"Mom, I'm here..."

As soon as Zhou Jiao got off the train, she heard Ping An's familiar voice. Without caring about being surprised, she followed the direction of the voice and saw her parents with the child in front.

"Dad, Mom, didn't I tell my godfather not to send you a telegram? It's too much trouble to answer it."

Zhou Xiaozheng glanced at her. How silly! Her family had a car and a driver. It was difficult to pick her up from school, but she didn't want someone to pick her up when she came all the way home.

Lin Lishan happily betrayed her husband, "As soon as your father received the call and learned that you were back, I knew he would come to pick you up. I was afraid he wouldn't let me go, so I brought Ping An with me..."

Zhou Xiaozheng coughed twice to stop his wife from speaking without restraint, "Let's go, Xiao Wang and the others are coming out with their luggage."

Zhou Jiao turned around and saw that the two men were indeed very conspicuous in their military uniforms. She then smiled and said, "Dad, is there enough room in the car? You won't let them run back, will you?"

Ping An was the first to hold up two fingers and pointed, "Mom, these are two cars. Dad, I'm here, Dad..."

"Dad, Mom, why did you come here in person?" Zhang Guoqing happily quickened his pace to take the child and greeted Zhou Xiaozheng and his wife.

"Grandpa and grandma miss mom and dad, and I miss you too. The great-grandfathers in the courtyard miss dad too. They're wondering why Xiaowu hasn't come back yet."

Everyone laughed out loud at Ping'an's lifelike imitation of words.

When they arrived at the stop, Zhang Guoqing took the initiative to sit in the driver's seat without saying anything, making Xiao Wang and others in the car behind smile and shake their heads - they would know how powerful he was soon.

As expected, the car arrived at the gate of the compound and was stopped. Of course, it wasn't the sentry. If you were to ask who was most familiar with the sentry team, it would be Zhang Guoqing.

"What are you guys doing here? Come back home." Zhang Guoqing had no choice but to stop the car and shouted to Wan Dayong and the others.

"Come out right away, we have something to talk to you about." Wan Dayong and the others said, and quickly waved him in first. Thunder rumbled, how did they see Comrade Lao Zhou in this car?

Zhang Guoqing observed their expressions and saw no signs of impatience. He smiled, nodded, waved to them, and slowly drove into the compound.

Lin Lishan waited until the car drove a short distance away and said with a smile, "They are afraid of your father. They met me on the road before and asked me several times when you would be back. I don't think it's urgent. Maybe they just want to see if you brought back any meat."

Zhang Guoqing shook his head speechlessly. His father-in-law was such a good man, he couldn't understand why those people didn't have the taste to appreciate him!

Ping An, unwilling to be left out, interjected, "The director's grandmother and aunt are also afraid of my grandfather. My grandfather has a wooden cannon. If she doesn't obey, he will kill her."

The whole family burst into laughter again at his childish voice.

Zhou Jiao agreed with him, "Right. That's why children have to be obedient. If they don't obey, they will be beaten!"

Ping An looked at her with resentment. He was so obedient, he didn't even cry for his mother. He was more obedient than any other child. His grandfather praised him, so why didn't his mother praise him?

Zhou Xiaozheng stroked his fine hair and said, "Ping An is very well behaved. Keep it up."

Ping An's eyes curved with joy when he heard that. Then he thought of something and immediately sat up straight, suppressing his smile. "I'm a man, I keep my word."

Everyone was forced to suppress their laughter. If they laughed out loud, the child would be wronged and angry. Everyone then praised him a few times, and saw his little face was dignified, his eyes sparkling - it seems that no matter how smart a child is, he still needs more praise.

When we got home, a few soldiers helped us move our belongings into the living room. The sacks we packed were for the journey, and they were filled with game, grains, and a few barrels of oil.

Ever since she separated from the family and started cooking on her own, Zhou Jiao had forgotten that people nowadays cook by wiping the bottom of the pan with gauze dipped in oil, and even Aunt Chen only uses a few chopsticks of oil to cook.

When she returned home this time, she realized she had been a bit careless. Worried about the health risks of animal oil, she went to different oil mills to grind several barrels of soybean oil and peanut oil.

