CHAPTER 297: CHAPTER 228

Lin Lishan heard this and wasn’t sure if she was embarrassed or angry. Her face flushed, she glared at her and said, "You worry too much. I’m your mom! Don’t worry about us, just live your life well, and don’t keep us on edge. Mom knows you’re stubborn, and your dad doesn’t dare to force you to come back.

We’ll wait for you for two years. Even if the sky falls, you’ll have to come back for us. Your great aunt is right, you and Xiao Wu going back doesn’t need you to ask for favors like others. At worst, you can join the Art Troupe. But you insist on relying on yourself; a girl’s perseverance can’t be too strong. Mom just wants you to have an easy life, to live as you wish, but you have to choose the hardest path." As she spoke, her voice gradually lowered, and she wiped her tears with her head down.

Zhou Jiao stepped forward to help her mother wipe her tears, making her smile. Returning to the kang, she looked at the two elders in front of her, speaking in a low, determined voice, "Mom, I know what you’re thinking, I understand your concern for me. But I want to try for myself, I want to know where my potential lies, where my future path is.

Relying on you, I’m afraid I’ll lose my fighting spirit and ruin my father’s reputation. Now that I know what my grandparents went through back then, I’m even more sure that I’ve made the right decision.

Everyone encounters challenges in life. I need to learn from the lessons of the past to think carefully about the future. I’m still young, I want to try and see if I, Zhou Jiao, without the protection of my parents, can bear the responsibility of being a daughter of the Zhou Family. What’s more, I’m more confident than others. I have you, I have my great aunt and the others, so even if I get hurt or tired, I have a place to rest. You must believe in me, and be happy for me too."

Old Mrs. Cheng sighed, happily stroking Zhou Jiao’s small face, and said, "Shanshan, you should be proud, you have a good daughter to be proud of. Jiao Jiao, you and your grandmother are very similar in temperament, as stubborn as a bull. But you must also remember not to pursue perfection in everything, to avoid trouble when faced with it. If one path doesn’t work, we try to take a different route.

Being too rigid can break easily; success has always required flexibility and adaptability. If your grandparents had gone abroad then, our family wouldn’t have suffered so much, with the wealth they had, and the friends they made while studying abroad, they wouldn’t have died so young. Your great aunt regrets her arrogance and eagerness for revenge in the past."

Zhou Jiao shook her head and advised, "Great Aunt, don’t regret it. That was because my grandparents had a greater nation in their hearts. They understood well that without a nation, there is no home, their spirit is admirable, and worth remembering by us descendants. But I can’t, I just want a small family, I just want the whole family to be well, for everyone to be safe."

"Haha, good, thinking for safety is good, being safe is a blessing in life. Your dad has your great aunt watching over things there, you must be safe here. If things get difficult, run to Beijing, find your great aunt. I still have some connections over these years, for the usual troubles, we are not afraid."

Zhou Jiao winked at her mischievously, teasing, "Great Aunt, you and my parents say the same thing, just run to Beijing if there is trouble, are you not afraid I’ll cause a huge scene? Don’t worry about me. My temperament is too slow and easy-going to hold grudges with others. Everyone has a difficult life, no need to fuss over things. Besides, I think the whole county now must know that I have big support behind me, who would bother to cause me trouble? In the past, everyone called me the golden baby, I wonder if this title has changed now?"

Old Mrs. Cheng burst into laughter, "Who gave you that title? Your grandfather from the Zhou Family had a resounding nickname as well, Mr. Yu. His name is Jia Heng, styled Jinyu, later everyone only knew Zhou Jinyu, young girls saw him and did not dare call out his name, shouting Mr. Yu instead. We often joked that he rivaled Pan An in his prime, which he lamented, saying trouble was caused by friends’ gags. Your father had a nickname too, Northeast Tiger."

Lin Lishan also laughed happily, "Little Aunt, everyone in the county knows Jiao Jiao as the golden baby. If you mention golden baby in the county, someone will tell you how to find her. If you ask for Zhou Jiao, not many would know that it refers to the golden baby. This child has been troubled by this title for a long time, always saying that mud baby sounds better than golden baby."

Zhou Jiao quickly changed the topic, truly fearing they would continue to tease, "Great Aunt, are you taking the military plane back this time? Can my parents go back with you?"

"Tomorrow’s military plane has room for all. Unfortunately, our little Ping’an is too small; otherwise, you could all come back. This time we are lucky; it happened to deliver supplies here, going back is empty. Today is the second day of the lunar month, in ten days our little Ping’an has a full moon, are there any customs here? Has your mother-in-law mentioned how to handle it?"

Zhou Jiao shook her head and said, "Haven’t heard her mention it. She organized the washing ceremony. I don’t understand these things. It seems the village kids have simple arrangements; I haven’t seen much going on."

"No Northern customs involved, South takes this day to shave the baby’s hair, give a name, and distribute red eggs to friends and neighbors. Our family from the maternal side also needs to prepare."

Lin Lishan heard, nodding, "Little Aunt, my mom did say on the full moon we should prepare a golden lock, red eggs, and some new clothes, and bring Jiao Jiao’s family back for a home change. After discussing with her dad, we decided to postpone the home change to the end of the year. We’ll leave the golden lock and other items until we leave, ready for Jiao Jiao on the full moon day. Originally planned to give money to Zhou family’s Old Madam for red eggs, but plans have changed."

Old Mrs. Cheng listened, pondering for a while before asking, "When must you rejoin the unit at the latest?"

Lin Lishan smiled embarrassedly, "Actually, I originally had no leave for this trip, swapped two days with a colleague, applied for seven days from above, cobbled together 15 days. It’s almost due. Planning to call Beijing in these couple days and report after the fact."

Zhou Jiao immediately understood their intentions, hurriedly saying, "Great Aunt, Mom, don’t rush to decide, hear me out. My dad’s matters are the most important for us now. You all returning, please don’t disrupt the original plan, men are oblivious to details, without you, I can’t feel at ease.

For the child’s full moon, I’ve made plans. Mom, you leave the golden lock with me. For the red eggs, I’ll arrange to have them sent to the village from the county with money. Also, Great Aunt, when you return, don’t send things over, I’ll return to Beijing by the end of year, and we’ll discuss when I’m back, the full moon is over, there’s still the first birthday, nothing urgent. My grandparents’ matters, my dad’s matters are most important."

Old Mrs. Cheng looked at Zhou Jiao with a stern little face discussing business, joyfully, "Okay, we’ll follow your lead. Your dad is most important. Great Aunt understands. We’ll do as you say."

Zhou Jiao grinned at the words and nodded, "That’s settled then, don’t mention anything to my dad. Mom, just say everything’s ready, let him focus on his own affairs in peace."