Guard Corps Family Building, Zhou Zhixin’s home.
When Zhou Zhixin opened the door, he saw Zhou Yuanyuan's arms full of vegetables such as cabbage and tomatoes.
"Xiaojiu, what's wrong? Is the bag of vegetables torn?" Zhou Zhixin asked curiously. Nowadays, vegetables are always given plastic bags at the market, and for someone like Zhou Yuanyuan who had her hands full of vegetables, there seemed to be no other explanation except that the bag was torn.
"Dad, please let me in first, and then I'll tell you slowly." Zhou Yuanyuan smiled and gestured to Zhou Zhixin to move aside the blocked door, and she carefully moved sideways to go in. It's true that Zhou Yuanyuan had a lot of vegetables in her hands, and there were many kinds of them. If she wasn't careful, it would be easy for them to fall.
"Yuanyuan, how come you're free to come back today?" Zhao Yunxiang heard the noise at the door and emerged from the kitchen, spatula in hand. Last night, with Zhou Zhixin's impending departure, the couple spent most of the night talking and going over their chores. As a result, the usually diligent Zhao Yunxiang woke up late. Now, while rubbing her waist and making breakfast, she was caught by her daughter.
Although Zhao Yunxiang knew that Zhou Yuanyuan was a child and might not understand why she got up late this morning, she still blushed.
Tsk tsk tsk... Zhou Yuanyuan marveled inwardly. Her mother has always been like this. She would blush when encountering something embarrassing. She is in her forties, but still so thin-skinned.
"Mom, come and help me. These eggplants were given to me by Captain Wu's wife, these tomatoes were given to me by Battalion Commander Zhang's wife, and this cabbage was given to me by He Zhaodi next door..." Zhao Yunxiang quickly helped Zhou Yuanyuan take the pile of vegetables from her arms. Zhou Yuanyuan reported the origins of the vegetables one by one. Without exception, they were all forced upon her by the wives of soldiers in the family building.
Zhou Yuanyuan had always been sweet and adorable, a favorite of the military wives in the family housing complex. In recent years, Zhou Yuanyuan had been less frequent in the complex, but whenever she did, she was greeted by a sea of smiling faces. Furthermore, most of the military wives now worked at Zhao Yunxiang's factory, so they didn't dare disturb her. Whenever they saw Zhou Yuanyuan, they were always filled with enthusiasm.
Today happened to be vegetable harvest day. Early this morning, the military wives had already gone to their private plots to gather whatever vegetables they could so they could get to work. Seeing Zhou Yuanyuan return, it was understandable not to stuff vegetables into her hands. Even He Zhaodi, the neighbor who initially resented Zhao Yunxiang, was now convinced.
Today, Zhou Yuanyuan wore a long-sleeved georgette blouse with small floral patterns on a white background, and dark green harem pants. After the vegetables were pulled off her, her white blouse was left with patches of yellow and green, a horrible sight.
"Oh my! Yuanyuan, why do you need so many vegetables? We won't be able to finish them all, so it'll be wasted." Zhao Yunxiang looked at Zhou Yuanyuan's clothes, sobbing with heartache and complaining. Yu Meiru had someone bring this dress from Hong Kong Island. The price was enough to buy eight or ten baskets of vegetables. Zhao Yunxiang had just given it to Zhou Yuanyuan the day before yesterday, and today was probably the first time Zhou Yuanyuan wore it.
"Mom, it's okay. I'll go back and wash it later." Zhou Yuanyuan waved her hand and said nonchalantly. It's not that Zhou Yuanyuan is bragging, it's really that her "Dust Removal Technique" is so powerful. With the "Dust Removal Technique", what stain on clothes can't be removed?
Besides, these aunties and grandmas were so enthusiastic, Zhou Yuanyuan couldn't let them down, right? Although every time, Zhou Yuanyuan's return gifts were much larger than the gifts she received.
After taking care of her mother, Zhou Yuanyuan smiled at Zhou Zhixin and said, "Dad, I have something for you. Bow down."
With Wen Ziqing's example in mind, Zhou Yuanyuan directly hung the peace locket around Zhou Zhixin's neck, and then waited for her father's objection.
"Yuanyuan, is this for me?" Zhou Zhixin touched the slightly cold peace locket on his neck, feeling extremely happy. The army rules prohibit wearing jewelry, and Zhou Zhixin, as a superior, must take the lead. Zhou Zhixin decided that after his daughter left, he would take off the peace locket and put it in his pocket. After all, this was the first gift his daughter gave him, and it was a gift with such a good meaning. It must have been specially picked by Yuanyuan.
It must be said that Zhou Zhixin had imagined Zhou Yuanyuan's hard work. In reality, Xiaoyu, the one who had worked the hardest, was now exhausted, cultivating with her eyes closed in Zhou Yuanyuan's sea of consciousness, trying to quickly replenish the spiritual energy she had lost from carving the two jade talismans.
"Dad, I happened to see this when I was shopping yesterday and thought I should give it to you. I hope you are safe and come back victorious." Zhou Yuanyuan saw that Zhou Zhixin didn't say anything about not being able to bring it, and she felt a little more satisfied with Zhou Zhixin.
Zhou Zhixin understood immediately after hearing Zhou Yuanyuan's words. Apparently, Wen Ziqing had gone to find his daughter yesterday, otherwise his daughter wouldn't have known he was going to the battlefield. Over the years, Zhou Yuanyuan had been distant from Zhou Zhixin, at least on the surface. Her attitude toward him seemed a bit cold.
Zhou Zhixin knew full well that it was his behavior that disappointed Zhou Yuanyuan. He was an incompetent father!
Regardless of whether other people's parents are successful in their careers, at least they can be with their children and provide them with a safe haven. But what about him? He was in the army year-round, with little time to return home. Furthermore, he was deceived by Zhou Chunping's family. Based solely on the concept of "filial piety," he tacitly agreed to Zhou Chunping and his wife letting Zhao Yunxiang and the children stay in Zhoujia Village, claiming it was fulfilling his "filial piety" for him.
Zhou Zhixin's reputation was good, but Zhao Yunxiang and her son had a hard time in Zhoujia Village. After Zhou Zhixin personally experienced the conspiracy by Zhou Chunping and his son, he realized that some people are never satisfied, just like Zhou Chunping and his son.
Zhou Zhixin watched himself step by step into the trap carefully designed by Zhou Chunping, feeling desolate and unwilling. Fortunately, his daughter Zhou Yuanyuan and future son-in-law Wen Ziqing appeared out of nowhere and rescued Zhou Zhixin.
After that incident, Zhou Zhixin never acted like a father in front of Zhou Yuanyuan again. He was ashamed! A grown man, a man trained in the military, hadn't had any sense of caution. He knew something was wrong with the noodles, but he still ate them anyway. If Zhou Yuanyuan hadn't been feeling palpitations and asked Wen Ziqing to take her to Zhoujia Village to find him, the grass on his grave might be a foot tall by now.
After that incident, Zhao Yunxiang ignored Zhou Zhixin for a long time. It was not until he joined the army that the couple resumed their former sweetness.
Although Zhou Zhixin had confidence in the soldiers he led when he went to the front line this time, he also felt guilty towards his family.
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