After Lin Lishan said goodbye and left the family compound, she took Xizi and the other two back to the guesthouse with a flashlight. There was only one waiter in the lobby, knitting at the counter. Upon seeing Lin Lishan and Xizi come in, he immediately stood up and relayed the old man's instructions, telling them to go directly to his room.
After thanking the other party, Lin Lishan took Xizi upstairs and went directly to the old man's room.
Mr. Lin’s room upstairs is used to entertain guests. In addition to the bedroom, there is also a living room outside.
The old man and Zhang Guoqing were the only two people in the reception room, and they were discussing something. The old man quietly analyzed the military positions and the power backgrounds of the several leaders accompanying him today, and then talked about their history of success, their personalities, methods of doing things, preferences, and weaknesses.
After he finished speaking, he listened to Zhang Guoqing's questions, his eyes flashing with admiration from time to time. After the conversation between the grandfather and grandson, the old man smiled and carefully instructed him on how to handle interpersonal relationships after leaving him in the provincial capital these days, which people he needed to pay special attention to, and how the descendants of each family were doing.
Zhang Guoqing listened carefully to the old man arranging the itinerary for the next few days and the banquets he would attend, and he had a rough idea of it in his mind.
After Mr. Lin talked about the situation in the provincial capital, he talked about the major forces at present, analyzed the difficulties Zhou Xiaozheng would face after returning to the army, and roughly recounted some of the things that happened after Zhou Xiaozheng came to the capital from the Northeast Military Region, asking Zhang Guoqing to pay more attention when interacting with others.
Old Master Lin has a love-hate relationship with his son-in-law Zhou Xiaozheng.
Seeing Lin Lishan and Xizi coming in, the two stopped talking.
Old Master Lin asked Lin Lishan with a laugh, "Why did you come back so late? I wanted to ask someone to look for you, but I saw that there were already some things in your room. I guess you didn't see us when you came back and left. Later, Xiaofei said that you must have gone to his aunt's house. Xizi took the little car and saw that the boy was right. How are they? Are they okay here?"
After Lin Lishan pulled Xizi to sit down, she frowned slightly and looked into the inner room. Seeing that the door was closed and there was no one guarding outside, she said softly, "Xiao Meihua asked me to say hello to you on her behalf. She probably felt embarrassed to come to see you in such a crowded place."
After a pause, she continued, "It's not good, it's definitely not as good as living in the compound. The couple and their two sons live in two rooms, and it's quite crowded. She doesn't seem to be used to it, but she said she can't let the children not accompany the army when they are so old."
I hadn't planned to go to her place this time. We work in the same unit, but we're not close friends. For Xiaofei's sake, it would be awkward not to see her. Plus, I've almost spent all my remittance vouchers, so I decided to go see her and see if there's any way to get some bills for Jiaojiao. But she didn't have many remittance vouchers, not even ordinary bills. It seems Fang Jianmei's been here for two years now, and I don't think they're going to be able to handle it here. Dad, what's Xiaofei's uncle's position?"
Old Master Lin pointed at Zhang Guoqing. Zhang Guoqing smiled and whispered to his mother-in-law, "Commander of the Second Battalion, you're not in the crowd welcoming Grandpa. Xiaofei is out with his uncle and hasn't come back yet."
After listening to this, Lin Lishan said thoughtfully, "Fang Jianmei mentioned our three daughters last night, and it was a bit like that. I pushed it away, saying that relationships are their own business. If I matched them up with the wrong couple, it would be embarrassing for both of them. You see, that's why I don't like her."
She also asked me to look after her niece that night, saying she'd already arranged for her to join the art troupe next year. Don't you think she's smart? Without my approval, it was still uncertain whether she'd get in. Now, with just a simple "please look after her," it's a done deal.
Dad, do you still remember the eldest daughter of the Fang family? The one who works in the department store and always likes to look at people with her chin raised, I'm talking about her daughter.
Grandpa Lin nodded when he heard this. "I'll go back and talk to your mother about your niece and Xiaofei's matter. You don't need to get involved. Since she has brought up the matter of her niece and you have agreed, just wait until the documents come down. You two are going out together tomorrow, right? I have some receipts on me. Do you want me to give them to you?"
