After the banquet, it was already late. Zhou Xiaozheng and Zhang Guoqing declined the drunken Zhao Dashan's offer to see them off, and the father-in-law and son-in-law hurried towards the village in the dark, flashlights in hand.
The weather had been fine during the day, but the temperature plummeted at night. On the way back to Zhangjia Village from the county seat, there were no pedestrians. The father-in-law and son-in-law had underestimated the night's temperature. Clad in their military coats and braving the howling north wind, they walked at a brisk pace, not caring for a word. The wind pierced their faces like a knife, but fortunately, their physical fitness didn't slow them down.
When they reached the village entrance, they all breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing they were almost home, Zhang Guoqing finally asked him, "Dad, are you still going to see grandma tonight?"
"Go, you have to go. I guess the old couple are waiting for news from me tonight. You don't have to go. I'll take your mother with me."
Zhang Guoqing looked around and saw that there were no pedestrians. He whispered, "Dad, as for Uncle, should I go to the township police station tomorrow to check on him? For Grandma's sake, it's better for Uncle to come out. Otherwise, Grandma might not be able to take it. She was sick this summer and is only now feeling better."
Zhou Xiaozheng looked back at him and said, "You've been hesitating all this time just because of this? The case has been finalized, why would he come out? He deserves it. If he comes out, will the rest of us agree?"
Zhang Guoqing chuckled and said, "I can go in and see him. As long as he can get out, it doesn't matter how serious it is. If he doesn't come out, firstly, the main house will be broken up, and there will be no one to take care of grandpa and grandma. Secondly, he is still a member of the Zhou family, Jiaojiao's uncle, your dear eldest brother, and it won't look good."
"Then you don't hate him? He's the worst offender, and that's a bargain for him. Do you want him to shift the blame onto Huang Zhaodi, so he can come out and take some criticism?"
Zhang Guoqing shook his head. "Jiaojiao won't hold a grudge. She often says that caring too much about enemies is just asking for trouble, and she just ignores unimportant people. What's more, for grandma's sake, she will agree that uncle will come out. Whether he comes out or not, it won't affect us much. As for how he handles his family's problems after he comes out, we don't care. As long as grandma doesn't worry and feel sad about her eldest son suffering, that's all that matters."
Zhou Xiaozheng was silent for a moment, with no reaction. Zhang Guoqing knew he was making a decision, so he remained silent and walked slowly home with him.
As they approached the gate, Zhou Xiaozheng stopped and said to him, "Then go see what he says tomorrow. If his attitude is wrong, ignore him. And make sure you finish cleanly and don't get yourself involved. As for tonight, your mother and I will go see them and mention that things are difficult to handle and we're looking for someone."
"Well, you can trust me to do the job. I will go to the village tomorrow morning." Zhang Guoqing nodded.
After the father-in-law and son-in-law finished their conversation, they went straight into the courtyard and found Lin Lishan pacing in front of the west wing, looking up from time to time. When she saw them, she immediately smiled and said, "You really are back. Jiaojiao said you were coming in, but I didn't believe it. Ah Zheng, the child and you really have telepathy."
Zhou Xiaozheng raised the corner of his mouth and said proudly, "That's for sure. Our father-daughter relationship is much better than yours. Come in quickly, you're freezing, right? You're so stupid, you don't even know you're waiting inside."
After saying that, he walked quickly into the room, "Jiaojiao, Dad is back. My dear daughter, guess what gift your dad gave you today? You will definitely like it."
Lin Lishan ignored him and said to Zhang Guoqing behind him, "You must be exhausted after following your father all day today. Go say hello to your parents first, and then come back and have some hot soup to sober up."
Zhang Guoqing smiled and nodded, then turned and walked towards the main room. He could still hear Zhou Jiao and her father chatting and laughing. He was secretly amused. These two people had very similar personalities and tastes, worthy of being father and daughter.
Lin Lishan came in and just happened to hear Zhou Xiaozheng talking about the study in the new house. She was so happy that she quickly interrupted, "Brother Zheng, the study you mentioned, are you really talking about two large bookcases? And there are a lot of books in it? That's great. Our Jiaojiao likes it this way. Tomorrow I'll go to the county to see if there is anyone who specializes in sofas? I'll put a soft sofa in the study, so Jiaojiao can lean on it and read without getting tired."
Zhou Jiao said to Lin Lishan who came in, "Mom, you are really not afraid of spoiling me. Please don't make a fuss. We are unfamiliar with the place and it will be troublesome to find people."
"It's no trouble. I'm happy to do it. I just happened to go and see if there was anything needed these few days. Brother Zheng, please continue." Lin Lishan said to him impatiently.
Zhou Xiaozheng took the cup of water from Zhou Jiao, took a sip, and then proceeded to describe the details of the courtyard in the county town. To broaden Zhou Jiao's understanding, he interspersed his discussion with topics like identifying antiques and maintaining them. He also touched upon the previous owner's careful considerations and his own analysis of the kitchen basement, the fire wall, and the furniture coverings.
