Zhang Guoqing jogged all the way home, hurriedly greeting many familiar faces as he passed by, and finally unlocking the gate, letting out a long breath. People back home were indeed enthusiastic!
Standing in the yard, he immediately spotted the cart piled high inside. There was no way he could miss it, it was so conspicuous.
Zhang Guoqing noticed some noise from the kitchen and knew without thinking that his wife was storing things in the cellar again. Remembering the food coupons his father held, he grinned.
They really were a family that never stopped bustling!
In the kitchen, Zhou Jiao had just come up from the basement. Seeing him, she smiled and said, "Besides daily necessities, I put five bags of flour and two bags of rice. I dare not store more; our dad might sell them again through his godfather."
"Five bags of flour are two hundred and fifty pounds, still too much. He’ll sell them," Zhang Guoqing chuckled helplessly.
"Did you see the cart outside? It’s for our two sisters. I’ve hidden two bags of flour inside, and also ten pounds of cotton for my eldest sister."
Zhang Guoqing knowingly asked, "Is the flour for eldest and second sister left to mom to distribute? The remaining three bags... clever! This way dad can’t sell them easily."
Zhou Jiao proudly laughed, "The quality of these is excellent, even if sold, they couldn’t be bought back. Let’s finish up quickly and go back to accompany our son."
Zhang Guoqing took her out of the kitchen, they locked the door, and pushed the cart towards Meili’s house.
Seeing her younger brother and sister-in-law approaching as she ate breakfast, Meili joyfully asked her parents-in-law to continue eating and immediately set down her bowl and chopsticks to run out.
Upon exiting the living room, she saw the firewood on the cart in the yard and anxiously asked, "You’ve hardly rested since coming home, who told you to chop wood?"
Knowing her tendency to make short talks long, Zhang Guoqing quickly unloaded the firewood, pulled out a bag of flour from inside, and shook it at her proudly.
Before she could speak, Zhang Guoqing took Zhou Jiao’s hand and dashed off, saying, "I’m off to my second sister’s place."
Meili stood there dumbfounded as she watched them run off, touching the cloth bag half-covered by wheat straw, furious. Such wasteful children! They’ve only been back a few days and are already spending recklessly again.
White flour! At least fifty pounds of it! That means two hundred pounds among the four siblings, and there’s certainly more for their mother. How much would that cost? These wasteful kids!
Zhang Chunming put down his chopsticks and quickly followed out, but Zhang Guoqing and his wife had already run off.
Upon seeing his wife patting the cart continuously, he curiously asked, "What’s up? Huh, why is Xiao Wu sending firewood to our home? Ziwen and the gang are so big..."
At this point, he noticed the bag hidden inside the cart and understood.
Meili smiled bitterly at him and nodded, "Afraid I’d nag, they just grabbed a bag of white flour and ran off with Jiao Jiao to Mei Hao’s place. Forget it, help me move it to the kitchen."
Zhang Chunming scratched his head, "We’re going to owe more and more favors this way."
"What silly talk. That’s my dear brother, no need to be polite with him. Honey, move it inside first; it won’t look good if the neighbors see it later."
Zhang Chunming shook his head with a smile; just as he moved the bag of flour, he found another bag underneath, and looked at his wife in amusement. Needless to say, it was another exclusive treat!
Meili received it, opened the bag, and saw it was cotton. She laughed, "Just right for making winter clothes for dad and mom. This must be Jiao Jiao’s doing. A few days ago, when I was airing clothes, planning to add cotton for dad and mom, she told me not to worry about it yet."
"With this amount, you can make a set for your parents too."
Meili wasn’t dumb. Her parents had all sorts of material for clothes, she could do this good deed easily. She laughed, "Even if I made it to send over, my mom would scold me. I’ll make an extra set for dad and mom, so they can change last year’s clothes this winter."
After Zhou Jiao finished speaking, Zhang Guoqing pushed her together into the living room and chatted with Accountant Zhang and his wife for a few moments. They declined to be seen off and then left with the cart.
Exiting the county town, Zhou Jiao frustratingly said, "How come I forgot to wait for you at home just now? This back and forth courtesy is exhausting."
"Alright, leave these to me in the future." Zhang Guoqing knew she disliked such social courtesies. Especially since, aside from his eldest sister, no one else could get close to her heart, so she naturally didn’t want too much interaction.
Zhou Jiao smiled at him apologetically. She knew she’d been spoiled by her father over the years, making her somewhat pampered, but she really had no patience for these polite exchanges.
"Silly wife!" Zhang Guoqing patted the cart, letting her sit on it. Between them, there was no need for apologies. Speaking of which, Zhou Jiao had already compromised a lot for him. Otherwise, with her personality, anyone she didn’t approve of would have been blocked from interacting with her years ago.
"I want to walk with you."
"Okay, get on if you get tired. Jiao Jiao, you don’t have to plaster a smile for outsiders for my sake in the future. I don’t want you to feel wronged. I work hard because I want you to live the life you desire. If you keep masking your emotions, I’m afraid I’ll get used to it and lose you someday."
Zhou Jiao smiled at him, "Outsiders can’t sway my emotions. Who are they to me? If a day comes when I can’t stand it, I’ll tell you directly. You, young man, keep working hard!"
Delighted by this, Zhang Guoqing flexed his arm at her and looked around. The distant villagers couldn’t make out what was happening. He immediately lifted Zhou Jiao, kissed her, and placed her on the cart.
Before Zhou Jiao could yelp, Zhang Guoqing shouted, "Hold on tight, we’re taking off!"
Hearing this, she instinctively grabbed both sides, watching him push the cart swiftly. Her heart warmed. The scenery flying past couldn’t capture her gaze; she smiled foolishly at him.
There’s always someone who touches her deeply. It’s wonderful to have him around!

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