Outside the house, the bright moonlight reflected the shadow of the clothesline swaying on the window. The night was getting darker. Although it was summer, there were still gusts of cool air at night.
Most people fell asleep peacefully in such an environment. However, on the big kang in the west room, besides three children who were soundly sleeping, a couple had not yet fallen asleep.
"Why are you in such a hurry to leave? After dinner tonight, you should take a walk around to look at the lotus flowers. Or why not take the children for a walk around to help digest the food?"
"Baby, you still understand me."
"Then why did you tell godfather you were going there this weekend? I guess the young master wanted to run into us. It's not like they wouldn't get the news when we went back to our hometown this time."
Zhang Guoqing rubbed his wife's delicate hand in his arms. "I'm worried that if we don't go to the provincial capital, those people will take the opportunity to come to our house. What should we do if they come? It would be unreasonable to refuse to receive them. We should set an ambush first."
"I'll call my godfather in a couple of days and see what he says. They're not here for vacation like us. If they have business that requires them to leave, then we can use the time difference. Anyway, our relationship is neither too hot nor too cold, which is just right. We'll be the same if we meet in Beijing later. But I don't want them to borrow my influence here."
Zhou Jiao nodded slightly, looking at him with admiration, "You're really smart. You reacted in such a short time. If it were me, I would have been confused. Be careful about my godmother's family."
Zhang Guoqing patted her in amusement. "You've already heard that, and you're praising me in disguise. Is that true? Tell me how I should punish you."
"Isn't that the conclusion I draw from your tone?" Zhou Jiao quickly removed the fingers that were circling Zhang Guoqing's chest. "Are you really done with the mess back home?"
Zhang Guoqing sighed, "I've done what I should have done. What happens to the next generation is a matter between my sons and them. I don't want to interfere, and I can't interfere. I can't let outsiders benefit and my sons be wronged."
"Actually, Ping An and the others didn't expect it to be so complicated."
Zhang Guoqing looked at the children and covered them with the sheets pressed against their stomachs. "Our children were raised by our father, and their minds are no worse than those of adults."
He smiled meaningfully as he spoke, "Especially since these little ones are so young and have only been together for a few days, yet they've figured out everything about these people in the family in such a short time, and yet they appear so naive."
That's true. Zhou Jiao smiled and shook her head, then took a glass of water and handed it to him. "Being a parent is so hard. I want them to be smart and not suffer in the future, but I'm also worried they'll be too selfish. I want them to be more open-minded and generous, but I'm also worried they'll grow up to be heartless."
"After all, it's better to be smart than to be heartless." Zhang Guoqing handed the quilt to her. As he watched it disappear in an instant, he suddenly remembered that before she left, she excitedly said that she wanted to go all the way north to visit the scrap yard.
His wife has never cared about money. She used to be interested in hoarding supplies like a hamster, but as her life became stable, she no longer had much interest in it.
After all, this trip didn't make her very happy. Instead, there were too many trivial things. It seems that I can't just focus on training my sons and forget about her.
While visiting the scrap yards all the way north was impossible, visiting the scrap yards near the ancient provincial capital was possible. How about going to the black market to exchange some of her beloved calligraphy and painting?
Like them, the Zhangs, after seeing off their old brothers and sisters-in-law who were chatting away, returned to their rooms and were completely sleepless. The older we get, the less we sleep.
"Let's listen to Xiaowu and sleep over there tomorrow. It won't look good to others if we're alone here. That's what uncle meant today."
When Zhang Dad heard what his wife said, he laughed out loud, "Nonsense! He's just jealous and wants to know what Xiaowu's family has been doing during the day."
Zhang's mother was shocked. What did her son have to do with their family?!
"Now Xiaowu is planning to teach his three sons all his skills. He's been wandering around in this forest since he was five. Is there anyone who knows this place better than him?"
"My eldest brother lives next door. If he gets up early in the morning, he will definitely notice it. If we live there, it will be convenient for him to come and find me. If we don't live there, he will have the nerve to knock on his nephew's door before dawn."
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang's mother sat up immediately. She was so angry that she wanted to rush to the old house to ask him what he meant and whether he was meddling too much.
Father Zhang patted her soothingly and said with a smile, "Don't be angry yet, listen to me. This is just my opinion, and I may have thought the worst of you."
"Then why don't you think the worst of your brother-in-law?"
Having been married for a lifetime, Zhang Dad understood his wife's meaning. But his eldest brother, who considered himself the eldest, clearly considered himself the head of the Zhang family. Plus, with his eldest nephew now the team leader, he would be left with nothing to do if he retired. It was just that kind of petty thinking.
"Your temper...don't be impatient, just listen to me. Big Brother just wants to find out something, but he won't harm Xiaowu. I can guarantee that."
Don't be impatient, just listen to me. ——He said this twice, and Zhang's mother wanted to hear what he had to say. No, she had to remind her son tomorrow that he could no longer bring meat back.
People are a bit evil-minded. In recent years, she has seen people in the city reporting even their own parents, let alone a nephew?
Zhang's father had no idea his wife was thinking so far ahead. Patting his wife, the old man mused, "I guess Big Brother is wondering if Xiaowu is teaching the children. He probably wants his grandchildren to learn some skills. Since we don't admit it, he can't say it directly."
As he spoke, Zhang Dad sighed, "There's another point. He wants to get closer to Xiaowu."
Mother Zhang rolled her eyes and said, "It's not just a little, it's a lot, okay?"
"Didn't Xiaowu say that he'd be coming back less and less often, and asked us to go to the capital with him? I think Big Brother understands this. If he doesn't get closer to Xiaowu this time, the distance will only grow further. He has so many grandchildren growing up, and he doesn't want all of them to work in the fields."
Upon hearing this, Zhang's mother quickly waved her hands. "How could our Xiaowu be so capable? Dad, please don't make rash promises on Xiaowu's behalf. You know he's a soft-hearted kid. If you ask him, he'd rather give up his job than help.
Things have changed in recent years. Who would dare to do that now? It's a one-size-fits-all situation. If you take someone else's spot, they'll hate you to death and report you.
If we report it, our Xiaowu will be finished. We can't harm the child. It's not easy for him. After helping his brother, he never forgets his sister. It's all because of him that our family has reached this point..."
Zhang Dad knew that his wife would be very anxious if he said this, so he quickly interrupted: "I am his biological father!"
Zhang's mother was stunned. No one said you are not his biological father.
Father Zhang glared at her unhappily. "As a father, I can't help much, but I won't be a hindrance either. If you wanted to help, why would you have waited until now?"
Mother Zhang laughed awkwardly and said, "That's right."
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