Chapter 1283 - 1155: A False Alarm (Part 1)

Chapter 1283: Chapter 1155: A False Alarm (Part 1)

In the golden autumn of October, how the foreign financial markets fluctuate, Zhou Jiao doesn’t know; she just knows that every international letter is full of good news.

At the same time, the greenhouse vegetable cultivation technology at the old house has also become more mature and has been put into trial in a field on the outskirts by the agriculture department.

Just as she imagined, Uncle Yuan was really transferred to serve as a technician. Although he is still a temporary worker at the moment, by the year’s end harvest, the opportunity for a permanent position is inevitable.

Originally, she thought Aunt Yuan would leave with him, but in the end, she stayed. Thus, this year, two more veterans were added to the old house.

The days pass slowly, and the shadow left by the departure of Old Mrs. Cheng and her husband seems to fade over time, but everyone knows they’ve just buried their sorrow deep in their hearts.

Especially their closest children.

Miao Lishan put down the phone, looked at Zhou Jiao, and sighed, "Your uncle has decided to take a leave of absence to accompany your aunt for a walk; we can’t let her stay here and overthink."

Zhou Jiao rubbed her face with her hands, "Has he decided where to go?"

She quite agrees with Cheng Ruzhu and her husband going out for a change of pace. Since the old couple left, Cheng Ruzhu has been much more downcast.

"He said they would first go to your eldest cousin’s place. Last time, after the funeral, they rushed back, so now they need to sit down as siblings and have a good talk."

Sichuan is a good place, with a suitable climate and picturesque scenery, not inferior to Jiangnan. With the solace of elder brother Cheng Sijin, they can always get some comfort.

If it doesn’t work, let Cheng Ruzhu go to Cheng City to stay with Cheng Siyu, Cheng Laoer’s side for a few days by the end of the year.

"I’ll see them off when they depart."

"No need, your uncle just meant to inform us, they should leave in these two days. Just stop by his house on your way back from work tomorrow."

Zhou Jiao had no objections to her mom’s suggestion, so she nodded in agreement.

On this rare weekend, with the sun about to set, not to mention her father who left early, even Zhang Guoqing couldn’t make it home for lunch.

They’re busy again.

Zhou Jiao glanced at the clock in the living room, it was already past four in the afternoon. After chatting with her mom for a while, she left alone to go to the kitchen.

When May 1st returned, the aroma of dishes had filled the air. He touched his stomach, secretly glad he skipped the school activity to come home early.

"Little Treasure, come to grandma."

Upon hearing this, May 1st smiled and ran towards Miao Lishan at the living room door, complaining in his tone, "Grandma, luckily I came back alone, call me by my nickname in the future."

Miao Lishan chuckled, looked at him, and headed inside, "No negotiation! Isn’t ’Little Treasure’ a nickname? Your mom is grown now, and your grandpa still calls her ’Dearie’ often."

May 1st laid his hand on her shoulder and rolled his eyes helplessly, "Alright, alright, whatever you say. Just wait until my brother’s son is born, let’s see what you’ll call him then."

Miao Lishan instantly burst into laughter.

"Grandma, is my mom in the kitchen?"

"Indeed, she said she’s cooking a couple more dishes to satisfy your cravings. Why are you back so late today?"

"Something came up at school." May 1st got his grandma settled on the sofa and then pointed outside, "I’ll go lend a hand to my mom, you wait."

By the time Zhou Xiaozheng and Zhang Guoqing returned, the table in the dining room was already set, and they washed their hands in a hurry to join the meal.

The Zhou family, although without strict rules of not speaking at meals or in bed, still customarily discusses whatever comes up during post-meal chats in the living room.

What do they talk about?

The living room’s TV was on schedule, broadcasting the news.

And the family’s topics, not just idle chatter about current events and social issues, also included each other’s work and studies.

Anyway, it ranged from everything under the sun.

As usual.

Once the news program ended and other shows came on, leaving Miao Lishan to continue watching, Zhou Jiao and her father had already begun a game of Go.

Meanwhile, May 1st cuddled up next to his dad Zhang Guoqing; father and son huddled together, whispering and occasionally bursting into joyful laughter.

Of course, Zhou Xiaozheng did not miss out, holding a white Go piece in one hand and sipping high-quality Longjing tea with the other, while casually chatting with his precious daughter about things beyond the game.

The atmosphere in the living room was warm and harmonious.

Soon, a shrill phone ring sounded.

"I’ll get it, Grandpa, you rest." May 1st immediately stood up, glanced at the wall clock, and entered his grandpa’s study.

On the left of the desk were two telephones, one red and one black. The red one was Zhou Xiaozheng’s private line, and the ringing came from the black one, the Zhous’ external line.

May 1st picked up the receiver: "Hello? Who is this?"

"Is this Ping’an or Liu Yifan? It’s your grand master uncle, tell your mom to come to the phone."

Zhu Ling, usually composed, had an anxious and nervous voice over the line, causing May 1st to immediately cease smiling, "This is May 1st, Grand Master Uncle, please stay calm, what’s going on?"

"I can’t stay calm, your grand master fainted and is now in the hospital."

May 1st felt a chill in his heart and quickly replied, "We’ll be there in ten minutes."

Hanging up the phone, May 1st returned hastily to the living room, "Dad, Mom, come with me." As he spoke, he shook his head towards his grandpa Zhou Xiaozheng.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want his grandpa to go; it’s just that his identity was too prominent, making it inconvenient to travel, with guards always accompanying him, especially at night.

Miao Lishan turned off the TV and quickly asked, "Whose call was it?"

"Grand Master Uncle called, Grandma, we’ll explain in detail when we get back."

Zhou Xiaozheng, eyes worried, glanced at his daughter, who had stood up, and instructed Zhang Guoqing, "Take care of Jiao Jiao, and call home if anything happens."

"Okay."

While speaking, Zhou Jiao had already walked to the door, "Dad and Mom, you should rest early."

Zhang Guoqing nodded to his father-in-law and followed her out the door.

In the back seat of the car, Zhou Jiao was silent, tightly clutching Zhang Guoqing’s hand. Since the old couple passed away, she worried that her master’s end was near.

But she hadn’t expected it to happen so soon. Just a short while ago, she was discussing with her senior brother how to celebrate her master’s centenary in a couple of years.

While driving, May 1st occasionally glanced at the rearview mirror to observe Zhou Jiao, "Mom, Grand Master will be fine, it’s just a faint, I guess he forgot to eat while out and about again."

"Before, he said he’d wait for my three brothers to marry and have children, and that he needed to pick one to pass down his skills. Last week when my brothers and I visited, he still insisted that despite any family planning rules, we have to save him a successor."

Zhou Jiao forced a slight smile, "He will be fine, just drive carefully."

"Alright. Mom, don’t worry, I think Grand Master is like a living immortal and will definitely live another twenty years. Just this summer, he joined us in sneaking into the village to steal melons."

In comforting his mom, May 1st didn’t mind confessing embarrassing incidents, "Grand Master even went wading in the river with my brothers and me to catch shrimp. He could fill a basket all by himself, while we brothers could only fill half of one..."