Chapter 943: Chapter 816: When Grain Is Cheap, Farmers Suffer

Compared to Zhou Jiao, Zhang Guoqing felt as if he was walking into his own backyard with ease. Many of the older acquaintances he had gotten to know were through his father-in-law, Zhou Xiaozheng.

While Zhou Jiao spent almost two hours on her arrival, Zhang Guoqing finished his paperwork in half an hour, with an additional half hour for casual chatting.

That’s why after finishing his registration and digging in the mud at home, Zhang Guoqing became increasingly anxious as he kept an eye on the time. Nearing eleven o’clock, he nearly went to the planning committee to fetch her.

Finally, Zhou Jiao arrived, albeit somewhat tardily.

"Wife, it’s twelve o’clock already. Why did it take so long when it’s just a few steps? Did someone make trouble for you? Maybe you should work somewhere else? I think working with your cousin could be nice..."

Zhou Jiao glanced at him amusedly and handed her work ID from her pocket.

Zhang Guoqing glanced at the ID and inspected her face earnestly. His wife was introverted and not very social, with extremely sensitive thoughts. Did someone say something?

In the living room, Zhou Xiaozheng, who was waiting for his daughter to come back for dinner, heard the commotion and saw a fool endlessly asking questions around his daughter.

If his wife hadn’t called them in for dinner, he’d have wanted to watch the drama. Love makes one lose reason; in the presence of his wife and child, Zhang Guoqing always misbehaves due to his Achilles’ heel. Should he correct him or just let it be?

Zhou Xiaozheng found being a father-in-law increasingly difficult, especially when nurturing a son-in-law to succeed one’s daughter makes it even harder! If it were his son, he would’ve taken care of this foolish boy long ago.

At the dining table, Zhou Jiao ate while broadly recounting the morning’s events. When she mentioned the relationships involving three colleagues, even Lin Lishan almost laughed out loud.

Zhou Xiaozheng always focused on the key points, "You didn’t encounter those few?"

"There were quite a few people coming in and out, so I deliberately avoided them." Zhou Jiao wrinkled her nose, "In case they called me Zhou Faraway girl, I’d have to go over and greet them. It’s too conspicuous when I just arrived."

Zhou Xiaozheng nodded understandingly, giving her a sidelong glance. That’s more like his Jiao! Hide it; those who need to know already know her background.

Zhou Jiao stuck out her tongue and laughed, "Dad, I think this job is quite leisurely. Why do they have time requirements? I told them I have three sons to arrange, and they agreed again. Am I really sought after? Are they afraid I won’t go?"

Listening to his daughter’s joke, Zhou Xiaozheng responded seriously, "Of course! If you don’t go, they’ll lose a talent. Your Uncle Shi said you were almost taken by the secretariat, but he helped you by taking the pressure. You’ll have to go there tomorrow, don’t forget."

Going there again? Zhou Jiao blinked her eyes incredulously, looked at him, and then at Zhang Guoqing and Lin Lishan, took a sip of soup, and cleared her throat, "Dad, not a joke?"

Zhou Xiaozheng finally laughed out loud, "Silly girl, don’t worry about going; Dad won’t let you be taken advantage of."

Zhou Jiao thought about it too. That little notebook was still in her hands. Could she get two paychecks? Thinking of this, she winked at Zhang Guoqing.

Zhang Guoqing chuckled, shook his head, and looked nervously at his father-in-law. Hopefully, it’s not another temporary assignment, like a secret trip abroad or participating in some major event.

Zhou Xiaozheng curled his lips and subtly shook his head towards him.

Seeing this, Zhang Guoqing felt relieved, looking at his happy wife, and joking, "Level 22 or 23?"

Oh gosh, she remembers her husband advised her last night. Even if she was caught off guard, Zhou Jiao seriously observed it. Excitedly, she showed her fingers, "Level 22, no need for a year, I’m already directly regular."

"Amazing! Come, clear this bowl of soup!" Zhang Guoqing raised his thumb with his left hand and picked up his soup bowl with his right.

The gesture brought bursts of laughter from the family, and everyone raised their soup bowls to toast.

At the Cheng Family, since Eldest Cheng, Cheng Sijin, and his wife went to the Southwest with their children boarding at school, running to their parents during holidays, it undoubtedly left the old couple behind, making the home increasingly quiet.

Just finished lunch, Old Mrs. Cheng couldn’t spare a moment for rest; she greeted her husband and hurried over to the Zhou Family intending to hear how the kids did today.

As soon as she entered the Zhou Family courtyard, she heard a group laughing heartily. Oh dear, it must be good news. Thinking of this, the old lady felt very happy.

She quickened her steps inside, smiling, "Was everything handled smoothly?"

Ping’an quickly put down his bowl and chopsticks and ran up, "Great-grandma, everything’s taken care of. Did you drink lotus root ribs soup today? Was it good? I told Grandma Chen you would definitely like it, right?"

"It was good, Great-grandma had two full bowls of rice. With Great-grandma, do you still have enough to drink?" Old Mrs. Cheng said and motioned the family to continue eating.

"Grandma Chen made a big pot, enough. Great-grandma, if you finish it, let me know. If you like it, I’ll ask Grandma Chen to cook more soup."

"Good! Still, our sweet treasure is so considerate."

Ping’an, praised with a radiant smile, accompanied her to sit on the sofa chatting about family, "Great-grandma, I heard from my buddies that their hometown had a bumper harvest this year. Then everyone won’t be short of food, and won’t go hungry, right?"

Old Mrs. Cheng really didn’t know, "Really? Then that’s wonderful. I’ll let someone inquire later. I’ll let you know if there’s news, okay?"

Aunt Chen, bringing out tea, heard and said softly, "Yesterday, Ping’an asked me, and I inquired a bit. I heard this year is better than last year, and now cornmeal at the farm market is just a dime without food stamps."

Zhou Jiao looked at Zhang Guoqing in astonishment. If she didn’t remember wrong, at the beginning of the year, Captain Qian said there was pork, but people were too afraid of starvation to sell staple grains.

Did she misunderstand?

Zhang Guoqing looked at them and spoke softly, "With two consecutive years of private land yield, most people are reluctant to sell or eat it. This year has great weather, another bumper year, with accumulated stocks and surplus; once someone starts selling, the crowd psychology kicks in, very likely."

Zhou Jiao sighed inwardly; summed up, low grain prices hurt farmers. Considering the farm market’s imminent closure and reclaiming of private land in a couple of years...

Aunt Chen saw them get up after finishing their meal and quickly pulled Zhou Jiao aside, "Just a few bowls, let me clean up. Go play mud with the kids."

Zhou Jiao laughed helplessly.

Zhang Guoqing chuckled, pulling her away, whispered, "Have you decided on the soybean price?"

Thinking of the bag of soybeans just brought back, Zhou Jiao really wasn’t sure about the current market, she decided to say they were borrowed when someone asked.

"Go to the farm market tomorrow morning! It really seems heaven is helping our son. Buy, don’t miss a single soybean!"

"Going to Jingjiao won’t help; there’s a bigger population in the city. The further from big cities, the more surplus there is. Especially with the South’s double rice season, now the harvest period is just right."

How could Zhou Jiao not understand his implication? The space lacks nothing; it’s just the excuse to go out and play, isn’t it? She wanted to leave too, but their two youngest sons were at a crucial stage, needing to teach them some things.

"Why don’t we take the kids somewhere closer for them to experience nature?"

"It’s exactly what I want." Zhang Guoqing happily winked at her.