Chapter 1268 - 1140: Returning to Beijing on a Business Trip (1)

Chapter 1268: Chapter 1140: Returning to Beijing on a Business Trip (1)

Zhou Jiao once again stepped into Beijing in midsummer, stepping out of the carriage at noon, it was unusually hot and stuffy, sweat immediately clung to her clothes, making them damp and sticky.

No one could help but feel annoyed.

Unlike the scorching heat at noon in the Northwest where one feels cooler indoors or under the shade, and sweat evaporates quickly.

What to do?

Zhou Jiao seems to feel she still prefers the Northwest, where "wearing a leather jacket in the morning, donning gauze at noon, and enjoying watermelon around the stove" is common.

It’s truly the golden season of July and August.

Just when fruits are abundant, changing each meal with noodles, pilaf, large-plate chicken, grilled lamb skewers, it’s surely regrettable for a food lover like her.

And...

"Aren’t you leaving the station with us?"

A middle-aged woman about forty years old, now laden with bags and luggage hanging, and carrying with both hands, elbowed her colleague.

Zhou Jiao smiled briefly, helplessly also carrying luggage with both hands, had to indicate outside with her chin, "I still have to find an acquaintance to move things."

The counterpart understood suddenly. Yes, this silly comrade who wastes money dragged two donkey carts full of large sacks to the station, as if there wasn’t less stuff than they had.

"Then we’ll go first."

Several male colleagues looked at each other, nodded slightly to the female colleagues, packed small bags and moved outside first. Not distinguishing by gender, family should have also waited outside for them for a long time.

Unlike the six or seven of them, Zhou Jiao didn’t inform her family this time to come pick her up, chiefly because there was too much stuff. Without a large truck, it wouldn’t be transported back.

Two donkey carts full of large sacks?

You must be joking!

Even her son knew that when fighting a war, bringing stones home was not an option she would miss when her father jokingly called her a money stringer. How could Zhou Jiao let go of the famous Nephrite Jade?

Although thanks to Geng Dazhi, she got quite a lot that year, the chance of exchanging a naan for two stones would be struck by lightning if passed up.

Zhou Jiao slowly moved towards the station office, and on the way, seeing a staff member, she immediately greeted, "Comrade, please help notify Station Chief Geng Dazhi, saying his sister is here."

"Alright, I’ll help you carry."

"No need, no need, just shout for him." Zhou Jiao thought that Geng Dazhi might suspect someone pestering him so she added, "My surname is Zhou, I am his cousin."

After saying, she sweated a bit herself. Hehe... Why did she blurt out cousin? What cousin and cousin can easily lead to misunderstanding.

"Okay."

Geng Dazhi was holding a lunch box, about to open it when suddenly the office door was knocked. He didn’t care much, mistakenly assuming it was subordinate reporting work and casually said "Come in."

"Station Chief Geng, outside there is a female comrade surnamed Zhou asking for you, she says she is your cousin."

Geng Dazhi was startled, where did he have a cousin named Zhou? Though he did have many relatives and cousins, none surnamed Zhou.

"Station Chief Geng?"

Geng Dazhi recollected himself, "How old?"

The male comrade blinked, "A very pretty young lady, around twenty or thirty. Also, she is particularly fair, this tall and slender, with her hair done with a black chopstick..."

Geng Dazhi, hearing this, burst into laughter, put down the lunch box and ran outside quickly.

Black chopstick?

If at first, he didn’t quite react, but once saying black chopstick in her hair and surnamed Zhou, if he still didn’t react, he’d really have to blame himself.

Zhou Jiao watched as he held his belly in one hand, waved to her with the other, grinning foolishly ear to ear, silently rolling her eyes.

"Cousin, my cousin-in-law didn’t come to pick you up?"

Zhou Jiao gave him a look, "Be mindful of your behavior, what’s making you grin? I didn’t notify him."

Geng Dazhi finally stopped laughing, reaching to grab her luggage.

Zhou Jiao shook her head, "No need, I can carry it myself. I had ample stuff sent by freight on the vehicle, and you need to help find a large truck to transport it to the old house."

Saying, she handed him the dispatch slip from her pocket for the luggage she was holding.

Looking, Geng Dazhi raised his brows, "Alright, I’ll have someone move it there by nightfall."

"Tonight Xiao Wu will visit the old house, you several brothers can go too. I brought quite a few things back so I won’t go sending around individually."

"Alright, I’ll walk you to the bus stop."

Zhou Jiao shook her head decisively. He needed to work, it was only a few steps, she could leave herself.

Summer’s public buses are unbearably hot like a stove, while moving, at least there’s wind through open windows, yet it can’t disperse the mixed odor of sweat.

Making Zhou Jiao regret playing any surprises, considering Geng Dazhi would surely inform his buddies of her returning?

Indeed, too much comfort had dulled her brain!

Meanwhile Zhang Guoqing and Zhou Jiao were informed before she even boarded the bus.

Unlike buddy Geng Dazhi’s work nature, without regular tasks assigned, lunch breaks are usually spent at home, and he returns to the unit on cue driven by orderly Xiao Zhu.

As good buddies put it, he’s living a lavished life!

Upon hearing Zhou Jiao returned to Beijing, Zhang Guoqing shook his head speechlessly. If his wife wanted to surprise him, he’d certainly cooperate!

"Aunt Chen, could you make some white porridge, and mix two cold dishes?"

"Sure."

Aunt Chen didn’t question why, assuming the vacationing Ping’an Brothers were playing outside and returned hungry.

She curiously looked at Zhang Guoqing who instructed with one hand in pocket walking out, then looked up at the sky, murmuring "Why run around on such a hot day?"

Zhang Guoqing leisurely strolled along the shaded path towards the Big Courtyard gate.

Actually, it was premature to go waiting, but he was impatient.

Thus, as Zhou Jiao got off the bus, hands full with luggage and items entering the courtyard entrance, she saw Zhang Guoqing exiting the service club surprisingly.

Seeing his sunburned face, and the sweat-soaked military uniform, if Zhou Jiao couldn’t guess the "coincidental encounter" setup, it would be a miracle!

"My wife, you finally came back, I’m so happy."

Fake! Acting!

Zhou Jiao giggled silently.

As her luggage was lifted away, drinking a cool soda, Zhou Jiao smiled gently at him, feeling a bit of "absence makes the heart grow fonder."

Outside, the silly man was whom she missed most!

Looking at Zhou Jiao beside Zhang Guoqing, Aunt Chen was pleasantly surprised, "Good to be back, good to be back. You’ve lost weight, I’ll fry some dishes."

"Aunty, I’ll just have a few bites, don’t fuss in the hot weather."

Zhou Jiao said before Aunt Chen already ran briskly to the kitchen. Without Jiao Jiao, this household became inactive, no one wished to stay at home.

Zhou Jiao after bathing sighed contently, "Still home is best, having clothes and meals effortlessly."

Zhang Guoqing watched her with a smirk, "Really? I thought you forgot happiness in Shu."

"No way! Once work ended, I ran to the station." Zhou Jiao collapsed into his arms, whispering in his ear, "I missed you."

Zhang Guoqing amusedly held her, wasn’t someone else asking Da Zhi for a truck?