Chapter 1387: Relocation

What’s the most annoying part about moving house?

For Zhou Jiao, it’s definitely not packing things up.

It’s how to sneakily carry out the next step of her superstitions without being noticed.

Just imagine:

In the high-security backyard, two green trucks loaded with furniture park at the gate of your courtyard, and the first thing unloaded is a stove covered in red paper.

Then there’s a pair of red rice buckets and water buckets, plus boxes of bowls and chopsticks wrapped in red paper, along with a pair of dustpans and new brooms tied with red cloth strips…

Zhou Jiao figures she wouldn’t even have to speak up to get the family to carry in the auspicious items one by one; her dad would be the first not to follow instructions.

First, they chose an auspicious date, August 10th, during 5 a.m. to 7 a.m.

The 10th doesn’t clash with anyone’s zodiac signs in the family; this time, also known as the beginning of the day, dawn, or sunrise, is when the sun first emerges and begins to rise.

According to Zhou Jiao’s limited knowledge of feng shui, there couldn’t be a more suitable date and time.

Zhang Guoqing nodded in agreement, “It’s a good day. I happen to be free from 5 to 7 a.m.”

“Brother, make sure the logistics finish moving the furniture before noon, don’t go past 12 o’clock.”

Zhang Guoqing continued to nod, “No problem. You get the valuables in the house hidden away first. In the next two days, I’ll have people start packing, and we’ll move soon.”

With his assurance, Zhou Jiao immediately sprang into action.

For example, putting up couplets at the new house door, turning on lights, worshipping the earth deity as offerings; these things shouldn’t be said aloud, or the family will laugh at her.

She definitely doesn’t admit to being superstitious.

And there’s packing.

Besides furniture, personal items shouldn’t pass through other people’s hands, right?

Therefore, Zhou Xiaozheng found himself hearing his sweet daughter saying things in his ear like, “Dad, this is in my hands.” or “Dad, that is in my hands.”

Or something like, “Dad, you have to remember, you’ll be the first in the door, carrying this red luggage bag, and you have to step in with your left foot first. In the bag, there’s a red envelope, a small pot, a handful of rice, and a small axe. At the bottom is a pillow, and I put in a big orange.”

Zhou Xiaozheng, like his son-in-law, nodded consistently.

No arguing it, this is symbolism, not superstition from their Jiao Jiao.

Look at that… a bag () with an axe (), a pillow with a big orange (), money, food, drinks — life will be happy in the days ahead.

As soon as their daughter turned and disappeared, Miao Lishan immediately confided, “Brother Zheng, do you know what else our Jiao Jiao is up to? She put Liu Yi and May 1st’s full moon baby clothing under each of the three kids’ pillows, saying they need to stay there for a week.”

Zhou Xiaozheng started laughing immediately. Is she hoping all three kids will have twins in the future?

Anyway, getting a bigger yard and the whole family is eager, next year with new members coming in, they couldn’t manage without moving.

Early on the 10th, Zhou Jiao, along with the family, including Ping’an and the Liu Yi Brothers who rushed home, took the lead in two cars, setting off one after another.

They took a loop along the main road, and soon as the leading car entered a not-so-wide road.

On this road with fewer vehicles, the driver noticeably increased speed, and after more than half an hour, they arrived at the foot of a mountain with six peaks.

This place is known to a few as Yuquan Mountain, but to most, it insinuates the backyard where all Huaxia’s leaders gather.

Because it leans against the mountain and faces the water, the environment is serene, and it’s not far from the city, making many bigwigs fond of living here for rest and recuperation.

With its tight security ensuring safety, since the early days of the Republic till now, it has become an important residence for prominent figures.

The car reached the mountain’s base and continued ascending along a circular mountain road, soon arriving at an iron gate blocking the road, manned by a sentry soldier.

Of course, not just anyone can simply enter here.

Without permission, even if someone holds a certain level of identity, they would still be monitored before stepping in.

Didn’t you notice the many signs hanging on either side of the ordinary iron gate, all with instructions to stop or stay away?

And the two soldiers standing on either side, with eyes scanning around like radars, poised to aim at your forehead at any unusual movement.

Spotting a car approaching, especially recognizing the familiar license plate number, they snapped a salute and opened the gate.

They must have received notification; otherwise, if it were someone else, Zhang Guoqing’s car behind would have needed inspection.

The security level is very strict.

Let’s not mention the pass placed in front of a Hongqi car; every occupant of the vehicle must still undergo identity verification as per regulations.

This process will only be reduced once they settle in and become familiar with the people and faces here.

This is one of the reasons Zhou Jiao was always reluctant to move.

But not moving simply isn’t an option; those old gentlemen are still waiting for her father to make a move. She can’t keep letting her father stay over just for meetings.

No matter how good the food is, having medical staff on call is, she still doesn’t trust outsiders to take care of her dad when not watching over them herself.

Moreover, even if she doesn’t admit being a military second-generation, facts remain facts. At her father’s level, she has to host foreign guests, and it’s her duty to manage these.

She can no longer avoid it.

After passing through this big iron gate.

Everything outside feels naturally shielded away.

Except for pedestrians exercising and patrol officers, in comparison to the big courtyard, the morning here is more serene, almost like a small world.

Amidst lush and green surroundings, hidden beneath large ancient trees are scattered mansions, some two-storied buildings, others courtyard houses.

Each household is quite distant from one another, and if you wish to gather with neighbors for a casual chat, you’ll likely need to make an internal phone call first.

This place reminds Zhou Jiao of temples deep in the mountains, only she isn’t in a monk’s robe. If she stays too long, will she eventually start knocking on a wood block and contemplating Zen?

Zhang Guoqing saw her smile, “Do you like it here?”

“…”

Zhou Jiao glanced at Xiao Zhu driving and could only nod slightly at him. Unable to describe her complicated feelings in words, she just played along!

After another twenty minutes, the two cars finally turned from the main road onto a very quiet path, up the mountainside.

Soon, the car noticeably slowed, and another three hundred meters ahead it stopped, revealing a courtyard resembling a Siheyuan.

Finally here!

As Zhou Jiao thought about taking the 11 road down the mountain by foot, she couldn’t help but touch her knees. No wonder her mother beamed with joy when she said they weren’t moving before.

It’s so far, so sore, so tiring.

“Mom, it’s time to get off the car and get ready.”

“Wait, my legs are weak.”

Zhang Guoqing burst into hearty laughter.

His laughter made Zhou Jiao chuckle as well, pushing the car door open, jumping out of the car, “Son, you and your brother, take the things and follow behind your dad.”