Chapter 923: Chapter 796: Congratulations to You First

In the early morning, a beam of sunlight spilled through the window, and the faint sounds of pigeons and unknown birds chirping brought Zhou Jiao, who was still groggy, instantly awake.

She glanced at the wristwatch on the bedside, startled, and immediately sprang up. Her legs gave way as she got off the bed, almost causing her to fall. Muttering a few curses about scoundrels, she hurriedly changed her clothes.

In the courtyard, Zhang Guoqing looked oddly at the pigeons, magpies, thrushes, and one or two unknown birds perched on the wall and roof.

If he remembered correctly, he had frequently seen these birds in the past few days, often visiting his home. But now, why are there people raising these little creatures?

Seeing Zhou Jiao come out, he mysteriously beckoned her over.

"I’ll go check on our son first."

"They just fell asleep. Don’t worry, I checked on them last night and early in the morning. They’re adapting well, so I didn’t wake you."

Saying this, Zhang Guoqing pulled her under the eaves, gesturing for her to look at the pigeons and birds.

Zhou Jiao looked confusedly up and then at her husband’s face. This didn’t seem like him using some trick to lure them here?

Zhang Guoqing looked around, seeing no one, and whispered, "They come here on their own. Every morning they fly over, but leave once the sun gets intense."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Jiao stared at him, eyes wide open.

"Do they look like the birds gathering around the phoenix?" Zhang Guoqing smiled broadly, "Too bad it’s forbidden to keep pets now; otherwise, we could have more to cover this up."

Zhou Jiao leaned closer, glanced around, and asked quietly, "Is it really that mysterious? Could there be fruits or something on the roof? Should we climb up to check?"

Zhang Guoqing shook his head, "Nowadays, birds are almost gone, just ignore it. Just tell Ping’an not to eat the birds that perch on our roof."

"We’re often not home, better mention it to Dad as a precaution."

"It’ll be fine once it gets cold."

The couple stopped their conversation when they saw Aunt Chen coming out of the kitchen, tacitly agreeing to end the topic. Even though the gathering of birds sounds exaggerated like the phoenix tale, the oddity is worth guarding against.

Near noon when work ends, Zhou Jiao deliberately wandered at the entrance path, eagerly hoping to see her father’s figure appear.

So when Zhou Xiaozheng returned home, he saw his daughter smiling and waving at him from afar, running towards him, making his already proud and joyful mood overflow with happiness.

He walked quickly forward, extending his arms to catch his running daughter, "You know?"

"Turns out Dad, you know too?"

"Of course. I accepted it on your behalf this morning."

Hearing this, Zhou Jiao was dumbfounded, her dad pinched her cheek to snap her out of it, "Dad, that’s wrong, we’re not talking about the same thing."

"That’s even better, delight upon delight."

Entering the courtyard, Zhou Xiaozheng immediately called out his wife’s and Zhang Guoqing’s nicknames. Once they showed their faces, he let out a burst of cheerful laughter.

Zhang Guoqing saw the genuine smile on his father-in-law’s face, along with those sparkling dimples, glancing towards his wife.

Lin Lishan: "Brother Zheng, did your salary increase?"

"Xiao Chen, tell them." Zhou Xiaozheng scornfully glanced at his wife, what’s a salary? Soon you’ll get to see something truly impressive.

Behind him, Secretary Chen, full of smiles, sidestepped a few steps to the right, saluting Zhou Jiao.

Seeing this, Zhou Jiao quickly returned the salute, a flash of insight momentarily, she glanced at her father’s smile, her face bursting into a brilliant smile. Success! Her efforts weren’t in vain.

"Comrade Zhou Jiao, first, congratulations." Secretary Chen took out a file folder from his briefcase and handed it to her, "Inside is the personal first-class merit certificate and medal that the leader received on your behalf this morning."

Zhou Jiao looked at her father in surprise.

Zhou Xiaozheng proudly nodded.

"Besides this honor, there’s also a notice inside. Tomorrow morning at eight, there will be a recognition and award ceremony in the conference room on the third floor of the municipal bureau."

"Thank you, Secretary Chen."

Zhang Guoqing, seeing Xiao Chen finished speaking, stepped forward and put his arm around his shoulder, heading to the west wing, "Brother Chen, tell me in detail what’s going on?"

"Xiao Wu, Jiao Jiao made a real impression this time, everyone in the conference room praised her as a tiger who didn’t raise a cowardly child. The leader’s eyes turned red when he accepted the award certificate. Many people congratulated the leader, saying they have not shamed the ’nation’ title given by **."

"The leader is devoted to the country, if those bastards keep framing him, it’s truly intolerable. Even before the meeting, someone spoke well of the Liang Family in front of the leader, but once the meeting ended, it all quieted down. Such a sigh..."

Zhang Guoqing patted his shoulder, the two exchanged wry smiles.

Last night, Zhou Xiaozheng attended a gathering, and as his secretary, Xiao Chen surely followed closely. At the time, some people brought in Mr. Liang just to watch the show, right?

Secretary Chen thought about Old Liang, who holds no office or position yet can join those gatherings, his heart was filled with more indignation. But recalling some of the recent meeting content, he retracted the corners of his mouth.

——This society indeed needs cleaning up! Otherwise, nepotism pervades, all rotten to the core, why do they shed blood and sacrifice their lives as military men?

The passionate thinking of a hot-blooded man, Zhang Guoqing knew nothing of it. He carefully inquired about key people’s attitudes, and also consulted about some details of tomorrow’s recognition meeting.

Compared to his excellent youth and outstanding cadre awards, they’re about the same in value. But the personal first-class merit certificate and medal issued by the general political department, now that’s impressive. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

In the living room, Lin Lishan chatted happily and endlessly with Aunt Chen and Aunt Sun, while in the study, Zhou Xiaozheng and his daughter Zhou Jiao had returned to their usual expressions.

Always cautious, Zhou Jiao eyed the opened file bag on the coffee table, asking her father, "Isn’t the first-class merit a bit exaggerating? I expected a second-class merit."

Zhou Xiaozheng knowingly smiled, "Didn’t you raise the stakes? The information and documents provided last January have already played a significant role."

Zhou Jiao shyly smiled.

"Silly girl! Even for this first-class merit, Dad feels it’s still not enough. Last time you went abroad, you received commendation, plus last year’s capture of an enemy agent, they can’t suppress you any more and must give you a first-class merit."

Zhou Jiao cuddled closer to his arm, "Dad, I’m very happy."

"Yes, Dad is also very happy and proud." Zhou Xiaozheng patted his daughter’s head, "Now, you can relax, right? All the attention is on you, Xiao Wu isn’t in the spotlight anymore."

Zhou Jiao joyfully hugged his arm and swayed it, "Dad, why are you so clever? But it’s good, didn’t I inherit your high IQ?"

"Women are outward bound, the ancients were truthful." Zhou Xiaozheng patted her head, "Silly girl, does he know all your painstaking efforts?"

"Dad teaches you a trick, no matter how good the couple is, make sure the other knows about your contributions. Subtly reveal your intentions, only then will he remain loyal to you forever."

Zhou Jiao nodded with a smile.

"That Yi Family boy gains an advantage now. Tomorrow at the recognition meeting, both of you will be awarded personal second-class merits."

"Dad, what about the five others?"

"Third-class merits."

Zhou Jiao was happy for them but also worried. If nothing unexpected happens, the new semester will surely have the school establishing her as a model, but she doesn’t want to be in the limelight.

"First, let’s eat, discuss matters later." Zhou Xiaozheng stood up and pulled her out of the study, "Everything is prepared, it’s time to slow down."