Chapter 988: Chapter 860: Return to the Homeland

In life, one cannot choose their birth or escape the malice that fate bestows, but as long as the fire burns within the heart, what you want and seek can always be partially realized.

Zhang Guoqing tries to let his three sons personally experience and cherish the world outside the Big Courtyard, vastly different from what they know.

He doesn’t know how to teach children, but he wants his sons to see with their own eyes, learn to be grateful, recognize the world’s injustices, and become strong.

In adversity, think more about how nine out of ten times, life doesn’t go as planned, but those less fortunate are still living well and striving to survive; in moments of success, don’t forget what you’ve seen and heard, and remember that extreme prosperity can lead to decline, just a step away.

Zhou Jiao’s return made him overjoyed. It’s always comforting to have your wife by your side. It’s good to have someone who understands and with whom you can discuss things.

"Mom, did you buy gifts? Is your salary enough? Do I need to hand over my New Year’s money?" Ping’an hugged Zhou Jiao’s neck, not forgetting his frugal nature after being happy, and incidentally offering some sweets.

"Mom, I want a hug."

Compared to Liu Yi, Wu Yi silently squeezed into Zhou Jiao’s embrace, rubbing his little head against her.

"Where’s this little puppy from?" Zhou Jiao teased her youngest son, stretching her arms to hug her three sons. Each of them is her favorite, and she can’t bear to neglect any of them.

"Mom, I miss you so much."

Zhou Jiao looked at her three sons with a smile, "Mom misses you all too, always thinking and thinking, and then I saw this, hmm, my treasures would like it; and saw that, hmm, my treasures would like that too. So, I didn’t realize it, but I bought a lot."

"Mom, I love you the most."

The three brothers spoke in unison, giving Zhou Jiao a big dose of sweetness, making her laugh heartily.

Zhang Guoqing, standing nearby, let out a nasal sound, "Hmm?"

"Dad, we love you the most too."

Happy days always pass quickly, as the twins started learning to flip through little comics, children’s books, and understand the Thirty-Six Stratagems.

In the blink of an eye, the spring of ’66 arrived.

This year, Zhou Jiao’s family didn’t return to their hometown, while Mr. Zhang and Mother Zhang were busy contributing their remaining warmth to street work. They were not after salaries, writing in letters that they liked the feeling of contributing to the country.

The thoughts of the older generation, Zhou Jiao and Zhang Guoqing didn’t understand but could empathize with. Besides sending more money and writing letters with family photos, the rest of their support could only be spiritual.

During this period, their eldest nephew Zhang Ziwen also wrote several letters. In July last year, before graduating, Zhang Guoqing sought his intentions and then arranged for him to work in the finance office of the county post office.

To have such treatment with three years of vocational school is rare, not only because of his consistently excellent academic performance but also because joining such a department is uncommon.

No wonder the child is close to Zhang Guoqing. His growth seems to exceed Xi Zi in many ways. He has autonomy, principles, and most importantly, he understands the responsibility of being the eldest son.

Isn’t the provincial city good? So many people long for big cities, yet he wrote saying he wants to establish a foundation first and then see if opportunities arise. He wants to take steady steps, one step at a time.

Zhou Jiao admired these words as well. Her eldest sister-in-law finally made it through, and last year’s high school graduate Zhang Ziwu followed his big brother and started working in the supply and marketing cooperative.

Next in line were sixteen-year-old Zhang Zicong and eleven-year-old Yaya. With just one more younger, their family could probably manage it themselves.

As for her second sister-in-law’s children Zhang Meihao, the three children were still little Doudings, so there’s nothing to worry about regarding changes in the situation.

However, as for Old Zhang’s family... 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Zhou Jiao could foresee a wave of trouble coming soon.

Zhang Guofu’s family, with both Left and Right brothers turning sixteen, if they hear they can’t attend college anymore, no doubt, Huang Cuilan would be the first to oppose continuing high school.

Next, her mother-in-law would oppose the children enlisting in the military.

In doing so, the issue would fall back on Zhang Guoqing. And if Zhang Guoqing suggests that the two nephews continue their education, upon graduating high school in two years, Huang Cuilan would be the first to target him.

Zhou Jiao didn’t want to bear the burden of making tailored clothes for others, let alone with such a mother-in-law, risking her family’s safety to arrange for her nephews, providing others a handle? Impossible!

Not to mention arranging two jobs, even one would not only incur a debt of gratitude but also require her own money for a thank-you gift. Whose money is scraped together easily?

Zhou Jiao didn’t dare to dwell on this matter now because not just being out of town would suffice; Mr. Zhang would surely write to consult, and Zhang Guoqing would also be concerned about his nephews.

These thoughts, Zhou Jiao never shared with Zhang Guoqing. Knowing it could bring risks and crisis to their family, she believed that at the right time, Zhang Guoqing understood the importance.

Different from the military’s non-involvement in these matters, in April, dark clouds pressed down on the city, unrest brewing among people, even the doorman at the unit was as skittish as a bird startled by the mere twang of a bowstring, giving Zhou Jiao a feeling of relief that it finally came.

She began to adopt an attitude that silence is golden, spending time after work thinking with her three sons. In this family, as long as her father remained standing, they wouldn’t be in danger; it was the three young children who were most vulnerable to being led astray by others with hidden intentions.

She had no choice but to press the children, even instructing Doctor Hu with numerous reminders, pausing her weekend hospital internship.

Stay low-key, mind less business—these became the most frequent words in the house during this period. And to Zhou Jiao’s surprise, the twins’ usual aggressive nature seemed to change overnight.

She felt both a heartache and a bittersweetness, but more often, she was more comforted.

The biggest change in the world outside? It was that as the social commentary heated up, the tone and language became increasingly harsh, with various alarming articles appearing in newspapers daily.

As May started, seeing her father frequently participating in meetings, Zhou Jiao stopped closely reading these articles or trying to analyze their intents.

Instead, Zhang Guoqing became more composed. Unlike Zhou Jiao’s calmness, he truly felt relieved. Since the start of last year, when the occasional pre-warm-up practice led to familiar faces falling one by one, he was really worried about his father-in-law being implicated. Now, it’s fine; his family was unaffected, and clarity would soon follow.

"Wife, I’m here!"

That promise carried so much, but it reassured Zhou Jiao. Indeed, with him there, a lot of the future which couldn’t be revealed to her father, but he was right beside her.

Zhou Jiao had no idea that with Zhou Xiaozheng’s ability, how could he not analyze the two possible eventual developments of the current situation? But how could he bear to let his only daughter worry over such matters?

For him, having lived over forty years, what upheavals hadn’t he gone through? Wasn’t it always an inspection here or there, all of which turned into inconsequential matters?

Unfortunately, this time, like his old superior, he misjudged many things. Once certain matters deviated from their course, the outcome was beyond anyone’s control.