Zhang Guoqing returned to his room and took out a small box. He smiled and said, "Jiaojiao asked me to bring money and tickets because she was worried that you didn't have enough. You left in such a hurry that you didn't have time to tell me. Mom, I'll give them all to you. I won't need them if I don't go out these few days."
Lin Lishan shook her head and pushed it back. "You two should keep the family savings and use them slowly. I asked Fang Jianmei to save some bills for you. Besides, I've bought everything I need. I'll go to the city tomorrow to have a look, and then I'll go back to accompany Jiaojiao. It's useless for you to give it to me. Take it back and put it away. By the way, go to Mom's room to see if there is anything you haven't bought."
Zhang Guoqing took the small box and did not give in to her politely. He took Xizi to his mother-in-law's room to see what she had bought.
Xizi was holding the little car in his hands with a smile on his face. It was almost time to go to bed, but the little guy was full of energy and not sleepy at all.
"How is it? Are there many things in the mall? If you see anything you like but are too embarrassed to ask for it, tell your uncle and I will bring it to you when I get back. Think about it and write down anything you want."
Hearing what he said, Xizi hurriedly pulled him aside and said, "Uncle, you'd better save some money and save it for your mother-in-law. I don't have anything to buy. I've really learned a lot today. There are people who buy things this way. I take a look and I don't dare to look at her when she buys something."
"Then think about it carefully tonight. Why does she have the confidence? Why doesn't she mind buying so much? Once you can buy like this, what do you need to work hard on next? Do you want to be like grandma, or do you want to be like your ancestors in the village, working in the fields, hunting, drinking a little, marrying a nice woman in the village, and having a bunch of kids? Or what do you want?"
Go out tomorrow and observe what the people around you say and do, and then compare it to what the people in your village do and say. The more you observe, the more you will think about it. Besides studying hard, what else do you want to learn?
Zhang Guoqing took the opportunity to speak slowly, guiding him to think. Xizi was ten years old, and he already had his own ideas and goals. Even at the age of five in the orphanage, he knew what he wanted and how to get it.
After saying that, she left him there in a daze, thinking, and nodded with satisfaction.
Looking at the pile of things on the floor and the table, I sighed. My mother-in-law has good taste, but she is not good at handling housework.
Zhang Guoqing carefully wrapped several bolts of cloth and then bundled the remaining fabric, wool, and other textiles into a large bag. He then bundled all the more conspicuous items into a single bag. It seemed he had spent a lot of money today, choosing only high-end items. His taste was truly exceptional. He had no idea how good his wife was, and how remarkable his father-in-law was.
In Mr. Lin's room, the old man looked at his daughter's eyes waiting for him expectantly, secretly laughing, and seeing that she was losing her patience, she finally nodded.
Seeing her overjoyed, she said with a smile, "Very good, even better than our Dingsheng. Some people are born with special talents, and Xiaowu is an outstanding child. He has excellent abilities and personal charm. He is generous, gentle and polite to people and things, and he has a very good grasp of the situation. What's rare is that he can catch clues from small things and conversations.
18 years old, so young. Zhou Xiaozheng was like that when he was young. Don't worry, you got a good son-in-law. Old man Zhou, just wait and see, you don't have to intervene. You have Zhou Jiao and her husband to protect you, so even without Zhou Xiaozheng, you will have no worries in your life.
Lin Lishan smiled and nodded, a weight lifted off her shoulders. She didn't worry about her daughter and son-in-law's future success; the couple's harmonious relationship and Zhang Guoqing's ability to protect her daughter were enough. She kept telling the old man she was content.
"Are you satisfied now? Your good days are still ahead." Grandpa Lin laughed heartily after saying this. Even though Zhang Guoqing, his grandson-in-law, was better than his eldest grandson, he felt happy in his heart. He secretly rejoiced when he thought of the envious eyes of his old friend.
Seeing Zhang Guoqing return with the child, Lin Lishan repeatedly reminded her father not to drink too much alcohol. She also reminded her mother to remember to use the medicine Jiaojiao had given her after the doctor checked it.
Old Master Lin smiled and nodded, "Okay, you go to bed early. I need to rest too. Xiaowu, have you seen the things? You have seen them, right? Then go to bed early. You take Xizi to the same room. Xiaofei, ignore him. He will come back by himself. You all go to bed early." After that, he waited for Xiao Zhou to come in, and the old man waved his hand to let them all leave.
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