In the main hall, Zhou Xiaozheng checked his watch and decided to take the children home early. It would be too late, cold and dark. Besides, Zhao Chuangguang was probably getting impatient waiting in the county town.

After finally getting a moment's rest from their conversation, he glanced at Old Cheng, stood up, and said, "Second Brother Zhang, we're going back to the county town first. It's going to be terribly cold when it gets dark, and it won't be convenient with the elderly and children around, so we'll just leave first. If you have anything to say, have Xiaowu write to me or send me a telegram. When you have time, come visit the capital with Second Sister-in-law."

Father Zhang quickly pulled him aside and said, "Brother Zhou, why don't you stay at my house tonight? You're in such a hurry to leave before you even have time to sit on this bench."

Zhou Xiaozheng persuaded him with a smile, "We are all family, so why should we worry about whether the chairs are warm or not? We just want to be polite with you. We will eat and leave, and we won't be polite. When we have time later, we can get together and chat slowly. If something really happens now, there are people waiting for us in the county town."

Father Zhang glared at her helplessly, then turned to Old Cheng and the others and said, "Uncle Lin, Uncle Cheng, I won't keep you here if something else happens. Next time you come, make sure to stay at my house and we'll continue our conversation."

Old Cheng stepped forward, patted him on the shoulder, and said happily, "When I retire, I will definitely come here when I have time. Several of our in-laws are in Beijing, so you must come over often. Old Lin said he would wait for you to come over for a drink, so don't forget."

Old Master Lin nodded cheerfully. "It's all arranged. You must come. Send a telegram as soon as you leave. I'll pick you up at the station myself."

Zhang Guoqing watched a group of people walk out the door, walked out of the main hall and quickly walked towards the room. As soon as he entered, he saw that his mother-in-law and Zhou Jiao had already packed up and were waiting to leave.

"Jiaojiao, congratulations, you are free." Zhang Guoqing smiled and bowed to her.

Zhou Jiao hurriedly looked outside and glanced at him.

Zhang Guoqing nodded in understanding and took the packages and luggage from the two people. "Where's my great aunt? Don't just run away happily after abandoning our son."

Lin Lishan laughed heartily. "Your great aunt is staying with Ping'an. She's just worried that Jiaojiao will run away and forget about her son."

"Mom, I still trust you, lest Jiaojiao throw her son away like a parcel later. You take care of your grandson. Jiaojiao will support the aunt, and I will protect you the whole way."

After Zhou Jiao and the others left, Zhang Guoqing moved his luggage back to his room and checked the stove. Seeing that there was nothing wrong, he walked out with confidence.

The courtyard gate was packed with people, and the Zhang family was busy saying goodbye to them. Father Zhang had been chatting happily with Old Man Lin and the others, and in the end, Zhou Xiaozheng pulled him into Old Man Lin's car and asked them to go back to the county town to talk slowly. Otherwise, the two of them would probably chat until dark.

Zhang Guoqing, with a car full of women soldiers, drove slowly behind the car, occasionally looking at the beaming Zhou Jiao and laughing to himself. He had been feeling really pent up these days. Seeing her gaze at the road with shining eyes, humming a little tune, from "The East is Red" to "Honghu Water", she must be in a very happy mood.

"Jiaojiao, let's sing the Kangding love song."

Zhou Jiao laughed heartily, and after a moment she opened her voice, "On the hills where horses gallop, there's a cloud... The moon is crescent-curved, and you can beg for anything you want."

Old Mrs. Cheng and the others sang along in harmony at the back until the song was finished.

Lin Lishan quickly clapped her hands and praised happily, "Jiaojiao, wait for you to come to Beijing and help your mother sing a song on stage. Tell me what else you can do?"

Zhou Jiao waved her hands hurriedly, "Mom, don't think that your daughter is good at everything and I only know the basics. Stop pushing me and making a fool of myself."

Zhang Guoqing disagreed, "Mom, don't listen to her. She knows so much more. If anything, the leaders of your art troupe would have to invite her on stage."

"Oh, Xiaowu, tell me about it. This kid just likes to hide things. How can you show your excellence if you don't show it?"

Zhang Guoqing laughed heartily. "She just doesn't want to show it. She's very talented, but you'd never guess what her greatest strength is? Language skills. She can speak Russian and English with ease, even with anyone. She learned all that on her own. Just find someone who speaks that language and have them speak in front of her for ten days or half a month, and she'll be able to hold a conversation fluently."

