Chapter 1054: Chapter 927: A Kind of Love
"We should bring the kids to this black land..."
As they set out on their return journey, Zhang Guoqing gazed out the car window, silent for a long time, before finally speaking these words to his wife.
Similarly, Zhou Jiao found herself at a loss for words to express the shock in her heart. During these short three days outside of Beijing, she truly understood the meaning of patriotism.
She personally witnessed the young people’s longing to return to their homeland, yet she also saw their pure hearts as they unwaveringly dedicated themselves to this black land.
This mental journey left the couple with no time to wander elsewhere; any aimless idling felt like a pang of guilt on their conscience.
Compared to their generation, they were indeed a bit too self-righteous.
It wasn’t until they returned to their hometown that their feelings slowly began to settle, especially when they saw their three sons toiling under the burning sun in the fields...
"Mom, Dad, we helped out."
"Mom, Dad, we’ve been working for days now, aren’t we impressive?"
Zhang Guoqing dropped his luggage, stretched out his arms, and hugged his three sons who had run to him, tenderly looking at their sunburned faces.
Every person on this earth has their value, right?
The path he must take is still ahead.
Zhou Jiao gave her children a thumbs up, smiled, and greeted the elders and villagers who had gathered around.
"You’re back? Good, good. The three kids are well-raised, they are truly the offspring of our Old Zhang family, not at all spoiled like city kids. You all should head home first."
The Old Captain beamed with joy after offering his praise and urged everyone to begin working promptly.
Zhang Guoqing saw his mother to the side, tossed his backpack, grabbed a towel, and headed off, "Jiao Jiao, you and Mom go home first, I’ll get some work done."
Zhou Jiao knew he couldn’t sit still, nodded with a smile, and when she saw her sons still glancing at their father, she didn’t stop them, motioning for them to go.
Shortly thereafter, everyone had gone, and Zhou Jiao lightly complained, "Mom, why do you also go out to work in the fields? What if you get heatstroke? The kids are grown up now, you can just let them do it."
Mother Zhang kept holding her daughter-in-law’s hand, watching lovingly as her youngest son and grandsons ran off, and replied with a laugh, "It’s fine, I’ll just keep an eye on things."
"Didn’t you see, Ping’an and his brothers all have blisters on their little hands? Why do they take after Xiao Wu so much, being so earnest? I told them it’s okay to just do a little bit, but oh my, you have to keep an eye on them."
Earlier, Zhou Jiao was keenly watching her three sons; how could she not know? But since the children had already started, she didn’t want them to quit halfway through, which was why she didn’t show her concern before others.
Outside, she hoped her sons would learn to finish what they start, understand what it means to do things within their means, and know what real farm work entails.
The little farming experience they got in Jingjiao was nothing compared to the vast black lands of Beidahuang; that wasn’t real farm work either.
"Why have you lost so much weight, are you starving? I’ll make you some cold noodles and add more cucumber strips, you like that. May 1st loves it too, every time he can eat a big bowl."
"I just love Mom’s cooking."
Zhou Jiao didn’t point out that she had actually gained weight. There is a kind of love where, no matter how round you become, in the eyes of those who love you, you’re forever skinny.
Mother Zhang grinned ear to ear, "The Ping’an brothers said the same. Jiao Jiao, you have no idea how amusing they are. If it weren’t for your dad worrying that the kids might run off with those wild boys, we’d still be in the city."
"Dad has foresight, he’s impressive!"
"Impressive for what? Coming here meant my little grandsons would have to work again. I reckon your dad just wanted to help in the village, and this was a good excuse."
"Hahaha, that means my dad knows how to teach kids well. Don’t worry about Ping’an and the others, they’re clever, they’ll naturally come back when they’re tired."
Mother Zhang rolled her eyes playfully at her, but was deeply happy inside. Her Jiao Jiao wasn’t like those young daughters-in-law, always complaining about the injustice done to their grandchildren.
The courtyard remains exceptionally clean, and the fruit trees in the front and back yards have indeed been taken care of, which is a pity, but the abundant harvest in the vegetable garden makes up for it.
Inside the house, there’s a faint scent of mugwort in the air, and you can tell from the kang mat and bedding that the children’s grandparents must have been here staying with them recently.
"Why don’t you wash up first, have something to eat, and then take a rest. Have you been to the city?"
Zhou Jiao shook her head, taking the wash basin, "No, when we got to the county town there happened to be a nearby production team’s ox cart, so we came straight back. Brother said you should be in the village."
"Ah, my youngest son is smart. In the city, you have to think twice before speaking. Winter’s hiding in was fine, but in this scorching summer, there are always people lounging in front of our house. Villagers are still genuine people."
Judging from the conversation, something unpleasant must have happened before. Zhou Jiao didn’t ask in detail, she’d ask Ping’an later; the little guy would know almost everything.
"Mom, when we returned, why did everyone seem more enthusiastic than before?"
Mother Zhang craned her neck to look outside, speaking in a whisper, "You wouldn’t know. This year, five kids from the village joined the army; they thought it was because our village’s conditions were good, and the kids were chosen because they were sturdy, or maybe it was thanks to Xiao Wu. Your dad and I explained it, but they didn’t believe us."
"Oh, so that’s why. No wonder."
"Wonder? There’s a lot you don’t know; your dad couldn’t put it all in a letter. If the letter didn’t reach you and was seen by outsiders, they’d say we’re showing off and causing trouble."
"Not just in the city, the village was also frightened back then.
Zhou Jiao really hadn’t expected so much to happen in the old home, but on closer thought, it wasn’t surprising.
"Our team has been peaceful, nothing much happened. Do you know why? Your third grandpa is shrewd; when he saw things were awry in the city, he hung your banner in the office at the team site, and everyone who came over had to treat us with respect."
Zhou Jiao was speechless with a smile, indeed, like the Old Captain she knew!
