Chapter 1249 - 1122: A Rare Chicken in Life!

Chapter 1249: Chapter 1122: A Rare Chicken in Life!

When Aunt Chen came over to clear the dishes, she suggested, "Why don’t I prepare it in the morning and bring it over for you? You can heat it up in the canteen at lunchtime."

Zhou Jiao shook her head with a smile, "Let’s not do anything special."

"Then listen to Xiao Wu."

"Alright. Aunt, see if we have any broth at home; it’s been a while since anyone’s had a drink at home. A pot of hot soup in this cold weather can warm them up a bit."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Guoqing stopped her, "It’s getting late; those few dishes to accompany the drinks will be enough."

Aunt Chen glanced at Zhou Jiao and nodded with a smile, "I’ll still listen to Xiao Wu. The sooner you eat, the sooner you can rest."

Once she left, Zhou Jiao, embarrassed and angry, immediately reached out and pinched Zhang Guoqing’s waist. It was so mortifying! What time is it now?

"Wife, go easy, you misunderstood..."

"Sleep in the study tonight!"

"It’s so cold~ Aunt Lu recently came up with a great dish."

"Don’t change the subject."

While talking, the couple heard laughter and conversation at the front door.

Zhang Guoqing knew it’d be hard to change her mind right now, so he set it aside for the moment.

Of course, he couldn’t bear to see Zhou Jiao having lunch without a nap, especially in front of ’Commander Tang,’ but he understood his silly wife was probably worrying about something or other.

"Xiao Wu, what are you doing?"

"Hurry out and greet your buddies?"

"Uncle Zhou isn’t home?"

"Look at you, the coward! Uncle Zhou won’t eat you!"

"Old Mr. Zhou indeed isn’t home. But from what I’ve noticed, with Xiao Zhou around, Xiao Wu might be more reluctant to go out. I heard lately he’s been..."

"Hahaha... even knowing that, no wonder you’re afraid of your wife..."

Zhang Guoqing chuckled and shook his head, "These bastards!"

Zhou Jiao gave him a sideways glance with a smile, nudged him to signal him to hurry outside, otherwise those jokers would start talking nonsense. She then turned around and headed to the kitchen.

"...Xiao Wu, you don’t know how bad Dayong, this bastard, is. Tonight, he made us reminisce about the old cabbages..."

In the kitchen, Zhou Jiao listened to Ding Datou’s complaints and couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

Seeing this, Aunt Chen laughed, "This house needs all four of you little masters to be lively." Her implied meaning was that it would be quite lonely if it were just the father and daughter all the time.

Zhou Jiao nodded slightly with a smile. Her dad enjoyed meeting friends outside, while she herself wasn’t used to having gatherings of sisters at home.

Especially after marriage, women tend to speak boldly. Her home was full of men, so it was quite inconvenient. It was better to go out, always having an excuse to leave.

"What’s wrong with cabbages? You haven’t seen the kids in the big courtyard before; they were so happy, active and lively. Everyone chased each other, helped push small carts, delivering vegetables from house to house..."

When it comes to this, how could Zhou Jiao not know?

Cabbage is the staple for winter in the North.

Every year, in late October or early November, the vegetable store outside the courtyard usually agrees on a time with the courtyard to specially serve soldiers and their families.

On the day of selling winter cabbages, the big courtyard’s plaza would have banners hanging, be brightly lit, and bustling with activity.

The soldiers, their families, and children in the courtyard would all be mobilized—some lined up, some moved the vegetables, some delivered them—like celebrating New Year.

It’s lively and cheerful, already a scene in the courtyard.

Come rain or shine, every year it’s like this.

No one is unhappy, as these are winter vegetables.

If you don’t buy them, you might really be drinking northwest winds all winter. During these times, winters were particularly cold, and aside from cabbages, potatoes, and radishes, there were no other vegetables.

It’s only because these fellows in the living room have such smooth lives. Not only do they have guards at home, but their wives also handle household matters.

So women of this era have it harder than men, not only having to go to work but also managing inside and outside the home. Is simply moving cabbages home enough?

—No, you have to pickle some of them.

In the living room, Yi Jiefang crossed his legs, reclining on the sofa, "Have my sister make fewer dishes, just a few pieces of meat are fine, anyway these beasts can’t taste the difference."

Geng Dazhi widened his eyes, "Then you don’t eat anything."

Ding Datou smacked him, "Idiot! Being overly nice to him, this guy has bad intentions."

"Beat him."

Zhang Guoqing amusingly glanced at the three making a racket and looked at Wan Dayong, "Brought the wife and kids back to the old man’s place?"

Wan Dayong nodded, "The old man misses the kids."

Zhang Guoqing snorted dismissively, "Uh huh," what a fake excuse!

"Haha... It’s too cold, not just me, Da Zhi also came back with his bedding today. A few days ago, his son caught a cold and got better, but today his little daughter caught one."

Zhang Guoqing shook his head speechlessly, "You should just hire a nanny."

"I’m really envious of you now. It’s nice to have kids early, even May Day is in college now, while my youngest is still in middle school."

"What were you doing earlier? You wouldn’t listen when everyone told you to settle down early."

Wan Dayong curled his lips, "Do you think saying that now isn’t embarrassing? Who else but you would be in such a rush to get married and have kids right after graduating middle school?"

Zhang Guoqing chuckled indifferently, raised his chin proudly and wiggled his eyebrows at him, "I’m from the village, early marriage and childbirth suit me well."

Wan Dayong was speechless at his smugness, turned to the other three and asked, "Did you hear what this shameless guy said?"

"No negotiations, let’s beat him, look at his smugness."

"Aren’t we doing this all together?"

The four of them surged forward, grabbing arms, pinning him down, tickling him, making a complete mess, causing Zhang Guoqing to repeatedly shout for them to stop.

Finally, Zhou Jiao came out with the appetizers to rescue him.

After the playful romp, the five laughing gasping men sat at the dining table and jokingly teased each other, making Zhou Jiao dare not stay downstairs any longer.

Sometimes she really envied the friendship among men. Unlike women, these friendships last longer and are more genuine.

She recalled the friends around her, and it seemed Zhao Yuanyuan, Qiao Na, and Hu Xiaohui were the only ones she could call close friends, but they were too far apart.

Not mentioning Zhao Yuanyuan, even Qiao Na and Hu Xiaohui who were in Beijing, whenever she was free they were busy, and there were so few opportunities to gather together.

Then there were a few wives of the guys downstairs she got along with, they should be considered friends, right? Because of the men’s friendships, they interacted more, their relationship was good, but still lacked a bit of mutual understanding.

Next would be the sisters in the courtyard; in the past, they could hang out, shop, or watch movies together every few days, but now after each having families and kids, the chances of meeting decreased, and gatherings were often tied with interests.

Life offers you a rare chance!

Indeed, the price of chicken was extraordinary.

Zhou Jiao knitted her sweater while imagining, occasionally enjoying herself secretly with her thoughts.

Luckily Zhang Guoqing didn’t see this scene, otherwise he might really suspect his wife went visiting the witch’s house with the old lady and got cursed.