Chapter 67 The brothers dote on Zhizhi, a truly delightful moment.
"What did you say?"
Ji Zeguo wondered if he had misheard. He frowned and stared at Jiang Anchao. "You're making such a young child go grocery shopping and doing chores every day? What are you good for?"
He remembered.
The last time he led his men on a mission, he didn't dare bring too many people because the situation was particularly tricky.
As a result, Zhizhi actually went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy things all by herself, carrying a small vegetable basket.
I initially thought she was just a gluttonous child who had come out to buy snacks.
Okay, okay, now he understands. So this stepfather wants his little girl to run errands and buy groceries every day?!
Seeing that the commander was about to get angry, Jiang Anchao quickly explained, "No, it's not that we made her buy groceries, it's that she likes to buy groceries, she... ...Yes, we give her money, and she goes to buy groceries!"
Yuan Tengzhen glanced at Jiang Anchao silently.
Bro, is that how you explain it?
That's not all...
Ji Zeguo's brow twitched, and he laughed out of exasperation, "Oh? Should I praise you then? Giving her money to buy groceries, is that considered a reward?"
"... ...Huh? Is that how you understand it?"
Jiang Anchao was stunned.
Is that what he meant by his explanation?
"No, I have to go to your house and check on things. I can't let you treat Zhizhi like this! Come on! Take me to the military dependents' home!"
Ji Zeguo became more and more anxious as he thought about it. He could already imagine what kind of life the little child was living at home.
It turns out that behind every adorable little dumpling is an unreliable and exploitative father.
No wonder I thought Xiao Zhizhi was very sensible back then.
It turns out he suffered too much at home!
No way! He wasn't going to put up with it anymore. Even if it meant breaking the rules, he was going to take the child back to his own home!
Anyway, he's already in his sixties or seventies, and he's reached the age to be adopted.
He's trying to take the child!
My stepfather wasn't very loving either!
"Hey, hey, hey! Slow down, you've really misunderstood. I live with Anchao and I usually have contact with Zhizhi. Anchao and his wife really didn't abuse the child. He's just bad at explaining. What he really meant was that he gives Zhizhi a lot of pocket money, and when Zhizhi has nothing to do, she likes to go shopping for groceries, fruit, malted milk biscuits, and the like."
Yuan Tengzhen reacted quickly; after all, he was a leading cadre who had served for so many years.
This explanation is both beautiful and appropriate.
Jiang Anchao wanted to give a thumbs up after hearing this.
Yes, that's exactly what I meant!
He gave Zhizhi money to buy groceries, and then she spent the rest of her allowance.
Isn't this the same thing that Brother Yuan said?
Ji Zeguo pressed his temples; he no longer believed what these people were saying.
"Don't stop me, I have to go and see for myself!"
"Commander..." Division Commander Tian wiped his sweat and stood up. He asked doubtfully, "This is their family matter. It's not appropriate for us to interfere. Besides, it's a girl... If she wants to do it, let her do it."
"What nonsense are you talking about? What's wrong with having a daughter? Don't you want to have a daughter?"
This time, Ji Zeguo completely disregarded Commander Tian's dignity, even though he was already quite old and practically on his deathbed.
Her children are usually not around, and her most beloved youngest daughter has gone missing at such a young age.
After finally finding some information, they were met with the devastating news of her passing.
Now, after great difficulty, they have found the only bloodline left by their daughter.
How could he not feel heartbroken?
Ji Zeguo stared intently at Jiang Anchao, his expression unusually serious and rigid. "I'm just asking you, can I visit your home?"
Jiang Anchao scratched his head, though he didn't understand why the commander was so emotional.
But he seemed quite happy.
At least the commander seems to genuinely love the child.
"Okay, I guess... I need to go home and cook anyway, so let's go back together and have a meal together."
"Go! Clear the way!"
... ...
Military dependents' compound, Jiang'an Chaoyuan
Under the warm midday sun of winter, a recliner was placed in the courtyard, covered with a small cotton quilt newly sewn by Cuiping, stuffed with fresh cotton, warm and cozy. Zhizhi cat was lounging on the recliner, covered with a small pink quilt.
