Chapter 928: Chapter 801: What Does Pride Matter Before My Wife?

After attending the last meeting of the semester, Zhang Guoqing looked up at the sky. If he didn’t leave now, the heavy snow would trap him, and he wouldn’t be able to go home tonight.

Without needing his reminder, Yi Jiefang next to him also knew that heavy snow was coming, and the two exchanged a glance, tacitly quickening their pace.

Away from the crowd, the two entered the dormitory building amidst a flurry of activity. After greeting everyone, they didn’t linger and went back to their rooms to pack their luggage before heading out.

The northern wind howled, and the cold wind hitting his face made Zhang Guoqing secretly grateful that his wife had gone ahead. He felt even smarter as he stepped onto the thick snow.

From the small train to the shaky bus transfer, night had fallen, and as they expected, it started snowing heavily like goose feathers. The weather was getting colder, and there were fewer people on the road.

Seeing the lights shining everywhere and thinking of the warmth indoors, Zhang Guoqing felt an even greater urgency to get home, where his wife and sons awaited.

"Isn’t there still a school closing ceremony? There’s no need to rush home," she said angrily at first, but upon seeing his frostbitten hands, Zhou Jiao’s heart ached for him.

Zhang Guoqing accepted the ginger tea she handed over. "Afraid someone might poke little dolls at night," he said. As he took a sip, he nearly spat it out, realizing this was her little revenge waiting for him.

Watching him pretend to be wronged, Zhou Jiao inwardly smiled but maintained a calm expression, "It’s a bit spicy. Shall I change it for you?"

"No need, the spice is good, it warms the whole body," Zhang Guoqing dared not, thinking the face was no big deal in front of his wife.

After checking on the sleeping three brothers and chatting with his father-in-law in the study, Zhang Guoqing returned to the East Wing and saw a large bowl of steaming beef noodles.

He smiled, "Not angry anymore?"

Zhou Jiao glanced sideways at him.

"Alright, let me fill my stomach first, then you can deal with me," Zhang Guoqing joked, pointing at the cabinet, "I got someone to make something for you."

"Eat and then talk about it."

Zhang Guoqing ate while watching her take out a box from the hidden compartment. Seeing her touch it again and again, he knew this gift pleased her greatly.

Which woman hasn’t fantasized about stepping into a wedding sedan with a phoenix crown?

This phoenix crown didn’t have the traditional "nine golden dragons, nine jade phoenixes," but Zhou Jiao instantly recognized it as the Nine Dragons and Nine Phoenix Crown she had drawn casually in her spare time.

—The front top layer featured nine dragons, the middle had eight phoenixes, and the bottom was adorned with two rows of bead strings; the back had a standing phoenix, hence the name Nine Dragons and Nine Phoenixes Crown.

Perhaps limited by conditions, it had been slightly modified by Zhang Guoqing. It felt lighter in the hand, but the craftsmanship was no less exquisite than any phoenix crown Zhou Jiao had seen.

"This is obviously the craft of a master. Does anyone even do such risky work? I guess it took quite an effort? Besides wanting to make money, I bet this person just couldn’t let go of the craftsmanship."

Zhang Guoqing put down his bowl, picked up a hot towel beside him, and said while wiping himself, "Yes, reportedly an ancestral craft. When I disguised myself and approached him, saying my surname was Jin, he even asked if I was a descendant of Aixinjueluo."

Zhou Jiao laughed heartily. You’re bold for ordering a phoenix crown, but he wouldn’t think so? Anyway, she liked it very much.

"Do you like it?"

Zhou Jiao nodded. The phoenix crown was beautiful, but more beautiful was his consideration. He had not forgotten the joke from their wedding night in a past life.

Zhang Guoqing grinned. He had thought of many gifts, but his wife had everything, and ordinary things held no meaning. This adventure was worth it!

—In a couple of years, where would you find such a good master?

"Don’t do such dangerous things next time."

