Chapter 87 - 76: Thoughts

In the East Wing, Guo Fu tucked the children in and lay down himself. Huang Cuilan looked at the pile of things and sorted them neatly into the box, "The kids’ dad, there’s so much stuff, we won’t need to buy fabric for clothes during the New Year. I saw how warm Xiao Wu’s brother was in the army coat, and I’ve been meaning to ask him to bring one for you. Now you won’t be cold in the winter. There’s so much stuff, later you should go to the village and see which family has mushrooms or other specialties, and purchase some in return for Xiao Wu’s mother-in-law." Guo Fu nodded and urged her to get on the kang quickly, "I understand, besides mushrooms, dried wild chicken and rabbit meat are rare in the city. I’ll check it out later. This family seems sincere; his grandfather really hits it off with our dad. Get some rest, we’ve been busy all day and have to get up early tomorrow. Finer liquor and cigarettes that Xiao Wu gave should go to your dad; if I want some, I’ll ask him." Huang Cuilan climbed onto the kang and playfully punched him, "You’re really something, took out so much today, there’s not much left with Xiao Wu, a bottle is enough for my dad." "You didn’t see how much stuff there was, us guys moved it twice before it was done, both trucks were full. Damn, so much stuff, and it’s all packed tightly in cloth bags and boxes. Really is like a golden baby. Luckily, no one in the village saw. There’s two boxes of liquor, we estimated 40 bottles between me and the second brother. Be good to Jiao Jiao, the amount of stuff really builds a huge favor owed." "I know, she’s been kind to me since she was little. She’s more likable than the second brother’s household. I’m not greedy, we should deal with things as they are." In the second brother’s room, Guoqiang tried on the army coat, it’s really warm, "Stop looking at the stuff, pack it all up. Wash the kids first and let them sleep." Lin Juhua packed the items into the box and, just to be sure, locked it with a key. "Why lock it, no one in our house values your stuff, anyone coming is looking at Xiao Wu’s room." Guoqiang laughed as he watched her busy. Lin Juhua shook her head, looking at him with grievance, "I’m not afraid of anyone except my mother coming over. I’m guessing she’ll come once she hears Jiao Jiao’s grandfather visiting. If she sees it, she’ll take it, and my Shi Tou doesn’t have many clothes yet. You tell me, did I do bad in my past life, now I don’t have a considerate family." Guoqiang poured water into the basin, "Reincarnation is arranged by heaven. Don’t worry, if my mother is here, your mother-in-law will also be embarrassed. See if there’s anything you can give her." "There’s nothing to give them, I looked, everything’s rare, even if you have money you can’t buy it. The fabric and cotton require a lot of tickets, this liquor is rare, lean on you for favors. I definitely can’t give it to my mother. If you married a wife like big sister-in-law or Jiao Jiao, our second house wouldn’t be the poorest, it’s all because I don’t have good fortune, my family doesn’t help, and it shouldn’t drag you down." "The kids are so big, why say such things, I’ve never thought my wife was inferior to them. Don’t worry, I understand, you’ll have a good life." Guoqiang thought of what Xiao Wu secretly told him today, privately amused himself, keeping a low profile. Looking at the relations of those officials and Xiao Wu today, this kid privately gathered the county leaders’ younger generation. We used to just hear that her grandfather’s family was strong, didn’t expect them to be so mighty. Seeing those people’s attitudes today, no wonder men want to rise in ranks and get rich. This silly kid really has silly luck. Tomorrow I’ll ask this kid if he knew marrying Jiao Jiao would lead to this day." "Haha, I’m having a good life now, not comparing with them, foremost in the village." Guoqiang laughed heartily, giving Lin Juhua a kiss. "I always liked this about you, knowing to appreciate what’s more and not begrudging what’s less. We don’t need to compare with others, just live our own life well." Zhang Guoqing hurriedly returned to his room, washed and slept, tidying up quietly, he climbed