"Dad, are you in the inner room?"
Zhang the Second shouted for his father as soon as he entered the courtyard with a newspaper in hand.
In early November in the Northeast, the weather was already very cold, and the curtain had long been hung in the county courtyard’s living room doorway.
Before Father Zhang came out, his voice had already attracted Mother Zhang.
She lifted the curtain, waved him over, and gestured toward the west room.
Zhang the Second raised an eyebrow, "Got guests?"
"Your Uncle Chen is in the inner room chatting with your dad."
The Uncle Chen she mentioned was Zhang Meihao’s father-in-law and her old family friend.
Zhang the Second knowingly smiled, "Isn’t Uncle Chen staying at home entertaining his little granddaughter? How could he bear to come over?"
"Little Yaoyao was taken by her grandmother to the provincial city for a banquet. It seems Uncle Chen came straight from Uncle Zuo’s place. I saw that they were talking about our Xiao Wu; you should go listen in."
Zhang the Second squinted, looked at the newspaper in his hand, and shook his head speechlessly. The friendship between Uncle Zuo and Uncle Chen was really solid!
As Mother Zhang walked, she asked in a low voice, "Is there enough oil at home for this month? Your big sister-in-law came in the afternoon, complaining about all the kids at home, saying they are so thoughtless, using up all her oil."
Mentioning Huang Cuilan, Zhang the Second instinctively frowned, "What does she, a woman, understand! Those four people were overthrown, didn’t you see the whole county was celebrating?
Everyone’s using up their oil for frying, and she still wants to keep it and let people talk about it? Mom, remind her a bit more. If she keeps penny-pinching, none of the nephews’ wives will truly respect her, right?"
Mother Zhang waved her hand and sighed, "I have talked to her, haven’t I? Let them do whatever they want. Don’t worry about her. What did Uncle Zuo say about Shi Tou? If suitable, get the daughter-in-law in early; the child’s not getting any younger."
Mentioning his own son, Zhang the Second paused, then smiled, "This year is not good for holding weddings. But I’ve already agreed with Brother Zuo to find a matchmaker by the end of the year to set up an engagement for the two kids."
What he didn’t say was, according to Zuo Lin, on the day of the wedding, the elderly from the Zuo Family would all be coming. The implication being—he understood after so many years~
Wasn’t it just that they wanted his younger brother to return home for the wedding?
When he initially agreed to this marriage with the Zuo Family, he was concerned about this issue. If it weren’t for the kids having genuine feelings for each other, he would have been reluctant.
Especially as the news came out in today’s newspaper, he was always worried the Zuo Family in Beijing would drag in his silly younger brother. His own wife might not understand, but how could he not?
That foolish woman actually believes the Zuo Family’s status is higher than the Zhou Family’s, constantly saying the match is suitable, maybe Xiao Wu could even have someone help him in Beijing if he gets into trouble.
Help? Help with what!
"A matchmaker? Why not just have your Uncle Chen and his wife handle it?"
Zhang the Second shook his head; he really didn’t want his sister’s family to get involved, "Best to find an official matchmaker; they know what’s needed."
Upon hearing this, Mother Zhang did not object. After all, it was his own son, and he had the final say.
"What are you two whispering about out there? Come in quickly!"
Father Zhang’s voice rose, and the mother and son exchanged smiles. Zhang the Second put down the newspaper and quickly followed behind his mother into the west room.
Uncle Chen saw Zhang the Second enter with his family and, after a greeting, said with a smile, "Coming over so late to find your dad, something up?"
"Nothing much, just hadn’t come by today." Zhang the Second moved a stool and sat down, "Haven’t seen you for a few days, what have you been up to?"
Father Zhang chimed in, "He has Little Yaoyao with him, can’t bear to leave the house."
"You old fellow, hahaha, are you envious?"
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