Uncle Zhang saw that they had already discussed it, so he said nothing. He turned to Zhang's father and said, "Dayou, the village is going to elect an accountant and a women's director at the end of the year. What do you think? There are no outsiders here. The three of us brothers, plus my younger brother Zhou, should discuss it together. Do you have any plans for who will be elected?"
Father Zhang shook his head. He knew better than anyone that his sons had no ambitions in the village. "No one in our family wants to be accountant or women's director. Big brother and little brother, please tell me who in your family is suitable. I can help you advocate. Doesn't Chunming's father want his son to get the job? Who else could be a competitor for the accounting position?"
Uncle Zhang nodded after hearing this. "Chunming's father is old and a little overwhelmed. He wants to promote his eldest son, but who would agree? His other sons alone are causing a big fuss."
The contenders include Liu Jiabao from the Liu family and Xiao Dashi from the Xiao family. One is educated, having only graduated from junior high school, but is too young to win. There's also Xiao Dashi, who lives alone and is a shrewd man, but no one in Zhangjia Village would choose him.
"Third brother, what are your family's plans? We've already thought about it. I'll talk to the captain. He said he's getting old and will quit in two years. We don't know if there will be any problems with this new generation."
Uncle Zhang Youcai quickly refused, "Brother, neither of my sons has the ability. If it's the militia captain, we can give Qinghe a try and see if he's chosen. I think you shouldn't hesitate and just go with the eldest son. He's literate and knows how to do the math, so who's better? As for the women's director, forget it. They're all trivial matters. Old women like to fuss over even the smallest details, which is really annoying."
Father Zhang laughed and teased Uncle Zhang, "Brother, you don't have to retire as deputy captain. You can still do it for another 20 years. The day after tomorrow, go catch a tiger and ride it back to the village. No one will dare to say you're old."
Zhou Xiaozheng laughed and joined in, "That's right, Brother Zhang. Go up there and yell, 'Tigress, come home with me!' Then I'll have my sister-in-law peel her skin off for me. Let's see who's more powerful, my sister-in-law or the tigress?"
"Haha, be careful your sister-in-law might hear you and start slashing you," Uncle Zhang laughed. "I don't even want to be deputy captain. There's so much to manage, from production and harvesting, to worrying about, not to mention the little things that happen in every household. Luckily, the captain is here, so I can lend a hand. It's also because he has so much prestige that everyone's used to listening to him."
Uncle Zhang asked him curiously, "Brother, which women are applying to be the women's director now? Do you have any idea about this?"
"A women's director must have a harmonious family, strong appeal, and be educated. With this selection, the educated ones are all young. Where do the young wives get their appeal?"
The captain said that our daughter Jiaojiao was the most suitable, but it was a pity that we couldn't keep her, so forget about it. After thinking about it, it was only Ye Zi, the wife of Zhang Gouzi in the front yard. She graduated from elementary school, was quiet, kept her house in order, and treated her parents-in-law with kindness. Zhang Gouzi was a steady person and didn't do things shakily, so she was the only one who would be suitable. The captain said that she was the tallest among the short ones, so we couldn't let Zhang Guoshu's wife take the position, right? "After saying that, Uncle Zhang also laughed.
Uncle Zhang thought for a long time and remembered that the man in the front yard had indeed married a new wife a few years ago. Zhang Gouzi's wife seemed quite polite and greeted everyone she met.
"Now that you mention it, I remember. That young wife always calls us uncles when she sees us grown men. She's quite polite, not bad. When Aunt Cuihua came up to us, she even trembled when she spoke. Didn't she also practice that?"
"Well, only the captain mentioned this matter. It depends on who everyone chooses. Brother Zhou, drink first and don't just listen to our nonsense. You'll be back soon and won't go on any more missions, right?"
Zhou Xiaozheng picked up the bowl and clinked it with his. "No, I'm old now, and all I have left is some training. If nothing unexpected happens, I'll just stay with the mother and the child in peace."
"That's good. Being a soldier doesn't offer freedom, but everything else is fine. We had a talented kid who wanted to join the army, but my dad didn't agree. Otherwise, he would have run away long ago."
Uncle Zhang drank and listened to what his eldest brother said. He put down his bowl and said, "I had already prepared the money for the trip. Before leaving, Dad went into the mountains late at night and didn't come back for three days and three nights. Mom was so worried that she cried, saying that there were only three of us brothers left, without Dad. Only then did I let go of my worries and stay with Mom and Dad. Joining the army has always been my dream, and it's also my only regret."
Uncle Zhang looked at him with amusement. "Do you know why Dad didn't let you join the army? Dad said that the three of us brothers weren't cut out for it and would be killed if we went. He said soldiers needed to be smart and calculating. He said we couldn't do it because we were too stubborn. That year, more than ten people went to Laohugou, and all but two came back with broken limbs. These two were the smartest ones. He said that if you came back with broken limbs, you'd be lucky. How could he dare let you go? If you don't believe me, ask Brother Zhou how many of his comrades have been discharged?"
Uncle Zhang looked at Zhou Xiaozheng eagerly. Zhou Xiaozheng really didn't have the heart to pour cold water on him, but he still said, "Laohugou is still good. When I first went in, I didn't have a day off for 365 days a year. It was common to lie in the snow for three days and three nights in the middle of winter. If you were frozen, you would be discharged. If you were honest and simple-minded, you would just collapse and never wake up. Those who survived were just ruffians. It's much better now. The world is peaceful, and being a soldier is popular."
Uncle Zhang stood up and poured wine for Zhou Xiaozheng. He said to him thankfully, "Brother Zhou, for your safe return and your complete return, we will offer you this bowl of wine without saying anything. Without soldiers like you, there would be no good life for us civilians. All of you raise your bowls to toast your Uncle Zhou."
Everyone stood up and toasted Zhou Xiaozheng, draining their bowls of wine. Old Man Zhang quickly told him to eat. He had just finished drinking tonight and only had a bowl of dumplings to fill his stomach.
Zhou Xiaozheng took a few bites of food, put down his chopsticks, poured a bowl of wine for Zhang Dad, picked up the bowl, and said to him gratefully: "Second brother, ever since I knew my daughter Jiaojiao was marrying into your family, I have not worried that she would be wronged. I trust your and second sister-in-law's character. Thank you and second sister-in-law for protecting her. I know that you two have taken good care of my daughter since she was a child. My heart is warm, and I will not say any polite words. We are all family, and I will toast you a bowl as well." After that, he touched his bowl and drank it first as a toast.
Old Man Zhang finished his bowl of wine with a smile and said to him in a simple and honest way, "We are all family, so let's not be polite. I am also grateful that you have a good daughter who married my Xiaowu. Jiaojiao is a sensible and well-behaved child, and she is very filial. These two are good children who can live a good life. We are very comfortable as in-laws. Don't be polite if you have any questions. Just tell Xiaowu to do it. Treat him like your own son."
Zhou Xiaozheng smiled and nodded, "Okay, I'll give you instructions, don't worry."
"Drink slowly and eat more food. Don't put down your chopsticks and eat more food."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
