As soon as it got dark, Zhou Jiao couldn't wait to get out the wooden bucket and wait for Zhang Guoqing to help her fetch water. She jumped for joy at the thought of finally being able to have a good wash.
Zhang Guoqing had been waiting outside, urging her over a hundred times before she finally came out with a smile. If he hadn't heard her response, he would have broken in.
Zhou Jiao felt relaxed. This month had been exhausting for her. She even despised herself, and the first thing she said was to blame him, "Brother, why are you so anxious? I have to go to the bathhouse in a couple of days."
Zhang Guoqing ignored her and hurriedly pulled her to sit down and wipe her hair. Did she really think everything would be fine after the confinement period? If she hadn't pestered him all night last night, insisting on taking a shower beforehand, he would have been forced to agree. He really intended to let her stay in confinement for the full 45 days.
You often hear the elderly say that if you don't take care when you're young, you'll develop health problems later. Seeing her break her promise to wash her hair so late at night, he was genuinely worried that washing her hair in such cold weather would give her a headache in the future. It was only because his mother, who was accompanying guests, didn't notice. Otherwise, she would have been reprimanded.
Seeing his stern face, Zhou Jiao didn't dare to add fuel to the fire, so she changed the subject, "How many tables are open today? Why do I think all the eggs Mom prepared are gone?"
Zhang Guoqing thought of his mother-in-law's several large bamboo baskets of red eggs and could no longer keep a straight face. "If you hadn't mentioned the red eggs Mom brought, I wouldn't have remembered them. I've never seen anyone prepare hundreds of eggs for their grandson's full moon. Luckily they were cooked. If they were raw, I think they would have been crushed. Wow, it stunned everyone at the time. Mom said it was too much, but the onlookers came over and took one, the children took one, and with the return gifts, how could there be too much? And this is because Mom and my second sister packed the return gifts first. Otherwise, there wouldn't even be enough for the return gifts.
Twenty tables were set up today. Besides the main house and the backyard, the tables at the front yard were completely messed up by the end. The chef came to me twice. Once, he said that many women and children from the village had come to the table, and the five tables at the front yard were all set up for a buffet. After they finished eating, they were all served their own dishes. He asked me what to do. There was no way. They were all here, so how could they be turned away? The second time, the chef came to tell me that all the steamed buns were gone. He lit the pot before the party ended. Fortunately, I listened to him today and the banquet was simple and rough, otherwise I would have been broke.
I've seen some women, without much self-consciousness, come to the table without bringing any gifts, and then secretly stuff their eggs into their pockets after eating. The meat is greasy, and I can see it at a glance, yet they still have the nerve to smile at me and ask me to give them two eggs to add to the festive mood. There are also those who bring only a ten-cent gift, but then they drag three or four children with them. As soon as they come in, they stare at the red eggs, secretly instructing the children to take them, and then they themselves take one and put it in their pocket.
There aren't that many honest people in the village. I don't care about the gift money, but I do care about people thinking I'm a fool. Especially the few families in the village who didn't give any gifts, and even cursed when they left the banquet with eggs. With these people around, Mom should buy fewer. It's too conspicuous in the yard, and people just grab it when they see it.
"Don't be angry, there's no need to be angry. We'll have to wait until Ping'an gets married before we can decide on a date. My mom never skimps on things. No wonder she stayed in the county town last night. The money for so many eggs is a small matter, but I owe Aunt Cheng a big favor. She helped me buy them, and she even had to cook them and smear them with red wine. I heard Yuanyuan say she cried while washing the eggs yesterday. Uncle Dashan and the others gave us too much, and it's hard to return the favor. Remember to ask me to give him a generous gift next time there's a wedding in his family."
Zhang Guoqing thought of Old Zhou's family and reminded her, "What about Old Zhou's grandmother? None of them came today. Should we send some eggs over? It would be bad if we didn't go. If we did, we would feel uncomfortable."
"I guess grandma herself doesn't want to come. Never mind, this is fine. From now on, we won't have to visit each other. I've asked Aunt Hua to bring some cakes and eggs to grandma today. I'll make her a cotton-padded jacket as a New Year gift and give it to her, and then secretly give her some money. This is the only way. I have a thorn in my heart, and I can't do anything more."
Zhang Guoqing patted her comfortingly. He was more in favor of Zhou Jiao's approach. Mrs. Zhou's deliberate concealment had hurt Zhou Jiao and her father. She couldn't help but remember Zhou Jiao, who was like a pearl to her heart, all day long. Thinking deeply about it, one even wondered if the old couple had made some arrangement with Mrs. Lin when they brought Zhou Jiao back to their hometown. When the Gu family's property disappeared, who knew if these people had some ulterior motive? Mrs. Zhou hid the wooden box until Zhou Jiao got married and secretly gave it to her. Perhaps she knew her husband's calculations.
"...Jiaojiao has your telegram. It was sent to you by your father."
Zhang's mother's voice was so loud and clear that Zhou Jiao was so startled that she didn't even bother putting on her coat before running out. This time, her mother came back to say that all the documents had been submitted and they were just waiting for the results. It seemed that the matter was settled, and her father had given her the news.
Zhang Guoqing watched her run out like a flash, towel in one hand and coat in the other, following closely behind. As for their son lying in the room, the two of them had forgotten about him.
Zhou Jiao rushed into the main hall with disheveled hair. Without even a moment to greet everyone, she took the telegram from Lin Lishan and opened it. "Double joy! The two elders have been rehabilitated and posthumously honored as revolutionaries. Father is safe and well, don't worry. See letter for details."
