Free Web NovelChapter 1108: Chapter 981: Truly Letting Go
After fussing around, when it was time to say goodbye and Aunt Fang got back on the car, Zhou Jiao put some things into the space. It was almost time to get off work.
Zhang Guoqing first drove Zhou Jiao back and waited in the car. Glancing at the "defective goods" on the back seat, the more he thought about it, the more amusing it became, and he couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
Actually, if we were to go by contemporary gift exchanges, this would already count as two major gifts.
Don’t be deceived by the small amount spent. These could even be used as betrothal gifts.
Oh, his silly wife!
Forget it, I better calculate it myself.
Then, thinking of his parents at home, Zhang Guoqing sighed silently.
"Knock knock..." the sound of someone tapping on the car window rang out.
Zhang Guoqing stuck his head out and glared at Wan Dayong, "I’ve told you enough, aren’t you getting in yet?"
Wan Dayong walked up to him, "Are you here to pick up your wife?"
Isn’t that stating the obvious! Zhang Guoqing shot him a sidelong glance, "Are you really not getting in the car?"
Wan Dayong scratched his head irritably, "I’m working overtime tonight."
Zhang Guoqing immediately burst into laughter, saying gleefully, "Keep up the good work, aim for greater heights."
"Are we buddies or not? I thought you’d help me come up with a way to sneak off work."
Zhang Guoqing waved him off, "No, work is important, there’ll always be time to play later. I’m not kidding about getting in the car; there’s food in the back."
Upon hearing this, Wan Dayong promptly turned around and opened the back seat door. Seeing the food, he immediately got in and closed the door.
"How to spend this long night? Take a bit more back home."
"Where did this come from?"
Zhang Guoqing glared at him in mock annoyance, noticing that the guy already started stuffing his mouth, "Stolen."
"Hahaha, bring me along to steal some next time." While eating, Wan Dayong still thought about his wife, "I won’t take this to work, you send some to my house."
Zhang Guoqing twitched his mouth corners at his words, "Has no one ever told you you’re shameless?"
Wan Dayong laughed it off smugly, "I’ve already shown enough brotherhood by not asking you to send it all over."
"Brother, fine, you’re the best."
"Just realized?"
Zhang Guoqing looked at him amused, "Didn’t Da Zhi call you?"
"He did, but I wasn’t there. Is there an event?"
"Event, my foot. He should have had someone send a whole basket to your house today." This was what he and Da Zhi had planned; some things couldn’t be distributed to everyone, but when it came to food, a few good buddies shouldn’t be left out.
"Did each of our five get a share?"
"Of course, unless you think the whole Big Courtyard should get some too?"
"Is this guy taking another wife? Look at these gifts, food and washbasins, why so generous? I have plenty of these at home."
Zhang Guoqing laughed at this fool, "Alright, these are what I just bought today."
"Oh, is it you who’s getting married?"
"Get lost!"
Wan Dayong laughed heartily, winking at him.
After a while, when he calmed down, he asked, "Spending money like this isn’t practical, don’t buy these again. I still have plenty from when I got married, just take from home."
Zhang Guoqing shook his head, "Defective goods, cheap." Saying this, he noticed Zhou Jiao coming from a distance, nudging Wan Dayong, "Alright, hurry back to work."
"Sigh... I really wish I could just pat my butt and leave with you. Life’s so hard." Though he said this, he didn’t delay his actions at all, grabbing some fruit and opening the car door to step out.
But once he saw the figure ahead, he angrily pointed his finger multiple times at Zhang Guoqing... Oh, now he understood why he was rushed back, another pig dog friend who values romance over friendship!
Now it was Zhang Guoqing’s turn to wink back and laugh heartily at him.
The brothers played around for a moment, Wan Dayong realized he’d been out for a while, waved his hand, and left. Of course, he didn’t forget to crack a few jokes about his buddy before leaving.
As Zhou Jiao approached, all she saw was Wan Dayong’s back and Zhang Guoqing laughing foolishly in the car, "Are we waiting for him?"
"That guy just started his shift." Zhang Guoqing wouldn’t question whether she had permission to leave early, knowing his wife’s timid nature, she probably was already prepared.
Once she got in the car and sat properly, Zhang Guoqing slowly started the car and drove off, "Is there any place else you want to go?"
"Forget it, let’s get back early so you can return the car."
"At your service, madam." Zhang Guoqing guessed she indeed worried about delaying his return from work, thus chose to leave early this time.
It wasn’t yet the rush hour, since this year, except for major holidays and events, those previous demonstrations and protests were no longer seen. They got back to the Big Courtyard without hindrance.
At Ping An’s school, military training activities started again near noon. Since he was already on leave, he took the opportunity to sneak back home and began studying secretly upstairs.
Saying he studied secretly was no exaggeration.
In recent years, political oversight led to schools nationwide only promoting the study of selected thought works, while studying math, physics, and chemistry was criticized as taking the "white specialized road."
Many people, eager to truly learn something academic, had to resort to self-study, almost as if conducting underground activities. Especially at school, they avoided their classmates.
Fortunately, the Zhou Family had the conditions allowing the three children to self-study: a comfortable second floor and guidance from their highly-educated parents, ensuring a safe learning environment.
Thus, besides studying the feudal and worthless stuff, the Ping An brothers had already secretly completed elementary math, trigonometry, geometry, junior high physics, chemistry, and basic electronics, with the oldest brother, Ping An, self-studying advanced math, college Chinese, and several foreign languages.
Just as Zhou Jiao advised, to excel beyond ordinary people, besides the gift of talent, a large amount of time to recharge and refine is required.
Compared to their peers who have relaxed and are enjoying life, Ping An always remembers that one’s future achievements depend largely on how long you’ve been preparing for them.
When Zhou Jiao went upstairs to change into home clothes, she saw her son busily taking notes in the study room. Concerned, she approached him and asked after he took a break, "Are you too tired?"
Ping An replied with a smile, "Mom, that doesn’t sound like you."
Zhou Jiao laughed and patted his head, "Silly child, remember to balance work and rest."
"I usually play around with them. I only study occasionally, so I feel relaxed."
Given her son’s learning ability, Zhou Jiao was very confident. She only worried about overburdening her son.
"Did Dad go pick up my brother?"
Zhou Jiao jokingly patted her son’s head again, "You sure worry about a lot. Don’t worry, he’ll always keep his promises. If you’re hungry, go downstairs for a snack first."
Watching her leave, Ping An curiously asked, "Mom, aren’t you going to ask about this morning?"
Zhou Jiao waved her hand nonchalantly, "What’s there to ask? It’s a minor thing, I’m sure my son has it handled."
Ping An burst into laughter.
As Zhou Jiao turned to close the door, she smiled with meaning, "If someone or something affects your mood, it’s because you take them seriously. As long as you don’t, they’re nothing."
Ping An waved goodbye as she left, listening to her footsteps as he looked at the door thoughtfully. So, his mother truly let it go.
