Chapter 1198: 1071: A Thousand Miles Away

Northeast XL County, as soon as the New Year’s Eve dinner was over, the firecrackers burst into a roar. Mr. Zhang couldn’t take his hands off the new woolen clothes and leather shoes on the kang.

Should he wear them? After all, it’s the thought of his dear Jiao Jiao!

Wear? Or not?

Oh dear, this is quite a dilemma!

Mai Sui forcibly dressed Mother Zhang in a dark red Tang-style cotton coat, black cotton pants, and put on a pair of black boots before pushing her out of the room.

"Better not, I’m already old, wearing this would make a fool of myself."

Mai Sui smiled, "Who says so, Grandma is still young. Don’t you trust my aunt? Would she let you embarrass yourself? Right!"

"Oh dear, your aunt is spending recklessly again! How much would such good material cost, and why buy boots again when I already have three pairs..."

Zhang Meili, after having the New Year’s Eve dinner and rushing over past one o’clock, exclaimed as soon as she walked in, "Oh my, mother!"

Lin Juhua quickly made an excuse, "Mother looks so grand in this outfit!"

"She should have dressed like this a long time ago, looks much younger. My aunt has good taste."

"The key is our grandma carries herself well."

Listening to the chatter from the female relatives, Mother Zhang felt comforted, even though she didn’t quite understand what elegance meant, she felt she could indeed wear this out!

"Where’s grandpa? I brought the kids to kowtow to you."

As soon as Xi Zi saw Zhang Ziwen speak, he pointed inside with a grin, and stood up to go in. He guessed he was too embarrassed to come out.

Inside, Zhang the Second smacked his lips, "Dad, stop dawdling. I’m not lying, this is how they dress in big cities. I went to the provincial city for a meeting a few days ago, and there was an old man even older than you dressed just like this."

"Really?"

"Would your son lead you to embarrass yourself? If you don’t wear it, I’ll take it." Zhang the Second said while pretending to reach for it.

Mr. Zhang hurriedly slapped away his hand, "Go away, who said I wouldn’t wear it? Jiao Jiao made it for me, how could it not fit me? I just can’t bear to waste such good fabric."

Zhang the Second glanced at his father speechlessly, sure, sure, it’s all your reasoning, you’re the boss. But, this fabric? They really spent a lot!

"Grandpa, how is it a waste? It’s all a gesture of respect from my aunt." Zhang Ziwen, following Xi Zi in, immediately picked up the clothes to help him change.

"Grandma has already changed, Grandpa, let’s hurry, the kids are waiting to kowtow."

Mr. Zhang quickly waved away his grandson and grandchild’s hands, "I can do it myself, I know how to wear it."

Zhang the Second gave an approving look at his nephew and grandson, it’s fortunate these kids came in, getting his father to wear this wasn’t easy!

With their new clothes on, Mr. Zhang and Mother Zhang indeed looked younger and grander. They had been living a good life for the past decade, otherwise, they wouldn’t have been able to pull it off.

After the kids paid their respects and received their lucky money, all the little ones didn’t leave, they stuck around, cunningly eyeing Mr. Zhang, waiting for their uncle/granduncle’s fireworks to be lit.

Zhang the Second was teasing a few little ones with candy, coaxing them to shout, "Second grandpa is good, grandpa is a bad guy, second grandpa will take you to play."

Mother Zhang saw this and smacked him on the back, laughing and scolding, "Grow up! Go chat with your brother-in-law, if you make them cry, you’ll have to calm them down."

"Great grandma, he’s bad!"

Pointed out by Xi Zi’s chubby daughter with her white chubby finger, Zhang the Second rubbed his nose and, under his mother’s teasing gaze, sheepishly returned to his father’s side.

"Xi Zi, hurry up and move that pile outside, I reckon if we’re late, the kids from the surrounding houses will come nagging, and we don’t know how much Xiao Wu spent, even Xiao Mi won’t say..."

With Mr. Zhang’s instructions, everyone crowded to the main entrance, and sure enough, there were already kids eagerly waiting there.

Listening to the booming of firecrackers and watching the moment the fireworks blossomed, Mr. Zhang and Mother Zhang looked at each other and simultaneously beamed with joy.

Old Captain, as always, with his long pipe, laughed heartily when he saw Mr. Zhang coming toward him. This year Old Zhang’s family had a bumper harvest!

"Have you spoken to Xiao Wu?"

Mr. Zhang nodded repeatedly, "The very morning of the thirtieth, the child called me, and you were right. Xiao Wu said that since Ping’an brothers can’t come back, we should still hold the banquet.

Fortunately, Shi Tou and Mai Sui both got into college; he and the second brother have already discussed it. Since his family can’t come back, his second brother will be in charge, and the date is for you to decide."

Old Captain wasn’t at all surprised by Zhang Guoqing’s decision, then realized, "So does this mean Zhang the Second’s child has received a notification of acceptance?"

Mr. Zhang chuckled, "Indeed! Just today we received the admission notice, and I’m coming to find you. Shi Tou and his wife both got into Beijing Industrial College and Beijing Normal University. Haha... even Mai Sui got into Beijing University of Chinese Medicine."

Old Captain looked at Mr. Zhang’s smiling face and couldn’t help but want to give it a good pat. Dang, how lucky these simpletons are! Old Zhang’s family’s good fortune seems to all flow to his family.

Mr. Zhang continued chuckling unaware, "That’s not all, my eldest daughter’s three grandsons all got into the provincial city university, and even the eldest from my youngest daughter’s family got into our provincial city university."

Isn’t this just outright showing off? Old Captain felt he couldn’t stand it anymore and retorted, "Are the Zuo You brothers still planning to take the exam?"

Mr. Zhang looked at him resentfully, "You’re really not kind! Can’t I enjoy the moment? You don’t know how many happy things there are, I’m too afraid to even mention it to outsiders!"

Old Captain burst into hearty laughter.

After stopping his laughter, Old Captain shook his head, "I don’t think your Zhang the Second can be held back in this area anymore. What are your plans? Are you really going to move to Beijing permanently this time?"

Mr. Zhang paused for a while, "I’m a little worried about the eldest."

Old Captain sneered, "What’s there to be worried about? He’s already a grandfather, each of the kids has a job, what’s there to be concerned about?"

Saying this, Old Captain tapped his long pipe on the ground, "I think you’re confused! This is something you only discuss with me, elsewhere if you get beaten up, you’ll have deserved it!"

"Remember back in the day? What did we think? Just surviving was enough, right? No matter how old one gets, you can’t forget the hardest times, or else you get greedy, and that’s a curse, not a blessing."

Mr. Zhang sighed at his words, then squatted down with him, "I know what you mean. I don’t expect much from my eldest’s household, as long as they don’t cause trouble, peace and safety are enough."

Old Captain frowned, "What is it? Seeing other kids succeed, did that eldest daughter-in-law and granddaughter-in-law get greedy? They’ve got some nerve!"

"With me here, they won’t dare. I’m just worried that if we’re not around, the women will stir things up with the kids."

"What’s there to worry about! Your eldest listens to you the most. Tell him, if his wife doesn’t behave, smack her, once she’s afraid, she’ll behave. It’s the perfect time to establish authority among the daughters-in-law."