When Zhang Guoqing and his family of three returned ho, it was already dark. Lin Lishan accompanied Old Mrs. Cheng in the living room, waiting for them. Seeing them return, she didn’t ask too many questions, probably assuming they had gone out to handle so matters.
Zhang Guoqing hurriedly greeted them and first took his son for a bath. The hospital was full of germs, plus he was sweaty, and he felt uncomfortable.
In the bathroom, looking at the small handkerchief in his son’s grip, Zhang Guoqing chuckled to himself.
"Dad, you have to cherish things!"
Zhang Guoqing patted the little genius, "I’ll definitely pay attention next ti! Thank you, sweetheart."
Ping’an smiled sweetly and waved his hand, "Luckily, it wasn’t stolen. You’re better than my grandma; she used to be wasteful. My grandpa said she improved quite a bit under my guidance and is still a good comrade."
Zhang Guoqing was amused and laughed heartily, carefully applying imported body wash on him. He felt delighted by the bubbles forming on his hands. His son could finally use the good stuff openly!
Now he understood why parents always wanted to give their children the best. He was the sa! Looking at the tiny figure, he wished he could offer the best things in the world just to see his child’s smiling face.
"Dad, don’t throw away that pretty bottle. Fill it with water and let mom hide it. Next ti it will sll great again."
"Son, can’t we be a little less stingy?"
Ping’an giggled, half-closing his eyes and saring the foam on him. Laugh at my frugality, will you! Mom said it’s expensive, very expensive, only for family use.
Zhang Guoqing didn’t realize his son had been led astray by his own wife. Otherwise, he’d definitely protest. He had prepared plenty of children’s products back then, all of them of high quality. His son really didn’t need to be frugal!
After finishing their showers, the father and son held hands and returned to the living room. With matching hairstyles and matching white shirt and military pants of the sa color, Old Mrs. Cheng was delighted.
She pointed to Ping’an’s little shirt and little military pants, "Did your mom prepare these?"
Ping’an shook his head, "My grandma made three sets for and dad. It’s a secret, great-grandmother!"
Old Mrs. Cheng looked at Lin Lishan, who nodded with a smile, and said with a laugh, "Good taste. Our Xiao Wu and Ping’an wear them without being flashy but looking grand."
"Xiao Wu has been with Jiao Jiao these past few years and has suffered, wearing clothes from previous years. I saw the fabric at ho was going to waste, so I had the tailor make them all at once."
Zhang Guoqing smiled as he explained for his wife, "I’m a big guy, so I don’t care what I wear. Jiao Jiao hasn’t made clothes either. You wouldn’t believe it, but in the school, besides and Da Yi, dozens of others are all patched up. Even so, people keep their distance from each other. If I wore new clothes every day, I’d worry about getting mugged walking at night."
Old Mrs. Cheng laughed and shook her head, "Different tis, it’s good to be cautious."
"Don’t worry, Aunt. Our kids have their boundaries."
"That’s true." When Old Mrs. Cheng saw Zhou Jiao coming out after her bath, she waved her over, "Co on, let’s eat first. Eat more tonight; there wasn’t much good stuff on the train."
"Aunt Chen prepared a lot of oily stir-fried noodles. Later on the train, add hot water to a bowl, and it tastes good."
"That’s a good one!"
Zhang Guoqing and Zhou Jiao exchanged a knowing smile. Every ti they went on a long trip, it seed like everyone got alard and hectic, but truthfully, they were happy inside.
After dinner and a short rest, it was ti for Mr. Cheng’s aide, Xiao Chen, to drive Zhang Guoqing and his family to the station.
In the waiting room, Zhang Guoqing borrowed two sleeper tickets handed over by the other party and asked him to leave first. Receiving a roll of the eyes, he laughed and let him be.
The two n sat next to each other, gossiping sotis in whispers, sotis bursting into laughter, making Zhou Jiao feel embarrassed watching from the side.
She gently patted her son, who was dozing in her arms, "Go to sleep; mom will hold you."
"No, I have to protect mom."
Zhou Jiao wanted to say, oh son, Mr. Sandman is already waiting to play chess with you in your dreams, better to rest early. But seeing his tightly gripped hand, she just smiled and said, "Okay."
"Mom, once we get on the train, you can sleep and rest, just endure a bit more."
Zhou Jiao looked at him amused, stifling her laughter, replied, "Alright." She almost wanted to ask her son if this counted as self-suggestion?
Finally, it was ti to board. Zhang Guoqing took the son, letting Zhou Jiao walk in front, followed by Xiao Chen carrying the luggage. With this arrangent, he felt relieved to get on the carriage.
"This ti you don’t need to urge ; I’ll go back. Send a telegram when you return, and I’ll pick you up."
"Brother Chen, be careful on your way."
"Safe journey! Don’t co out. Quickly let your son sleep; the little guy’s eyes are barely open."
Waving, they watched Xiao Chen leave. Zhang Guoqing patted Ping’an, "Safe and sound on the train, go to sleep first. Dad will guard mom for you."
Ping’an glanced at Zhou Jiao, seeing her nodding with a smile, he smiled, "Okay."
Hearing the noise from inside and outside the train, Zhang Guoqing hugged him, gently patting him for not long before he saw his son fast asleep, and with a smile, he patted his head, carefully placing him on the inside of the bunk.
Zhou Jiao pointed to herself.
"Alright, let , such a big guy, sleep with the child. I’m worried about squeezing him." Zhang Guoqing regretfully glanced at the fully occupied bunks around.
Zhou Jiao, taking off her shoes, lay down on the bunk, reached out, gently holding the child, and gestured to Zhang Guoqing, asking him to sleep too. She was feeling a bit sleepy herself, just right to accompany the child to sleep.
The whole night, Zhang Guoqing was genuinely worried about his son being taken. He kept opening his eyes drowsily to check if the two on the opposite bunk were still there, then closed his eyes for a little more sleep. And so, by morning when he heard the broadcast announcing breakfast, he still felt half-awake.
Lying quietly on the bunk, listening to the conversation between his son and wife, Zhang Guoqing rested a good while before truly waking up, couldn’t help sighing that it’s tiring to take a child out.
"Mom, dad’s awake..."
Zhang Guoqing waved at him, "Did you sleep well last night?"
"Not bad."
A middle-aged man on the upper bunk smiled and praised, "Your kid is so well-behaved, not noisy at all."
Zhang Guoqing modestly replied with a smile, "Normally he’s spirited."
"Going back to visit relatives?"
"Yes. Taking the child to see his grandparents."
On the side, seeing them chatting, Zhou Jiao lowered her head and softly instructed Ping’an, "Stay here, don’t move. Mom’s going to wash her face."
Ping’an nodded, "Be careful, mom."
"Okay."
No matter how much rest they got along the way, upon arriving at the province station, Zhou Jiao and Ping’an both looked exhausted. Zhang Guoqing knew they were used to living in comfort.
He stepped forward, picked up his son, grabbed the luggage, held his wife’s hand, and walked out of the station.
This ti returning to their hotown, they hadn’t given Zhao Chuan Guang prior notice, considering it was always the two of them coming to pick up. So, they tacitly decided to take their child to the military district to et them first.
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