By the ti National Day and Zhou Jiao got back, it was already afternoon. As soon as they walked in the door, they saw Aunt Chen smiling and pointing to Ping’an, who was fast asleep on a small bed in the living room.
"The child just got back from the daycare at noon, and when he got here, he didn’t want to leave. There are two caretakers for about twenty kids in his class, and for lunch, they get stead buns with vegetable and at soup, plus half a boiled egg each. Their als are even better than most families’. From now on, I’ll take care of the pick-ups and drop-offs, so you can go to school without any worries."
Zhang Guoqing nodded enthusiastically. With these conditions, if he wasn’t relieved, it would really be a case of having a screw loose.
"Thank you, Aunt Chen. We’re adding to your burden as soon as we get back." Zhou Jiao said gratefully.
"What burden? We’re all in the sa courtyard. With your parents around, I might not even have the chance to help. You haven’t had dinner yet, right? Take a look and let know what you like; I’ll add a dish for you."
Zhou Jiao quickly pulled her back, "We ate before we ca back. You should take a break for now. Has Aunt Lin co over yet?"
Aunt Chen waved her hand, "I’m not tired. I went to the daycare with Mrs. Lin in the morning and didn’t co back until noon. Your dad had her eat before going ho. She’s probably resting now, but she’ll co by later."
Zhou Jiao watched her leave in a hurry and let her go. She had wanted to ask Aunt Chen how things were going at her own ho, but it seed she’d have to wait.
"You rest at ho first. I’m going out for a walk and will visit Dad’s health specialist while I’m at it."
Zhou Jiao enviously glanced at his strong legs. Truly a man of steel! She herself didn’t want to step outside again. "Go ahead. Co back to rest if you get tired. It’s not urgent."
Zhang Guoqing nodded. It wasn’t that so things weren’t urgent; it was better to learn about them sooner. After being gone for a year, he already noticed a few of his childhood friends were missing. He didn’t plan on worrying her until he was sure about things.
After he left, Zhou Jiao quickly grabbed the newspaper. Alone, she slowly flipped through and pondered, nodding and shaking her head from ti to ti. Aunt Chen, busy with household chores, saw this and lowered her head to chuckle quietly.
"Auntie, is everything alright back ho? Why not go back for a visit while I’m at ho these next few days?"
"No, not necessary. I just went back not long ago. The kids are grown up, and there’s nothing much there. It’s a hassle going back and forth."
Zhou Jiao smiled at this. She didn’t continue to persuade her.
"By the way, the supervisor left you a list to prepare for the kids starting daycare tomorrow," Aunt Chen suddenly rembered and knocked her head.
Zhou Jiao took a look at it. The checklist for entering the daycare clearly indicated what could and could not be brought. After so hesitation, she decided she would bring bedding. Who knew how careful those other kids were about hygiene.
It must be said that father and daughter were very much alike. Zhou Xiaozheng also disdained using things others had used, hurriedly bringing the child back ho.
"I saw that several children in the front courtyard just used army quilts converted into little quilts. It’s fine now when the weather’s warm, but co winter, you’d better add a few layers of good cotton."
Zhou Jiao smiled and nodded. Besides quilts, the family’s warm clothing also needed to be prepared, especially children’s shoes, which were easily soaked in the snow, so they needed to have a few extra pairs.
"Mom..."
Zhou Jiao imdiately looked at the child responding to the sound, "Awake? I heard Ping’an was great today, such a good kid. Our Ping’an is a little young man now."
Ping’an giggled at the praise, "Mommy, there are many friends. The auntie said I’m a good kid....."
Zhou Jiao picked him up and took him to wash up, listening to him talk about what he saw and heard at daycare, feeling a bit more at ease. It was just the ti to observe whether he adapted before the school year started. If everything went well, she intended for the child to stay in the big courtyard, especially since the head of the departnt’s words today also showed how busy the first sester would be.
