enjoyebooks Chapter 1227 - 1100: Returning from a Business Trip
Chapter 1227 - 1100: Returning from a Business Trip
After washing up and changing into a clean set of clothes, Zhang Guoqing couldn’t help letting out a long sigh.— It’s still best at home!
And at the same time, Zhou Jiao was wondering why she’d been busy like a dog these past days.
— Just because there was no him.
"I dream of you every night."
Zhou Jiao smiled at his words. An old married couple, and he was still firing sugar‑coated shells.
"You don’t believe me? Is it that you basically don’t believe a word I say?"
Zhou Jiao, amused, patted his shoulder and went on rubbing his damp hair with a dry towel. "Word is Vice Minister Zhang handles a thousand affairs a day and often works late into the night."
Through the big mirror on the dressing table, Zhang Guoqing could easily see her relaxed smile. He sidestepped the topic. "Mostly for show. How are the kids doing?"
Zhou Jiao knew this business trip must have been tough on him. Hearing the question, she followed his lead and started talking about their sons. "Ping’an and Liu Yi sometimes come home once a week, sometimes once every two weeks, and May 1st comes home every week."
"Ping’an and Liu Yi are both in good shape. If they don’t come back on the weekend, I send some things over and leave them at the school’s reception office. The two brothers say they get along very well with their classmates."
"With you away, I’ve been to May 1st’s school four times. He really has the same bearing you had back in the day. Student union, Youth League branch, all that stuff—he handles it very smoothly. Right now he’s rubbing his hands together, getting ready to join the Party."
When Zhang Guoqing heard that the boy had truly thought it through and decided to give up taking the graduate school entrance exam this year, he felt relieved. This was better; at least he wasn’t foolish enough to be bent on making a name for himself. For a family like theirs, too big a reputation wasn’t necessarily a good thing. At this stage, what mattered more was building connections and having a beautiful résumé.
"Wife, you’ve worked hard."
"Worked hard how? I just went to take a look, and dropped off some things while I was at it."
Zhang Guoqing patted her back in comfort.
How could it not be hard? With him not at home, of course she had to keep an eye on the children. Going to the schools was probably also because she was worried the kids might be easily affected by their surroundings.
"Tomorrow morning I’ll go to the office first, then visit the old coach in the afternoon."
At his words, Zhou Jiao broke into a bright smile. "Be sure to ask after the boys while you’re there."
Zhang Guoqing chuckled and nodded. See? She’d been thinking of them all along.
Once he had an idea, Zhang Guoqing was the kind to act on it at once. And after being away on this trip, he missed his sons even more.
The next day, after handling official business and grabbing a simple lunch at work, he used the pretext of a private visit to a superior and made a trip to the military academy himself.
In the office of his old instructor—now the vice president of the academy—he secretly met with the two brothers, Ping’an and Liu Yi.
"Dad?"
Looking at his two sons, now more and more steady and restrained, Zhang Guoqing sighed inwardly. He wasn’t even forty yet, but he really did feel old.
The old coach glanced at them in satisfaction. "A tiger father has no dog sons. Keep working hard. I’ll leave you alone for a bit."
As soon as he left, Ping’an and Liu Yi broke into radiant smiles and leaped to Zhang Guoqing’s left and right sides. Gone was any trace of the steadiness from moments before.
Their three sons shared about eighty percent of the same features: the same sharp, handsome and hard‑edged face, thick black sword‑brows, deep eyes, a high straight nose, and thin lips.
Unlike the gentle, refined handsomeness of May 1st, who always gave people the sense of being bathed in a spring breeze, Ping’an and Liu Yi outwardly carried nothing but a wild, chilly arrogance.
Seeing them clowning around like this now, Zhang Guoqing couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
He clapped his sons on the shoulders. "I’ve heard all about it. Your dad is proud of you. But take everything in stride, and don’t make your mom worry.
She looks calm on the surface, but deep down what she can’t let go of most is you three brothers. Have you noticed? She’s gotten much thinner these days."
Ping’an nodded solemnly. "Dad, my brother and I will be careful."
Liu Yi laughed and rubbed his shoulder against Zhang Guoqing’s. "Dad, everything’s done, right?"
"It’s finished." Zhang Guoqing reached out and ruffled his crew cut. "Talk things over with your brother when something comes up. You’re still young—don’t overdo it here."
Ping’an smiled. "Dad, be careful—the old man might be eavesdropping outside."
"You brat, always making fun of your old man."
Given they had to mind appearances outside, the three of them only chatted for a bit before Zhang Guoqing sent the boys off. Then he stayed to reminisce with the old coach for a while before quietly taking his leave.
Jing University, a prestigious school that could stand shoulder to shoulder with Zhang Guoqing’s alma mater.
Whether in his previous life or this one, Zhang Guoqing had been here countless times. In Zhou Jiao’s words, it was practically his second alma mater.
For the past ten years, he hadn’t dared take another step into the Holy Academy in his heart, afraid it would be tainted.
On both sides of the walkway, the branches and leaves of the locust trees stretched and intertwined, weaving emerald arches overhead. Old trees sprouting new green, they caught the rays of the setting sun and radiated gorgeous colors.
The campus was filled everywhere with youthful vigor, bursting with life.
It really was different now.
Finding May 1st was very easy. Although Zhang Guoqing hadn’t yet had a chance to visit the boys even once, thanks to Zhou Jiao’s reminders, he had the daily routines of his three sons in school down cold.
Seeing Zhang Guoqing’s orderly Xiao Zhu, May 1st was so delighted he couldn’t be bothered to go on discussing questions with his classmates. He said a quick goodbye to everyone.
That familiar soldierly figure in the distance—wasn’t that his old man?
He’d been worried all along that his dad’s investigation during this trip would drive certain people into a corner, and he hadn’t dared show a hint of it in front of his mom. Now it was fine.
"Dad, you’re finally back."
Zhang Guoqing looked at his youngest son with a smile. "I got home yesterday. I’ve just been to see your brothers. How’s it going for you? Are you used to things here at school?"
"Dad, let’s find somewhere to sit first." May 1st pushed him as he turned them in another direction.
"I’m doing great here. College really is college—I finally understand why you always say the most beautiful days in life are the university years."
Zhang Guoqing smiled with interest. "Oh?"
"With no pressure of Life, here you get to meet all sorts of outstanding people. Many find kindred spirits here."
"For me, this is a whole new world. Talents from all over the country are gathered here. Through the way they speak and act, through their stories, I can better see the ways of the world."
Zhang Guoqing patted his son’s arm in gratification.
"Dad, have you noticed?" May 1st pointed at the students hurrying across campus. "All of them are classmates rushing to the library. Here, study is the main theme.
Every day after morning exercises, anyone who doesn’t have class is in self‑study. The library is packed; you won’t find a seat there until closing time at ten at night."
Looking at those people, Zhang Guoqing smiled in approval. He could well understand that for those who loved learning, they were now trying to make up for those eleven missing years.
"Learn from their spirit. A lot of things are only cherished once they’re lost, but you haven’t had those experiences. How’s the food?"
May 1st grinned. "Don’t you tell Mom or Grandma. The first week I was really not used to it. Those days we were doing labor, and while it wasn’t that tiring, the food was awful—worse than when we went to the barracks for training. Small portions, no taste. My brother’s school is better than mine. Luckily I’ve got plenty of canned food."