Zhou Jiao pursed her lips tightly, reading the handwriting over and over again. After a moment, she let out a long breath, and a smile gradually spread across her face. It seemed her father's work hadn't been affected. Everything had gone as they had expected. They had agreed beforehand: "If things went well," it meant nothing unusual at work, everything was going smoothly. "If things went well," it meant the job transfer was going well. "If things went badly, it would mean his superiors didn't trust him and had transferred him to a different position."
Zhou Jiao was even more excited at the thought of receiving a letter in a few days. Without even reading the letter, she could roughly guess that posthumous honorific meant a record in the archives, a written certificate. But her father would surely give her every detail in the letter. She desperately wanted to see the code on the letterhead.
Lin Liying avoided the crowd and winked at her sister-in-law. She had seen Zhou Jiao smiling and acting so gracefully and politely today. She had almost forgotten the old man's evaluation of her. She was startled to see Zhou Jiao's serious expression just now. She really looked like Zhou Xiaozheng. Perhaps this was Zhou Jiao's true face.
Looking at Zhou Jiao's radiant smile, his face flushed with excitement, he controlled his emotions and replied calmly. It was just as the old man said, no girl in the family could compare to Zhou Jiao. Not to mention her manners and conversation, even her looks were far superior to her cousins. No wonder the old man said Zhou Jiao was Zhou Xiaozheng's life. Zhou Jiao looked just like his biological mother, and her temperament was just like his, Zhou Xiaozheng's. How could he not treasure her?
Zhou Jiao sat with the others for a moment, then hurriedly left, using the excuse of caring for her child. She had already prepared offerings, planning to sneak off to Beishan with her husband tonight to pay respect to her grandfather and parents-in-law from their previous life, and to inform them that their child was one month old. Now, she could share the good news with her grandparents, and tell them that they had finally cleared their name and lived up to the Zhou family's legacy. She figured her grandparents would be busy tonight. She believed that father and daughter shared a common purpose, and her father must be mourning the old man, too.
Seeing her leave, Zhang Guoqing took the opportunity to pull Zhang's mother back to the west wing, intending to ask her to help take care of the child.
Zhang's mother followed him into the house and saw that Zhou Jiao had already put on her coat and was holding a hat in her hand, waiting for them anxiously.
"Where are you planning to go? Your baby is just one month old. Why are you going out so late at night? Can't you go out tomorrow?" Mother Zhang saw that they had to leave, but she still tried to persuade them out of worry.
Zhang Guoqing explained as he put on his coat, "I have an appointment. I have something to take care of. I'll be back soon. Mom, please keep an eye on Ping An for me. If we're late, remember to make him some milk powder."
After saying this, without waiting for Zhang's mother to respond, he quickly pulled Zhou Jiao out. He was really afraid that Zhang's mother would ask about the matter, so the evening worship ceremony could only be known by the couple.
Zhang's mother stood in front of the house, watching them go. She wondered what could have happened that would have made Xiaowu run out without caring about Zhou Jiao's health. It was impossible for them to go to Old Zhou's house. Zhou Jiao had asked someone to bring a gift to Old Mrs. Zhou today, but she had already discussed it with her. Going out so late at night, and taking Zhou Jiao with him, could it be that he really had something important to do, or was he just bored and wanted to get some fresh air?
Zhang Guoqing and his wife emerged from the courtyard gate, flashlights in hand, and walked around the village, finally making their way to North Mountain. Late at night, as they ascended from the foot of North Mountain, a chill wind rustled the trees, sometimes rustling in stronger winds like wailing. Zhou Jiao, terrified, hid beside Zhang Guoqing, clinging to him tightly, following him with uneven steps, seeking shelter to pay her respects.
After much difficulty, Zhao Guoqing found a small valley facing away from the village. After the couple cleared a spot in the sheltered area, Zhou Jiao retrieved the tablets Zhang Guoqing had carved and arranged them accordingly.
After placing the offerings, the couple knelt on their military blankets and burned paper money in the fire. Zhang Guoqing whispered about the events that had led to their unexpected arrival, and told them that their child had been born. Zhang Guoqing wondered who would honor them during festivals in the afterlife after their departure. He wept several times as he spoke of his longing for them. He could only silently pray for their family to be reunited in the other world.
After paying homage to the Zhang family's grandparents and parents-in-law, Zhou Jiao touched the tablets of Zhou Jinyu and Gu Mingzhu alone, silently recounting how Zhou Xiaozheng had experienced life and death, and returned seventeen years later to learn about his life story. She also talked about her aunt's forty-year search, the old Zhou family's malicious concealment, and the Gu family's concubine. She said a lot, talking about whatever came to her mind.
She hoped that the two elders would protect Zhou Xiaozheng well in heaven, so that her father could live a peaceful life, and the Zhou family would have a successor as soon as possible, and the main branch of the family could pass on its incense.
The couple knelt quietly, burning the paper money, and then knelt there in silence for a while, supporting each other to stand up. After a while, they packed up their things, and Zhang Guoqing cleaned up the traces, making sure nothing was missed, and led Zhou Jiao down the mountain.
After paying homage and going down the mountain, Zhang Guoqing and his wife walked around the village until their eyes were no longer red and swollen, their mood was no longer depressed, and their longing eased. Then they hugged each other and slowly walked home.
When the couple returned home, before they even entered the west wing, they saw Zhang's mother craning her neck and wandering outside the door, waiting for them to appear.
Upon seeing them, Zhang's mother hurriedly dragged Zhou Jiao into the house. She kept muttering that Zhou Jiao had just finished her confinement and couldn't be out in the open air for long, and that she needed to take it slow. She blamed Zhang Guoqing for taking Zhou Jiao out in the open air for some serious matter. She blamed him for not knowing the importance of things, always letting his wife do what she wanted, and not being able to persuade her.
Listening to Zhang's mother's mumbling, Zhang Guoqing and his wife smiled at each other. It was great that they still had their family around.
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