Mrs. Cheng wasn't surprised. Her brother-in-law could speak five languages, and he could speak the Jiangnan dialect just by hearing it a few times. But Lin Lishan was shocked. "This kid, I didn't know he had this ability. What else is there? Xiaowu, tell me."

Zhang Guoqing glanced at Zhou Jiao with amusement, seeing she didn't object. "Besides her language skills, she can basically figure out anything she sees. Take musical instruments, for example. She knows the common suona, erhu, and harmonica. She knows everything the school music teacher knows. If you find someone to play the piano and show her a couple of times, I think she'll be able to play it exactly. Even the school principal praises her calligraphy, but she never shows off. Her calligraphy is much better than the ones on the couplets. There are many more. When you discover them, you'll feel really amazing and think you gave birth to a freak."

Lin Lishan laughed heartily and asked Old Lady Cheng, "Aunt, is this inherited from her grandfather?"

Old Madam Cheng smiled and nodded. "I guess there's more to it than that. It's a good thing Jiaojiao can hold her own. Don't tell anyone about it. Fame is too burdensome and not a good thing. For example, if someone knew about her photographic memory, they would be wary of her. Being too outstanding would be bad for her future development. Hiding it is actually a smart move. A tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind, and a pile that rises high on the shore will be swept away by the current. This lesson started with her grandfather, and our family must always remember it."

After saying this, the old lady sighed and instructed Zhou Jiao, "Grand Aunt has seen your grandfather's excellence, but his brilliance is too great, and no one wants to approach him. Excellent people don't like to live in their shadow, and mediocre people are jealous. What does it mean that God is jealous of talented people? Your grandfather is a living example. If you want to go your own way, you must be secretive, keep a low profile, and wait until you can stand on your own feet without fear. Then you will have the strength and can do whatever you want.

Great Aunt, I guess you know quite a bit. You're smarter than your grandfather. He was truly successful at a young age, with smooth sailing, which ultimately led to his arrogance. You've endured so much, but that's a good thing. At least you've lowered your standards and become more realistic. There are only a few people in this world who are naturally gifted and ultimately successful, like Liu Bang and Xiang Yu.

Your grandmother, influenced by her father's upbringing, has developed a strong character and never gives up. But for a woman, this is too tiring and too much of a burden.

"My great aunt has only now come to understand these truths. You are a girl, so take a proper rest, look around you, and always remember that contentment brings happiness."

Zhou Jiao replied seriously, "Grandma, I remember everything. I always tell myself that the sky is big and I am small."

"You are not insignificant. You have Xiaowu, and Xiaowu has you. You two are a perfect match. Neither of you can be insignificant. Auntie is not asking you to keep a low profile. You have to show your skills and take action when you need to."

As they were about to reach Zhang Meili's courtyard, Zhang Guoqing smiled and didn't continue the topic. "Mom, our eldest sister's house is just ahead. They're going to warm up their house next Sunday, so we have to start preparing."

Zhang's mother was happily listening to Zhou Jiao and Old Lady Cheng's conversation. Suddenly, she heard her son's voice and woke up. She looked at the yard behind her and said, "It's really close to your second sister's house."

"Yeah, they're just two houses away. You can hear them if they shout. I'll take you to see them when they get off work."

"Okay, I have to talk to your eldest sister and ask her to help keep an eye on you. Xiaowu, remember Jiaojiao hasn't completed her confinement yet, so don't go shopping around, and don't let her touch cold water. What are you going to do about meals?"

Zhang Guoqing said with a smile: "Don't worry, Mom. We will go back to the village as soon as we feel uncomfortable. We will go back in a few days when the baby is one month old."

Zhang Guoqing parked the car. "We're here. Mom, take care of Ping An. I'll take care of the things here myself. You all go straight into the house. Jiaojiao, go take a look at the study and the bunk bed first. You'll definitely like it."

Just as he finished speaking, Zhou Xiaozheng came out quickly, "Aunt, sister-in-law, please go in quickly. Jiaojiao, daddy will take you in to see if you like it."

Zhang Guoqing watched his father-in-law pulling Jiaojiao straight in, and smiled helplessly at Old Lady Cheng and the others. Old Lady Cheng and the others had seen this before, and they just smiled at each other as they went in.