Chapter 59 - 48: Visitors from the Lin Family (Part 4)

Chapter 48: Visitors from the Lin Family (4) At the gate, people still hadn’t dispersed. Too many had gathered today, and discussions were ongoing. Old Sir Zhou had already left, and no one knew where Zhou Xue had gone. Zhang Guoqing looked around and noticed a young man in a military uniform. He nodded at him, signaling with his eyes to move outside. The two of them quietly moved to the back hill without drawing attention. Zhang Guoqing smiled and apologized, noticing that the surroundings were empty. Observing that the other party was also very astute, there was no need to beat around the bush. Soldiers appreciate straightforwardness. "Brother, I guess you’re a comrade beside Zhou Jiao’s grandfather, right? Sorry for the crowd and bustle earlier, making it hard to greet you. Next time, please speak well of me to the old man, or else he’ll tell Jiao Jiao, and she’ll definitely give me a hard time." "Oh, how did you know that’s Zhou Jiao’s grandfather? Could it not just be someone passing by?" Zhang Guoqing found it amusing to see the soldier’s serious, square face. "I say, do you believe such an awe-inspiring old man in military uniform, leading a group of your elite soldiers, was just passing by? The only old revolutionary in these villages around is Old Sir Zhou. I’ve grown up here and never seen comrades visiting him. Plus, from beginning to end, they stood in such a secluded position, unnoticed if you didn’t pay attention." Fang Fei found Zhang Guoqing’s ease amusing. Just a moment ago, he looked so displeased while protecting his wife, yet in a few minutes, he changed his expression. "Since you called me brother, Zhang Guoqing, I’ll accept you as my brother then. I’m Fang Fei, a good friend of Lin Dingsheng, Zhou Jiao’s first cousin. That guy knew I was coming to see you and called me from afar to check if you’re reliable." Fang Fei playfully punched Zhang Guoqing’s chest like a man. Zhang Guoqing returned the gesture, punching his chest, "Just call me Xiao Wu directly. I’m the fifth in line, so the nickname is Xiao Wu. If you stay a few days, we can hang out. There’s hunting in the Northeast right now; how about it, do you hunt, soldier brother?" Fang Fei kicked over but Zhang Guoqing easily dodged it, "You’ve got some nerve, setting up your brother right after meeting. I’ll only stay for a week; it’s been planned for half a year. Your grandfather can only stay in the Northeast for a week, including a meeting at the Northeast Military District, so he can only stay one night. Your mother-in-law didn’t schedule anything." "That lady is really my mother-in-law? She looks nothing like Jiao Jiao and isn’t as pretty as her. I was suspicious when I glanced over. But it should be my mother-in-law." Fang Fei couldn’t help but pat his head for his expression of ’my wife is the prettiest in the world,’ "You’re such a wife fanatic. Yes, your wife is the prettiest. Your wife takes after her grandmother, not just in looks but also demeanor." By now, the two were arm in arm; men’s friendships are different from women’s, easy and kindred-spirit. "You just haven’t met someone you like yet. Let’s not talk about that. We’ll go in from the back and hang out at my place." "We’ll go later. I’ll wait for the old man to come over later and we’ll come together. I need to report back to your grandfather about the follow-up; the folks from the township took it away. But you two are really something." Fang Fei gave him a thumbs-up. Zhang Guoqing shook his head helplessly, "There’s no helping it. Those things have long gone. In the future, tell the Lin Family not to mail them anymore. We, husband and wife, have no choice. To prevent the Zhou Family from targeting the Lin Family later, we set a trap to reveal the situation, and some things need clarifying. You might’ve heard rumors that Jiao Jiao is a golden baby, supporting five families, enriching five villages. Everything Jiao Jiao owns was mailed by the Lin Family. To some, this is fraught with issues. We realized we need to tear apart the Lin and Zhou Family ties, we can’t let this drag on because of us. Moreover, that family is worse than strangers." "You’re sensible, brother, so I’m at ease. The things said by the golden baby have already settled many people today, making things easier for you both. You two really are a perfect match. I was wondering if you knew the Lin members would come?" "Brother, to others, I surely won’t say, but since you treat me as