Two days later, it was the weekend again. A strong wind brought a chill in the early morning, troubling Zhang Guoqing about how to return to his hometown. Just then, Mr. and Mother Zhang, steaming from the cold, arrived at their home.
Zhang Guoqing quickly brought them inside to rest while Zhou Jiao swiftly ran to make dumplings.
In the guest room, Mr. Zhang and Mother Zhang took off their coats and quickly got on the heated kang bed, urging Zhang Guoqing to quickly bring the child over for them to see.
Zhang Guoqing saw their coats hanging on the wall, wet and stiff, and said with a heartache, "Why didn’t you wait for the sun to come out before leaving? Or you could have waited at home for me."
Mr. Zhang, smiling warmly, said, "We were worried you’d head over early in the morning, so your mother and I rushed over. Get on with it, where’s the child?"
"Your father wanted to come over the day before yesterday but was worried you wouldn’t have time to accompany him while you were at work. Today is the weekend, if I hadn’t stopped him, he might have headed out at three," Mother Zhang laughed heartily.
Zhang Guoqing, delighted, replied, "This time, don’t go back. Aunt Fen has gone back to her hometown for something, you and dad help me at home. I haven’t had time to queue for rations this month, last month it was big sister who helped me, Jiao Jiao and I are too busy."
Mr. Zhang urged him to first quickly bring the child over, telling him they’d talk later about whether or not they’d go back. He deliberately came without clothes today, worried that their youngest son would insist they stay.
Once Zhang Guoqing left, Mother Zhang quickly nudged her husband. She couldn’t bear for her children to have to queue up early in the morning, plus there wasn’t much to do back in their hometown.
Mr. Zhang nodded with a smile, "No rush on this, we’ll talk about it later. I have something to discuss with Xiao Wu. Don’t interrupt later, I’ll handle it."
Upon hearing this, Mother Zhang immediately sulked and muttered a few words. She wasn’t mad about her husband asking her not to interrupt, but rather felt aggrieved thinking about her eldest daughter-in-law. She planned to vent her grievances to her youngest son this visit, life wasn’t great when he wasn’t around.
As Zhou Jiao came over carrying two bowls of dumplings, Mr. Zhang, holding Ping’an, laughed heartily. Mother Zhang and Zhang Guoqing were discussing matters with furrowed brows.
Mr. Zhang repeatedly said the dumplings were delicious, just without mentioning staying.
"We’ll talk about it later. This time we didn’t bring any clothes, have to return tonight," Mother Zhang quickly finished her dumplings and said.
Zhou Jiao came in holding the photos, just in time to hear this, and laughed, "Mom, do you and dad worry about clothes? This time, I’ve bought lots waiting for you to come. Aunt Juan and Aunt Wang from next door were still asking me yesterday when you are coming. Oh, by the way, several old ladies in front asked about you too."
Mr. Zhang burst into hearty laughter, feeling all his depression lift. Upon spotting a photo in Mother Zhang’s hand, he immediately stood up, urgently telling her not to move!
Startled by Mr. Zhang’s suddenness, Mother Zhang widened her eyes and watched as he carefully placed the photo from her hands onto the kang table, telling her not to move it yet.
Zhang Guoqing and Zhou Jiao exchanged smiles. These photos really held commemorative value, could even become significantly useful in the future.

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