Chapter 1248 - 1121: Girl, Did You Strike It Rich?

Chapter 1248: Chapter 1121: Girl, Did You Strike It Rich?

Under the street lamp, in front of the Zhou Family gate, Zhang Guoqing stood with one hand in his pocket, occasionally raising his wrist to check the time, and then stretching his neck to look out front.

After kicking up the nearby snow cover, wandering alone at the gate for several circles, lingering for quite a while, he finally waited for Zhous’ Jiaojiao, who came home late.

Even before she got close, Zhang Guoqing could already sense that his wife was radiating joy. Hmm, her steps seem very relaxed. Listen... she’s even humming a little tune.

Zhou Jiao quickly stepped forward and took his arm, "Why did you come out to wait for me again? It’s so cold. Didn’t Aunty say she called home and Aunt Chen didn’t mention it to you?"

Zhang Guoqing squeezed her hand and put it in his pocket, "She did. Babe, did you find a treasure?"

"Hehe... I heard a lot of good things, so I’m happy inside."

"Oh, did the old lady take you to an old sisters’ gathering?"

"No." Zhou Jiao peered around and quietly explained, "The old lady took me to do fortune-telling at that witch’s house who returned to Beijing that year."

Zhang Guoqing, chuckling, squeezed her hand, "What did she say to make you so happy?"

"Hehe, heaven’s secrets must not be divulged."

Zhang Guoqing smiled noncommittally, "Have you eaten?"

"Not yet, I was worried about you, so after going back with the old lady, I rushed back. But I did eat some pastries on the car with her. What about you?"

"I ate a little. I thought the old lady would take you out for dinner." Zhang Guoqing held her tightly with heartache and quickly led her into the yard.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Jiao giggled a few more times foolishly.

Zhang Guoqing shook his head with a smile, rare to see her so happy like a little mouse that stole some oil, judging by the momentum, she must have heard something good, feed her full first then interrogate her in bed.

Zhou Jiao suspiciously looked around the living room, seeing the doors were closed, she asked in surprise, "Is it just you at home tonight?"

"Yes, dad came back to change clothes and then went out after picking up mom, saying there are foreign guests tonight. He will stay out and not return. I saw no one at home, so I pushed Da Yi’s gathering."

"Didn’t you guys just have a drink together the night before?"

Zhang Guoqing hung her coat, waited for her to finish washing her hands, and led her to the dining room. If they keep talking, the dishes Aunt Chen brought over would get cold.

"That’s why I pushed it. No gathering is more important than my wife." Zhang Guoqing quickly summarized, no gathering compares to his wife.

Moreover, tonight’s gathering was different in nature from before.

The gathering a few days ago was for friends from the countryside returning to the city for a reunion, also to thank himself and Yi Jiefang for the help back then, a face-saver to be given.

If not for some unavoidable social engagements, he would rather not go out in the cold.

"Hu Xiaohui called me today, have you not met with Lin Zi for a long time? She also asked if we had forgotten they were still in Beijing city."

After Zhang Guoqing listened, he took a spoon and scooped a small bowl of soup, placed it in front of her, and gestured for her to take a sip before continuing, "It’s been a while since I’ve contacted Lin Zi. I heard him say he was going on a business trip again, I don’t know when he’ll be back. I thought he hadn’t returned yet.

I’ll call Lin Zi tomorrow, there’s quite a bit going on these days and I can’t get away, I’m also scheduled to meet someone this weekend and have to check next week’s schedule."

Zhou Jiao took a sip of the soup, pursed her lips, "I’ve already explained to Xiao Hui and invited them to come over and play when they have the time, it doesn’t have to be us going out."

Zhang Guoqing knowingly shook his head with a smile, "Even if you invite them, they wouldn’t come over for no reason, she’s afraid of having dad at home."

Zhou Jiao paused her hand holding the chopsticks, shook her head speechlessly, and continued to eat her meal in small bites. She just didn’t understand why everyone was afraid of her dad, who is such a good person.

Moreover, when guests come over, her parents would always leave space for everyone, either reading in the study or resting in the bedroom, no need to worry about facing her dad.

That’s why she liked Da Yi and his wife, look at how they affectionately call Uncle Zhou and amuse her parents, no need for her parents to avoid them deliberately.

"Ring ring..." The phone rang urgently, Zhang Guoqing stood up, answered it, and Wan Dayong’s voice came through, "Xiao Wu?"

"It’s Xiao Wu’s dad here, where are you calling from?" Before he finished speaking, a few familiar laughs came through, Zhang Guoqing raised an eyebrow, "Weren’t you guys gathering outside tonight?"

"We’re just at Da Yong’s place, heard your father-in-law isn’t home tonight, right? If we come over, will it disturb you two?"

Zhang Guoqing laughed loudly, "Stop talking nonsense! Come quickly, I’ll have Aunt Chen prepare some snacks to go with drinks."

"Okay, we’ll be right over."

After hearing the phone hang up on the other side, Zhang Guoqing smiled and shook his head, then turned and instructed Aunt Chen to make some snacks for accompanying drinks, and walked towards Zhou Jiao, "Finished eating?"

"Yep, who’s coming?"

"Just the same close friends, they’re all at Da Yong’s place right now."

"They’re all nearby?"

"Probably, it’s cold and Da Yong doesn’t like staying outside, the house assigned by the unit is too much trouble to light the stove themselves."

Zhang Guoqing spoke casually and suddenly remembered something, "Oh, starting tomorrow, it’s better to return to the old house for lunch breaks."

Zhou Jiao blinked and looked at him.

Zhang Guoqing affectionately ruffled her hair, "According to Da Yong, the cafeteria’s food isn’t great lately, if you really don’t want to run back and forth, let Aunt Lu’s family bring you food."

What Zhang Guoqing meant by Aunt Lu’s family were the elder couple hired from the village led by Uncle Zhou, an old comrade of his father-in-law, Zhou Xiaozheng.

With such a large courtyard and valuable furniture, decorations, and their sons’ beloved dogs, the couple couldn’t possibly leave it unattended.

The elderly couple are still healthy, the granny almost lost her life due to difficult childbirth years ago and couldn’t have any more children. Her husband was both righteous and devoted, refusing to leave her.

As a result.

Not only were they falsely accused of being unfilial by their relatives, but they were also insulted as a childless household, facing immense pressure in the village. Usually, they relied on Uncle Zhou, the team leader, for some support, a miserable pair.

This Qingming Festival, the family went up the mountain for a memorial and passed by Zhou Family Manor, conveniently checked on their rural courtyard, where Zhang Guoqing met the elder couple managing their courtyard and found they were the perfect candidates to hire for looking after the siheyuan.

After all, their character has been consistently reliable over the years, someone to trust.

Now, their daily job is to do some cleaning and take care of a few dogs, different from before. They were officially hired this time.

With the current nanny salary going around 15 yuan a month with meals and accommodation included, the couple earns 30 yuan a month, enough to save a little money.

Now, this elderly couple is living in an auxiliary room in the old siheyuan, maintaining such a large five-entry siheyuan is quite a workload.

That’s why Zhou Jiao, after some consideration, decided, "I’ll go back home for meals instead."