Snowflakes drifted from the sky, and gusts of wind blew, rattling the carriage. As the wind blew against them, the old man in the carriage soothed his beloved horse, reluctant to whip it. It sped and then slowed down as it pleased.
Inside the carriage sat Zhang Guoqing and his parents. Zhang's mother was filled with regret that her grandson couldn't return to the village. She'd watched him grow increasingly clever these past few days, even recognizing her. She couldn't bear to leave him. If she weren't worried about her eldest son, she wouldn't have wanted to go home.
Zhang Guoqing was also filled with regret. He hadn't anticipated the unusually high temperatures today. He hadn't needed a coat at noon these past few days, but who could have imagined that his planned trip would have to be changed at the last minute? He couldn't even spend a good day off with his wife and son.
"Go find your third uncle first and see if he wants to talk to you about anything. Then go to your eldest uncle's and your younger uncle's place and sit for a while. If you have nothing else, go home early." Father Zhang said immediately when he saw the village entrance.
Zhang Guoqing nodded. He picked up his package, asked the old man to stop the car, and paid him to take Zhang Dad and his wife home. He walked slowly to the old captain's house. No one was out and about in the village today, so he just wanted to take a look at the Daqing Mountain and the familiar village he hadn't seen in a while.
Arriving at the old captain's house, Zhang Guoqing called out to his third grandfather. Upon hearing the response from inside, he headed straight into the outer room. Inside, the entire family sat on the kang, twisting ropes.
"Finally I meet you, kid. Why did you go to Beijing instead of returning to your hometown?" The old captain smiled and pulled him to sit down, and asked his daughter-in-law to bring him hot water.
Zhang Guoqing took out four boxes of snacks and two bottles of wine from the package and placed them on the kang, smiling and saying, "I started working the same day I came back, so I really couldn't go home. Last weekend, my family was just about to come back, but my parents went to the county town early in the morning. Because of this delay, I can only come to see you today. Don't mind."
The old captain held a very high prestige in the family. When he spoke, none of his descendants dared to interrupt. They all listened quietly to the conversation, and the naughty children didn't dare to approach to take a bite of the cakes.
"Why did you bring so many things? I didn't ask you to come back for gifts. First, tell me how things are going outside. Is your father-in-law in the capital okay?"
Zhang Guoqing opened a package, pushed it in front of the child, and said with a smile, "What's okay? My father-in-law now has a car and people to take care of him, so what's wrong with him? It's nice out there, but it's still not as good as our home. After this trip, I still think my hometown is better. The familiar local accent and familiar family members are nothing compared to the outside world."
"You haven't brought shame to our Zhang family in the past, have you?" The old captain told the children to eat without worry and teased him.
"Haha... not bad," Zhang Guoqing said with a smile. If he guessed correctly, the whole village would know by this afternoon that he and Jiaojiao had met the great man—he had brought a large photo home for his parents, agreeing to hang it up as they wished. He figured it wouldn't be a disgrace to the Zhang family.
The old captain rolled his eyes at him unhappily. "Don't try to fool me. Tell me how the capital is doing. You know what I want to ask. Don't try to hide it from me."
Zhang Guoqing smiled and shook his head. Even if the other party hadn't come looking for him today, he would have come anyway. He still had to give some advice. They were all from the same clan, descended from the same ancestors, and he wanted everyone to be well.
"I traveled quite far this time. From Beijing to S City, and then on to Hangzhou. The journey was peaceful, and the people were very happy. Big cities are well developed and have everything. Especially in the tourist areas, there are many rich people, but even more poor people. We people in Northeast China are happier than in the south. As long as we work hard, we don't have to worry about going hungry."
The old captain glanced at him, smiled, and said, "Good boy! It seems you've learned a lot from following your father-in-law for a while. Do you know why I asked you to come here this time?"
"I really don't know. Whether you have anything to do or not, it's nice to come and chat with you." Zhang Guoqing said with a smile.
He admired the old man's wisdom. Li Aiguo and Zuo Lin had both come to him for information recently. When Lin Juhua brought him the message that day, he knew that the old captain was as knowledgeable as those people.
The old captain got the information he wanted to know and then started talking about the bombing of the col.
At present, the relocation of more than a dozen families living near the mountain has been negotiated. Except for those who are living in the ancestral hall, the housing problems of several other families have not been resolved.
Zhang Guoqing knew that they were planning to rent a house. His yard was empty and had to be lent to someone. Without waiting for the old captain to speak, he immediately said, "My yard is empty. You can discuss it with my father. In addition to the main house, both sides can be arranged."
The old captain knew that Zhang Guoqing was a righteous man, but he still had to make some things clear.
"I'll let your second uncle and his family stay with you. They're close to your parents, and there's nothing messy going on at home. But they'll need to stay for at least three months. Do you want to go back and discuss this with your wife first?"
Zhang Guoqing smiled and shook his head. "Jiaojiao, that's no problem. My parents can arrange it. We originally planned to let Fifth Grandpa live with us, but unfortunately he just doesn't want to move. I have to go see him later."
The Uncle Zhang Wu that Zhang Guoqing mentioned was a lonely old man. His grandfather had always had a very good relationship with this cousin, and when he was still alive, he often joked that Uncle Zhang Wu would take care of him in his old age and see him to the end of his life.
The old captain smiled and shook his head. The old man was very stubborn and insisted on guarding the dilapidated house. He also knew that Xiaowu usually took care of the old man.
