Looking at the marriage certificate and household registration page in her hands, Zhou Yu smiled sincerely.
Only now, with these two documents in hand, did it truly feel real that she had been reborn, had not married Zhao Ziming again, and would not have to face the same fate as in her previous life.
“Xiaoyu, now that the marriage registration is done, we should hurry back. Otherwise, we won’t make it in time to cook for your father and Ziming.”
Wang Hongmei called her “Xiaoyu” affectionately, one pet name after another.
To be honest, across both lifetimes, this was the first time Zhou Yu had heard Wang Hongmei call her so warmly.
The moment she heard it, she knew there was a catch.
Sure enough, Wang Hongmei continued:
“Oh dear, I was in such a hurry this morning that I didn’t bring enough money. There’s only enough for one person to take the ox cart home. Xiaoyu, what do you think…”
Her face was full of embarrassment and regret.
Zhou Yu looked at her coldly and replied smoothly,
“That’s fine, Mom. You’re older and shouldn’t walk such a long distance. You take the ox cart home. I’ll walk back myself. It’s only about a two-hour journey.”
Wang Hongmei nodded in satisfaction.
These past few days had truly frustrated her.
She had married a daughter-in-law into the family specifically to do housework, yet Zhou Yu hadn’t lifted a finger. The neighbors had laughed at her more than once, saying she was a useless mother-in-law.
Now that Zhou Yu officially belonged to the Zhao family, Wang Hongmei intended to establish her authority.
“Then I’ll head back first,” she said hypocritically. “Don’t rush. We’ll save some food for you at home.”
Zhou Yu nodded and watched her leave before rolling her eyes.
Did Wang Hongmei really think she couldn’t tell it was intentional?
Still, Zhou Yu had something important to do in the county town today anyway. She had been wondering how to get rid of Wang Hongmei, but Wang Hongmei had conveniently left on her own.
Turning around, Zhou Yu headed straight for the post and telecommunications office.
She hurried all the way there and arrived just before the staff got off work.
Only a few people remained in line.
She found an empty counter and asked,
“Hello, comrade. I’d like to ask whether I can withdraw money from my husband’s savings account on his behalf.”
The clerk looked up.
“As long as you have the proper documents.”
Zhou Yu was planning to collect the compensation payment next week, but she remembered that in her previous life, Zhao Ziming seemed to have brought additional paperwork when he withdrew the money. She wasn’t sure.
Obviously, the Zhao family would never tell her the details, so she had come to ask herself.
“What if my husband is a soldier? Would documents alone still be enough?”
Upon hearing that she was a military spouse, the clerk’s expression immediately became respectful.
Patiently, he explained,
“You’ll also need the remittance notice mailed to your home. With the remittance notice, we’ll release the funds.”
A remittance notice?
In her previous life, after Zhao Yunzheng had been sent home, a package arrived every month. The family claimed they were medicine and nutritional supplements sent by his comrades who cared about him.
The packages had continued for three or four months.
Could the remittance notice have been inside those packages?
Calculating the dates, this month’s package should arrive within the next day or two!
After thanking the clerk, Zhou Yu used her own identification to open a savings account.
Once she received the compensation money, she couldn’t keep it in the Zhao household. Depositing it immediately would be much safer. Otherwise, what if the Zhao family discovered it and tried to take it?
After finishing the paperwork, Zhou Yu carefully tucked the passbook into her pocket.
Then she bought two steamed buns to eat before taking the ox cart back to Niuniu Village.
When she had left the Zhou family, Zhou Dajun and Li Juying hadn’t given her a single cent.
Growing up under their watchful eyes, she’d never had the chance to save money.
Fortunately, Zhou Rulan had practically gifted her a new outfit and hair ornament.
A few days ago, Zhou Yu had secretly found an opportunity to sell them at half price to a female educated youth in the village.
The few yuan she earned were enough to cover her expenses for the next several days.
After arriving in Niuniu Village, Zhou Yu didn’t rush home.
Otherwise, she’d have a hard time explaining to Wang Hongmei how she’d returned so quickly.
