Contentment brings happiness. Zhou Jiao had no complaints about the conditions, especially when she saw the bedroom walls covered with white paper and the tabletop that had been planed clean to reveal the wood grain.
She laughed cheerfully.
"Little fool!"
"Thank you, husband, for your hard work. I love this place."
Zhang Guoqing touched her head lovingly, feeling sorry for her. Even though this was considered a good courtyard in the village, it was still the worst room they had ever lived in.
"Wherever you are, there is heaven."
Zhang Guoqing was instantly healed. With his eyes shining, he gave her a kiss on the cheek and said with regret, "It's a pity there's no electricity here."
"Don't worry, kerosene lamps are also good. Let's light an extra one." Zhou Jiao said, touching the brand new kang mat with her big belly. "You still have a small stash?"
Zhang Guoqing laughed heartily when he heard this: "Silly wife!"
Zhou Jiao suddenly realized that she had asked him to keep the money he earned last year for future use. She touched her nose awkwardly and turned to put the bedding on the kang.
Zhang Guoqing didn't tease her. While carefully protecting her, he told her a story: "Qian Yousheng is the team leader of this team. The one just now was his wife. He has four sons and two daughters. He built this small courtyard and planned to give it to his youngest son. Two years ago, his youngest son and his wife were assigned to work as temporary workers in the city, so this place became vacant.
Many families nearby haven't split up yet, but theirs did so early on. I learned their family rules are quite good, so I personally approached Qian Yousheng, but he wasn't very willing to rent the place out. But when Aunt Qian heard you were pregnant with twins, she immediately agreed. But she's said beforehand that you can't give birth here."
Zhou Jiao smiled and shook her head. She was impressed by Zhang Guoqing! Finding the yard in such a short time, and with such a great person around, it saved a lot of trouble.
"I told her about our family situation, and she felt more at ease. The rent was five dollars a month, and we could use the backyard plot to grow vegetables. I saw she wasn't asking for an exorbitant price, and her personality was similar to my mother's. She even knew to let us tell others that I was the child of a relative from her mother's family. Thinking she wasn't stupid, I just paid six months' rent."
"sharp!"
Zhang Guoqing saw her staring blankly at the stove without a pot, and immediately understood: "Just turn on whatever is missing. Dad will bring Ping An over at noon to cover."
Zhou Jiao looked at him with surprise: "Really?"
"It's absolutely true! Dad said we were always at school, and he had to come over to keep those hooligans from noticing us."
"Then we have to hurry so they can get here just in time for lunch."
"Don't worry, I'll come later." Zhang Guoqing helped her put her things away. "Do you think there's anything missing? I'll go buy it this afternoon."
Zhou Jiao had already taken a look around. The man had prepared almost everything he needed. Anything more would have been noticeable. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the chicken coop on the side of the yard. "Once things settle down, is it okay for me to raise a couple of chickens?"
Zhang Guoqing followed her gaze and smiled, "Nowadays, people are promoting raising more chickens and pigs, so two chickens is definitely fine. But, Jiaojiao, you'd better not raise any. They stink too much in the summer."
Zhou Jiao hesitated for a moment when she thought of those smells. "We'll think about it later. The main thing is, if we don't keep these, will it make us look out of place?"
During the two or three months of transition, Zhang Guoqing had no intention of adapting to local customs. He was worried about his wife not eating well, not that she wouldn't have enough to eat.
The couple chatted in whispers, and soon they had sorted out the oil, salt, rice, and vinegar, and they had the appearance of a home.
Before noon, Zhou Xiaozheng came over with a group of people.
Two cars stopped outside the yard with a loud noise, attracting many old ladies and children who were not working at home to come and watch the fun.
When Captain Qian Yousheng came with two men, Zhou Jiao didn't know how to face her father's so-called pressure.
Too ostentatious!
Old Mrs. Cheng and Lin Lishan, both in military uniforms, stood outside the courtyard gate, greeting the women. They ignored their awestruck and curious looks and chatted with smiles on their faces.
Mr. Cheng and Zhou Xiaozheng, who were dressed formally in the room, were also entertaining Qian Yousheng and others. Especially Mr. Cheng, he was a child with a weak physique and was studying hard.
Soon everyone inside and outside came to a conclusion: the family was full of soldiers, and for the sake of justice, they placed their only child in foster care in the countryside, and their health was damaged by the hard work.
If it weren't for the children's studies, the twins might have to be hospitalized to save their lives. Nowadays, in order not to delay work and studies, there is really no choice but to live close to the school.
They all said that they saw a good atmosphere in their own team and hoped that when their family was too busy with official duties, there would be someone to help their children when they encountered difficulties.
Qian Yousheng, who thought he knew the truth, patted his chest and reassured Old Man Cheng and the others that he would let his wife look after the young couple.
Zhou Jiao, who was eating melons, endured the sympathetic gazes of the old ladies and greeted everyone with a stiff smile. After waiting for the crowd to disperse, she returned to the house and breathed a sigh of relief.
Zhou Xiaozheng had seen enough of his daughter's fun, and then he patrolled around the yard pickily. After looking at the bedroom, he patted his son-in-law on the shoulder.
Zhang Guoqing looked at him anxiously: "Dad, are you praising me or asking me to keep up the good work?"
"It's both."
Old Cheng, who was standing by, was amused by the father-in-law and son-in-law and laughed out loud.
In the bedroom, Old Lady Cheng looked around and sighed secretly. Looking at Lin Lishan's red eyes, she could only smile and say, "It's better than the cave house back then."
Zhou Jiao hugged her son and nodded with a smile, "It's nice here, I like it very much. Mom, you can come and live here whenever you want in the future."
Lin Lishan looked at her speechlessly. Seeing her smiling face, she could only agree: "Okay, when there is a holiday, Mom will bring Ping An to accompany you."
Old Mrs. Cheng rolled her eyes secretly. If she really had a vacation, she would go home. Why were she still hanging around here? Besides, it was already what month it was. She was still here waiting for the baby to finish the confinement period? This mother and daughter were talking nonsense.
Ping An touched Zhou Jiao's belly and said, "Brother, you have to be good. Big brother will take you out to play in the future."
"Baby, are there any kids bullying you in kindergarten?"
"No, they are all my good friends, and the teacher praises me every day."
Mrs. Cheng knew that she was worried about the child. "I've been to see him several times. Ping'an is very welcome. You want to be the announcer this Children's Day, right?"
Ping An looked at Zhou Jiao with a big smile on his face. "Mom, I'm not just an announcer, I also have a program. The teacher said that if I perform well, I can even give flowers to Grandpa and the others on behalf of the other children."
"Really? So powerful?"
Ping An laughed out loud at Zhou Jiao's surprised expression.
"My son is so great, Mom will definitely go to see Ping An's performance that day."
Ping An was now surprised and couldn't wait to ask, "Mom, really? Can you go? There are so many people, will it crush my brothers?"
Zhou Jiao was so sad that she almost shed tears. She hugged the child's small body tightly and nodded repeatedly: "Really, your father and I will definitely go over to cheer you up!"
"Mom, I love you the most."
"I love you too."
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