Chapter 968: Chapter 841: Gathering in the Northeast 1

The couple went to work step by step, spent their spare time with family, and squeezed in trips out to Jingjiao to collect supplies. After attending Li Qinglin and Hu Xiaohui’s wedding, the weather gradually turned cold.

Compared with previous years, there were now the two of them added to the household registration booklet, and all kinds of rations and work-unit benefits had increased a lot. And with Ping’an becoming a glorious little primary school student, and the twins starting nursery, their peaceful, comfortable days suddenly began to pass in the blink of an eye.

In the twinkling of an eye, the year’s end was approaching.

Aside from Zhao Yuanyuan and her husband, even Zhao Dashan personally called to invite Zhou Xiaozheng and his family to come back to the old home in the Northeast for a drink at the wedding feast if they had time.

It just so happened that Zhou Xiaozheng had to travel on business to the Northeast Military District, so in the midst of his busy schedule, the whole family started asking for leave or shifting shifts.

Finally, on the twentieth day of the twelfth lunar month at year’s end, he took the whole clan and boarded the military train heading to the Northeast.

It really was a whole clan, even the auntie was brought along, and together with the guards assigned to protect Zhou Xiaozheng, the scene was so imposing that even Zhou Jiao was a bit speechless.

After they reached the provincial city, there was even a special car sent to pick them up. Seeing the welcoming crowd, she really regretted coming back this time. With such a formation going into the county, she would once again become the talk of others, which for her was not a good thing. She hadn’t forgotten what jealousy looked like.

Just like his daughter, Zhou Xiaozheng didn’t like all these formalities either. But for safety’s sake, he wouldn’t refuse the rights he was entitled to.

He agreed with a few old comrades who had come to meet them that they’d first go back to the county, and then come back for the meeting tomorrow morning. So with three military vehicles escorting them, the group went straight to the county.

Over in the county, Mother Zhang and Mr. Zhang had received the telegram yesterday, and early this morning they had started preparing dishes, just waiting for them to come home. They waited and waited until almost afternoon before they finally saw anyone—at last, the wait was over.

But when he saw a row of soldiers standing guard outside the door, Mr. Zhang seemed a little at a loss and couldn’t help looking at his second son. They were home—what was all this?

Seeing this, Zhang Guoqing almost burst out laughing. He lowered his voice and said, "There are too many of us, we’re going straight to stay at the guesthouse. When it’s quieter later someone will explain it to you."

Mr. Zhang could only nod and pull Zhou Xiaozheng into the house. Asking his second son was not as good as asking this Brother Zhou. From the looks of it, it seemed, as if this in-law had been promoted again.

The distant relatives of Old Zhang’s family who had come over to join in the fun, but arrived a step too late, and usually tried to climb the connection, now saw the soldiers at the door and didn’t dare to step forward.

If in the past they had still thought of Zhang Guoqing and Zhou Jiao as juniors they could lean on to make demands, then at this moment they clearly understood what a gap was.

Just like the two Huang brothers from the Huang Family, Huang Yaozong and the other one, this time they had braved the goose-feather snow with the original intention of meeting Zhang Guoqing and tightening the relationship. Now their hearts had turned cold!

It had to be said, sometimes power really is a good thing; it scared off quite a few little schemes.

Knowing nothing of this, Mother Zhang just kept pulling her younger sister Miao Lishan along, circling her three grandsons and chatting, beaming as she watched her two daughters-in-law serve dishes and pour wine.

Not far away, Zhou Xiaozheng was issuing an invitation. "Second Brother, you and Second Sister-in-law pack a couple of changes of clothes and come stay at the guesthouse with us for a few days."

"I’ll pass. I’ll go over in the daytime and come home at night to sleep, it’s not that far anyway."

"Cut it out. Since when are you being formal with me?" Zhou Xiaozheng gave him a sidelong glance. "Don’t you want to chat with your precious son? Don’t you want to spend more time with Ping’an and those three little rascals?"

"Those officials will definitely come looking for you. It’s not appropriate for me to be around." Mr. Zhang cheerfully changed the subject. "How many days can you stay this time?" 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Hearing this, Zhou Xiaozheng nodded inwardly.

"Xiao Wu swapped shifts with his coworkers to come this time, just for three to five days. After we drink Dashan’s wedding wine, he has to rush back the night after tomorrow."

