Chapter 1146 - 1019: The Two In-Laws

Chapter 1146: Chapter 1019: The Two In-Laws

Zhang Guoqing has always been a man of action. Since he promised his two young sons to tidy up the backyard bungalow, he did not enlist outside help.

The next day after work, he braved the biting cold wind and used his less-than-perfect carpentry skills to piece together a large rectangular table and a makeshift shelf against the wall.

It was the dead of winter, and he couldn’t let his precious sons freeze. To keep them warm, he found an old coal stove from the warehouse.

He was busy installing the chimney, lining the stove, and re-planning the chimney route. To enhance heating efficiency, he lengthened the chimney inside the house in some areas.

If the chimney wasn’t long enough or if the elbow joints were inadequate, he had to buy new ones from the general store, and, of course, chimneys were supplied by ticket. Luckily, he had many friends and just one phone call ensured he wasn’t short of tickets. To prevent the kids from getting poisoned by coal gas, he also installed a ventilator on the window.

Fortunately, the window paper was renewed every year, or that would have been another thing to arrange. Despite this, you could see him coming in and out every time he returned from work, and after organizing everything, three days had passed.

If it weren’t for the excitement of the Liu Yi Brothers saying it was already good enough and they were eager to buy accessories at East Fourth Street, he would still want to install a heated kang.

Just thinking about his two young sons resting on the kang when they’re tired from playing, eating roasted sweet potatoes and potatoes from the stove, and discussing their next steps on the kang table...

It made his heart immensely stirred.

A father always wants to give his children the best things in the world. But helplessly, the sons didn’t cooperate, so Zhang Guoqing decided to look for an opportunity to prepare materials first and strive to create a perfect environment the following year.

However, the foolish dad mode hadn’t lasted more than two days, before Zhou Xiaozheng returned home, looked around, and with one remark, shattered it.

"What?"

Zhou Xiaozheng contained his laughter, covered his mouth with his fist, and said with a smile, "Our family is likely to move back to the Big Courtyard next year."

Zhang Guoqing blinked, confirmed again, "Dad, why the sudden change? Did the two families living there get housing?"

Zhou Xiaozheng could say he couldn’t stand the smugness of his silly son-in-law, right? But regarding moving back to the family courtyard, as the kids grew up, he indeed had this thought.

Especially because every time the father-in-law and son-in-law went to meetings, they had to pass near their own home without entering, creating a lingering feeling of not being able to return home. Moreover, after moving back, Jiao Jiao wouldn’t have to work so hard, and she could come home to rest at noon.

Of course, he wouldn’t speak truthfully to the family about these matters.

"Yes, they’ve been promoted over the years. But the main point is, it’s inconvenient for our family to live here any longer, as every visitor has to register."

These words had a hidden meaning that Zhang Guoqing understood. Everyone has some secrets, but with guest registration, anyone paying attention would know everything.

Especially for their family, Uncle Wang and others found it inconvenient to come to them when things were difficult. He too found consulting others required going out.

"I heard someone suggesting I should move to the inner city. You want to live at Da Hongmen?" Zhou Xiaozheng looked at his son-in-law with a smile, "Why don’t we join the crowd there?"

Zhang Guoqing was startled by what he heard and quickly shook his head! If disaster strikes, it’s easy to get in but hard to get out of that place; the current Big Courtyard is preferable.

Zhou Xiaozheng burst into cheerful laughter at his reaction. Many people dream of living there, but at their family, the mere mention brings fear.

Zhang Guoqing looked speechlessly at his father-in-law with a mischievous delight. Aren’t you also unwilling to move in there, Dad? We all are thinking along the same lines.

"Dad, it seems the Yi Family is about to make a move."

Zhou Xiaozheng gently shook his head, "They can’t move. As soon as they move, they lose."

"But wouldn’t Old Yi be very passive?"

"What does it matter if he’s passive? He doesn’t dare to move! If he did, he’d reveal his cards. Even if those people didn’t allow him to have his own power, the two or three people above wouldn’t agree. The army belongs to the state; could it change into a private army? Remember the leaders’ swap across various districts before?"

After these words, if Zhang Guoqing still didn’t understand, he ought to return home and farm. "Is the Yi Family now engaged in a defensive battle, intentionally making aggressive moves to shift the opponent’s target?"

"It’s part of the plan. You probably heard something from that Yi kid, but have you considered that the old chief and the commander are still there."

Zhang Guoqing was indeed worried those old gentlemen wouldn’t hold out much longer. "Dad, they’re aging."

Zhou Xiaozheng smiled indifferently, "Even if they’re gone, it still won’t be Yi Family’s turn to rise. The Yi Family lost as soon as Yi Ming was transferred to the Ministry of Public Security. Of course, he’s a smart man; if he hadn’t been transferred, the Yi Family might not even exist now."

This had a lot of underlying information, and Zhang Guoqing felt he needed to think it through.

Zhou Xiaozheng watched his son-in-law deep in thought, and offered a hint, "Different families have their trump cards, the old chief understands them clearly, and your Uncle Shi has such high-level archives..."

The unfinished statement was clear from his tone and gestures. After all, each of them was formidable, having already tangled in the shadows many times.

"This point must not be leaked out. Even Grandma can’t know, otherwise, no one can protect your Uncle Shi." After instructing his kind-hearted son-in-law, Zhou Xiaozheng thought, then added, "Of course, Jiao Jiao is fine to know."

Zhang Guoqing, originally influenced by his serious demeanor, was about to sternly reply and assure him that he understood the gravity. But then... well, this sharp turn amused him.

Zhou Xiaozheng gave him a light slap on the forehead, "You silly boy! Not wanting to worry Jiao Jiao also means occasionally letting her know some things. Haven’t you noticed how she’s forcing herself to smile recently? It’s awful."

Zhang Guoqing rubbed his forehead, looking at him grudgingly, "Dad, Jiao Jiao is worried about Ping’an."

"Ping’an?" Zhou Xiaozheng pondered for a moment, quickly understanding his implication, then glared at him impatiently, "You all really are filled with unnecessary worries. Would I not have a plan for my grandson?"

Uh... Zhang Guoqing indeed found himself at a loss for words.

"Dad, will Yi Ming come to find you?"

Zhou Xiaozheng glanced at him sideways and asked back, "What chips can he offer me?"

The implication was clear: without benefit, why would he make a move to help? Zhang Guoqing nodded understandingly. This reasoning was compelling, showing he and his wife were truly father-and-daughter, equally cold-hearted.

"The original alliance was indeed for shared advancement and retreat, but the initial purpose was interest. Xiao Wu, remember what Dad said, alliances can also turn into enmity anytime. Even Mr. Cheng, if he truly turns on us for the sake of his descendants, do you still trust those hundreds of years of alliance?"

Zhang Guoqing decisively shook his head, "Dad, I understand your point."

"You understand it, but you’re soft-hearted. That’s your strength, but also your greatest weakness. In the future, when I’m gone, with the changes between the next generations of the Cheng Family and ours, if something happens, can you be ruthless?"

His father-in-law’s words hit him hard, stirring Zhang Guoqing’s heart. His former thought of kinship had indeed led to great disaster.

He pledged earnestly, "Dad, if it truly involves the safety of the kids in the future, even if it means being unfair to Grandma, I won’t harbor the tiger to invite trouble."

Zhou Xiaozheng sighed quietly to himself. This child was indeed becoming more outstanding, but still couldn’t shake his soft-heartedness. Weighing feelings and obligations was good, and he didn’t wish to force the child to be ruthless, especially since human nature is set, focusing on nurturing the three grandsons proved more effective.