a brother, I’ll tell the truth. No one else knows; just us two deduced it. The Lin Family was most likely to come during my son’s washing ceremony tomorrow; didn’t expect them this early. Thought her mother might come, didn’t expect the old man to." Fang Fei listened to him and felt half relieved, finding it matched his analysis. He’s honest, nothing hidden, he could explain to his buddies. He had a favorable impression of Zhang Guoqing and offered necessary words of caution. "Xiao Wu, let me tell you something. If the old man arranges work for you, don’t hesitate. Your grandmother specifically instructed him not to force you into the army due to her poor health, unless you willingly choose to. She said Jiao Jiao has suffered enough, let you live as you want. The Lin Family does as the grandmother says, and the old man is quite a slave to his wife. Their family is easy to get along with, except your second uncle and aunt grew up in the Big Courtyard, unlike other match-making families. Rare in the Big Courtyard. Let me tell you about your mother-in-law. Your grandfather has four children. Except your younger aunt raised by your grandmother, all were fostered among local families, then placed in children’s regiments once they matured. Your grandfather favored her most, being the one most resembling him in appearance. She’s straightforward, good-natured, somewhat bourgeois, seen by others as a spendthrift wife. Can’t save money, I hear Victory’s brothers often say she’s still a girl at heart. She fell for Jiao Jiao’s dad because he was handsome, putting love first and money managed by her man. Eventually, the situation improved when her mother took over. Therefore, if she buys things here, don’t be surprised, haha. I’ve barely seen her, she’s always running nationwide and overseas, seldom home; sometimes not seen for two years." "Thanks, my brother. Who takes mother-in-law’s matters to heart? Naturally, there’ll be someone to manage it. What you’ve told me is clear to my mind, just as long as she’s not the shrew type, everything’s fine." "... Have you guessed something? Quickly, tell me. Listen, and I’ll share a surprise later." Fang Fei really doubted this clever guy. He heard rumors Lin Aiguo and Zhou Xiaozheng were returning, not dead, always on missions. His father revealed a hint. "Haha... Not talking. Not even if you kill me. What you’re thinking aligns with mine, you’ll know later. Initially, seeing your serious square face, I thought you’d fit as a soldier. Don’t be a soldier, your temperament isn’t right. Stay steadfast." Zhang Guoqing cried and laughed as Fang Fei hugged and tickled him. "You’re talking about me, yet you change expression even faster. Just now, when you protected your wife with that deadpan face, wasn’t it the same blocking others? Remember, when Victory’s threesome comes back, they’ll settle with you, and I’ll decide whether to aid you. You didn’t even get the brothers’ consent before stealing their sister; they’re all sharpening knives, haha." Zhang Guoqing playfully tugged his arm, "Brother, you must help me. If you ever fancy a girl, your little brother will help you chase her back for sure." "Get lost! As for your brother, a talented guy, I don’t care to bother with those girls, who only know how to act coquettishly, annoying me to death. I’ve already decided to find a female soldier, so we’re both military. If they’re disobedient, I’ll talk based on rank. Don’t you know military district wives are troublesome, daily new issues." Fang Fei said longingly. He was really overwhelmed by this choice of spouse. He could only pat Fang Fei’s forehead, "Thankfully you’re not feverish. Did you think about what makes such a woman different from a man? You see men during the day, go home to a woman like a man at night, and if you accidentally have a daughter like a man, brother, your life will have no color, only gray." "Can’t there be pretty women who are also soldiers? Think of women soldiers, they’d be tall, long legs. Oh my, I have to meet someone at the village entrance to finish a mission in the township, I have to go first. We’ll chat in the evening. Just to tell you the follow-up. No need for you to go to the county, around 2 or 3 o’clock it’ll be over. Go back to your wife. Oh, friendly reminder, when you two hugs, say that Jiao Jiao and they really are all here. I told Xiao Zhou, so prepare to welcome your mother-in-law." Speaking mimicking Zhang Guoqing’s tone, then patting his own arm with mock sentiment, he ran off.