Free Web NovelChapter 1091: Chapter 964: A Child with a Father Is a Treasure
Zhou Jiao looked at him with a half-smile, since he didn’t want to mention it, could she truly force him? "He had someone bring them, but how many could he bring? I still prefer shopping overseas."
"Hmm, you take after our mom in that, always shopping for a bargain." Zhang Guoqing teased, his eyes shifting, "How about asking our southern friend to smuggle some on the train?"
"Writing back and forth a few times would take until winter."
"No, the timing’s just right, it can be done before autumn. Perfect for working on both fronts, accumulating quietly without drawing attention."
Tang Xuanzong, that old rascal, could make ’a plume of dust followed by a consort’s smile,’ Zhang Guoqing admitted he didn’t have that kind of skill, but surely he could get his wife a taste of longan lychees.
Contrary to their expectations, within a few days, in the stillness of the night, Zhou Xiaozheng returned home from his long business trip, travel-worn.
Upstairs, as soon as Zhang Guoqing heard the commotion, he turned over, feeling beside him, "Jiao Jiao?"
In the darkness, Zhou Jiao switched on the light, "It should be Dad coming back, did I wake you?"
Zhang Guoqing saw her getting dressed, knowing she had just woken up too—truly alert, he wondered if she hadn’t slept at all or if there was some psychic connection.
Seeing this, he shook his head and quickly clothed himself. These questions could wait, for now, his father-in-law was more important.
"Why aren’t you sleeping yet?"
As Zhou Jiao opened the living room door, she saw her dad standing there, not even thinking to reply, she glanced him over from head to toe repeatedly, finally confirming he was truly back.
"Alright, alright, it’s silly to cry for someone so grown up. Is your mom home?"
As soon as Zhou Jiao heard this, she ran to knock on the bedroom door, "Mom, wake up, Dad’s back home."
Zhang Guoqing took his luggage, "Dad, you should go take a shower, I’ll go make some noodles for you."
"Aren’t you going to ask me why it took me so long to come home?"
Zhang Guoqing shook his head with a laugh and said, "As long as you’re okay, that’s enough. Honey, you stay with Dad, I’ll be back soon."
Zhou Xiaozheng watched his son-in-law run to the kitchen, muttering to himself: "This brat keeps saying wife, wife, in front of me. It’s not like my Jiao Jiao doesn’t have a name, and as if he’s the only one with a wife, I have one too."
Zhou Jiao responded to Miao Lishan’s call, turned around, and ran to Zhou Xiaozheng. Seeing him mumbling, she tilted her head curiously, asking, "Dad, what’s up?"
Zhou Xiaozheng cleared his throat, "Nothing, it’s still comfortable being at home."
"Of course it is. I thought you wouldn’t be back until after this summer. Why have you lost weight again? Did Secretary Chen not take good care of you?"
Zhou Xiaozheng patted his daughter’s head, "Silly child, your dad hasn’t lost weight, but why haven’t you gained any? Is it because of the summer heat?"
Zhou Jiao looked at him speechlessly, knowing a girl doesn’t look good gaining weight. "I’m fine, but since you are home, I need to make you some good dishes to nurse your health."
Zhou Xiaozheng’s eyes twinkled, realizing he would be out again for meetings in a few days. He wondered whether to tell his little housekeeper now. After considering, he decided to wait a couple of days to avoid making this silly girl worry.
"Brother Zheng, you’re finally back."
Zhou Xiaozheng turned and flashed a half-smiling glance at Miao Lishan, "Awake?"
Miao Lishan, seeing it was indeed him, couldn’t stop smiling and nodded repeatedly, "You must be exhausted. Let me make you something to eat."
Zhou Jiao nudged her dad, "Mom, help Dad find some clean clothes, Brother has gone to the kitchen. Dad, go wash up; I’ll help out in the kitchen."
With that, she slipped away, thinking of her mom’s eyes ’seeing only her husband,’ it amused her. Old couples, is it really necessary?
"Yes, yes, Brother Zheng, work’s done?"
Zhou Xiaozheng glanced at his daughter and complained to his wife, "Look, truly true that daughters don’t stay home when they grow up, always thinking of that brat, not sparing a moment to chat with me."
Miao Lishan chuckled and patted him, "Alright, don’t be sour. How many days of leave do you have this time?"
Zhou Xiaozheng took his wife’s hand and led her into the room, "I have to leave in a few days for meetings again, so don’t tell Jiao Jiao yet. There’s no one causing trouble at home while I’m away, right?"
Miao Lishan, opening the closet, smiled: "How could it be? Xiao Wu is home. It’s not going to be that long for the next meeting, is it? Without you home, the kids seem dispirited, rushing whenever the phone rings. Really, you should have called more often. When they hear it’s not your call, their mood just drops."
Zhou Xiaozheng shook his head, "Many places don’t have telephones." More importantly, even if there were phones, it wasn’t the right setting to use them. But there was no need to say that.
"Should I go upstairs and wake the little ones?"
"Too late, they’ll see me in the morning. Oh, I brought you all some things, you should sort them out. There are a few edible items in the bag that might spoil if left sealed any longer."
As Zhou Xiaozheng watched his wife put away the clothes, she cheerfully ran outside to call their daughter and son-in-law, making him shake his head silently, then chuckle to himself. This is home.
With all the commotion from Miao Lishan, naturally the Ping’an Brothers woke up.
Before long, the doors upstairs opened simultaneously; the three brothers, clad in shorts, exchanged glances and ecstatically ran downstairs together.
"Oh, awake? Your grandpa hoped you’d sleep more. Hurry up, he brought you lots of gifts."
The three brothers hardly cared about gifts, quickly scanning around and rushing towards the bathroom, "Grandpa, you’re back, why didn’t you call us?"
"Grandpa, I’ve missed you."
"Grandpa, let me scrub your back."
"Silly boys, can’t you wait a bit longer?"
"Hahaha, Grandpa, are you shy? We’re all guys here; we soaked together in the winter bath. Let me tell you..."
In the living room, Miao Lishan burst out laughing.
In the kitchen, Zhang Guoqing shook his head, "Well, now no one’s sleeping tonight. Honey, a little more water, and let’s cook a few more bowls of noodles."
With a face full of smiles, Zhou Jiao handed over the ladle, "Coming, the kids have such a good bond with Dad."
"He raised them hands-on, it’s different."
"Not necessarily, the kids take after you, being so sentimental."
The wife has the final say—whatever she says goes. Zhang Guoqing didn’t deny it, just nodded and smiled. When the kids returned home to his parents, they were affectionate too, but he felt something was missing.
In comparing the two, it’s obvious: one relationship is uninhibited, and the other is bounded by courtesy. Growing up apart from the elders alienated them, though he understood other factors played a role.
For example, his parents had plenty of grandkids, while relatively speaking, his father-in-law gave the children all his love. Or things like idol or hero worship...
"Happy Dad’s back?"
Zhou Jiao nodded repeatedly, smiling brightly, "Kids with a Dad are precious."
"Sure, but with a husband, you’re also precious. To me, you’re the only treasure."
Listening to him emphasize ’only,’ Zhou Jiao knew her man was being jealous. She hooked his little finger, "You’re my only treasure too."
Zhang Guoqing pouted, you’re just fibbing! You have lots of treasures. But the unstoppable smile on his face betrayed the secret delight in his heart.
