On the following morning, with light snow still falling from the sky, the moment the bugle sounded, Zhang Guoqing, who slept soundly through the night, awoke as per his biological clock. He gently extracted his arm, bent down for a kiss, and quietly left the room.
This morning, he gave up his usual early exercise, washed up, and waited quietly in the living room for his mother and son to wake up.
Mother Zhang, who was used to waking up early, came out and found it strange to see him there, even glancing at the clock on the wall in the living room. At this time each day, her youngest son would be out running, no matter where he was, but...
"Mom, don’t look. Today, we are going for a walk, just the two of us."
Mother Zhang, with a big smile, nodded. She pondered if her son had something to say which he couldn’t discuss at the Zhou family home. Suspecting that her son might be troubled, she quickly washed up and followed him out.
"Mom, I’m taking you to the alley for the most authentic breakfast."
Once out of the Big Courtyard, Mother Zhang relaxed and asked loudly, "What’s wrong? Have you been wronged or did someone say something? Tell me quickly."
Zhang Guoqing smiled and shook his head. No one dared offend him, and even if they did, he wouldn’t worry his mom about it.
Mother Zhang looked suspiciously at her youngest son’s expression.
She slowly reflected from the moment she arrived at the Zhou Family, observing that her son seemed to have control of the household, with the phone being answered as "our Xiao Wu".
Could it be that someone was bullying her son outside?
She cautiously whispered, "Is someone out to make fun of you on purpose?"
Zhang Guoqing laughed heartily, putting an arm around his mother’s shoulder, and said, "With my father-in-law around, who would dare? These past years, he’s taken me along for every social gathering, does anyone not understand this?"
"True," she replied.
Zhang Guoqing whispered with a chuckle, "And don’t forget your daughter-in-law’s personality; if anyone slighted me, she’d just walk away. People say I spoil Jiao Jiao, but doesn’t she also protect me?"
Zhang Guoqing was confident there was no exaggeration. At school, she had defended him multiple times, even resorting to physical means. Even early on when they arrived in Beijing, she had dealt with a few disrespectful people, putting them in their place.
His wife tolerated many things but couldn’t stand when someone she cared about suffered; she was fiercely protective. With her usual tactics and his character, no one dared speak anything inappropriate.
As for any gossip, there was none that he heard of. Zhang Guoqing wasn’t currency; he couldn’t expect everyone to like him or worry about what’s in others’ hearts.
Mother Zhang nodded in agreement. This was the quality she most admired in Zhou Jiao, her daughter-in-law, who knew to give her husband dignity!
"Mom, I’m doing quite well here, even better than back home. There were too many people before, so some things were inconvenient to discuss. Let me share something with you, just keep it to yourself and don’t spread it around."
Mother Zhang looked around, seeing no one, she gazed up at her youngest son.
Zhang Guoqing bent down to whisper in her ear, "Even without my father-in-law stepping in, several units are vying for Jiao Jiao, and he’s been preparing several paths for my future."
Mother Zhang looked at him, pleasantly surprised.


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