Following Zhou Jiao's questions, Zhou Xiaozheng discussed current international and domestic relations, then described a recent newspaper excerpt, asking her to share her thoughts and ideas. After she finished, he began to offer guidance, guiding her through small-scale trends and potential future developments. He also instructed his wife and daughter on areas to focus on.
Zhou Xiaozheng was very pleased with his daughter's comprehension. Zhou Jiao's knowledge broadened his interest, especially the fact that she wasn't limited by current events. When he mentioned a detail, she could immediately connect the dots and draw conclusions.
Gradually, the topics of discussion between father and daughter expanded. Zhou Xiaozheng began to examine her ability to understand classical ancient books in recent years and guide her to apply divergent thinking to real life.
As the father and daughter's conversation stretched on, Lin Lishan began to drift off to sleep. Weren't they talking about the courtyard in the county town? Why had they strayed off topic? Finally, the father and daughter got back to the courtyard in the county town. Lin Lishan looked at them helplessly, and just as she was about to interject, he finally spoke about the follow-up arrangements.
"That's how we'll arrange the county town. Next up are your two properties in Beijing and the SH house. Dad doesn't plan on letting you live in the five-story compound in Beijing when you return in two years. This time, we'll be allocated a small courtyard in the military compound, which is big enough for our family. Even though the compound is far from school, we'd rather buy another one closer than live there."
Since we've analyzed that many private courtyard houses in Beijing will be allocated to employees by various units, and since the large courtyard is too conspicuous, Dad should make plans as soon as possible. It would be best if both courtyards in Beijing were rented out to units for office use—that way, we have the initiative. For the courtyard houses currently being rented out, we won't have to pay rent on the next contract. We can sign a time contract to sponsor the Women's Federation for free for a few years."
Zhou Jiao nodded at her father, "Dad, I understand what you mean. I'll listen to you. Free sponsorship supports national policies. Listen to T and follow T."
Zhou Xiaozheng gave a thumbs-up. "As expected of Dad's daughter, you're really smart. Dad will take back the benefits inside, it's worth it. Next is the SH house. You are nominally the only granddaughter of the old couple. The neighbors all know that they have a granddaughter living with the elders in the Northeast. When she turns 18, she will come back to take care of the elderly. Every time the old couple returns to their hometown, they say they are visiting you. The house is very ordinary, the old man's identity and background are clean, and there is no one in the hometown anymore, so it's okay for you to keep it. The key is to keep the valuables in it. Do you have any other questions for Dad?"
Zhou Jiao smiled and shook her head. Her father had no aftereffects from his work; everything had been arranged perfectly.
"And you have to go to Beijing for the New Year this year. I'll arrange a sleeper berth on the train and all the travel arrangements. It'll be safe for over two months, so it shouldn't be a problem. We'll wait for you to come home. Shanshan, have you told your daughter?"
Lin Lishan looked at Zhou Jiao with a smile and said, "I told you, she guessed it before I even finished telling her everything. She even anticipated what happened at her grandmother's house. Just like you arranged, she went home before the New Year. She even thought of dealing with the SH house early, for fear of causing trouble for you."
Zhou Xiaozheng looked at Zhou Jiao with a smile. As expected of his daughter, she had considered every aspect of the problem. He probably knew everything about the Lin family.
"This time when you go home, you need to sort out your dowry. What needs to be dealt with should be dealt with, and what needs to be kept should be kept in your own hands. You should discuss this with Xiaowu first. When do you plan to leave? How will you arrange your time? How will you place the things? You two should plan it out. You can't leave anything in the big yard. Put the big items in the back of the small yard, where there is a secret room. Hide the small items yourself. Get them back sooner and deal with it sooner." Zhou Xiaozheng was not worried about the abilities of his daughter and son-in-law. As for whether his son-in-law would change his mind in the future? He didn't believe that Jiaojiao couldn't deal with him.
Zhou Jiao nodded. Her father emphasized, "Get it back sooner and solve it sooner." She understood.
Zhou Xiaozheng smiled, his eyes etched on her head. Talking to his own Jiaojiao was effortless; a glance, a hint, and she understood everything. There was one more person he needed to give a few more instructions to.
"Shanshan, even your eldest brother doesn't know about the SH house, so don't let it slip. Your sister-in-law used to be a decent person, but now she's become worldly, so be careful of her.
As for the things at home, forget about what the old lady knows. Don't tell anyone else. Before, when I was gone, they all felt sorry for you and wouldn't scheme against you. Now that I'm back and have a promotion, if they still knew we had things, they'd be upset. In the end, we'd lose all our friendship. At most, we can help them out if they need help in the future."
