Chapter 869: Chapter 742: Creative Celebrations

In a rare bout of good weather, the wind stopped and the snow ceased, the winter sun piercing through layers of clouds brought threads of warmth. Ping’an couldn’t stay put and slipped out the door with his little friends.

With the children’s laughter gone, the yard became quiet and cold. Watching Aunt Chen following closely behind, Zhang Guoqing leaned against the wall, basking in the sun, as his wife lazily snuggled in the chair next to him, he stood up.

"Where are you going?"

"Too bored, I’m going to tidy up the west room."

"Do you want me to help?"

Zhang Guoqing quickly stopped her: "You just stay here and relax. I’ll just check the kang bed; Aunt Chen will tidy up the bedding later."

Zhou Jiao waved her hand half-sleepily.

In the three rooms of the west wing, Ping’an had taken one for a reading room, another was used by Zhang Guoqing for entertaining friends, leaving the middle one piled with clutter.

Standing at the door looking in, Zhang Guoqing resolutely gave up. He hadn’t reinforced the kang bed last year; he suspected someone might freeze to death at night. If the two sister-in-laws caught a severe cold, he’d have to worry about them passing it on to his wife and son.

Pulling aside the cotton curtain on the left room, inside was a mess, scattered with chess pieces and playing cards by his rowdy friends. This room hadn’t been without visitors since New Year.

Smelling smoke and alcohol inside, Zhang Guoqing disdainfully lifted the curtain, then opened the door and windows wide. No wonder Aunt Chen said this room needed a thorough overhaul after New Year.

The children’s reading room was just next to it, truly inconsiderate!

"Brother, you’re really thoughtful! Quick, come over and lend a hand." In the west wing, Zhang Guoqing saw Yi Jiefang coming over, grinning ear to ear.

Yi Jiefang wasn’t buying it. He leaned against the door, arm slung across, pointing at the kang: "What are you messing with again?"

"There’s not enough room to sleep."

Yi Jiefang dropped his arms in shock, incredulously pointing outside: "Even with your family, you don’t have enough room? Don’t tell me some relatives are coming over again?"

Zhang Guoqing rolled his eyes at him: "What? Got an opinion? My mother is coming!"

Yi Jiefang quickly jumped forward: "Why didn’t you say earlier? You’ll have to clear out a room, she’s my dear aunt after all." Then, he shook his head: "No, no! Uncle Zhou will surely have aunt and uncle stay in the main room."

"My mother is bringing two sister-in-laws, she’ll stay with Ping’an, and the sister-in-laws in the main room wouldn’t be right."

Yi Jiefang nodded understandingly.

"What’s with that expression? Come on, help me out, buddy."

Yi Jiefang reached out and straightened the kang cover, "Want me to have my mom think of a way to move places? They’ve enjoyed that women’s federation place for so long, they should almost be moving. Once that four-section compound is back, family from your hometown won’t have to squeeze into the house here. Luckily it’s your own family; if it were some countryman, what would you do?"

"Just toss them into the guesthouse, why bother thinking?"

"Really not in a hurry to get that courtyard back?"

Zhang Guoqing shook his head: "Getting it back is useless, only a few people at home, who’s going to run over there. It’s better the women’s federation keeps it, with your mom there, no one dares misbehave."

"Who says? Last time, people at their unit said the back is empty and they wanted it as a dorm. I heard several couples got married last year without a place to live."

Zhang Guoqing frowned: "How come you never mentioned it before?"

"Bothered, right? Who wants to talk about this kind of crap during the New Year? According to my mom, once we move to West Mountain, their unit might also move. You should discuss it with my sister, best if you both move your household registration over."

Zhang Guoqing nodded. His family had already discussed the courtyard issue. Somehow, Old Hu and his father-in-law talked one evening; when they returned, they told him the old man was reliable and it would be okay to transfer the alley courtyard to Old Hu’s name.

Apparently, his father-in-law had prior notice about the women’s federation moving out; otherwise, he wouldn’t have mentioned moving their household registration over.

"And once you move this place, where will we gather when friends come over? I remember I still have clothes stored here, Da Yong and Dato have several bottles of wine hidden inside."

