Chapter 79 - 68: Smuggling

Zhang Guoqing kept an eye on the old man, worried about him drinking too much, while listening to Xiao Fei and the others bragging and farting, discussing tomorrow’s hunting trip up the mountain. In the end, they even decided how to cook the wild boar meat. "Xiao Wu, what do you think? We’ll take the guys over, and you lead the way." "Sure, let’s go early tomorrow, we can come back sooner." Zhang Guoqing seized the opportunity to secretly tug on Xiao Zhou’s sleeve, "Brother Zhou, lend me the car keys for a bit, I promise I’ll be back within 30 minutes, and don’t make a fuss." "Do you want me to go with you?" Xiao Zhou felt confident in his driving skills, and it was getting dark with barely a soul on the road. Zhang Guoqing shook his head and took the keys handed to him under the table, put them in his pocket, picked up a bowl and walked out, and nobody noticed him, thinking he went to the kitchen. Xiao Zhou watched him from behind, feeling amused, this guy really played his part well. Zhang Guoqing quickly went to the west wing, seeing Zhou Jiao boredly counting her fingers, "Honey, I got the car keys, bring it out quickly before we get caught, hurry." Zhou Jiao quickly took out half a lamb and several plastic boxes, "Hubby, stick to the plan and act fast, this is everything you mentioned earlier, do you need anything else?" "You can’t eat much during your confinement, so grab two more black chickens. No need for anything else, Mom has stored plenty in the cellar, we’ll eat those first before anything else." As he spoke, he took out the prepared cloth bags and crammed all the lamb meat and bones inside, then grabbed another tattered bag and stuffed the beef and pork bits into it. "Hubby, be careful not to drive into a ditch, haha." Zhou Jiao stored those boxes away. After packing the stuff, Zhang Guoqing left the room as soon as Jiao Jiao spoke, looking around outside for people then dashed out the door, stuffed everything into the car trunk, took out the car keys and drove off, finally letting out a long breath, driving somewhere but ended up heading towards the town. He remembered a small alley in town selling books, not sure if he’d find any good ones, since moving here their home only had the two of their textbooks and nothing else for leisure reading, a change from before when he’d read something before sleeping every night. Cycling was exhausting, driving got him there quickly, parking the car at the alley entrance. He strolled over, seeing two old bookstores still open, given it wasn’t too late, he went into one. The owner was an old man who he knew; he used to come with Jiao Jiao to read books, "Old man, have you gotten anything new recently?" The old man glanced at him, "Wait a moment, something came in this afternoon, I’ll show you, help me watch the stall a bit." He went inside without a worry about people stealing the books. Zhang Guoqing squatted down and browsed, finding many ancient books worth savoring for their sentimental value. He set aside the ones he fancied and found some on Chinese medicine, good for his wife, now fluent in five languages and skilled in medicine, chuckling to himself. "How about it, everything’s in this bag, look through it, then we’ll calculate the price." The old man saw how much he’d picked and was quite happy. Zhang Guoqing didn’t answer, just nodded, casually fished through the open bag, discovering all were ancient books. He didn’t ask where they came from, guessing they were cleared out from homes. Not many people buy old books now. "Alright, old man, check how much these cost and bundle them up for me." The old man counted the number, considering the condition of the books, "There are 32 here, I’ll charge you 3 yuan." Zhang Guoqing didn’t haggle, paid, carried the books to the alley and put them in the car, then went to another place with another old man, just like before, picked out a bunch of books, 30 of them, charged at 2 yuan, paid and left. Seeing the back seat piled with books, spending 5 yuan, compared to his sister’s salary of 22 yuan, not much cheaper. Since he didn’t waste time, he drove back home, carrying the bags and books to the small living room, spoke with Zhou Jiao briefly, didn’t mention buying books to avoid tempting her during her confinement. With the bowl, he washed his hands, scooped rice and went to the main room; apart from Xiao Zhou, nobody knew he had gone out. Everyone was happily chatting about anything and everything. He winked at Xiao Zhou and casually slipped the keys back in his pocket as Fang Fei saw him carrying rice, "Xiao Wu, why aren’t you drinking, haven’t toasted with the brothers yet." "No, just eating a bit first, and then we’ll drink together. Wouldn’t miss out on the toast, do you guys want to grab some bites first? I checked the kitchen, there’s rice and buns. Eat a little to feel good, then we drink." "No need for me, the food filled me up. Big sis just said, call her if hungry. You eat some dishes first. The old man was talking about war stories just now, we’re all listening." Xiao Fei shook his hand, too full to eat after drinking. Grandpa Lin was talking about key points, adults and children listening intently. Eating dishes, sipping wine as the old man spoke plainly, Xiao Fei whispered with Zhang Guoqing, "Bro, how about half a lamb, and beef, I left them in the small living room, how do we eat?" Fang Fei lowered his voice, "Is it easy to handle? If not, save it. Oh man, my belly’s so full now, let me think, barbeque, then make mutton bone soup, perfection. Simmer the bones tonight, barbecue them early tomorrow." "Sure, however you want. I was afraid you’d be bored tonight, thought of holding a campfire party. Tomorrow’s fine too, eat whenever you’re hungry. Now it’s not too dark yet, haha, by 6 o’clock, after a short bathroom break, we’ll be hungry." Fang Fei thought for a moment, "You’re right, decide whenever hungry." Zhang Guoqing smacked his lips, this guy’s unreliable. After eating, he continued, "Are the old man’s stories not interesting to you?" "Ask your brother Zhou, this meal’s a memoir, my family does it every holiday. Tired of it." Fang Fei clinked his bowl with his and Xiao Zhou’s, close enough that Xiao Zhou could hear them whispering. Zhang Guoqing chuckled silently. Xiao Zhou pointed outside, was someone knocking? Fang Fei listened, "Really someone at your door, go check, did you lock up the yard?" Zhang Guoqing’s eyes widened knowing who it was, "Grandpa must have come over!" With that, he went out to greet. "This cheeky kid is smart, know who’s here? The way he watched the door knock he knew. You all need to learn from your uncle, read more books to know the world, reading educates in thinking and using your brain." Xi Zi stood up, very solemnly said to him, "Great-grandpa, I’ll remember your words. Uncle said first learn words, then understand meaning. Books teach how to be a person, how to do things, we need to begin thinking how we’ll be and do. I’ve remembered, I’ve begun thinking." "Not bad, not bad, really a good kid, study hard, and get into Beijing University to see Great-grandpa. You’ll be a role model for your brothers and sisters." "I’ll certainly remember your words, I’ll lead my siblings well. I’m off to find Aunt for candy, are you coming?" With that, cheeks flushed, leading the kids in cheer out the door.