Father Zhang was so confused that he went back to the county town in a daze after hearing so much about how to beat his wife to establish his authority and how to act like a father-in-law.
The old captain's words overturned his three views.
When his parents were alive, they said, what is a husband and wife? A family member who can share life and death with you through thick and thin, and a partner who can support a home with you.
You can't hit anyone under any circumstances!
Zhang's mother raised her eyebrows and glared at him, "Give me a beating! If you dare to lay a hand on me, I'll go to the capital to live with my old son and never have anything to do with you again, you old fool!"
Father Zhang looked at her speechlessly, shook his head and turned back to his room. The old captain didn't understand his hardship. He couldn't even handle his own wife, so how could he have the nerve to teach his son!
Zhang's mother followed closely behind, laughing. "Don't listen to his nonsense. My parents always said when they were alive that men who hit their wives are cowards. If you have the energy to do that, you'd better get back to work in the fields."
"Well, what would my father do if he were me?"
"What to do? Get out of here!" After saying this, Zhang's mother burst into laughter.
Zhang's father shook his head with a smile. You know what, his father would really say that! Sigh... I better learn from my father, he can never be wrong.
If you were to ask who Zhang Dad admired the most in his life, it would naturally be his biological father, the renowned and capable man who single-handedly supported the Zhang family.
"Do you still remember what Dad said when he divided the family property between our three branches?"
Father Zhang narrowed his eyes and fell into memories...
"Now that the family has split up, you are the men in charge. If you can establish your own family, I'm happy; if you can't, there's nothing I can do. From now on, you can each do what's best for you."
"If she thinks your mother and I are biased, then let her get out of the Zhang family and find a non-biased in-law. How can a woman be so arrogant?"
"Granddaughter-in-law? I even let my son choose his daughter-in-law. And you let me take a look. Are you sure you're not crazy? I'm already old, and I still care about your nonsense?"
"Don't worry? Haha, the five fingers are all different lengths. This is their own fate. How can I, an old man who is about to die, care so much?"
"...Why are you jealous? Is he going to get an extra room or live forever? Stop being jealous of others. Maybe he'll be jealous of you. An old farmer has his own freedom..."
"Brother, you just can't let it go. This is happening right under your nose. Once you bury it in the back mountain, what can you do? Just turn a blind eye..."
"Me? Hahaha... What are you worried about? Even the idiot from the next village knows not to starve. When they hear the sound of a wooden barn, they know to run to the mountains. Why should I worry about my juniors..."
"Dad is probably going to look for your mother. Why are you crying? I've wanted to go and accompany your mother for a long time. I wonder if the old woman has waited for me to be reborn?"
"...Why are you crying? I'm not dead yet. Filial piety isn't about shedding a few tears in front of me and letting the children do their own things. Don't cry when I'm gone. I miss your mother..."
Father Zhang touched his face and wiped away his tears. He thought he should understand. Children and grandchildren have their own blessings. It's not just talk.
After dinner, Father Zhang was still in a low mood. He went to bed early, leaned on the quilt, smoked his pipe and closed his eyes to rest.
When Zhang Laoer came in, he immediately looked at Zhang's mother and asked, "What's wrong with my father?"
"I miss his dad."
Zhang Laoer burst out laughing. "There's really no other way. Where can I find my grandfather?"
Father Zhang rolled his eyes at him and asked, "What are you doing here?"
"I want to discuss something with you."
"You're such an old man, you should make your own decision and stop bothering me."
Zhang Laoer saw his father closing his eyes and ignoring him, but he didn't care. He happily took off his shoes and jumped onto the kang. "Dad, how about I accompany you back to the village tomorrow?"
Why go back to the village?
Of course, he will accompany his father to have a good chat with his grandparents downstairs. Your son misses you!
"No, I just got back. I've already told him about the banquet."
"Okay, I'll take care of this little thing smoothly. You can just go back and have a drink and chat with your buddies."
Zhang's father opened his eyes and glanced at him. Alas...it seemed like he was the one who was always worried about all this. And yet, he had said he would take care of it.
"Dad, Mom, I'm going to take the kids to school in the spring. Do you want to come with me?"
Zhang's mother looked at him curiously, "What are you going to do?"
"Hey, I have something to discuss with Xiaowu, so I'll go check on the kids' school while I'm at it."
"What are you discussing?"
When Zhang's father saw his wife speak, he glanced at her. Didn't they just agree that they would no longer meddle in the children's affairs?
"Uncle Zuo said today that my children have all gone to Beijing and asked me what my plans are. Xiao Tao is now in the first year of high school and his grades are pretty good. If the policy doesn't change, he has a chance to go to university. He meant that there's no need for me to stay in the county town and I should move. Either he transfers me to the provincial capital this time, or I can go to Beijing with him."
Father Zhang frowned and interrupted his wife's impulsive actions.
"This is a big deal. I want to discuss it with Xiaowu in person."
"You want to go to the capital?"
Zhang Laoer nodded and shook his head at Zhang Dad.
"What does this mean?"
"Dad, I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to. But I know my own limitations. Going to the capital? That's easy to say, but it's not that simple. Uncle Zuo doesn't have the ability to take me away, so it's naturally the Zuo family who put in the effort. But why did the Zuo family go to so much trouble to pull me along? Isn't it because my brother is Xiaowu?"
"Although I don't know what the Zuo family is planning, I do understand one thing: if I go, not only will Xiaowu owe me a favor, but I'll also be a shield." Zhang Laoer laughed self-deprecatingly. "I guess Uncle Zuo understands this, so he suggested we go to the provincial capital."
Father Zhang was silent for a while, then nodded. "Okay, you can do whatever you want. I don't really understand any of this. Anyway, there's no such thing as a free lunch in this world, so just remember it."
"Yeah, that's what I thought. Also, I wanted to go look at houses. This time, the Shitou couple gave me some money, saying they'd inquired about it and that they'd provide a monthly subsidy so we could spend it without worry."
Hahaha…why would I use their money? Later, Mai Sui asked me to take over. She suggested I buy a small yard for her brother. The kid even said she had some money on hand to help me with it. Hahaha…I figured I had to listen to her.
Zhang's mother couldn't hold back any longer and said directly, "Now you understand how good your daughter is, don't you? I always said that daughters are more caring than sons. Don't look at Shitou being filial now, because in the future when you are old you will still have to rely on Mai Sui."
"Yes, yes, you are always right."
"Then don't give all her wages to your son. A girl this old will need money for her dowry and other things in the future. Sigh...why doesn't she want to get married? Forget it, father, let's go with them this time. I'm still looking for Jiaojiao. I have nothing to say to you guys."
Zhang Laoer laughed happily when his father kept agreeing, "Dad, no wonder Uncle Zuo said you were afraid of your wife."
"You damned boy, you're asking for a beating!"
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