"Alright."

"When did you arrange this? How come I didn’t notice at all?" Zhou Jiao asked, looking at him sharply. It seemed that not only was he bold, but he also learned to hide things from her.

"I just wanted to hide it because I love you. Silly girl, still mad?" Zhang Guoqing laughed, holding her, "Last year when you went South for an internship, I was just bored. I happened to swap for these things, then went on a trip to a nearby city. Only this had commemorative value."

Zhou Jiao cast him a sideways glance, "Aren’t you worried about being taken advantage of?"

Zhang Guoqing sighed, "What value do gold and jewelry have in these times? I used three hundred pounds of food stamps, where would they want to take a risk?"

"Not just that, is it? Anything else?"

Zhang Guoqing was left speechless and laughed.

Really couldn’t hide anything, "The deposit was two boxes of penicillin, his only grandson was waiting to be saved. It took nearly a year to complete this phoenix crown, in fact, the craftsmanship was a loss."

Zhou Jiao nodded in agreement. But compared to a life and food, the other party didn’t suffer a loss. Seeing Zhang Guoqing smiling because she was happy, she held back from discussing any upsetting topics.

Yes, what do those people’s difficulties have to do with her? Hasn’t she donated enough already? Is it wrong that her husband has abilities?

"The bottom layer of the box has matching jewelry. Come on, try them on." Zhang Guoqing let go of her, smiling as he pointed at the hidden compartment below the box.

Suddenly interested, Zhou Jiao said, "You go to the study first, I’ll change my clothes."

Zhang Guoqing just shook his head and smiled. His wife was shy, even though they were an old married couple. He didn’t go to the study, instead, he took his pajamas to wash up.

Just stepping out of the side room, Zhang Guoqing was stunned as he looked up—"Barefoot on the red lotus, in red clothes with white hands, beneath the brocade cover, smiling shyly."

Isn’t this exactly it?

Zhang Guoqing stood dumbfounded, looking at the dazzling red ahead, Zhou Jiao dressed in a phoenix crown and red mantle, standing quietly, smiling coquettishly, her beautiful eyes flowing, he instinctively clutched his chest.

"What, stunned?"

"A charming smile, lovely eyes." Zhang Guoqing softly murmured, "Wife, let’s not wear it in the future."

"You’re really a fool!"

"Yes, a fool."

Zhou Jiao glanced at him sideways, spun around, then smiled back at him, "Isn’t it beautiful? In the future, let’s have a daughter and keep these for her."

"No!" Zhang Guoqing shook his head as expected, "Just thinking about a daughter who looks like you and will be married off to some wild boy in the future, I’ll go crazy."

Zhou Jiao looked at him speechlessly, "A bit childish, aren’t you?"

"If you resemble your grandmother, then our daughter will surely resemble you." Zhang Guoqing embraced her, "Three sons are enough. I can’t bear to see you suffer again."

"You don’t know how scared I was when you lay inside where I couldn’t see you..."

Hearing the vulnerability in his voice, Zhou Jiao gently patted him, comforting, "Okay, I’ll listen to you, no more children. Raising our kids well is the same."

"Wife, you’re the best."

"Hehe... Just don’t decide to have surgery on your own."

"Such a big decision, how could I hide it from you?" Zhang Guoqing regretted speaking as soon as he finished, thinking, why did he have to bring that up! He quickly changed the subject, "It’s cold, let’s get on the bed."

Zhou Jiao pushed him away with a laugh, "In the future, don’t hide things from me. I have a small mind, I’m sometimes unreasonable, and I might think the wrong way."

"Alright." Zhang Guoqing nodded with a smile, seeing she was about to remove the jewelry, he quickly stepped up to help, "Wife, I’m very understanding."

Understanding? More like good at removing clothes. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

In such a good atmosphere, Zhou Jiao didn’t want to dwell on those problems anymore. A lifelong partnership requires mutual tolerance and care.