Zhang Guoqing had no way of knowing what was happening with the Lin Family.
When he woke up the next morning, he joined his father-in-law for exercise, took his son to daycare, amused his mother-in-law for a bit, received so ticulously prepared "buns" from Aunt Chen, and then resud campus life.
The days that followed were calm, even Geng Dasheng wondered if his uncle had perhaps seen him too many tis lately and was avoiding him, hence keeping things from him.
But soon, they had no ti to worry about it. The heavy coursework, frequent experints, and constant ideological classes took up much of their ti.
Especially those a year ahead like Wan Dayong, Ding Datou, and Geng Dasheng were even busier. Besides their studies, they had to frequently follow professors for grassroots internships.
The small group couldn’t hang out together every day, which worried Yi Jiefang for several days. If even the last of his pals were to leave, he would have no one to play with.
And he was right to worry! Zhang Guoqing had to leave, and it was a trip he couldn’t avoid.
Zhang Guoqing frowned, staring intently at the urgent telegram in his hand. Why did it feel like he couldn’t recognize the words? That kind old man had just left like that.
They were hoping for Zhou Jiao to go there, but even if she started heading back right away, it was hard to say if she’d make it, not to ntion he wasn’t even sure which country she was in.
"Da Yi, I have to go take leave, cover for if anything cos up."
As Yi Jiefang walked alongside him, he asked, "How co you have a grandmother in Hai City? Aren’t you from the Northeast? Could it be a mistake?"
"No, she’s the god-grandmother of and Jiao Jiao. It’s just like family; those specialties from Hai City were sent by the old couple. They have no children, just us. I have to go and handle the funeral. My grandfather is even older, probably can’t hold on this ti, otherwise, he wouldn’t have sent a telegram."
The Zhou Family had long prepared a consistent story regarding this elderly couple from Hai City, so Zhang Guoqing wasn’t worried about any probing.
"Indeed, you must go. Can you still make it to the train this afternoon?"
"There’s a train at night. I have to hurry. Alright, we’re almost there. I’ll go take leave first."
Yi Jiefang watched him enter with the telegram in hand, and stood there with his eyes darting around. This excuse of a funeral really is convenient; he could tag along to Hai City for a trip. His good friend had urgent matters, he had to go help.
After waiting for a while, seeing Zhang Guoqing looking noticeably more relaxed, he guessed it worked out. He didn’t expect it to be this easy.
After walking a bit, Yi Jiefang stopped, "You head back first, I’m going to the classroom."
Zhang Guoqing saw him rush off and didn’t pay much mind. He was eager to report back to his father-in-law. He wasn’t sure if his father was away on business or if they would go to Hai City together.
He then thought of the light frequently on in his father-in-law’s study recently, probably another case of being unable to leave.
Zhang Guoqing hurried all the way, ignoring his sweat-soaked clothes, first heading to Zhou Xiaozheng’s workplace to find out from the guards that he was in a eting.
He quickly rushed to the eting location and finally found Secretary Chen waiting outside the conference room.
Secretary Chen had never seen Zhang Guoqing in such a flustered state and quickly approached him.
They walked to a corner, and only then did Secretary Chen ask, "Is there sothing wrong? I don’t know when the eting will end. Are you in a hurry, should I call him out?"
Zhang Guoqing shook his head, "No need. Just pass him a note for , saying that my god-grandmother in Hai City has passed away and I plan to go there to handle things at ho."
"Alright, wait a mont."
Zhang Guoqing knew that with just that, his father-in-law would understand. Aside from attending the funeral, there were plenty of follow-up matters to address. This ti, the old man would certainly insist on going back to the hotown. Arranging the now vacant house and the elderly moving back would need his father-in-law’s decision.
Secretary Chen ca back and whispered in his ear, "He asked you to wait for half an hour."
Zhang Guoqing nodded and went to the lounge to rest. The half-hour felt extrely long, and he waited for more than an hour, finished off a large pot of tea, before finally getting to see his father-in-law.
He might as well have said to co back after work! His father-in-law’s busyness was truly evident, it wasn’t easy.
Zhou Xiaozheng, facing his son-in-law’s sympathetic gaze, patted his forehead, "Got numb waiting? Let’s talk in the car."
In the car, father-in-law and son-in-law barely had ti to speak before the car quickly arrived around the bend.
It wasn’t until they reached the Zhou Family Courtyard that Zhou Xiaozheng instructed Secretary Chen to prepare a sleeper train ticket for tonight, getting off the car and heading ho with Zhang Guoqing.
"This ti, take care of things as you see fit, and take plenty of money and tickets. The money Jiao Jiao left in the study last ti, I haven’t touched it, take it all."
Zhang Guoqing shook his head, gently said, "I’ve earned quite a bit in the past two months, I have enough on hand."
Zhou Xiaozheng shot him a sideways glance, "Don’t waste your energy on such trivial matters, our family doesn’t lack money."
"I know. It’s just that without Jiao Jiao at ho, it’s really boring."
Zhou Xiaozheng shook his head. He was indirectly asking for his wife again; luckily it’s the son-in-law; if it were his son, he’d surely kick the kid. Asking three tis a day, so annoying.
Upon entering the living room and seeing Ping’an, Zhou Xiaozheng suddenly said, "Take the kid along, to offer incense on our behalf."
Zhang Guoqing looked at him doubtfully. Was he setting him up again? He knew despite the calm, the issues with the Lin Family were about to wrap up.
"I have so business trips coming up in the next few days too."
This reassured Zhang Guoqing. If the Lin Family was stirring up trouble again, he wasn’t going to Hai City. If anything happened to his father-in-law and he wasn’t there, his wife would definitely kill him when she got back.
Ping’an listened quietly to their conversation and then asked, "Will it be a long trip? I need to stay ho and wait for mom."
Zhang Guoqing’s eyes lit up, quickly asking, "How many days can you take off?"
"Two weeks. No more than that."
Zhou Xiaozheng watched the father and son fondly. It wasn’t just them; he also missed his daughter a lot.
"No! Dad doesn’t have that much leave either. We’ll handle things and co back right away."
Ping’an put down the toy in his hand and stood up, "Then I’ll go say goodbye to Grandma. She ntioned taking on a trip last ti."
Zhou Xiaozheng suggested, "Let Grandma take you, since your dad will be busy, you two can go have fun."
Ping’an nodded enthusiastically, and ran to the bedroom.
Zhang Guoqing looked towards the kitchen and called out to Zhou Xiaozheng, "Dad?"
"What? Don’t want to go? Fine, I’ll tell your mom not to pack. There’s no need to inform Secretary Chen to add tickets. If you can’t get a sleeper on your way back, make sure to find Huang Dong."
Zhang Guoqing watched his father-in-law’s natural deanor as he walked into the house, suspected himself of overthinking, quickly blocked him, and once more glanced over, "Dad, you better not send us away and take risks yourself."
Zhou Xiaozheng gave him a sideways look, "You’re overthinking it. If you don’t believe it, you can ask Secretary Chen later whether my schedule was pre-booked."
Zhang Guoqing believed his father-in-law wouldn’t lie about that. He would confirm with Secretary Chen later; they wouldn’t have a chance to coordinate tales. Since his father-in-law was leaving Beijing, too, he didn’t care anymore. With the whole family gone, if the Lin Family wanted to stir trouble, they could do as they pleased.
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