Chapter 388: Chapter 297: Strolling Around

East Single District Dong’an Market. This comprehensive mall, which became a joint public-private venture last year, has shops lined up one after another. Now in Beijing, it’s the only place where you can shop, eat, and enjoy performances.

All of this resulted in a huge flow of people, a bustling crowd, with people of all statuses and levels present. Zhou Jiao even saw the last of the strolling nobles in the crowd.

The market has a wide variety of goods, and at the cashier’s in the shops, there are dense steel wires leading to various counters.

The sales clerks in the counters occasionally roll up the money and tickets they received, clamp them with an iron clip, and then push them hard towards the cashier’s.

The customers lining up in front of the counter don’t have to run around. The “swoosh” sound of the iron clip meeting the steel wire and the voices of the customers mix and fill the ears.

Zhou Jiao looked worriedly at the iron clips transferring back and forth overhead, while paying attention to the clothing and attire of the surrounding crowd and listening to the conversations among the people.

She had visited this market in later years, and it no longer had the current bustling scene. The theater, restaurant, and bookstore she just passed by surrounding the entire market had become a leisure haven for the people of the capital, and even a sanctuary in the eyes of tourists from other places.

Old Mrs. Cheng and Lin Lishan queued separately. Zhou Jiao felt there was nothing much needed to purchase. She greeted the two and strolled along.

It is rumored that foreign embassies are concentrated in this area, and you can find many foreign magazines. At the bookstore, she found only new books and no old ones, which immediately left her uninterested.

She wandered to the fabric section and saw Lin Lishan already picking out patterns. Afraid of being roped in, she quietly turned left and continued to observe the prices of goods at the various counters.

Taking advantage of the fact that many things do not require tickets now, and having identified her target, her next goal was to take Zhang Guoqing and convert money into supplies.

After more than an hour, she finally saw them coming out with their purchases. Zhou Jiao let out a secret sigh of relief; aimlessly wandering was really not her style.

Approaching the Si Lian Hair Salon, Lin Lishan dragged Zhou Jiao and the old lady inside. Eight dimes? What a rip-off! But there are indeed many willing to pay.

Zhou Jiao declined her mother’s suggestion. She likes long hair, likes straight hair. Watching her fellow women with their newly permed hair and radiant smiles, she shed a tear for these women compromised by hairstyle. Even in the thick winter, wearing a cotton-padded jacket, wouldn’t they worry about their own man mistaking someone else from behind at night?

The three women got their hair done and seeing the time was not early, they hurriedly found a vehicle to rush back home.

In the car, Zhou Jiao secretly laughed at Old Mrs. Cheng. She remembered how the old lady had confidently told Zhang Guoqing they would definitely be back in three hours, just in time for Ping’an to wake up.

See! No matter how old women are, their shopping desires do not wane.

Back home, Zhang Guoqing in the living room saw Zhou Jiao coming back empty-handed and raised his eyebrows; his wife had said she would go on a big shopping spree this morning.

He quickly handed over their son in his arms to Zhou Jiao. He found out the child didn’t like the formula. This little guy must have developed a taste.

“Mom, grandma asked someone to tell us to have dinner at her place tonight. What about Ping’an?” Zhang Guoqing, seeing Old Mrs. Cheng cheerfully going to the East Wing with Zhou Jiao carrying things, said softly.

Lin Lishan, without raising her head, said, “Ask your dad, wait till he comes back. Xiao Wu, stop laughing. Quickly help mom see if this material is good for making you clothes?”

“Mom’s taste is always excellent. If you think it’s good, it definitely is.”

“My Xiao Wu really knows how to talk. If there’s nothing to do tonight, go out with Xiao Fei and them, or accompany Jiao Jiao to a movie. Go out more, don’t always stay cooped up at home. Don’t you trust mom with Ping’an?”

Zhang Guoqing nodded with a smile. He secretly thought he really didn’t feel at ease; his mother-in-law was like a child. He’s worried Chen Aunt might be unfamiliar with the child. It’d better for him to keep an eye on things. Especially these days, Jiao Jiao is preoccupied with something. There’d be opportunities to go out after walking around. Seeing Lin Lishan’s smiling face, he sighed quietly.

