Free Web NovelChapter 1110: Chapter 983: He Really Did a Good Job
The story of locking the stable door after the horse has bolted is well-known.
As soon as May 1st opened his mouth, even the usually slow Miao Lishan understood the meaning behind the child’s words, let alone Lin Liyin sitting across.
Finally, without waiting for the story to end, she gritted her teeth, stood up, and walked out without saying a word.
Miao Lishan was about to stand up when she was firmly pressed down by the strong Xiao Wu.
The little rascal cheerfully yelled, "Grandma Chen, the guest is leaving, can you please see her out?"
Aunt Chen also found it amusing and responded loudly from outside, "I heard you, keep telling your story, I’ll see the guest out and then come back to hear what our May 1st said."
May 1st released Miao Lishan’s knees, rubbed them, and complained, "Hurts, doesn’t it? An uninvited guest is a bad guest, especially one that cries and wants to make a scene; that’s downright a terrible guest. Why would you even think of sending her off? Send her off with what?"
Miao Lishan picked him up and patted his bottom, "You... such a clever little rascal." Thinking of Lin Liyin’s earlier expression, she suddenly laughed and then covered her mouth.
Receiving praise, May 1st smugly winked at Ping’an and Liu Yi. See how impressive the young master is? That old woman won’t dare visit again.
Not even considering sisterhood? You’ve got some nerve!
When Zhou Jiao, listening upstairs to Zhang Guoqing’s live commentary, heard May 1st’s appearance, she couldn’t help but leave her room, pulling him along to silently squat by the stairs.
Live commentary can’t compare to the thrill of in-person action!
Due to the angle, she couldn’t immediately tell when Lin Liyin left until May 1st shouted loudly, leading her to guess that the person had left.
Although her son’s approach relieved her, as a mother, she reminded herself not to show her emotions lest her child grows up thinking it’s okay to act recklessly.
She even nudged Zhang Guoqing, worried he might praise their son without bounds.
Coming downstairs, Zhou Jiao walked to May 1st and asked, "Aren’t you afraid she’ll be so furious she’ll hit you?"
May 1st slid off his grandmother’s lap, shook his head with a grin, "Not to mention my grandmother and my brothers are right here, even alone I could easily take her down."
He laughed cheekily, "Hit her? She’d have to apologize to our family. Luckily, she didn’t start anything, or I’d make her regret coming."
Zhou Jiao looked at the child with spinning eyes, "Oh really, how so?"
"She came wanting my grandmother’s help, but oh, we should talk about what help she wanted, that’s key. Anyway, my grandmother definitely wouldn’t dare meddle.
She, furious, would hit my grandmother, and I’d protect her, then she’d hit me, but oh dear, little me might accidentally faint from fright. You’d have to avenge me, right?"
Following Zhou Jiao, Zhang Guoqing couldn’t heed his wife’s warning, and burst into laughter, picking up his youngest son joyfully spinning him around.
"Right! That’s what we’ll do! If anyone hits you, dad will be the first to rush to their house for revenge."
"I’ll rush in second with my brother, hit anyone we find, smash anything we see!"
With Liu Yi’s words, Zhang Guoqing laughed even more joyously... as long as his sons don’t suffer losses, anything goes, save for murder, hitting would at most cost some money. What do I not have but money?
Seeing the four father and sons in cahoots, Zhou Jiao covered her forehead in a headache; she realized her sons had violent tendencies, and the culprit turns out to be her husband.
Zhou Jiao could only glare at the foolishly cheerful Zhang Guoqing.
Zhang Guoqing came closer and patted her, "Come on, just laugh if you want. You gave yourself away earlier, remember back in school when it was you against five shrews, your gallant figure then..."
Miao Lishan teased, "Turns out our Jiao Jiao is also a heroine."
"Mom~"
Miao Lishan laughed and shook her head, "The kids are great like this! Stop worrying over little things. Our kids won’t go astray, I’m telling you; who else at that age understands prioritizing diplomacy over force? If they become weaklings without any spirit, that’s when you should really worry."
Rarely hearing such wise words from her mom, Zhou Jiao chuckled and nodded.
Standing outside, listening to his grandson’s words, Zhou Xiaozheng clapped and praised as he came in, "Indeed, well done!"
May 1st, being praised, lit up even more.
"But your mom’s concerns aren’t unfounded. There’s a limit to everything, crossing it isn’t good."
That night, after hearing his wife’s detailed recounting of the events, Zhou Xiaozheng pondered long and hard.
Days later, after finishing a class for the kids, he personally wrote down the most renowned line from The Art of War by Sun Tzu: "Plan calmly, then move; know the end and you’ll gain."
Once dry, he solemnly handed it to the Ping An Brothers, "Grandpa hopes that each time you face a situation, you’d seriously weigh the significance of these ten words."
As for Lin Liyin, she perhaps realized the fact that the Zhou Family genuinely ignored them now.
Of course, she wouldn’t truly kill herself as she claimed.
After leaving the Zhou Family’s door that day, within a week she vanished from Beijing, following her husband Li Jianjun to a distant place.
Afterwards, Zhou Jiao briefly worried about what tricks they might play to report or snitch, but considering the cost, it would be too high, and she too would fear the consequences if they couldn’t bring the Zhou Family down.
Actually, being inside the circle might obscure the view; leaving could indeed be a good thing.
...
"Our country has entered the United Nations." On the phone, Zhou Xiaozheng’s voice was filled with suppressed excitement, "We’ve won, we finally have a place on the global stage."
Sure enough, this was her dad. Zhou Jiao let out a happy laugh, "This is the best news, worth celebrating. Dad, your wish has come true."
Recently, even Zhang Guoqing had become a "busy man" – endless meetings. The atmosphere grew increasingly tense, like speaking freely wasn’t feared, but being silenced was.
"Hahaha, there’s a celebration tonight, do you and Xiao Wu want to attend?"
"Plenty of younger folks?"
With this, Zhou Xiaozheng knew his daughter wasn’t too interested, and frankly, he wasn’t keen on having his Jiao Jiao mingle too deeply with those people.
The young ones that were close to his Jiao Jiao were either soldiers or off to rural work; the young folks coming tonight were likely new faces.
"Forget it, have Aunt Chen make a few good dishes at home to celebrate, I’ll have your mom accompany me. You don’t need to wait tonight; rest early."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Jiao chuckled softly, "Dad, drink less tonight."
"Little manager, got it."
After hanging up, Zhou Jiao sat there staring blankly, realizing how long it had been since her dad was this happy about work? She understood why he was so excited.
It’s because joining the United Nations not only proved that they had driven away the dynasty to establish a new country, now acknowledged by the world.
It also meant soon breaking the Western blockade, and the nation would only grow stronger.
Nineteen seventy-one, what a heart-wrenching year...