In the bedroom, Zhou Jiao instinctively glanced out the window; the incident last ti still lingered in her mind. Even with the protective asures outside the window, she still couldn’t fully relax.
"Ping’an, do you rember what mommy told you? If outsiders ask about our family, how should you respond?" Zhou Jiao gently asked the child.
Ping’an, mimicking her style, whispered into her ear, "I’m little, I don’t know. I’ll smile and shake my head, and then tell my mommy and daddy and grandpa."
"Smart boy! Even if others don’t praise you, mommy knows you’re the best. If you can’t find mommy or daddy when sothing happens, rember to find grandpa."
Ping’an nodded and said imdiately: "If kids bully , I’ll hit them, not on the head. If an auntie bullies , I’ll shout for grandpa and throw a chair at her."
Zhou Jiao affectionately touched his head. It was impressive for soone so young to co up with these ideas. A gentle horse is easily ridden, a kind person is easily bullied. It’s good enough if he knows when to stop.
"Do you rember how daddy taught you to behave at usual tis?"
Ping’an furrowed his brow, murmuring: "Don’t be stingy, don’t look down on people, don’t bully others, so many don’ts."
Zhou Jiao laughed heartily. With so many don’ts, the first one revealed his miserly nature. Fortunately, this kid knew what’s inside and out, understanding give and take.
"Mom, don’t laugh."
Zhou Jiao saw the child was upset and quickly comforted him, "Alright, alright, I won’t laugh."
"So things Daddy said are wrong. Grandpa says I can secretly keep it in my heart, just don’t let others know. If I don’t like it, I’ll just walk away and ignore it if I’m not happy."
Zhou Jiao was left speechless. Would this child have distorted values in the future? She hesitated, "Tonight, tell Daddy where he’s wrong and see what he says."
Ping’an proudly lifted his chin, "My grandpa is better than my daddy. He told if I don’t want to answer, just smile and shake my head. If soone bullies , he said he’ll secretly help get revenge and not let anyone know."
Zhou Jiao stuttered for a while, then whispered, "What else did grandpa say? Make sure you don’t tell anyone, alright?"
"I won’t tell anyone, it’s a secret. Grandpa said not to tell anyone but Mommy and Daddy."
Zhou Jiao silently mourned for Zhang Guoqing’s painstaking efforts, wondering how much of his expounded philosophies Ping’an rembered. It seed this father had to work hard; otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to handle his son.
In the evening, after enjoying a dinner Zhou Jiao had carefully prepared, Zhou Xiaozheng listened in his study to the day’s updates from the two of them.
Learning that Zhang Guoqing qualified as a payroll-officer student, Zhou Xiaozheng couldn’t even be bothered to mock his son-in-law’s stupidity. He nodded with satisfaction.
He didn’t care about their small salaries; more than Zhang Guoqing, he understood the advantages and prospects that ca with being an officer trainee.
Lin Lishan, on the other hand, was eager to confirm the date to go tidy up. However, Zhou Jiao still declined her good intentions. It wasn’t because Zhou Jiao was ungrateful, but because she wasn’t planning to put much effort into that environnt. Having a place to stay was enough; if she really wanted it to be like ho, she really didn’t want to put in the effort.
Zhou Xiaozheng watched mother and daughter conversing with a smile. No one knew their child better than him. Sure enough, before long, his wife conceded.
Privately, he also didn’t want his wife to do the organizing. With her personality, who knew what it would turn out like? Besides, it’s better if the conditions were poor. The children would not want to stay and would co back ho. Why bother?
To change the topic, Zhou Jiao eventually brought up Mr. Lin.
Mr. Lin had now moved to the retirent ho, not far away, but with Mrs. Lin at ho, she didn’t want to go over at all.
Zhou Jiao felt slightly relieved upon learning that her mom had been busy going to grassroots and attending etings, and hadn’t been back to her maternal ho for a long ti. That was good; the Lin family, as far as she’s concerned, should remain completely severed.
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