Zhou Xiaozheng smiled with satisfaction, "When we get to the capital at the end of the year, we'll go pay our respects to your grandparents and let them see that our Jiaojiao not only looks like your grandma, but is also smarter."
Zhou Jiao smiled smugly at him, not forgetting to praise herself, "Dad, you should say we have good roots and are not stupid."
"Haha, yes, our family has a good background and we are all smart. Dad left in a hurry this time and I don't know when he will be back. You must be careful. If you encounter any problems, remember to find your uncle Zhao Chuangguang. If things get out of hand, run to the capital. Dad is here. Even if you kill someone, he will support you."
Zhou Jiao laughed heartily. "Dad, your daughter isn't the type to start a fight over a disagreement. Don't worry, she's very smart. Be careful when you go back this time, don't be careless. When you're done, remember to send me a telegram to let me know. Don't say too much, just a nice word will be fine."
Zhou Xiaozheng patted Zhou Jiao's head and said softly, "Your great-uncle is the second-in-command of the military region. He said that he and his wife will handle the Gu family's affairs. He asked me to go back so that he could take me for a walk and tell everyone that there are still people from the Zhou family in Beijing. Don't worry, with him here, everything will be fine."
Seeing Zhou Jiao relax, Zhou Xiaozheng breathed a sigh of relief. He was suddenly at a loss whether to laugh or cry. He took out the key that Old Lady Cheng had given him and said, "This is the key to the wicker box. Keep it safe. I've changed all the passwords to zero. All the keepsakes left by your grandparents are in this wicker box. You must protect it well."
After Zhou Xiaozheng finished speaking, he stood up, took out his suitcase from the closet, and placed it on the table. Before he could open it, he saw Zhou Jiao opening the wicker box with a serious expression. While measuring the width inside and outside with her hands, she said with a smile, "Don't think about it. Your father has checked it. There is no interlayer. I have thought of everything you have thought of. Unless you completely dismantle the box, you can leave it there and wait until they leave before dismantling it. And if you are interested, just think about it according to the seal and this small key."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Jiao pulled out the key and took a closer look. It looked a little familiar. She felt like she had seen it somewhere before.
Zhou Xiaozheng looked at her with a smile, and was not in a hurry to open the box. He just wanted to see how smart his daughter was.
Zhou Jiao hurriedly stood up and rushed to the front of the wardrobe, opened the secret compartment, and used it as a cover to take out the small key her mother left her. After comparing the two, she looked at her father in astonishment, "Dad, did my great aunt and the others not notice or are they pretending not to know? And what's the original combination to the lockbox?"
Zhou Xiaozheng looked at her cheerfully, his eyes filled with pride and pride. "My Jiaojiao is so smart. Your great aunt should have known that this was a special key, but she couldn't guess which bank it belonged to. When your great aunt gave it to me, she did so secretly, avoiding your great aunt and your uncle.
The combination to the safe is 418, your father's and my birthdays, three digits. Your grandmother told your great aunt. This wicker box must contain a letter. I suspect the seal and the Gu family jade pendant are related.
Don't move now. I'll take you to the county town tonight, and we'll open the box together. Don't let your mother or Xiaowu know. The key is that we need tools to open the box, and we can't let anyone see it after we open it."
Zhou Jiao nodded excitedly. "We don't care about the money. If we could find Grandma's letter, that would be great. I knew she would have a backup plan. It's impossible not to think that the Zhou family has selfish motives for not sending you to your great aunt. Maybe your great aunt forgot or Grandma gave her a hint at the time, but she didn't care."
"Well, my Jiaojiao is smart. Okay, everything will be clear tonight. Hurry up and bring two sets of clothes, and don't bring anything else. If there's anything missing, ask Xiaowu to come back and get it. Dad will take you to the county town to stay for two days. We will return to the capital tomorrow. Don't come back unless necessary. There's also the full moon celebration, and it seems that Dad won't be able to make it. Let's celebrate together as a family when we return to Beijing at the end of the year. Is there anything else you want Dad to do?"
Zhou Jiao thought for a moment, shook her head and said, "No, I just can't bear to see you go. Dad, just wait for me in Beijing." After saying that, she lowered her head in depression and said nothing.
Zhou Xiaozheng sighed, gently patted her little head, and said reluctantly, "How about you go back to Beijing with Dad this time and come back after the New Year? Or you two don't have to take the college entrance exam. Dad will arrange for you to join your mom in the art troupe, and Xiaowu's dad will find you a good department."
Zhou Jiao hugged her father's waist, leaning against him tightly, and whispered, "No, I'm your daughter. I can't let myself back down. I must make you proud. I'm the granddaughter of Zhou Jinyu and Gu Mingzhu. I can't ruin their reputation. Our Zhou family starts with me. Girls will inherit the family tradition of scholars, and boys will carry on grandfather's legacy."
Zhou Xiaozheng suppressed his reluctance and comforted him, "Okay, then Dad will wait for you to return to Beijing. Once you feel comfortable in Beijing, we can let Xiaowu go home first and you stay with Dad."
Zhou Jiao let him go and said with a smile, "Dad, if Xiaowu heard what you said, he would definitely say that you are a dishonest father-in-law, but I like to hear it."
"My daughter must be the first. That kid has no chance. He is just lucky. Otherwise, when you return to Beijing, you will definitely be followed by a bunch of people." Zhou Xiaozheng joked when he saw her regain her composure.
Zhou Jiao remembered something else. She took out two deeds to the courtyard and looked at him. "Dad, hand these in along with the donation letter from grandpa and grandma. Let's see if we can return our ancestral home."
Zhou Xiaozheng laughed heartily and ruffled her hair vigorously. "Dad's records show that a woman owns a ** street and a ** square meter yard. His wife owns a ** street and a ** square meter yard. Dad has taken care of everything. You shouldn't feel guilty towards Grandma Zhou. The deed she gave me is completely invalid. I spent a lot of manpower and material resources to reissue it. They both know. Otherwise, they would have returned long ago. The gold your grandma gave us and our efforts are considered repayment for her upbringing. Visit her whenever you have time during the holidays. I will send her a sum of money every year to support her."
After saying this, he whispered a few words to his daughter's ear, and seeing her open-mouthed and nodding in surprise, he couldn't help but pat her head.
Zhou Jiao hurriedly pulled his arm, "Dad, don't forget to check out the ancestral land." She'd always said her dad was amazing. No wonder he hadn't been around all year after receiving the news.
"I know. I'll take you to see it when we get back to Beijing. Dad's been out for a while, so it's time to go back. Pack up first, and take the valuables with you. I'll ask your mom to come and help you pack your things for safety. Don't worry about anything. As long as you're fine, Dad will be relieved."
"Yeah, I understand. Dad, go and eat something to fill your stomach. My mom asked her to accompany my great aunt. Ping'an's clothes are in the closet, no need to pack them up." Zhou Jiao pulled her dad and sent him away. Until she saw him enter the main room, she hurried back to her room to pack her things.
Thinking of the impending trip to the county town, Zhou Jiao couldn't help but hum a little tune as she quickly packed her son's milk powder and clothing. She then ran to the closet and pulled out four new coats, packing the couple's clothes. As for the valuables, they were perfectly safe. After packing, she looked at the pile on the chair and laughed. There really wasn't enough space for all this.
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