Chapter 971: Chapter 844: Gathering in the Northeast 4

One evening, Zhang Guoqing accompanied his parents and brother back to the small courtyard and heard from Zhang Meili, who stayed behind, about these matters. He still felt somewhat skeptical.

From his perspective, his elder sister’s family has taken care of Accountant Zhang and his wife for these years. They are not senile, so why would they insist on borrowing the courtyard from him for their eldest grandson to get married?

"Big sister, could there be a misunderstanding? I remember their old house isn’t small either, so there’s no need to borrow my courtyard. Besides, the new daughter-in-law should be nearby to show filial piety; living far away doesn’t make sense."

"Your brother-in-law is already angry; do you think I’m mistaken?" Zhang Meili lowered her voice and glanced outside, "You don’t get it. I’ve guessed their little schemes. My father-in-law mentioned many times that your two courtyards have good feng shui."

"He’s thinking of letting his eldest grandson borrow your courtyard to get married and change his luck. Hmph, he thinks he’s so clever. Remember, if he really asks you, tell them to talk to Jiao Jiao, they’re afraid of her."

Zhang Guoqing burst out laughing.

"Be serious! I’m discussing important matters with you."

Zhang Guoqing nodded, "Alright, I remember. Don’t bring this up in front of brother-in-law, or it may embarrass him."

Zhang Meili rolled her eyes at him, "As if I wouldn’t know that."

"Yes, my sister is the smartest!" Zhang Guoqing praised her, but still felt uneasy, "If they favor one side, don’t get angry. Just give them some money and avoid bringing them to the city to live with us."

"Your words to the second brother back then turned out to be true."

Zhang Guoqing blinked, what did he say back then? He had forgotten.

"Alright, my matters are trivial, I’ll manage them myself. Our dad knows this well, you can focus on your work outside."

Zhang Guoqing secretly rejoiced. Isn’t it said that no spirits and monsters are allowed after the founding of the nation? It seems feudal superstitions, regardless of suppression, are deeply rooted.

"Let’s quickly go and join father, he’s about to call for us."

The brother and sister entered the bedroom, and sure enough, Mr. Zhang, who had been slightly intoxicated, was eagerly waiting for them to come in.

"Are you done discussing amongst yourselves? What’s this secrecy that can’t be shared with me?"

Zhang Guoqing smiled, sidled up to him, and sat on the edge of the kang, "Dad, don’t be reluctant to heat the fire wall at home, tomorrow I’ll bring more coal."

"Why waste that money? The house is warm enough." Mr. Zhang thought for a moment and reminded, "Be tight with money, don’t spend all your wages."

Beside him, Zhang the Second muttered quietly, "Lying again."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Guoqing’s gaze turned to Zhang the Second.

Zhang the Second moved a few steps back with the chair for safety, then quickly complained, "Xiao Wu, you don’t know that dad and mom haven’t been heating the kang during the day. I’ve caught them several times, yet they won’t admit it."

"Dad, is it that we’re short on coal tickets or reluctant to spend money? In this freezing winter, don’t neglect your health with mom. If you end up getting cold, I can’t come back from afar in a short span, how am I supposed to feel then? How much can coal cost over just a few months?"

Mr. Zhang immediately shook his head, "No..."

Zhang the Second immediately refuted, "No what? Big brother and I chopped so much wood, dad, why are you reluctant to burn it? If you really get cold and have to go to the hospital and spend money, it’s not a big deal. But it’s people who suffer!"

Knowing this stemmed from his children’s filial piety, Mr. Zhang didn’t blame them and explained with a smile, "You know your mom spends her day at your brothers’, and I am not at home. Why burn it? Saving some fuel doesn’t matter. It’s not attractive nor worthwhile for us to go to the village every day to chop wood."

Zhang Guoqing instantly knew the firewood stacked up at home wasn’t bought but was chopped by the two brothers during their days off. Unlike him, they aren’t as strong, not that he’s ridiculing them.

Not to mention that he used to prepare firewood for winter himself, they have two courtyards each for firewood, plus the one for his dad, which is probably not easy.

"No one sells firewood now? What happened to the person who delivered it before?"

Zhang the Second looked at him with disdain, "Why buy it if it doesn’t cost money?"

Zhang Guoqing was speechless. Alright, you win! Truly stingy.

"Don’t look at me like that, I’m much better than big brother; I even bought quite a lot of coal."

Zhang Guoqing glanced at his two brothers, sighed inwardly. Life is really hard! He suddenly looked at Zhang Meili, "Sister, didn’t you buy any either?"

Surprised, Zhang Meili thought, isn’t it normal? With firewood, why spend money on coal? She can exchange coal tickets for other tickets.

