novelaction Chapter 593: Leaving Home on the New Year 2
Chapter 593: Leaving Home on the New Year 2
Zhou Guo walked over and pulled him over, saying with a smile, "Come here, uncle, look, all I made this morning are your favorite dishes."
Zhou Dacang looked at the table, then at everyone in the family, including the old man, with tired eyes, "You guys, didn't sleep all night again?"
Li said, "You are leaving now, how can anyone sleep? I have to prepare something for you. Come, sit down and eat. After this meal, I don't know when I will be able to eat at home next time."
Zhou Mai said: "Mom, why are you saying this? I believe my uncle will come back safely soon."
Everyone nodded.
Li said, "Yes, look at what I am saying on New Year's Day. Come, sit down and eat."
Zhou Dacang sat down and looked at the table full of chicken, duck, fish and meat. Except for the big shrimp, they were all farmers' food.
If this table was put together in previous years, when my parents were still alive, it would have been so rare. It would have been a good day if we could have one of the meats to eat during the New Year. It's a pity that they can't have it anymore.
Zhou Guo picked up a large piece of fish for him and said with a smile, "This is your favorite, eat it."
Then I picked up a piece for myself. The fish and tofu had been stewed for a long time, so they were very flavorful and delicious.
Braised duck meat is also delicious. Even if the duck you feed yourself has less seasoning, it is still particularly fragrant and has no fishy smell at all.
Zhou Dacang ate very slowly, even slower than the New Year’s Eve dinner.
The Zhou family members were with him.
Zhou Guo picked up the bowl and tasted all the dishes on the table. He thought they were all delicious.
No matter how slowly you eat a meal, you will eventually finish it.
Li took out a purse and handed it to him, saying, "Take this."
Zhou Dacang didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Second sister-in-law, you don't need this. I don't have any money in the barracks, so why should I need money? Besides, I still have a salary. I can also get some money from time to time when I go on a mission. My family needs money more than me. You can keep this money for yourself."
He didn't bring anything back this time, which was already embarrassing, so how could he take money from home?
Li gave him the money without further ado, and said earnestly, "When you go out, how can you be without any money? It is said that a poor family makes a rich journey, and carrying money on one's body makes one braver. Take it, and your family will not be short of it now."
Everyone laughed when this was said.
Zhou Mi said: "Second Aunt, if outsiders hear this, they will definitely think that our family has made an incredible fortune."
Zhou Mi smiled and said, "We have really made a fortune in the past two years. Who would have thought that our family would be like this two years ago?"
Then he turned to Zhou Dacang and asked, "Uncle, if our family had made a fortune two years ago like we do now, would you still join the army?"
Zhou Dacang was stunned.
Everyone looked over.
After a long while, Zhou Dacang nodded, "I will still go. I have to go find your father. If I don't join the army, the world is so vast, where can I find them? After joining the army, I can find them. At least I have a direction to go, and I won't be like a headless fly, running around aimlessly."
He promised the old lady that he would find his two brothers back.
Everyone was silent and no one asked about the progress. They all knew that he wanted to find them just as much as they did.
Zhou Dacang still put the money in his pocket.
Just like what Li said, the family is no longer short of money.
Once he entered the military camp, he had to earn whatever he needed bit by bit.
The Zhou family still sent people to the village entrance.
Zhou Guo handed him the bag in his arms, "Uncle, there are some goodies in here. If you are hungry, you can go hunting with your comrades and cook a feast. There are all your favorite foods in here. There is also our century-old ginseng..."
"What do you put that old ginseng in there for? I have another one that's fifty years old in my hand!" Zhou Dacang lowered his head and was about to take out the old ginseng.
Zhou Guo said, "No, it's ginseng whiskers. I put all the whiskers of the old ginseng in there for you. There's also a small jar of tiger bone wine in there. They're all good stuff. Be careful on the way and don't break them."
"Tsk~" Zhou Dacang tapped her forehead, "What's wrong with you? Can't you just finish your sentence in one go?"
Zhou Gu and Zhou Xing also handed the packages in their hands to him. The three large packages were quite heavy.
If Zhou Dacang didn't want to disappoint their kindness and make them worry, he really wouldn't want to bring it. Even a horse can't run fast with these things.
He hung the bag on the horse's back, looked around at his family, and finally looked at Zhou Guo, touched her head, and said, "You need to slow down and wait for your uncle. If you go too fast, I'm afraid I can't keep up."
Zhou Guo said, "Uncle, don't be impatient, take your time. I can't become a fat man all at once. I'm just starting out. When I get some land and become a big landlord, I'll specialize in farming. If you don't have enough food when you go to war, you can just come to our farm and get as much as you want."
Zhou Dacang laughed, "Okay, then I'll be waiting for you to get me food."
Zhou Guo looked at his expression and knew that he obviously didn't take it seriously.
In fact, even she herself had no confidence. Where would the food come from without land?
It’s all about buying?
How much will that cost?
With his family watching, Zhou Dacang climbed onto the horse. The horse under him had not run for a long time and was eager to try, but without any instructions from its owner, it was anxiously turning around in circles on the spot, breathing heavily from its nose.
"I'm leaving, sir, sister-in-law, you must take good care of yourselves, Zhou Gu and Zhou Xing, take good care of your brothers and sisters."
Everyone nodded, the earnest instructions had already been given.
Zhou Dacang took one last look at his family, then gently squeezed the horse's belly with his legs. The horse, receiving the master's command, raised all four hooves and ran out.
Zhou Dacang rode on the horse without even looking back, his wide cloak fluttering in the wind like a bird leaving home.
Li wiped her eyes to conceal her feelings. The children had grown up and would fly away one by one. This house seemed like an inn to them and they would have to leave after just a few days.
Zhou Guo pursed her lips. It felt really bad to be left behind. She didn't like being left behind.
After a long while, the old man said, "It's too far. Let's go back."
The family then slowly walked home.
On the way, I met someone who was visiting the village. I was surprised to see the family coming from the village entrance. When I asked, I learned that Zhou Dacang had passed away again during the Chinese New Year. I couldn't help but sigh, "It's the Chinese New Year, it's freezing cold, it's really hard for him."
"It's only the Chinese New Year, why are you leaving today, it's only the second day of the Chinese New Year? What's wrong with staying a few more days? Even if the army is short of people, it doesn't need him. Why are you in such a hurry?"
"Oh, what do you know? He is a high-ranking official with so many soldiers under him. There must be something wrong."
Today is the day when married girls return to their parents' home. Many people with their families come and go in the village, and everyone invites Li and others to come home and visit.
Li refused with a smile. The family had finally been together for the New Year. Wouldn't it be a nuisance if we joined in?
The family returned to the house.
Several houses were in a mess, with garbage everywhere on the ground.