Zhou Zhigang was eating, wondering whether he should go home to celebrate the New Year this year.
Zhou Zhigang has only been home twice since he came to Shancheng to provide support for almost eight years.
This year's work tasks were not heavy, so he was thinking about going home to see his grandson Zhou Cong.
Zhou Zhigang took out a photo from his jacket pocket. It was the photo of a family of three sent by Wang Gang. Zheng Juan was holding Zhou Cong in her arms.
Touching the photo, Zhou Zhigang suddenly felt like he was returning home. This is the real third generation of the old Zhou family, and possibly the only third generation.
The last time he went home to celebrate the New Year, Zhou Zhigang accidentally learned that his eldest daughter-in-law was unable to have a child. He did not tell the truth because he was concerned about his eldest son Zhou Bingyi's face.
The younger son and his wife worked hard for three years to give birth to Zhou Cong. The probability of having a second child is actually not high.
Now when Zhou Zhigang gets off work, all he thinks about is his little grandson. Looking at the photos, he can only look at the plum blossoms to quench his thirst.
Sometimes he would envy his wife Li Suhua, his son and daughter-in-law are filial, and his grandchildren are all around him. What else could he be dissatisfied with in this kind of old age life?
At this time, a coworker of Zhou Zhigang came over.
"Master Zhou, we have your phone number in the office."
"My phone number?" Zhou Zhigang asked doubtfully, "Who will call me?"
"The other party said he was your son and left a message for you. You should go to the office and have a look."
Zhou Zhigang was worried about something happening at home, so he quickly put away the photos and hurried to the office without eating.
"Director Sun, do you have my phone number?" Zhou Zhigang knocked on the door and entered the office, asking the people inside.
"Master Zhou, this is the message your son left for you." Director Sun took out a note and handed it to Zhou Zhigang.
There was not much content in the note, only two sentences, a message from the eldest son Zhou Bingyi.
"Dad, I have arrived in Shancheng, now in room 403 of the guest house."
Zhou Zhigang couldn't help but be overjoyed when he saw the note, but then he became very confused.
"Why are Bingyi here?" Zhou Zhigang put away the note, thanked Director Sun, and then rushed to room 403 of the guest house.
The door was unlocked and ajar, so Zhou Zhigang pushed it open and went in.
Zhou Bingyi was lying on the bed. When he heard the sound, he sat up immediately.
"Dad!" Zhou Bingyi stood up happily and hugged his father.
Zhou Zhigang hugged his son and asked, "Why are you here? Did something happen?"
Zhou Bingyi let go of his father and took out a letter from his pocket.
"Admission notice?" Zhou Zhigang saw it and saw that it was an admission notice from the Philosophy Department of Peking University.
"You passed the exam?!" Zhou Zhigang said in surprise.
"Not only did I get admitted to Peking University, but Dongmei also got admitted to Jiangliao Medical College." Zhou Bingyi said excitedly.
"Okay." Zhou Zhigang said with tears in his eyes and trembling lips: "My old Zhou family finally has a college student."
Zhou Bingyi said with a smile: "Not only that, Bingkun was also admitted to the Chinese Department of Peking University, and Zheng Juan was admitted to Beijing Normal University."
"Ah!" Surprises came one after another, and Zhou Zhigang was stunned.
"Bingkun and his wife also passed the exam!?" Zhou Zhigang asked: "What about Zhou Rong? Did she pass the exam too?"
Zhou Bingyi smiled and said with some difficulty: "Zhou Rong's test scores are not ideal, so she can only go to a worse school. She plans to retake the exam next year."
Zhou Zhigang was stunned when he heard this, then frowned and said: "It's great to go to college, but she's still picky."
Zhou Bingyi said awkwardly: "Dad, you know, Zhou Rong has been strong since she was a child. She didn't do well in the exam this time. She was very disappointed, so she wanted to try again."
"Due to work, Zhou Rong didn't review well, and she happened to be sick on the day of the exam. Although she passed the score line, she was still a long way from Qingbei."
Zhou Zhigang frowned and said, "It's not like we have to go to Qingbei."
Zhou Bingyi smiled and said: "Dad, Zhou Rong is a mother and knows it well. Just leave her alone and let her try again."
Zhou Zhigang said with a sullen face: "I can't control the water thrown by my married daughter."
Zhou Bingyi took back the admission notice and said: "Dad, I have gone through the discharge formalities. In addition to telling you the good news, I have one more thing to come here this time."
"What else is there?" Zhou Zhigang asked doubtfully.
"Dongmei's parents have been reinstated," Zhou Bingyi said.
Zhou Zhigang nodded and sighed: "They have suffered a lot in the past ten years. This time you take Dong Mei to visit them more when you go back."
Zhou Bingyi said again: "Dad, why don't you come back to Jichun with me?"
Zhou Zhigang said: "I still have some unfinished tasks, so I will go back later."
