Chapter 855: Chapter 728: Recently Annoyed

Little Ping’an has been quite upset recently.

His mom said she would spend the holiday with him, but she’s so busy that she’s nowhere to be seen.

His dad promised to take him hunting during the New Year, but ended up running off to do volunteer work with his mom.

And him...

Watching his buddies in the west wing completely engrossed in their books, he is left guarding the house unlucky.

"Sigh..."

Old Mrs. Cheng came over and heard the child sighing, which made her quicken her steps in worry: "What’s wrong? Do you want to go out and play? I can ask your uncles to take you out?"

Little Ping’an smiled and shook his head: "All the adults are busy working, it’s okay."

"Oh my, our little darling is so considerate. How about great-grandma takes you out for a visit?"

The little boy mimicked his dad’s style, holding her arm weakly with both hands: "It’s cold outside, the ground’s all icy, I’m worried about great-grandma going out."

Old Mrs. Cheng felt gratified and chuckled at his words.

"Great-grandma, sit on this stool. My grandma said she’ll take me to the theater tonight, do you want to come with us?"

"I’ll pass for tonight, I have to wait for your mom to come back, I have something to discuss with her."

Ping’an didn’t ask what the matter was and looked at her worriedly: "My mom is so busy, she’ll be back really late and leaves for work before dawn, can you wait for her to come back?"

Old Mrs. Cheng knew the child forgot: "Yesterday was actually the last day of your mom’s work, she’ll definitely be home earlier tonight."

Ping’an was overjoyed, his eyes wide with disbelief: "Really? That’s wonderful, I’ve missed my mom, but I can’t tell her, it’ll worry her."

Old Mrs. Cheng lovingly stroked his forehead: "She was supposed to rest yesterday, today she just needs to wrap things up and she’ll come back. When she returns, great-grandma will make sure she spends quality time with you."

Ping’an tilted his head, thought for a moment, and gestured for her to bend down, whispering in her ear: "Will my dad also come back? I want them to take me to skate at the hutong courtyard."

Old Mrs. Cheng nodded repeatedly: "No problem, while your grandpa is away on a business trip, you can stay over there for a few days. I’ll have someone tidy up the place and light the heated bed in advance."

"Great-grandma, you’re the best! I adore you. Let’s go there together, okay? There are plenty of rooms for us."

Old Mrs. Cheng couldn’t afford to go, plus the three of them would have more fun: "Next time, this weather is terribly cold, I’ll wait until it warms up."

Ping’an thought that made sense — a fall wouldn’t be good.

That day, Zhou Jiao finished her multi-day task, and after the handover, she didn’t have time to chat with everyone and rushed home. Her dad went on a last-minute business trip to the Southwest, others were busy with their jobs, leaving her son as the stay-at-home child. Seeing her child curl up on her bed last night really tugged at her heart.

She thought of the note left by her child: Mom, remember to hug me to sleep tonight.

Zhou Jiao started considering finding a relaxed job with normal work hours after graduation. Not to mention the upcoming child, she can’t bear to be away from Ping’an either.

Once the kids are grown and circumstances improve, she can fight for her career again. There’s no need to neglect her children for work, especially when they’re so caring and thoughtful.

As she entered the house, Zhou Jiao heard the laughter of Old Mrs. Cheng and the children, and when she reached the door, she joined them in joyous laughter.

— The children were banging on lunch boxes and washbasins in a chorus, and her son Ping’an was conducting energetically with both hands raised.

Zhou Jiao stood grinning beside Old Mrs. Cheng, clapping along to the beat.

After the song, Ping’an looked at her with a face full of smiles.

Zhou Jiao gave him a thumbs-up: "Great job. You all did great! I’ll get a few little drums for you to play tomorrow. You’ll surely win a big prize on next year’s International Children’s Day."

"Auntie, really? That’s awesome."

"Auntie, I like the small bugle."

"You can hang the drum on your waist and play it while dancing, that’s nice."

"That’s for girls to play, I don’t like it."

"If you don’t like it, ask your mom, why are you asking my Sister Jiao."

"Who’s your sister? That’s my little aunt."

"You’re shameless..."

Zhou Jiao was about to pick up her son but hadn’t had a chance to reply when she saw the children start arguing, and she was startled. She quickly consoled, "Everyone, you all get one. You’re all good kids, you can’t fight."

Mo Xiaobei, the clever little girl, quickly snuggled up next to her: "Auntie, I have a little drum at home, but my mom finds it noisy, will you chase us away too?"

Zhou Jiao chuckled and patted the little girl’s head: "Except during rest time, you’re always welcome to come over to play."

Hearing this, the little girl immediately turned around, hands on her hips: "Attention, stand at ease!"

In an instant, the kids in the room reflexively stood up straight and lined up. The quicker ones instantly doubted: "Why do you get to boss us around?"

"Yeah! I’m even older than you."

Mo Xiaobei put her hands on her hips and pointed a little finger: "You, you, you right there. Don’t you have any discipline? Don’t you understand that we soldiers should be united, why distinguish by age?"

Zhou Jiao covered her mouth to stifle her laughter, casting a glance at Old Mrs. Cheng, who was laughing so hard tears were flowing: "Where did this little girl learn that from?"

Old Mrs. Cheng shook her head, suppressing her laughter: "She imitates her great-grandfather’s posture. Old Man Mo likes playing this trick often."

"... ahem," Mo Xiaobei cleared her throat, "next, everyone run home to get change, potatoes, sweet potatoes, little drums and bugles, in ten minutes, no, in half an hour, we meet at Ping’an’s house for a gathering."

Zhou Jiao reminded them: "No need to bring change, you’re still young, be careful not to lose the money. Auntie will sponsor your gathering, just go home and let the adults know you’ll have dinner at Ping’an’s house."

"No! This is our own gathering, no adults allowed."

Ping’an chimed in from the side: "Xiao Bei, hurry home, I’ll wait for you to come over."

Zhou Jiao watched in disbelief as they all took off running, then turned to see her son beaming at her: "Dear, why don’t you like adults playing with you?"

Ping’an peeked outside, then came back and said: "The adults at their houses are different from ours, they control them, and they don’t like it."

Zhou Jiao mumbled: "All little ancestors."

"Mom, I’m not, I’m the best and love it when you take care of me."

Zhou Jiao chuckled and tapped his nose, turning to Old Mrs. Cheng: "Auntie, shall we head back to the room?"

"Alright, we’ll go to the living room." Old Mrs. Cheng stood up and walked out, "No more work during the holidays?"

"Right, is there something going on?"

"Not much, the hard-earned holiday is here, take the kid out for some skating, and have some fun for a few days. Our Ping’an has been cooped up too long. In these couple of days, find a time to take him to stay at the hutong courtyard for a few days, I’ll have someone heat the bed tomorrow."

Zhou Jiao instinctively glanced down at her son in her arms, seeing him studying her expression, her heart was moved: "Okay. I’ll go over tomorrow, no need to ask someone else, my brother had set things up before, the bedding and everything inside is all in place."

"Mommy?"

Zhou Jiao reassuringly patted him: "Auntie, do you want to come stay for a few days? In winter we can enjoy the snow from the study room and we two can do some painting."

"With you saying that, I’m indeed tempted. I’ll wait until your old uncle has time off and we’ll come to visit." The old lady suddenly remembered someone was missing, "Where’s Xiao Wu?"

"I’m on holiday, he should be free too."

"Bring Aunt Chen and the others along."

Zhou Jiao smiled silently. She wouldn’t dare make such an elaborate commotion like enjoying her dad’s treatment.