novelraw Chapter 1011 - 884: Was This All Planned in Advance?
Chapter 1011 - 884: Was This All Planned in Advance?
A month had passed since Zhou Xiaozheng said "very soon" that day, and the first snow of the year had arrived. The lake was frozen in chunks, hiding the tumultuous waves beneath.Perhaps it’s because the city was in constant motion, or maybe because Beauty Liang was riding high in her life, busy waving the flag and shouting slogans.
In any case, the enigmatic situation had sparked the curiosity of many, leading a good number of people to start choosing sides eagerly, wanting to share in the spoils.
None of this concerned the Zhou Family. Zhou Xiaozheng continued attending various meetings with his usual unhurried demeanor; Miao Lishan was still indulging in her model plays as usual; Zhou Jiao observed her surroundings in silence, living her laid-back, retired life.
As for Zhang Guoqing, apart from the logistics department being as busy as ever with coordinating supplies, he too began retreating to his home as the cold set in.
——To accompany his wife and son.
"Xiao Wu, get out here!"
At the shout of Yi Jiefang from outside the door, Zhou Jiao couldn’t help but chuckle. What a pair of good buddies! They were inseparable at work and now here he was at their door, could he be her love rival?
"What’s with the yelling?" Zhang Guoqing replied loudly, feeling a bit speechless.
This pair of brothers were something else, making Aunt Chen hurry to respond in the courtyard, "Get inside quick, you must be freezing?"
"Aunt, you’re the best," Yi Jiefang sweetly saluted her, "Not freezing, just hungry. Aunt, is there something good at home? Give me some."
Aunt Chen nodded with a smile.
Once Yi Jiefang came in, Zhang Guoqing gave him a sideways glance, "Bumming food and drinks here again?" Though his words said otherwise, ignoring the hot tea he handed over would undoubtedly break up the friendship for good.
Yi Jiefang took off his coat, accepted the tea, took a sip, and set it down on the coffee table, letting out a breath, "Finally warming up, I was almost too frozen to make it back."
"Why wander around aimlessly on a weekend?"
"Had to deal with something for Da Zhi." Yi Jiefang looked over at Zhou Jiao after speaking, "Sis, I came across something today, want to head into town with me?"
Zhang Guoqing kicked him, but he dodged and pointed his finger, "Friendship over!"
"Where’s Uncle Zhou?"
"My dad’s working overtime."
Yi Jiefang laughed heartily, hugging him around the neck, the pair of brothers roughhousing, making Zhou Jiao shake her head. These two were a match for the Liu Yiwu May 1 duo in her family!
After the ruckus, the two "big boys" finally sat down.
"Guess what I saw?"
Zhou Jiao glanced at him and shook her head.
Zhang Guoqing, on the other hand, gave him a disdainful look, "Trying to keep us in suspense again, say it if you want."
"Really not guessing?"
"Not interested!"
"Really? On my way back, passing by the Liang Family, that Liang Family..." Yi Jiefang paused, lifting his teacup again.
Here we go...
Zhou Jiao and Zhang Guoqing exchanged glances and continued playing chess calmly.
"Hey, I’m saying, you two should stop."
Zhang Guoqing blinked, "What’s up?" He paused, "Oh, you want to play chess, come on, join me for a couple of rounds."
Yi Jiefang snorted disdainfully, "With your two moves? Oppressed by your wife and looking to me for a sense of accomplishment? No way! I’m not playing with you!"
"You’re worse than me, can’t handle losing!"
"Can’t we play nicely?"
Zhang Guoqing laughed loudly, giving him a light kick on the leg, "Alright, stop spouting nonsense on purpose. The Liang Family, Liang Jiajun’s Liang Family?"
"Uh-huh, why bring up another Liang Family." Yi Jiefang winked, "Wanna go see?"
Zhang Guoqing shook his head with a smile, "You’re something else, tell me what’s going on first. If we just show up, won’t people say we’re gloating over their misfortune?"
"Don’t you want to?"
Zhang Guoqing rubbed his chin, "Actually, kind of do."
After saying this, the two brothers exchanged a knowing look and burst out laughing together. Hanging out all the time, who wouldn’t know the other?
"Da Zhi and I were drinking nearby when the commotion started outside. Once we heard the Liang Family was in trouble, we couldn’t sit still."
"When we got out, my goodness. Over two hundred Red Guards crowded at the front gate of the Liang Family. There were dozens more stationed at the back."
Zhang Guoqing hadn’t anticipated such a big commotion.
"Later, it seems the Liang Family knew they couldn’t resist. As soon as they opened a crack, everyone flooded inside, whoa, almost, almost led to a stampede causing casualties."
"Xiao Wu, I noticed, among the ten or so people leading them, some seem to be from our school." Yi Jiefang shook his head, clicking his tongue, "Quite the presence! We leave and those brats are really popping up."
Zhang Guoqing rolled his eyes at him, "What? You want to? You’re royalty if you showed up now!"
"Nah, I’m old, it’s better to let those young ones play." Yi Jiefang laughed without a hint of modesty.
"Old friend, your face?"
"Still here, looking handsome." Yi Jiefang waved his hands, "Don’t interrupt! Let’s get down to business."
This pair of jokers! Zhou Jiao covered her mouth, stifling her laughter.
"Like you, I quickly pulled Da Zhi away upon recognizing those guys. Good thing it’s winter, wearing more clothes, and today I’m in that old military coat of mine, those few didn’t notice me."
Zhang Guoqing followed Yi Jiefang’s gesture, glancing at the military coat just hung on the triangular wooden coat rack in the living room, nodding knowingly. This guy loved to show off, rarely without wearing the latest military coat to town.
"Da Zhi and I stayed outside, not going in, just hearing cries and shouts inside. But tell me if this is strange, their family’s pillar Liang Shengnan never showed up, over two hours, yet not even a glimpse of that old beauty. Da Zhi even mentioned hearing people say the other day that she went to the Red Guard headquarters to offer their sympathy, isn’t that odd?"
Strange? Not strange! They can’t even save themselves.
"I heard they just searched the front yard and found a truckload of stolen goods, while the two yards behind were still being searched. Standing there in the freezing cold, we had to leave."
"The Liang Family’s really done for this time. Furniture, books, waste paper, all piled up in the yard, I could see the fire blazing red hot from outside. On leaving, there were people waving cleavers, chopping away."
Yi Jiefang smiled at Zhou Jiao, "Sis, want to go have a look? It’s probably not over yet. It’s a five-yard compound."
Zhou Jiao decisively shook her head, "We had a falling out before, no thanks."
"That’s what I thought. Otherwise, I’d have called you both right then. But if you really want to see, it’s not impossible, wear more, cover up, lots of folks, no one will notice."
Zhang Guoqing furrowed his brow, his face skeptical as he analyzed, "It’s the weekend, by logic, all his sons should be around, after so many years of hustling, no fallback?"
"Pff," Yi Jiefang chuckled, "One strong hand knows another. Given today’s scene, was there someone laying plans long ago? Otherwise, why would all the city leaders converge at the Liang Family?"