Even though Zhou Jiao didn't know about the rumors thousands of miles away, she had some preparation in her heart. What is bound to happen will happen, 70% of which is God's will and 30% of which is human effort.
She has always upheld the principle of "I will not offend others unless they offend me." She respects life, provided that this life does not endanger herself.
She fought back against those with malicious intent. It didn't kill them, but if those people weren't punished, how could they be remembered?
As for whether the ancestral tombs will be destroyed?
That really depended on fate. The powder and the mechanism alone had already cost her a lot of effort over the past few years. She thought she had done her best for the sake of her family.
Therefore, Miao Lishan's worries were later forgotten by Zhou Jiao. And the Cheng family? Aside from the old lady, they weren't her Zhou family after all.
The bugle sounded in the early morning to wake me up, and it was a new day.
The Zhou family's gates were wide open, and everyone was busy with their daily lives. In the morning mist, the figures of Zhou Xiaozheng and Zhang Guoqing, the father-in-law and son-in-law, could be clearly seen running out one after another.
On the left and right sides of the yard, Zhou Jiao and Ping'an, mother and son, were practicing boxing. In the lighted bathroom of the small building, Miao Lishan was taking the twins to wash.
As the drill call "1-2-3-4" sounded in the distance, Zhou Jiao was the first to put down her fist and head to the kitchen. After breakfast, she had to catch the first bus to work.
Ping An, who is going to the city today, knows what time he should leave without looking at the alarm clock as he listens to the military bugle call every day.
When the bell rang, he would put on his backpack and go out with his family. When he met up with his friends, they would go to school together.
Now the whole country loves arms. These children, big and small, are wearing military uniforms, badges, red armbands on their arms, and military bags slung across their shoulders.
However, the children in the compound always wore their parents' modified old military uniforms, so passing soldiers and their families did not find it strange to see them.
When he stepped into the school gate, Zhou Jiao also arrived at the unit.
The closer we got to the city, the more tense the atmosphere became. Not only was there a sense of panic, but everyone was also feeling insecure. The relaxed atmosphere we had when we first joined the unit was gone.
Inside the office, Zhou Jiao was about to go out to get some hot water. As she picked up the thermos, she twitched her lips. It was full. Ironically, everyone started competing to show off.
Jin Lijuan, who was sitting opposite her, made eye contact with her, curled her lips and winked at the outside.
Zhou Jiao understood and shook her head slightly. Compared to those villains who reported her behind her back, this harmless matter was nothing to worry about.
After taking their seats, the other two people in the department, Shen Zhao and Shao Dongrui, also came to work one after another.
"Is there any more of this chapter?"
As Jin Lijuan spoke, Zhou Jiao glanced at her two male colleagues in surprise and almost laughed out loud. These two had changed their chest badges again some time ago.
——Now everyone wears a very big one!
Zhou Jiao could clearly see a hint of ridicule in Jin Lijuan's serious eyes.
Shen Zhao rolled his eyes at her, took out two from the briefcase he was carrying and placed them in the middle of their table, "The latest model, these are the ones I have, I haven't forgotten you."
"Thank you."
“We will make progress together.”
Well, once that was said, the rest of the conversation had to start with a quote. However, everyone had gotten used to it, and it was really hard to have fun without a quote.
As for the topics, they are nothing more than this month's supplies and daily life trivia.
The office door is open and people can come in and out at any time.
Everyone tacitly agreed not to mention why a certain leader was suddenly taken away for isolation and investigation yesterday, and why a commotion was caused before the case was fully investigated.
No one would be so foolish as to bring up sensitive topics.
Zhou Jiao wasn't interested in any of this, casually rubbing the large round badge. As for asking her to wear such a large badge? Never mind, the original one was better.
There were no more reports, no more business trips, and even waiting tables wasn't their department's job. The four of them, reading a newspaper and drinking tea, chatted occasionally until lunchtime.
Before carrying the standard lunch boxes and enamel pots to the canteen to get food, we still have a pre-meal summary of thoughts and shout a few slogans.
Now this has become a fashion and even a trend.
The food today tasted a bit burnt and the dishes were as rough as pig food.
Zhou Jiao glanced at her colleagues' faces, guessing no one would raise any objections. She didn't mind; it was just a lunch break. At most, she could find an excuse to go out for lunch later.
That’s right…it’s a pity that the chef had such great skills.
She didn't sympathize with the other party, after all, they were taking too much out of the situation. Furthermore, for the sake of the quota, even if there wasn't a spot, someone else would have to fill it, not to mention if you had actually committed a crime.
If a unit cannot identify a few counter-typical figures, it means that class struggle is not carried out effectively, and that it is not being upheld and followed closely.
Several cruel realities have taught people that only by actively participating in the movement can you be an activist and survive in this society.
Otherwise, you will be ruthlessly eliminated at any time, and even be in danger of being swept into the dustbin of history.
Zhou Jiao could not join the ranks of those who were criticizing and condemning others with attacks and burnings. Even though she had her own ideas in mind, she did not dare and could not stand up to say a fair word for others.
Whenever she thought of this feeling of powerlessness, she would feel a pang of sadness in her heart.
This consciousness of self-preservation is deeply rooted in everyone's heart, and no one understands better than her how dangerous the crisis of human nature is.
However, since ancient times, how many people have repaid kindness with enmity and been ungrateful?
After receiving this month's salary and coupons in the afternoon, Zhou Jiao was surprised to hear that the supply of cabbage to each household would be reduced again.
Unlike Jin Lijuan and the others, her household registration was in the military compound, and the military region had its own supply system. However, this situation was not difficult to understand.
"You're so kind. I'll take some time off and go back to queue. Please keep an eye on me if anything happens."
Zhou Jiao smiled noncommittally. It was just a blessing from her father, nothing to be proud of. She didn't know when she would be able to stand on her own two feet.
Once there is a first, there will be a second. As usual, when men like Shen Zhao and Shao Dongrui heard the news, they hurried to ask for leave from their leaders.
They were all married with children, especially Shao Dongrui's wife, who was a train conductor on long-distance trains from Beijing to the northwest. His wife happened to be at work these days. If he waited until she came back to buy it, he probably wouldn't even have a chance to get the cabbage bangzi.
It's a matter of livelihood, especially for the only indispensable main course for thousands of households before the start of spring. Unless there's an irreversible natural or man-made disaster, no company would deny this short holiday.
"Then we'll all go."
"Go early. Be careful not to miss out on buying good ones if you're late."
This is why they are in a hurry to go back.
Chinese cabbage is sold at different prices according to grade. Grade one is a little over 2 cents per pound, grade two is less than 2 cents, grade three is around 1 cent, and grade four is 7 cents.
Having just received their salary, they have no shortage of money. However, the goods are divided into three grades, and arriving early always has its advantages.
Zhou Jiao shook her head as she watched the three of them and their colleagues, who had taken leave, hurried off. Life was about to begin again, austere and frugal.
Since the beginning of autumn, the trend of cutting off the tails that she has been worried about and concerned about - which has been intermittent and sometimes tight and sometimes loose - has come back again.
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