Late at night, the sky was filled with goose feather-like snowflakes, and the streets were deserted.
Two cars departed from the provincial city, heading straight to the county town.
The four people in the rear car were wrapped in military coats, passing around a bottle of Maotai until it was finished.
These four people were Zhou Xiaozheng and his comrades.
"Brother Zheng, will we scare the kids if we go over now?"
Zhao Chuan Guang laughed, "I don’t know if we’ll scare Jiao Jiao, but I sure got a scare. Oh man, opening the door in the dead of night to see Brother Zheng. I thought I was dreaming."
"Brother Zheng, are you really leaving tomorrow? Can’t you stay a few more days?"
Zhou Xiaozheng sighed quietly, wishing he could stay longer too.
"I have to leave tomorrow, and you guys also have to work. I’ll co over again during my next vacation."
Zhao Chuan Guang rolled his eyes, "Yeah, right. Next ti... next ti... ghost’s next ti. I bet you’re stuck in Beijing. We better visit when you get a break."
Zhou Xiaozheng knocked him lightly, "Who can trap ? I’ll definitely co back next Qingming to pay respects to the brothers. That will be the ti for everyone to gather."
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone seriously raised their hands, stacking them and holding tight.
For a mont, the car was silent except for their breathing.
Oh, those brothers underground, those fallen brothers...
As the car approached the county town, Zhou Xiaozheng collected his thoughts, "Alright. We’re living for them, living well. Nothing to be sad about, we’re just joining them a bit later, but we will reunite."
The madman said with frustration, "Brother Zheng, when we’re old and wrinkled, will it be embarrassing to et them then?"
Everyone knew he was joking, but they couldn’t help bursting into laughter.
"If you’re worried, it’s not too late, start using your wife’s snow cream tomorrow." Zhao Chuan Guang joked and winked at him.
"With how much he needs, might as well use putty powder."
Hearing the banter of his brothers, Zhou Xiaozheng looked ahead — he finally arrived. Jiao Jiao, Dad is here.
Recalling the scenes along the way, even though Zhou Xiaozheng knew his child had the legendary Qiankun Bag, he couldn’t suppress his anxiety.
Waking up from nightmares many tis, he couldn’t fall back asleep.
What if his Jiao Jiao couldn’t open that treasure and couldn’t take out resources, starving and on the brink of death, yet afraid to tell him the truth?
And what if his Jiao Jiao, not careful while using it, got noticed by others? Or already fell into trouble but didn’t dare to tell him due to concern for his safety?
His thoughts grew ssier, and Zhou Xiaozheng secretly decided to urge the kids to return ho soon. It’s safer to have them under his watch.
At this mont, he glanced outside the window, seeing the vast whiteness and beca firr in his decision.
Zhang Guoqing, half-asleep, suddenly heard the sound of approaching cars. His heart skipped a beat as he opened his eyes to listen carefully. His keen ear confird the approach of two cars.
Zhang Guoqing got down quietly, dressing while frowning and thinking.
In no ti, he was outside the room, standing in the dark by the gate.
When he heard the cars park and Zhao Chuan Guang’s voice, he relaxed his tense body, reaching for the gate latch, and suddenly a familiar voice wafted into his ear.
Zhang Guoqing shouted excitedly, "Dad..."
Before Zhou Xiaozheng could respond, the gate was pulled open, and a figure dashed out under the car lights — his silly son-in-law holding Little Stone with a goofy grin.
Ah, kids are better off under my watch. Would there be such tense precautions in the Big Courtyard?
"Get inside and dress up. Is Jiao Jiao asleep?"
As the house lit up, Zhang Guoqing smiled, pointing to the courtyard, "She probably got woken up by . Dad, co on in. Why didn’t you wait for Tianliang to co over? The road isn’t easy now."
Zhao Chuan Guang saw Zhou Xiaozheng didn’t get a chance to answer as he went in, so he patted Zhang Guoqing’s shoulder, "The train was delayed, your dad was so anxious he scolded the conductor. Do you think he can wait until daybreak?"
"Godfather, you and the uncles co in and warm up. Brother Wang, forget about the car. No matter how we toss it, we’ll still need to redo it tomorrow. Co inside quickly."
Zhou Jiao was awakened by Zhang Guoqing’s loud call, sprang up, put on her coat, and ran outside.
As the lights ca on, she squinted, then adjusted to the brightness. Upon stepping into the living room, she was greeted by Zhou Xiaozheng’s familiar smiling face.
Zhou Jiao rubbed her eyes and mumbled, "Am I hallucinating, seeing my dad..."
"Hahaha..." Zhou Xiaozheng was amused by his daughter’s reaction, "Jiao Jiao, it’s Dad. I’m back."
"Dad, it’s really my dad."
Zhou Jiao fully realized it was indeed her dad Zhou Xiaozheng, she ran into his arms, bouncing in delight, repeatedly yelling, "Dad, it’s really you. Dad, why did you co to see ? I thought I was dreaming."
The sudden ecstasy made Zhou Jiao lose her composure, her joyful laughter spread, waking up the neighbors like Old Wang and Old Chen.
"Xiao Wu..."
Zhang Guoqing hurriedly turned and ran to the door, chuckling, "My father-in-law is back, Jiao Jiao is overjoyed. Did it wake you up? Uncle Wang, Uncle Chen, co in and have a seat."
Old Chen laughed heartily in response.
"As long as it’s all good. I won’t co in, need to get back to sleep."
"Go host them, we won’t co in."
Inside the courtyard, Zhao Chuan Guang and others watched the father and daughter with interest.
Noticing them, Zhou Jiao blushed deeply and stuck out her tongue, "Godfather, uncles, co inside."
Zhou Xiaozheng, knowing his child was shy, quickly led her into the living room, "Everyone co in. Xiao Wu, arrange for Brother Wang and the others to rest first."
Zhang Guoqing nodded. He had just noticed a few people shivering cold, wondering why they hadn’t co inside yet.
Once outside, he raised his eyebrow. His father-in-law knowing they had reserve supplies and yet bringing so much stuff from such a distance?
"Cold outside? Co inside."
"Haha, we’ve been through colder. Just coming back suddenly from the South, it’s hard to acclimate. Most of these are Southern fruits ant for your wife from the chief."
"Xiao Wu, the fruits are frozen solid, you better figure out how to eat them."
Zhang Guoqing didn’t know what was inside either. He just placed everything in the kitchen, where without heating, it was safe.
anwhile, as Zhou Xiaozheng entered the living room, he saw a few wild herb buns and two white radishes on the stove. He couldn’t sll the aroma of at and felt relieved.
Knowing his child well, these were just for show. His daughter was just like him, clever.
With Dad-mode activated, Zhou Xiaozheng had forgotten how he worried, fretted day and night recently.
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