There is a kind of love that is engraved in the bones and integrated into the blood. The heavy love of father and mother is higher than the sky and deeper than the earth. It has been giving selflessly.
This love is like a kite, with parents at one end and the string holding the children. When they are far away, some strings cannot withstand the changes of time and space and may break.
Zhang Guoqing didn't want that thread to wear out, so he carefully guarded it, hoping his parents would leave their homeland and their family would be reunited. But reality was too difficult. His parents, holding onto too many thick threads, also stood guard over his brothers and sisters.
There were hurried footsteps in the Zhang family courtyard, and Zhang's mother muttered doubtfully. Soon, the door flew open, revealing Zhang Guoqing's familiar face.
Mother Zhang couldn't believe it and rushed forward to grab her son, laughing happily, "Daddy, it's our Xiaowu, it's our Xiaowu who has returned home."
Zhou Jiao laughed out loud, "Mom, I'm back too. Dad, we missed you so much."
Father Zhang's eyes were red, and he nodded with a smile, "Good, good boy, good, it's good that you're back..."
Zhang Guoqing's nose turned sore at his father's excited and helpless expression. His parents must be thinking about him all the time. Fortunately, he came back.
He dropped his luggage and went forward to embrace his father, saying softly, "Dad, your son is back."
Father Zhang patted him with satisfaction and laughed happily.
Mother Zhang pulled Zhou Jiao aside, looked at her carefully for a while, and nodded with satisfaction, "Good, as long as you haven't lost weight."
Zhou Jiao smiled and nodded. She couldn't express her gratitude to her parents-in-law in words. The old couple had been asking them not to come back, worried about them.
"Mother, please cook something for the children. Cook more so I can eat some more."
Zhou Jiao's heart skipped a beat when she heard that. She carefully observed their expressions. Fortunately, they hadn't lost weight! She was almost scared to death.
Zhang Guoqing and his son carried their luggage into the house. When they reached the living room, Zhang's father asked, "How are you, kids? Didn't I tell you not to come back? Why are you running back home again?"
"Ping'an is living better than anyone else. I wanted to bring him back, but I was worried about the safety of the journey. We haven't seen you for half a year, and I'm worried if you don't come back."
Father Zhang looked at his son with a smile. He hadn't lost weight in six months, and he looked even stronger. Great! It looked like the family was doing well indeed. That was good!
Zhang Guoqing looked around. "Dad, are you and Mom okay at home? Have the monthly rations been distributed? Is there enough firewood?"
"Dad and Mom are well fed and well at home, don't worry. I kept the food coupons I sent last time and didn't use them. Don't send anything back in the future."
Zhang Guoqing didn't ask any more questions. He had to figure out some things himself. He stood up, opened his luggage, and took out a bag of photos, handing it to his father.
Father Zhang looked at his grandson in the photo and laughed heartily. After a while, he said, "He's grown up chubby and looks like he's living a good life. When you come back, will he ask for his parents?"
Zhang Guoqing smiled and shook his head, then whispered, "Your grandson will go to school with us for two nights, then go home with his grandmother and never come to our place again.
He gets the best food and the best supplies at the compound nursery, but even so, my father-in-law is still worried. Other children come home once a week, but he comes home every night and we send him back in the morning.
Usually my father-in-law and his family pick up and drop off the children. If Mrs. Cheng is too busy, there will be someone to help. There is also a nanny at home who will run over in the middle of the day to check on the children.
He has no time to bother us. He is the youngest among the family. Now that he is on vacation, he has a bunch of little cousins to accompany him and spoil him. "
Father Zhang sighed, "We have safely entered the blessed nest."
Zhang Guoqing nodded. It was more than just a good home. As long as his sons grew up smoothly, they would have a good starting point and would be no worse off than he was.
"How are the brothers and sisters?"
"They're doing well, don't worry about them. How long will you stay this time? If you don't come back for the New Year, go to your grandfather's grave first."
Zhang Guoqing nodded. "I'll only be here for three to five days and then I have to go back. I have activities at school and can't be away for too long. I came here this time to take you and mom away. My father-in-law also wanted to do that. He wanted you to go so that we can take care of you if anything happens to you."
Father Zhang quickly shook his head. "Thank him on my behalf. I can't go there right now, and your mother can't leave either. Your second sister and your second sister-in-law are both pregnant, and we feel uneasy away from home. As long as you are doing well out there, I'll be relieved. There will be plenty of opportunities in the capital."
Zhang Guoqing asked in surprise, "Why didn't you mention anything in the letter? Second brother is really something. Every time he writes, he's always nice and never says anything. Are they getting enough nutrition?"
Zhang's father smiled and said it was fine, that they all had jobs and didn't need anything. He thought, who would dare tell you that? With your attitude, you'd have to send things back every day. "Brother Zhou supports his daughter and her family, so it doesn't make sense that he should also support his relatives."
Soon, Zhang's mother brought Zhou Jiao in with noodles and urged them to eat first and talk later.
"Mom, this tastes amazing! My cooking skills are really good. Eat more meat. Your son will be back soon. Order whatever you want. Don't let yourself get away with it."
Zhang's mother smiled as he brought the meat over. She didn't refuse - her son was very filial. "You left a lot. Your father and I can't finish it all. It's not a waste for us."
Zhang Guoqing and Zhou Jiao exchanged a wry smile. They were worried they weren't getting enough, and their haste to return wasn't simply a worry that their frugal lifestyle was ruining their health.
"It's not good to keep things for too long. Don't keep them. I'll go to the mountains later and there won't be any meat. Don't go to the grain station to exchange the food coupons you sent me. Go to a restaurant and try something different."
Mother Zhang nodded with a smile, then thought of something and frowned, "I asked Yuanyuan, and she said that the food the school gives out every month isn't enough to eat. Are you saving some and sending it to us?"
Zhang Guoqing smiled and pointed at Zhou Jiao, asking her to speak.
Zhou Jiao smiled and said, "Dad, Mom, your oldest son is very capable. He organized a group of people to go hunting and exchanged the meat for a lot of food coupons. You can eat without worry. Others are short of food, but we are not."
Zhang's father shook his head and said disapprovingly, "Don't take the risk. Exchanging food will definitely involve going to the black market. If something goes wrong, it's not worth it to affect your future. We have a good life with the monthly rations. We used to have to eat grass roots, but now we have a good life. You must be careful when you are out there. If you can avoid taking risks, don't do it."
After he finished speaking, he saw his eldest son and his young couple nodding repeatedly, and he smiled with relief. He was not worried that his two most astute children would not listen, as long as the children remembered.
Zhang's mother looked at her oldest son with a smile, her face filled with joy. She'd been saying, "Little Five is so smart, he's always reliable." She'd forgotten who'd been awake in the middle of the night, tossing and turning, worrying about her oldest son's big appetite and how he'd been too hungry to walk.
Zhang Guoqing and his wife looked at their parents and laughed foolishly. Having a son, they could better understand their parents' concern for their child and appreciate their parents' intentions.
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