At night, Zhang Guoqing accompanied his parents and brother back home and learned these things from Zhang Meili who stayed in the courtyard. He still found it hard to believe.
In his opinion, it was his eldest sister's family who had been taking care of Accountant Zhang and his wife in the past few years. They were not foolish people, so why did they have to lend their yard to their eldest grandson to start a family?
"Sister, could you have misunderstood? I remember his old house is not small, there is absolutely no need to borrow my yard. Besides, it is impossible for a new daughter-in-law to live far away instead of being filial to her parents."
"Your brother-in-law is angry, how could I be wrong?" Zhang Meili lowered her voice and looked outside. "You don't understand, but I guessed their little thoughts. My father-in-law has said many times before that your two courtyards have good feng shui."
"He's just thinking about borrowing your yard for his grandson to get married and change his fortune. Humph, he thinks he's the only one who's clever. Remember, if he really asks you, let them ask Jiaojiao. They're afraid of Jiaojiao."
Zhang Guoqing burst into laughter.
"Be serious! I'm telling you something serious."
Zhang Guoqing nodded. "Okay, I remember that. Don't mention this in front of my brother-in-law, so as not to embarrass him."
Zhang Meili rolled her eyes at him, "How could I not understand this?"
"Yes, my sister is the smartest!" Zhang Guoqing praised her and then advised worriedly, "If they are partial to you, don't be angry. Just give them more money and don't take them to live with you in the city."
"What you said to the second brother back then has come true."
Zhang Guoqing blinked. He had forgotten what he had said.
"Okay, my matters are all minor, I'll take care of them. Our father has a plan for these matters, you just need to focus on your work outside."
Zhang Guoqing was secretly delighted. Hadn't they said that spirits were forbidden after the founding of the People's Republic of China? It seemed that no matter how hard we tried to suppress feudal superstition, it still remained deeply ingrained.
"Let's go and keep Dad company. He's going to call for help."
As soon as the two siblings entered the bedroom, they saw Father Zhang, who was already a little drunk, looking forward to them coming in.
"Are you done talking to me and my sister? You're so secretive. Is there anything you can't tell me?"
Zhang Guoqing smiled, rubbed his way over to sit on the edge of the kang next to him, and said, "Dad, don't be reluctant to light the fire wall at home. I'll bring you more coal tomorrow."
"Why waste that money? The house is warm enough." Father Zhang thought about it and warned: "Be frugal and don't spend all your salary."
Zhang Laoer, who was standing by, immediately muttered, "He's lying again."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Guoqing immediately looked at the second brother.
Zhang Laoer moved his chair back a few steps, and after ensuring it was safe, he quickly complained, "Xiaowu, don't you know that your parents don't even heat the kang during the day? I've caught you several times, and you still refuse to admit it."
"Dad, is it because you don't have enough coal briquettes or you're reluctant to spend money? In this cold winter, you and Mom must not take our health lightly. If I get frozen and I'm out of town and can't get back for a while, can you imagine how I'd feel? How much can I spend on coal briquettes in just a few months?"
Father Zhang quickly shook his head, "No..."
Zhang Laoer immediately retorted, "Nothing! My brother and I chopped so much firewood, why wouldn't you burn it, Dad? If I really get cold, it's okay to go to the hospital and spend money. Isn't it painful?"
Zhang Dad also knew that this was the children's filial piety, so he didn't blame them. He smiled and explained, "Your mother has been with you two brothers during the day, and I'm not home. Why burn it? It's okay to burn it sparingly. It's not good to go to the village to collect firewood every day, and it's tiring and unsightly."
Zhang Guoqing knew immediately that the firewood piled up in the house was not purchased, but rather that his two brothers went to the village to collect firewood on their days off. He was not mocking the brothers because their strength was far different from his.
Not to mention that they had to prepare firewood for the winter in previous years, even now they each have two yards to prepare firewood, and with his father's help, it would be difficult.
"No one's selling firewood now? Where's the guy who used to deliver it?"
Zhang Laoer looked at him with disdain, "Why buy something that's free?"
Zhang Guoqing was speechless. "You're awesome, alright! You're such a stingy person!"
"Don't look at me like that. I'm much better than my big brother. I even bought a lot of coal briquettes."
Zhang Guoqing looked at his two brothers and sighed secretly. What a miserable life! He suddenly looked at Zhang Meili, "Sister, didn't you buy it either?"
Zhang Meili was stunned. Isn't this perfectly normal? Why spend money on briquettes when you have firewood? She could always trade her briquettes for other tickets.
But she still explained, "Your nephews are grown up now, and the firewood they collect is piled up all over the house, enough for me to burn. Coal briquettes are not easy to use, and it's too troublesome to start a fire."
Zhang Guofu nodded in agreement. "Indeed, it's expensive, has little power, and smells bad. Don't worry, Xiaowu. We check on you every morning and evening to see if you and your parents are cold."
Father Zhang interrupted quickly. He wasn't interested in hearing about the coal briquettes; his son was going back to bed soon, so it would be better to talk about something else.
"Dad, tell me what you want to know."
Father Zhang looked at him cheerfully, "Xiao Wu, I see those people's attitude towards our Jiao Jiao is quite different tonight. Besides your father-in-law's relationship, is it possible that the company she works for is really as prestigious as your Uncle Dashan said?"
Zhang Guoqing nodded with amusement, and said half-heartedly, "The company is okay, but Jiaojiao just started working and doesn't have much power."
"Will no one in the unit bully her? I totally forgot about my suggestion to your father-in-law. It would be great if she went to the army with you. You could protect her."
Zhang Laoer laughed. "Dad, you think she has the same strength as this idiot, but it depends on whether her body can handle it. Do you know what Uncle Zuo told me?"
Father Zhang was unhappy, "Are you still hiding something from me?"
"No, no, that was a joke." Zhang Laoer scratched his hair, looked at Zhang Guoqing and smiled, "Uncle Zuo said Jiaojiao is smart and clever, so she's perfect for the State Planning Commission."
"Listen to his nonsense. My wife is not cunning at all. She is indeed smart." Zhang Guoqing immediately refuted. This was not a compliment, and he was not happy to hear it. "Isn't he planning to transfer now?"
"His sons came to the capital some time ago. Did they look for you?" When talking about business, Zhang Laoer's attitude suddenly changed.
Zhang Guoqing frowned and nodded. "Uncle Zuo didn't mention it when he came over tonight, and I couldn't ask with so many people around. His brothers did come over last week, but I happened to be at work, so we didn't talk much before we parted ways."
"They never came over, and I didn't have time to go to the Zuo family once I got to work. Did Uncle Zuo mention anything to you?"
Zhang Laoer lowered his voice, "I think he still wants to be transferred back. Are you close to a family named Geng?"
Zhang Guoqing twitched his lips, thinking that he had really misjudged the person. His wife Zhou Jiao would be more useful than himself in this matter, but he would not say this out loud.
"Do you remember the four people who came here to play a few years ago? That Geng Dazhi is from the Geng family. His family is part of your system, but they don't have that much power."
Zhang's father slapped his thigh when he heard this. "Oh, Dazhi's family? I know his grandfather. It's no use. That old man can't even deal with his own grandson."
Zhang Guoqing burst into laughter when he heard this.
"What are you laughing at? Doesn't Dazhi just work at the Railway Bureau? You have to ask Shi for help on this..." Halfway through his words, Father Zhang immediately closed his mouth and almost let the cat out of the bag.
"Dad, who are you looking for?"
Father Zhang immediately shook his head, "How should I know?"
Zhang Laoer didn't believe it, "Dad, I won't tell Uncle Zuo, just tell us."
Father Zhang glanced at his second son with disdain. "What good would you do if you knew that? The higher the official, the more particular they are. Our family relies on your Uncle Zhou's face. Keep your mind on the right things and don't dwell on these trivial matters."
"Dad, I understand."
"You know shit! If Mr. Zuo really wants to transfer your Uncle Zuo back, he has plenty of ways to do it. Is there any need to look for our Xiaowu? We can repay the favor our family owes him, but when it comes to the government, we'd better give up. Your Uncle Zuo is a good person, but that doesn't mean the Zuo family is kind."
Zhang Laoer pondered for a moment and looked at Zhang Guoqing.
Zhang Guoqing nodded. "Mr. Zuo's focus is on his eldest son. If Uncle Zuo is transferred back to be an ordinary clerk, he would be better suited here."
Zhang Laoer sighed, "Uncle Zuo is a very good person."
Zhang Guoqing smiled meaningfully and said, "A blessing in disguise. He was transferred there a few years ago and made some achievements. Now he's doing better here than in Beijing."
"What do you mean?"
Zhang Guoqing shook his head, thinking that too much talk would lead to mistakes, and changed the subject, "Are Uncle Ye and the others okay? I want to take some time to visit them tomorrow, and then go see Mr. Huang."
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