On the small wooden table at my feet was a small dish of jujubes, as well as various nuts such as melon seeds and peanuts.
The little cub watched as his older brother was hunched over a corner of the table, seemingly busy with something.
So she turned to the delivery guy and said, "...Hey delivery guy, stop sweeping and come eat some sunflower seeds."
Zhenwei swung the large broom with great force, sweeping away all the sunflower seed shells on the ground.
"I'm not eating this. These are all things you girls like to eat. I'll come back when my milk tea is ready!"
Zhizhi sat up. "Then I'll help you."
"Don't move!"
"Don't move!"
The two brothers stopped her in unison.
Gan Su walked up to her with a stern face, took the blanket and covered her with it, even tucking the corners of the blanket in carefully, as if afraid that a little wind would make her cold.
He frowned and scolded, "You're not allowed to work, just lie down!"
She was a restless sleeper last night, kicking off the covers. This morning at breakfast, I heard her nose sound a little stuffy.
It's one thing if she's not feeling well, but she can't stay still when we tell her to rest.
They insist on sunbathing.
So I simply moved the deck chair into the yard to keep her company.
Knowing she was in the wrong, Zhizhi cowered back down, saying timidly, "Okay, okay, why are you being so fierce..."
She just almost caught a cold, why is she so nervous?
She'll be fine in a couple of days. She won't be like Lin Daiyu, unable to do any work.
The little cub looked left and right, and after confirming that the older brother wasn't paying attention to him, he quietly reached out to grab the teapot.
"Let me do it!"
Zhenwei called out to her, then rushed over, looking at her anxiously. "Do you want some hot tea? I'll pour you some!"
Zhizhi: "... ...Eek."
This guy is so domineering these days; she just wanted to check if the milk tea on the stove was ready.
They really think they're national treasures.
Gan Su glanced at her younger sister and said in a nonchalant tone, "She said she wanted to see if the milk tea in the earthenware pot was ready. Check if the tea is hot. If it is, put in a bottle of milk and sprinkle some rock sugar. Put three chocolates in her cup. She likes the taste of melted hot chocolate."
"Eek?"
Zhizhi stared wide-eyed in surprise. Was her older brother a tapeworm in her stomach?
How do you even know this?
Gan Su felt her gaze, silently turned his head, and said, "I'm not a tapeworm in your stomach. Your small body, weighing only forty or fifty pounds, can't contain a worm as big as me."
"Haha, Zhizhi, your taste is so easy to guess. You always like this flavor. I remember it without your big brother telling me."
Zhenwei burst into laughter. At first, when Zhizhi mentioned drinking milk tea, he had no idea what it was.
He only found it novel after Zhizhi demonstrated it.
A small stove is placed on the table, with an iron mesh on it. A tea canister and hot water are then placed on the mesh. While the tea is boiling, a bunch of small persimmons, sweet potatoes, oranges, and other fruits are placed on the mesh.
The charcoal fire will roast these things until they smell delicious. Once the tea is boiling, remove the tea leaves and add milk, sugar, and all sorts of strange little candies.
It turned into milk tea.
I have to say, it's actually quite delicious!
Zhizhi shrank back indignantly, whispering her accusation, "Domestic violence... There's domestic violence here! Help me, my brother is hitting his sister!"
She shouted loudly, completely unaware of the adults rushing to the door.
But the adults outside the door heard the cries of the little cub.
Jiang Anchao, who was completely unaware of the situation, stared wide-eyed in shock upon hearing her daughter's words.
Ji Zeguo was even angrier and questioned, "Is this what you call not abusing her?"
"Um... Commander, please don't misunderstand. My two sons definitely didn't bully Zhizhi. They were just joking."
"fart!"
Ji Zeguo was both distressed and anxious, and his temper flared up instantly. "Didn't you hear? Your brother hit your sister! She must have been in so much pain to call for help. What kind of father are you? You're such a bad one!"
As he spoke, he quickly pushed open the door and went inside. "She must have been living a miserable life at your house. I want to see who has the audacity to bully Zhi... Zhi Zhi like this?"
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