For Zhou Jiao, if someone was abandoned in her heart, it meant they had nothing to do with her. If her mother wanted to see them, it was her mother's freedom; she never forced anyone.

This matter passed by without a trace, so she just mentioned it casually to Zhang Guoqing, then said hello to Lin Lishan, and the couple took their son to the hutong courtyard for a "vacation".

Avoiding acquaintances, after arriving at the yard, Zhang Guoqing did not bother to clean up first. He took his student ID and household registration booklet and went to the street committee to say hello.

Household registration in Beijing is now very strict, especially towards the end of the year, when the inspections become even more thorough.

Those who came from other places to look for relatives had to report to the street office with proof, and if they had food coupons, they had to carry them with them and get a certificate to buy food at the designated grain station.

Those who come here on business or work have to register at the station with a letter of introduction first, and then get a note saying that someone is staying at such and such a place, from such and such date to such and such date. It is extremely troublesome.

Walking out of the alley, the nearby Tongzi River has frozen over, and many children are playing on it. The old locust tree at the entrance of the alley has also quickly lost all its leaves, leaving only dead branches.

Under the warm sunshine, many people were busy shoveling snow and clearing ice outside their yards. The large slopes in front of several houses became "big slides" after the snow, and the children in the families cried and refused to let them shovel the snow.

In the corner, an old man was popping popcorn, surrounded by three or five older boys leading their little kids. They were watching the master pouring the white rice into the jar, then covering their ears.

After a loud bang, a wave of heat rushed out of the pot, and the plump and fragrant popcorn rushed straight into the long cloth bag.

There is a grocery store opposite the neighborhood committee. You don't have to look for it specifically. Just follow the hot and sweet smell and walk a few steps in that direction. There is a chestnut seller who uses a coal stove, an iron pot and a big spatula to fry and sell half a pot of iron sand.

After finishing his work, Zhang Guoqing, feeling elated, ignored the stinging chill and turned to weigh out half a pound of roasted chestnuts. His family had plenty of food; he simply wanted to have fun, enjoying life in the hutong. He planned to take his wife and children for a stroll one day at noon when the weather was good.

In the courtyard, Zhou Jiao was pumping the bellows to boil a large pot of water. Ping An's voice came from the inner room, "It's hot, the kang is hot."

As the sound came out, he jumped out.

"Mom, I'm hot."

Zhou Jiao laughed out loud when she saw it. She was not sweating!

He was dressed like a bear. He had a large cotton-padded jacket with a lot of clothes and pants underneath. He forgot to take off his large cotton-padded hat, which he pulled down to protect his ears and neck, keeping the cold wind out and the heat inside. Plus, the cotton gloves on his hands gave him 360-degree protection.

Zhou Jiao placed two wooden sticks in the stove, washed her hands, and led him into the house: "Mom will take off some of your clothes first. Don't rush to play outside. You will easily catch a cold if you are blown by the cold wind after sweating."

Ping An pouted and said, "When I came out, I said I wasn't cold. Look at me, I'm so dressed that I can't even squat down."

Zhou Jiao suppressed a smile and said, "Look at those kids with runny noses from the cold, don't they look pitiful?"

"But I'm wearing too many clothes and pants. It's inconvenient and hot."

Although it was the coldest time of the year outside, the kangs in the three main rooms were already heated, and the stove in the living room was almost half a piece of coal burning red. A red light was emitting from the stove mouth below, and the temperature in the house was already as hot as late spring.

Even without the child's protests, Zhou Jiao had to undress him. A large cotton-padded jacket, revealing a furry fur vest, and underneath a thin cotton-padded jacket and sweater. She felt a little embarrassed when she saw it; it was too much!

Ping An tugged at his clothes. "Really? Too many, right? My grandma wanted to put all her winter clothes on me. She said it was cold outside."

"Your grandma cares about you, so you can't complain."

"I understand, so I listened to her and put on all of them."

Zhou Jiao took off all his thin cotton clothes. In just a moment, she was sweating inside. She put on the vest for the child and pointed to the big cotton jacket outside: "Put it on when you leave the room."

"Okay, pants?"

This really stunned Zhou Jiao. She didn't know what her mother was thinking. She actually put four pairs of pants on the child. No wonder the child was unhappy: "Grandma is afraid you will get sick. Only family members will cherish you. We must learn to be grateful."

"I know my grandma loves me, and I like her too."

Seeing the child say this, Zhou Jiao said nothing more and quickly took off the child's clothes, leaving only his woolen pants: "Now move around a bit and see if you feel cold."

Ping An stretched his body on the kang and said, "It feels good. Mom, can you help me think of a way to do it? I can't do horse stance in the morning if I wear too many clothes."

Zhou Jiao nodded. The duck feathers she'd collected over the years weren't enough to make a quilt, but they were enough to make a few sets of clothes for the children. And then she'd cover them with fur, which should keep them warm.

"It's my dad who's back." Ping'an heard the sound of the yard gate opening, stood at the door, lifted a corner of the thick curtain and looked out.

Zhou Jiao poured some hot water, squeezed out the wet towel, and wiped the child's face and hands. "He will come in soon. Go in and put on some face cream. Mommy will help you bake sweet potatoes."

"Don't you want to clean up the study first?"

"No, it's a waste of firewood. The main house is big enough for our family. Your grandma can live in the east room when she comes over."

"Mom, you should ask Grandma Chen to come over. She can help you with the work."

Zhou Jiao smiled but said nothing. She just wanted some quiet time. Besides, it was inconvenient for her mother to commute to work here, so she kept the room just in case.

Zhang Guoqing lifted the cotton curtain and saw the mother and daughter. He smiled and said, "What a different world! It's really cold outside. My wife is so capable. She did it so quickly."

Zhou Jiao took his coat and hung it up, but turned around and saw that he was still taking it off. She reminded him worriedly, "Be careful of catching a cold."

"Okay." Zhang Guoqing pointed to the oil-paper bag on the table. "I just bought some roasted chestnuts. Let you and your mother have a taste. Wife, bring out some more fruit. My courtyard gate is closed. It's really free!"

Zhou Jiao: “…”

"When Wang Ligang's mother saw me, she was so enthusiastic! She told us to go to her house and get whatever we needed. I have to go to her house tonight, so you don't have to go. I'll take Ping An with me."

"Will it be bad?"

"It's okay. I told you you're pregnant, and you can't rest in this compound with so many people coming and going. I think Gangzi's mother is a nice person, so I'll go visit her tonight and treat her like a relative. With her in the office, it'll be nice to have someone watching over us."

Zhou Jiao nodded. Zhang Guoqing was much better at these kinds of relationships than she was. It didn't take him long to find out that schoolmate Wang Ligang's mother worked at the local neighborhood office.

"Let's enjoy hutong life from now on. I'll clean up the study later, and I guarantee you'll enjoy the night view of the park at night."

Zhou Jiao didn't remind Fei Chai of anything at this point. Her man was a rare example of elegance, so let him be. But she doubted he could truly enjoy a quiet life.

In her opinion, Zhang Guoqing was not a quiet person. She was really worried that Yi Jiefang and his men would come here in less than two days. This place would probably become a gathering place for them.

She thought so, but she didn't say it out loud. Being able to steal a half-day of leisure from her busy life was already a pleasant surprise for her. Life like hers was rare.