"Damn, you guys are something!"

Yi Jiefang knocked around inside the room, actually finding several stinky cotton socks, two bottles of wine, and a half-eaten snack.

Seeing this, Zhang Guoqing was speechless. If Aunt Chen saw this, it would be surprising if she didn’t go after them! No wonder she always said they couldn’t clean it up properly.

Yi Jiefang spread his hands: "Find another place?"

What could Zhang Guoqing do? This space was occupied by these shameless guys; he estimated there might be treasures hidden in some corner.

He suspiciously stared at Yi Jiefang: "You guys didn’t hide any of those adult magazines in here, did you? If Ping’an and the other little ones find them, it’d be a real embarrassment!"

Yi Jiefang hesitated for a moment and shook his head: "Shouldn’t be. Other than Da Yong and Dato, who else is so perverted, right?"

For those young men who always wanted to see girls from the Art Troupe, Zhang Guoqing wasn’t confident. He decided to look thoroughly when everyone was gone.

Besides, one couldn’t predict people’s motives; apart from a few trustworthy buddies, during New Year’s, plenty of youngsters came in a group, and who knows if someone left something inappropriate.

"Leave it as is, have them come help clean up later. No use tidying now; they’ll agree upon a celebration soon."

When Zhang Guoqing heard this, he immediately sat on the kang bed: "What are you celebrating again this time? I remember you celebrated my wife’s pregnancy numerous times."

No wonder he asked. Since December twenty-eighth, whether celebrating Zhou Jiao having their nephew, or Zhang Guoqing becoming a dad again, or just New Year’s, any excuse for a celebration could be found.

Yi Jiefang burst into laughter: "This time it’s a real celebration! Two have joined the army, shouldn’t we celebrate them? Don’t worry, probably just another celebration after New Year’s."

This talk wouldn’t fool his Ping’an; even the kids didn’t believe it!

It was all these guys’ antics spreading a bad influence, causing those young ones in the adjacent reading room to always imitate their celebrations.

The crooked beam sets the crooked rafters!

In the study at night, after Zhang Guoqing submitted his homework and waited for his father-in-law to finish reviewing it and asking questions, he couldn’t help but inquire about what was discussed that day.

Zhou Xiaozheng glanced at him: "He was once our military field doctor, still holds certification. To facilitate teaching Jiao Jiao, he plans to accept the offer to resume his original position at the Military General Hospital. For someone like him, going back into the cage—this alone is enough for us to trust him."

"The old man is really dedicated!"

Zhou Xiaozheng shook his head: "For him, having someone to inherit his legacy is paramount. Besides past kindness, he’s impressed by Jiao Jiao’s talent. He personally told me he had long lost the inclination to take students but later confirmed over a year that Jiao Jiao is well-suited for medicine."

"Dad, you weren’t quickly swayed by a few compliments about Jiao Jiao and heartily agreed, were you?"

Zhou Xiaozheng snorted indifferently, unwilling to reply. When it came to his daughter, no matter how beneficial the praise was, even if it were the best in the world, he couldn’t be careless.

However, he refused to argue with this foolish son-in-law. If not for Old Hu repeatedly suggesting that learning medicine would add a layer of protection for his daughter, and with uncertain future circumstances, having medical skills to avoid harm, he wouldn’t have agreed.

Zhang Guoqing smiled cheerfully, observing his father-in-law immersed in arranging homework. Their temperaments were becoming more like his wife’s!

"Dad, should I go over in the next few days to handle the transfer?"

Zhou Xiaozheng thought for a moment then shook his head: "Better let your great-aunt handle it. If you get involved, it’ll draw too much attention. Dad is heading to lower levels in a few days, you just look after things at home."

"Outside?"

"Stay prudent." Zhou Xiaozheng finished speaking, worriedly looked at him, "Show no softness, discuss more with Jiao Jiao if needed."

"Alright, Dad, be careful out there. If things really seem off, wherever we go as a family, it doesn’t matter, even farming would earn me ten work points."

Zhou Xiaozheng felt a warmth in his heart upon hearing this, smiling and nodding.