After Zhang Guoqing left, Zhou Xiaozheng walked to the front of the bed. Seeing his grandson lying there quietly, he leaned over to take a closer look and gently picked up Ping’an. He examined Ping’an’s little clothes, checked the thickness of the small quilt, wrapped him in his military coat, and observed his grandson’s complexion closely. Only when he was sure Ping’an was comfortable did he breathe a sigh of relief.
"His nickna is Ping’an, right? Hmm, that’s a good na. When I left back then, Jiao Jiao was just this big, even cuter than Little Ping’an. She pursed her tiny lips, small and delicate, didn’t cry or make a fuss, unlike the kids in the military family compound who cried loudly late at night, making it hard for their parents to rest. Living close to that was really annoying.
Before I left, holding her, I thought I could return before she started speaking, hoping to hear her call ’Dad.’ Who would have thought it would be a whole 17 years, a full 17 years, without being by her side, watching her learn to talk, to walk, not even taking her to school for a day, never carrying her, nor personally helping her choose a partner. So much was missed. Shanshan, we let our daughter down, but luckily our Jiao Jiao stumbled and grew up well.
Jiao Jiao, Dad let you down, the one I’m most sorry for is you. When you were born, Dad was excited, wanting to give you the best in the world, for you to be as carefree and happy as a little princess, but in the end, you still suffered greatly."
"No suffering, just seeing you safe and sound, I’m grateful. I always thought even if you ca back missing an arm or leg, it would be fine as long as you returned. That way, I’d have a complete family.
Now I finally see you back, whole and intact. I’m filled with gratitude. Dad, don’t feel guilty. Things beyond your control, situations that couldn’t be helped, you didn’t purposely abandon . I’ve always rembered that you’re a soldier, and I’ve always been proud of you.
But I still want to tell you, Dad, it’s so good to see you, I finally have a dad." Zhou Jiao couldn’t suppress the joy in her heart, a wide smile on her face.
Secretly, she told herself that she was no longer a fatherless child, no longer the jinx that Huang Zhaodi called her. Over two lifetis, she finally had a loving father who filled the gap in her heart.
Thinking of Huang Zhaodi brought to mind all the ssy affairs of the Zhou family. She glanced secretly at her mother, wondering if she had told her father about the things at her grandpa’s house. But she couldn’t bring herself to speak of it. Her father showed no reaction, never ntioning her paternal grandparents; she wasn’t a match for her father.
Zhou Xiaozheng, constantly attentive to his daughter, noticed her turmoil, furrowing his brows slightly while discreetly keeping a watchful eye on her. She had learned to read expressions and found it hard to speak up about certain things. It was probably related to her paternal grandparents and uncle’s ssy business, fearing he might hold it against them. His Jiao Jiao was steady, not rushing to complain.
Zhou Xiaozheng was concerned with her current life, leaving the past to be handled later. He didn’t want his daughter to worry about family issues, ensuring those people would stay far from her sight, preventing any emotional scars or constant concern about them holding her back.
"Now that we’re alone, tell Dad, have your in-laws caused you any grievances? Have Zhang Guoqing’s two sisters-in-law made things difficult for you, bossed you around with work? Is there enough food at ho, are you working in the fields? Since your household registration isn’t in the village, there’s no grain allocation. Have they been deliberately harsh on you? Why are you so thin, as if a gust of wind could blow you away? Not eating enough? Or afraid to eat? Does Zhang Guoqing treat you well? Does he boss you around like a domineering man?
If there’s been any grievance, tell Dad. Dad’s back now and can take you away imdiately. Don’t worry about reputation or anything; nobody should interfere with how you live. Dad can support you and will ensure you’re well-fed and thriving." Zhou Xiaozheng spoke in rapid succession, looking at her intently, fearing this silly girl would keep her concerns to herself, afraid to complain.
Though Zhou Xiaozheng had heard from his father-in-law and wife about the Zhang family’s kindness, and he knew Zhang Dayou and his wife to be straightforward and honest, he couldn’t entirely rest easy.
Growing up in the countryside, he was familiar with all these rural matters, watching grandmothers dominate daughters-in-law in both overt and covert ways. Don’t underestimate those without formal education, because in life, being uneducated doesn’t an lacking tricks; they’re passed down through generations, seen and learned.
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