Chapter 926: Chapter 799: Drums and Gongs Announce the Good News

A group of people beating drums and gongs was particularly attracting the attention of passersby. Those sitting in ox carts stuck their heads out to watch, and those walking stopped to take a closer look. Even the workers in the nearby fields glanced over a few more times.

Everyone’s attention was on the red display board at the front of the advancing group. Some passersby read aloud as they watched, "Warm congratulations to Comrade Zhou Jiao for being awarded a first-class merit..."

The group walked to the entrance of Zhang Family Village and, without hesitation, turned left to enter.

This left the Zhou family members who had rushed to the roadside with bitter expressions. Zhou Jiao was a child of Zhou Family Village! But nobody dared to say it out loud.

The Old Captain was leading his team members, enthusiastically busy, happily looking at the golden wheat ears. Hearing the faint sound of drums and gongs, he paid no attention.

Harvest season was approaching, and the year’s bounty was right in front of them. What could be more important than a good harvest to fill the bellies of Zhang Family Village?

"Great-Grandpa, come quickly, they’re coming to our village..."

The Old Captain looked at his young nephew, who was panting and bending over with his hands on his knees, frowning. This kid’s stamina was too poor; he couldn’t even finish a sentence.

"Grandpa, hurry up, there’s a big celebration, they’re coming to our village with drums and gongs."

"Oh, here I come." A little child jumped up and shouted loudly, "Xiao Wu’s Aunt has earned merit, and a group of people from the commune has come with drums and gongs to spread the news."

At that point, no more questions were needed. Upon hearing this, the Old Captain dropped everything and ran, shouting loudly, "Keep working, don’t run around."

But who would listen?

Uncle Zhang, hearing that his nephew’s wife had earned merit, even if he had doubts in his heart, ran along with the Old Captain, "What’s going on? Why was there no news beforehand?"

"You ask me, who should I ask?"

The nearby team members, seeing that both captains had run off, all put down their work and looked at the accountant Xiao Dash.

Some who were still unclear asked the people around them, "Who’s Xiao Wu’s Aunt?"

"Oh right, wait a minute..."

"That kid doesn’t explain clearly either."

"Isn’t it Xiao Wu’s wife? These kids all call her Xiao Wu’s Aunt."

"..."

Xiao Dash watched as even the villagers working in the dry fields up front dropped everything and ran over, smiling wryly. He also wanted to go see what was going on, didn’t he?

"Is it Zhang the Second’s family?" They were not referring to Zhang Guoqiang, but to his father.

"It should be Xiao Wu’s wife, no mistake."

"Let’s go, this is a big event for our village."

"Right, let’s go see what’s happening."

"Shi Tou, we’ll go take a look and then catch up on the work later."

"Right, no deduction of work points."

Xiao Dash watched as the villagers, who were running far ahead, turned back to give instructions, and he helplessly waved his hand. Fine, everyone has gone, he might as well go join in the fun too.

Over there, Mr. Zhang was indeed picking fruits in the backyard, planning to select some good ones to bring to Brother Zhao Chuan Guang. Last time, he had brought quite a few gifts when he sent them to his eldest son.

This year, besides those that were poorly grown, those that needed pickling or drying, the surplus could sell for quite a bit. Mr. Zhang was secretly pondering whether to plant wild fruits in all the yards in the future.

His eldest son was indeed smart. It turned out that selling well-grown fruits was more profitable than vegetables! Keeping them in the cellar for a month or two before selling them could fetch quite a bit of money.

At this point, he didn’t yet know that his eldest son had already decided to cut down the trees.

Immersed in thoughts of money, Mr. Zhang heard his second son yelling in the yard, surprised, he looked up at the sky. The sun hadn’t risen from the west, right?

"Mom, great news. Our Jiao Jiao has earned a great merit."

"Isn’t it a merit? The twins."

Zhang the Second couldn’t help but laugh and cry, "Mom, you don’t understand. It’s a big deal, Jiao Jiao really earned great merit. Where’s Dad? Quickly call Dad back."

"What nonsense are you talking about? How do I not understand? Stop joking, your dad is working."

"I’m not lying to you. People are already coming with drums and gongs." Zhang the Second quickly ran to the backyard, "Dad, hurry up, people are almost here."

"How old are you, still so rash? Tell me, what’s going on exactly?"

Zhang the Second took a deep breath, "They say Jiao Jiao has taken down spies and made significant contributions to technological innovation. It’s a first-class merit! Dad, it’s a first-class merit!"

Mr. Zhang didn’t hear the latter part. As soon as he heard about taking down spies, he was so scared that he dropped the bamboo pole in his hand without noticing.

He asked in disbelief, "Your sister-in-law hasn’t even killed a chicken before, could it be a mistake? If you say Xiao Wu, that silly boy, I can believe it. Did you ask clearly?"

Zhang the Second really hadn’t asked in detail. As soon as he received the news, he didn’t even bother to inform his big brother and just ran to the village.

He said uncertainly, "Dad, it shouldn’t be wrong! They were talking about Zhou Jiao, could there be a mistake? Didn’t Jiao Jiao go to the South for an internship last year?"

Mother Zhang slapped her thigh, "It’s our Jiao Jiao for sure! Once the Yi family’s boy was bragging about how they caught spies, but he changed the topic when he saw me. I even asked Xiao Wu about it, and he said he didn’t go to the South for an internship. Now that I think about it, he didn’t go, but our Jiao Jiao did."

Mr. Zhang, unable to laugh at his wife being fooled by their son, knew now he had to take it one step at a time. Glancing at his patched clothes, he was about to change when he suddenly had a thought.

Instead of patting off the dust on his clothes, he wiped his hands clean with a cloth and said, "Wife, don’t change clothes, let’s go receive them as we are."

After a lifetime together, how could Mother Zhang not understand her husband’s meaning? She said with concern, "What a shame, I gave my pants with two patches to my sister-in-law."

Indeed, to conveniently clean the kitchen, as soon as Mother Zhang arrived in the village, she changed into older clothes, but didn’t change her pants, which didn’t have even a single patch.

The sound of drums and gongs gradually drew nearer. As Mr. Zhang stepped out the door, he saw the Old Captain and his big brother leading a few county officials, the commune secretary, and a middle-aged official unfamiliar to him.

How did he know that was an official? Joking aside, didn’t you see their four pockets, with a pen tucked in one? In Mr. Zhang’s eyes, this was certainly someone from the provincial city.

—He knew almost all the county officials!

"This is Zhang Guoqing’s father, Zhang Dayou, and the father-in-law of Comrade Zhou Jiao," Lin Aiguo, who was accompanying them, introduced, "Brother Zhang, this is Comrade Jian She from the province."

Upon hearing County Magistrate Li’s words, Zhang Yuntao’s father, Zhang Zhifeng, and Zuo Lin exchanged glances and chuckled silently. What an introduction, truly County Magistrate Li had a way with words!

Besides Jian She, everyone else knew each other, exchanging a few pleasantries. As compliments about Zhou Jiao’s first-class merit surrounded them, Mother Zhang was smiling ear to ear.

After these officials and cadres left, the Zhang family’s prestige shone brightly!

The celebratory atmosphere made the village especially lively, with villagers gathering around the red display board of the first-class merit and the commendation banner, while no one paid attention to the enamel mugs or other small items. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

The Old Captain stood at the front, hesitating for a moment, he looked at Mr. Zhang, "How about placing this at the ancestral hall?"

Mr. Zhang was taken aback by the suggestion, then he thought of the certificates and medals still at home, and smiled, nodding.

"Do you think we could ask Xiao Wu to send a letter, so he can take photos of the certificates and medals from the awards and mail them over? I’ll place them in the ancestral hall as an example for our descendants in the Zhang family."

Thankfully it was only a photo, otherwise, Mr. Zhang would prefer to leave the clan rather than lend them out. He glanced at everyone, smiling, "This is all fine, but isn’t it a little exaggerated?"

"Why don’t you ask if everyone finds it exaggerated? This is a big event. In the past, when a neighboring county got a second-class merit, they held a three-day banquet in the village."

Mr. Zhang, seeing everyone shouting to share the joy, could only reluctantly agree. Ever since his eldest son and Chairman Lao had a photograph displayed in the ancestral hall, it seemed the Old Captain had been eyeing their family.

If he had known today would be so celebratory, he and his wife might as well have stayed at the county house. He was also considering displaying the commendation banner at home, wouldn’t that be nice?