Qiao Yu and the four children Jian Xinyu were chatting on the first floor. They had been waiting from day till night. Sister Wang brought the meal Zhou Jun had prepared back to the living room and hesitantly asked Qiao Yu to make the decision. "Ms. Qiao, should we serve this dish later or now?"
Before Qiao Yu could reply, he heard some noise coming from behind him and said with a smile, "Look, the answer is here."
Sister Wang looked at her grandson coming down the stairs, nodded to Qiao Yu, and went to the kitchen to get plates to serve the food.
The old man had just cried and his eyes were red.
Qiao Yu and Jian Xinyu pretended not to see it.
Qiao Yu: "Second brother, let's talk about how you have been doing these past few years while we eat."
The adults were talking lively at the dinner table, and the quadruplets were eating and drinking their fill, grabbing chopsticks and spoons and chasing each other around.
At night, my second brother's family and Qiao Yu's family all stayed in the old man's house.
Zhang Zhou lay on the bed, his tense nerves relaxed for a moment. Without even having a chance to say a few words to his lover, he fell into a deep sleep.
Jian Xinyu turned her head and saw him like this, took off his glasses, leaned over, kissed his cheek, and whispered, "Good night."
He turned off the light and fell asleep.
The old man also slept soundly and deeply.
Only Qiao Yu pulled Lao Zhou aside to whisper.
Although Old Zhou is almost 50 years old, he is as energetic as young people. The wildness and aloofness on his face are still there, but he also has a calmness and a temperament that others cannot guess that a superior should have.
Only in front of Qiao Yu does she show relaxation.
"How long do you think my second brother will stay this time?"
"have no idea."
"No, you have to guess!"
Facing her domineering declaration, Old Zhou chuckled softly, full of doting, and said, "Let me guess? Second brother won't be able to stay for a few days."
Hearing this, Qiao Yu sighed, "That's true. His job is special, how can he decide how long he stays? Didn't Da Wa and the others have to wait until they grow up to see their real parents?"
"They sacrificed their families for the sake of their country."
After hearing this, Qiao Yu felt encouraged.
"That makes sense!"
Lao Zhou: "Besides, even if my second brother wants to stay, my grandfather won't allow it."
The children have grown up and have their own careers and future to pursue, not to mention that my second brother and his wife are doing things for the country and the people.
Not only did the second brother and his wife have lofty aspirations and a heart dedicated to serving the country, but the old man also had this. Otherwise, the old man would not have had an old illness that broke out overnight after the college entrance examination was resumed and the reform and opening up was announced, and it broke out suddenly under her nose.
Even if they don't have these professions or identities, as parents of ordinary families, which elderly person doesn't want young people to do something?
Elderly people who truly love and care for children will only drive their children out to hang out after they come back home to have fun during the holidays.
A truly loving old person is not a burden to his children, but a light that supports them on their way, always staying lit until the end of their lives.
Thinking of this, Qiao Yu's eyes began to heat up again.
As if sensing something, Lao Zhou held her in his arms, "Uncomfortable?"
"Um……"
"Don't be sad, look at it from another perspective, Grandpa's life is complete."
But a fulfilling life also means——
Die with no regrets.
Qiao Yu felt even worse. He rested his head on Lao Zhou's shoulder, bit his mouth hard, and threatened, "Don't tell anyone about my past!"
"Yeah, okay."
…
The next day, Zhang Zhou took his wife and children to visit his father-in-law's house.
The jeep landed at the tube-shaped building. The others might have forgotten about Zhang Zhou, but when they saw the daughter of the Jian family and the quadruplets, they instantly guessed their identities.
They all went to tell Jian San the good news: "Jian San! Your four grandchildren are here!"
Jian San, who had just had a drink, was frightened. His face turned pale and he hurried to hide the wine.
Only Qiao Yu can tame these little demons. When they see their grandma drinking, they always want to try some.
Jian San was the type of person who would not refuse his grandson, so he could only hide the good wine in advance every time.
Jane's mother was also hiding potted plants and moving them to her neighbor's house.
There was no other way. The quadruplets didn't dare to act rashly in front of Qiao Yu and their grandfather. They returned here and tried their best to plant the potted plants at home! The potted plants were all green onions, ginger and garlic! How could they withstand such a treatment?
Mr. and Mrs. Jian San were in a panic, like headless flies.
After hiding the things, they all rushed to the door, only to be met with the tearful eyes of the young lady.
"Dad! Mom!"
The Jian couple, who still wanted to hug their grandson, paused with their smiles, as a myriad of thoughts surged in their minds.
"My lady..."
"Girl!"
Unlike the old man who tried hard to control his emotions when they met after not seeing each other for many years, Jian San and his wife were less reserved and more sad.
Mother Jian hugged Jian Xinyu and cried loudly, without any reservations.
After Zhang Zhou closed the door, the quadruplets stood side by side in the corner of the wall in an orderly manner.
Why are the quadruplets so well behaved?
It’s nothing, my aunt has threatened them.
They still want to seek protection from their biological father, who is not even a person! He even nodded in agreement!
Ask them how they feel about their biological parents returning home?
Is it so important whether you come back or not?
Family affection is incidental, but oppression is eternal!
After she finished crying, Jian's mother pulled Jian Xinyu to sit down and asked her if she had worked hard and was tired in the past few years, whether she had eaten well and slept well, etc.
One question took a whole morning.
It was almost time for dinner before Jane's mother cut a pound of bacon and a pound of bacon intestines to put into the pot. Finally, she took the money to her neighbor's house and exchanged it for half an old hen.
Mother Jane rolled up her sleeves and started chopping the chicken.
Jian Sancai said to Jian Xinyu, "My dear, it's been a long time since you last tasted your mother's stewed chicken, right? Take your time to eat at noon, and let's chat slowly!"
Jian Xinyu looked at her kind-looking parents and nodded.
The cruel parents in her memory, who forced her to give up her studies and career, to find a live-in son-in-law, and to get married and have children; the parents who wantonly belittled her appearance and lifted up outsiders, seem as if they had never existed.
It turns out that parents can be so gentle and loving.
When she came back this time, she felt homesick and had an indescribable and surging resistance, but now all of that had disappeared.
It was like a dead knot, but after it settled down, they achieved their goal and satisfied her wishes, it was untied and returned to peace.
The great conflicts that had tormented her nerves in the past, when she recalled it now, were nothing more than a facade. It was more like the bond of kinship on the basis of which all other conflicts that did not touch the bottom line and the return to peace made all the darkness of the past vanish.
All that remains is their love for her and their longing for her.
They selectively forgot that dark period, and she let herself go, and they shook hands and made peace.
At the dinner table, Zhang Zhou looked at her frequently, but in the end he said nothing. Instead, he drank a few glasses with his father-in-law. Amidst the laughter, they were all filled with the joy of reunion.
Since his father-in-law's house couldn't accommodate so many people, Zhang Zhou took his wife and children back to the military compound.
He met a few people at his grandfather's house in the afternoon, chatted with Qiao Yu during dinner, and returned to his room. Zhang Zhou looked at his lover again and again.
Jian Xinyu had already noticed his burning gaze, but because there were children and other people around, she endured it and didn't show any anger.
I couldn't help it anymore, I didn't even bother to comb my hair, I turned my head and looked at him: "What are you looking at?"
"I don't know why, my wife, you are getting more and more beautiful."
"…Is it because my younger sister gave me some internal medicine?"
Zhang Zhou shook his head, "No."
"Then, what's so good about it?" Jian Xinyu touched her cheek.
She also felt that she looked too mature, and whenever she stood next to her sister-in-law, it was as if they were a generation apart.