Northeast Zhou Family Village, Zhou Xiaozheng walked out of the courtyard and waved goodbye to the old lady at the gate.
At this ti, there weren’t many people walking in the village; those who needed to work had gone to work. Even the elderly and children were busy earning work points to supplent the household. This is also why the Zhou Family had poor relations in the village; there were both envious and disdainful feelings towards them, and coupled with the fact that the elder branch of the Zhou Family liked to show off everywhere, no one wanted to smile back at a cold face.
At the village entrance, looking at the fork in the road ahead, Zhou Xiaozheng glanced at his son-in-law who was following closely behind, "Accompany to the town, we won’t need a bicycle. Just the two of us can have a chat."
Zhang Guoqing nodded and after thinking for a mont, asked, "Dad, are you planning to handle this impartially, or do you want to consider grandma again? I’m afraid she’ll be upset."
Zhou Xiaozheng said indifferently, "There’s nothing to feel bad about. Mistakes have consequences. Besides, you still need to stay here for two more years, to prevent them from causing trouble for my Jiao Jiao. This is the least of it. If not for the old lady still being around, even execution wouldn’t be unwarranted. They’ve been locked up for three to five years, and by then, my Jiao Jiao will have gone to Beijing. Once they’re out, they’re inconsequential. With a criminal record, Jiao Jiao can deal with them however she pleases in the future."
Zhang Guoqing looked amusedly at this daughter-concerned father, "Dad, thank you. You truly cherish Jiao Jiao. It’s for the best; handling them has always been tricky for us. Jiao Jiao is too soft-hearted, always wavering for fear of upsetting you or grandma, leaving decisions unmade."
Zhou Xiaozheng looked at him expressionlessly, lifted his chin slightly, and said proudly, "Hmm, you don’t need to thank , she is my daughter. Even married to you, she’s still my daughter, we are the closest, not you. Tell , how is my Jiao Jiao usually? What did you see in her?"
Zhang Guoqing smiled at his words, and said as he walked, "In my eyes, Jiao Jiao is a very unusual girl. From a young age, she was different. As a little girl, she wouldn’t play or make noise like other girls. She was always neat and clean, just sitting quietly watching others play. When amused, she’d smile slightly; when upset, she’d just stare silently. I’ve never seen her get angry or raise her voice.
On the surface, she was friendly with everyone in the village, but I knew she didn’t really consider them friends. Many people were inconsequential in her eyes; they never reached her heart. She just seed to wander outside of everyone else’s lives.
When looking for her as a child, she was either in the small chapel or by the corner of the big tree at the village entrance, just staring at the distance in a daze. If you asked her, she wouldn’t say anything, just smile at you. Petite, soft as a kitten, thin as skin and bones, but she’d never try to please partners or fight for food like other kids. Sneaking her an egg, at four years old, she’d shake her head and refuse. Watching my mother scold the parents of kids who bullied us, she’d look enviously for a mont, then quickly lower her head. At four years old, she’d already contemplate, telling that my mother would be sad if she shared with her. She’d secretly inform to stay away from certain people to avoid being taken advantage of. By five, she’d instruct on what to do to make people like .
At that ti, we were each other’s only friends. She occasionally comforted secretly, advising not to get angry with irrelevant people and just ignore them. When she grew up and went to school, in crowds, she’d keep smiling no matter what she heard, without the chatter of other girls or the wild running and jumping like other silly girls, just quietly listening, her eyes darting, not seriously listening to others. When asked, she’d reply with just a smile, offering no answers. If no one spoke to her, she’d walk alone quietly, not feeling excluded, her expression relaxed, smiling happily.
Her studies were easy, as she had an excellent mory, usually morizing after one or two readings, yet she’d always claim she already knew it before when asked. She loved to keep things to herself and never boasted. Even when others praised her, she only smiled slightly.
After turning twelve, she had even fewer friends. Others didn’t seek her out, and she never sought them out either. She was simply absorbed in reading, reading anything, but her excellent mory left her in a daze afterward. Her world seed entirely built on reading and solitary contemplation. As she grew up, she even stopped sharing things with , keeping it all inside. When I pushed her, she’d reluctantly speak a few sentences, but pressing further, she’d keep quiet. She never talked about herself or others, very headstrong, with her ideas, rational and seldom swayed by emotions.
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