Time flies, and the family reunites to celebrate the Lantern Festival. The day of separation is getting closer, but neither Zhou Xiaozheng nor his daughter mentions it.
As they spend more and more time together, Zhou Jiao is reluctant to leave her family, but there are still many hurdles ahead for her to overcome. She can only move forward and not retreat.
While her parents were at work, Zhou Jiao started making dumplings and buns, bought some ready-made food, and cooked soup. She did everything she could to get her father to eat more.
Standing in the warehouse, looking at the vats of food stacked against the wall, she pondered her worries with a melancholy air. The Gu family affairs in Beijing were settled; those destined for hell had gone, and her father now had his brothers to support him. It seemed there was no point in her staying.
Zhang Guoqing hugged her from behind and smiled, telling her that it would be soon, and they would be reunited and never be separated again. This trip to S City was imperative - for now they had to go their own way.
Zhou Jiao turned around and hugged him back, burying her head in his chest and taking a deep breath, then looked up at him with a bright smile. The two of them hugged each other and smiled foolishly at each other's smiles.
For dinner that day, Zhou Jiao declined Aunt Chen's help and cooked a table of dishes that her parents liked.
At the dinner table, Zhou Xiaozheng tasted each dish with a smile and gave her a thumbs-up. He didn't say a word the whole time. He wanted to say, "Jiaojiao, don't leave. Dad can't bear to see you go."
He wanted to say so much, but looking into the child's eyes he forced himself to hold back.
After all, I have to walk out of this day by myself.
And his Jiaojiao, even if the future is uncertain, will still walk the path she wants to walk.
After a silent dinner, Lin Lishan ran back to her room crying.
Zhou Xiaozheng took Zhou Jiao and Zhang Guoqing back to the study.
There was silence in the study.
The three of them sat quietly, looking at each other.
After a long time, Lin Lishan pushed the door open with red eyes.
Zhou Xiaozheng stood up, patted her, and pulled her to sit down.
He uttered his first words of the night, a hoarse voice uttering, "Dad knows, as long as you make sure Dad is safe...you'll be leaving soon."
After that, he looked up and said the second sentence, "Dad is waiting for you at home. You and Xiaowu don't forget to go home."
Zhou Jiao's pretended strength crumbled in an instant, tears silently streaming down her face. She lowered her head, trying to catch her breath, and said with a smile, "Dad, you must wait for me to come home. You must wait for me to come home."
Zhang Guoqing handed her a handkerchief and said to his father-in-law, who was leaning back in his chair with his head raised, "Dad, when the weather gets warmer, Jiaojiao will bring Ping'an home more often. I'm familiar with the provincial railway station, so I'm not worried about safety on the train. Didn't you and Mom say that we don't lack money? Let's take a train for fun."
After saying that, seeing Lin Lishan nodding, she suppressed her sadness and smiled, "Uncle Dashan is one of us. I'll find a chance to take a leave and come over when I have nothing to do. For example, May Day, National Day, or even Children's Day, we should celebrate the holidays safely, right?"
Lin Lishan was amused by him and laughed out loud.
Zhang Guoqing became more and more excited as he spoke. "You really don't have to be sad. I've thought about it. From now on, I'll take on any business trips Uncle Dashan has. A business trip from Northeast China to another place will always pass through Beijing, right? Then I'll leave Ping An to you and take Jiao Jiao on a business trip."
"How can you bring your family with you on a business trip? You'd better leave Jiaojiao at home. Don't cry, dear. Dad has made up his mind. From now on, I will take care of all the meetings in the Northeast Military Region."
Zhou Xiaozheng's eyes lit up at Zhang Guoqing's words. He still had many ways to get through this. However, he didn't plan to tell his own child, as that silly child would worry that he would make a mistake.
Zhou Jiao smiled and nodded.
Zhang Guoqing jokingly said, "Are you okay? I'll make sure you come home more often. Otherwise, what if the house floods?"
Zhou Xiaozheng looked at the young couple and shook his head, feeling much more at ease. With his son-in-law Zhang Guoqing by his child's side, he had fewer worries.
Zhou Jiao smiled brightly at her father. "Dad, please help me get a ticket to S City. I'll be back in three or five days, and then back to Northeast China at the end of the month. I'll bring you a gift!"
Lin Lishan quickly said, "I'll go too! Let Mom decide."
Zhou Jiao looked at her curiously and asked, "Why were you crying just now?"
"Okay! You go with them. I'll stay at home this time, and next time we'll go to the old house together." Zhou Xiaozheng nodded in agreement.
He had his own concerns. Some things seemed calm on the surface, but when he really rushed to the south of the Yangtze River, everyone would target him.
The old house is currently under the protection of Mrs. Cheng and is relatively safe. He still needs to consider the inheritance in the dark room carefully. He really can't go to the Gu family old house at the moment.
After agreeing on the itinerary and learning that they would have to return to Beijing, Lin Lishan was so excited that she took out a pen and paper and started planning her route and buying gifts.
Zhou Xiaozheng drew a simple route to S City on a piece of letter paper, marked the location of the house, and added the contact address of his comrade Wang Dong. He told Zhou Jiao what to do when she got there and told her to contact him if she encountered any difficulties.
When Zhou Jiao learned that the man had transferred to the Municipal Bureau, she realized that everything was part of her father's plan. After listening carefully and analyzing his family background and preferences, she was immediately delighted when he smiled in appreciation.
During this time, her father would give her and Zhang Guoqing homework whenever they returned from their outings. Now, she subconsciously analyzed and commented on people and situations. She remembered his words: "Those of all kinds of religions are capable; talk less, observe more." In dealing with others, treat everyone equally; learn to offer help when needed, and avoid adding icing on the cake.
The next day, Zhou Jiao privately informed Old Lady Cheng that the Zhou family hadn't announced their trip to City S. They planned to wait until they left and then tell everyone they were going out for a stroll.
When Mrs. Cheng learned early in the morning that they were taking the child to S City, she immediately asked Aunt Chen to contact Lin Lishan and ask her not to buy a ticket yet. She expected Lin Lishan to only be able to buy a standard sleeper. Since the child was still young and she had to go there personally to take care of him, she could still buy a soft sleeper.
As for Zhou Jiao's claim of going to S City for fun, she smiled. If it were anyone else, she would believe it, but her own Jiao Jiao? Impossible! She happened to be there to take care of the children, so she and her husband could handle things.
Zhou Jiao was terribly worried. She regretted telling her aunt, as if she hadn't been thorough enough. Could the old lady handle it? Her repeated attempts to persuade her were ineffective. Seeing the old lady happily running home to make arrangements, she and Zhang Guoqing exchanged a wry smile.
When Old Lady Cheng returned home, she happened to meet Cheng Ruzhu, who was returning to her parents' home. Knowing that the Wen family was going to host a banquet for Zhou Xiaozheng's family, she pulled her back to the bedroom.
When Cheng Ruzhu learned that the group was actually going to S City for fun, she immediately refused to agree and insisted on going with them. She had to go, young and old. She worked at the Commerce Bureau and happened to be on a business trip to S City.
After hearing her various excuses, Old Lady Cheng nodded and told her to keep it a secret until she left. She was worried something might happen to the Lin family. Old Lin's granddaughters were all rude, and her daughter was too shy to offend them.
After work, Zhou Xiaozheng learned that Mrs. Cheng was accompanying him. He immediately went to Cheng's house and, upon his return, took Zhou Jiao to the study. There, the father and daughter chatted until dinner. No one knew what they were talking about except Zhang Guoqing, who was chatting with his mother-in-law.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
