Chapter 440 The Zhou Family
"Teacher," Nan Zhiyi pleaded, clasping her hands together, "Let's talk about it before school starts. Just let me have a peaceful winter break now."
Professor Wang shook his head disapprovingly: "The three-year graduate program will be over in the blink of an eye. If you want to stay on as a faculty member, you need to start preparing early. You need to submit your teaching plan in February, participate in research project applications in March... and publish two papers in core journals..."
Nan Zhiyi straightened her back and obediently listened to the instruction: "I will follow the teacher's instructions."
...
Finally, Professor Wang handed her a stack of documents: "Take these documents home and browse through them."
"Okay." Nan Zhiyi carefully put away the materials, glanced at the clock, and stood up. "We won't keep you from having lunch, so we'll take our leave now."
Upon hearing that he was leaving, Gu Zhao, still holding the mechanical bird, bowed deeply: "Grandmaster, I'll come to see you again next time!"
Professor Wang waved his hand and watched the mother and son go downstairs.
As I walked out onto the street, the snow on the roadside shimmered like scattered gold in the sunlight.
Nan Zhiyi pulled her son's hat tighter: "Son, shall Mom take you to eat Wonton Hou?"
"Add dried shrimp and seaweed!" Gu Zhao cheered.
Nan Zhiyi chuckled. This little guy just loves new experiences and eating out.
As they passed the post office, Gu Zhao tugged at his mother's sleeve: "Mom, can we call Dad's workplace? I want to tell him about the government office bird."
Nan Zhiyi gently rubbed her son's cheek: "It's almost Chinese New Year, and Dad's busy. When he gets home tonight, you can demonstrate it to him yourself, okay?"
She pointed to the long queue outside the post office, "Look, everyone's waiting to call and wish each other a Happy New Year."
Gu Zhao tiptoed to look at the crowd, then nodded understandingly: "Then I'll talk to Dad tonight!"
The mother and son sat down by the window at Wonton House.
Gu Zhao carefully placed the mechanical bird on the corner of the table, occasionally reaching out to touch its wooden wings.
"We're going to Auntie's house later." Nan Zhiyi added a sesame seed cake to her son's plate. "It's the courtyard house where your aunt's husband grows plum blossoms."
Gu Zhao's eyes lit up: "Is it that courtyard with the moon gate? My aunt's husband even gave me a little wooden horse set last time!"
“That’s right.” Nan Zhiyi smiled, “Your aunt spends all her time at the research institute now, except when she works as an assistant researcher.”
Upon arriving at the Zhou family's courtyard house, before even knocking on the door, Zhang Yueran's clear laughter could be heard coming from inside.
"Sister! Gu Xiaoman!"
As soon as the vermilion gate opened, the courtyard was filled with red plum blossoms against the snow, which made Zhang Yueran's red lips and white teeth stand out even more, and she looked as radiant as if she had stepped out of a New Year's painting.
"Auntie!"
Gu Zhao held up the mechanical bird for Zhang Yueran to see.
Zhang Yueran bent down to examine it closely. "This is a good thing." She then pinched Gu Zhao's nose, which was red from the cold. "Aren't your hands cold? You've been carrying it like this the whole way?"
Gu Zhao chuckled and was led into the house by his aunt, who put her arm around his shoulder.
Nan Zhiyi followed behind, her gaze sweeping over the carefully arranged artificial rockery in the courtyard, where honeysuckle vines peeking out from between the rocks were still covered with icicles.
The threshold of the main room is covered with brass, and facing it is an eight-immortal table made of rosewood inlaid with mother-of-pearl.
The armchairs on both sides are covered with dark green cushions, and the backs are inlaid with natural marble paintings; the display cabinet is filled with porcelain and wood carvings, and in the most conspicuous place is a statue of Guanyin, whose flowing robes are lifelike.
Zhou Xingzhi and the others entered with smiles and nods: "Sister Zhiyi, Gu Zhao." Today he was wearing a dark blue long robe, with half of the snow-white lining showing from the cuffs.
"Have you had lunch?" Zhou Xingzhi led Nan Zhiyi to sit down in an armchair on the east side.