Nonetheless, she explained, "Your nephews are grown now, and they’ve stacked firewood up all around the house, enough to keep me warm. Coal is tricky to use, starting a fire is too much trouble."

Beside her, Zhang Guofu nodded in agreement, "True, it’s expensive, weak in heat, and has a smell. Xiao Wu, rest assured, we check in on mom and dad daily for the chance of them catching cold."

Mr. Zhang immediately interrupted. He had no interest in some talk about coal, preferring other topics before his younger son goes to sleep.

"Dad, what would you like to know? Just say it."

Mr. Zhang happily looked at him, "Xiao Wu, I noticed those people’s attitudes toward our Jiao Jiao are quite different tonight. Besides your father-in-law’s connection, could it be that her job at the unit your Uncle Dashan mentioned is really significant?"

Zhang Guoqing chuckled, nodding half-revealingly, "The unit is alright but Jiao Jiao is just starting her job; she hasn’t got any authority."

"Won’t she be bullied at the unit? I regret that I forgot to suggest to your father-in-law at the time that she should have gone with you to the army, she’d be protected there."

Zhang the Second burst into laughter, "Dad, you think she’s like this muscle-bound fool who can take it physically. It depends on whether she’s fit for it. Do you know what Uncle Zuo said to me?"

Mr. Zhang was displeased, "You’re hiding something from me?"

"No, it’s not like that, it was a joke." Zhang the Second scratched his head, looked at Zhang Guoqing with a laugh, "Uncle Zuo said Jiao Jiao’s cleverness and quick mind were suitable for the planning commission."

"He’s talking nonsense; my wife isn’t full of schemes, though she’s clever." Zhang Guoqing immediately refuted; this wasn’t a compliment, he wasn’t happy to hear it, "Isn’t he planning to transfer away now?"

"Did his sons go to Shangjing City recently, did they come to see you?" As soon as the serious topic came up, Zhang the Second’s attitude changed significantly.

Zhang Guoqing frowned, nodding, "Uncle Zuo didn’t mention it tonight; there were too many people, and it wasn’t appropriate to ask. Last week, his two sons did visit my house, but I had to go to work, and we didn’t talk much before parting."

"Since then, they haven’t come back. I’ve been busy at work and haven’t had time to go to the Zuo family. Did Uncle Zuo mention anything to you?"

Zhang the Second lowered his voice, "I think he intends to request a transfer back. Do you have a good relationship with a family named Geng?"

Zhang Guoqing twitched his mouth; they truly misjudged him. Even asking his wife Zhou Jiao would be more helpful, but he wouldn’t say that out loud.

"Do you remember the four people who came a few years ago? That’s Geng Dazhi from Geng’s family, they are indeed within our system, but don’t hold much power."

Upon hearing this, Mr. Zhang gave a loud smack on his thigh, "Oh, Dazhi’s family, I know his grandpa. It’s of no use; that old man can’t even manage his grandson."

Hearing this, Zhang Guoqing laughed heartily.

"What’s so funny? Didn’t Dazhi start working at some railway bureau? You should approach Shi..." Mid-sentence, Mr. Zhang abruptly shut his mouth, almost letting slip.

"Dad, approach who?"

Mr. Zhang immediately shook his head, "How would I know?"

Zhang the Second didn’t quite believe him, "Dad, I won’t tell Uncle Zuo, you can share with just us."

Mr. Zhang cast a disdainful glance at his second son, "Why do you need to know? The higher the officer, the more particular they are. Our family relies on Uncle Zhou’s favor, focus on the right path, don’t think about these nonsensical things."

"Dad, I understand."

"Understand my ass! If Old Sir Zuo really wants to transfer Uncle Zuo back, he has his ways. There’s no need to involve Xiao Wu. Our family owes him favors; we can repay them in various ways, but when it comes to official matters, it’s better to stay out. Uncle Zuo is a good person, but that doesn’t mean the Zuo family is full of kindness."

Zhang the Second pondered for a moment, then looked at Zhang Guoqing.

Zhang Guoqing nodded, "Old Mr. Zuo’s focus is on his eldest son. Uncle Zuo transferring back as an ordinary staff might be less fitting than staying here."

Zhang the Second sighed, "Uncle Zuo is truly kind."

Zhang Guoqing smiled profoundly, "A blessing in disguise. Going back a few years may have been promising for him; yet he’s even better off now than in Beijing."

"What do you mean?"

Zhang Guoqing shook his head, knowing more talk leads to trouble, and changed the topic, "How’s Uncle Ye doing? I’d like to find some time tomorrow to check on them, then see Mr. Huang."