Free Web NovelChapter 1022: Chapter 895: Deep in the Alley
"The big alleys number three thousand six, the small alleys like cows’ hair."
This isn’t just a saying; besides having lots of people, the ancient city has the most alleys.
It’s truly alleys connected to alleys, alleys within alleys, alleys overlapped with alleys. Some places appear to have a path, but are actually dead ends, and strangers can easily walk into a "dead alley." fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
In Zhou Jiao’s artistic words.
These alleys, long and winding, with no one knowing where the next turn is, are like a lifetime. Where will be the next exit, and where will be the new beginning?
Of course, according to Zhang Guoqing, an alley is just an alley. How can it be compared to the unpredictable life? Walk enough, become familiar, and you’ll naturally know them like the back of your hand.
Not to mention if you take a wrong turn, just pull a local resident from those narrow intertwined lanes, and he/she will gladly give you directions.
The only regret is that the alley names we’re familiar with, those names filled with historical and cultural significance, have changed, becoming completely unfamiliar.
Just like Beibamsi Alley, Qinlao Alley, Pichai Alley... now they’ve all been renamed to things like Red Flag, East, and a bunch more.
However, there’s a good side too. For example, Fen Chang Alley, Gouwai Alley—these uncouth names have finally been changed once and for all.
Whatever others might think, Zhang Guoqing doesn’t know, but he feels Li Qinglin must be delighted. Just imagine when a familiar person asks where your home is?
That Northeast man with artistic cells would surely grit his teeth inwardly. Unfortunately, life’s unsatisfactory events are eight or nine out of ten, not everything goes as you wish.
The young couple doesn’t want to accept their parents’ gifts. Of course, Zhang Guoqing suspects that they’re unwilling to give up deserved welfare.
Indeed, they enjoy housing welfare, but there remains regret. A large courtyard with more than a dozen households, lively as it is, it’s likely to come with neighborly troubles beyond the alley names.
Zhang Guoqing and Zhou Jiao wound through alleys and small lanes, reaching Li Qinglin’s home in almost half an hour, sweating despite the cold.
This is due in part to the short distance from the restaurant; otherwise, Zhang Guoqing could have persuaded his wife with some dubious reasoning to avoid this big courtyard.
If he wants to persuade someone, it’s really like following a thief; eventually, even the most crooked reasoning will seem irrefutable upon careful reflection.
The two outermost rooms in the west wing of the big courtyard are the cozy home of Li Qinglin and Hu Xiaohui. It’s said that Hu Xiaohui was given priority for this good residence.
Even though there’s still time before winter vacation, there are plenty of kids playing and running wildly in the courtyard. The parents coming and going couldn’t care less.
This childhood is so carefree and delightful, playing as one wishes...
Zhang Guoqing’s appearance in military uniform caused everyone in the courtyard to pause for a moment. Especially those kids, admiringly fixating on him with starry eyes.
Protecting his wife, reminding her to watch out for icy and slippery paths, Zhang Guoqing looked up at them, nodded in greeting, and headed towards the west side of the courtyard.
After the snow, places heavily trodden look like
"They’re looking for the young couple in the west wing."
"Of course, our courtyard has no other military families."
"Brother, I want to be a soldier when I grow up."
"Wait until you stop wetting the bed..."
The miscellaneous chatter behind them faded as Zhang Guoqing and the couple left it behind, passed through the moon gate, and sharp-eyed Zhang Guoqing spotted Li Qinglin bending over to pinch a coal briquette.
"Lin Zi..."
That familiar voice made Li Qinglin quickly turn around, and with a snap, a coal briquette was ruined.
"Xiao Wu..."
Soon, the buddies were hugging each other, smiling foolishly.
This scene made Zhou Jiao speechlessly curl her lips, leaving the two silly guys behind while she pushed open the door and went inside.
Usually, it’s either visiting their work unit for a chat or catching up in the big courtyard. This young couple moved here, and other than visiting during their wedding, Zhou Jiao hardly comes by, unlike Zhang Guoqing who occasionally visits. Yet it doesn’t hinder her from remembering the layout.
Indeed, except for those large happy characters no longer pasted on the windows and furniture, inside it’s still as she remembers. There’s still a sitting room and dining room, with the right room opened up as a bedroom.
"Jiao Jiao, make yourself at home; Xiao Hui will be back soon."
Zhou Jiao didn’t stand on ceremony with those who just entered and found a chair to sit down. "Didn’t you guys go shopping for food today?"
"We did, queued up at dawn, and came back around noon. Xiao Hui accompanied me to buy food and then went to see her mom; she’ll be back soon."
Zhang Guoqing gave him a sideways glance, "Why didn’t you go with her?" Such a fool, doesn’t even know to go with his wife to the mother-in-law’s place to earn goodwill!
"Her mom was working today."
Zhang Guoqing wasn’t going to argue with someone who has low emotional intelligence. He poured a cup of hot water for his wife to warm her hands.
"Are you going back this year?" ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com
Zhang Guoqing shook his head, "I can’t; I won’t get time off at the end of the year. What about you?"
"We might leave on the twenty-sixth of the lunar month. Xiao Hui wants Jiao Jiao to go with her, and surely your wife wouldn’t have no vacation time either?"
Zhang Guoqing felt uneasy. "We’ve agreed to swap shifts with colleagues first to see if we can catch the gathering on the third day of the lunar New Year."
Regarding Old Zhang’s family’s third-day-of-the-New-Year gathering with the married aunts, Li Qinglin is aware. However, spending the past few years in Beijing wasn’t for nothing; during the New Year, his mother-in-law and Bai Family have plenty of socializing to do. As Zhou Family’s only son-in-law, can the buddies and his wife really make it home?
This explanation is more apt coming from Zhou Jiao. She smiled, "We’re different from Bai Family. My family doesn’t have many relatives, aside from some official greetings, my mom still needs to lead groups on grassroots visits."
As for her dad, Zhou Xiaozheng, his daily agenda isn’t suitable for public discussion. This New Year, he’ll likely either participate in celebrations or avoid disturbances.
They plan to visit their hometown, intending to escape guests visiting during the New Year. It’s better to interact less during critical periods.
"So, we might meet each other in our hometown during the New Year. We’ll head back first, pay respects in the provincial city on the second, and then bring your family back."
"We’ll see about that; it’s still early. Who knows if something might come up and we can’t make it." Zhang Guoqing quickly interjected. If he didn’t say this, Li Qinglin might mention it to Zhang Yuntao in a letter, and his parents would hear about it. If they don’t return, wouldn’t they be disappointed?
Besides, if they do return for the New Year, Zhang Guoqing doesn’t plan to bring his three sons. He’s thinking of traveling with his daughter, enjoying some couple time this visit.
"Pfft, what early? My wife is already packing." Li Qinglin gave him a contemptuous look, then dropped the topic; they’ll meet upon returning anyway.
He pointed next door and spoke in a lowered voice, "Did you notice? No one’s there."