The maid brought over a gilded lacquer tray, on which were placed three covered teacups and four kinds of tea snacks.
Nan Zhiyi took the teacup and nodded: "I've eaten. You two seem to have a lot of free time, spending the whole day at home admiring plum blossoms and sipping tea?"
Zhou Xingzhi smiled faintly, his gaze shifting to the west window, where Zhang Yueran was squatting in front of the rose chair, studying the wing structure of the mechanical bird with Gu Zhao, their heads close together.
“Yueran is on winter break, so I’ll help her organize some of her books.” As he spoke, his eyes followed his fiancée’s every move. When he saw her squinting, he took out a magnifying glass and handed it to her.
Nan Zhiyi lowered her head and blew away the tea foam, thinking to herself that Zhou Xingzhi seemed more human than before, as if he had returned to earth from the clouds.
Zhang Yueran, who used to always wear old work clothes while doing experiments, is now nestled in the warm and fragrant main room, enveloped by such a cherished gaze. The two of them complement each other perfectly.
Suddenly, Zhang Yueran exclaimed "Ah!" because the mechanical bird's tail feathers were stuck.
Zhou Xingzhi joined in the research.
He took out a carving knife and carefully adjusted the wooden bird's joints: "Gu Zhao, look, we're using a worm gear drive here." He then pointed to the wing root, "We'll add an eccentric wheel to make the wings flap more smoothly."
Gu Zhao leaned on his shoulder, her eyes wide open.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Zhang Yueran slipped back to her sister's side and took a few big gulps of tea from the slightly cool teacup.
"When does the research institute have a holiday?" Nan Zhiyi asked her, seizing the opportunity.
"The 24th of the twelfth lunar month!"
What are your plans for winter break?
Zhang Yueran's ears turned slightly red as she twirled her teacup and said, "When the holidays come... I'll take him straight home to the family compound for the New Year..."
“We have to go back to Jian’an. Gu Yan is having his wedding during the Spring Festival, and the whole family must be there.”
"Oh dear, I almost forgot about Sixth Brother! Well then, let's go straight through the compound!" Zhang Yueran grabbed her sister's wrist. "If Mom and Dad have some free time, the whole family can go back to our old house in Jian'an for a few days. That tenement building hasn't been lived in for years..."
Nan Zhiyi pondered for a moment: "How about you stay at my old house? It's regularly maintained, and I'll have someone clean it in advance."
Zhang Yueran shook her head: "Mom and Dad will definitely stay at their own home. Besides, there are so many old comrades in the compound, how could they not stay at their own home when they go back?"
“Hmm,” Nan Zhiyi compromised, “I’ll ask Aunt Feng about the specific arrangements tonight.”
While the two sisters were talking, Zhou Xingzhi had already helped Gu Zhao repair the mechanical bird and then took Gu Zhao to the yard to test fly it.
The wooden bird flew around the yard for a long time before landing on the snow.
Gu Zhao's face flushed with excitement as she hopped around Zhou Xingzhi's leg, exclaiming, "Uncle, you're amazing! You flew even farther than before!"
...
As dusk deepened, Nan Zhiyi was about to take her child and leave when Zhang Yueran grabbed her, saying, "Sister, stop being so polite! You must have dinner before you go!"
Gu Zhao also clung to her aunt, not wanting to leave.
Nan Zhiyi had no choice but to agree.
She called home and told Sister Zhang that none of the three of them would be home for dinner that day.
Sister Zhang replied that there was a pot of yam and pork rib soup on the stove. If Minister Gu was hungry, he could cook some noodles to tide him over.
Nan Zhiyi: "Okay, thank you, Sister Zhang. You can go home now."
Knowing that the two were staying for dinner, Zhou Xingzhi went to the kitchen and asked the maid to make more of the children's favorite dishes.
Gu Zhao indeed ate the meal with gusto, his mouth greasy with oil.
He munched on a golden-fried lotus root sandwich, praising indistinctly, "My aunt's husband's food is delicious!"
After dinner, Zhou Xingzhi drove the mother and son back to the Army Compound.
Zhang Yueran refused to sit in the passenger seat, insisting on squeezing into the back seat, where she clung to Nan Zhiyi's arm and whispered secrets...
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