Zhou Jiao had no idea how the foreign financial markets were changing in the golden autumn of October. She only knew that the arrival of international letters brought good news.

At the same time, the vegetable greenhouse cultivation technology in the old house has become more mature and has been invested by the Agricultural Department in a test field in the suburbs.

Just as she had imagined, Yuan Shuzhen was transferred to work as a technician. Although he was still a temporary worker, he would have the opportunity to become a regular employee at the end of the year.

I thought that after Uncle Yuan left, Aunt Yuan would follow, but she ended up staying. So this year, two more veterans joined the old house.

The days passed slowly, and the shadow left by the passing of Old Mrs. Cheng and her husband seemed to dissipate with time, but everyone knew that they had just buried their sadness deep in their hearts.

Especially the closest children.

Miao Lishan put down the phone, looked at Zhou Jiao and sighed, "Your uncle-in-law decided to take a leave to accompany your aunt for a walk. We can't let her stay here and have wild thoughts."

Zhou Jiao rubbed her face with her hands. "Has he decided where to go?"

She was in favor of Cheng Ruzhu and her husband going out to relax. The departure of the old lady and her husband had already made Cheng Ruzhu depressed.

"They said they were going to your eldest cousin's place first. Last time, after the funeral, they hurried back. Now let them have a good chat."

Sichuan Province is a good place, with a suitable climate, beautiful mountains and clear waters, not inferior to the lower Yangtze River. With the counsel of Cheng Sijin, who is like a father to his elder brother, he can always get some comfort.

If that doesn't work, wait until the end of the year and let Cheng Ruzhu stay with Cheng Siyu, the second oldest son of the Cheng family in Cheng City, for a few days.

"I'll see them off when they leave."

"No need. Your uncle-in-law just wants to let us know. We should be leaving in the next two days. Just stop by his house when you get home from get off work tomorrow."

Zhou Jiao had no objection to her mother's suggestion and nodded.

It was a rare weekend, and the sun was about to set. Not to mention her father who had left early in the morning, even Zhang Guoqing would not be able to make it home for lunch.

They are busy again.

Zhou Jiao glanced at the clock in the living room. It was already past four in the afternoon. She chatted with her mother for a few words and then left alone to go to the kitchen.

When Wuyi came back, the aroma of the food had already filled the air. He touched his stomach and secretly felt lucky that he had skipped the school activities and escaped back home.

"Xiaobao, come to grandma quickly."

Wuyi smiled when he heard that and ran towards Miao Lishan at the living room door, saying with a complaining tone, "Grandma, it's a good thing I came back alone. Just call me by my nickname from now on."

Miao Lishan looked at him amusedly, then turned and walked inside. "No room for negotiation! Isn't Xiaobao just a nickname? Your mother is already this old, and your grandfather still often calls her "good girl."

Wuyi put his hand on her shoulder and rolled his eyes speechlessly, "Okay, okay, whatever you say is what it is. Let's see what you can say when my brother's son is born."

Miao Lishan suddenly chuckled.

"Grandma, my mom is in the kitchen?"

"That's right. She said she would cook a couple more dishes for you to satisfy your craving. Why are you back so late today?"

"Something happened at school." Wuyi helped his grandmother sit on the sofa and pointed outside. "I'm going to help my mother. You keep waiting."

When Zhou Xiaozheng and Zhang Guoqing, the father-in-law and son-in-law, came back, the table in the dining room was already set with food. They hurriedly washed their hands and started eating.

Although the Zhou family does not have the rule of not talking while eating or sleeping, if there is nothing else, the family is still used to chatting in the living room after dinner.

What to talk about?

It was time again for a TV in the living room to play the news.

The family’s topics of conversation are not only about current affairs and people’s livelihood issues, but also about their respective work and study issues.

Anyway, it's all nonsense.

Same as usual.

As soon as the news ended, they turned to other programs, leaving Miao Lishan to continue watching. Zhou Jiao and her father had already started a game of black and white chess.

Wuyi stayed close to his father Zhang Guoqing. The father and son huddled together, whispering to each other and laughing heartily from time to time.

Of course, Zhou Xiaozheng did not delay either. He held the white chess piece in one hand and took a sip of high-quality Longjing tea in a small teacup in the other hand, and chatted with his precious daughter about some things other than chess.

The atmosphere in the living room is warm and peaceful.

Not long after, a shrill phone call suddenly rang out.

"I'll go and pick it up, Grandpa, you take a rest." Wuyi immediately stood up, glanced at the time on the wall clock, and went into his grandfather's large study.

There were two telephones on the upper left corner of the desk, one red and one black. The red one was Zhou Xiaozheng's private telephone, while the black one that was ringing at that moment was the Zhou family's external telephone.

Wuyi picked up the phone: "Hello? Who is this?"

"Is it Ping An or June 1st and May 1st? I'm your master uncle. Please ask your mother to come over and answer the phone."

Zhu Ling's usual calm voice on the phone was now panicked and tense. Wuyi immediately stopped smiling and said, "This is Wuyi. Uncle Master, please stay calm. What exactly happened?"

"I can't calm down. Your master has fainted and is now in the hospital."

Wuyi's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly replied, "We'll be there in ten minutes."

After hanging up the phone, Wuyi quickly returned to the living room and said, "Dad, Mom, accompany me for a while." As he said that, he shook his head at his grandfather Zhou Xiaozheng.

It’s not that he doesn’t want his grandfather to go, but it’s a bit of a disadvantage for him to have such a noble status. If he goes out, he will be surrounded by guards, not to mention traveling at night.

Miao Lishan turned off the TV and asked quickly, "Who's calling?"

"My master uncle called, Grandma, I'll tell you the details when I get back."

Zhou Xiaozheng glanced at his daughter with concern as she jumped up, and then told Zhang Guoqing, "Take good care of Jiaojiao. Call home if anything happens."

"good."

As she spoke, Zhou Jiao had already stood up and walked out, "Mom and Dad, you should go to bed early."

Zhang Guoqing nodded to his father-in-law and followed her out the door.

In the back seat of the car, Zhou Jiao clutched Zhang Guoqing's hand tightly, silently. Ever since the old lady and her husband passed away, she had been worried that her master's time was approaching.

But she never expected it to happen so soon. Some time ago, she and her fellow brothers discussed waiting for him to turn 100 in two years and then give him a good birthday celebration.

Wuyi was driving, glancing at the interior mirror from time to time, observing Zhou Jiao. "Mom, my master-in-law is fine, he just fainted. I guess he went out to play somewhere and forgot to eat."

"He used to say that he would wait until my three brothers got married and had children, and then he would choose one to inherit his legacy. Last week, I went there with my brothers, and he said that no matter how we planned to have children, we had to leave him one."

Zhou Jiao curled her lips and said, "He will be fine. Please drive carefully."

"Okay. Mom, don't be nervous. I think my master is a living god. He will definitely live another twenty years. In the summer, he even went to the village with a few of us to steal melons."

In order to comfort his mother, Wuyi confessed his own embarrassing experiences, "My master-in-law once went to the river with the three of us brothers to catch shrimps. He filled a bamboo basket by himself, while the three of us only got half..."