Chapter 1320 - 1192: At Least You’re Sensible

Chapter 1320: Chapter 1192: At Least You’re Sensible

Liu Yi teased, "What if Grandfather agrees but Dad disagrees?"

"Of course, it’s still not okay. Without the whole family’s approval, Mom won’t let me off the hook."

"You’re quite sensible."

"I’ve always been so excellent, haven’t I? You’re just jealous, pure envy."

"Can’t feel comfortable without bragging?"

"Facts speak louder than words."

"..."

Ping’an watched as his two younger brothers started bickering again as he took a sip, secretly amused: Almost 20 years old and still so childish, too bad there’s no audience.

The military dog outside started barking a few times, Liu Yi and May 1st stopped in unison, exchanged glances, and stood up.

"It should be guests arriving." Ping’an put down his cup and headed out first, "Let’s go help too."

"That’s strange, how come Mom didn’t come to find us? Could it be she doesn’t like our gift? Impossible, she said riding it looked so cool before."

"What’s so strange about that? Dad must be stopping her. If Mom has the time to go to the backyard, she might go into their yard, and then his surprise wouldn’t be kept secret."

Liu Yi patted his brother, "Did you sneak a look?"

May 1st hooked his neck and muttered, "Yes, you definitely can’t imagine what our dad is up to. He’s really having fun but keep it quiet."

"It’s just a bunch of old flowers."

"Hahaha... You just don’t understand, do you?" May 1st winked and smiled at him, "Learn more from Dad, I think Mom will be really thrilled."

"How about, next year for Mom’s birthday, we give her flowers too?"

"I was thinking the same. But I prefer that when spring comes next year, we first plant flowers in Mom and Dad’s yard, fill it up with flowers. Too bad I might not be able to return."

"I’ll do it, you can send more seeds from abroad then."

"Alright! Let’s settle on that, let’s see what Dad does next year."

"Alright, enough nonsense, let’s hurry." Ping’an chuckled at the murmuring of his two younger brothers, they are really childish, even competing for favor.

Summer’s long days.

The last trace of sunset had long disappeared behind the horizon, the sky half dark half light, with the evening breeze gently bringing a mix of floral and woody fragrance.

Cheng Ruzhu was walking slowly arm in arm with Miao Lishan, "I heard the fish in the pond have grown big?"

"Yes, tonight’s carp is caught from there. Not just the carp, the lotus planted a couple of years ago has grown a lot, wait for a bit before leaving."

"Then I’ll end up carrying what I can’t finish eating?"

"Haha, if you can’t finish, it’s still given away to others, why be polite with me? There are snails too, but Jiao Jiao said they have a strong earthy smell."

"Sister-in-law, hearing this, I want to dig a pond at home too."

"That won’t do, I have an underground river here, it’s live water."

"Got it, just saying. Cheng Ruzhu laughed and glanced sideways at Miao Lishan, "It’s just me, anyone else would say you’re flaunting."

"That’s why I like chatting with you." Miao Lishan finished speaking, her eyes brightened, she waved her hand across, "These three rascals, don’t know to head to the front yard earlier."

"What’s the point of going? There are plenty of people to help with chores."

Ping’an and his two brothers rushed forward to greet them as soon as they saw them.

"Guests have arrived, go accompany your Grandfather."

"Grandmother, where are you headed?"

"To the pavilion. The men want to drink over here, I’m taking your Aunt to have a look, Aunt Chen and the others will bring the dishes over."

"Everything is fine over there, the bulbs are all working, it’s cleaned up."

"Alright, you head to the front to help, we’ll go turn on the lights."

With Miao Lishan’s instructions, the three brothers waved and headed to the front yard.

Sure enough, all of their grandfather’s sworn brothers who were still in Beijing came together.

However, it’s a pity that they didn’t bring their wives, no wonder only their grandmother and aunt went to the backyard earlier.

Ping’an Brothers would visit the homes of several sworn grandfathers with their parents during festivities, and because they had closer relationships with the younger generation, their bond was very close.

Like Wang Dawei, he likes to tease the three brothers.

Talking and laughing, as the dishes were brought to the pavilion in the back garden, the family also took away the guards, leaving space for Zhou Xiaozheng and his brothers to gather.

Feeling the private space with his father-in-law and old friends becoming scarcer, Zhang Guoqing gave his sons a sly wink: Serving dishes and pouring drinks is now your task.

As people reach a certain age, true old friends become fewer. Thankfully, those here are his father-in-law’s life-and-death brothers, otherwise who could stand the scrutiny every time they visit.

That’s also why he arranged everyone at the old residence, at least avoiding passing through checkpoint after checkpoint.

Perhaps in the future, he too will have fewer friends...

Like good friend Li Qinglin, always using the excuse of his wife being afraid to face his father-in-law, but he knows deep in his heart, it’s merely an excuse.

Didn’t see during previous New Year’s at the Northeast home, that kid and Zhang Yuntao stayed at home all the time.

Zhou Jiao tugged a distracted Zhang Guoqing, looking at him with worried eyes.

"Haha, nothing’s wrong." Zhang Guoqing snapped back and laughed at himself for feeling sentimental, "Is Little Uncle really working late tonight?"

"Even if he isn’t, he should be." Zhou Jiao chuckled, holding his arm, sighing as she walked, "He’s meticulous in every aspect."

"That’s good."

"It really is, wait until he comes to pick up Little Aunt later, it not only gives Dad space but also remains polite. How come Yu and the three brothers haven’t learned this skill?"

"As they age and gain experience, they’ll naturally understand. Don’t worry about them, Little Uncle is sharp, with him there, those three can’t go wrong."

"I’m not worried about them, as long as Little Aunt is doing well, it’s fine."

"Let’s go, I’ll accompany you to unwrap your gift from Mom and Dad."

"Haha, I’ve already secretly unwrapped it." Zhou Jiao recalled the birthday gift from her parents, feeling happy, "It’s a set of purple clay teaware, with Dad’s inscription for me."

Zhang Guoqing wasn’t surprised at all; his father-in-law had taken a keen interest in calligraphy these past years, even gifting him a set of inscribed teaware for his birthday last year.

Only his wife is constantly delighted.

A set of teaware, and another set of teaware, could they ever use them all? Such a lack of novelty! Couldn’t it be divided and sent over a few years? That way they could have the joy of collecting.

"In the future, I’m opening a teaware collection room, also gathering various famous teas, once inside, the room will be filled with tea aroma... How’s that? Wonderful, right?"

"Wonderful, indescribably wonderful!"

With her words, Zhang Guoqing finally understood his wife’s plan. Perhaps he should start contacting comrades from all around to collect various teas?

"Wife, we should also set up a large study next door, best if two rooms connect. Imagine, a courtyard, a pot of clear tea, reading a beautiful text..."