Chapter 400: If You Had Known Today, Why Act That Way Back Then

At the entrance of Jichun Railway Station, seeing Zhou Zhigang, who was carrying things and had a bit of gray hair, come out, Zhou Bingkun shouted once and then quickly trotted forward to greet him.

"Dad, my brother and the others are all at work. They'll all be back tonight. Mom and Juan are at home tidying up the vegetables."

Zhou Zhigang nodded and looked around the square in front of the railway station on the steps: "The changes in our Jichun aren't really that big."

"There are changes, it's just that compared to the south, it's still a bit lacking. Look at what's running on the street, there are cars and motorcycles now, and the clothes people wear are all colorful, looking much better than before." Zhou Bingkun took out a cigarette, lit it for his father, and smoked one himself: "Let's go, Dad, let's go take a bath first to wash off the dust, and then go back. From now on, you can just enjoy your life at home."

"Hey, enjoy my life? This day isn't even enough to be annoying." Zhou Zhigang walked down the steps with his youngest son: "Has there been any movement from Feng Huacheng these years?"

"He came once. I heard from Yueyue that sometimes Feng Huacheng goes to school to pick her up, they eat together, talk, and so on. He hasn't been in Jichun much these two years, running around everywhere, looking at famous mountains and rivers, like those famous people in ancient times. He's quite stylish and carefree. Dad, children and grandchildren have their own blessings. Besides, my sister and Cai Xiaoguang have been doing quite well these two years. You have to restrain your temper. She's six months pregnant now, with a big belly, and she's due to give birth at the end of the year. You say she's at such an age, it wouldn't be good if something happened."

"I don't have a temper, I'm a retired old man, where would I manage so much? Hmm?" Seeing his youngest son stop in front of a black sedan, Zhou Zhigang asked in surprise: "A Benz? Did you buy it?"

"Yeah." Zhou Bingkun opened the trunk of the Benz with a smile, and while putting things in, he said to his father: "Isn't it because we've built quite a few factories in Jiangliao? I bought it for convenience in running back and forth. Besides, with this car, you have face wherever you go, people let me pass just by looking at the car. How about it, Dad, not bad, right?"

Zhou Zhigang reached out and touched the shiny paint: "It's quite good, this is much better than our supervisor's car."

*I could buy a fleet of his cars with this. * Zhou Bingkun shook his head and smiled: "Dad, get in, sit in the back. This car, you have to sit in the back to be comfortable, I'll be your driver."

"Hey, this car is comfortable wherever you sit." His youngest son had become very successful, Zhou Zhigang laughed happily: "I'll sit in the front, so I can see what our Jichun has become these years."

Without insisting, Zhou Bingkun drove the car, took his father for a slow ride around Jichun city, and then went to the best newly opened bathhouse in the city to have a good wash, before returning to Guangzipian.

Zhou Bingkun parked and turned off the engine, turning his head to look at his father: "Dad, the car can only drive up to here, it can't get inside anymore."

"You talk about this group of people, the Guangzipian that was originally fine, with such wide roads, now it's been made inconvenient to enter and exit, this is really..." Zhou Zhigang sighed: "Get out of the car."

Zhou Bingkun got out of the car, carrying the things, and said with a smile: "It's not easy for any family. If they could move out, no one would want to live in Guangzipian now."

"Then as such a big boss, why do you still live in Guangzipian?"

"Oh, Dad, I forgot to take you to the construction site to take a look." Zhou Bingkun patted his head and explained to his puzzled father: "Isn't it because our family has many people? It's not easy to buy a house when we go out, there aren't any that big. Besides, with those floors up and down, electric lights and telephones, you've been to Dongmei's house, that house is so good. I tell you, Dad, I've had my eye on it for a long time, thinking about our whole family moving in."

"So, I bought a piece of land from the government, planning to build it myself. One, for our family to live in, and two, to solve the housing problem for those employees in the company who perform well. It's by the Yintong River, the location is good, the scenery is good, and it's convenient to go anywhere. In about a year's time, we'll be able to move in. I'll take you to see it tomorrow, that place is really good."