Lin Lishan glanced at him sideways. "I'm not stupid. Besides, I have nothing in the first place - those are Jiaojiao's dowry. We have no money left, and we are still waiting for my mother to return the savings certificate to me. Anyway, you are back, and it's still the same as before, you are the housekeeper. I have figured it out. In the past, they knew that you were gone, so they couldn't plot against me openly, and my father was on their side. This time when you came back, my little sister said sourly that it was a pity that Jiaojiao's big yard was empty. I ignored her. She secretly whispered to my mother to intercede. I told my mother to let them tell you or Jiaojiao. Do you really think I'm stupid? I don't think they dare to tell you. This is what you gave to Jiaojiao, it belongs to Jiaojiao. If you hadn't come back, I guess we would have moved in first."
Seeing that she was getting angrier and angrier, Zhou Jiao hurriedly comforted her, "Mom, don't be angry. Think about how my aunt has been sending me packages all these years. You should appreciate this kindness. Besides, it's human nature to be jealous. Just listen to her and don't take it to heart."
We should also consider her. My uncle-in-law isn't as good as my father. We're sisters, and she's not doing as well as you. It's inevitable that she feels a little unfair. It's okay to speak out, but I'm afraid they might do something bad behind the scenes. As long as it doesn't infringe on your principles, you can let it go in one ear and out the other.
For example, she does have a large yard, but didn't she also buy one? If she moves in, it'll be easier to invite the gods in than to send them away. This is a matter of principle and position. If you agree to her request, your eldest and second aunts will also ask you to borrow their houses. If you refuse, you'll become enemies.
So you did the right thing this time, upholding your principles and stance. Even if your cousins get married and don't have a house, they won't take advantage of you. Why bother doing something when you know it's impossible? When I return to Beijing, I'll do my best to deal with these things to avoid awkward interactions with relatives in the future.
As for you, when someone is jealous and envious, just ignore them all. Every time you get angry, tell yourself that I am so outstanding and so happy that people are jealous! How can I be so lucky? Forgive those stupid humans! "After saying this, Zhou Jiao fell on the kang with laughter.
Zhou Xiaozheng listened to his daughter's story at first, but it became increasingly frivolous. He watched her beam with fondness, his spirits high as she laughed along. His daughter Jiaojiao would often act childishly in front of them. This was good, but he worried she might have a problem. As for maintaining her manners and disguising her personality in front of others, and acting like a child in front of him, that was a given. His daughter was very good at dealing with people. If she had been as childish as Zhao Yuanyuan, she wouldn't be his daughter.
Lin Lishan smiled and hugged her, trying to calm her down. "Well, then Mom will forgive those stupid humans from now on. It's your mom's fault for being so lucky to meet your dad and give birth to you."
Zhou Xiaozheng watched the mother and daughter laughing and joking with amusement. He had a daughter who was intelligent, kind-hearted, and adept at handling relationships. If an ordinary girl had heard that her courtyard was being targeted, she would have jumped up and down.
She wouldn't give up her pride for money. In her eyes, money was merely material possessions; the only thing that mattered was her family's well-being. Her father-in-law was a true judge of character; he never exaggerated his praise. His daughter was like a fairy from a fairy tale, beautiful and pure.
The voice of Zhang Daddy Zhang Dayou was heard from outside, "A Zheng, are you in there?"
Zhou Xiaozheng, whose thoughts were interrupted by his loud voice, hurried out. "Second brother, why did you come here in person? I was just thinking of going to your place with Shanshan. I haven't seen you for so many years, but you still look the same. You don't look older at all. Second sister-in-law, we are relatives now. You have to make dumplings for me with your specialty sauerkraut filling."
Mother Zhang laughed out loud, "I've already packed it and am waiting for you. My eldest sister said you'd be back after dinner. Now that you're back, I'll go cook it."
Zhou Xiaozheng hurriedly pulled her, "Wait a minute. Second sister-in-law, I plan to go see the old man and the old lady with Shanshan first. I went there at noon, and I guess they are waiting for my reply."
Zhang Dayou waved his hand, asking Zhang's mother to wait for a moment, and said, "Then you guys go over there first and come back early. I'll wait for you to have a drink, and your second sister-in-law will make dumplings for you to eat when you come back. Don't waste time, go early and come back early. Do you want Xiaowu to come with you?"
"No need, just the two of us will go and take a look. We'll be back in a while. You don't know that the old man doesn't like to see me. Second brother, have a drink and call Brother Zhang and Brother Three. We'll be back soon."
Upon hearing this, Lin Lishan hurriedly pulled out some fabric and pastries from her luggage. She hadn't visited the Zhou family last time, so this time she'd prepared everything early, waiting for her husband to return home. She really didn't want to see Old Man Zhou, but after all, he was her husband's father. As she prepared the gifts, she kept telling herself she was preparing them for the kind and vulnerable old lady.
Zhang Dayou didn't delay them from visiting the old man and hurriedly called out, "Xiaowu, go get the kerosene lamp to light the way for your father-in-law. It's better than a flashlight. And bring your military coat too. It's cold at night, so you don't catch a cold."
Zhang Guoqing, carrying a kerosene lamp, walked all the way to the bridgehead, only stopping when they stopped him. He watched their departing figures, recalling Mr. Zhou's unusual behavior during the day, and sighed inwardly.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com