It was a rare fine day, Zhou Jiao went out for a stroll and humd a tune on her way back.
In a good mood, she was just not far from the intersection when she heard there was a telegram for her.
What a double blessing—Zhou Jiao hurried forward and received the telegram from the postman. Upon opening it, as expected, it was from Zhou Xiaozheng. After reading it, she was beaming with joy.
That radiant smile, in the pri of her youth, dressed in a brown cashre coat and a bright red scarf, was a scene of her standing there smiling like a blossoming flower.
The postman couldn’t help but look back repeatedly, and even Mother Zhang, who ca out the door, was delighted to see her.
Mother Zhang knew that most of the telegrams sent to their ho were sent by their in-laws. Seeing her daughter-in-law smile so deeply that even her dimples showed, it had to be great news.
Zhou Jiao cheerfully said, "Mom, my dad said he’s extrely well, which ans very, very good. Great, everyone’s doing well, and that’s truly great."
What she didn’t say was that the main reason for her joy and excitent was that this ant her father was out of danger and her grandmother’s issue had passed smoothly.
"Mom, where are you going? What about Dad?"
Upon hearing that, Mother Zhang also beca happy. She laughed and said, "Your dad went to chat with soone. I didn’t go anywhere, just ca to see if you and Xiao Wu were back."
"Mom, do you want my brother to get your old friends to co over and keep you company?"
Zhou Jiao walked inside with her. Her mother-in-law stayed at ho every day, and the town was not attractive to her, she always thought of returning to the village.
Now, with Zhang Guofu working at the grain station, he earned a quite substantial monthly salary. This official position was obtained by Zhang Guoqing through wise maneuvering, using nurous strategies. Taking advantage of an internal recruitnt opportunity this ti, Eldest Zhang got in legitimately, making the neighbor Old Chen and his wife often co to Zhang Guoqing for advice when they have issues now.
These days, Xi Zi and the others stayed at her house during the day, sotis even overnight. She also had to tutor the three brothers with their howork. There was no choice. With Xi Zi about to transfer schools next year, and Little Zuo You needing to attend school in the town, to keep up with the town’s education progress, Xi Zi and the three brothers could only stay at their house often.
Fortunately, they were obedient and sensible, and they liked this ho. With these children, the house beca much livelier. With Ping’an being cared for by them, she could sneak out to the street for a stroll.
"No need. They all have work to do, calling them over would trouble both us and them. Mom just wants to go back ho."
Upon hearing that, Zhou Jiao said with a smile, "Isn’t this your ho? Even Shi Tou is here, why go back? In a couple of days, ask my brother to take you and Dad to the provincial city for a stroll. Didn’t you say there’s a night market at the provincial city’s flea market? You go check it out first for , and then take later. Us two can have fun together."
Mother Zhang was sowhat tempted by her words but after thinking about it, she still shook her head, "I’m not comfortable with your eldest and second sisters-in-law at ho. I don’t even know how things are at ho these days."
Mother Zhang didn’t really want to go back, she was eating and sleeping well here, living comfortably. But she worried that her two daughters-in-law, being their first ti managing the household, might not handle things right socially.
She was especially concerned that things at the second son’s house could be squandered. If the in-laws saw she wasn’t ho for a long ti and ca over, what would they do?
Last night, she and her husband were thinking about what to do with the courtyard when all three children were in town. They both would still need to stay in the village to look after it.
"It’s fine, just go back to take a look every few days and then return. I’ll get a car for you. Mom, there’s a big market tomorrow, I’ll stay ho with the kids. Why don’t you and the eldest sister-in-law go see if there’s anything you like?"
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law entered the living room and saw Xi Zi writing, even the youngest Shi Tou was flipping through so picture books, asking Little Zuo You next to him if he didn’t understand sothing, and Mai Miao was watching over the cradle with Ping’an in it.
Zhang Guoqing specially prepared a lot of picture books for them, for fear they might sneak off to the street. Now he even got newspapers for Xi Zi to practice calligraphy every midday. He believed practicing calligraphy could calm the children and help them focus. For the past two noons, Xi Zi had been practicing in the study.
Zhou Jiao picked up the child and went to the bedroom to feed him. She had co back just in ti to nurse her son, now that she was able to use breast milk, she definitely wouldn’t use formula.
Her health was getting better. Every morning, Zhang Guoqing took her out for a jog and to practice boxing, coming back just in ti when Ping’an woke up. During morning exercises, she was worried that her skill in taekwondo might cause gossip, so she switched to a set of boxing. Unfortunately, she still couldn’t harness the strength well, but luckily, in the past two days, an old man couldn’t stand it and gave her a few pointers.