A look of struggle appeared on Zhou Bingyi's face. He thought about it for a long time before saying to Zhou Zhigang: "Dad, I want to tell you something."
Zhou Zhigang looked at Zhou Bingyi's face and knew that his next words must be very important.
"We, father and son, have nothing to say." Zhou Zhigang pulled Zhou Bingyi to sit down first.
Zhou Bingyi hesitated for a long time, but he didn't know how to speak.
"Are you trying to say that Dongmei is infertile?" Zhou Zhigang decided that it would be better to point it out himself to save his son from discomfort.
"Dad, how did you know!?" Zhou Bingyi looked at his father in shock.
"I heard the conversation between you two brothers before." Zhou Zhigang sighed.
"Dad, I didn't mean to hide it from you." Zhou Bingyi said guiltily.
Zhou Zhigang patted his son on the shoulder and said: "I know you are a good boy, and I am not an old antique who has not changed. If Dongmei can't give birth, she can't give birth. Just live your life well as a couple."
Zhou Bingyi did not expect his father to be so open-minded, but instead felt even more guilty.
"Dad, I have been holding this matter in my heart. I dare not tell you because I am afraid that you will be disappointed." Zhou Bingyi said.
"You brat, your brother is right. Dongmei can't have children. It's not that I can't accept it. What makes me sad is that you hid such an important thing from me."
Zhou Bingyi suddenly knelt in front of Zhou Zhigang and said guiltily: "Dad, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have lied to you."
Zhou Zhigang helped his son up and said, "Get up quickly! The ground is cold."
Zhou Bingyi stood up and said to Zhou Zhigang: "Dad, have you forgiven me?"
Zhou Zhigang gave Zhou Bingyi a blow and said, "Father and son, what can we forgive or not?"
Zhou Bingyi breathed a sigh of relief, and then said to Zhou Zhigang: "Dad, there is one more thing. Dongmei's parents asked us to live with them after returning to Jichun. Dongmei and her parents have been separated for more than ten years, and she can't even write a letter. It's really
Thinking about it makes me panic."
Zhou Zhigang also understood after hearing this. The eldest son came to see him this time and what he really wanted to discuss was this matter.
After getting married, if he goes to live with the woman's parents, isn't this the same as a door-to-door son-in-law?
Although Zhou Zhigang is not a feudal parent and is very considerate of his children, he is also a very traditional person.
Although he wouldn't look down on his son-in-law, he definitely didn't want his son to do it.
"What do you mean?" Zhou Zhigang's face was as dark as water. He neither agreed nor objected. Instead, he asked Zhou Bingyi's opinion.
"I actually want to go back to live in Guangzipian. Dongmei hasn't seen her parents in more than ten years, but I have only seen you once in these years. Guangzipian is my home."
Hearing Zhou Bingyi say this, Zhou Zhigang's complexion finally improved a lot.
"I am the eldest son in the family. According to the old rules, the eldest son inherits the family business and is responsible for supporting the two elders. I want to take you to live with my mother after I finish college." Zhou Bingyi said tentatively.
Zhou Zhigang shook his head and said: "You mean, live in Dongmei's parents' house for four years first, and then move out after graduating from college?"
Zhou Bingyi nodded and said: "Yes, actually Dongmei and I are going to college, so we don't have much time to live in her house."
Zhou Zhigang pondered for a moment and then asked: "When will you return to Jichun?"
"I will meet Dongmei tomorrow and return to Jichun." Zhou Bingyi said.
"Go back first and tell your mother about this. Remember to say it tactfully. She is not in good health and cannot be stimulated anymore." Zhou Zhigang said.
Zhou Bingyi couldn't help but be very happy when he saw his father agreeing to his proposal.
Zhou Zhigang has been observing his eldest son's reaction, and he can't help but feel even more uncomfortable.
"As for your mother and I's old-age care, don't worry. I'll retire soon. I'm still in good health and can take care of myself and your mother. At worst, I'll hire a nanny in the future." Zhou Zhigang sighed:
"Your brother has already sacrificed a lot to take care of your mother. We can't drag him down anymore. You have to understand this."
Zhou Zhigang is still concerned that Wang Gang gave up going to college in order to take care of Li Suhua, but now that he can get into a better university, Zhou Zhigang is also very happy.
"It's not easy for Bingkun. He has sacrificed the most for our family in the past few years." Zhou Bingyi said guiltily.
"Yes! As the eldest brother, you must treat your younger brother well in the future. It's really not easy for him." Zhou Zhigang sighed.
The father and son chatted for a long time. Zhou Zhigang took a half-day off and walked around the mountain city with his son. It was rare for him to go to a restaurant and have a hot pot meal.
After Zhou Bingyi left, Zhou Zhigang immediately sent a telegram back to Jichun and reported to his boss that he wanted to take a few more days off during the Chinese New Year.
