Chapter 371: Chapter 283: Busy Inside and Out

The wood on the country stove in the kitchen was burning, with two pots on it, one boiling, the other steaming. Zhou Jiao sat on a small stool, occasionally looking up and sniffing, while her hands kept cleaning the fresh squid.

At this moment, Zhou Jiao thought of several more baskets of seafood waiting outside for her to clean, and she felt like crying. Why did she only think about the bargains at that time?

In the yard, Mr. Zhang and Zhang Meili finished carrying the wine jar and were moving noodles upstairs when they saw Mother Zhang hurrying in. Mr. Zhang, surprised, asked, “What’s going on? Why were you gone for so long?”

“Oh my… The daughter-in-law of that family is really chatty and kept holding me back from leaving.”

Mother Zhang saw that they were almost done moving, and headed for the kitchen. Seeing Zhou Jiao still working, she promptly pulled her up and told her to go back to take care of the children.

The kitchen didn’t need help with firewood, so it was better for her to look after her grandson. As for cleaning the seafood, she and her eldest could soon finish it, no need for her to be involved.

Zhou Jiao washed her hands, sniffed her clothing, frowned, and took off her outerwear. After washing up, she felt better and quickly returned to the living room.

Having not held her son all day, Zhou Jiao now felt a bit guilty with him in her arms. Returning to the bedroom, after feeding him, she saw her son clutching her clothes tightly and felt even more sorrowful.

Zhou Jiao hummed a song and gently patted him. After a while, seeing him asleep, she dared to lie down on the bed with him. Lying down, her whole body ached.

With her eyes closed, she saw the abundance of supplies in her space, and felt a bit comforted. Her child would not have to endure the hardships she faced in her childhood.

Thinking about Zhang Guoqing going to see Liu Ming tonight, she couldn’t help but worry about whether Liu Ming would take the rail tomorrow; if the crabs died, they wouldn’t be special. If she hadn’t remembered that every year, the unit gave crabs preserved in sawdust soaked in sea water, her father wouldn’t have been able to receive live crabs.

Zhang Guoqing hurried straight to the provincial military district, stopping directly at Zhao Chuan Guang’s doorstep. After a brief explanation to their couple, he unloaded everything. Without time for a detailed chat, he rushed to the provincial station to sort things out.

Around ten o’clock at night, Zhang Guoqing finally parked his car at the gate. On entering the yard, he saw that the items he had left were gone, and the ground was clean.

Mr. Zhang hurried out when he heard the car, just as Zhang Guoqing came in, and asked, “Got everything done? How come you still have so much?”

“All done. Uncle Dashan asked me to bring them a lot too, but since he didn’t separate the items, I left everything with my godparents, just briefly explaining which were for whom, and then left.

They were so enthusiastic, that as I drove off, godmother tossed this package in, saying it was for Jiao Jiao, and she hadn’t had time to deliver it yet. I haven’t looked to see what it is yet. The cardboard box is the leftover seafood from our family.”

Zhang Guoqing and his father chatted as they walked. Entering the kitchen, they saw his mother and elder sister busy at the two stoves, with the table piled with cooked sea snails, mantis shrimp, shells, and other seafood.

Zhang Guoqing was both amused and exasperated as many could be frozen and not urgently cooked, “Mom, you and Big Sister stop cooking. These are enough for us. I planned it all; these items are cheapest, perfect for gifting.”

Hearing him, Mother Zhang immediately told Zhang Meili, “This pot is done, don’t cook it. You have to work tomorrow, go back early, and take some cooked seafood with you.”

Zhang Guoqing stepped forward, grabbed an empty wooden tray, and placed a handful of each type in it. Once full, he carried the tray directly to the car. Then he ran to the storage room and looked at the three bamboo baskets on the ground.

He hesitated for a while before picking up a large bamboo basket to fill himself. He placed ten crabs inside, taking prawns, yellow croakers, and hairtail from the cardboard box to put inside.

Zhang Guoqing quickly loaded them into the car, deciding not to let his mom see. In some ways, certain things have reached a level where human interaction is no longer simple politeness. His mother wouldn’t understand, so he had to compensate—Zhou Jiao didn’t deliver it to Zuo Lin personally, probably because she couldn’t tell his mom directly.

He then went back and carried two baskets to the car, leaving his sisters’ bamboo baskets untouched. He could follow his mother’s plan with those. No mother doesn’t care for her daughters, there was naturally a reason for what she did.

Zhang Guoqing called Zhang Meili and drove her away.

Mother Zhang returned to the storage room to turn off the lights, noticing another bamboo basket on the ground. After turning off the lights, she stood in the yard waiting for Zhang Guoqing to return.

Having dropped off Zhang Meili and finished his errands, Zhang Guoqing was returning home when he saw Mother Zhang alone at the gate, and he took fright, worried she might be angry.

Locking the car, Zhang Guoqing hurried forward, taking Mother Zhang inside, “Mom, what are you doing waiting outside in such cold weather?”

“Xiao Wu, did you not take the portion for Zuo Lin? Was it not prepared well by mom?”

Zhang Guoqing saw her cautiously watching his expression and quickly reassured her, “Mom, what you prepared was great. I just thought my brother-in-law and sister-in-law owe much to Aunt Zuo, with my second brother under him. For Ping’an’s full moon, they gave a generous gift from him.

Usually, gifting anything doesn’t matter. This time, Uncle Dashan must have sent something earlier, so if he mentions what he bought and Zuo Uncle and Aunt saw what we gave, they might have concerns. It’s better to send more once you start gifting.

Besides Zuo Uncle and Uncle Dashan, we need to be mindful of Yuntao and Qing Lin’s families. The rest as you arranged is just right.

For Qing Lin’s and Yuntao’s families, I won’t send it right now. In a couple of days, they’ll surely visit and I’ll let them pick some up. If I send to their homes now, the impact might not be good if others notice.”

Mother Zhang sighed in relief, “Then how are you planning with all those crabs? Need to deal with them soon, it’s no good if they die.”

Zhang Guoqing pondered how to prevent her from feeling distressed, “Mom, my father-in-law just started his job, and you know my mother-in-law doesn’t understand how to handle human relationships very well.

I thought it was a good deal and wanted to send them by train to Beijing for my father-in-law. Usually, he doesn’t mingle much with those leaders’ families. If I send these, he’ll have a reason. If my father-in-law is well, I will be fine too. Besides, he spends a lot on Zhou Jiao and me and left a good amount of money when he left. I want to show some appreciation.”

Mother Zhang nodded immediately, “That’s necessary. You should show filial respect to him! Did you find the right person? Crabs can freeze in such cold weather. What are your plans?”

“I went to the provincial station tonight to find a guy who agreed to help transport it tomorrow. We’ve found out how to preserve them. I’ll sort it out with Zhou Jiao later. You and dad should rest early.”

Zhang Guoqing hastily led the eager-to-prepare-gifts Mother Zhang away.

Entering the bedroom, he found Zhou Jiao and their son fast asleep. Gently closing the door, he stepped out to organize things in the yard.

By eleven, Zhang Guoqing had no choice but to wake Zhou Jiao—many items were in her space.

In the dead of night, the couple began preparing to cook the crabs in the kitchen, planning to pack them once Mother Zhang and Mr. Zhang fell asleep.

By one in the morning, the couple washed their hands and looked at the packed steamed crabs, live crabs, and several boxes of packaged seafood before closing. They felt a sense of relief, hurried to wash up and sleep, hoping to catch their son’s awakening.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep