The next morning, just as the sky was getting light, a car drove out of the farm and set off on the road back to Hai City.
Ping An sat in the back seat, looking at his father driving in front, and finally asked, "Dad, will the hairy crabs grandma gave us die? Is it okay for us to eat them and take them away like this?"
Aunt Zhao patted his head and said with a smile, "Don't worry so much. Come back home with me, okay?"
Ping An shook his head. "No. Great-grandfather and the other kids in the village said we can't visit other people's homes for a month. I'll come visit you next time I come."
Zhao Wenhui was amused. Such a young child could even talk about visiting. She wanted to say that this was just a godparenting relationship, nothing to be ashamed of, but seeing the child's serious face, she decided not to persuade him.
"Grandma, when you're done, come find me. We should go back together."
Lin Lishan smiled and said, "Grandma will go and see how the situation is, okay? You really don't want to go with me? There are many aunts there to play with you."
Ping An thought of those strange aunts and quickly shook his head, "No, you're going to work. You can't bring children to work. It will have a bad influence."
Zhao Wenhui sighed, "This child is more sensible than my ten-year-old grandson. No wonder my younger brother always says he wants to steal his grandson back."
Ping An smiled and said, "My godfather said he loved me the most when he came to Beijing last time. My uncle also said he cherished me the most. He built all my tanks for me personally."
Lin Lishan smiled at Zhao Wenhui and said, "A Guang gave him a set of bullet-shaped toys, but he wouldn't let anyone touch them. Even Brother Zheng was furious."
"I don't know how they're doing lately. I haven't been back this year. Xiaowu, are you guys going back for the New Year?"
Before Zhang Guoqing could reply, Lin Lishan said, "They haven't been back home for the New Year in the past two years. Brother Zheng told them to bring their children over this year to spend the New Year with their grandparents."
"mom?"
Lin Lishan smiled and said, "Your dad said that you haven't been back home for the New Year in several years. This year, you must take the children back to your hometown and take them to meet relatives and friends."
Zhang Guoqing smiled and shook his head. His father-in-law was really a caring person.
Yi Jiefang said quickly, "I think it's okay. Uncle Zhou and my dad are very busy during the first month of the year. If I don't have anything else to do then, I'll go back with you."
"You're welcome to come over. Honestly, if you really want to have fun, our place is no worse than here. It's a shame to miss this season."
A group of people were discussing interesting tourist spots and delicious food. As they chatted about irrelevant topics, it felt like the return to Hai City was just a blink of an eye.
When they returned to the city, it was noon. After having a big lunch and seeing off Zhao Wenhui who was reluctant to leave, the group returned to the guesthouse.
In the room, Lin Lishan took out bundles of money from her military cap and purse, which shocked Ping An, who quickly stepped forward to check if the door was locked.
Zhang Guoqing was left in a state of confusion by the two of them.
Lin Lishan scraped out pennies from her pockets and said, "I'm going to the military area in the evening, and it's inconvenient to carry too much money, so I'll leave it with you."
Zhang Guoqing looked at the pile of money and bills in front of him in surprise, and he really suspected that his mother-in-law had changed her personality. She wouldn't become a different person after trying to commit suicide.
Lin Lishan looked at her son-in-law's expression and laughed in amusement. "If you take a walk around the streets, you'll know why the money can't be spent. High-end goods have increased in price by one-third, just like in Beijing."
Zhang Guoqing has experienced this personally.
Since the beginning of the year, non-planned goods have been priced 1-3 times higher than the official price. Last month, he sold several unused domestic watches and some stockpiled special liquor on the black market at a low price, making a killing. But what does this have to do with not being able to spend money?
"Mom, aren't there a lot of local products here?"
Lin Lishan peeked at the door and whispered, "Jiaojiao said she would bring me something good. Besides, many places focus on quantity over quality."
Zhang Guoqing nodded with a smile. This was in line with his mother-in-law's vision and ideas.
"Put it away quickly and go back to your room. No one will suspect anything if you put it at the bottom of your little backpack like I did."
Zhang Guoqing finally solved the mystery that had been lingering in his mind for some time. Honestly, he'd always wanted to ask, but he'd always put the subject off. He was afraid of asking something awkward.
How did his parents bring money with them when they came to Beijing last time? It was so scary! In the middle of summer, he was scared to death when he saw a bunch of money being taken out of his father's shorts!
He was so afraid to tell his wife who was obsessed with mysophobia that he was traumatized by the incident. Every time he saw money, he would wonder if it had any strange smell.
Zhang Guoqing followed her advice, left some change for the two of them, and wrapped the rest in paper and stuffed it back into Ping'an's small backpack.
He knew it too. No wonder his son had been so fond of his little schoolbag lately. As long as the bag was there, the person was alive. If the bag was dead, the person would be gone… Pah, what were he thinking?
Standing at the door of the guesthouse, after seeing off Lin Lishan who drove away, Zhang Guoqing looked at the remaining few people who were still staring eagerly ahead.
He asked Yi Jiefang curiously, "Why are you so reluctant to let my mother-in-law leave? She doesn't have another daughter."
Yi Jiefang rolled his eyes and said, "I just can't bear to part with the car, okay?"
Ping An was so amused by their words that he chuckled, causing Aunt Chen, who was standing by, to shake her head and laugh at the group. This time, she was both crying and laughing.
Zhang Guoqing was speechless. This was indeed the reason; he couldn't get used to living without a car. These days, even if you have money, you can't buy a car, and even if you do, you don't dare drive it. What's going on?
"What are we going to do for the next two days? We can't just stay stuck here."
Zhang Guoqing nodded, but he couldn't really say where to go out for fun. He asked hesitantly, "How about we go buy some gifts first? You have to satisfy your mother, right?"
Ping An quickly said, "Don't go to the 100-yuan one. It's too expensive there. Grandma said my mom likes to go to Huaihaijiu. You don't need a ticket to buy things there."
Zhang Guoqing was so happy that he picked up his son and laughed heartily. He was indeed worthy of being the son of his wife!
"Don't laugh, seriously! I'm not lying, my mother wouldn't be wrong. Uncle, you should go to Huaihaijiu. Grandma Yi will definitely not say you're ignorant, she will definitely be happy."
Yi Jiefang didn't care. His mother would be happy for half a day if he gave her a handkerchief.
After waiting in line for a long time under the scorching heat of the setting sun, they finally got inside. Zhang Guoqing once again witnessed the explosive power of women in shopping.
Ping An blinked his eyes as he watched the shoppers in front of him, listened to the loud noises around him, and hugged his small schoolbag tightly, exclaiming repeatedly: "Wow... so many people... snatched it... really snatched it..."
Compared to the first time, there is now an even bigger crowd in front of the counter. Everyone is so excited that they come with bare arms. Zhang Guoqing was so scared that he picked up his child and moved away.
Thinking back to the past, he was also one of them. Looking at Aunt Chen and Yi Jiefang in the crowd, they were in such a state of embarrassment, the father and son hiding there, laughing non-stop.
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