Instead, she headed toward the back of the village, planning to gather some purslane and dandelions to boil into a foot soak for Zhao Yunzheng.
Over the past two days, while massaging his legs, she had noticed that his calves had become somewhat stiff from lying motionless for so long.
In her previous life, Zhao Changdong and Wang Hongmei had still been too embarrassed to dump his care onto her at this stage. It wasn’t until six months later that she took over, by which point the muscle atrophy in Zhao Yunzheng’s legs had already become obvious.
Since she had decided to care for him properly this time, she wanted to prevent that from happening in advance.
A foot soak made from purslane and dandelions was good for circulation and leg health.
It didn’t take long for Zhou Yu to find a patch of purslane.
Just as she was about to dig some up, she suddenly heard soft sobbing and a man’s helpless voice coming from the nearby cornfield.
Hmm?
Why did that sound familiar?
Her curiosity piqued, Zhou Yu crouched down and quietly crept closer.
To her surprise, the man was Zhao Ziming!
Standing in front of him was a young woman with two glossy black braids and delicate, attractive features.
Wasn’t that Meng Jiaru from the educated youth compound?
Meng Jiaru had been sent down to the countryside four years ago.
According to rumors, she came from a very good family in the city. Her father was even a cadre at a state-owned factory.
Had government policy not required it, she never would have come to the countryside to suffer hardship.
Even after arriving, her family frequently mailed her food, supplies, and money.
The family clearly cared deeply about her.
The following year, when notices allowing educated youths to return to the cities were issued, others would fight desperately for the limited quotas.
Meng Jiaru, however, already had connections arranged by her family and had secured her return long before anyone else.
None of those things alone would have made Zhou Yu pay attention to her.
What caught her attention was that Meng Jiaru had been utterly devoted to Zhao Ziming.
Even after returning to the city, she still couldn’t forget him.
Later, after Zhao Ziming became a university student, Meng Jiaru remained infatuated and even helped Zhao Changdong and Wang Hongmei several times after they found work at a state-owned factory.
There was another reason Zhou Yu knew her.
A few days ago, it had been Meng Jiaru who bought the clothes and hair ornament.
Among all the educated youths, only Meng Jiaru could casually produce several yuan at once.
At this moment, the hair ornament she wore was the very one Zhou Rulan had previously worn.
With tears in her eyes, Meng Jiaru looked at Zhao Ziming.
“Teacher Zhao, I know you’re going to marry Zhou Rulan. I won’t cling to you. But I just want to say this—Zhou Rulan has already been married once. How can she possibly be worthy of you?”
Zhao Ziming felt displeased hearing criticism of the woman he loved.
Yet remembering how easily Meng Jiaru had returned to the city in his previous life, he restrained himself.
“You shouldn’t say that. Rulan is kind-hearted, gentle, and has good character. That’s what matters most.”
“Comrade Meng, please don’t say such things again. And don’t come looking for me anymore. If someone sees us together, it won’t be good for your reputation.”
Hearing this only made Meng Jiaru feel worse.
Zhao Ziming was the most handsome man she had ever met.
He was also one of the few educated men in all the surrounding villages.
How could she not love him?
But now he was going to marry someone who was completely unworthy of him.
How could she accept that?
Meng Jiaru wanted to say more.
But Zhao Ziming was eager to see Zhou Rulan and had already lost patience.
After offering a few perfunctory words of farewell, he turned and left.
As she watched his departing figure, tears rolled down Meng Jiaru’s cheeks.
Seeing this, an idea suddenly occurred to Zhou Yu.
She had been wondering how to get hold of the remittance notice.
Since Zhao Ziming had also been reborn, he definitely knew about the remittance notice and probably knew when it would arrive.
If something could distract him right now and occupy his attention, he might not be focused on the notice.
That would give her a chance to obtain it before he did.
Zhou Yu’s eyes lit up.
Then she stepped out from hiding and deliberately called out in surprise,
“Oh? Comrade Meng? Why are you crying here?”