Zhou Xiaozheng took the gifts and left with Zhang Guoqing, went to the new courtyard nearby to greet Mr. Zhang and Zhang Dayou, exchanged a few words, and took their leave.
As they entered the Zhou Family Village from the bridgehead, he occasionally asked questions along the way and roughly understood the situation in the village. The Zhou Family was facing difficulties, and many villagers curiously eyed them from the fields in the distance. The news of his return seed to have spread. If the team leader hadn’t consented, they would have surrounded them already.
The new production team leader, Zhou Xiaobin, was a rural man in his thirties. He had been following Zhou Zhengxiao since childhood, and their relationship was very close. When Zhou Jiao was in Zhou Family Village, he and his wife cared for her quite a bit.
He instructed the others and ran towards them, laughing loudly, "Second brother, you finally returned. I said it, I said how could you beco a martyr. With your skills and brains, soone letting you suffer must be really formidable. Bro,
have you seen your grandson yet? I haven’t even seen him yet. You must be here to see your old man, right? You better have a good talk. If it weren’t for your son-in-law protecting Jiao Jiao since childhood, this kid would have been chewed to the bone.
I couldn’t even help. Jiao Jiao keeps things to herself and doesn’t tell us. Second brother, it all happened right under my nose, and I didn’t protect your daughter. Second brother, just give a beating." His voice grew softer, guilt-ridden, as he looked at him with red eyes.
Zhou Xiaozheng gave him a playful punch and looked at him with amusent, "Alright, don’t act like a woman. Have a drink with when you have ti, and tell about the village situation. I’ll take my son-in-law back to have a look first. You go ahead and get busy, everyone’s watching."
"Alright, then you go on back, I won’t accompany you. If your old man sees ... I’ll find you after work. Xiao Wu, take good care of your father-in-law, and tell your dad I’ll be at your house for a drink tonight, prepare a few extra dishes."
"Okay, uncle, you and aunty should co over too; Jiao Jiao was just talking about you guys a few days ago."
As they walked into the Old Zhou Family Courtyard, in the Zhou Family Village, the Zhou Family Courtyard was very noticeable. Besides the toppled landlord’s residence, only the Zhou Family’s blue-brick houses stood prominently on the eastern side of the village.
The large courtyard was relatively clean. The Zhou Family did not raise pigs, as they disliked the sll, and a few chickens were kept in the back yard. No one was in the courtyard, so Zhou Xiaozheng didn’t call out; he went straight to the main room.
Old Sir Zhou probably hadn’t heard that Zhou Xiaozheng returned; he was alone on the kang flipping through a book. Hearing the noise, he lifted his head in shock and imdiately sat up, dropping the book on the floor, stamring, "You, you, you’re not dead, you’re really not dead, didn’t they say you died?"
Zhang Guoqing raised an eyebrow, glanced at the old man, then at his father-in-law. Their expressions were odd, extrely odd, especially the old man, who should have been tearfully overjoyed, calling out excitedly, joyfully that his son had returned alive.
Mrs. Zhou from the adjacent room heard the commotion, ca out, saw Zhou Xiaozheng, and disbelief wiped her eyes. She imdiately waddled over with her small feet, hugging the tall Zhou Xiaozheng tightly with her small fra, touching his lowered face, crying out, "Little Zheng, my Little Zheng, you’re really alive, you’ve really co back, your mother feared she wouldn’t see you alive. Little Zheng, my Little Zheng, how could you be so heartless to leave your mother without a word, no news at all? How could I believe my Little Zheng just left like that, how could he just be gone like that? My Little Zheng was smart from a young age, always avoiding danger. How could he just be gone... I don’t believe it, you haven’t even appeared in my dreams. Little Zheng, I knew you’d be alive, I even had a fortune teller say you’d live a long life..."
Zhou Xiaozheng held his mother, struggling to hold back tears, his eyes red, consoling her, "Mom, your son is back, really back. Look at , I’m fine. Mom, don’t get excited, take a breath, I’ll put you on the kang, and we’ll talk slowly, your son will keep you company as we talk."
