Got on the little train, Zhou Jiao waved goodbye to Zhang Guoqing.
On the first day of school, Zhang Guoqing got roped in. What’s the class monitor for? Just as Zhang Guoqing declared, serving the class wholeheartedly.
He served the class, and after the class committee eting, Zhou Jiao hurried ho to serve her son.
Getting off the little train, Zhou Jiao frowned at the crowded bus, casting a disdainful glance; she’d rather walk than bear the sll of sweat.
She walked a section feeling guilty, finally managing to flag down a tricycle. She didn’t bother to haggle, paid twenty cents, and quickly went ho.
Today she spent a day living campus life, knowing that she would have to go to the countryside to help with farm work next and participate in the National Day celebrations rehearsals. Not to ntion Zhang Guoqing, even she couldn’t possibly be with the child every day.
What else could she do? Squeeze so ti, you can always squeeze out so ti to accompany her father, accompany the child.
When she got ho, Ping’an ca rushing out like a little bullet, "Mom, you’re back from school too? Where’s Dad?"
Zhou Jiao picked him up and laughed, "Your dad is also a class monitor like you. He can’t co ho tonight, he’ll be back in a couple of days to accompany you. Was Ping’an good today?"
"Mom, there are kids in our class who can’t co ho at night too. The aunties said their parents are busy with work and can’t take care of them."
Zhou Jiao rubbed his head, "In the future, mom and dad will also be very busy, coming back only after several days; what will our Ping’an do then?"
"What do you an ’what to do?’ Leave it to . Ping’an is very good and will sleep with great-grandma, okay?"
Zhou Jiao carried the child into the living room and found quite a number of people inside. She smiled, "Dad, I’m back. Why is everyone here today? Good news?"
Zhou Xiaozheng laughed, "Your great-aunt and them were worried about you at school, so they ca to see you. They wanted to co around at noon, but I stopped them."
Zhou Jiao chuckled, "I’m not Ping’an. School is great, everything is free, and what’s not to like."
"How’s the food?" Old Mrs. Cheng asked with concern.
"Today the main al was fine grains; I heard that the first day of school is usually like this, and later on they’ll mix in so coarse grains. I think it’s great, much better than outside."
Old Mrs. Cheng shook her head, "Still not okay. I’ll have the aunties send so food in the future."
Zhou Jiao quickly winked at her dad in fright. This won’t do!
Zhou Xiaozheng laughed, "Little aunt, no need to go to such trouble. I’ll have people send it over. By the way, you said Xiao Wu is the class monitor, didn’t you get a minor post?"
Zhou Jiao knowingly took over the conversation, "Study committee mber. I don’t even know what it’s for."
Mr. Cheng smiled at her, "Work hard, these qualifications will be useful in the future. The child has us at ho, you young folks just go forth and excel."
Zhou Xiaozheng looked at Ping’an, who was listening seriously to everyone talking, and beckoned him over.
"Grandpa..."
Zhou Xiaozheng held him in his arms, asked him in a low voice, "In the future, when mom and dad are at school and can’t co ho, will you be okay staying with grandpa at night?"
Ping’an looked around at everyone in the living room and whispered, "Will it take a long ti, long ti to see mom and dad?"
"No. Just a couple of nights, they’ll be ho. If Ping’an misses them, grandpa can even take you to find them. In the dayti at ho, Ping’an can go to daycare, and at night you can hear grandma sing, hear great-grandma tell stories."
Ping’an smiled and nodded repeatedly.
Zhou Xiaozheng comfortingly patted his daughter, "See, no problem. You see, many kids at the daycare only go ho on weekends and are fine. With dad here, you can go to school with peace of mind."
Lin Lishan rolled her eyes at her, "What are you still worried about with dad and mom taking care? When you leave in the morning, the child wakes up and doesn’t even cry. Leave it to mom, you can go to school at ease; don’t keep running back and forth, careful you get tanned like charcoal."
Zhou Jiao smiled at her. Considering Ping’an’s habit of sleeping soundly, it’s indeed reassuring. Since her in-laws found the child easy to care for, there shouldn’t be an issue?
"In the future, don’t travel when it’s dark, it’s not safe to be alone." Having said that, seeing nothing more to address, Zhou Xiaozheng then invited everyone to eat first. He guessed his Jiao Jiao ca back with an empty stomach.
Dinner consisted of four dishes and one soup, albeit simple, much better conditions than others. No wonder Old Mrs. Cheng worried about Zhou Jiao being hungry.
She heard all sorts around the Big Courtyard and learned that so young n couldn’t get enough to eat while attending university in Beijing, which secretly worried her. Unfortunately, it was too far, otherwise, she would send food every day.
Zhou Jiao was unaware of her thoughts, just noticed Old Mrs. Cheng urging her to eat more, leaving her feeling amusedly helpless.
Night soon fell, and Ping’an began to entertain himself by performing little acts, adding a lot of lively noise to the Zhou family. Laughter and joy, four generations living together was the family life Zhou Jiao had always dread of.
A little after eight in the evening, Zhang Guoqing returned to the Big Courtyard under the night sky. Even knowing he’d set off to school again pre-dawn the next day, he couldn’t stand the loneliness without his wife and son close by.
At this mont, Ping’an was in the bedroom describing his happy heaven to Zhou Jiao.
Singing, gas, playing with sand, feeding cabbage leaves to the little rabbits, and planting flowers and watering with the aunties, having snacks after napping, and listening to "Little Horn" radio stories in the afternoon.
The aunties also acted as eagles to catch the line of "little chicks," and there were swing sets and slides to play on in the yard. Today, coming ho, the aunties even gave out candies.
Zhou Jiao smiled at his vivid description, feeling happy for him. Conditions like these were exceedingly rare, and she resolved not to let him attend school daycare.
A person’s growth environnt is crucial, with differing resources; for the child’s future, she should muster the resolve to leave her child to her dad.
Zhang Guoqing applauded at the doorway, "Son, that’s great!"
"Dad, I missed you so much." Ping’an delightedly sprinted across with his little legs.
Zhou Jiao looked at him in surprise, different from herself; he had tasks early in the morning. With student association, class activities, and he had to organize events.
She stood up, "Are you hungry? I’ll cook so noodles for you."
Zhang Guoqing stopped her, chuckled, "I just ca from the study, dad is still looking at files. I’m not hungry yet, I’ll have a late-night snack with dad later."
"I’ll eat too."
Zhang Guoqing kissed his son, "Sure, we’ll eat together."
Zhou Jiao watched them amusedly. When it was ti, Ping’an would go to bed, no ti to eat with them, yet he’d agree to everything.
"Ping’an, let dad rest a bit. Why co back so late still on the way?"
Zhang Guoqing was reluctant to put the child down, sat with him on the chair, "I didn’t know if you got ho safely alone. I kept worrying."
"Then won’t you be tired rushing back early tomorrow?"
Zhang Guoqing smiled and shook his head, "Without you at the dormitory, surely people would co knocking. Now is not suitable for too much interaction with them. Yi Jiefang is alright, quite clever. For the others, let’s wait and see."
Zhou Jiao nodded in agreent. The cage is big; there are all kinds of birds. It’s better to maintain so distance from classmates.
Much talk can lead to no planning, too much contact can lead to trouble. A hundred different people are raised on white rice; today, among 50 classmates, everyone will have ties with them in the future, precautions are necessary.
So words are not fit for communication at school due to precautions. Now at ho, at last, they could speak freely. Zhang Guoqing shared the background information of several classmates he investigated with Zhou Jiao now, due to these thoughts.
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