The 70s Novel: The Supporting Character Just Wants to Lie Down-Chapter 33: Neither Mother’s Nor In-Laws’ Is Truly Home

Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Neither Mother’s Nor In-Laws’ Is Truly Home

Zhu Zicheng’s face showed some awkwardness despite his smile. He hadn’t expected his own wife’s relationship with the family to be so strained.

"I told you not to come, it’s self-humiliation. Hurry up and leave, or are you waiting to be chased away..." Wang Zhaodi’s face had been dark since she came in, and upon hearing this, she immediately complained to Zhu Zicheng, turning to leave.

Zhu Zicheng did not follow her out. "Dad, Zhaodi is still the daughter of the family... we will come again during the Mid-Autumn Festival."

With that, he left the things behind and directly went out to chase after Wang Zhaodi.

The house fell quiet, and for a moment, no one knew what to say.

Wang Miaomiao stepped forward, looking at the things on the table: a can of malt milk, a pack of Da Gongji cigarettes, and two bottles of Lao Baigan liquor.

"Dad, what should we do with these?" Wang Miaomiao knew from the book’s summary that the protagonist was a crafty person and was at a loss about what to do.

"Sigh..." Wang Baoxing also wore a worried expression.

At this moment, Liu Yulan came out, glanced at the items on the table, and said to Wang Baoxing, "Go to the chicken coop and grab a chicken. There’s an unopened bag of brown sugar in the house, take this pack of cigarettes too and bring them as a return gift. Hurry, don’t wait too long and miss them."

"Alright..." A smile appeared on Wang Baoxing’s face as he quickly got up and went to the chicken coop to grab a chicken.

Watching his back, Liu Yulan sighed, as if speaking to herself or explaining to a few children, "They brought things here, and we mustn’t be impolite." Saying this, she went back to the room to take out the brown sugar and stuffed it into a mesh bag along with the cigarettes.

Wang Baoxing carried the items and chased after them, seeing from a distance the two pulling at each other, talking about something at the village entrance.

He sighed again, quickly walked up, and said, "Zhaodi, Zicheng. There’s nothing good at home, and we weren’t prepared today, so we won’t keep you for dinner. Please take these back..."

Wang Baoxing handed the items to Zhu Zicheng, who didn’t want to take them and pushed them back.

"Alright, enough pushing and pulling here is not good-looking either." Wang Baoxing sighed, "Zicheng, Zhaodi has not had it easy over the years, please understand her a bit more. Our family’s matters... sigh... it’s complicated and not clear in a few words, in the future... sigh..."

Wang Baoxing indeed said nothing more, stuffing the items into Zhu Zicheng’s hands and turning to leave.

Watching his back, Wang Zhaodi’s eyes reddened, and Zhu Zicheng, seeing his sad wife in front of him, felt heartbroken too. He comforted, "It’s my fault today, don’t be upset. In the future... I’ll listen to you for everything..."

About this return visit, the couple had started arguing about it yesterday. Yesterday was the Dragon Boat Festival, and Zhu Zicheng originally planned to come then, combining the festival with the visit, but Wang Zhaodi disagreed. She didn’t explain her reasons, just got angry in silence.

The same was true today. Ever since he brought it up in the morning, she remained silent, going to work as usual. He had no choice but to go to work too.

By evening, when work was done, and if not for his mother asking: why haven’t they returned yet?

Wang Zhaodi might still have been sulking and refused to come.

"It’s my fault..." Wang Zhaodi took the mesh bag from his hand, slowly starting to talk about her family matters as they walked.

When the matchmaker introduced them, Zhu Zicheng only knew that Wang Zhaodi had a stepmother but did not know she had suffered so much at home, especially since the dowry she brought on their wedding day wasn’t small.

Hearing his wife’s grievances, Zhu Zicheng couldn’t help but side with her, immediately expressing and comforting, "Zhaodi, you have me in the future, and I’ll treat you well for a lifetime. As for your family’s matters, I’ll follow your lead."

Wang Zhaodi felt warmth in her heart upon hearing this, secretly glad she had married the right person.

She glanced at the mesh bag in her hand and the chicken in Zhu Zicheng’s hand, smiled, and said, "You can’t be blamed for this. It’s my fault for not clarifying with you in the first place. But today wasn’t in vain, at least she understands propriety."

Wang Zhaodi referred to Liu Yulan, knowing her father must have gotten her agreement before taking out these things since she’s the one in charge at home.

Wang Zhaodi’s eyes flickered, and she thought for a while, then said, "I’ll follow your lead on this; let’s visit during the three main festivals yearly. Otherwise, if your mom and sisters-in-law find out I’m not on good terms with my family, they’ll definitely talk."

Before she got married, she felt it was not easy at her parents’ house and wanted to get married early to escape that home. But after marriage, the complexities and difficulties at her husband’s home also emerged...

Since she moved in, her mother-in-law constantly made sarcastic remarks, indirectly criticizing her, never ceasing.

Under the same roof, it’s hard not to see each other. Even though they have separated homes, they still share a doorway.

And the room she got was just as small and stifling as the one at her parents’ home. All aspects of life had to be handled in the same room.

She knew Zhu Zicheng married her against his family’s wishes, but didn’t expect his family to be so harsh. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

What does it mean to have a separated family to look like a separated family, huh... truly unwilling to bear any loss.

The house was small, and they had to carve out a space to cook. With no proper stove, only arranging broken bricks into a makeshift stove, no pot, using a tea mug to prepare food.

That’s how they lived for these days, very difficult, with no one to assist, relying solely on themselves.

"Are we heading home now? If we walk slowly, won’t they ask why we’re back without having dinner?" Zhu Zicheng believed if they were acting, they should act thoroughly.

"Aren’t you hungry? Where else would we go if not home?" Wang Zhaodi agreed with him; even if it meant suffering for pride, she was willing, "Should we go to my second aunt’s place then?"

When they came, they first visited Li Yinfeng, and Wang Zhaodi certainly wouldn’t forget her second aunt; if she visited, it must include going there.

However, they didn’t stay for a meal, only said they were going to Wang Baoxing’s home afterward, leaving their things and departing. The items given to her family weren’t much, just a bag of brown sugar and a can of malt milk. Though less than the Wang family’s, Li Yinfeng was very satisfied, standing proudly against the Zhang Family at home.

"No, it’s getting late." Zhu Zicheng thought for a while, "I’ll take you to catch some fish, and then we can have grilled fish, and go home afterward." He recalled a place where he used to mess around with friends, thinking it’d be nice to take her there.

Tonight was a full moon, beautifully bright.

With enthusiasm, Zhu Zicheng took Wang Zhaodi to a small riverbank where there was an old house, a fish shed.

"This used to be a pond, leased for fish farming. Later, it was dug through, turning into a river, and abandoned." Zhu Zicheng found a broken net in the old house, with patched holes, still usable, and he didn’t intend to catch many fish, just enough for two.

With one cast, he only snagged three small fish. Refusing to give up, Zhu Zicheng walked a bit further away for another cast. After a few attempts, they finally had enough for two people.