onto the kang to hug his wife, finally feeling comfortable. In her sleep, Zhou Jiao smelled the familiar scent and nuzzled against his chest, Zhang Guoqing chuckled at her laziness. Carefully tucking the quilt around her, he saw his son to the right, a small lump, closing his eyes for a peaceful sleep. Zhang Guoqing was sleeping soundly when Little Ping’an woke him with a cry. Instinctively, he picked him up from the kang, grabbed the bottle, made the milk and fed his son. After a while, seeing his son full, he picked him up, patted his back, changed his diaper, and the child peacefully slept. He suspected his son cried because the diaper was wet. He didn’t cry during the day wanting milk. Now he understood, his son needs milk every four hours or he’ll pout and look for food. A wet diaper makes him cry, if you delay too long he’ll cry louder. Truly his son, so smart. Zhang Guoqing slowly placed him back on the kang, nestled closely himself. In the harsh winter, he pondered the need for a solution, waking up to feed is too cold and the infant is too weak, perhaps let Jiao Jiao feed him on the kang. He started worrying what to do with his son once he left tomorrow. His mother-in-law wasn’t an option, tomorrow he’ll talk seriously with his mom, ensuring she stays beside Little Ping’an at night, worried his son might cry without them awakened. Despite his big movements getting up and down, Zhou Jiao didn’t notice, just nestling into his embrace. Haha, silly woman. In the early hours, dense fog fills the sky, visibility less than ten paces, a thin layer of silver frost coats the ground, the biting cold wind causes shivers. Someone’s already exercising in the courtyard, Zhang Guoqing got up after hearing movement, dressed, saw Zhou Jiao and their son still sleeping soundly on the kang, took his washing items out and headed to the kitchen where many people were up, greeted a few in whispers as they went out jogging, Zhang Guoqing went to the kitchen to fetch hot water and headed to the well to wash. Once finished tidying up, he ran to the backyard where he finally saw his mom, "Mom, isn’t it a bit early to be feeding the pigs?" Mother Zhang poked the pig with a stick, put in the feed, "Guests are here today, the pigs don’t eat, they get noisy, once fed they quiet down, let Jiao Jiao’s grandfather sleep a little longer." Zhang Guoqing picked up the big bucket following Mother Zhang, "Mom, I’m accompanying the old man out today, at night don’t let them chat alone, please watch the child. I’m worried my son might cry and they won’t notice in deep sleep." Mother Zhang laughed softly in a low voice, "Kid, don’t talk nonsense, they’ll definitely not sleep and be unawakened." Zhang Guoqing quickly added, "Mom, Little Ping’an only wakes once during the night, feeding around two or three AM will hold until morning. Normally, feeding every three hours. Better you sleep in the outer room, it’s warm and with you three in that room you’ll hear." "Alright, I’ll sleep there tonight, don’t worry. Be cautious outside, keep your temper in check," Mother Zhang reassured him. Zhang Guoqing nodded, "Eat whatever’s in the house, no need to save, restock at year end. I’ve got plenty of tickets and money." "I’ve packed all the dried wild chicken and rabbit, you take some along. I’ll get more when you return and send it to Jiao Jiao’s uncles and young uncle-in-law once her mom leaves, and relax without packing loads." "Sounds good, do as you plan, I’ll give you money, buy more, we need supplies too, stock mushrooms and ear fungus, I haven’t had time for hunting lately." Mother Zhang washed her hands and headed out, "Not much needed, I’ll get from you if insufficient, don’t worry. I’m considering who has good fur, covered in the cold it’s warm, her grandmother’s health is poor, gifting this is thoughtful." Zhang Guoqing and his mom exchanged quiet whispers. By the time they returned to the front yard, the sky began to brighten, roosters crow, villagers’ movements audible outside. Seeing nothing much to attend to, Zhang Guoqing returned to the west wing’s inner room, Zhou Jiao still drowsily lying in bed, feeding their son with eyes closed, when she spotted him enter, she smiled at him half-awake.