CHAPTER 135: CHAPTER 106: RETURNING HOME AT NIGHT (PART 2)

Zhang Guoqing arrived at the main room just as his mother finished setting the table. Dinner was indeed sweet potato rice, accompanied by leftover braised cutlassfish and stir-fried chili chicken from lunch, along with some home-cooked pig head meat and cabbage soup.

Zhang Guoqing looked at his father sitting nearby, "Wow, so much meat! Dad, why don’t you join us and have a little drink if you’re not too hungry?" As soon as he finished speaking.

His father immediately nodded and said, "Sure, I’ll have a drink and keep your mother company. Seeing such good food makes me want to drink."

Mother Zhang handed an empty seat to him and instructed Xi Zi in the main room to get a pair of chopsticks for his grandfather, casting an exasperated look at Mr. Zhang. This old fellow, just greedy for drink, waited for Xiao Wu to invite him, otherwise, he would have retreated from the table and gone back to the kang to smoke his pipe.

Mr. Zhang asked Zhang Guoqing, "How come you got back so late? Wasn’t it a 10 o’clock train? You returned after dark, I almost thought you two had gone missing and was about to send someone to look for you." With that, he burst into laughter.

Mother Zhang swallowed her mouthful and paused her chopsticks, saying to him, "Us, missing? Ridiculous. Today I really took a good look at the big city. Xiao Wu took me to the Friendship Mall where foreigners shop, then to the department store and park. We were supposed to come back even later, but Xiao Wu wanted to take me to the cinema. Gosh! The place was full of young guys and girls; I kept tugging at Xiao Wu to leave, or I would have felt so awkward. How can an old woman like me go to the cinema? Later, Xiao Wu helped me ask around and bought lots of those tapes. Xiao Wu, is that what they’re called? Yes, I remembered because I’m clever. His dad, those tapes can play operas, storytelling, and songs. Xiao Wu said just put them into the player in his room and it sounds just like a real person singing. I’ll let you listen later. Amazing stuff, isn’t it? You missed it, that place was even livelier than the marketplace."

"It sure was lively, that’s why you returned after dark. The others said they’d wait to eat until you returned, but I told them to eat first. I thought maybe you two ate in the city already." Mr. Zhang nodded with a smile.

Mother Zhang quickly ate a few bites before continuing, "Actually, Xiao Wu suggested having dinner before coming back, but I didn’t agree. Today’s lunch was at a big restaurant, you see, these leftovers are from there; he ordered too much, so we couldn’t finish and brought them back. Tonight, I didn’t want to eat out again, I just wanted to get back home quickly; no matter how nice the city is, it isn’t as comfortable as home."

Mr. Zhang agreed with her, a golden house or silver house doesn’t compare to one’s cottage. Not to mention the courtyard for their three brothers, which his father spent so much effort to remodel. Even folks from the provincial city might not be as comfortable as his family.

"Did you both personally escort the in-laws to the train, handling the luggage properly? Did you inform the Lin Family to pick her up at the station? If not, your mother-in-law can’t carry five big bags alone. And his mother, you saw the train, right? How was it, isn’t it just loads of cars joined together, nothing special?"

Mother Zhang chuckled but quickly covered her mouth, swallowed her food, and hurriedly said, "What do you mean loads of cars joined together? That’s a train. It’s different from large vehicles; there’s everything inside. I noticed many people had no seats and were sitting on the ground. His dad, you know, officials have it good, they don’t wait in line and get those sleeper tickets, little beds, directly. I saw sleepers had empty spots but later folks couldn’t get in and ended up sitting on the ground. What kind of fairness is that?" After lamenting, Mother Zhang hurriedly ate.

"Officials have the advantage everywhere; that’s why so many want to become officials. Even the Scholar in your family was obsessed with it until the end. You still haven’t told me, have the in-laws been sent off at the train and informed people on the other side to pick them up?"

Zhang Guoqing promptly replied, "I sent a telegram, explained it’s one person with 500 pounds worth of items, and requested for pickup at the station by 5 PM the afternoon after tomorrow. I consulted the station head; he arranged for it with the train conductor, who’s the boss, to help get her into the train early. I also instructed the conductor to take care of my mother-in-law, and sent a couple of wild rabbits for him to eat on the way. It’s all arranged nicely; don’t worry."

"Alright, as long as it’s sorted. His mother, after dinner, tidy up the loads of things in the house early, I’ll retire early tonight. Today, the foundation was done, Xiao Wu, do you have anything tomorrow? If not, go early to help. Otherwise, your uncle and young uncle’s family all come to help build the house, yet you’re absent, it wouldn’t look good."

Zhang Guoqing nodded at his dad, "I’ll get up early tomorrow and work for half a day. Once I have lunch, I’ll drive to the provincial city to return the car, may come back a bit late after meeting the county school principal. After that, I won’t go out any further since there’s nothing else."

After finishing his drink, Mr. Zhang didn’t refill and placed down his chopsticks, "Manage yourself, focus on main tasks; if you have no time to help over there, at least go greet them properly. When Jiao Jiao’s confinement is over, have your mother take her to chat with the aunt and other ladies properly. By the way, your big sister’s housewarming is the day after tomorrow. His mother, plan it out; it needn’t be too grand, village folks coming are many, they talk."

"Dad, I know, once free, I’ll connect and interact with them often. Mom, if there’s something you need for big sister, just let me know."

"No need, I bought quite a lot today, all prepared. You don’t need to help me tidy, I woke up at 4 AM today, didn’t nap at noon, and tomorrow morning, we’ll be busy again, head to bed early." Mother Zhang said, quickly taking the dishes and chopsticks herself. She didn’t even ask her daughter-in-law, directly carried the tableware briskly to the kitchen.

Mr. Zhang waved his hand, signaling him to go to bed early too. Yesterday, they hunted two wild boars working until midnight, and early this morning cleaned the backyard ground, plus went up the mountain for firewood. Only because of youth, otherwise he’d be flat out.