Nine Chapters of Strange Cases

Chapter 242 I Don't Want to Give Way to Her Anymore
Zhou Zhao raised an eyebrow and clicked his tongue twice.

The sound was like two drops of water falling into a pot of oil, instantly causing Old Madam Zhou's food to boil and crackle.

She angrily raised her finger and pointed at Zhou Zhao at the door, "You still know how to come back! What kind of girl leaves home for days without saying a word? What will people think of the Zhou family's daughter? How can they even talk about marriage?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xuan immediately raised the wine jar in his hand, ready to throw it to the ground.

Seeing this, Zhou Zhao reached out and took the wine jar from him. She found the table where Zhou Yan used to sit and sat down with a swagger.

They didn't bother with any ancient etiquette, kneeling upright but just sitting lazily on the ground, one leg propped up on the ground.

Zhou Zhao opened the wine jar, picked up a bowl and poured himself a cup, and gently sniffed it. "Good wine!"

She picked up the glass and took a big gulp, her black sleeves slipping down to reveal her fair wrists.

She was born with a pair of beautiful, upturned phoenix eyes that looked very sharp when she wasn't smiling. Now, as she glanced at people sideways, she exuded a natural kingly disdain that made people furious just by looking at her.

"How do others judge people? Of course, they use their eyes, or their assholes, right? Grandmother is really something. She sees that I am ignorant and incompetent, so she doesn't know how to judge people with her assholes."

When it comes to marriage... Grandmother, are you implying that all the Zhou girls back in our hometown have learned your outrageous habit of pointing fingers and cursing people, which is why they can't get married? You asked me about this, but I have no solution. Although I am a good person, I can't marry them all.

After all, like you, they can't carry on the family line.

As Zhou Zhao spoke, she looked at Zhou Xuan, who was standing there in a daze at the door, and Zhou Wan, whose eyes were faintly shining, and casually called out, "Why don't you sisters come in and sit down?"

As she spoke, she looked at the astonished servants and said, "Serve the food, I'm hungry."

The servants shuddered – that familiar feeling! This was exactly how Zhou Zhao used to be, with that "I'm the boss, so what" attitude they knew all too well!
The old lady snapped out of her daze after Zhou Zhao's words, her lips trembling with anger. Her hand, pointing at Zhou Zhao, trembled uncontrollably. "You wretched child! How could our Zhou family have given birth to such a wretched child? You killed your brother, wasn't that enough? Do you want to anger me to death too?"

Zhou Zhao didn't even lift his eyelids as he picked up a piece of lotus root sandwich.

"I think you're destined to live to be a hundred. Exhaling will clear your meridians, preventing them from being blocked by your descendants. How could you possibly die? Even if I die, you won't, after all, you're still waiting to see eight generations under one roof!"

In recent years, she has rarely spoken in front of the old lady. Zhou Yan's death is an insurmountable obstacle in her heart, a pain that can never be erased.

She thought the old lady hated her so much because she also loved Zhou Yan.

But now it seems that what she cares about is not Zhou Yan, but only the continuation of the Zhou family line.

Since that's the case, she doesn't want to give in to her anymore.

The old lady's face turned ashen. She swayed and almost fell to the ground. She reached out and grabbed a wine cup from the table, throwing it at Zhou Zhao's seat. "Is that where you're sitting? Zhou Buhai, are you just going to watch me die of anger because of your unfilial daughter?"

Zhou Zhao was eating her meal attentively when she tilted her head, causing the teacup to fly over and land on the ground, spilling tea all over the floor and rolling a long way away.

Zhou Xuan's expression changed instantly as she stood in front of the door. She strode over and stood directly in front of Zhou Zhao, while Zhou Wan rushed over like a little bird and grabbed the old lady's arm.

"Grandmother, please don't be angry with A-Zhao. She and Cheng-An are not only siblings, but also colleagues. They spend most of their time alone at the Court of Justice every day."

Zhou Wan's voice was very gentle, which was very soothing to listen to. The old lady who was roaring suddenly stiffened and relaxed her grip on the bowls and plates.

She glanced at Zhou Wan sharply, understanding the implication in her words.

Zhou Zhao doesn't hit the elderly, but she can secretly hit Zhou Cheng'an. After all, she used to have beaten up everyone in Chang'an.

The old lady's legs went weak, and she fell backward, leaning directly against Zhou Cheng'an. Her lips trembled slightly, and all the cursing words were stuck in her throat, unable to come out or be swallowed down, as if she had been cut by a soft knife.

Her vision went black, and she fell straight over.

"grandmother!"

"Mother!"

There was a moment of panic!
"Father, step aside, let me have it. I have some ginseng slices here!"

Zhou Zhao pursed her lips, picked up her wine cup and took a sip. Watching Zhou Wan busy herself around, she took out a slice of ginseng from her sleeve and stuffed it into the old lady's mouth. Then she stretched out her slender fingers and pinched her philtrum sharply.

Zhou Zhao couldn't help but gasp as he watched.

It seems that Zhou Wan really did go easy on her!

When she pinched her, the old lady screamed and immediately regained consciousness. There was a red fingernail mark under her nose, which looked particularly funny.

"Ah Wan, are you trying to pinch me..."

The old lady stopped mid-sentence, then swallowed her words. She saw Zhou Wan looking at her with teary eyes, her face filled with worry and affection. "Grandmother, that's wonderful! You're awake. Are you still dizzy? If so, we need to get some silver needles to prick your finger and draw blood..."

The old lady's gaze towards Zhou Wan changed when she heard about the finger-pricking and bloodletting.

Just as she was about to speak, she heard Zhou Wan speak with a sincere expression. She was like a little deer in the forest, so bright and innocent that no one could imagine that she had any bad intentions.

“Grandmother, I have always been worried that if you go to Dai, what will happen if you suffer from headaches? So my sister and I specially sought out Imperial Physician Chen in the palace to learn acupuncture. If I am only married far away, my sister will still be at home. We will have her come over then.”

"It hurts a bit, but you must bear it and not be afraid. Your father and brother can't live without you. They're all waiting for you to live to a ripe old age and for four generations to live together! Your brother Cheng'an is also waiting for you to take care of his children!"

What a long and healthy life, with four generations living under one roof!

Zhou Zhao glanced at Zhou Wan speechlessly. The same words, coming from Zhou Wan's mouth, were interpreted as heinous crimes and mockery! But from Zhou Wan's mouth, they were seen as filial piety? How filial she was! She was going to take over the land, yet she still gave Zhou Xuan a chance to pinch his philtrum and prick his finger…

Next time, she angered the old lady to the point of fainting.

Zhou Xuan just started stabbing directly, no need to make up any excuses anymore, right?

Zhou Zhao looked at the old lady, whose expression indeed softened. "Born of the same parents, you, Awan, are the most filial."

Zhou Zhao picked up a slice of roasted mutton. The spices from the Western Regions were incredibly potent, and the steaming aroma made him feel even hungrier.

It's better to go home; not only is there food to eat, but there's also a show to watch.

Zhou Zhao ate with gusto, and when she looked up, she saw her mother's eyes, which were filled with tears and her face was full of worry.

The image of her parents' smiling faces before she entered the door flashed through Zhou Zhao's mind, and she suddenly felt utterly bored.

(End of this chapter)