It was actually Wing Chun she learned when she worked at a martial arts dojo before. With mories from both lives to her advantage, it was heaven’s best blessing to her.
Zhou Jiao put her son back in the living room cradle, saw him staring at her, and said with a smile, "Mommy is going to cook, be good and play with your brothers and sisters. Mommy will be back soon."
After speaking, she lowered her head to kiss his little face, and finding him not so tense looking at her, Zhou Jiao couldn’t help but kiss him a few more tis before heading to the kitchen.
Mother Zhang saw her coming in, knowing she had settled the children. Every day when it was ti, this daughter-in-law would personally cook. As for housework, she wouldn’t let her mother-in-law lift a finger if she could help it.
This daughter-in-law was exceptional in every way, but unfortunately, she didn’t raise chickens because she was afraid of chicken droppings. If she wasn’t afraid of dirt, she would truly be perfect. They were a perfect match with Xiao Wu, who was afraid of fertilizing, just like a pair.
Thinking about this, Mother Zhang shook her head and laughed.
"Mom, why are you here again? I’m using the coal stove, it’s quick, no need to keep a fire going."
Mother Zhang pointed to the kitchen, "Can’t help it. I’m used to it. If I don’t sit by the stove every day, I feel uncomfortable."
Many habits are hard to change when one gets older. Nowadays, not hearing the crow of chickens or the grunt of pigs makes her feel uneasy. Her husband said she was fated for a life of toil. Isn’t that the case?
Nowadays, her husband doesn’t wear old clothes that need nding, and she feels restless with nothing in her hands. Whenever she started making shoes, Xiao Wu would promptly bring back several pairs of shoes from the market for her.
Sigh...she felt idle and uncomfortable.
"Mom, do you see how the family across the street moved in but didn’t hold any housewarming ceremony, just set two tables in the yard, do you think it’s too simple?"
Mother Zhang shook her head, "Everyone has their own thoughts. So people don’t pay attention to this. Xiao Wu’s grandfather didn’t believe in these customs either when he was alive; he focused on feng shui.
He said there are specialized books for feng shui, and there are feng shui masters. This ans it’s a real thing. Are there any customs masters? Just Northeast Three Provinces alone, customs vary from village to village.
He said customs are just to deceive and comfort people, and so customs are for exploiting money. So, let’s be less concerned, don’t mind customs or traditions."
Therefore, when you see Xiao Wu’s cousins, other than consulting feng shui for choosing the base, they let your uncle and brother-in-law do as they please with other matters."
Zhou Jiao couldn’t help but chuckle after hearing this. Quite an interesting old man, no wonder he raised soone like Zhang Guoqing.
Aunt Wang dashed into the kitchen from outside, the sound large enough to startle Zhou Jiao almost into dropping a plate. As soon as she got in, she pulled Mother Zhang and headed out. When did these two beco so close?
"Hurry and co with to the Chen Family, Huang Juan is waiting for us. This ti all the flawed items are great stuff, so bring more money."
Zhou Jiao hurriedly took out money from her pocket and stuffed it to Mother Zhang, "Don’t refuse, I know Mom has money. I’m at ho, so you can go with Aunt Wang without worry; if you see sothing you like, just buy it." Then she imdiately slipped into the kitchen.
Aunt Wang pulled her all the way to the Chen Family, saying as they walked, "Sister-in-law, just stay here, don’t go back. In a few days, bring your ration books, our three families will line up together. Once you know more people, you won’t be used to the village anymore when you go back.
Besides, why go back to the village? Your youngest son, two daughters, and daughters-in-law are all here. Xiao Wu and Jiao Jiao won’t let you go. If you go back, everyone is at work, who will keep you company?
If you go to work, your Xiao Wu will definitely jump up and down. Also, don’t go to other sons’ houses, just stay by your youngest son, and see the other sons when you want. Take my advice, in the future, you and the elder brother should live with Xiao Wu."
Mother Zhang had been listening to her say this over the past few days and could almost recite it by heart. The other party made sense, but what about Xiao Wu’s new courtyard going unused? With two daughters-in-law just starting to manage, she had to keep an eye on things.
Nowadays, she already started worrying about what to do with the three courtyards in the village now that the elder one and the second one bought a place in town. She couldn’t quite bring herself to say it. Having interacted with the two families more, she knew they were quite well-off, especially the Chen Family had everything.
They were all capable people managing at their workplaces, but if her youngest son managed to catch their eye, it ant her youngest son was also capable. She wouldn’t want to embarrass him by being seen as unwilling to leave the village courtyard or be looked down upon for that.
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