Chapter 1036: Chapter 909: I Can’t Handle It
National Day had no idea about the bits and pieces happening back home, and even if he did, he’d consider them none of his business.
Like the Huang Family, which was just his eldest brother’s in-laws; like the Zhou Family’s side branches, if they want to plot anything, they’d have to first get past his twin sons.
A little guy who even thinks his cousin is an outsider, can the Northeast Zhou Family really think that distant blood relations will be close to his twins?
He’d like to see that!
Moreover, there’s the second hurdle of his son Ping’an, followed by his wife, and then his father-in-law. If anyone wants to challenge this kind of difficulty, he’s truly speechless.
The hot days have arrived, and this year is different from previous years. A trip to Beihai River is out of the question, but fortunately, he has a versatile wife, so there’s no shortage of ice at home, and besides having a swimming pool, the Big Courtyard also has an artificial lake.
On the east side of the courtyard’s artificial lake, the environment is quite elegant. There are rockeries, pavilions, and lawns and snow pines planted around the front and back of several nearby buildings.
Basically, everyone who lives here are senior military cadres, usually busy with work, so apart from the kids, they don’t come around often.
Since spring, some people have started having problems, with some sent directly to jail, and others sent to isolation review and study sessions.
Some family’s savings accounts were frozen, homes sealed, doors plastered with seals, and the children in the family, categorized as redeemable, were given seven or eight square meter small bungalows to live in.
Now fewer people walk around this area, it’s quiet everywhere, especially at night, becoming a playground for the wild boys running around.
After dinner, the three little guys at home were coaxed out by a group of yelling kids outside, heading to play by the artificial lake.
Unlike the adults who were all nerves.
Their world was filled with fun and passion, even the little radishes Liu Yi and May 1st, only three years old, were keen on soaking in water to cool off.
As for the older guys, seventeen or eighteen years old, they already believed they had heroic missions of their own. Such nights couldn’t hold the passionate and aggressive ones back.
Maybe at this moment, they’re prowling around the city, armed with Soviet-style belts or plastic bike locks, seeking out suspicious targets.
Many times, National Day secretly felt fortunate that his three sons were still just little pups, or else even the good ones couldn’t resist being led astray by bad company.
During such nights, whatever changes occur outside, he has no intention of caring, nor can he intervene, all he can do is keep an eye on his three sons.
Thus, each night after work, National Day silently wandered over to the artificial lake, observing around became his new habit.
Yi Jiefang looked at the time on his watch as he came over and turned around, figuring that his buddy National Day must be heading to the artificial lake.
"So, how was the date today?"
Just as he expected, turning a corner he saw National Day not far away, unsurprisingly, the guy couldn’t say anything decent.
"How was what? I didn’t go!" Yi Jiefang reached over, hooking his arm around his neck, and started fishing for cigarettes in his pocket, rolling his eyes disdainfully, "You don’t smoke, why do you keep carrying a pack?"
Could National Day say it’s a habit? He chuckled, kicked Yi Jiefang gently, "Guessed you’d bail again? Watch out for your dad’s belt. Look at Da Yong, they all have someone, you should find someone too, can’t stay single forever."
"No feelings!"
"Then socialize more, I heard my mom’s Art Troupe has new female soldiers, want me to ask her to introduce one?"
Yi Jiefang couldn’t bother lighting a cigarette, immediately clasped his hands asking for mercy, "Come on, buddy, have mercy, I really can’t handle it."
"Then how about letting Jiao Jiao introduce someone?"
"Can we not mention this? I just got kicked out of the house by my mom."
National Day amusingly patted him, "Looks like the prospects are good this time, or else would your mother spare you? Is it introduced by your sister-in-law or your great uncle’s side?"
Lighting his cigarette, Yi Jiefang held it with one hand while inserting the other in his pocket, leaning idly against a nearby tree, shaking his head, "It’s complicated."
National Day snorted, glancing over at his sons playing a little further away.
"You wouldn’t understand a buddy’s troubles, too charming, go on a date once, and those girls stick like glue, really annoying."
"Keep boasting, sooner or later there’ll be a girl who’ll make you fall head over heels."
Yi Jiefang blew out a puff of smoke, disdainfully sneering, "Think I’m like you, all henpecked?"
"Come on, Brother Xiao Fei also used to say that, but look, he got proven wrong. Don’t just enjoy smooth talking, I’ll note down when you eat your words."
"Haha..."
National Day rolled his eyes, "Da Yi, you sure you’re not into me?"
"Get lost!" Yi Jiefang was so annoyed, he kicked at him, "I’m all man."
National Day pretended to breathe a sigh of relief, patting his chest, "That’s good! I must stay loyal to my wife."
The two joked around, leaned comfortably on the grass, talking about the city’s chaos and gossip under the moonlight.
Afterwards, Yi Jiefang softly asked, "Will you head back during this holiday?"
Back where?
National Day certainly understood he meant back home in the Northeast. He hesitated, shook his head. Plans couldn’t keep up with changes, going back would bring many troubles, better to avoid and enjoy peace.
"What about you?"
"I’m not going either, heard from my grandpa that the house is chaotic too, my aunt and uncle have lots of issues, always wanting my mom for job help or want to introduce a match for me."
National Day sighed inwardly. Every family has their troubles, none truly have peace.
"I figure if I go back, my clean slate would be ruined, might even bring a wife back. Originally thought I’d accompany you back home, but..."
"Better to forget it, similar situation. Don’t think my old home is peaceful either? Just farther away, my parents and siblings don’t want me to get annoyed, otherwise there’d be plenty of issues too."
Yi Jiefang thought for a moment, nodding in agreement, "Still your wife is good, a lone wanderer."
"Watch it, how you talk?"
"Haha, at least your father-in-law doesn’t have so many messed-up affairs." Yi Jiefang awkwardly laughed a few times, "Today told my mom, find a girl from a small family, best an only daughter, scared my mom into asking if I’m interested in Jiao Jiao, scolded me for being heartless. You say, is this fair?"
Mentioning his wife, National Day instantly became alert, warily sizing him up.
Feeling Yi Jiefang’s anger... if he had any intentions, would he dare say it? Besides, as for Zhou Jiao, he’d have to be crazy to fancy a woman who has birthed three kids.
Seeing his friend’s exasperated expression, National Day beamed. He was relieved. That’s good, if he tried stealing his girl, the friendship would be over.
Yi Jiefang glared at him fiercely, rolled his eyes in disdain, turned away from this unreasonable pal.
