The summer in August was as hot and humid as usual, and there was some sun shower as usual. The atmosphere around was even more depressing with the hot weather, and the situation was exacerbated.
At this time, Zhang Guoqing finally got his vacation. His original plan was to send the three Ping An brothers back to their hometown this summer to avoid the chaos and spend some time with the elderly.
But nowadays, when traveling, getting on and off the train, dining and staying at the hotel, every word and action must be taken with care. Although the twins are only three years old, they have no problem memorizing the quotations, but as parents, we can't help but worry that they will make mistakes due to their young age.
Zhang Guoqing changed his plans after receiving a letter from his father telling the three brothers not to return. It was said that things were not peaceful back home, with all sorts of chaos going on.
Other people's families can let their children play around as they please, but the three of them are the lifeblood of his family. After being interrupted by their father, Zhang Guoqing has no intention of letting his children go far away.
"Dad, I made an appointment with them to go there during the summer vacation."
Ping An tried his best to smile, blinking his eyes and revealing a pair of dimples. His mother said he looked adorable, didn't she? But his grandmother said that if he looked like this, she would pluck all the stars in the sky for him.
Zhang Guoqing slapped him in the face with his big hand, and the little guy started to cheat. He was reminded with words and emoticons, and his position was no longer firm.
"What did your mother say?"
Hearing this, Ping An laughed, "Dad, my mom said I can express my opinion, but I'm still two votes short. You and my grandpa have to approve it, and she abstained from voting."
Zhang Guoqing looked at his mother-in-law in the yard outside, thinking this was a vote of dissent. He quickly shook his head, thinking they were people he couldn't afford to offend.
"I'll abstain from voting too."
"How can a man choose to escape? No! Come on, vote!"
Zhang Guoqing laughed happily, "You little brat, aren't you afraid that I'll vote against you? You really can't leave this time. If you go, there will be chaos on June 1st and May 1st."
Ping An rolled his eyes and smiled, "You mean, as long as I convince my brothers, everything will be fine?"
"I didn't say that." Zhang Guoqing rubbed his head with amusement. This kid has grown taller again. If he goes, there's no need to worry about who wants to bully him. It's good enough if he doesn't sell them out.
"My brothers are indeed a little young. They must be at least five years old, right? As the eldest brother, I will explore the way first and then take them back. What do you think?"
Zhang Guoqing was pestered by him and could only smile and nod, reminding him: "Go to your grandfather, he can handle Liuyi and the others."
Ping An happily hugged him and said, "Oh, my dad understands his son's heart the best."
Zhang Guoqing was so happy after being fed several mouthfuls of candy that he was overjoyed. However, he still couldn't forget to remind him, "Remember not to go up the mountain alone when you get there."
"Then why should I go there?"
"Look, I knew you wanted to go hunting in the mountains. But son, have you thought about this? Now, besides the dangers on the mountain, it's even more dangerous down there. Everything you hunt now belongs to the government. Are you willing to tarnish your grandfather's reputation?"
Ping An frowned and dropped his shoulders. It wasn't the right time for his father to go back home. "There wouldn't be much point in going back home if I can't hunt."
"Why don't you think about it again."
Ping An paused, then shook his head decisively. "A real man can handle things easily. There's nothing to think about. Forget it. I'll write a letter to my brothers tomorrow to explain."
Zhang Guoqing wasn't surprised at his son's quick decision-making. The boy always analyzed the pros and cons quickly and never hesitated once he made a decision.
But Zhang Guoqing couldn't bear it, as he had disappointed the child.
Ping An glanced at him secretly and asked cautiously, "Dad, how about you take me with you this time?"
"ah?"
Ping An knew there was something going on at first glance. Don't think he didn't know why his father had scheduled his vacation until now. Wasn't it because he wanted to take advantage of his mother's business trip to follow her?
"My mom might be going on a business trip to the southwest. It'll only be a couple of days. Are you worried about her and want to go with her? You see, I'm pretty good at martial arts now."
Zhang Guoqing burst out laughing. All this going on today, isn't it just a trick to trick himself?
"Dad, give me some affirmation."
"That's hard to say for sure. Your mom said this morning that she's not planning on going on a business trip. We're planning on just wandering around the area, and you can come along if you want."
"Forget it, I've been to all the places nearby. I'd better go find my grandpa for target practice."
Zhang Guoqing raised an eyebrow. He hadn't expected his son to be so busy. But it was best if he didn't follow her. He could finally enjoy his own world.
Miao Lishan came in and listened for a while before suggesting, "Baby, how about going to the South with your grandparents? This is a great place. Carrots on your head, sugarcane under your feet, a handful of thumb-thick peanuts in your hand, and beautiful ethnic minority customs."
Ping An chuckled with delight. Wasn't that the Southern Province the Propaganda Department had mentioned? What an exaggeration! He only knew from ancient books that the place was infested with insects and snakes.
"Mom, when are we going? I have to arrange the time."
Miao Lishan waved her hand and said, "Your father has made all the arrangements. If you don't go back to your hometown, just wait for Jiaojiao to take a leave tomorrow, and our whole family will go out to visit relatives."
Ping An looked at her resentfully. "Grandma, how unkind of you! Didn't she say she loved me the most? Couldn't she have said that half an hour earlier?"
Look at how much effort he put in to make his father feel guilty, but now it's all gone... None of Shakespeare's three tragedies can explain the pain in his heart, right?
This was decided, and when they set off on the third day, Ping An once again witnessed what military speed was, and their family really went on a spontaneous trip.
No, they were visiting relatives. Aren't his grandfather's old comrades also relatives?!
During the twenty-day vacation, they stopped and rested along the way from the capital to the southern province. They avoided all the big cities and saw and heard everything along the way.
Those injustices, those...
Although it was just a quick tour, with his grandfather's deliberate guidance, not only did he understand the significance of this trip, but even his two younger brothers were no longer reckless and naive.
His grandfather used one fact after another to tell them that what is learned from books is shallow and that one must practice to truly understand; his father used certain people and certain things to tell them the laws of survival in the jungle.
After being there in person, seeing it with his own eyes and hearing it with his own ears, Ping An felt as if he had grown up again. Just as his father said, when you grow up, you have more worries.
Unfair? Darkness? Perhaps one day they too would find themselves facing adversity. What then? This time, unlike before, the three brothers looked beyond the answers on paper.
Seeing those well-read old men with white hair becoming prisoners, they seemed to understand vaguely, but also seemed even more confused.
In fact, Zhou Xiaozheng's spontaneous trip, in which he made open and secret visits along the way, sometimes asked people to receive him, and sometimes asked everyone to change into casual clothes, was more than just a lesson for the three young children.
Zhou Jiao and Zhang Guoqing both discovered many problems within themselves. Compared to her father's actions, their previous decision to take their children to a welfare home in the countryside was too narrow-minded.
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