Inside the train carriage, Mr. Zhang leaned back and leisurely drank tea from his thermos, watching his grandchildren whispering and pointing outside. Hearing his wife’s words, he shook his head and smiled.
If he guessed right, his youngest son was planning to take them beach camping. Before, back home, his youngest son had mentioned finding a quiet place to stay for a couple of days.
Sitting at the front of the carriage, Zhang Guofu and the driver exchanged knowing smiles.
"We’re almost there, is your brother not planning to tell your mom?"
Zhang Guofu laughed, "He’ll definitely say it now; he’s afraid Mom will grumble at him."
Sure enough, Zhang Guoqing’s voice came through, "Mom, our whole family is going to visit my Uncle Wang’s. The weather is nice now, perfect for catching the sea. It’s been years since we’ve seen him, and I wonder how he’s doing?"
"Oh... oh, going to your Uncle Wang’s, huh? Why didn’t you say earlier, so I could prepare something? Yes, we haven’t visited relatives in so many years, we should make a trip."
Zhang Guofu shook his head with a smile. His Xiao Wu has been shrewd since childhood, and he tells lies almost as if they’re true. But his mom is always clever and knows how to play along.
In the train carriage, Zhang Guoqing gave his mom a thumbs up. Truly worthy of being his mom! So smart!
Mother Zhang gave him a proud smile.
Seeing this scene, Mr. Zhang was instantly choked by the tea in his mouth. He thought, for such an honest farmer himself, how did he raise such a cunning son? Must have taken after the mom.
"Grandpa, we don’t drink tea, popsicles also quench thirst," Ping’an quickly patted Mr. Zhang’s back, softly advising.
Why pat gently? Ever since watching a big black bear battle a wild boar, he had been itching to try patting people. But this was his grandpa, if he got heavy-handed, what then?
Ping’an thought it wasn’t easy for him. He was a figure more formidable than the soldier Zhang Ga, but born at the wrong time. If there were little devils now, he could easily become a hero!
He might even end up as a little general like his grandpa, enjoying special supplies, having a car, and several uncles handling chores.
Mr. Zhang shook his head repeatedly with a smile, covering his mouth.
"Then take a rest. I’ll tell you a story to pass the time, okay?" Ping’an glanced at the long pipe beside him, "Grandpa, smoking is bad for health; let’s not smoke. If you really can’t resist, chew some candy."
Beside him, Zhang Ziwen teased, "Our Ping’an is really filial. Just don’t tell stories from those children’s books; Grandpa has heard those, no fun."
Ping’an listened and smiled indifferently; these small matters wouldn’t stump him.
Now, apart from "Little Horn," the three-tiered radio station has "Serial Novel Broadcast" and "Comic Relay" at noon 12:30 and evening 17:30.
The stories he knows are countless! Only his mom had explained that tales of emperors, generals, talented scholars, and beautiful ladies weren’t suitable for him to spread, so to avoid trouble, he pretended to be unaware.
Little Ping’an sat upright and cleared his throat, clapping his hands: "Today, I’ll give everyone a rendition of ’Jungle of Sea and Snow’; let’s get some applause first, okay?"
Beside him, Mother Zhang was so pleased that she couldn’t continue her conversation with the youngest son, immediately clapping and shouting, "Why stand there dumb? Clap quickly!"
As soon as the words fell, the whole carriage erupted into laughter, accompanied by waves of enthusiastic applause. The commotion even surprised Zhou Jiao and others in the carriage behind, stretching their necks out to see.
"Speaking of our Northeast..."


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