CHAPTER 299: CHAPTER 230: FIRST TIME IN THE NEW HOME

Zhou Xiaozheng led Zhou Jiao to the courtyard and pointed at the flower bed, saying, "This belongs to that old man. Before leaving, he asked Xiao Wu to take good care of it. Jiao Jiao, don’t overthink it. We plant flowers for fun; if they become a burden, it’s not worth the effort."

Seeing his daughter nod obediently, Zhou Xiaozheng smiled contentedly and led her to the kitchen, pointing inside, "The kitchen is big enough, right? It has a soil stove and a modified coal stove. Don’t use the soil stove; you might jab your hand with the firewood. The coal stove is better; we have plenty of coal tickets, just put the coal on it, no need to watch the fire. Let Xiao Wu change the coal; be careful not to get burned."

Zhou Jiao nodded with a smile. She knew she was like a little baby in her dad’s eyes. Her dad wished he could even feed her.

Zhou Xiaozheng led her to the entrance of the cellar, whispering, "This is the basement. Inside, Dad stored 400 pounds of rice and flour. Eat up, don’t give it away, keep some for yourself. These boxes are all good shrimp and yellow croaker. Remember to keep it inside, don’t let anyone in. Originally, if Dad weren’t leaving tomorrow, I planned to buy some more seafood and grains for you to eat slowly. If you don’t want to cook, just make vermicelli. There are big fish dried for you to eat gradually in the warehouse. The small ones left are bony without meat; decide whether to give them away or deal with it yourself."

"Dad, it’s enough to eat, no need to buy more. You can take the shrimp this time; it looks good as a gift." Zhou Jiao quickly said.

Zhou Xiaozheng shook his head, "No, keep these for you to eat whenever you want. Dad doesn’t need to give gifts. Don’t move the things in this basement to the village, and don’t spread the word. Xiao Wu is aware; just listen to him."

After the father and daughter left the basement and locked the entrance, Zhou Xiaozheng took her to the warehouse. He opened the door and smelled the fishy odor. After a while, when the smell dissipated a bit, Zhou Xiaozheng pointed at the large fish dried, saying, "Keep these for yourself to eat. The seafood on the ground still needs to be given to a few uncles in the provincial city."

"Then when you return, do you need to prepare something for Aunt Grandma? Can’t go empty-handed, right? I think you should prepare some to take back. I still have some tea leaves; you can take them back too."

Zhou Xiaozheng glanced outside and whispered, "We still need to bring some back for your grandma too. Too many people, not enough to share; better not to give. The last time you prepared so much, it was significant enough.

When you return to Beijing, remember not to bring anything. Just because they mail a few packets doesn’t mean a lot, our family’s interest income alone is enough for them to mail hundreds of times.

The gift they gave Ping’an for the full moon ceremony, you also returned those gifts. Our family owes them nothing. It’s not that dad is stingy but if we keep taking large bundles to the Lin Family, the Gu Family might think we are clueless and easy to bully."

Zhou Jiao nodded in agreement, "Okay, I’ll listen to you. Then prepare a few nice tea boxes that don’t stand out and bring them to Aunt Grandma. I reckon Uncle Grandma likes tea. I was considering giving Aunt Grandma some Ah Jiao, but let’s leave it, the days are long."

Hearing this, Zhou Xiaozheng lightly tapped her head, "Haha, my girl is smart indeed. Alright, let’s step outside, and I’ll show you your study and bedroom in the main house. Let’s not use the hidden compartments on Professor Liu’s drawings for now. When there are fewer people, we’ll design our own to store things."

Zhou Jiao followed him to the main house and softly said, "Dad, let’s not arrange hidden compartments yet; it’s not necessary. When there’s time, I’ll make a small hidden compartment in the cellar."

Seeing the busy living room, Zhou Xiaozheng changed the topic, "The study has some nice books that are worth reading. Professor Liu’s family has even more books; it would be great if he wants to sell them."

"Slowly collect them. Right now, old books are quite cheap; nobody reads them."

The living room was lively with the crowd listening to Mr. Lin and others talk about battlefield stories.

The father and daughter quietly avoided them and entered the study.

Once inside, Zhou Jiao’s eyes lit up, excitedly looking at the books in the bookshelf, running to the desk, gently touching the surface, and surveying the entire study.

Her face was flushed with excitement, eyes curved with a smile as she ran to the books, looking through the catalog and exclaiming, "Worth it, totally worth it, just this study makes it worth it. Dad, you’re amazing to have found this."

Seeing her rarely lose composure, Zhou Xiaozheng cheerfully said, "There are still a few things missing; can you think of what they are?"

Zhou Jiao nodded happily, "Missing the four treasures of the study, and good paper. I’ll look for these when I return to Beijing; no rush. Oh dear, this old man really should have left more masterpieces. This big desk makes me want to write."

"Place embroidery tools on the Kang, almost complete. The courtyard is too small, no choice, we’ll make do for now. Later, Dad will set up a beautiful study for you."

Zhou Jiao shook her head with excitement, "It’s not small, it’s enough. No hurry to set up embroidery tools. These past two years I haven’t been interested in embroidery; enough with the women’s work. I plan to follow your advice and start practicing calligraphy and playing chess."

"Good idea, Dad will buy a set of four treasures of the study and chess to mail to you when I return."

Zhou Jiao quickly declined, "Please don’t, these things break easily. I’ll buy them in the provincial city; I’m afraid you’ll buy expensive ones. When I return to Beijing, Dad, you accompany me to pick them."

Zhou Xiaozheng reluctantly shrugged, "Alright, I’ll listen to my girl. Who told you to be our biggest?" Seeing Jiao Jiao smile cheerfully, his heart warmed; his daughter should be like this.

Zhang Guoqing had already heard the conversation between the father and daughter in the inner room. After a long while, no one came in, so he came out holding his son and took a look. Sure enough, it was something that suited her taste.

"Dad, hurry up and bring Jiao Jiao in to see the bedroom."

Zhou Xiaozheng pulled the reluctant Zhou Jiao towards the inner room, only to find that Zhou Jiao was no longer as excited as before. He smugly raised his eyebrows at his son-in-law.

Zhang Guoqing looked at him and secretly laughed, "Jiao Jiao doesn’t like it?"

Zhou Jiao remarked, "No, they’re all good materials, valuable stuff. This old man truly is a spendthrift. Fortunately, he sold them casually, or else it wouldn’t be easy to assemble such a collection of items with historical value.

The old lady’s family must have been quite noble, with such good wood—a whole set of furniture in the bedroom. Her parents spent so much effort back then, only for it to be abandoned. As the saying goes, like father, like son. Aren’t the descendants of today walking the same path?"

Zhou Xiaozheng couldn’t help but laugh heartily, "You child, if people hear that, they’ll think we got a bargain and are pretending. Quickly pack the suitcase; there are still some fabrics and odds and ends in the wardrobe. Sort them out as you see fit. I’ll go out and accompany them first."

Zhou Jiao smiled sheepishly, "Dad, tonight let’s invite them out for dinner, no need to prepare dinner at home."

"Alright, I’ll tell Xiao Wu about it. You just focus on packing, and remember to put important things separately."

Zhou Jiao watched as her dad left and then ran happily to the wardrobe, "Brother, where did all these things come from? There are so many! Looks like our couple can save a lot of money."

Zhang Guoqing gently placed their son on the bed, "These are from Uncle Zhao Chuan Guang, don’t mention it to anyone. Put everything neatly in the wardrobe. Our mom has already sent quite a few to Zhao Yuanyuan. These are good stuff; keep them for gradual use."

Hearing this, Zhou Jiao nodded, rearranged them at the top, and continued packing the clothes they brought from home. She made sure to lock all the luggage inside the wardrobe.

Zhang Guoqing leaned against the edge of the bed, "Jiao Jiao, I reckon we might need to change the furniture again. There are many who know their stuff."

Zhou Jiao approached and felt the bedding, which was quite soft. Watching her son’s eyes wandering upward, she said, "Hmm, let’s use them for now. Our immediate focus is on the village courtyard. The sooner we separate, the sooner we can move in. Look, Ping’an really likes it here."

Zhang Guoqing looked at the little one, covered his head with his hand, and noticed that he didn’t cry either, his eyes started looking at him curiously, "Jiao Jiao, I found that our son’s intelligence must be very high; he reacts so quickly even before he’s a month old. Son, you even know how to appreciate it."

Zhou Jiao leaned close to Zhang Guoqing’s ear and whispered, "Dad doesn’t want to give things to Mrs. Lin, so as not to stand out, I plan to give some tea to Grandpa Lin. How much do you think is suitable? Which kind of tea should we send?"

"Send Tieguanyin specifically, take two top-grade boxes for Dad to enjoy himself. Then send three slightly inferior boxes to Grandma Lin, pay attention to the packaging. See if there’s anything else low-key that Dad can take back."

Zhou Jiao widened her eyes, looked for a long time, shook her head, then suddenly delightedly took out a coat, "This is a coat I altered last time, see if it works? It was meant for you, but I noticed you’re about the same size as my dad."

Zhang Guoqing immediately grabbed the coat, placed it inside, and shook his head refusing, "No way, this is the first coat you made for me. No one gets it, even if you gave me all the gold, this coat is off-limits."

Zhou Jiao rolled her eyes at him, then playfully slapped him, "Alright, you and your important token, happy? Not giving it away. Once I’m over the postpartum period, I’ll knit sweaters and make clothes for you, all under the cozy brand."

Zhang Guoqing glanced at her sideways, "That’s more like it. But forget knitting sweaters; it’s too tiring. When you have time, knit a sweater for Dad; he’d be delighted. Check inside again; there should be something."

Zhou Jiao shook her head decisively, and whispered in his ear, "Dad is very shrewd; we can’t give him away. It’s not about not trusting him, just no need for an extra person to know. It’s our little secret."

Zhang Guoqing glanced at his watch and immediately got up, "I’m driving to Grandpa Wang’s to get some liquor, just say it’s for my father-in-law to replenish his strength. If they ask about you, just shake your head and say nothing. I’ll definitely be back before dinner."

Zhou Jiao hurriedly pulled him, "Take something with you, don’t go empty-handed. See what they’re fond of."

"Haha, the things they fancy, we’ve got at home. Do you have any of the special supply wine that Grandpa sent last time? Give me a bottle; I’ll bring some seafood over directly. Check if there are any extra military coats."

Zhou Jiao stood up, took a military coat from the wardrobe, along with a bottle of wine, and handed them to him. Zhang Guoqing wrapped the wine in the coat and headed out. He went into the storeroom, took a small bamboo basket, stuffed three large yellow croakers and some small dried fish inside, and walked out with it.