!"

The aunt patted the back of her hand and said, "What aunt? You are too much of a generation behind me! Call me sister-in-law."

Zhang Xiuhua readily changed the subject, "Is sister-in-law okay?"

"Good! Everything is fine." The eldest sister-in-law led her to the village and introduced her to other young wives who had gathered around, "This is Xiuhua, Zhang Wangcai's daughter."

The young wife was a little surprised. "Uncle Zhang has a daughter? Why have I never heard him mention it?"

And I never see Xiuhua showing filial piety to her father during festivals.

"Marrying to the Northeast is thousands of miles away. It's a long way. In those days, you couldn't travel around." The eldest sister-in-law looked at Zhang Xiuhua, "I couldn't recognize you just now. You haven't changed at all. You look so young. Isn't it said that there are a lot of land in the Northeast? How come you are getting whiter and whiter?"

This is a bit exaggerated. But one thing is true, Zhang Xiuhua does look younger than her peers. Otherwise, the aunt would not have recognized Zhang Xiuhua at first sight.

Zhang Xiuhua talked about her previous experience working on a train. "If you don't stay out of the sun, your skin will naturally become white." She changed the subject, "Captain, are you okay?"

"Now there is no captain, we call him village chief. My father-in-law is fine. But my mother-in-law passed away two years ago. She died of a stroke." The eldest sister-in-law spoke bluntly, "We have to be careful at an older age. Don't get excited! You have to stay calm."

Zhang Xiuhua didn't expect that this person was the captain's daughter-in-law. She sighed, "Auntie has a good temper. How could it be so sudden? Jianguo and I can get married thanks to your help in matchmaking."

"Yes, my mother-in-law likes to be a matchmaker. I don't know what happened to her. She looked fine. But on the day my son was admitted to the university, she was probably too happy. Her blood pressure couldn't be raised. She collapsed. We were so scared that we rushed her to the hospital. But she died before we got there." My sister-in-law was a little sad when she mentioned this. Such a warm-hearted mother-in-law is gone. God is blind.

Zhang Xiuhua thought it might be related to her daily diet. "We used to eat too much pickled vegetables. If we are not careful, we may get high blood pressure. My mother-in-law is partial to me, that's why."

When the sister-in-law heard this, she was a little scared because she thought this disease was quite common. She said, "Life is better now. We should eat less pickles in the future."

While they were talking, they had already arrived at the Zhang family’s door.

The eldest sister-in-law yelled at the top of her voice, "Uncle Zhang! Uncle Zhang? Your daughter is home!"

Zhang Wangcai rushed out of the house and greeted Zhang Xiuhua with a smile, "You're back?!"

Zhang Xiuhua looked at him in astonishment as he was able to run and jump, "Why did you say in the letter that you had a stroke?! Isn't this cheating me? My family is preparing for spring planting, aren't you messing with me?"

Zhang Xiuhua took the initiative, and Zhang Wangcai's face turned black. What kind of girl is this? She made him lose face as soon as she came back! He snorted, "You still know that I am your father! You have been married for more than ten years and have never come home once."

"Go home? Didn't you say that when you were a child? A daughter who is married off is like water spilled. Since I have already withdrawn and cannot take it back, why should I go home?" Zhang Xiuhua would not indulge him.

He ignored her when she was little, and now that she's grown up and nobody's taking care of her, he's thinking about her again?! She won't tolerate his bad habits! "If you don't want to see me, I'll leave now!"

She turned around and was about to leave. Zhang Wangcai saw that she was really going to leave, and he was so angry that he kept yelling at her from behind, "Go away! If you leave, I will go to court to sue you for not supporting the elderly!"

Zhang Xiuhua knew that he was not a good person and was not really going to leave. She glanced at him and walked out directly, "Then go ahead and sue him."

Zhang Wangcai was really panicking. Threats didn't work, so what could he do? He hurriedly chased after her. His sister-in-law pulled Zhang Xiuhua aside and persuaded her to calm down. "We are all family. Even if we break bones, we are still connected. Let's talk about it inside."

She complained to Zhang Wangcai, "Can you please not speak so harshly? Xiuhua finally came back. Do you really want to force her to leave?! Fine! If you are sincere, then I won't care."

Zhang Wangcai felt humiliated by being confronted by a junior, so he kept silent and went back to the house.

He gave the way and the sister-in-law pulled Zhang Xiuhua back to the house.

"There's no overnight grudge between father and daughter! They are all family." The sister-in-law smiled and tried to smooth things over.

Zhang Xiuhua looked around. The room was empty except for the dining table and chairs. The dining table was made more than ten years ago. The surface was blackened and the leftover dishes on the table were not washed. There was a thick layer of dust on the high table. There were no electrical appliances. She looked around and asked, "Where is Aunt Jin? Where are my second and third brothers?"

Zhang Wangcai opened his mouth to explain, but then he shut up again when he thought of something.

The eldest sister-in-law answered for him, "Your stepmother was ill and hospitalized. She just came back a while ago, and the third brother took her home to support her."

Zhang Xiuhua showed a mocking look. Zhang Wangcai knew what she meant by that look, so he shrank his neck and said nothing.

Zhang Xiuhua asked again, "What about my second brother?"

"Your second brother and his wife went out to work. Your second brother's child got married a few years ago and rebuilt his house. The couple went out to work with your second brother and his wife, and asked your third sister-in-law to help take care of the child." The eldest sister-in-law sighed, "After we implemented the household contract responsibility system, each family was allocated a few acres of land. You know, we have little land, not enough for food and children's schooling. The couple had no choice."

Zhang Xiuhua nodded, "Why don't you take my dad over? He raised them from childhood and treated them like his own sons. He built houses for them and even found wives for them. He wasn't that kind to me, his own daughter. When I got married, he didn't even have a pillowcase!"

Zhang Wangcai blushed at these words and opened his mouth to refute, but no matter how good his explanation was, it could not cover up how wrong he had been. No matter how well other people's children treated him, he could never be accustomed to them. Now he could only rely on his biological daughter.