Zhang Guoqing, whose father and mother worried about him getting hurt because of his excessive wealth, now took his wife back to the hutong courtyard. A cool night breeze blew through the courtyard, making it exceptionally cool and inviting to stay overnight—if only there weren't mosquitoes buzzing in their ears.
Zhou Jiao had observed carefully since entering the alleyway, and she found that this area was once occupied by the rich and powerful. On summer nights in a typical alleyway, elderly men and women would sit on small stools and chat outside their houses, fanning themselves with palm-leaf fans. Here, however, the gates were open, but everyone was enjoying the cool air in their own courtyards, and occasionally, one could hear the sound of musical instruments.
This is a dead end!
Zhou Jiao decided to stay in the main courtyard. She would never move into this small courtyard until the danger was eliminated.
As soon as they entered the yard, Zhang Guoqing immediately hugged her to watch the "Moonlight over the Lotus Pond". Looking from afar, they could see that there were still people walking in the park in groups of three or four.
"How is it? Isn't this place beautiful? The scenery is even better than that five-story courtyard. Enjoy the breeze in the summer, the falling leaves in the fall, and the lingering snow in the winter. How about it?"
Zhou Jiao smiled. It's hard for this science student!
"I've made up my mind. I'll drive my dad's military vehicle to the street to say hello. I'll say I usually live at school and only come back to stay for a few nights."
Zhou Jiao looked at his rare childishness, which showed that he really liked this place. So she would satisfy him, but she still had to remind him when necessary. This was Zhou Jiao!
"Okay. But we can't stay here permanently. And let Dad see who these people are. Safety comes first."
Zhang Guoqing smiled and nodded.
He didn't tell his wife that his father-in-law had said that if he and his wife started working, they would move to the new compound, and that would be their place to stay in the city.
In the short time they were talking, a circle of mosquitoes swarmed around the lightbulb. Zhou Jiao glanced at it with disdain and immediately looked away. There were many flowers and trees near the water, so it wasn't a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
"Work?"
Talking about business, Zhang Guoqing's smile faded, he closed the window, looked around, and said to her: "I'm outside, you hurry up."
Zhou Jiao smiled and nodded. With her man guarding the door, she felt more at ease than anyone else. Zhou Jiao was already familiar with the Gu family's usual traps, not to mention that this was the simplest version.
After taking a few steps, a crackling sound came from the corner of the wall, which matched the cicadas and frogs outside in the night, creating an unusual harmony.
She didn't know how Mrs. Cheng knew about this mechanism and used it to hide things. But when she thought about it being the old lady's dowry, she understood a little.
Two and a half meter long slender wooden boxes soon appeared in the blue brick corner of the wall.
Zhou Jiao put it directly into the space, looked at the empty part, restored it to its original state, and walked out of the room without a speck of dust. Looking at the look in Zhang Guoqing's eyes when he turned around, she smiled and nodded.
Standing in the yard, just in case there were any ears, the couple didn't discuss the matter. They looked at each other in tacit understanding and walked hand in hand into the main room in the north.
Zhou Jiao placed two long and thin boxes on the kang.
The 15-watt light allowed Zhang Guoqing to see that the wood of the two boxes was extremely precious agarwood. He moved closer to smell it in surprise. What a waste!
Zhou Jiao smiled silently at him, nodding in response to his gaze. As soon as she opened the sealed space, she smelled the unique fragrance of agarwood, which was nothing strange.
"Haven't you seen those things before?"
Zhang Guoqing thought about it and agreed. However, these two boxes should also be the dowry given by the Gu family to Old Lady Cheng. He suggested: "While there are still those skilled craftsmen alive, how about dismantling these two boxes and turning them into ornaments and bracelets?"
Zhou Jiao understood immediately: "Okay! I'll send it to my aunt later so she can have something to remember, and also so she can pass it on to future generations."
Zhang Guoqing nodded with a smile. Both husband and wife knew that the future value of these two boxes would definitely exceed the contents. They felt this way even before they opened the boxes.
However, things often happen unexpectedly, and the so-called ladies from noble families should not be underestimated.
Looking at the two opened boxes, Zhang Guoqing sighed with a headache. What is a debt of gratitude? This is it! He would rather have Old Lady Cheng put gold in them than see the calligraphy and antiques.
Zhou Jiao said thoughtfully, "Don't worry! Growing up with my grandma, she has good taste. It must have taken her a lot of trouble to get half gold and half antiques like this. For now, it's better to keep it here for the time being. I can give it away as gifts to my cousins when they get married."
How could Zhang Guoqing not have thought of these methods? But anyone can give calligraphy and antiques, except their family! In fact, in the next twenty years, not even a single ancient painting can appear in their family, otherwise the matter of the Gu family inheritance will cause waves again.
After Zhou Jiao finished speaking, she looked at Zhang Guoqing's disapproving eyes, suddenly came to her senses, and smiled awkwardly.
Zhang Guoqing laughed at this, rubbed her head, and said with a smile: "Forget it. Even if the mountains don't change, the water will change. There will always be a time when the Cheng family needs our help. Let's remember this favor first and repay it later."
Zhou Jiao raised her fist and waved it. "From now on, no matter who wants to give me something, I won't accept it. I really don't need anything, so why doesn't anyone believe me?"
Zhang Guoqing reached out and grasped her fist, smiling, "Aunt doesn't have much private money left to give you. She saw that you donated all your gold and was worried that you wouldn't have any money left."
With a "puchi" sound, Zhou Jiao couldn't help laughing out loud.
There was nothing he could do. That old woman, Gu Ruyi, had given him gold in front of so many people. If he didn't give it away, how could he expect to be used against him in the future? Even his own dowry had been nearly wiped out by his family's mismanagement. To avoid danger, he had to plan ahead.
Seeing that there was nothing to do here, she put away her things, took out a can of meat, and raised an eyebrow at Zhang Guoqing. Originally, she wanted to take coal, but it was too dirty.
But Zhou Jiao believed her man understood. The next step was to clear out the coal and supplies in the space. Otherwise, how could she go to the other two secret rooms to collect the items?
Zhang Guoqing took a look at his wife's rogue expression, picked her up and kissed her hard several times. He waited until she was panting before reluctantly letting her go.
"When I'm not at home, do you still go crazy every day?"
"Yes, I look at you every day in my dreams..."
Zhou Jiao covered his mouth with her face red. She was really stupid to play such a joke on him.
Zhang Guoqing kissed her hand and winked at her, frightening Zhou Jiao so much that she quickly let go and raised the bottle in her other hand to protest against him. She was really afraid of this man driving recklessly regardless of the occasion!
Zhang Guoqing saw this and a glint flashed in his eyes, and he smiled. If this little white rabbit hadn't used this trick, he wouldn't have remembered that incident. Now?
Zhang Guoqing cleared his throat and began to divert her attention, talking about his plans. "We have to change our previous plan. We won't go on the trip south for now. This time, the only safe place for our stock is on the black market in Northeast China."
Zhou Jiao calmed down and nodded in agreement. Indeed, the Northeast was close to the Soviet Union, and those liquors and coal might not sell well in the South.
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