Chapter 31: Ni Duan Dispels Doubts (Part 3)

As soon as he stepped out of the west wing, the village loudspeakers and whistles started blaring—it was time to get back to work in the afternoon. The village was big, so whenever something happened, they’d announce it over the broadcast. Besides relaying official notices from the township, they’d also play revolutionary songs from time to time. Every morning and afternoon, the whistle would sound to signal the start of work.

Everyone at home came out. Zhang Guoqing hurried to the main house—he still had to ask for leave, so he needed to be quick. Otherwise, he’d get criticized. Luckily, building the house was a good excuse.

“Dad, I want to ask for leave this afternoon. There’s something we can’t decide on our own—we need to hear what you and Mom think. It’s pretty important, and we might even have guests tonight,” Zhang Guoqing quickly said.

Father Zhang glanced at him. He called for the eldest son to help ask for leave—he’d be going to the township in the afternoon to order building materials and find a master craftsman.

The eldest nodded. He and the second son didn’t ask what it was about—they knew if it wasn’t serious, their father wouldn’t ask for leave, and if it was, he’d tell them. No need to ask further.

Once everyone had left, Zhang Guoqing personally went to bolt the front gate. Otherwise, with no one at home, if people found out they were all huddled together discussing something, it wouldn’t look good. What he feared most was the Zhou family showing up—he’d never admit he was secretly happy. Let them worry; it’d be even more interesting when the Lin family came.

Seeing him even lock the front gate, Father and Mother Zhang realized this was something that couldn’t be overheard—someone might eavesdrop. They couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous.

Zhang Guoqing walked up to his parents. “Dad, Mom, let’s go to my little sitting room. I’ve already put her and the baby there. This is a long story, so let’s all hear it together.”

Father and Mother Zhang followed him to the small sitting room. Zhang Guoqing could tell his father felt awkward—Northeast village fathers-in-law never went into their son’s room. It was only because Jiaojiao had grown up around him, and seeing his son act so secretive, he knew this was something that couldn’t be talked about openly. Jiaojiao was in confinement and shouldn’t go out, otherwise she wouldn’t have come in. Zhou Jiao quickly greeted Father Zhang and the others.

Seeing his father staring eagerly at the baby, Zhang Guoqing quickly handed the child over.

“Dad, look at your grandson—isn’t he cute? You haven’t seen him yet, right? Mom says he looks like me. What do you think? Also, Dad, Mom, I’m thinking of giving the baby the nickname ‘Ping’an’—what do you think? Jiaojiao and I just want him to be safe and sound, to grow up smoothly. Whether he’s successful in the future is up to him.”

Father Zhang carefully cradled the baby, studying his features—he really did look like Xiao Wu. When their Xiao Wu was born, he was just as sweet and well-behaved. Looking at his sleeping, bubble-blowing grandson, his heart melted.

“Good, let’s call him Ping’an. It’s a nice name, and the meaning is just right. Now, you’ve even made me miss work—so what’s this all about? Your mom and I are here, even if the sky falls, we’ll hold it up for you. You two don’t need to worry. Things need to be thought through slowly and discussed. If it’s about the Zhou family, Jiaojiao is part of our Zhang family now. Whatever they want to do, let them. You two don’t get involved. If anything comes up, we as parents will handle it.”

Zhang Guoqing poured two cups of brown sugar water for his mom, then sat beside Zhou Jiao. “Have some water first. This is a long story, no need to rush. This morning, after visiting my eldest and second sisters, I went straight to the Zhou family to share the good news. Only the two old folks were home. They were happy to hear the news and told me to take two hens that Grandma Zhou had specially raised. I took the chance to mention wanting to inform Grandpa on the other side, but when I saw his face change, I brought up how Jiaojiao’s household registration wasn’t here, so she couldn’t get rations, and that we hadn’t gotten our marriage certificate yet. I wanted to ask Grandpa and Mother-in-law what they thought. Grandpa Zhou wanted to refuse right away, but before he could, his face turned dark. Grandma Zhou moved fast—afraid she’d be late, she stuffed a few empty envelopes into my pocket. That’s right, just empty envelopes with no letters inside. I brought them back and forgot to give them to Jiaojiao.

Seeing me get the envelopes, Grandpa Zhou finally spoke up, saying he knew people at the post office through his eldest brother, so if we wanted to send things or letters, just give them to him. Even a child could tell what he meant—he was embarrassed to say it outright, but basically, he wanted to send things himself, together with ours, through his eldest brother to the post office. I saw Grandma Zhou didn’t react much, so I just agreed.

But I felt something was off with the old man. He deliberately hinted that my mother-in-law shouldn’t send money, and that Grandma’s family didn’t need to send anything either. Jiaojiao was married now—if I couldn’t support my wife, what kind of man was I? Before I could finish—

I don’t know how much my aunt-in-law overheard, but she suddenly burst into the main room, shouting and making a scene, saying she didn’t agree and my mother-in-law shouldn’t send money back, and loudly insisting that my mother-in-law owed them money for their old age. Her words were really nasty. Grandma Zhou was so angry she started cursing. Grandpa Zhou hurried to cut her off.

Remember those pig’s feet and black-bone chickens I bought? They were all in a cloth bag on the table. That shrew, while yelling about not letting me ask my mother-in-law for money, quickly grabbed things from the bag and divided them up for her whole family, all the while claiming these were sent by my mother-in-law, and that I should be filial to Grandpa and Grandma. She even said the baby was so young, wasn’t I afraid he’d have no luck?

I was so angry I laughed—I’d never seen anyone so shameless. I pushed her aside and told her those were gifts from my eldest sister for Jiaojiao. When she heard that, she got scared and her face turned pale.

I kept an eye on the two old folks, worried they’d get too upset, but Grandpa Zhou acted like I was supposed to give them the things. Only when I said they were from my eldest sister did his face fall. Grandma Zhou was shaking with anger, unable to speak. That shrew, probably unwilling to let go, kept talking and talking, and Grandpa Zhou didn’t stop her—he was letting me hear it on purpose. Like I couldn’t tell? All they cared about was the Lin family’s things.

At first, I didn’t plan to expose what they’d done. When I first arrived, Grandma Zhou even apologized that the baby’s maternal grandma hadn’t made him any clothes, but I could tell there was a lot she didn’t know about what the Zhou family had done. Then I asked that shrew, “Wasn’t what the Lin family gave enough? Aren’t you afraid the Lin family will come visit Jiaojiao and ask questions?” I didn’t know how much they’d sent before.

So I told her—the watches on her eldest and youngest sons’ wrists were from Grandpa and Uncle; the army coats on her eldest and youngest daughters-in-law were from Aunt; her eldest daughter’s “three rounds and one sound” were gifts from my mother-in-law to Jiaojiao; the sewing machine and bicycle at her parents’ house were mailed from Beijing by Grandpa and Grandma; the cashmere coat and watch her eldest daughter was wearing now were also from my mother-in-law; and the new cotton clothes and pants her eldest daughter’s son was wearing were all handmade by my mother-in-law.

Since Jiaojiao got pregnant this year, in less than a year, 28 packages had been sent, all registered at the post office under Uncle Zhou’s name. Then I asked her if she knew what military mail was—told her to go find out, and see if her own family, the Huangs, could even get into the compound. I warned her, if the time came, they might all get swept up in one go."