After work, walking out of the compound gate with her colleagues, Zhou Jiao lifted her head to look at the sky, squeezed Jin Lijuan’s right hand before letting go.
The two of them exchanged an encouraging smile.
So people, so things, everything is understood without being said. There are always kind-hearted people hidden in this world; otherwise, how could true feelings survive.
In much better spirits, Zhou Jiao cheerfully boarded the bus. Seeing young people giving up their seats to the elderly and to pregnant won, she pressed her lips together and smiled.
Halfway along, the bus stopped at a station. Not far away, in a hutong, a crowd of young people had gathered; angry shouts and sobbing drifted over...
Compared to the curious passengers craning their necks, Zhou Jiao stood very straight, head held high, not moving at all, yet her gaze inevitably dimd.
At this mont the whole bus was like a silent film; everyone used bodily gestures to express their thoughts. In the quiet carriage, once the driver saw people had finished getting on and off, he quickly sped up to leave.
—Yet no matter how fast he went, after weaving through street after street, alley after alley, everything outside the windows was a sea of red, jubilant as if it were New Year’s.
Not to ntion the streets and alleys plastered all over with propaganda posters.
Beijing, which she hadn’t seen for days, still gave the newly returned Zhou Jiao an extra sense of unfamiliarity, especially all the newly renad stops along the way, which always made her subconsciously compare their anings.
It was now the hour when the setting sun slants westward. Under the afterglow, the hutong, half its walls gilded, half gray, with its blue bricks and vermilion gates, carried three parts charm and seven parts vicissitude.
And on those simple, old wall-tops where history was heavily etched, tufts of wild grass and dense branches stretching beyond the wall were swaying in the wind.
The ancient capital was still the one she knew, and yet it was also a strange ancient capital to her.
She had originally thought of dropping in on her master, but thinking of having to transfer again, she decided it was better to go ho first and ask Zhang Guoqing.
With all the stops and starts, when the familiar terminus finally arrived, Zhou Jiao reined in her mood and once again forced out a faint smile. That ho, she would not allow to be affected by negative emotions.
Three little boys playing with a ball, their father watching with a smile, their mother making tea, and the husband at her side whose face would light up with a grin... At this mont, looking at them, Zhou Jiao’s pessimism scattered and a bright smile blood.
After dinner, unlike their usual post-al chat while cooling off, the family of seven all gathered in the study on the first floor. This was Zhou Xiaozheng’s study, usually used for serious talks.
Even the two little ones knew that what was discussed here was secret and couldn’t be told to outsiders. They sat obediently on the sofa, their eyes fixed on the adults.
Normally Zhou Xiaozheng would start by praising them a bit, but right now he was watching his composed daughter with worry. He had not missed the forced smile on her face the mont she walked through the door.
"Can your body handle it? How about we have you take sick leave?"
Zhou Jiao buried her head against his arm and rubbed it, smiling. "Dad, you don’t have to be so cautious around . Your daughter isn’t so hothouse flower."
Zhou Xiaozheng patted his daughter’s head. "If you’re unhappy, then don’t do it. If you’re really bored and want to work, with your abilities you can always transfer to a quieter unit."
Zhou Jiao looked up and smiled. "Okay, I’ll listen to you. For now I’ll just wait and see."
Hearing her say that, Zhou Xiaozheng felt much more at ease. A wise person knows when to go with the tide. Since his Jiao Jiao said so, she must already have a plan in mind. That was good!
On the side, Miao Lishan frowned, disagreeing. "Wait for what? Every ti it’s either a business trip for months on end or going to work before dawn. Anyone would be worn out. Can that little fra of yours handle it?"
Zhou Jiao knew her mom had misunderstood what she and her dad ant, but she still couldn’t help laughing out loud. She imdiately stood up, flexed her elbows, and showed off proudly.
"All right, you’re just a bamboo pole!"
Zhou Jiao covered her chest in disbelief, staring at her. "Mom, take a good look again. Muscles, these are muscles. The results may not be great yet, but your daughter is strong from head to toe!"
"Right, chicken at, little chick’s chicken at."
With this mother and daughter fooling around, the heaviness that still lingered in the study was swept away by the family’s laughter.
Ping’an hesitated for quite a while, glancing at his mom, wondering whether he should talk to her. A lot had happened outside lately while she was away.
His grandpa had said that so things were for the n to shoulder; his dad had said his mom was sensitive, bad news should be kept from her when possible so she could relax a bit.
But how co he felt that his mom was the smartest of them all, and there was nothing that could be hidden from those eyes of hers? Besides, there were lots of things going on at his school too...
Ai, his dad was right after all—growing up really did an more worries!
With the parents settled, what was left were the three sons. Ping’an was her own flesh and blood, raised personally by her. The mont Zhou Jiao saw that look in her son’s eyes, she knew what he was thinking. But she didn’t intend to bring up other matters in such a warm atmosphere. Behind everyone’s backs, she winked at Ping’an, signaling they would talk later upstairs.
Her parents worried about her, and how could she not worry about them—especially her dad, who wished he could take everything on himself, even feed her her als. The only way to get a bit of inside information was from the well-inford Ping’an.
She wasn’t just boasting about her eldest son. Any little stir in the surroundings couldn’t escape him. The boy knew from a young age how to take advantage of being older, had a sweet mouth, lots of friends, and with his sharp ears, he picked up no small number of secrets just by tagging along.
"...I didn’t go to the old house, just made a trip to the little hill. I went and ca back the sa day. Let’s not talk about this outside, better keep it from Great-Aunt too."
Zhou Xiaozheng understood. He and his daughter had already discussed this issue before she set out; with the disguise, the child’s face wouldn’t be exposed, so he was at ease.
"Mom, more and more people are going to buy things over at Huaihai Old. Luckily you don’t like those shoddy goods, otherwise I’d be stuck in line for ten days half a month."
Zhang Guoqing shot her a aningful smile. Aside from his mother-in-law, probably not even their Liu Yi and May 1st would believe that. With his wife’s hoarding habit like a pixiu, heh...
"There’s nothing we don’t have at ho, what’s the point of buying more. If you like sothing, tell Mom. In the second half of the year the troupe will be going down to the grassroots to perform; there are a few places I might have to lead the team to personally."
Hearing this, Zhou Jiao frowned. "You’re not going to the Northwest in the dead of winter, are you? Mom, you need to train a deputy and delegate more to them. If it weren’t for how much you really like this job, I’d already be thinking of having you transfer departnts."
Miao Lishan gave her a glare. "Save it! I just like this line of work. If I went to another departnt, with no place I know well, I’d be afraid people might try to trip up."
Zhou Jiao laughed. "Fine, you’re right. Anyway, if you get tired of it, just quit."
"Everything’s a ss outside these days; the troupe is still the quietest place. Your mom knows exactly what she’s capable of; if I did sothing else, I wouldn’t be able to manage, and I might even cause trouble for your dad."
Obsession—this was her obsession. When it ca to her dad, all her IQ went straight to the top. But as long as her mom liked it, that was what mattered. Who doesn’t have their own pursuits and hobbies!
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