While Zhang Yu was treating the driver to a meal at the restaurant, Chiang Yun felt anxiety and fear as she listened to the scolding of Zhang Dagu.
Zhang Dagu knew that the best cooking in the family was done by Zhang Yu, but he felt that the food prepared by the others shouldn't be much worse. After all, isn't cooking just cooking?
The dishes made by Pan Juan were not delicious, since she hadn't cooked for many years, but Chiang Yun was different. Over the years, she had to cook every day and took good care of Zhang Guohua and his son.
However, he hadn't anticipated that his high praise for his eldest daughter-in-law was misplaced since the meal was only slightly better than pig feed.
"Look at the dish you made. Color, fragrance, and taste, which aspect do you think it has?"
"It's just slightly better than the dishes your mother-in-law makes, at least it's not as unbearably salty."
Zhang Dagu sighed helplessly, "Honestly, eldest daughter-in-law, you really need to improve your cooking skills."
"Otherwise, if we eat these dishes every day, how can that work."
"Oh yeah, your mother said that Little Yu has also moved out. You three should move back in to live here."
Ah? Move back in? Chiang Yun was still reeling from Zhang Dagu's scoldings, and now she was completely stunned by this decision.
Coming over to cook dinner every day felt like hell to Chiang Yun, it was unbearably difficult.
And now she was expected to have her family of three live here? That was something she could not accept.
Zhang Yu's responsibilities at home were something she knew a bit about: getting up early to prepare breakfast, then making lunch so the old couple could just reheat it.
That was all, right? Of course not. She would also need to clean, do laundry, change the bed sheets and covers weekly—even if it was with a washing machine, it was still exhausting.
Then, perhaps on the weekends, Zhang Shouhua and his family would come over for meals, and she would have to prepare four meals over two days.
Oh, and don't forget the afternoon snacks. My goodness, just thinking about how her weekends would be spent in this manner made Chiang Yun feel completely unwell.
Chiang Yun sent Zhang Guohua glances, hoping he would stand up and object. It would be better for a son to express opposition than for her as a daughter-in-law.
Chiang Yun's troubled look was not missed by Zhang Dagu and his wife, which caused them some displeasure.
"Eldest daughter-in-law, do you have any objections?" Pan Juan said, looking unkindly at Chiang Yun.
Chiang Yun hadn't expected that before Zhang Guohua could say anything, Zhang Dagu and his wife had already noticed her unease, and she immediately feared the worst.
"I, I have no objections." What else could she do? Apart from saying she had no objections, there wasn't much else she could say.
"So you agree to move in and live here?" Pan Juan pressed on.
Chiang Yun internally disagreed in every possible way, but couldn't voice it. She could only hope Zhang Guohua would rescue her.
For Zhang Guohua, living at his parents' place or in his own home made no difference; after all, he didn't have to do any housework either way.
But he couldn't just ignore his wife's plea for help, or else he was sure to face unpleasant consequences.
"Mom and Dad..." Zhang Guohua was just about to speak.
He had no idea that by speaking up, rather than helping, it would upset Zhang Dagu and his wife, who would feel that the son had forgotten his mother because of his wife.
"This is what your mother and I have been thinking," Zhang Dagu said slowly.
"You always say that you don't earn much and that money is tight. I thought that you'd have a heavy burden."
"Even with the compensation money from the demolition, soon Xiao Yi will need a house for marriage, but doesn't that require decoration?"
"Shouldn't we give a dowry to the girl's side?"
"Plus, once Xiao Yi gets married, he's sure to have children soon, and the expenses will be even higher after having children."
"If both families live together, we'll cover the expenses, and you can save your salaries, right?"
"Of course, if you're unwilling, just consider we never mentioned it."
Zhang Dagu said he was letting Zhang Guohua and his wife consider it, but in reality, he was insisting they agree.
Otherwise, once Zhang Yi got married, they shouldn't expect the old couple to pay. Zhang Dagu and his wife wouldn't favor children who didn't listen.
Chiang Yun could tell what Zhang Dagu and his wife were implying, and although she was reluctant at heart, she knew they really had no choice this time.
"Mom, Dad, we certainly have no objections," Chiang Yun quickly stated her position.
How did it matter if it was a bit tiresome? At least they wouldn't have to worry about Liu Yi's marriage in the future.
Now that Chiang Yun had agreed, it was naturally no problem for Zhang Guohua.
Zhang Yi truly disliked the old house where only the ground floor had a bathroom to which they would have to move.
But he didn't dare say no. Although he was the eldest grandson of the Zhang family, there was his cousin, Zhang Xin, who was pretty and excelled in her studies.
She was particularly good at sweet-talking and often made Zhang Dagu and his wife beam with happiness—Liu Jian.
Zhang Yi knew that with just a moment's inattention, his grandparents' affection could easily be snatched away.
Forget it, although it might not be as convenient as living in his own home, how long would they live there anyway? Wasn't it going to be demolished soon?
"Grandpa, Grandma, that's so great. I can see you every day now," Zhang Yi exclaimed happily, clearly delighted at the prospect of seeing Zhang Dagu and his wife daily.
Zhang Dagu, of course, adored Zhang Yi, thinking that while his son sided with his daughter-in-law, his grandson did not; he sided with them.
"Whatever you want to eat, ask your grandma to buy it, then have your mom cook it." Zhang Dagu adored his grandson.
Zhang Yi was overjoyed and kept nodding, "Thank you, Grandpa."
"I love eating shrimp."
"Okay, your grandma will buy it." It was just some shrimp; of course, they would buy it for their beloved grandson.
Seeing Zhang Dagu and his wife agree to all of Zhang Yi's requests, Chiang Yun felt that although she was a bit busier and more tired, it was really worth it.
She had to admit, living there did save a lot of expenses. After all, it was just a bit of housework, which she would have to do at home anyway.
With that in mind, Chiang Yun completely came to terms with it, feeling that living there might not be so hard after all.
Thus, Zhang Guohua's stay was approved, and the news swiftly reached the ears of Zhang Shouhua and Zhang Hong.
As for Zhang Guohua and his wife abruptly moving back into the Zhang family home right after Zhang Yu left for work out of town, they had only one reaction.
They all felt that Zhang Guohua and his wife had their eyes on the house owned by Zhang Dagu and his wife, and of course, the old couple's money.
As for the favoritism of Zhang Dagu and his wife, Du Xia had always been aware of it, but they all lived separately from their parents. If they really supported the other party, she would also find a way to get money from the old couple.
But she hadn't expected that after Zhang Yu left, Zhang Guojun and his wife would move back so quickly. What was this supposed to mean?
The more Du Xia thought about it, the angrier she became, feeling that this was a new scheme devised by Zhang Guohua and his wife to make money.