He hoped Mr. Lin would be smarter, hearing that the Gu Family’s one hadn’t left all afternoon, and was still at the Lin Family. Was she eyeing his father-in-law and his wife?

He now had a headache over Gu Ruyi. Couldn’t she stay quiet? No need to think about it tonight, she would definitely use returning the dowry as an excuse to test Zhou Jiao. Regarding this dowry, he already decided to give it up; it’s just a powder keg! Gu Ruyi was always a potential threat.

Zhou Xiaozheng returned home from work, with Lin Aiguo following behind.

In his forties, Lin Aiguo was very respectful towards Zhou Xiaozheng. It was hard for unfamiliar people to imagine their relationship as that of a brother-in-law and a brother-in-law.

Entering the living room, Lin Aiguo didn’t rush to go home. He continued drinking the hot tea served by an aunt and continued chatting with Zhou Xiaozheng about the previous topic.

Knowing that the Lin Family was inviting their family for dinner tonight, Zhou Xiaozheng nodded slightly. Since they already came to guard the house, he didn’t plan to avoid them. Seeing Old Mrs. Cheng and Zhou Jiao come out, he talked about tonight’s banquet.

Old Mrs. Cheng, using the excuse of taking care of the child, declined Lin Aiguo’s invitation, tidied Zhou Jiao’s hair, and urged their family to hurry over.

The group left the house, meeting many acquaintances along the way. At this hour, many people were returning home from work, and they stopped to greet Zhou Xiaozheng. Soldiers from a distance also gathered around, curiously watching Zhou Jiao.

Nowadays, there were rumors in the big courtyard about Cold-faced King Zhou Xiaozheng dotes very much on his only daughter. Talk to him about his daughter first if you have something to discuss, and Zhou Xiaozheng won’t be cold. If you praise his daughter to his face, you can even see his rare smile.

These past two days, everyone noticed that he no longer had a stern face every day, so they dared to jest and chat with him.

Looking at the group of people in front of him, Zhou Xiaozheng pulled Zhou Jiao and Zhang Guoqing to introduce them to everyone. He noticed soldiers and their families living in the few buildings ahead also came over to watch, knowing they were curious. He was happy to let everyone have a good look at his family’s Jiao Jiao.

Zhou Jiao and Zhang Guoqing smiled as they greeted the group, listening to their teasing voices. They nodded in thanks to the invitations from them to visit. Facing this group of straightforward men, the two of them chatted with everyone, laughing continuously at the end. These were lovely soldiers, straightforward, warm, and friendly.

Seeing it was getting late, Lin Aiguo invited everyone to his place for drinks. Everyone understood it was their family gathering, and some people even understood it was the first time for the Zhou and Lin Families to gather, so they refused with smiles.

Some people knocked on their lunch boxes, pointing to the canteen location, as two or three people agreed on a time to drink and then also left separately.

Lin Aiguo, pulling Zhou Xiaozheng, quickened his pace, heading home, not yet reaching the small road corner. They met a few old soldiers, and the old men immediately called out to Zhou Xiaozheng.

The old men scrutinized the family, laughing heartily, saying that Old Lin wasn’t exaggerating, continuously praising Zhou Jiao as she smiled and greeted. One or two of them patted Zhang Guoqing’s shoulder, telling him to join them in the small park tomorrow to practice boxing.

These old men had already seen Zhang Guoqing in the morning, and were dissatisfied that he didn’t enlist. In their view, a serviceman’s descendant should join the army.

This time, some old men brought up the old issue again, asking Zhou Xiaozheng to persuade the child and have him apply to military school.

Zhou Jiao, both amused and exasperated, faced this group of old mischiefs—they repeatedly praised using a few words, gripping Zhang Guoqing, adamantly wanting him to be a soldier. She began to suspect whether Zhang Guoqing’s university application in two years would be compromised.

Seeing it getting late, after the old men finished talking to their hearts’ content, they finally let the family leave.

A short journey of a few minutes was delayed on the road for over an hour. Lin Aiguo dared not dawdle now, lowering his head and pulling Zhou Xiaozheng quickly towards home.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep