Widow Remarries in Sixties

The middle-aged man had graying hair and noticeable wrinkles on his forehead. His features were somewhat ordinary, but his smile made him look honest and sincere.

As he got closer, he hurried forward, patting Jiang Mingchuan’s arm, looking very excited, “It’s good that you’re back, just good. I was just talking to your mom about you, thinking you wouldn’t come back this year.”

Hearing this, Jiang Mingchuan felt a sour and tight feeling in his chest, his voice choked with emotion, “Dad.”

“Yes, yes,” the man responded happily. Finally noticing Jin Xiuzhu and the two children, he quickly said, “This must be the your wife and children? Very good, very good. Let’s go home for dinner. Your mom made a lot of delicious food today.”

He took the bag from Jiang Mingchuan’s right hand and grabbed his arm with the other hand, lamenting, “You, child, once you’re out, it’s like you’ve flown away. We hardly see any letters from you. Look at your brother; he wants to come home every day. If only you had stayed in the capital like him, we could see you whenever we miss you. Listen to me, come back whenever you can. It’s best for our family to stay together…”

He rambled on, sounding like a loving father missing his son.

Jiang Mingchuan listened quietly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Only Jin Xiuzhu felt something was off. If outsiders heard this, they might think Jiang Mingchuan was unfilial. Besides, despite Jiang Mingchuan’s adoptive father’s affectionate words, he had come alone to greet them. If he truly missed Jiang Mingchuan, wouldn’t he have brought the whole family?

Raising an eyebrow, Jin Xiuzhu diverted her attention to observe their surroundings.

They winded through several paths before arriving at a brightly lit, two-story house at the back. Jiang Mingchuan’s adoptive father called out, “Qianyun, our son is back!”

There was a moment of silence inside, then the sound of a chair scraping the floor. The door soon opened to reveal a thin, middle-aged woman. She had a long face, narrow eyes, and prominent hollows in her cheeks and temples, likely due to age.

Seeing them, she forced a smile, though it looked stiff, either from rarely smiling or not being able to smile at them. She dryly said, “You’re back?”

Facing Jiang Mingchuan, the woman’s expression softened a bit as he greeted him, “Mom.”

She then shifted her gaze to Jin Xiuzhu, scrutinizing her.

Jiang Mingchuan’s adoptive father seemed dissatisfied with her behavior and spoke harshly, “Your son is back, and you’re just standing there? Go and get them some bowls and chopsticks.”

Then he turned to the younger son sitting motionless at the table and scolded, “Your brother’s back, and that’s your attitude? No manners at all.”

Tao Qianyun immediately defended him, “Why are you scolding him? He’s been tired all day.”

She glanced at Jiang Mingchuan, showing little joy in her eyes, “I’ll get the chopsticks.”

With that, she turned and left.

As she reached the table, she addressed the woman feeding a child, “Come with me to get some bowls and chopsticks.”

The woman paused in her action of picking up food. Jin Xiuzhu noticed the sudden tension in her hand as if she were suppressing something, but in the end, she put down her chopsticks and obediently followed.

As soon as she left, the little boy being fed started to fuss.

The young man next to the boy scolded, “Why are you crying? Unlucky thing! You insisted on coming here. You’re just annoying.”

He ignored the child and lazily turned to Jiang Mingchuan at the door, grinning, “Oh, it’s my brother. Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I would’ve gone to pick you up.”

Jiang Mingchuan’s initial excitement gradually cooled.

It sounded like an insult.

Pan Shenglin reprimanded, “What kind of attitude is that? Where are your manners? Your brother comes home, and you don’t even greet him?”

In the past, Jiang Mingchuan would have brushed it off, but this time, thinking about his wife and children enduring this treatment, he chose not to respond.

The atmosphere grew tense.

Pan Shenglin glanced at his younger son, then at Jiang Mingchuan, who remained silent.

Finally, he awkwardly invited Jiang Mingchuan and his family to sit, personally fetching chairs. Jiang Mingchuan said nothing, set down his bag, and quietly told Jin Xiuzhu, “Let’s sit and eat first.”

Originally excited to meet his new grandparents, He Yan now sensed something was wrong and couldn’t help but look at his sister.

Fu Yanyan whispered to him, “Don’t talk. Mom and Dad are here.”

He Yan nodded obediently. Knowing his parents were there gave him confidence. Yes, with Mom and Dad here, there was nothing to fear.

The round dining table had ten dishes on it, which seemed barely touched, indicating they had just started eating.

Jin Xiuzhu ended up sitting across from Jiang Mingchuan’s brother.

Pan Jun raised an eyebrow meaningfully at Jin Xiuzhu. He wasn’t unattractive, inheriting the best features of his parents, with decent facial features, but his gaze made people uncomfortable, especially when it lingered on Jin Xiuzhu.

Jiang Mingchuan, sensing this, felt a surge of anger. He had been used to being ignored since childhood, but he couldn’t tolerate his brother’s lecherous gaze at Jin Xiuzhu.

He abruptly stood up and switched seats with Jin Xiuzhu, subtly blocking her from Pan Jun’s view.

Pan Jun noticed and smirked, muttering something under his breath that no one could hear.

It probably wasn’t anything good.

Jiang Mingchuan’s face looked a bit grim.

Jin Xiuzhu also felt uncomfortable, and her expression fell.

Soon, Jiang Mingchuan’s adoptive mother came out with bowls and chopsticks. She handed Jiang Mingchuan his set, and her daughter-in-law gave Jin Xiuzhu hers.

Jin Xiuzhu instinctively glanced up. The woman had delicate features, but up close, Jin Xiuzhu noticed fine lines around her eyes.

She didn’t look at Jin Xiuzhu. After placing the bowls and chopsticks, she returned to her seat and continued silently feeding her child.

Pan Shenglin, sitting at the head of the table, tried to liven up the atmosphere, “It’s rare for Mingchuan to bring his wife and children home. Congratulations! Let’s toast with tea instead of wine, wishing for a smooth and healthy year ahead.”

Jin Xiuzhu didn’t immediately raise her cup. Instead, she looked across the table and saw the mother and son slowly lifting theirs. Only then did she raise hers.

But no one echoed the sentiment.

Jin Xiuzhu couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Tao Qianyun, sitting across from her, looked displeased and asked, “What are you laughing at?”

Feeling this woman was very rude.

Jin Xiuzhu blinked innocently and said, “Nothing, just feels like everyone here is strangers.”

She was mocking their pretense. The letter had been so pleasant, but their actions were quite the opposite.

Zhong Xue, who was feeding her child, unexpectedly looked up at her.

Pan Shenglin, hearing this, looked a bit embarrassed. He glared at Tao Qianyun and then forced a smile to break the tension, “Indeed, we are not familiar with each other. Mingchuan, introduce us.”

Although Jiang Mingchuan wasn’t in the best mood, he began the introductions. Knowing his adoptive mother and brother’s personalities, he first introduced his adoptive parents.

Jin Xiuzhu and the two children obediently greeted them. When it came time to introduce Jin Xiuzhu and the kids, there was predictably no reaction from across the table.

Throughout the meal, only Jiang Mingchuan’s adoptive father spoke. Jiang Mingchuan, naturally taciturn, only answered when asked directly. As for Jin Xiuzhu, her participation depended on her mood. If she felt good, she could keep the conversation going, but if not, she wouldn’t say a word.

So, she kept her head down and ate, constantly picking meat for herself and the children, occasionally for Jiang Mingchuan too.

Tao Qianyun, sitting across from them, couldn’t bear it. Nearly all the meat dishes were taken by Jin Xiuzhu, like she was starved.

She deliberately extended her chopsticks to block her.

But Jin Xiuzhu, smiling, said, “Mom, do you like this? Let me serve you some.”

She kindly placed a portion on Tao Qianyun’s plate and then took the rest with a spoon into her own bowl.

She sweetly said, “Life in the city is indeed luxurious. We never get to eat such delicious food in the countryside.”

Hearing this, Tao Qianyun felt a burst of anger but couldn’t express it. She silently cursed Jin Xiuzhu as a country bumpkin and pauper.

Initially hesitant to say anything due to Jin Xiuzhu’s delicate appearance, now she assumed she was just a shallow rural woman with fair skin.

After the meal, she asked Jin Xiuzhu to help clean up and wash the dishes, using a pleasant excuse, “Let the men have a good talk while we ladies chat.”

Jiang Mingchuan, hearing this, was about to get up and help, but Jin Xiuzhu pressed him down. She stood up with a sweet smile, “Mom, you’re too kind. You go rest, leave this to me. I’m very good at housework.”

She gently pushed Tao Qianyun aside and swiftly cleaned up, saying, “Once I’m done, we can chat.”

Tao Qianyun, satisfied, thought Jin Xiuzhu had some sense and sat down on the sofa to rest.

Only Jiang Mingchuan and his two children silently watched, wondering if the sun had risen from the west today.

Jin Xiuzhu didn’t care. She cheerfully carried the pile of dishes to the kitchen. Zhong Xue followed, rolling up her sleeves to help, but Jin Xiuzhu warmly pushed her out.

Zhong Xue hadn’t been treated so warmly in a long time, and she stood at the doorway, unsure of what to do.

Luckily, her child came over to ease the awkwardness, holding onto her leg, “Mom, I need to go to the bathroom.”

Zhong Xue breathed a sigh of relief and took her daughter upstairs.

As they went up, the little girl opened her hand to reveal a tightly held candy, whispering, “Mom, that new brother gave this to me. I saved it for you.”

Hearing this, Zhong Xue’s eyes instantly turned red.

A while later, as everyone was awkwardly chatting in the living room, there was a sudden crash from the kitchen, accompanied by Jin Xiuzhu’s shout.

Jiang Mingchuan rushed to the kitchen, “Xiuzhu—”

He Yan also called out anxiously, “Mom—”

Only Tao Qianyun felt a sense of foreboding, yelling, “My dishes!”

When they all reached the kitchen door, they saw shattered pieces everywhere, no place to step. Jin Xiuzhu was huddled by the door, trembling.

Seeing Jiang Mingchuan, she threw herself into his arms, crying, “I was so scared. I didn’t mean to. I’ve never used such fine dishes before. They were too slippery…”

“It’s all my fault. I wanted to make a good impression on your family, so I took out all the dishes from the cabinet to wash. I didn’t expect them to fall. What should I do? Will your parents blame me? It’s all my fault. If only your mom hadn’t asked me to wash the dishes…”

Jiang Mingchuan: “…”

Fu Yanyan: “…”

Only He Yan, thinking his mom was really upset, tried to comfort her, “Mom, don’t cry. It was an accident. Grandma seems like a nice person; she won’t blame you.”

Tao Qianyun was seething, unable to speak, staring daggers at the mother and son.

He Yan, a bit scared, mustered the courage to ask, “Grandma, you won’t blame my mom, right?”

“…”

Tao Qianyun cursed inwardly, Who’s your grandma? She certainly didn’t want this grandson.

Those were expensive dishes, bought for hundreds of yuan, now they are all gone. Even the special set reserved for important guests was shattered.

Was this mother and son duo here to jinx her?