Leaving Zhang’s house, the two brothers walked together, pushing their bicycles.
Tonight’s wild vegetable cornbread made Zhang Guoqing happy.
Though it’s still coarse grain, it’s much better than corn residue cornbread. Parents can fill their stomachs, and life can be carefree.
For his parents, for his brother and sister-in-law, he asks for nothing more—this is enough.
"Xiao Wu, did you see it? Now even the sister-in-law listens to Eldest Brother. Parents won’t be wronged, in a few days when Sister-in-law goes to work, they’ll be even freer."
"Who told you Sister-in-law is going to work?"
"Jiao Jiao didn’t tell you? Isn’t the textile factory recruiting a lot of people now? Eldest Sister told her, and she went."
Indeed, she hadn’t ntioned it; if his wife talked about Huang Cuilan, that would be surprising. "Jiao Jiao should have told , I’ve been too busy lately to pay attention."
"Uncle Zuo even asked about you today, wondering what you’ve been busy with. He hasn’t seen you this whole month. Is he looking for you for sothing?"
Zhang Guoqing shook his head, "Not sure. I’ll visit him in the next couple of days."
"Rember to go visit him. Today he inexplicably said, ’Our county is still the best,’ and gave a special look. I always feel there’s sothing more to his words. Almost forgot to tell you."
Zhang Guoqing heard this and sighed secretly. Zuo Sen should be preparing to return to Beijing from the South now, right?
"Of course our county is good; if it wasn’t, would our ancestors have fled here? We’ve got mountains and rivers, we’d never starve, no matter the year."
Yes, never starve, but who knows what the uncertain future holds?
Zhang Guoqing wanted to remind him, but at last, swallowed his words.
"Brother, let’s hurry. I miss my son."
Zhang the Second mocked, "You sure you miss your son and not your wife? Don’t run away, wait for your Second Brother, you brat..."
The next day at noon after work, Zhang Guoqing noticed the front door open, thinking guests had arrived.
He knew his wife well; when male guests visit, she always opens the door to avoid suspicion.
"... Then Granny ca over, and I found out this guy was bullying again, my wife hit him, and it hurt inside. Alas... I’ve only got this one child, really don’t know how to educate him. This kid’s got his grandfather and grandmother shielding him, he’s naughty to no end..."
Zhang Guoqing raised an eyebrow and entered the courtyard.
In the living room, a couple sat with their son—it’s Fatty Li for sure.
"Oh dear, Mr. Zhang, you’re finally back. I just ca from the elder’s place, he said you usually return after work. Sorry to trouble you, the child caused trouble again this ti."
Zhang Guoqing laughed, "Co on, Mr. Zhang? Just call Xiao Wu. How much trouble can kids cause? Who wasn’t mischievous when young? They grow up and beco sensible. Have you been waiting long? Stay for a drink at ho; is this your wife? You gotta go easy, what if the child gets hurt from a beating?"
Fatty Li hurriedly stood up again, "Don’t say that, I ought to be ashad."
"Haha... That doesn’t sound like you. Sit down; Sister-in-law, you sit down too..."
"Uncle, are you really Zhang Mingyuan’s uncle?"
Zhang Guoqing looked at the child, who he quite liked—chubby and smart-looking, "I really am Zhang Mingyuan’s uncle. Little guy, did you resist when your mother hit you?"
After speaking, he grabbed a handful of candies from the basket and stuffed them in his pocket, noticing how his smile resembled that of his own son.
"Thank you, Uncle, thank you, Auntie."
Zhang Guoqing laughed heartily, "Jiao Jiao, look, this little guy is smart. He even calls you Auntie. You tell , did you retaliate against your mom?"
Li Daguang shot him a glance, "That’s my mom, the one who gave birth to and raised . Uncle, you’re Li Daguang, not a little guy; I’ve grown up."
"Brother Fatty and Sister-in-law are truly blessed!" Zhang Guoqing patted Li Daguang’s head, "You’ve grown up, beco a Young Pioneer. You need to study hard and not be naughty."
Li Daguang said defiantly, "I get a hundred every ti."
Zhang Guoqing looked at him in surprise, indeed finding the child wasn’t lying. He gave the kid a thumbs-up, "Impressive! Quite the bull! Able to play and study."
Fatty Li was next to him, smiling wryly, no longer able to praise him, "Xiao Wu, stop praising. This guy gangs up with other village kids to fight. If not for my wife’s temper, the house might have been torn down."
"Li Daguang, you say you’re grown, but did you listen to what your dad said about you; how do you feel?"
"Uncle, that’s loyalty; they’re my buddies. When they get bullied, I definitely help fight back. I’ve heard the uncles say you’re the most loyal; would you help fight if it were you?"
Zhang Guoqing gestured for Fatty Li and his wife to sit, "That’s a great question. I’ll tell you a secret, when I was young, I’d definitely help fight. But as I grew, I wouldn’t. Why? Because as people grow, they learn to distinguish right from wrong.
And what’s loyalty? You need to think it through, ask your elders at ho, they’ll tell you the truth. Outsiders won’t! Understand loyalty’s aning, figure out what counts as loyalty, then you’ll be truly grown up."
After speaking, seeing the child in deep thought, Zhang Guoqing sighed internally. Xi Zi couldn’t compare with this kid. Innate wisdom is nature.
"Uncle, can I co over and play often?"
Zhang Guoqing nodded, "Of course. Next ti you see , rember to tell what loyalty is? That’s your howork."
Li Daguang heard this, and imdiately raised his hands over his head from rubbing his backside, "We’ve got a deal! I’ll first go ask Grandpa now."
As Zhang Guoqing watched him rub his backside again and run outside, he spoke to the couple standing, "Brother Fatty, Sister-in-law, the child is smarter than anyone; don’t overdo it."
Zhou Jiao quickly said, "Stay for a al."
"Usually that’s fine, but I’ve been out for half a day today, Xiao Wu knows I can’t leave too long. Brother, rember to visit us with your wife."
Zhang Guoqing saw the child already shouting to leave outside. Inviting soone for a al today ans a deep, life-and-death friendship, he didn’t insist further.
Taking the gift Zhou Jiao packed, Zhang Guoqing escorted them out the door, declining stubbornly, only then letting them take it back.
After the Fatty Li family walked a stretch, his wife said, "Didn’t expect the Zhang Guoqing couple to be so easy to talk to, and so polite."
Fatty Li laughed, "The young couple are honest folks, not those who achieve a little and beco complacent. See the return gift in your hand, absolutely more valuable than what we gave. Zhang Family Village relies on Zhang Guoqing; no one dares offend them. When will soone from Li Jiatun beco capable?"
"Dad, don’t worry! The capable one is definitely your son. When I grow as big as Uncle, I’ll be as amazing as him!"
"Haha... You really know how to brag! Brag away!"
At this mont, the Fatty couple absolutely didn’t foresee the glory their son would bring them and Li Jiatun in the future.
As the child grew more promising and successful, the couple never forgot today, forever grateful to Zhang Guoqing. From today, their son turned over a new leaf, becoming the pride of their lives.
Likewise, at this mont Zhang Guoqing absolutely didn’t foresee this child would later beco, after him, another legendary figure in the county.
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