Zhou Xiaozheng carried the old lady to the kang to rest, took the cup Zhang Guoqing handed over, fed his mother a few sips of water, and only after seeing her calm down did he relax and breathe a sigh of relief.
Mrs. Zhou clutched his clothes tightly, looking at him greedily, alternating between crying and laughing, only calling out blessings from heaven. Just to be sure, she touched his body again, only relaxing upon confirming he was unhard.
"Good, it’s good that you’re back. Have you seen your wife? Have you gone to see Jiao Jiao? I haven’t gone to see Jiao Jiao, has she taken good care during her confinent, is the baby okay? Have you seen your daughter and grandson? By the way, you haven’t eaten, have you? Mom will make you so noodles and poach so slightly runny eggs for you, just the way you like."
Zhou Xiaozheng quickly held down the old lady about to get up, "Mom, I’ve eaten before coming back, don’t rush to get up, let’s just sit and talk for a while. Shanshan ca back with , she has errands today, I brought Xiao Wu along. Jiao Jiao’s in-laws are building a house, I’m afraid they’re short-handed, so she’s staying to help Jiao Jiao, we’ll co together another ti to see you.
Jiao Jiao and the baby are fine, it’s just Jiao Jiao’s too thin, just skin and bones. This ti, let her properly recuperate, this child was raised very well by you, so obedient and sensible. When she saw , she cried and laughed, specially asked to tell you to visit her when you can, she misses you."
"Hum..." Old Sir Zhou grunted. Everyone heard but pretended not to, knowing his dissatisfaction.
Mrs. Zhou glanced at him but ignored him, speaking to Zhou Xiaozheng, "How long are you staying this ti? Handle your affairs first, I am always ho, co see when you’re free. Mom is quite alright now, no need to worry. Xiao Wu, take your father-in-law to the county, he might not recognize the roads after all these years."
Zhang Guoqing smiled at her, "Grandma, don’t worry. Dad knows the way. You should visit Jiao Jiao when you’re free, she’s always talking about you. How’s your health lately? These are so donkey-hide gelatin that Jiao Jiao asked to bring you, start with these. Jiao Jiao said she’ll send so gelatin cakes after she’s made them. Those are convenient, you can just dissolve them in hot water. But Grandma, do you think Jiao Jiao can make donkey-hide gelatin? Haha, she said she’ll show us after her confinent."
Mrs. Zhou nodded with a smile, saying to them, "Jiao Jiao is very clever, reciting the formula song by age three, and could feel the pulse by age five. Unfortunately, I only roughly understand acupuncture and couldn’t teach her. Making donkey-hide gelatin is no problem for Jiao Jiao. Just prepare the materials for her, and she can manage."
Old Sir Zhou coughed a few tis. Seeing everyone quiet down, he spoke with a stern face, "Xiao Zheng, this ti you’ve co back, are you bringing back your brother and them? It was all his wife’s muddle-headedness, making it known everywhere, causing others to laugh at our family. Jiao Jiao, that child is also at fault, so temperantal. Couldn’t she talk to privately? I could have stood up for her and got back her belongings.
Now, everyone knows. Others might think that our Old Zhou Family mistreats her. We raised her, if not with accomplishnts, then with hardships. Her aunt did her wrong, but does that an her uncle did too? The eldest’s four kids grew up under my nose and didn’t squabble with her, only Zhou Xue has a childish temper, but Jiao Jiao insisted on pursuing it completely. They’re close sisters, did it have to co to this? Her cousins never offended her, but now they’re too afraid to stay in the village and have gone back to their mothers’. What kind of daughter do you have? The face of the Zhou Family has been torn down by her. You must talk to her properly this ti."
Zhang Guoqing’s face darkened upon hearing this. Out of respect for his father-in-law and the fact the other was an elder, otherwise, he would have punched him, never having seen such a shaless old man.
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