Zhou Jiao, with a face full of concern, said to Mr. Lin: "Grandpa, when you go back this time, you must keep an eye on my mom to make sure my dad is truly safe, and whether the matter with my uncle is all cleared up. This is really important, don’t let them fool you."
Mr. Lin nodded.
Zhou Jiao continued, "And about my dad’s job, I mentioned last night to my mom about transferring back to the Northeast, I’m worried. I’m afraid of my grandfather, I know him best. But will being in Beijing involve him in factionalism? I don’t want my dad to rise to a high position, he and my mom being stable is enough. Nothing is better than the family being reunited and safe. Can you analyze this for me?"
Mr. Lin nodded, "There are factions everywhere, even in the Northeast, it depends on your dad’s skills. Besides, all these years, who knows what he’s thinking. I’ll ask him when I see your dad."
Zhou Jiao thought for a moment and nodded, "For now, we can only wait until we meet him and discuss it then. Grandpa, please pass a message to him for me, tell him not to worry about me, he can do whatever he wants as long as he and my mom are safe. As for trying to get me some backing or those kinds of things, it’s unnecessary, I can work hard on my own."
"Got it, I’ll definitely pass the message on. Anything else?"
"Mhm, just ask him to consider work arrangements without constantly thinking about where I am. Xiao Wu and I won’t be staying in the Northeast without moving; as planned, it won’t be long before we go out. As for where, he doesn’t need to worry, I’ll decide once I know where they are."
Mr. Lin laughed and said, "Alright, anything else? Just tell me, and I’ll let him know when I see him."
Zhou Jiao shook her head, saying other personal matters could be discussed with him directly later, "Didn’t think of anything, I’ll talk to him when the time comes, if anything it’s just small matters."
Mr. Lin pulled a note from his pocket, "Here’s grandpa’s phone number, it’s direct. If there’s an emergency, just call and you’ll reach me."
Zhou Jiao flashed a charming smile at the old man, looking at him pleasingly, "Grandpa, can you ask that person a favor?" She pointed towards the sky with her finger.
Mr. Lin raised an eyebrow and said, "That person doesn’t care about small matters, what’s the issue, tell me."
Zhou Jiao clung to her mother’s hand playfully, and Lin Lishan, smiling, said to her father, "She wants some calligraphy from that person and hopes they can leave some inscriptions for Ping’an to have as heirlooms when he grows up."
"Oh, what do you want written? It can’t be random, you might not get it back. If it’s ordinary calligraphy, I have plenty of those, lots of them, even from ancient calligraphers."
Zhou Jiao gave her grandpa an annoyed glance and said, "Not those, can you fulfill one wish for me this time, just one? Since my dad and uncle are coming back, I, who love calligraphy the most, would like calligraphy from that person. Grandpa, can you get two pieces, no need for poetry, just write that Zhou Xiaozheng is a good comrade, and if it includes ’bearing humiliation for the country’s pillar,’ even better.
I want to keep it as an heirloom for Ping’an in the future, letting my descendants know the hardships of our predecessors, knowing that his grandpa was also amazing and even praised by the leader.
Do you not have any grandpa? Could you also ask for a piece for my uncle, saying Lin Aiguo is a good comrade, along with my dad’s two pieces, so that in the future, the Lin Family also has the only piece in Beijing that he praised."
Mr. Lin, somewhat annoyed, said, "I have his calligraphy in my study, just not exactly as you requested. I’ll try but will need the opportunity, he’s so busy, how should I bring it up?"
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