"Then go see him first. He should be at the pig farm right now. He has a very strange temper, and you're the only one who can stand him. I saw him running to your grandfather's grave and muttering non-stop during the ancestral worship ceremony before the New Year. In that cold weather, he was not afraid of freezing to death even if he had a pot of wine to drink."
Talking about this cousin, he was at a loss whether to laugh or cry. Others had children and grandchildren, but he was so different that he never married for the sake of a woman. Now he didn't know if he regretted it.
Zhang Guoqing remembered something and quickly asked, "How's Fifth Grandpa's nephew's adoption going? I forgot to ask my father when I got back."
The old captain laughed heartily. "It's done. This time, your Fifth Grandfather agreed after being scolded by the clan leader. However, he's still the same as before, demanding to live alone and not letting his nephew move in. Don't you think he has a strange temper? He really thinks no one wants to live with him. Everyone just lets him do what he wants, as long as he's happy."
Zhang Guoqing smiled along with everyone else when he heard this.
I cheered for Master Zhang Wu in my heart. Living alone would be so much better, why bother with his nephew? Adoption was just a title for Master Zhang Wu, and he really didn't care about such things. Otherwise, he wouldn't have remained single.
The man who was deeply in love was guarding the old house just to commemorate his deceased wife. How could he let outsiders live in his house?
After chatting for a while and finding nothing else to do, Zhang Guoqing said goodbye to the old captain and headed to the pig farm.
"Don't move! Be careful not to dirty your clothes. Come in with me." Uncle Zhang Wu smiled brightly when he saw him. He quickly stopped him and helped him carry the bamboo basket.
Zhang Guoqing smiled and didn't refuse. The two of them arrived at the thatched hut on the pig farm. He took out four boxes of snacks and two bottles of wine and placed them on the kang. Seeing only a bowl of pickles on the kang table, he frowned. He assumed the other party's lunch would be corn porridge and pickles again.
"Why are you sending me more things? Your father sent me quite a lot before the New Year. Your wife made me a new cotton-padded jacket and trousers that fit me perfectly. Remember to thank her. How was your trip out of town this time? Is the child okay?"
"Why don't you put it on? Jiaojiao is worried that you'll get cold. My father-in-law is with me out there, everything is fine. The child didn't come today, so why don't you come back to the county with me to see the child?"
"Haha... this kid, why is she freezing? Tell her not to worry. Don't send anything here in the future, it's too eye-catching! Why would she wear new clothes when she's old?"
Seeing that he always avoided the topic, Zhang Guoqing did not continue to persuade Zhang Wuye to go to the county town. Then the two of them talked about this trip.
Uncle Zhang Wu laughed out loud at his amusement. Less than half an hour later, he urged him to go back home to accompany the children.
After leaving the pig farm, Zhang Guoqing slapped his forehead in frustration. What a fool! Why did he send snacks? Why did he forget to bring some dry goods? He must have eaten all the dry goods he gave last year.
After visiting the clan leader and several elders, he happily walked back empty-handed - he was finally done.
Returning to his own courtyard, he looked around inside and out, realizing that his parents, who should have come to clean up the house often when he was away, hadn't moved in. His parents hadn't touched the rations and game they'd left behind years before.
Considering that some outsiders would be staying with him in a few days and some things needed to be packed, Zhang Guoqing hurried to find Zhang's father.
After leaving the courtyard, he saw Zhang's mother looking over at him from the gate of the old courtyard. Seeing him, she happily called out to Zhang's father to come out. After she called out, all three branches of the Zhang family gathered in the old courtyard in a short while.
Zhang Guoqing saw that things were not going well. It was almost noon, and he had no intention of letting the old family treat him—since the family had split up, there were more things to pay attention to.
He quickly said hello to Uncle Zhang and the others, and asked them to take a seat first. He took Zhang Laoer back with him to bring in food, game, and wine.
Zhang Laoer followed him back to the yard, and when he saw him moving things, he rolled his eyes at him.
He hurried forward to stop Zhang Guoqing, took two cured meats and two jars of wine and asked him to follow him, muttering to Zhang Guoqing not to be stupid. He was careless and said that if he couldn't finish the food, it would end up in someone else's stomach and he would be in trouble.
Zhang Guoqing smiled and let him decide. His second brother was now very dissatisfied with the Huang family. When it came to handling family relationships, his second brother was the best. He had made his Yue family obedient and they dared not visit them easily. Who would be like his eldest brother's Yue family, the Huang family, who took advantage of some small favors in the past to cause trouble?
The two brothers had a tacit understanding and never mentioned the Huang family's troubles. These past few days, the Huang family had been as anxious as ants on a hot pot - running around in circles, and still couldn't figure out what the problem was.
The two brothers were waiting for Huang Yaoguo, the wise man, to come back from his business trip.
After returning to the old house, Zhang Guoqing ignored his sister-in-law Huang Cuilan's hesitation to speak, saying that it was not her turn to deal with the Huang family's affairs, and that there was no need to be polite and did not refuse anything.
In the main hall, Zhang Guoqing and his brother were accompanying their uncles, aunts, and cousins, happily chatting about what they had seen in the big cities outside and discussing things in the village.
After lunch, everyone went home. Zhang Guoqing took his parents home. He told his father about the lodging and asked him to arrange it. Then he began to pack his food and belongings.
By 3:00 p.m., Zhang Guoqing had already finished moving the study in the east wing. As soon as the carriage arrived, he didn't care that Zhang Guofu, the eldest son of the Zhang family, hadn't returned yet. He said goodbye to his parents with the carriage full of things and hurried home.
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