Chapter 91 - 80: Farewell

Zhou Jiao, with a face full of concern, said to Mr. Lin: "Grandpa, when you go back this time, you must keep an eye on my mom to make sure my dad is truly safe, and whether the matter with my uncle is all cleared up. This is really important, don’t let them fool you." Mr. Lin nodded. Zhou Jiao continued, "And about my dad’s job, I mentioned last night to my mom about transferring back to the Northeast, I’m worried. I’m afraid of my grandfather, I know him best. But will being in Beijing involve him in factionalism? I don’t want my dad to rise to a high position, he and my mom being stable is enough. Nothing is better than the family being reunited and safe. Can you analyze this for me?" Mr. Lin nodded, "There are factions everywhere, even in the Northeast, it depends on your dad’s skills. Besides, all these years, who knows what he’s thinking. I’ll ask him when I see your dad." Zhou Jiao thought for a moment and nodded, "For now, we can only wait until we meet him and discuss it then. Grandpa, please pass a message to him for me, tell him not to worry about me, he can do whatever he wants as long as he and my mom are safe. As for trying to get me some backing or those kinds of things, it’s unnecessary, I can work hard on my own." "Got it, I’ll definitely pass the message on. Anything else?" "Mhm, just ask him to consider work arrangements without constantly thinking about where I am. Xiao Wu and I won’t be staying in the Northeast without moving; as planned, it won’t be long before we go out. As for where, he doesn’t need to worry, I’ll decide once I know where they are." Mr. Lin laughed and said, "Alright, anything else? Just tell me, and I’ll let him know when I see him." Zhou Jiao shook her head, saying other personal matters could be discussed with him directly later, "Didn’t think of anything, I’ll talk to him when the time comes, if anything it’s just small matters." Mr. Lin pulled a note from his pocket, "Here’s grandpa’s phone number, it’s direct. If there’s an emergency, just call and you’ll reach me." Zhou Jiao flashed a charming smile at the old man, looking at him pleasingly, "Grandpa, can you ask that person a favor?" She pointed towards the sky with her finger. Mr. Lin raised an eyebrow and said, "That person doesn’t care about small matters, what’s the issue, tell me." Zhou Jiao clung to her mother’s hand playfully, and Lin Lishan, smiling, said to her father, "She wants some calligraphy from that person and hopes they can leave some inscriptions for Ping’an to have as heirlooms when he grows up." "Oh, what do you want written? It can’t be random, you might not get it back. If it’s ordinary calligraphy, I have plenty of those, lots of them, even from ancient calligraphers." Zhou Jiao gave her grandpa an annoyed glance and said, "Not those, can you fulfill one wish for me this time, just one? Since my dad and uncle are coming back, I, who love calligraphy the most, would like calligraphy from that person. Grandpa, can you get two pieces, no need for poetry, just write that Zhou Xiaozheng is a good comrade, and if it includes ’bearing humiliation for the country’s pillar,’ even better. I want to keep it as an heirloom for Ping’an in the future, letting my descendants know the hardships of our predecessors, knowing that his grandpa was also amazing and even praised by the leader. Do you not have any grandpa? Could you also ask for a piece for my uncle, saying Lin Aiguo is a good comrade, along with my dad’s two pieces, so that in the future, the Lin Family also has the only piece in Beijing that he praised." Mr. Lin, somewhat annoyed, said, "I have his calligraphy in my study, just not exactly as you requested. I’ll try but will need the opportunity, he’s so busy, how should I bring it up?" "Grandpa, you’re the best, could you get it for me, I need to keep it. Whatever, you must help me get one, and when I return to Beijing, I’ll come and get it from you." Zhou Jiao pouted pitifully, acting coyly. Mr. Lin, being pestered, had no choice, "Alright, I got it, I’ll find a way before the year’s end. Is that good? Any other matters? Let Xiao Wu come in." Zhang Guoqing was watching outside the window and, hearing the old man telling let him in, he walked in directly. Zhang Guoqing went to the old man’s side, and the old man asked him to find a stool to sit down. Mr. Lin asked him, "Have you thought about the Armed * Forces Department? Didn’t Zuo Lin say placing you in the Public * Security Bureau would be better?" Zhang Guoqing said to the old man, "Grandpa, I’ll be honest. I didn’t plan to stay here long-term; I just wanted to stay in the Armed Forces Department to get familiar with some connections. The Public Security Bureau is good, but it’s not what I want." Mr. Lin asked the two of them, "Can you talk about your future plans, do you trust grandpa?" Zhang Guoqing and Zhou Jiao exchanged a glance, understanding each other’s thoughts, and Zhou Jiao nodded. Mr. Lin and Lin Lishan smiled as they watched, these two kids. Zhang Guoqing glanced at the two of them, "For the next two years, we plan to both work and review, learning about government departments’ management. Jiao Jiao will also continue to review while at home with the kids. If there’s a chance, enroll in university." He looked at the grandpa and his mother-in-law and continued, "If I graduate from college, I’ll go into administration. Jiao Jiao will decide what she wants to do before getting into a university major within two years. How we proceed in the future will depend on the situation, we’re too remote here, we’ll only know once we go out, we’ll decide then." "That’s a good plan, perfecting it later will still be in time. What do you think about your father-in-law’s job issue? Would you want him to stay in Beijing? If you both plan to be in Beijing, there’s no need for them to return." Zhang Guoqing sat silently for a moment and then shook his head firmly, "My father-in-law should have a plan for his work. Besides himself, the key is your decision, are you planning? If he stays alone in Beijing, he’ll be in danger. If he feels tired over the years, returning to other military regions would be more stable. Yet, if you plan on keeping my father-in-law in Beijing, then Uncle shouldn’t transfer to other military regions. With both in Beijing, others wouldn’t dare mess around. While they are in Beijing, you should slowly keep a low profile, besides holding onto military power, don’t rely on either side. Since you came from being a service soldier, just listen to that person, ignore others. Grandpa, times are getting chaotic, and only by your side do I dare say this." "Hmm, continue, Lishan, go out and check, don’t let anyone in." The old man pointed at Lin Lishan to signal her to go out and watch outside, then sat up straight, eyes fixed on him. Zhang Guoqing continued, "Most from the CX side have returned, next comes the reallocation of military power, who is willing to let go of what they hold? Movements are happening one after the other. Let’s look at the Song Dynasty’s founding, Li Shimin and events preceding the Golden Tang. Although hard to speak out, history tells us how to avoid, how to navigate. East reacting against West or West against East, as long as you remain that service soldier, you can’t manage others, nor can they manage you, don’t you agree, Grandpa? I’ve read ’Capital,’ ’Records of the Grand Historian,’ and ’Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government’ and comparing to now, it always feels like history keeps repeating itself." Mr. Lin patted his shoulder, "Not bad, talented young man, many can’t see clearly what’s before them, but you’ve grasped the basics. Getting to see a bigger world sooner, with more horizons, your future is limitless. Let’s leave it here, remember never to speak of this again." Zhang Guoqing nodded solemnly, if not afraid the old man would gather factions early, involving himself in trouble might affect his father-in-law, which would affect his plan. These words wouldn’t come out, people’s hearts are unpredictable, who can you trust, except for Jiao Jiao, no one could earn his full trust. Proceed cautiously, act low-key, accumulate wisdom and energy during life’s low points, always preparing for a rainy day, he has always remembered these words.