Chapter 214: Chapter 214: Zhong Zijun’s Thoughts

But to say she liked him—that wasn’t quite true yet.

Ji Linhai was a very good man. If only she had met him twenty years earlier, how wonderful that would have been. Unfortunately, after going through a failed marriage and now living with so much uncertainty, she simply didn’t have the time or energy for romance. All she wanted was to survive.

So, she was destined to let down this man’s deep affection for her.

When Zhong Zijun brought the package back, Cheng Shuying smiled and said, “Why don’t you open it and see what’s inside?”

They had already overheard the conversation between the two outside.

Zhong Zijun, a bit embarrassed and surprised, asked, “Mom, you already knew… what he was thinking?”

“A person’s eyes can’t lie. His feelings for you are obvious. Your father and I saw that you hadn’t noticed, so we just let things be. I didn’t expect he’d actually take this step,” Cheng Shuying explained.

From what Ji Linhai had just said, Zhong Zijun already knew what was in the package.

To be honest, she was touched. After all these years, no man had ever cared for her like this. But she couldn’t accept it. She put the package away.

“I’ll return it to him when I get the chance. We’re not right for each other—I can’t just accept his things for nothing.”

“You don’t like him? Or do you look down on him?” Cheng Shuying was surprised. Based on how Zhong Zijun had acted before, she didn’t think she disliked Ji Linhai.

“How could I possibly look down on him? It’s just that, given our current situation, it’s better not to complicate things.

Besides, Mom, I’m not young anymore. I’m a woman in her forties or fifties—life doesn’t end just because there’s no man around. Why make things harder for myself?

Right now, I just want to take care of my two children. As long as they’re well, I’ll be happy.” There was a clear trace of sadness in Zhong Zijun’s eyes.

“We’re both from ‘bad’ backgrounds, intellectuals who’ve fallen out of favor. Isn’t he the same? None of us look down on each other!

Zijun, to be honest, Ji Linhai is a good man. Maybe you two could try getting to know each other.

I’m not saying you have to have a man in your life. I just hope that in the second half of your life, you’ll have someone to keep you company. Like your father and me—even though we’ve been through so much, we can still encourage and take care of each other as we grow old together.

Think about it, okay?”

Cheng Shuying had studied abroad when she was young and had a very open mind. She didn’t think her daughter’s unhappy marriage meant she didn’t deserve happiness again.

Zhong Weiqian was tending the fire for the kang while listening intently to the conversation between mother and daughter.

“Zijun, don’t overthink it. Just follow your heart. No matter what you choose, your mother and I will support you.”

Zhong Zijun paused in the middle of putting things away.

Did she really not want to consider Ji Linhai? That wasn’t quite true.

Maybe it was just that the hardships of these years had broken her spirit, making her instinctively feel unworthy of happiness, even suspecting that anyone’s kindness toward her must come with strings attached.

Gu Yunchuan had hurt her too deeply.

“We’ll see.”

—

On Gu Qinghuan’s side, after seeing Zhong Zijun off, the three children went to bed early.

Only a few young people stayed up chatting to welcome the new year.

Bored, Gu Qinghuan made a deck of homemade cards and taught everyone to play Dou Dizhu.

Whoever lost had to stick a note on their face.

By the end, almost everyone’s face was covered in sticky notes.

They played until late into the night before finally heading to their rooms to rest.

The First Day of the New Year

Except for the three children, all the adults slept in.

Even Xu Huaian, who was usually up like clockwork, was no exception.

But he was still the first to get up. He heated up a pot of steamed buns, made milk for the three kids, and after breakfast, sent them outside to play.

All the village kids got up early to go door to door wishing people a happy new year. Families who were better off would prepare candy, pine nuts, and other treats for the kids; those less well-off would have hazelnuts and peanuts.

This was one of the rare days of pure joy for the children.

The kids were all dressed in brand-new clothes Gu Qinghuan had bought for them in Beijing—beautiful and warm.

With their new outfits, they looked even more impressive than city kids—nothing like typical rural children.

After breakfast, the three of them went out hand in hand to make their New Year’s visits.

Xu Huaian also opened the front door and set out peanuts, pine nuts, sunflower seeds, and fruit candies on the table in the main room.

If any kids came to wish them a happy new year, he couldn’t let them leave empty-handed.

He used to watch Liu Guifang do all this, but now that he was the head of the household, preparing for guests himself felt a little strange—but also inexplicably joyful.

Because this was his and Gu Qinghuan’s home. Even doing these ordinary little things made him happy.

The three little ones first stopped by the cowshed.

Ji Linhai and Old Master Ji were already up. Knowing the kids would come by for New Year’s greetings, they had specially tidied up the house.

“Great-grandpa, Grandpa Ji, happy new year! Wishing you good health and all the best!” the three kids said in unison.

They had planned this greeting ahead of time.

Previously, Dabao and Beibei had recognized Old Master Ji as their honorary grandfather. Later, since Ji Linhai was of a younger generation, Old Master Ji became their great-grandfather to keep things straight.

The kids’ adorable greetings made Old Master Ji beam with joy. He kissed each of them, then pulled out three big red envelopes from his pocket.

“Thank you, Great-grandpa!”

Ji Linhai did the same, handing over red envelopes.

“Thank you, Grandpa Ji.”

Gu Qinghuan had told them that it was okay to accept red envelopes on the first day of the new year, so the kids took them without any guilt.

Ji Linhai, despite his burly build and intimidating beard, was actually very thoughtful. He had prepared White Rabbit candies, dried dates, and other snacks on the table, just waiting for the kids to arrive.

He stuffed the kids’ cloth bags full.

All three had matching cloth bags, specially sewn by Zhong Luoning for them to carry treats.

“That’s enough, Grandpa Ji, it’s too much,” Dabao protested.

But Ji Linhai didn’t care—he kept piling more in. These treats were for the kids; the adults didn’t eat them.

No other kids would come to the cowshed for New Year’s greetings, so he gave them everything on the plate.

“Thank you, Great-grandpa and Grandpa!”

The three kids, their bags heavy with treats, trudged home.

Before they’d even left the valley, their bags were already full.

They had to go home to drop everything off before heading out again.

According to family ties, the first stop was their grandparents’ house.

Although Dabao was a little afraid of Liu Guifang, he bravely led his sisters over.

Several kids were already at Liu Guifang’s house, and she was happily handing out peanuts, seeds, and snacks.

Since Xu Mingshan was the village secretary, many kids came to their house every year, so Liu Guifang always prepared plenty of treats.

They might be stingy in other ways, but not when it came to this.

In the countryside, it was said that the more people came to wish you a happy new year, the more prosperous your family would be.

When Liu Guifang saw Dabao and the girls approaching, she was surprised for a moment—these little ones were dressed so well! Gu Qinghuan really spared no expense.

The next moment, she put on a big smile. “Dabao, Beibei, you’re here? Come on in!”"