"Solving housing for employees? Allocating houses to them?"

"I'd like to allocate them, but we have to be able to afford it. Building buildings is all done with loans, and we owe quite a bit of money. I'm thinking that after the houses are built, I'll let the employees take out loans from the bank to pay me, and they'll pay the bank back monthly. The house is at cost price, and the loan interest is also much lower, it's suitable. I learned this from my brother, that's how he does it. Originally he wanted to build a villa, but I didn't let him. I left one next to our house for him, and when the time comes, we'll be like in Guangzipian, living next to each other."

"Dad, if you want to talk about knowing how to enjoy life, it has to be Brother Wang Yan, really. The villas for both our families were designed by him. You'll see when you look tomorrow. That guy, not to mention the several floors up and down, they're connected like that, and there's even a swimming pool, it's really good."

The grandfather and grandson chatted and laughed. Along the way, Zhou Zhigang greeted familiar people with a smile. There was nothing else, it was purely vanity. Of course, his vanity was understandable. After all, he had two sons, one was a government official, and the other was a businessman. The official's rank wasn't low, and the businessman earned so much money. And there was a nephew who was even more impressive. Shouldn't he be vain? Shouldn't he show off? Any father who had such descendants in the Zhou family wouldn't be bad if they didn't float to the sky. Zhou Zhigang was already quite good.

In the outer room of the old Zhou family, Li Suhua, who was tidying up vegetables with Zheng Juan, saw Zhou Zhigang, who was the first to lift the curtain and enter, and couldn't help but stand up: "His father, you're back?"

"Suhua!" Zhou Zhigang called out and stepped forward to hug Li Suhua.

Li Suhua looked at her healthy old partner with a smile: "You won't leave anymore, right?"

"Not leaving, never leaving again, just staying at home to accompany you."

"Good, that's great, this life can be considered complete."

Zheng Juan let out an "Oh my,": "Mom, what are you saying? The days ahead are still long, and you'll be enjoying your life, why is it complete?"

Zhou Bingkun shook his head and smiled: "Alright, Mom, don't busy yourself anymore, go inside and talk to Dad, we'll just tidy up here."

"Your dad has been in the car for so long, he still needs to sleep. I'll talk to him for a while and then help you guys busy yourselves. Cooking for this whole family isn't easy."

Watching the old couple go inside, Zhou Bingkun exchanged a smile with Zheng Juan, turned around, took the things his father had brought back to the west room, and then came out to busy himself chatting and laughing with Zheng Juan...

In the evening, Wang Yan walked into the old Zhou family's door with his hands behind his back, smiling happily, bringing his wife and child. He didn't ride a bicycle; Zhou Bingkun was already driving a car, so of course, he also had a car, a Santana. Although it was just a Santana, in this era, it was also called a luxury car. After all, it wasn't something an ordinary person could afford, and it hadn't reached the time when cars entered every household. Of course, compared to Zhou Bingkun's Benz and other cars, it was still relatively mediocre.

It was mainly because he didn't care about those things now, having a car to get around was enough. And after all, he worked in a hospital. Although everyone knew he had money, he still had to keep a low profile. After all, not everyone knew he was the master of Long Teng, immensely wealthy, and of course, there was no need to let others know.

Zhou Bingkun sat on a small stool and greeted: "You're here, Brother, Sister-in-law. Jianye, Jianhua, Jianbang, and the others are next door, go find them to play."

"Okay." Wang Jianye responded nimbly and turned to run out to find playmates.

He was fourteen this year and had just started his second year of junior high school. Zhou Jianhua was in his third year of junior high, and Zhou Jianbang was in his first year of junior high, all in the same school. Relatively speaking, there wasn't much schoolwork now, and these three had been playing together since they were small, so they were lively every day.

Relatively speaking, the other third generation of the old Zhou family was much worse. Zhou Zishan was too young and still a girl, so her brothers didn't like to take her to play. Feng Yue couldn't play with them. In addition, Zhou Bingyi's children, Zhou Qinglian and Zhou Jirong, were young, and Zhou Bingyi didn't bring the children over here too often. Let alone the three big ones, even Zhou Zishan couldn't play with them.

