Free Web NovelChapter 1093: Chapter 966: We’re Not Children Anymore
Time was limited, so after the three brothers finished looking, they each began to take action. Things moved much faster this time, and they gradually uncovered quite a few items.
There was gold, silver dollars, embroidery, jade pendants and bracelets, but what they found most were land deeds and property deeds from before the Liberation. Seeing this, the whole family was somewhat speechless.
In recent years, everything truly got swept clean, with even many families’ old foundations being uncovered. It seemed like all the wealthy families in Beijing had been combed through like a fine-toothed comb.
Zhou Jiao burned all these useless papers thoroughly. Regardless of whether or not fate would have them meet the descendants of these people in the future, she did not want her family to be involved.
"Truly pitiful!"
Zhou Jiao glanced sideways at Zhang Guoqing and shook her head with amusement, "Karma cycles. For every person crying now, in the future, there will be others who will suffer their ruthless revenge."
Xiao Wu’s eyes lit up at the words, and he gripped Zhou Jiao’s hand tightly, "Mom, do you mean these people might still have a chance to rise again?"
Zhou Jiao was taken aback, looking at her two attentive youngest sons, and then glanced at her eldest son, "That depends on whether they can survive the dark times, or else it’s all just empty talk."
Implicitly, she was clearly telling her sons that those people might rise again, but whether they would still be alive in this world was the key.
"Mom, wait a minute. Has something happened recently?" Liu Yi furrowed his brow, staring intently at his mother, and quietly threw out his concern.
He noticed that his grandpa had been away on business for a long time and his dad hadn’t been going out much either, and he already had some suspicions.
Oh dear, can’t they be less sensitive? Zhou Jiao looked at Zhang Guoqing with a headache. The twins were only seven years old, should she really tell them the truth?
"Dad?"
Zhang Guoqing patted his son comfortingly and smiled, "Yes, and it’s not a small issue. Keep reading the newspapers over this period, and we’ll discuss this afterwards."
Ping’an’s eyes flashed, and he suddenly dashed to the door and rushed downstairs, returning with a stack of newspapers. From it, he pulled out one and pointed at a black-and-white picture on it.
Zhang Guoqing looked at him approvingly, "We can’t be sure yet, let’s wait a bit."
With a sense of unease, Zhou Jiao instructed, "Keep it confidential."
Liu Yi and Xiao Wu exchanged glances and looked towards Zhang Guoqing, "Is Grandpa in danger?"
Ping’an patted his two younger brothers, "No! Since we can guess it, Grandpa must have known for a long time. Maybe last time’s business trip was related to this."
Liu Yi pursed his lips, "I know, but I’m still worried. I want to grow up quickly."
"We’re not that little anymore." Xiao Wu disagreed, looking at Zhang Guoqing and then at Zhou Jiao, "Mom and Dad, we’ve been learning for so long, we’re not little kids."
Zhang Guoqing looked at his youngest son who was perched higher, secretly amused, and nodded repeatedly, "Alright, in the future, when something comes up, we’ll make sure to talk to you."
These topics inevitably affected the atmosphere, and the previous happy laughter had vanished. Zhou Jiao tugged on Zhang Guoqing, who was about to speak.
The children eventually have to learn to grow up. At this moment, nothing is better than letting them fall into deep thought. Without pondering some questions and experiencing certain things, learning from paper alone proves inadequate.
Several days later, another letter from their old home in the Northeast arrived. This time, just as Zhang Guoqing had expected, besides asking if they had missed the letter due to business trips, it also mentioned the wedding dates for Zhang Ziwen and Xi Zi.
Zhang Guoqing figured that they hadn’t received his response letter from last week yet. He understood why his nephew’s and niece’s wedding dates were set for the 25th of the twelfth lunar month and the sixth day of the first lunar month.
During this period, even if he had no leave, Zhou Jiao would certainly have some free time, and the three children were certainly available. This considerate arrangement left him somewhat troubled.
The now more mature Xiao Wu pointed to the bottom of Mr. Zhang’s letter, "It says here that if Grandma and Grandpa are busy, there’s no need to rush over for the banquet, and official matters take priority. They also ask you to advise them and not to inform the Cheng Family. What does this mean? Do the Chengs have any relation to us and Brother Xi Zi?"
Zhou Jiao was also puzzled, blinking. Logically, since the three brothers had already separated, this was a happy event for the eldest branch, so not notifying the Cheng Family made sense, but why mention her parents?
She hesitated for a moment, "Maybe it’s just a polite remark from Grandpa. Back home, it’s traditional to inform all relatives and friends when there’s a celebratory event."
Xiao Wu blinked and looked at her in confusion, "Is that so?"
Zhang Guoqing nodded, "When your eldest brother held his one-month and three-month celebrations, even your uncles’ in-laws sent gifts and attended the banquet. Even when you were born in Beijing, your grandma received many eggs when she went back home."
In that case, does it mean that they have to go back?
Zhou Jiao looked at him, "Then I’ll go alone."
"Mom, you also have work. How about the three brothers represent you?"
Zhang Guoqing shook his head decisively at the words.
Letting his wife go alone? Absolutely not! Letting the kids represent them? Even less so! It’s not summer, and neglect could lead to the kids catching a chill!
Ping’an looked at his dad with amusement, "Dad, then what do you suggest? You definitely have no leave! Our family, only us three brothers have time, or I could go alone?"
"No way!"
Ping’an spread his hands. There’s nothing he could do!
Liu Yi waited for them to stop talking and interjected, "Dad, let’s decide who goes later. Shouldn’t we now discuss the gifting with my second uncle?"
Zhang Guoqing nodded. With his mom handling the gifts, there wouldn’t be any issues. Nevertheless, a letter must be written to his second brother for a good discussion. This would settle the matter for future social exchanges.
"What are you all talking about so excitedly?"
Miao Lishan, returning from work, saw the children gathered around the coffee table in the living room.
Zhou Jiao glanced at Zhang Guoqing and smiled, "A letter from home. Xi Zi and Ziwen have set their wedding dates, one on the 25th of the 12th lunar month, and the other on the 6th day of the first lunar month."
"Great dates! Your dad probably also doesn’t have such a long leave. I’ll go back with you. Tomorrow, you should send a telegram to ask your mother-in-law what the family lacks, and we’ll send it over in advance."
Zhang Guoqing saw his wife and children all gaping in astonishment and immediately laughed heartily. The fearless main character had finally arrived...
Miao Lishan realized belatedly and looked at them, "What’s the matter?"
Zhou Jiao opened her mouth but finally said, "Mom, we don’t have a break."
"True, Xiao Wu might indeed not be able to go. No worries, I can take Ping’an and them over. Have you thought about what to gift?"
"It depends on what his second brother says." Zhou Jiao quickly interjected before she could speak further, "If the two brothers’ gifts are too disparate, his second brother might lose face."
"That’ll work too. Privately giving an extra gift also works."
Zhou Jiao smiled wryly at Zhang Guoqing. If left to her mom’s way of doing things, wouldn’t all sorts of trouble be chasing them in the future, how would life proceed like that?
"Mom, there’s plenty of time. Let’s talk about this when Dad comes back. Are you hungry? Ping’an, go tell Grandma Chen to start dinner." Zhang Guoqing said while winking at his son.
Seeing this, Ping’an quickly ran out of the living room. If he let his grandma continue, he would start doubting if their household items would eventually be moved away.
