Chapter 229: Chapter 165: Prophetic Insight

Zhou Xiaozheng nodded, “We must keep an eye on him. Sons and daughters are different. Daughters can live as they please, but sons need to have some skills for family and career in the future. If he’s not confident about getting into college, he should give up early and start working. If we can’t keep an eye on him under our watch, we should just send him to the provincial city for the military to manage. No matter how rebellious, they’ll straighten up. Don’t feel sorry; once the new recruit period is over, we’ll arrange for him to go to Zhao Chuan Guang’s place, which isn’t bad. Communications soldiers are also pretty good; after demobilization, they can work at the post office.”

“Okay, I’ll listen to you.”

Zhou Xiaozheng kicked over and jokingly scolded, “Why listen to me? Your son isn’t for me to take care of. If I had a daughter, I might consider it. While we still have connections these years, plan early; who knows what the future holds. Like those cadre kids like Zhao Chuan Guang, they have elders at home thinking about them; they’re not in a hurry. We, from rural backgrounds, have to plan early when we have the chance. By the time we’re no longer able, it’ll be too late for regrets.”

Zhao Dashan nodded, looked at Zhou Xiaozheng expectantly, and said, “Brother Zheng, why don’t you take him to Beijing? I’d be at ease with him under your command.”

Zhou Xiaozheng said seriously to him, “Rest assured, but I’m not at ease. Think about the type of people I lead. Why would you place the child, who isn’t lacking anything, in danger? Have you forgotten how we got through tough times? Even after being away for more than ten years, I still don’t know how things are now that I’m back. How could I dare bring your son? Even my Jiao Jiao wants me to retire to the Northeast. Do you understand her reasoning?”

“Then why don’t you retire back to the Northeast? It’s our old place; there’s no place better than this,” Zhao Dashan asked in puzzlement.

Zhou Xiaozheng gave him a sidelong glance, “In a couple of years, if my Jiao Jiao returns to Beijing, what then? Transfer back again? She worries I’ll become a target for the Lin Family. Do I not worry about them being plotted against there? I just don’t believe it; who would dare come after us, just the two of us? Damn it, we’ll finish them off.”

Zhao Dashan looked worriedly outside the door and spoke in a low voice, “Is your father-in-law planning to use you? He seems quite upright. Are you aware of that? Be careful of trouble arising as you guard against the outside. Didn’t your brother-in-law come back with you? This time, is he above you or below you?”

Zhou Xiaozheng gave a mysterious smile, “Above or below, what do you mean by that? Speak clearly. I’m still above him; other than the old man, no one is bigger than me. They’ve even given me a car, and when I get back, we’re moving. I’m not under his management, so he can’t use me. Jiao Jiao’s worried they might get into trouble and drag me down.”

Zhao Dashan breathed a sigh of relief, patted himself, “Just take care of yourself, don’t meddle needlessly. It’s been more than 17 years without a trace of them, and now that you’ve made something of yourself, they’ve all emerged. Sister-in-law has been waiting for you all these years. If not, does the Lin Family really think they’re better than your family? You know this deep down. Speaking candidly as brothers, this time, look out for yourself. You owe nothing to the Lin Family, and Jiao Jiao owes them even less.”

Zhou Xiaozheng was silent for a moment, then nodded. He understood more than anyone about the Lin Family. Haha, the Lin Family. Their appearance before Jiao Jiao this time made things clear to both sides. With her daughter’s temperament, if they threatened the two of them, even the so-called uncle could be cast aside, let alone the Lin Family.

Shanshan doesn’t understand; she doesn’t know Jiao Jiao’s way of dealing with the world. She’s happy Jiao Jiao gave her father two Wolf King’s Skins and two pieces of ginseng, but Jiao Jiao expects something in return. If they were truly inseparable, she wouldn’t spend big money like this. Just like she mentioned fetching her dowry from Beijing, she wants things clear between them. Notice that this time she didn’t mention whether her uncle got that person’s Amulet; she doesn’t care about it.

His Jiao Jiao, having gone through too much, understands human nature too well, her heart has grown cold and hard, she sees things too clearly. The old man probably knows this too, which is why he tries hard to draw Xiao Wu in.

