Zhang the Second just got the latest news. This ti the Old Captain didn’t inform him, but he also wanted to contribute.
At this point, if he doesn’t go back, logically speaking it’s no big deal, but in the future if his three brothers have any issues, the villagers’ attitude will surely be different.
His own younger brother has done so many good deeds, taken ninety-nine steps, how could he lack the last step?
When he asked Zuo Lin for leave, he also voiced his thoughts. No matter how selfish it sounds, he didn’t want to hide it from his Uncle Zuo. Uncle Zuo treats him just like Xiao Wu’s godfather treats Xiao Wu.
He and Uncle Zuo, Aunt Zuo were just short of a godparent title, so why hide it? Every ti he makes a mistake, Uncle Zuo would privately and bluntly criticize him.
Zuo Lin nodded after hearing this and finally reminded him, "Rember to talk to your Uncle Dashan privately. He must be aware of this matter but is still waiting for the lower ranks to notify the upper ranks."
Zhang Guoqiang imdiately understood, cheerfully left the workplace. He first went to Zhao Dashan, ntioned it to him, so he was aware. Then he ran back to the yard where Mr. Zhang lived.
"Dad, I’ll go back with you. What did big brother say?"
Upon hearing this, Mr. Zhang scrutinized his son, smiled and said, "Is the sun rising from the west? Co on, why the sudden thought of returning to the village? You’re always the one disapproving of Xiao Wu being this kind-hearted."
"You are really sothing, old man. How could you talk about your own son like this? Mom, don’t laugh, just listen to what dad said, as if I wouldn’t lend a hand to my clan."
Mother Zhang patted her husband, "Alright, stop teasing the kid. Your dad has been waiting for you brothers to co over. He said once he leaves, you surely won’t feel at ease and will follow to supervise him."
Zhang the Second felt a surge of relief. He really hadn’t considered this point. In his way of dealing, if he didn’t go, he would definitely drag his dad, wouldn’t let him go even if he died.
Zhang the Second watched as his dad fumbled out a large package of bottles and jars, oiled paper bags, "Dad, where did all this co from? You’re not bringing it all, are you?"
Mr. Zhang said with a smug smile, "These are all given by our Jiao Jiao. I never thought they’d be useful, and now they’re unexpectedly coming in handy."
Zhang the Second curiously leaned closer. He casually picked up the nearest bottle, with each one he looked at, his mouth opened wider. Except for the unknown content wrapped in oiled paper, these are all good things.
He looked at Mr. Zhang with grievance, "Dad, last ti when I had a stomachache, why didn’t you give any dicine? And this hemostatic, why not spare so for just in case?"
Could Mr. Zhang admit he almost forgot? If it weren’t for his wife rummaging through old belongings and accidentally finding them, these things are a year or two old, how could he rember?
He angrily smacked his son’s forehead, "You think I don’t know that Xiao Wu also sent quite a lot to you four siblings?"
Having said that, he looked at him sheepishly.
... Surely not wrong, his youngest son and his partner are like money dispersing fairies.
"The amount given was almost used up. These are all freshly prepared by Jiao Jiao herself, and I’ve found them more effective than market ones. Dad, you better not bring it to the village; it’d be a pity."
Zhang the Second pointed to several oiled paper bags, "What are these?"
"Your mom said Ping’an uses these to repel mosquitoes. It wasn’t until the kid got bitten that we rembered Jiao Jiao also gave us quite a bit."
Mr. Zhang’s confidence dwindled more as he spoke. He coughed, "What’s wrapped in oiled paper were ant for my self-defense in Beijing last year, you better not tell anyone. Look at this, it’s itching powder, should anyone upset ... hmm hmm..."
Zhang the Second looked speechlessly at his old dad. Such good stuff, why didn’t he say earlier? He wants them as well!
Before Mr. Zhang finished speaking, seeing his son’s eyes sparkling, staring directly at him, he promptly shut up. He couldn’t say any more, or else this brat will take them away.
Zhang the Second sweet-talked and finally got a small bag of itching powder, too thrilled to ask what else was underneath?
Mr. Zhang secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He wanted to experint himself, unfortunately, he couldn’t find anyone.
Not surprisingly, the father and son, Zhang the Second was also sneakily planning to use it on his parents-in-law. Make them itch all over whenever they co over, see if they dare visit again?
Of course, Zhang the Second considered himself kind-hearted, he’d use less. These are precious things, using too much would be wasteful.
In the future, not long after, Lin Juhua’s parents kept complaining that the new courtyard of her husband’s family had bad Feng Shui, persuading her to sell the house and relocate.
Look, their two courtyards in Zhang Family Village are just fine, how could there be conflicts with the county house? Having them itch all over whenever they co, unable to scratch in front of the in-laws and son-in-law, how could they enjoy their daughter’s happiness, or shine in her glory?
When Zhang Guofu arrived, Zhang the Second’s eyes glead; he was considering whether to pack so for his big brother, just in case the Huang Family got unruly, they’d have a way to deal with it.
Then he thought of his big brother’s temperant, probably wouldn’t sleep well. Thinking it over, he decided to forget it. If everyone on bad terms with the Zhang Family ends up itching, wouldn’t it expose them?
Mr. Zhang picked out so dicine to carry with him, took both sons back to the village.
They stayed in the village patrolling with everyone for three whole nights. Zhang Family Village laid out an inescapable net, but the bear wouldn’t co down from the mountain, what could they do?
Mr. Zhang was anxious. His two sons have work, if they delay any longer, the three of them would have to leave, eating only green mush every day was enough to turn his face green.
On the fourth night, a farce occurred.
The bear, with its cubs, retraced its old path, roughly plowing through the neighboring village’s wheat field, eventually spotted first by the Zhang Family Village patrol team.
In a flash, by early morning, both villages were in an uproar, surrounding it with all sorts of weapons, but unexpectedly the severely injured bear still managed to escape with its cubs back into the forest.
Mr. Zhang saw the breach and was embarrassed for the neighboring village—entirely cowards out of fear for their lives.
This ti, although they didn’t kill the bear, no one dared enter the deep forest. By late morning, seeing the situation, everyone could only pack up to go ho.
The three Zhang n felt deep regret; they all couldn’t help but think, if their youngest son (brother) was ho, how could these ats escape?
The Old Captain, seeing that the bear needed ti to heal, or perhaps it entered the deep forest to be killed by another wild animal, was likely as well.
Then, he imdiately ordered that aside from the night watchn, the rest were to disband and return to the busy farming season.
The common people rely on these crops; haven’t you seen the neighboring village mourning day after day? The Old Captain sympathized deeply with their plight but was powerless to help.
The opposing village could reduce this year’s grain tax, but his team wasn’t so fortunate, they still had to endure. Who knows how long they must endure until everyone is well-fed without worrying about clothing and food?
The three n of the Zhang family finally had their hearts at ease. Seeing no matters left for them, they bid farewell to the villagers and returned to the county seat.
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