Two days later, it was the weekend again. A strong wind brought a chill in the early morning, troubling Zhang Guoqing about how to return to his hotown. Just then, Mr. and Mother Zhang, steaming from the cold, arrived at their ho.
Zhang Guoqing quickly brought them inside to rest while Zhou Jiao swiftly ran to make dumplings.
In the guest room, Mr. Zhang and Mother Zhang took off their coats and quickly got on the heated kang bed, urging Zhang Guoqing to quickly bring the child over for them to see.
Zhang Guoqing saw their coats hanging on the wall, wet and stiff, and said with a heartache, "Why didn’t you wait for the sun to co out before leaving? Or you could have waited at ho for ."
Mr. Zhang, smiling warmly, said, "We were worried you’d head over early in the morning, so your mother and I rushed over. Get on with it, where’s the child?"
"Your father wanted to co over the day before yesterday but was worried you wouldn’t have ti to accompany him while you were at work. Today is the weekend, if I hadn’t stopped him, he might have headed out at three," Mother Zhang laughed heartily.
Zhang Guoqing, delighted, replied, "This ti, don’t go back. Aunt Fen has gone back to her hotown for sothing, you and dad help at ho. I haven’t had ti to queue for rations this month, last month it was big sister who helped , Jiao Jiao and I are too busy."
Mr. Zhang urged him to first quickly bring the child over, telling him they’d talk later about whether or not they’d go back. He deliberately ca without clothes today, worried that their youngest son would insist they stay.
Once Zhang Guoqing left, Mother Zhang quickly nudged her husband. She couldn’t bear for her children to have to queue up early in the morning, plus there wasn’t much to do back in their hotown.
Mr. Zhang nodded with a smile, "No rush on this, we’ll talk about it later. I have sothing to discuss with Xiao Wu. Don’t interrupt later, I’ll handle it."
Upon hearing this, Mother Zhang imdiately sulked and muttered a few words. She wasn’t mad about her husband asking her not to interrupt, but rather felt aggrieved thinking about her eldest daughter-in-law. She planned to vent her grievances to her youngest son this visit, life wasn’t great when he wasn’t around.
As Zhou Jiao ca over carrying two bowls of dumplings, Mr. Zhang, holding Ping’an, laughed heartily. Mother Zhang and Zhang Guoqing were discussing matters with furrowed brows.
Upon hearing the end of their conversation, she paused, realizing sothing had indeed happened.
She hurriedly smiled and said, "Mom, you and dad try the shrimp dumplings. How does it taste? We have all kinds of dumplings at ho; if you don’t like these, we can switch to another flavor. Dad, I brought you plenty of goodies. This ti, don’t go back, stay at ho. I’ll make you sothing delicious every day."
Zhang Guoqing quickly took the child and let Mr. Zhang and Mother Zhang eat first. Without needing Zhou Jiao to persuade them, he was also planning to let his parents stay. If they really had to live next to the Huang Family with the eldest brother, wouldn’t they be put upon?
"Our Jiao Jiao always thinks of her dad. Tell dad what good things you brought. There were too many people the other day, and dad didn’t get to ask you in detail, was everything fine this ti?" After speaking, Mr. Zhang took a bite of the dumpling and looked at the couple.
Zhang Guoqing nodded with a smile, hugging the child and letting Zhou Jiao fetch the photos for them to see, while smiling, "How does it taste? Jiao Jiao has used these dumplings to win over many elders. We are doing well there. My grandaunt helps take care of the child, even going to the South, she felt uneasy if not following us. My father-in-law couldn’t go to the South this ti, saying he’ll let you and Mom go to Beijing in the sumr to have so fun."
Mother Zhang looked happily at her youngest son, feeling joyous no matter how she looked.
"Mom, you eat first. How is it? The taste is good, right? Later, your youngest will tell you about the outside. Whenever there’s sothing delicious sowhere, we pack it back, just wanting you and dad to try it. Everything about this trip was good, just missed having you two by our sides. From now on don’t think about staying with big brother—where I go, you co with . This ti even if the emperor cos, don’t think about going back."
Mr. Zhang repeatedly said the dumplings were delicious, just without ntioning staying.
"We’ll talk about it later. This ti we didn’t bring any clothes, have to return tonight," Mother Zhang quickly finished her dumplings and said.
Zhou Jiao ca in holding the photos, just in ti to hear this, and laughed, "Mom, do you and dad worry about clothes? This ti, I’ve bought lots waiting for you to co. Aunt Juan and Aunt Wang from next door were still asking yesterday when you are coming. Oh, by the way, several old ladies in front asked about you too."
Mr. Zhang burst into hearty laughter, feeling all his depression lift. Upon spotting a photo in Mother Zhang’s hand, he imdiately stood up, urgently telling her not to move!
Startled by Mr. Zhang’s suddenness, Mother Zhang widened her eyes and watched as he carefully placed the photo from her hands onto the kang table, telling her not to move it yet.
Zhang Guoqing and Zhou Jiao exchanged smiles. These photos really held commorative value, could even beco significantly useful in the future.
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