The night enveloped Beijing, while the train station platform was brightly lit. Zhang Guoqing would never mistake the face in front of him. Even in the pitch black, he recognized his buddy standing there.
"Don’t tell you skipped class?"
Yi Jiefang said with a mournful face, "Not even half a day after you left, I received a telegram from ho. My great-grandmother unfortunately passed away. She loved , her little grandson, the most. My family is busy with work and can’t leave, so I must go."
Zhang Guoqing laughed angrily and kicked at his leg, "Yeah right, your great-grandmother loved you the most, you’re just going to bask in that."
Yi Jiefang jumped aside, laughing, "All sorted. The teacher really didn’t approve, so I had my mom call, and he finally believed. He said our brothers’ relationship is so good that we share the sa sorrow."
Ping’an, in Zhou Xiaozheng’s arms, laughed with a giggle.
"Uncle Zhou, keep this a secret. Don’t ntion it in front of my dad."
Zhou Xiaozheng nodded with a smile.
Once on the carriage, Yi Jiefang smugly waved the ticket in his hand at Zhang Guoqing, making everyone laugh. This kid is really funny.
Zhang Guoqing paid him no mind, but looked out the train window at his father-in-law, "Dad, please rember what you promised . Make sure to eat on ti and go to the cafeteria..."
Zhou Xiaozheng laughed at him, "Alright. I’m not Ping’an."
After saying this, he turned to look at his wife beside the window, "Take this chance to really relax."
Lin Lishan nodded, "You take care of yourself too."
Zhou Xiaozheng looked at her and sighed silently. The blow this ti was really too great; she still hasn’t returned to her carefree state.
Zhang Guoqing, seeing this, stepped aside to give the couple so space for private conversation.
Ping’an let go of Aunt Chen’s hand, ran over to Lin Lishan, and shouted to Zhou Xiaozheng outside the train, "Grandpa, rember the little box if you get hungry. Great-grandma said she’d make you a midnight snack, and I’ve already told her what you like. I’ll be back soon to keep you company and bring you gifts."
"Okay, don’t be mischievous outside, rember to stick close to the adults, and never act on your own. If you see sothing you like, let your grandma buy it for you, don’t be stingy with the money."
"Grandpa, what if I miss you without you by my side, I don’t want to leave anymore."
Zhang Guoqing rubbed his aching head, watching the little drama king starting again. If he doesn’t want to leave, why is he clinging to his grandma? Without the little demon at ho, the little drama king starts, and the life-or-death departures on every train journey terrify him.
The whistle blew; as the train started to move slowly, Ping’an cried out in panic, "I want Grandpa; I’m not leaving, really, I’m not leaving."
Zhang Guoqing, already prepared, imdiately grabbed his body stretching out of the window and called to the worried Zhou Xiaozheng outside, "Dad, don’t worry, he’s just like Jiao Jiao."
Zhou Xiaozheng chuckled in surprise, "Little man."
Inside the carriage, as Ping’an saw the train move more swiftly, he imdiately shouted, "Bleed, but no tears." After he said this, all he could now see was his grandpa waving goodbye to him.
Lin Lishan consoled him by the side, "We’ll be back in a few days, just as your grandpa returns from his trip. What are you going to do with your grandpa and grandma?"
Ping’an wriggled out of Zhang Guoqing’s arms and ran to Lin Lishan’s side, "Grandma, I really like you, and I’ll keep you company. Did grandpa give you money?"
Lin Lishan picked him up, laughing, "Enough for you to spend."
Yi Jiefang, having watched everything from start to end, grabbed Zhang Guoqing in shock, "Where did your son learn this face-changing trick?"
"Kids are all like this." Zhang Guoqing casually replied.
"Really?"
Zhang Guoqing confird, "Really. My parents spoil the kids, and they’re used to it that’s why. With soone else, the kids wouldn’t be like this."
Yi Jiefang’s eyes shone as he looked at Ping’an, "Xiao Wu, I’ll go on blind dates as soon as I graduate and have a son right away."
Aunt Chen, standing at one side, covered her mouth, stifling laughter. This kid is really amusing!
This ti they went out, in the end, they brought Aunt Chen along. After all, even though Lin Lishan had recovered, her body and spirit had been affected by such an ordeal. Zhang Guoqing couldn’t let his son go alone with her, and when his father-in-law suggested it, he imdiately applauded the idea.
Compared to a few years ago when they took the soft sleeper to Hai City, the conditions were sowhat worse. This ti Old Mrs. Cheng also wanted to accompany Zhang Guoqing and his son, but he refused.
As they were going to handle funeral matters, he was worried it might affect the old lady’s fortune, which amused Old Mrs. Cheng to no end.
The four adults traveling with a well-behaved child was not too arduous. Upon reaching the terminal station, sure enough, soone was holding a sign for pickup as soon as they stepped out of the station.
At first, Zhang Guoqing followed the voices in the crowd. When he saw a man looking at their group sowhat curiously, he asked.
"Are you Xiao Wu? Is this chubby boy Ping’an?"
"Sorry to interrupt, but I really didn’t know soone was coming to pick us up. May I ask who you are?" Zhang Guoqing was also sizing up the other person.
The middle-aged man chuckled, "Didn’t your father-in-law tell you he needed sothing? He called yesterday and asked to keep an eye out for you."
Zhang Guoqing hurriedly stepped forward to greet him, "Uncle Huang, why did you personally co? You’re too kind. I was planning to settle down and then visit you."
Huang Dong patted him, laughing, "Cut it out with your Uncle Huang."
After this, he turned his gaze to Lin Lishan, "Sister-in-law, I’m Huang Dong, Brother Zheng’s close friend, just call Dongzi. Now, shall we go to the villa first, or head to the village?"
"Okay. I won’t be polite with you. Please take us to the military district first; I need to apply for a vehicle because many things aren’t ready. On the way, you can tell us what we need to prepare."
Zhang Guoqing looked at Lin Lishan, "Do you want to wait for us at the guesthouse?" That kind of occasion really wasn’t suitable for his mother-in-law, considering there’s a "mother-in-law" in the grave.
Lin Lishan shook her head, "Ti is tight; let’s go to the military district first and discuss things later."
Huang Dong quickly led the way, "Let’s go; let’s get in the car first and talk later."
As they walked to the parking area, Zhang Guoqing introduced Yi Jiefang, then imdiately inquired about the funeral process and necessary items.
"The old lady spent her final days in the village, so I assu they should be prepared. I’ve already got so white cloth and black veils in the car; you can take them over first. As for customs, ask the old master. Since he doesn’t want to do things in the city, he probably wants to follow their local rituals."
"Sorry for troubling you again; I won’t say thank you."
When they reached the military district, Lin Lishan processed the paperwork. Without ti for a proper al, they grabbed so buns to tide them over and went out to buy two pairs of white shoes.
Soon, two cars, led by Huang Dong, sped towards Old Master Jiang’s hotown.
Inside the car, Lin Lishan organized the white clothing and shoes for Zhang Guoqing and his son, while instructing her son-in-law driving, "Drop at a nearby guesthouse later, and I’ll check in first. Tonight, you can bring Aunt Chen and Ping’an back. Make sure the mourning bands are of equal length at both ends!"
Zhang Guoqing laughed, "Alright, Uncle Huang ntioned the taboo places, I’ve noted them. You should go to the guesthouse at Uncle Huang’s bureau; it’s close to Aunt Zhao Wenhui’s place."
Lin Lishan rembered that Aunt Zhao Wenhui was Zhao Chuan Guang’s older sister and thought it made sense; the conditions there were better. It would be just the right ti to et, and she nodded approvingly.
Not far from the village, the cars stopped, and after switching places with Lin Lishan, Yi Jiefang watched as Huang Dong drove away with her and the extra luggage.
He couldn’t help comnting, "Your mother-in-law really is generous. Her daughter ends up being soone else’s granddaughter, and there’s even a ’mother’ in the grave. Think about it, her own daughter cost her family plenty."
Zhang Guoqing smiled and shook his head, not saying much. So things have to be done this way; otherwise, they’ll be used against you in the future. To cover up one lie often leads to a string of lies.
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