Chapter 1199: 1072: The Old Captain Doesn’t Understand His Hardship

Mr. Zhang listened, his head filled with thoughts of how to assert authority over his wife, how to present himself as a dignified father-in-law. With a muddled mind, he returned to the county in a daze. Old Captain’s words completely overturned his views.

When his parents were alive, they often said, what are spouses? They’re family who can share life and death with you, who can stand beside you to support a household.

No matter what, you must not lay a hand on others!

Mother Zhang, with her eyebrows raised, glared and yelled, "Try hitting me! If you dare raise a hand against me, I’ll go to Beijing and live with my eldest son and ignore you, you old fool!"

Mr. Zhang looked at her speechlessly, shook his head, and turned to go back to his room. Old Captain didn’t understand his troubles; he couldn’t even handle his own wife, how could he have the nerve to teach his son!

Mother Zhang cheerfully followed him, "Don’t listen to his nonsense. Our parents used to say that men who hit their wives are cowards; it would be better to use that energy to work in the fields."

"Hmm, what do you think my father would do if he were me?"

"What would he do? He would tell me to get lost!" Mother Zhang said, and immediately burst into laughter.

Mr. Zhang shook his head with a smile. Indeed, his father would actually say that! Alas... better to follow his father’s example, he couldn’t go wrong with that.

Speaking of Mr. Zhang’s lifetime admiration, who does he respect the most? Naturally, it’s his own father, the well-known man who singlehandedly supported Old Zhang’s family.

"Do you remember what Dad said when he gave our third branch of the family a separation?"

Mr. Zhang squinted his eyes, immersed in memories...

"After the separation, you are the heads of your families now. I’m happy if you can establish your own household; if not, there’s nothing I can do. From now on, you’ll have to manage on your own."

"If she feels that your mother and I are biased, then let her leave Old Zhang’s family and find an unbiased family. How can a woman turn the world upside down?"

"Granddaughter-in-law? I even let my sons choose their own wives. Do you think there’s something wrong with your heads letting me take a look at them? I’m an old man, ready to die, do I need to meddle in these trivial matters of yours?"

"Worried? Ha ha, even fingers are different lengths, it’s up to them, how much can an old man worry about?"

"...what’s there to be envious of, can he really live an immortal life? Don’t envy outsiders, they might actually envy you, old farmers have their own peace..."

"Old brother just can’t figure it out; it happens under your nose, once you’re buried in the hill behind, what can you do? Turn a blind eye..."

"Me? Ha ha ha... what’s there to worry? Even the silly kid from the next village knows not to go hungry and knows to run to the mountains when they hear gunfire, what am I worried for..."

"Dad’s probably going to find your mom, crying? I’ve long wanted to go accompany your mom, not sure if she’s waiting for me to be reborn?"

"...what’s there to cry for? I’m not dead yet, being filial isn’t shedding a few tears in front of me. Let the kids do what they’re supposed to do, when I’m gone, no need to cry and wail, I miss your mom..."

Mr. Zhang wiped his face, erasing his tears. He thought he might understand what he should do now. The happiness of children and grandchildren is their own, it wasn’t just words.

After dinner, Mr. Zhang couldn’t help but still feel down, he went to bed early, leaning against the headrest smoking a dry cigarette, closing his eyes to rest.

When Zhang the Second came in, he immediately looked at Mother Zhang, "What’s wrong with my dad?"

"He’s thinking about his dad."

Zhang the Second burst out laughing, "Well, there’s nothing that can be done, where can we find my grandpa?"

Mr. Zhang glared at him, "What are you here for?"

"I wanted to discuss something with you."

"You’re a grown man now, decide for yourself, don’t bother me."

Zhang the Second saw his father close his eyes and stop paying attention to him, but he didn’t mind, happily taking off his shoes and jumping onto the bed, "Dad, how about I accompany you back to the village tomorrow."

Why go back to the village?

Of course, to accompany his father to talk with his grandparents beneath the ground, your son misses you!

"No need, just got back. I’ve already discussed the banquet arrangements with him."

"Fine, I can handle this little thing smoothly, you just focus on drinking and chatting with your old buddies later."

Mr. Zhang opened his eyes and glanced at him. Sigh... it seems he really can’t stop worrying about things himself. Didn’t he just say he would handle it?

"Dad, Mom, when the time comes to send the kids to school in spring, do you want to come along?"

Mother Zhang looked at him curiously, "Why do you want to go?"

"Heh heh, there’s something I want to discuss with Xiao Wu, and also check out the kids’ school."

"What do you want to discuss?"

Mr. Zhang glanced at his wife. Didn’t they just agree in the afternoon not to meddle in the kids’ affairs anymore?

"Uncle Zuo said today that my kids are going to Beijing, asking what my plans are. Little Tao is now in high school, and his grades are pretty good. If the policy doesn’t change, he hopes to go to college. His suggestion is that I don’t need to stay in the county, I should make a move, either he arranges for me to go to the provincial city or follow him to Beijing."

Mr. Zhang frowned, interrupting his wife from getting eager.

"This is no small matter, I want to talk to Xiao Wu face to face."

"You want to go to Beijing?"

Zhang the Second nodded at Mr. Zhang and then shook his head.

"What does that mean?"

"Dad, it’d be a lie to say I don’t want to. But I know my own capabilities. Going to Beijing? Saying it is easy, but it’s not that simple. Uncle Zuo doesn’t have the ability to take me there, naturally, it’s Old Zuo’s Family going out of their way to help me. But why would Old Zuo’s Family bother with me if not for my brother, Xiao Wu?"

"Though I’m unsure of Old Zuo Family’s intentions, I understand this much, that going there would not only make Xiao Wu owe them a favour, but also make me a scapegoat." Zhang the Second laughed self-deprecatingly, "I reckon Uncle Zuo also gets this, which is why he suggested the provincial city as an option."

Mr. Zhang silently nodded after a while, "Alright, do as you see fit, I don’t really understand these things. After all, nothing in this world comes for free, just remember that."

"Mm, I thought so too. Also, I want to go and check out some houses. This time, Shi Tou and his wife gave me some money, saying they’ve heard that there’ll be subsidies every month, so we shouldn’t hesitate to spend it.

Ha ha ha...how could I use their money? Eventually, Mai Sui convinced me to take it, giving me the idea to buy a small yard for her brother. This kid even said she has some money to pitch in. Ha ha ha... I think I should listen to her."

Mother Zhang couldn’t help it any longer and directly interjected, "Now you see the good in daughters, don’t you? I said from the start that daughters are more caring than sons. Don’t look at how filial Shi Tou is now, in the future when you are old, you’ll still have to rely on Mai Sui."

"Yes, yes, you were right all along."

"Don’t give all the salary she hands over to the sons, this grown-up girl also needs a dowry in the future, it’ll need money. Sigh... why doesn’t she want to get married? Forget it, their father, this time when we go with them, I still want to ask Jiao Jiao, there’s nothing to talk about with you."

Zhang the Second saw his father affirm repeatedly, laughing happily, "Dad, no wonder Uncle Zuo says you’re afraid of your wife."

"You little rascal, looking for trouble!"