CHAPTER 289: CHAPTER 220: BEFORE ENTERING THE ANCESTRAL HALL

The morning at Zhang Family Village was a blanket of white, with snow along the roadside like a carpet. In the distance, smoke rose from the village, and at the entrance of the village, there was still a layer of white snow on the ground.

The old captain now lived with his eldest son’s family within the village, near the large courtyard by the Zhang family ancestral hall. There were piles of chopped wood by the door, and on the heated kang in the main hall, the old captain was chatting with his eldest son about family matters.

Just as the old captain was about to wander around the village, his eldest grandson came in from outside, beaming with joy, and said, "Grandpa, wait a bit before you go out. There’s something interesting I want to tell you."

The old captain, hearing this, sat back down and smiled, "Go ahead, what’s got you so happy so early in the morning?"

"Grandpa, you wouldn’t know unless you go out. Zhou Family Village is in chaos now. I went out early and heard that something happened there. Haha, it turns out Zhou Xiaozheng is not Old Man Zhou’s biological son. Last night, five cars came, and even the clan leader and captain of Zhou Family Village were involved."

The old captain furrowed his brow and sat up straight, "Tell me properly, what happened?"

His eldest grandson, Zhang Qingsong, suppressed his laughter and mysteriously said, "I didn’t see it myself, but Zhou Youcai’s youngest son said a group of soldiers brought an old general to settle accounts last night. They said Old Man Zhou held onto the child and didn’t send him back, and the child’s biological aunt has been searching for decades and finally found him. This morning, Zhou Family Village is going to open the ancestral hall and revise the genealogy, saying Zhou Xiaozheng was actually the sole bloodline of the main household in Beijing. I can’t understand the rest."

The eldest son slapped his son, scolding, "What were you doing on that end so early? Zhou Youcai’s youngest son has nothing better to do and loves to shoot his mouth off. You should keep your distance from him in the future."

After finishing, he saw his father silent and softly asked, "Dad, this matter doesn’t concern our Zhang Family, but today is the hunting event for three villages. Will Zhou Family Village still go up the mountain? Should I go to Zhou Family Village to check?"

The old captain shook his head, "It’ll be tough to go up the mountain today. Without Zhou Family Village, and with Xiao Wu unavailable from Brother Zhang’s house, no one dares to venture into the deep mountains; let’s wait and see."

Zhang Qingsong smiled and said to his father, "Dad, don’t worry, I bet Xiao Wu will come over in a while to discuss it. Captain Zhou will also come over. I think there’s no chance today; we brothers are just waiting for Xiao Wu to take us to the deep mountains. Even if you old folks go up the mountain, forget about entering deep mountains."

Speak of the devil, there came Zhang Guoqing’s voice from outside, "Third Grandpa, are you in the room? It’s Xiao Wu, I have something to talk to you about."

Zhang Qingsong hurriedly put on his shoes and ran outside, shouting, "Xiao Wu, come on in."

The old captain watched his grandson leave, stretched his neck to look out, and when he saw Zhang Guoqing and Zhang Guoqiang coming in, he beckoned them to come onto the kang.

Zhang Guoqing quickly stepped forward, sat in front of the kang, and said with a smile, "Third Grandpa, I was worried you went out. Today, my brother and I came to ask for your help and to tell you that we can’t go to the deep mountains today."

The old captain looked at him with puzzlement, "I know why you can’t go to the deep mountains today; is it because your father-in-law is going to the ancestral hall? But what do you two brothers need from me?"

Zhang Guoqing glanced at his second brother, then around, hesitating.

Just then, the old captain’s wife came in and teased him, "Xiao Wu, you’re rare to see these days. How’s fatherhood treating you? Your mother was just saying yesterday that such a young man is now a father, and you’re actually taking care of the child quite well. It’s almost a month-old now, right?"

Zhang Guoqing just kept smiling, listening to them tease him without replying.

The old captain remembered the matter Zhang Guoqing specifically mentioned to him a few days ago, suddenly realized, and ushered them out.

After everyone left, the old captain joked, "Changing household registration? Is he also changing the household registration?"

Zhang Guoqiang quickly got up, took a form from his pocket, and handed it to him, "Uncle, you truly have good eyesight. We need to change household registration; we got the certificate yesterday and now need your official stamp today."

The old captain looked at him in surprise, then at the smiling Zhang Guoqing beside him, and exclaimed, "It’s not because I have sharp eyes; I was just joking. Good boy, well done. Once you move to the city, work hard, and in the future, bring our Zhang family’s younger ones into the city with any opportunity. Have you confirmed where you’ll be working?"

Zhang Guoqiang nodded with a smile, "Yes, and thanks to my second sister’s father-in-law who has extensive connections. Heard there’s an internal recruitment at the public security bureau, and they found a way for me to try out. Just completed the procedures yesterday, and I rushed over this morning."

The old captain, happily unfolding the form, smiled as he touched the handwriting, "Finally, someone from our Zhang family is working in a government office. Good, good. Do you know when you’ll start working? I reckon all three brothers in your family will move to the county city. What’s the plan for your eldest brother?"

