Wood was burning on the earthen stove in the kitchen, and two pots were put on at the same time, boiling and steaming. Zhou Jiao sat on a small stool, looking up from time to time to take a look and smell, and her hands were constantly cleaning the fresh squid.
At this moment, Zhou Jiao wanted to cry when she thought about the several baskets of seafood waiting for her to clean up outside. Why did she only think about the cheap price at that time?
In the yard, Zhang Dad and Zhang Meili had just finished carrying the wine jar and were moving vermicelli noodles up when they saw Zhang's mother hurried in. Seeing this, Zhang Dad asked in surprise, "What happened? Why did you take so long?"
"Oh...that daughter-in-law is so good at chatting, she kept pulling me and wouldn't let me leave."
Seeing that the father and daughter were almost done moving, Zhang's mother went to the kitchen. When she entered the kitchen and saw Zhou Jiao working, she quickly pulled her up and asked her to go back to the house to take care of the child.
There was no need for anyone to help light the fire in the kitchen; there was no need for more people; it was better to take care of her grandson. As for cleaning up the seafood, the mother and daughter would quickly finish cleaning it up after her eldest daughter moved it in. Why would she be needed?
Zhou Jiao washed her hands, sniffed her body, frowned, and took off her coat. After washing herself, she felt better and hurried back to the living room.
Zhou Jiao felt a little guilty after not holding her son for a day. She carried the child back to the bedroom and fed him. She saw her son tugging at her clothes tightly, which made her feel even more uncomfortable.
Zhou Jiao hummed a song and patted him gently. After a while, when he fell asleep, Zhou Jiao dared to hold him and lie down on the bed. Lying on the bed, she suddenly felt her whole body aching.
Closing her eyes, she saw the space filled with supplies, and she felt comforted. Her child would no longer have to suffer the same hardships she had in her childhood.
Remembering that Zhang Guoqing would go see Liu Ming tonight, she couldn't help but worry about whether Liu Ming would be with the car tomorrow. The crabs would be useless if they died. If she hadn't remembered that the crabs were preserved in sawdust soaked in seawater as a bonus for her company every year, she really wouldn't have let her father receive live crabs.
Zhang Guoqing sped all the way to the provincial capital's military district and drove directly to Zhao Chuangguang's home. He knocked on the door and briefly explained to the couple what was going on, asking them to move all their belongings. He didn't have time to discuss the details and hurried to the provincial station to find someone to do something.
Around ten o'clock in the evening, Zhang Guoqing finally drove his car to the doorstep. As soon as he entered the yard, he saw that the things that had been piled up before he left had been cleared out, and the ground was clean and tidy.
When Zhang's father heard the car, he hurried out and saw him come in. He asked, "Is everything done? Why do you still have so much on hand?"
"It's all done. Uncle Dashan also asked me to bring a lot to them. He didn't separate the things he prepared, so I didn't send them to my four uncles' homes. I gave them all to my godfather and his family, simply told them which ones were for which families, and then I ran away.
They were so welcoming. As I was driving away, my godmother threw in this package, saying it was for Jiaojiao and she hadn't had time to deliver it. I hadn't even seen what was inside. This carton contains some leftover seafood from our family.
Zhang Guoqing and his father walked as they talked. When they entered the kitchen, they saw his mother and older sister bustling around at two stoves. The table was piled high with cooked conch, mantis shrimp, shellfish, and other seafood.
Zhang Guoqing didn't know whether to laugh or cry - a lot of it could be frozen and there was no need to rush to cook it. "Mom, you and big sister don't have to cook it. This is enough for us to eat. I've already planned it out. This is the cheapest thing and the most suitable gift for others."
After hearing what he said, Zhang's mother immediately said to Zhang Meili, "Don't burn the pot if it's ready. You have work tomorrow, so go home early. Take some of the cooked seafood back with you."
Zhang Guoqing stepped forward, picked up the empty wooden tray, and piled a handful of each onto it. Once it was full, he simply carried the tray onto the cart. He then ran to the warehouse and saw three bamboo baskets on the ground.