Zhao Dashan checked his watch and stood up, “Brother Zheng, let’s tidy up, lock up the windows and doors, and go out to wait for them so we can get food early. Otherwise, it’ll be freezing cold.”

“Alright, I’ll move the homespun onto the car first. It’ll be useful for your sister-in-law when we get back. By tomorrow, everything should be sorted. My Jiao Jiao is finally going to have a place to stay; it’s worth it.”

“When do you plan to move? We can warm up the house and have some fun.”

“Let’s not make a fuss. We’ll just have a drink among a few of us as a housewarming, to avoid having to entertain all those relatives and friends again. It’s annoying for my Jiao Jiao. If they want a housewarming, let them handle it when the village courtyard is built.”

Zhou Xiaozheng secured the windows and doors, locked up the house, and with Zhao Dashan, started carrying things to the door, only to see Zhang Guoqing and his second brother approaching. Zhou Xiaozheng placed the homespun on the steps and nudged Zhao Dashan to look at who had arrived.

Zhao Dashan put down the cloth and saw who was coming in front. Wasn’t it Xiao Wu, and it seemed like his brother was with him? Heh, Brother Zheng really predicted this, knowing they would follow the steps. Giving Zhou Xiaozheng a thumbs up, he winked.

Zhang Guoqing saw his father-in-law and Zhao Dashan at the gate from afar, with a pile of cloth in front. He looked at his second brother with a headache; more trouble had been stirred up again. Pulling his second brother along, they ran quickly towards them. Before they reached the front, a car stopped at the gate, and his mother-in-law shouted, “Xiao Wu, mom’s here. Why did you go to the county? Come over; it’s time to eat together.”

Zhou Guoqing brought Zhang Guoqiang to the car and greeted them, curiously looking at the car, “Mom, since when did you and dad go to the provincial city?”

Zhao Dashan asked in surprise, “How do you know this is a provincial city car? Why not say it’s from our department?”

“The license plate,” Zhang Guoqing quickly stepped forward to pick up the cloth on the ground and put it in the car, “Mom, are you taking this cloth back or getting someone to work on it?”

“Taking it back to make curtains and quilt covers, how’s that? Initially, I went with your dad to Friendship Mall and bought several bolts. Later, your Aunt Cheng took me to Master Fang in the alley to buy quilts, and I discovered there was homespun, so I bought these. Does Jiao Jiao know you’re back?” Lin Lishan gestured at the cloth for Xiao Wu to see.

Zhang Guoqing saw they were all plaid fabric, which he could accept, “This plaid looks good, very Scottish in style. I read in a magazine that people from Y Country love plaid fabric; you can see plaid cloth everywhere inside and outside their homes. But what’s with these two bolts of big red flowers? To make clothes for Jiao Jiao? She won’t wear them. She’ll say she’s not in a singing opera role. She won’t wear them for sure. Want to exchange them for another color?”

Everyone laughed, Lin Lishan laughed until she couldn’t stop, “Don’t worry, they’re for making quilt covers and bed sheets. Your Aunt Cheng said if it’s always plaid, you need to change it up.”

Zhou Xiaozheng opened the gate and let everyone in first. He figured the car wouldn’t seat everyone, and since it wasn’t far, walking was fine. Zhao Dashan checked his watch, “Never mind, let’s not go in. Xiao Wu and his brother can visit anytime. We should get to the restaurant; if we delay, people will leave when they see we’re not there.”

Zhang Guoqing quietly said to Zhou Xiaozheng, “Dad, I plan to see Zuo Lin tonight. Doesn’t he have a temporary job opening? I want to take my second brother there to see what he thinks. Everything at home is sorted, nothing left hanging.”

Zhou Xiaozheng looked at him amusedly, “Bringing just two bottles of wine to settle such a good matter? Come on, your Uncle Dashan already lined it up for you. We’ll have dinner with him tonight. Park your car first and bring those two bottles.”

“Hehe, got it. After dinner, should I come back for more drinking, or should I drive over now?”

Zhou Xiaozheng called out, “Dashan, where are we going tonight? Tell Xiao Wu to drive over first while we walk there slowly.”

“Xiao Wu, wait for us by the textile factory. When you see Zuo Lin, let him bring his wife over.” Zhao Dashan said and then left with Zhou Xiaozheng, arms around their wives.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep