CHAPTER 32: CHAPTER 22: NI DUAN DISPELS DOUBTS (PART 1)

Just as I stepped out of the west wing, the village’s loudspeaker whistle started blaring, signaling the start of the afternoon work shift. The village is large, so announcements are made over the loudspeakers. Besides broadcasting documents required by the township, they often play revolutionary songs. The whistle sounds every morning and also at the start of the afternoon work shift.

The family members all emerged, and Zhang Guoqing hurried to the main room; he needed to ask for leave, and it had to be quick. Otherwise, he’d face criticism, though building a house served as a fitting excuse.

"Dad, I want you to ask for leave this afternoon. We can’t figure out some matters on our own, so we need your and Mom’s input. It’s quite important, and we may even have guests tonight," Zhang Guoqing quickly got in his words first.

Mr. Zhang looked at him and went out to ask the eldest to help request a leave for him. In the afternoon, he needed to go to the township to settle the materials for building the house and find a craftsman.

The eldest nodded, neither he nor the second brother asked what was going on. Since their father wouldn’t ask for leave for trivial matters, they knew he’d tell them if it was significant, so there was no need to ask.

Once everyone had left, Zhang Guoqing personally shut the main gate; with nobody home, it wouldn’t be good if someone found out about their discussion. He especially didn’t want the Zhou Family to catch wind of it; he’d never admit his secret amusement. Let them worry, and once the Lin Family arrives, it’ll be even more interesting.

Mr. Zhang and Mother Zhang noticed him closing even the main gate and realized this was a matter not to be overheard. They became slightly nervous.

Zhang Guoqing approached his parents, "Dad, Mom, let’s go to my little parlor. I’ve already placed her and the baby there. This is quite a long story, and I want you both to hear it."

Mr. Zhang and Mother Zhang followed him to the little parlor. Zhang Guoqing also noticed his father wasn’t at ease; in Northeast rural areas, fathers-in-law don’t usually enter their son’s house, but given that Jiao Jiao grew up before him, it was different. Moreover, seeing how mysterious his son was being, they knew this was not something to be shared publicly. Jiao Jiao, in her postpartum period, wasn’t to go out; otherwise, she wouldn’t have come in. Zhou Jiao quickly greeted Mr. and Mrs. Zhang.

He noticed his father eagerly looking at his son and quickly handed him over.

"Dad, look at your grandson, isn’t he adorable? You haven’t seen him yet, have you? Mom says he looks like me, take a look and see if that’s true. Also, Dad and Mom, I plan to give the baby the nickname ’Ping’an’. What do you think? Jiao Jiao and I just want him to be safe and sound. Whatever he accomplishes in the future will be up to him."

Mr. Zhang carefully held the child, observing how his features indeed resembled Xiao Wu’s. His own Xiao Wu was this well-behaved when he was born. Seeing his grandson sleepily blowing bubbles melted his heart.

"Good, Ping’an is a great nickname with a pleasing meaning. You’ve even disrupted my work shift; now tell me what’s going on. Your mother and I are here, no matter what happens, we’ve got you covered. You needn’t worry; things should be approached slowly and discussed thoroughly. If it’s something concerning the Zhou Family, Jiao Jiao is now part of the Zhang Family. Whatever they do is their business; don’t get involved. If something arises, as parents, we’ll handle it."

Zhang Guoqing passed two cups of brown sugar water to his mother and sat beside Zhou Jiao. "First, have a sip of water. This story is a long one; we can’t be hasty. This morning, I went to see my elder and second sisters, then went straight to the Zhou Family to announce the good news. At the Zhou house, only the two elders were home. They were quite happy when I shared the news and instructed me to take two old hens Grandma Zhou specifically raised as gifts. I took the chance to mention reporting the good news to Grandpa and inquire about Jiao Jiao’s household registration and the marriage certificate, which hadn’t been issued. Upon hearing this, Grandpa Zhou’s face turned sour. Grandma Zhou, not wanting to delay, hastily pushed a bunch of empty envelopes into my pocket—yes, these were envelopes with no letters inside. In my haste, I forgot to give them to Jiao Jiao.

After I got the envelope with the address, Grandpa Zhou awkwardly stated that his Uncle Zhou was friends with the guys at the post office and suggested we hand over the parcel to him. Even kids would understand the implication. He intended to send items alongside ours secretly. I noticed Grandma Zhou showed no particular reaction and casually agreed.

I realized old Mr. Zhou had an agenda, intentionally discouraging my mother-in-law from sending money and stopping Jiao Jiao’s maternal family from mailing gifts. Jiao Jiao is married now, and if I can’t even support my wife, what kind of man am I? Before I could finish speaking—

I don’t know how much Jiao Jiao’s big aunt heard; she stormed into the main room, shouting, and objecting to my mother-in-law not sending money. She yelled about how my mother-in-law should pay for elderly care and said some very unpleasant things. Grandma Zhou was infuriated, cursing profusely, while Grandpa Zhou hurriedly tried to interrupt.

I had bought those pig trotters and black-boned chickens earlier. They were all in burlap bags placed on the front table. The shrew kept yelling that I shouldn’t inform my mother-in-law to send money, while swiftly pulling items from the bags, distributing them to her entire family, and claimed these were sent by my mother-in-law, saying I should be filial to grandparents and with a baby so young not to invite bad fortune, or something.

I burst out laughing at that point, astonished to see someone so shameless. I pushed her aside and told her those were debts my eldest sister had prepared for Jiao Jiao. She paled in fear upon hearing that it was my eldest sister’s doing.

I kept an eye on the elderly couple, worried they might become too upset. Grandpa Zhou remained unresponsive, as if he expected me to hand over the gifts until I clarified they were from my eldest sister. His face then dropped. Meanwhile, Grandma Zhou was trembling with anger, speechless. The shrew seemed unwilling to concede on the unreceived items and continued her blabber, with Grandpa Zhou making no attempts to interrupt, seemingly using this chance to let me hear them. How could I not understand? It was clear they were reluctant to let go of the Lin Family’s belongings.

Originally, I hadn’t planned to expose their schemes, but just as I entered to share the good news, Grandma Zhou apologized for Grandma not making cotton clothes for the child. I realized she was unaware of many of their actions. I then asked the shrew if everything from the Lin Family wasn’t enough? Aren’t they afraid that the Lin Family might come to check on Jiao Jiao and ask questions? I wasn’t aware of previous gifts sent over.

I told her that her eldest son’s and youngest son’s watches belonged to my grandfather and uncle, her daughter-in-laws’ military coats were gifts from my little aunt, and her eldest daughter’s three-wheelers and radios were for Jiao Jiao from my mother-in-law. The sewing machine and bicycle in her parents’ home were sent over from Beijing by Grandma and Grandpa. Even the cashmere coat and watch her eldest daughter was wearing came from my mother-in-law. Her eldest daughter’s child’s new cotton clothes and pants were all handcrafted by my mother-in-law.

Since Jiao Jiao got pregnant this year, within less than a year, 28 packages were sent over, all signed for by Uncle Zhou at the post office. I then asked if she knew what military mail was? I told her to go and find out, see if her family, the Huang family, could even enter the gate. All of them might be taken down in one swoop.