He hesitated for a moment, then picked up a large bamboo basket and filled it himself, then put ten crabs in it, and took out prawns, yellow croaker, and hairtail from the cardboard box and put them in.
Zhang Guoqing quickly took them to the car and put them away, hoping his mother wouldn't see them. To some extent, at a certain level, some things are no longer simply favors. His mother couldn't understand, so he could only make up for it—Zhou Jiao didn't give them to Zuo Lin personally, so it was probably not easy to tell her directly.
Then he went back and picked up two baskets and put them in the car. He left his two sisters' baskets untouched. This was in accordance with his mother's wishes. No mother doesn't love her daughters, so she naturally had her reasons for doing so.
Zhang Guoqing called Zhang Meili over and drove her away.
Zhang's mother returned to the warehouse and was about to turn off the lights when she found a bamboo basket on the ground. After turning off the lights, she stood in front of the yard waiting for Zhang Guoqing to come back.
After sending Zhang Meili off and finishing his business, Zhang Guoqing returned home. From a distance, he saw Zhang's mother alone at the door. He was immediately startled. Could she be angry?
After locking the car door, Zhang Guoqing immediately stepped forward, pulled Zhang's mother inside, and said, "Mom, it's so cold, why are you still waiting for me outside the door?"
"Xiao Wu, you didn't bring Zuo Lin's portion? Is it because Mom didn't prepare it well?"
Zhang Guoqing saw her looking at his face cautiously, and hurriedly comforted her: "Mom prepared very well. But I think my brother and sister-in-law are still grateful to Aunt Zuo, and my second brother is under his command. This safe full moon was given a generous gift.
It doesn't matter what we give them normally. This time, Uncle Dashan must have sent it over early. If he tells us what he bought, Uncle Zuo and Aunt Zuo will see what we gave them and worry that they will feel uncomfortable. The more gifts, the less blame. Since you're going to give, give more.
In our family, apart from Uncle Zuo and Uncle Dashan, the families of Yuntao and Qinglin need to be careful. It is just right for everyone else to follow your arrangements.
I won't send it to the Qinglin and Yuntao families this time. They'll definitely come to their homes in a couple of days and let them pick some up themselves. Sending it to their two families won't have a good impact on others if they see it."
Zhang's mother breathed a sigh of relief. "What are your plans for the crabs? We need to deal with them quickly, or they'll die."
Zhang Guoqing was thinking about what to say so that she wouldn't feel bad, "Mom, my father-in-law just started working, and you know my mother-in-law is not worldly-wise.
As for me, seeing how cheap it was, I wanted to send it to Beijing by train to my father-in-law. Normally, he doesn't interact with the families of his superiors. If I send it over now, he'll have an excuse. Only when my father-in-law is well can I be well. Besides, he spent a lot of money on me and Jiaojiao, and left a lot of money before leaving. I want to show my kindness."
Mother Zhang nodded immediately and said, "Of course you should. Be filial to him! Have you found a good person? It's so cold, the crabs will freeze to death. Have you figured out what to do?"
"I went to the provincial station tonight to find someone, and they agreed to bring it over for me tomorrow. We've already figured out how to store it. Jiaojiao and I will come and clean it up later. You and Dad should go to bed early."
Zhang Guoqing quickly pulled away Zhang's mother who was anxious to prepare gifts.
Entering the bedroom, he saw Zhou Jiao and her son fast asleep. He quietly closed the door and left the yard to pack his things.
At around eleven o'clock in the evening, Zhang Guoqing had to wake up Zhou Jiao - there were a lot of things in her space.
Late at night, in the kitchen, the couple began to prepare to cook crabs, intending to pack them up after Zhang's mother and the others fell asleep.
At a little after 1 a.m., the couple washed their hands and looked at the cooked and live crabs packed in front of them, then at several boxes of packed seafood. They breathed a sigh of relief and quickly washed up and went to bed so they could wake up in time for their son.
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