Chapter 175: Chapter 129: Heart-to-Heart Talk (Part 3)
Zhou Jiao understood immediately, guessing that this time he didn’t hand it over to his father either. She overestimated the Lin Family, "Dad, do you have any money on hand? I heard from mom that grandma helped her save it."
Zhou Xiaozheng’s eyes dimmed slightly, and he smiled at her with an inscrutable expression, "If she says it’s saved, then it’s saved. This time, I’ve returned to make up for my previous salary, and I’ve saved it all for you. Your eldest uncle still hands everything to your grandma to this day. You’ll understand once you meet the old lady. They regard themselves as from a big family. Your youngest aunt takes after her. Your mom and your grandpa are quite alike."
Zhou Jiao winked at her dad and said, "I get it. Dad, your mother-in-law and Xiao Wu’s mother-in-law are of different kinds."
"Hehe, you little rascal. Who’s outside? Come in quickly."
As soon as the voice fell, Lin Lishan and Zhang Guoqing came in carrying bowls of noodles with two poached eggs on top. Without hesitation, Zhou Xiaozheng took the bowl and chopsticks and started eating quickly.
While eating her noodles, Lin Lishan said, "Brother Zheng, Xiao Wu’s parents initially wanted to wait for you to have lunch, but I declined. I told them to arrange for themselves and have a few drinks with him tonight.
Originally, Brother Zhang wanted to come in, but then he said it’s better to let you and your daughter have a good chat and find you for a chat in the evening. He said you’re great at hunting wild chickens, that with just a slingshot and a stone, you can take one down, and you should go up the mountain to hunt wild chickens with them once you’re done with matters and take the old guys up the mountain with you. So, you’ve known the in-laws for a long time already."
Zhou Xiaozheng nodded, "Brother Zhang is the toughest hunter around here. His father, Xiao Wu’s grandfather, is said to be able to set traps just by looking at footprints. All three siblings in their family can hunt.
In the early years, it was just their father and sons who would take us boys to the mountains to hunt. In a little while, the heavy snow will seal the mountains, and the village should organize a hunt in these few days, Xiao Wu, isn’t it around this time?"
Zhang Guoqing served a bowl of white fungus to Zhou Jiao while listening to their conversation, "Dad, you remembered, indeed it’s in these few days that we go up the mountain. Mom, the hunt takes several days. The village holds one every year. Sometimes, several villages gather together to go up the mountain, and it’s quite ceremonious."
"Then this time, I’ll have a chance to see it. Last time I came, the time was too rushed. Jiao Jiao, don’t think about going out this time; wait until next year when you can see as much as you want." Lin Lishan saw Zhou Jiao blinking and refused her with glances. Pretending not to see her pitiful look, she promptly turned her head to avoid softening her heart.
Zhou Xiaozheng looked at his daughter’s little expression, shook his head with amusement, this child...
"Xiao Wu, are you free today?" Zhou Xiaozheng observed him, noticing that the child was talking with them, but his eyes were always on Jiao Jiao and Ping’an. Any action of his daughter, he would naturally respond to, just as the father-in-law said, the two of them were quite in sync, and his gaze at his daughter was full of smiles and tenderness, without a hint of impatience. Hmm, not bad, just as the investigation showed.
Zhang Guoqing didn’t dare to be casual with this father-in-law. Don’t think he didn’t notice, he had been watching his every move carefully; this old father-in-law was definitely a daughter fanatic. Watching him like a hawk, probably ready to take his daughter and grandson away at the slightest dissatisfaction.
"Dad, I have nothing today. I even took leave from work to build the house these past few days. Just tell me if you need anything," Zhang Guoqing stated earnestly.
Zhou Xiaozheng finished his noodles in no time and wiped his mouth with a handkerchief from his pocket, "Alright, keep these few days free to do things with me. Shanshan, you take care of the daughter, and when I’m done, I’ll take you to see the kid’s grandma, and visit the county town."
Zhang Guoqing nodded, immediately put on his clothes and trousers, and went out. He finally understood that his father-in-law was impatient, likely itching to leave.
Lin Lishan watched Zhang Guoqing leave, giving an exasperated look at her husband, "Take it easy, that kid’s pretty good, don’t glower at him so fiercely. He’s your son-in-law, not one of your soldiers."
"I know, I still need to groom this kid, he got lucky easy. My daughter is not for just anyone, too bad I came back late," Zhou Xiaozheng lamented softly, full of regret.
The mother and daughter duo couldn’t help but burst into laughter, fearing he’d be embarrassed and trying hard to hold back their laughter.
Zhou Jiao felt warmth in her heart, her dad really held her dear, thinking his daughter is the best in the world, and fearing she’d suffer any grievances. But she wasn’t worried Xiao Wu couldn’t pass her dad’s test. Outsiders didn’t know their story, just seeing her marrying him, nobody knew they had experienced two lifetimes.