Aunt Chen was delighted that the couple had brought back game, and she was ecstatic to see two 20-pound barrels of oil. Over the past two months, every household's oil quota has been reduced. She was just about to report this to Zhou Jiao, but now there's enough to last a whole year.

Seeing this, Zhou Jiao didn't remind her to give half to her friends and family. She just wanted to make her happy first. It would make Aunt Chen sad sooner or later anyway, so it was better to do it later.

Seeing her son-in-law say hello and leave, Lin Lishan hurriedly called out, "Xiaowu, bring some meat over."

Zhang Guoqing shook his head. How could he take it over? Who should he give it to?

Seeing this, Zhou Jiao pulled her mother and whispered, "Xiao Wu has too many good friends. Wait until they have a dinner party before bringing him over. It's no use giving him to anyone now."

Zhou Xiaozheng shook his head speechlessly at the mother and daughter. "Let's arrange the people who need to be sent away first. Your aunt's will be there later. She went to your aunt's this morning and will be here soon."

"Is my aunt okay?"

Zhou Xiaozheng raised the corner of his mouth and smiled: "Xiaoyu got into a fight with someone and was beaten by his father, so the old lady went to put out the fire."

Zhou Jiao raised an eyebrow in surprise. Wen Congwen, that gentleman, would resort to violence? Shouldn't he have used words, not violence? She didn't ask any more questions. If she was right, the boy would come to her for comfort soon.

"Dad, is everything okay at home these days?"

"It's fine, but it's a lot quieter when you're not home. How are your parents-in-law? Did your uncle Dashan say anything?"

Zhou Jiao smiled and said, "Everything is fine. Uncle Dashan and Xiaowu talked for a long time, but they still don't want to be transferred to the provincial capital. They think Chi Xiao is the best king. Zuo Lin and his family want to return to Beijing as soon as possible. Aunt Zuo said that Mr. Zuo returned to Beijing to recuperate before the New Year. Has Zuo Sen been transferred back?"

Zhou Xiaozheng nodded, "Zuo Sen's transfer order has been issued, and he will take up his post after the new year."

Zhou Jiao initially wanted to ask which department he'd been transferred to, but then she thought better of it. Her father hadn't been concerned, which meant nothing unexpected had happened; everything was as he'd anticipated. Everything would become clear once the Zuo family returned to Beijing.

Aunt Chen finally saw that the father and daughter had reached an agreement, and she whispered, "Chief, please eat first. I've left Xiaowu's food in the pot."

Zhou Jiao smiled and patted her forehead. She wasn't hungry herself, but she had forgotten that her parents and children had been waiting for her at the station. She immediately stood up and pulled him up, urging everyone to eat first.

Halfway through the meal, Old Lady Cheng brought twelve-year-old Wen Chengyu to the Zhou family.

Seeing this, Zhou Jiao quickly asked Aunt Chen to add more bowls and chopsticks. She pulled Wen Chengyu, who was standing aside with a wronged look on his face, and said softly, "Tell your sister what dishes you like. Our Xiaoyu is an uncle now, and he can't let his nephew laugh at him."

Ping An looked up at him and chuckled, "You were beaten for being naughty."

Being coaxed by him, Wen Chengyu regained his spirits and ran ahead of him, retorting: "What do you know, little thing? I didn't get beaten. I beat two adults by myself."

Ping An rolled his eyes and said lightly, "Silly." Then he turned his head and opened his mouth towards Lin Lishan, waiting for her to feed him.

Old Mrs. Cheng looked at her confused grandson and couldn't help laughing. She reminded him, "You forgot you can't call him little thing. Ping An doesn't like people calling him little."

Wen Chengyu was so angry that he pointed at Ping An and said, "I won't take you to play again next time. Have you forgotten that your uncle helped you secretly..."

Ping An quickly pulled him over and pointed at the dishes on the table, "Look, there's meat. Come and eat quickly."

Zhou Jiao and the others watched the two children's witty exchanges with smiles on their faces. The three-year-old and the twelve-year-old had quite a lot to talk about, chatting while they ate.