"Xiao Wu... Xiao Wu..."
Zhang Guoqing had just finished lunch when he heard Yi Jiefang’s loud voice, accompanied by the footsteps of several others. He quickly went out to the living room.
Watching his buddies run over under the blazing sun, he raised an eyebrow and teased, "Chased by dogs? Didn’t you say this morning you weren’t coming today? What’s this performance about?"
Yi Jiefang rolled his eyes and pointed at the west wing.
Zhang Guoqing smiled and nodded.
Wan Dayong wiped his sweat and said fiercely, "Who knows what kind of performance Da Yi is putting on. As soon as he ran over, he told us to gather here first."
Ding Datou imdiately added, "If there’s no reasonable explanation, watch out, buddy!"
Geng Dasheng closely followed Yi Jiefang inside and didn’t forget to turn and say to Zhang Guoqing, "Xiao Wu, fix us sothing to quench our thirst."
"Yeah, where’s your wife? Tell her to make that shaved ice from last ti."
"Brother Dayong, run fast..."
Zhang Guoqing watched with mixed feelings as the chatting crowd slipped into the west wing, shook his head, and resignedly took a knife, went to the well, and brought the remaining half waterlon into the west wing.
"Jiao Jiao went to her aunt’s, make do with this for now. Sorry, guys."
Wan Dayong looked at his half-smiling and half-serious expression and shivered, "No! It’s creepy, talk properly. Why didn’t you follow your wife over there today?"
Ding Datou chid in, "Do you even need to ask? Of course, he was ditched."
Geng Dasheng imdiately added fuel to the fire, "Who told him to cling to his wife every ti she cos back?"
Yi Jiefang laughed heartily. Serves him right!
Zhou Guoqing looked speechlessly at these teasing friends, "Guys, can’t we just have fun together?"
"You, prioritizing love over friends, still want to have fun! Be honest, how much stock do you have left?" Wan Dayong said with a double aning, then provocatively glanced at his lower half.
"There should be quite a bit left, Xiao Wu, give your brother so good food."
Upon hearing this, Wan Dayong kicked Yi Jiefang and cursed under his breath, "Serves you right, you rookie!"
"Gentlen speak without using fists." Yi Jiefang snatched a slice of waterlon and quickly jumped away, shouting.
Zhang Guoqing wasn’t fond of others joking about his and his wife’s personal affairs. He shifted the topic, asking, "Does Da Yi have any plans?"
Hearing this, everyone’s eyes imdiately fixed on Yi Jiefang.
Yi Jiefang slowly enjoyed his waterlon, spat out the seeds, and when he saw they were getting impatient, finally said, "I’m going back to my hotown these days, want to book tickets for you all?"
"With about half a month until school starts, is there enough ti for a round trip?"
"No money! Not going!"
"Don’t bother going either."
As Zhang Guoqing listened to their discussions, seeing Yi Jiefang looking at him, he shook his head. Fortunately, Zhou Jiao hadn’t had the chance to ntion the plan to go south, otherwise, Yi Jiefang would have scolded them severely.
"You’re really not going?"
Zhang Guoqing suggested, "Why not go back ho for the winter holidays? Even if you go now, you’d only be able to stay with your grandparents for a day or two before rushing back."
Yi Jiefang hesitated for a mont, then nodded and said, "Alright. If you guys aren’t going, I’ll forget it too, and let my big brother go back by himself."
Zhang Guoqing was secretly pleased. If things go smoothly, he could accompany him to the South by the end of the year. Having a local contact would make things much easier.
To reward his brothers, he said with a smile, "I’m going back to my hotown in a few days, you guys coming?"
To his surprise, everyone shook their heads. He curiously asked, "Why? Do you guys have other plans?"
It was Geng Dasheng who told the truth, "We asked our friends from the Northeast, and there, it’s tough to even find so at now; most of the mountain has been harvested. It’s a wasted trip, and the travel expenses are enough for a few restaurant visits."
Zhang Guoqing didn’t insist since the travel costs for a round trip weren’t cheap, the last ti they could still take the military train. Even if he covered the fare this ti, they wouldn’t agree.
Wan Dayong winked at him and said with a laugh, "Mainly, we don’t want to interrupt the newlyweds."
Zhang Guoqing seriously told him, "Buddy, take my advice. The lust overpowers the blade; it’s ti to settle down and behave."
Wan Dayong put away his playful expression, watched him for a while, and nodded seriously.
Knowing Zhang Guoqing well enough, if he could seriously change his usual casual tone to say this, it shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Zhang Guoqing smiled faintly at him. Everyone here is smart, and he hoped Wan Dayong would take it to heart. No wall is soundproof in this world; if soone malicious decided to expose affairs with the opposite sex, not even Mr. Wan could save you.
Yi Jiefang sensed the subtle atmosphere and blinked, "Is Ping’an going back ho this ti?"
"Yes, if he doesn’t go back soon, he might forget what ho looks like."
"How long will this visit be?"
"At most, ten days or so."
Geng Dasheng: "Bring back more goods if you have them."
Zhang Guoqing smiled and nodded.
"Send a telegram when you’re back, and we’ll pick you up at the station."
Yi Jiefang pretended to clutch his heart, pointing at Wan Dayong, "You, you are so unloyal, why have you never picked up?"
"Get lost! You disgust ."
Everyone burst into laughter, amused by the two of them.
At this ti, another couple ca in from outside. Seeing Fang Fei carefully support his heavily pregnant wife, Yi Shumin, everyone laughed even harder.
Yi Jiefang raised an eyebrow at his buddies and teased, "Brother Xiao Fei, none is more of a modern-day devoted husband than you."
"That’s right! You guys should learn from ," Fang Fei replied indifferently, helped his wife to sit down, and quickly handed her a piece of waterlon.
Zhang Guoqing looked at him amused, "Why aren’t you at work today?"
"Shift change. Is there anything else to eat here? Bring it out for your sister-in-law."
Yi Shumin imdiately laughed, "Don’t listen to his nonsense. The waterlon is enough. Where’s Jiao Jiao?"
"Your sister-in-law is bored at ho, go get your wife over here."
Zhang Guoqing checked his watch, "She’ll be back soon. Sister-in-law, would you like to rest in the study?"
Yi Shumin knew he was worried she’d feel uncomfortable being here, smiled, and shook her head, "No need. I want to join in the commotion for a while, you guys continue playing."
Zhang Guoqing, hearing this, didn’t say more. Instead, he said to Wan Dayong and the others, "How about we play poker, sa old rules?"
"Sure. There’s nowhere good to go in this weather anyway."
The four of them began to play, with others gathering around to watch. Zhang Guoqing saw them settle down and went back inside, bringing out a plate of jerky for Yi Shumin.
Pregnant won these days had it hard, getting so thin that only the big belly was left. If it were his wife, he’d want to give her his flesh. He cast a disdainful glance at the engrossed Fang Fei.
This guy was bound to get scolded by his wife at night!
Yi Shumin gave a bright smile, "Save that for Little Ping’an."
"Don’t be shy; make do with it..." He stopped mid-sentence, showing delight on his face, "Jiao Jiao is back."
Yi Shumin watched him quickly run away, chuckled, then turned to look at her foolishly happy husband holding cards, her eyes shifting contemplatively.
Hmm. Seems like so reform is needed!
Fang Fei suddenly felt his hair stand on end, instinctively lifted his eyes to glance at his wife, smiled at her, saw her smile in return, then glanced at the at jerky in her hand, and sighed in relief.
Illusion! It must be an illusion!
This ti he had good cards; see, his luck was good after all.
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