Zhang Guoqing was struck by lightning, staring blankly at his wife. Is she flying away? How could she not take him along and not even ask him?
His mind was trying to imagine countless scenarios...
For example, it’s really chaotic abroad now with airplanes and cannons roaring... Or there are so many gangs abroad, lots of gangsters... Or being betrayed with many enemies...
"I’m going to find Beetle. Is he crazy, letting you go alone? You don’t have the strength to even lift a finger, can he bear the responsibility if sothing goes wrong?"
Zhou Jiao tugged at him, hurriedly seeking help from her dad.
Zhou Xiaozheng sat in the study observing his son-in-law’s expression, which was really amusing, as changeable as a Sichuan opera actor’s face.
Hearing his son-in-law’s words, he looked innocently upward. He couldn’t say that he had been the one to offer a chance to Beetle.
Oh, the Beetle Zhang Guoqing ntioned is Shi Dashen. It’s because Boss Shi’s grandson said that the word ’甲’ [pronounced ’jia’] was incorrectly written by his grandfather. So privately, he just called him Beetle.
Zhou Jiao explained helplessly, "I just finished reading the secret rules, and then you ca over? Plus, I’m not going alone; there are many people. The most important thing is there’s no chance of danger."
Zhang Guoqing ignored her, shouting towards the passer-by, Zhou Xiaozheng, "Dad?"
Zhou Xiaozheng was helpless, wondering why he was so irrational. He shook his hand, "Don’t get fooled. Your Uncle Shi can’t wait for you to step into a trap. Your treatnt over there would be like a regular worker, while Jiao Jiao is still an apprentice."
After speaking, he saw his son-in-law’s eyes flicker, glancing at him, "Don’t even think about it! Once you join that departnt, you might leave at any ti for ten years or so, and I wouldn’t even be able to refuse."
Zhang Guoqing frowned, sat beside him, and asked in a low voice, "Dad, they won’t make Jiao Jiao travel all the ti, will they?"
Zhou Xiaozheng shook his head, "No! Like you said, she doesn’t have any special abilities, not much use. This ti it’s a non-official task; I agreed because it’s safe."
What nonsense about a non-official task? Zhang Guoqing didn’t believe it at all. According to Zhou Jiao’s description, there wouldn’t be fewer of these tasks in the future. He didn’t want his wife constantly risking danger.
Zhou Xiaozheng rarely said a few more comforting words.
"Your Uncle Shi does want to absorb Jiao Jiao, but it’s not a must. There’s no shortage of talents nowadays; Jiao Jiao isn’t indispensable. This ti, the main task is safe, and the opportunity is rare. I plan to let her travel a bit. I’ve arranged for the follow-up, and he won’t bring this up again."
Zhang Guoqing nudged his shoulder, "Dad, give a hint, otherwise I won’t feel at ease."
Zhou Xiaozheng was amused. This kid had learned from Ping’an. He thought it was better to give a hint, in case this silly kid sneaked over; it would be serious, even he couldn’t protect him then.
He whispered sothing in Zhang Guoqing’s ear.
Zhang Guoqing’s eyes widened, revealing a joyful smile, giving him a thumbs-up.
"Dad, what were you two talking about?" Zhou Jiao curiously looked at them whispering but couldn’t hear anything.
Zhou Xiaozheng and his son-in-law said in unison, "Nothing."
Zhou Jiao didn’t ask again, just smiled. Actually, there were plenty of ways to cut off future issues, just that so things needed her further assessnt of the gains and losses.
Zhang Guoqing smiled at Zhou Jiao, "Hmm, go ahead. Have fun. Rember not to always be in disguise outside, you look great just like this."
Zhou Xiaozheng couldn’t bear to look, holding his forehead with one hand. Who said his son-in-law was smart? He’s so foolish! Truly, "the absence of three hundred taels of silver here" scenario.
Zhou Jiao glanced at her dad, a thought occurred to her, and she smiled and nodded at Zhang Guoqing.
"Outside is even more chaotic than our country now, be sure to bring more dicine powder, and don’t go anywhere alone. Don’t intervene in any injustices you see..."
Zhou Jiao muffled her laughter. Brother, this doesn’t fit your character setting.
"Dad, tell Jiao Jiao what she needs to be careful about outside."
"She can’t leave alone; soone will be with her. Just observe how others act. Avoid so impoverished areas." After Zhou Xiaozheng finished, he looked at the two of them, "Actually, with money, you can do fine anywhere."
That’s indeed the way it is.
The couple nodded in agreent.
Zhou Jiao didn’t know how much is ten thousand US Dollars in the outside world or what she could buy with it. But she wasn’t worried, if foreign banks couldn’t cash it, gold was always a universal currency.
"You get subsidies when going out, but they’re minimal. This ti, roughly five of you will go abroad for an exchange eting with your aunt’s unit, and dedicated personnel will be in touch with you. Even I don’t have the list of specific people now. But you’ll know before you leave early the day after tomorrow.
A couple of years ago, they went directly over from Old Russians’ side, this ti it should be the sa, but it’ll pass through several countries. Security there isn’t great, so keep your docunts ready."
Zhou Jiao smiled after hearing, "Don’t worry at ho, I’ve got it."
After Zhang Guoqing confird there was no danger, no matter how reluctant he felt, he knew she must go this ti. Calming down now, he sat there thinking about what might have been overlooked.
Zhou Xiaozheng glanced at his worried son-in-law and smiled. This isn’t about catching spies; it’s just about running rounds, recording so data, and helping everyone tally up statistics, which is actually quite relaxed.
Seeing that what needed to be instructed was almost done, he told them to go out and accompany the child. As for his daughter’s travel, he felt very assured. With her temperant and interpersonal skills, there was no need for extra instructions.
In the living room, Ping’an sat on a small stool flipping through a comic book, occasionally glancing at the courtyard and then at the study door, evidently on sentry duty.
As the study door opened, the little one’s stern face burst into a bright smile in the blink of an eye.
In an instant, Zhang Guoqing thoughtfully went forward to pick up the child. It seems his wife’s decision was right! One of them really needs to stay with the child. He personally felt that no matter how good the grandparents were, they couldn’t replace mom and dad.
"Daddy, where’s Grandpa?"
Zhang Guoqing chuckled. This grandparent title wasn’t undeserved, certainly making the child think about him all the ti.
"Inside, do you want to go in?"
Ping’an shook his head, "No, Grandpa still has to work. He can accompany after eating."
Zhang Guoqing patted the child’s head, silently deciding that while his wife was away, he would co ho more often to accompany their child. Living in the Big Courtyard has its pros and cons compared to the outside world.
"This weekend, how about Dad taking you to the countryside to see the canola flowers? The locust flowers are also blooming now; we’ll bring so back for Grandma Chen to make locust flower cakes."
Ping’an eagerly nodded, "Okay. Dad, big brother said during the busy farming season it’s about breaking clods, during idle tis cutting grass, picking up Mai Sui in the sumr, and gathering soybeans during the autumn harvest, isn’t it fun?"
Zhang Guoqing glanced at his wife, who was holding back her laughter, and nodded at his son.
This country life needs to be experienced by his son, can’t let him forget his farming roots. More importantly, let him personally experience the labor and hardship, understand the world’s difficulties.
User Comments
0 comments from readers