Zhang Guoqing knew he couldn’t hide anything from the experienced Captain, "My elder brother hasn’t decided yet. Two years ago his maternal uncle and little uncle started looking for people. We have to wait and see if there’s any news from their side. It should be soon. Today, I must trouble you, Third Grandpa, to first help me and my second brother with our matters. My second brother starts work next Monday. All the paperwork is done, just waiting for you to stamp it and transfer the household registration."

The Captain handed a form to Zhang Guoqiang, "Take it, let’s go to the team and get it stamped." After saying this, he put on an old coat, donned a hat, greeted his family, and led them out.

At the production team office, the Captain took the notes from the two brothers and stamped them all, letting out a big sigh of relief, and said with a smile, "Finally done. You two brothers keep it quiet for now. Once the county-level household registration is secured and the second brother has started work, then tell everyone to avoid any unnecessary gossip. When you go back, tell your father to prepare good food and drinks and invite us old fellows for some fun once the second brother has started his job."

Zhang Guoqing quickly nodded, "Of course, even if you didn’t say so, we planned to invite everyone for some fun. It’s such a joyous occasion. In the future, if there’s anything us youngsters don’t understand, you must give us a heads up."

"Yes, once you’re settled in the future, and if you see any factory recruiting, don’t forget to promote Old Zhang’s family brothers. You guys should work hard. Now that you’re leaving the farming life, don’t forget that this is your root."

The Zhang Guoqing brothers nodded quickly upon hearing this.

Zhang Guoqing saw that things were sorted here and said apologetically, "Third Grandpa, what about today’s hunting? I reckon we won’t be able to go, as my father-in-law’s elders are visiting, so we must host them."

"No problem, focus on your affairs. This time it might be difficult since Zhou Family Village caused a fuss, and no one’s in the mood to go up the mountain today. Later, I’ll see if anyone from the neighboring village is still participating; everyone is waiting for you to lead them deep into the mountains. If you’re unavailable, let’s see what they say."

The Captain had no choice either, as among the older generation, apart from the three Zhang brothers being skilled, no one dared to go deep into the mountains. If it was known that Zhang Guoqing wasn’t going, the younger generation definitely wouldn’t venture. Without a leader, a few reckless kids wouldn’t be reassuring. It seemed he needed to inquire with the neighboring village.

Mr. Zhang and his eldest son, having finished looking over the private plot, strolled leisurely towards home. They hadn’t reached the courtyard gate when they saw Zhang Guoqing and his brother returning with smiles.

"How was it? Is everything settled?"

Zhang Guoqing took out the document, opened it for his father to see, "Even Brother’s is done. Next Monday, Brother and I will make another trip to the bureau together to complete everything. Third Grandpa is shrewd; he can see it’s Brother’s turn next. I told him that once Brother’s uncle and little uncle are finished, it will be soon."

Mr. Zhang, eyes smiling, quickly instructed the brothers to tidy up, "Your Third Grandpa is quite sharp. There’s no rush regarding your elder brother; take your time. We must inform your Uncle and Little Uncle so they don’t hear rumors and think our family is doing things behind their backs."

"Alright, Dad, you handle it. Third Grandpa said to invite the elders for drinks once Brother starts working. You decide when it’s convenient, and I’ll prepare the food and drinks."

Mr. Zhang entered the courtyard and waved for him to handle his business, "Let’s talk about it after some time. First, you and Jiao Jiao go to the Zhou Family Village; don’t keep your father-in-law’s family waiting. Remember to bring them back when it’s done."

Zhang Guoqing watched them enter the main house and then also went into their bedroom. Upon entering, he saw his mother already there, and upon seeing him, she reproached, "You two brothers took so long! Quick, don’t keep the elders waiting."

Zhou Jiao, dressed neatly, saw him enter and pointed to the clothes on the kang, "Brother, hurry up and change. The baby is left with Mom; let’s set off quickly."

Zhang Guoqing hurried to change clothes while occasionally giving instructions, "Mom, the baby eats every three hours. Later, if you get busy, remember to have Xi Zi look after the baby, but don’t leave him alone in the room. If the kids from the family come in, don’t be reluctant to give them candy. There’s malted milk in the cupboard; if they want to drink, make it for them. If they love playing inside, don’t stop them."

Mother Zhang gave him a look, "Got it, I won’t leave your room today. Your sisters-in-law will handle the meals, and when the kids come over, I won’t chase them away, okay?"

Zhang Guoqing smiled pleasingly at her, "Mom, don’t get upset. I’ll take Jiao Jiao now. Is there anything else you need to tell us?"

Seeing them dressed, Mother Zhang nodded with satisfaction at the two and pointed to a basket on the living room table, "Take this basket over. I think your father-in-law’s family won’t be able to buy incense or paper money. I’ve prepared everything for you. Just go over there and don’t say much; do whatever they ask you to do."

Zhang Guoqing pulled the cloth aside, looked at the basket filled with incense, paper money, and offerings, nodded, "Mom, you’re so considerate. We wouldn’t have thought of these things if you hadn’t prepared them."

Mother Zhang chuckled, "You youngsters wouldn’t know about these things. Go on, go early. When it’s done, remember to bring them over for dinner."

After bidding farewell to Mother Zhang, the couple returned to the car. Looking at the basket full of items, the two exchanged smiles; they had indeed not thought to prepare these things.