"That fast..." Mr. Zhang looked around at everyone, reluctant to part.

"If you think it’s too fast, then you and Second Sister-in-law should come with us."

Mr. Zhang shook his head. "We still have to offer sacrifices to the ancestors at year’s end, and in the first month of next year both girls have to come back to their parents’ home. Even if I wanted to leave now, I couldn’t."

Zhou Xiaozheng shook his head speechlessly. Was this showing off how many kids he had?

On the side, hearing this, Mother Zhang quietly asked Miao Lishan, "Little Sister, isn’t the train in the morning? How come you’re leaving the day after tomorrow—why not leave early the following morning?"

Miao Lishan answered with a smile, "Xiao Wu only just started work; it’s not good to delay too long. The day after tomorrow, once the child’s father finishes his meeting, we’ll just take the military train back with him."

Since this concerned her son’s career prospects, Mother Zhang didn’t dare ask them to stay a few more days.

"Big Sister, if you don’t go to Beijing at the end of the year, then come in the spring. Our Jiao Jiao is away from home; she can’t properly show her filial piety to you." This was a line Old Mrs. Cheng had told her to say.

According to Old Mrs. Cheng, whether or not the old couple of the Zhang Family came to Beijing, they as in-laws had to extend the invitation. After all, their most beloved youngest son was practically like a live-in son-in-law, long stationed at the Zhou Family. They mustn’t let them feel like their son no longer belonged to them.

Miao Lishan felt the old lady made a lot of sense. Such a good son-in-law had been brought up by the in-laws; she had to be extra careful in maintaining the relationship between the two families.

"Hahaha, our Jiao Jiao hasn’t forgotten to be filial to her dad and me," Mother Zhang said happily, looking at Zhou Jiao. "Even when she’s not by our side, this child is always thinking of us."

Miao Lishan praised, "That’s also because you and Big Brother treat her so well. Her grandaunt always says our Jiao Jiao is blessed; you couldn’t find another mother-in-law as good as you in this world. Before I came, the old lady told me to take a look at how you’re doing and to lend a hand if you run into anything."

Zhou Jiao glanced at her mother in amusement. Say any more and it would sound fake. If they ran into someone scheming, wouldn’t they just climb up that ladder to ask for a job or money?

When Zhao Dashan got the message and hurried over, he rushed in, happily throwing his arms around Zhou Xiaozheng. "Brother Zheng, I finally get to see you. Why didn’t you come to my place first?"

"I arranged to drink with Ah Guang and the others tonight," Zhou Xiaozheng patted his shoulder and said with a smile. "How do you feel, marrying off a daughter?"

From the side, Zhang Guoqing chimed in with a teasing comment, "After painstakingly growing a nice big Chinese cabbage, it’s been rooted up by a pig. My Uncle Dashan must be crying his eyes out."

His words made Zhao Dashan roar with laughter. "Isn’t that just it."

As he spoke, he released Zhou Xiaozheng and looked Zhang Guoqing up and down in his military uniform. "You finally picked the right road!"

"I still have to thank Uncle Dashan."

Zhang Guoqing understood what he meant and was all the more grateful for the effort he had put into him. Otherwise, his father-in-law would never have given him such face and come all this way to offer congratulations.

"Thank me for what!" Zhao Dashan said dismissively with a laugh. "How is it at the unit?"

"Pretty good. They’re not as impressive as you, Uncle, but they look after the younger generation well enough." Zhang Guoqing shifted the topic. "Anything at home you need my help with?"

Zhao Dashan clapped his hands. "There really is! Tomorrow, on the wedding day proper, are you going over there or staying with me?"

This had already been discussed before they came: it might not be appropriate for Zhou Xiaozheng and the others to show up at the banquet, so tomorrow Zhang Guoqing and his wife would go in their place.

Zhang Guoqing smiled. "I won’t go over there to join the fun; it’s more fitting for me to be Yuanyuan’s older brother. I’ll go over tonight to give the gift, and tomorrow I’ll stay here."

Zhou Xiaozheng checked the time. "I’ll have Xiao Wang drive you over later. Come back early to have a few drinks with your dad and your Uncle Dashan."

Since everything was settled, once they’d finished their noodles and it was already getting late, Zhang Guoqing didn’t want to waste time. He took the gifts and the cash, got in the car, and headed for the commune.