Zhou Jiao had no trouble guessing what the old lady was thinking. Every ti she brought refined grains, it was always, "Our Jiao Jiao needs to maintain her health, and Ping’an is still small." Zhou Jiao was at a loss for words!
She truly wasn’t short of food, but what about the old lady’s good intentions? Every ti, following her father’s advice, she accepted them first and then returned them in the middle of the month. This little ga was being played by both families with great enjoynt, though it was exhausting.
Old Mrs. Cheng had never entered the Zhou Family’s storeroom. This ti, Zhou Jiao pulled her inside, surprising the old lady a bit. Soon after, Old Mrs. Cheng laid out the facts and reasons, advising Zhou Jiao not to go to the Black Market.
Why can’t she go to the Black Market? The old lady said that families like theirs shouldn’t knowingly do wrong, and they must prevent any undesirable tendencies.
Zhou Jiao felt so wronged—more unjustly treated than Dou E—didn’t she? She stood up straight, listening earnestly to the lecture, and finally, after Old Mrs. Cheng’s ideological education, secretly sighed in relief.
Watching the old lady’s back, Zhou Jiao secretly patted her chest, thankful that the old lady didn’t make her turn things over.
Unfortunately, Zhou Jiao didn’t see Old Mrs. Cheng’s sly smile. The cunning of the elderly—she had finally caught hold of the child’s mistake and was going to enjoy it.
As for the Black Market trend, who could stop it? Since ancient tis, what dynasty could eradicate it? She had no spare ti to deal with such trifles. Not involved in official duties, not bothering with politics. After retirent, she barely concerned herself with worldly matters.
The old lady just wanted the younger ones in the family to have enough to eat and wear. Patriotic is just tightening one’s belt? That’s nonsense, isn’t it? Without energy for study or work, how could one contribute—that would be a joke, wouldn’t it?
After reviewing the storeroom, Old Mrs. Cheng was satisfied. Now, she didn’t have to worry about her nephew’s household at the end of the year. Happily, she ran to make a phone call ho, asking the housekeeper to bring things to the Zhou Family.
Then she called her eldest, Cheng Sijin. Over the phone, she couldn’t say much except to ask her eldest son to co to the Zhou Family after work tonight.
Cheng Sijin understood in a second, hung up the phone happily, and smiled so much that the adjutant beside him secretly speculated if sothing joyful had happened at their commander’s ho. Starting from eliminating every Cheng Family mber big and small, the adjutant regrettably shook his head. It seed his foundation was too shallow to guess what his superior was thinking.
Nearing the end of the workday, Zhang Guoqing picked up his son, and the father-son duo waited at Zhou Xiaozheng’s workplace entrance for him to finish work.
When Zhou Xiaozheng ca out, he could hear from afar his son-in-law happily chatting with the guards, even Little Ping’an was giggling. Although he didn’t know what amusing topic they were discussing, seeing the underlings at the entrance laughing heartily indicated sothing fun.
Unfortunately, before he could approach, those people dispersed like they’d seen a ghost. Zhou Xiaozheng frowning at the few remaining people. So uninteresting!
Upon seeing him, Ping’an imdiately dashed forward, "Grandpa, let’s go ho."
Zhou Xiaozheng picked up the child, "Is it cold? Next ti, have your dad wait in Grandpa’s office, alright?"
"Dad says we shouldn’t disturb Grandpa at work. I’m such a good boy. All the grandpas and uncles praise ..."
Watching his grandson leave with Zhou Xiaozheng, Zhang Guoqing bid everyone farewell with a smile and left, chatting up with Xiao Wang and the others as they walked.
Just as the group reached the doorstep, a delightful aroma wafted through, making Xiao Wang’s group, who had just gotten off work, growl with hunger. Before Xiao Wang could leave, Zhou Xiaozheng had already spoken, inviting them to stay.
As his entourage, none of them had it easy. Compared to other leaders’ guards, Xiao Wang’s group often got special training from Zhou Xiaozheng. If they relied solely on the canteen allowance, how could they cope?
Chosen by Zhou Xiaozheng, Xiao Wang’s team was thrilled for several days. He was a Soldier King, their idol! They also understood that their commanding officer was pushing them for their own good. Thus, they cooperated enthusiastically, swearing to beco the most outstanding elite around the Soldier King.
But kids, you’re too naive. Zhou Xiaozheng never made losing deals! He trained his confidants this hard, secretly planning for when they could be sent down to working units and military academies for intensive training.
Let’s not discuss Zhou Xiaozheng’s strategic plans. At this mont, Zhou Jiao and Old Mrs. Cheng, hearing the commotion, began bringing out the copper hot pots one by one.
Xiao Wang and his peers frantically exchanged glances with Zhang Guoqing. They didn’t want to dine and drink with those commanders in the living room, that would be too restrictive.
In this house, they were accustod to being around Zhang Guoqing and were very familiar. Normally, if anyone needed sothing, they always sought him out with guaranteed results.
As expected, Zhang Guoqing shook his head with a smile, picked up one of the copper pots, and beckoned them to help, and the young n eagerly ran to the west wing.
When the Cheng Family arrived, the bone broth in the hot pot was already boiling loudly. Without much ti for chit-chat, everyone raced to wash their hands and took their seats.
Zhang Guoqing, worried that the group in the west wing wouldn’t have enough to eat, specially brought over a leg of lamb, instructing them to carve more if needed. Having interacted with these people a lot, he understood that a bit of casualness could make both parties feel at ease.
He wasn’t so young master, there was no need to put on airs. Being righteous and warm-hearted was his good reputation, and his hunting skills added to his charm. How could he let these future aids think of him as stingy?
If there was going to be a cozy al over a stove, just cabbage, white radishes, and ga wouldn’t be enough. The n preferred big chunks of at, but Zhou Jiao didn’t like it. In the kitchen, the spinach and chives she had carefully tended were consud entirely in an evening, causing her to frantically stuff herself with vegetables in heartbreak.
Seeing right through her, Zhou Xiaozheng’s face was full of amusent. He’d always wondered where Ping’an’s temper ca from, wasn’t it just like their Jiao Jiao?
Their daughter had everything from tiger at on down to the ordinary. She lacked nothing. Yet, this little temper of hers was truly amusing. Zhou Xiaozheng couldn’t help but find his daughter endearing, assisting with picking dishes while secretly feeling proud.
For a while, the table was a scene of regular family fun—the usual Zhou Xiaozheng and his daughter serving dishes to each other, Zhang Guoqing and Lin Lishan doing the sa, while Ping’an enjoyed being fed by the four of them.
The Cheng Family, having dined with them many tis, was no longer surprised by such happenings. Likewise, they also got accustod, noticing they too engaged in serving each other among couples and siblings.
This shows how the environnt can indeed influence people. At the very least, the Cheng Family’s eldest daughter-in-law, Liu Ting, often went ho saying that every ti they ate at the Zhou Family, they couldn’t help but overeat due to the warm atmosphere. Of course, her raised, smiling lips suggested she thoroughly enjoyed the love from her husband and children.
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