"This child, so restless, he didn't even greet his great-uncle first." Seeing his son disappear in the blink of an eye, Chen Jing shook her head.

At this time, Zhou Zhigang's voice came from the room: "Little Yan, Chen Jing, you're back, come in quickly."

Wang Yan walked into the room with a smile and saw Zhou Zhigang sitting on the *kang* smoking: "Great-uncle, you're doing well, right?"

Zhou Zhigang nodded at Chen Jing behind him and smiled: "You're a doctor, what's the use of me saying I'm doing well?"

"Come, Great-uncle, let me take a look." Wang Yan shook his head and smiled, stepped forward to grab Zhou Zhigang's arm to take his pulse, and after a while, patted his shoulder and said: "Quite good, your body is not bad. I'll prescribe some medicine at the hospital tomorrow, drink it for two months to recuperate. After being away for so many years, you haven't stayed at home for long. Now that you're retired, just enjoy your life at home with my great-aunt. Strive to live to be one hundred and twenty."

Zhou Zhigang's eyes narrowed with a smile, and he waved his hands repeatedly: "Hey, one hundred and twenty. It's annoying to be old and not die, and it adds trouble to the descendants. Me, I'll be satisfied if I can live another ten or eight years."

Li Suhua gave him a not-too-light slap: "I'll hit you, you old thing, just back and you're already thinking about dying."

"Look at you, it was just a slip of the tongue."

Chen Jing looked at the old couple with a smile: "The two of you have been separated more than you've been together all these years. Now that you're finally retired, the good days have just begun, so don't talk about that. Right, Great-aunt?"

"Isn't that so? The old thing doesn't know how to speak. Come, Jing'er, let's go work, I'm not going to be angry with him."

Seeing the two go out, Zhou Zhigang shook his head and smiled, extinguished the cigarette butt, supported himself to get off the *kang*: "Let's go, Little Yan, let's go help out too."

Immediately, the two followed out, and the six of them were chatting and laughing as they busied themselves. With two houses and four stoves, they lit the fires together, and it was extremely lively.

It was precisely while everyone was busy that Cai Xiaoguang walked in, supporting the heavily pregnant Zhou Rong, with Feng Yue following behind.

"Dad!"

Hearing this voice, Zhou Zhigang, who was bending over to add firewood, looked up and looked at the heavily pregnant Zhou Rong with complex eyes, then at Cai Xiaoguang, who was smiling happily, and then at Feng Yue, who was standing there prettily behind.

Cai Xiaoguang was also straightforward, directly opening his mouth: "Dad!"

Feng Yue behind also called out "Grandpa," and then without a word, turned around and went out to the next door.

Zhou Zhigang let out a snort through his nostrils, lowered his head, and continued to add firewood without looking at anyone.

In the outer room, except for the sound of Zheng Juan stir-frying, there was no other sound. Wang Yan and his wife, along with Zhou Bingkun and Li Suhua, were silent on the side, looking at Zhou Rong and Cai Xiaoguang standing there.

Zhou Rong looked at the group of people on the side, hoping they would help say a few words, but unfortunately, no one paid any attention to her.

Wang Yan and his wife naturally wouldn't say much, and it wasn't their turn to speak. Li Suhua didn't speak because Zhou Zhigang was the head of the family, and besides, she had already advised him earlier. Zhou Bingkun didn't speak; he didn't like her in the first place, and besides, he had already fulfilled his obligations, so what else could he say? There was nothing to say.

So no one made a sound, and for a moment, Zhou Rong and Cai Xiaoguang were left in an awkward situation.

Exchanging a glance with Cai Xiaoguang, Zhou Rong forced a smile and looked at her father: "Dad, I was wrong, I admit I was wrong, is that okay? Xiaoguang is here, you know him, at least respond."

As soon as these words came out, not to mention Wang Yan, everyone present, including Cai Xiaoguang, knew it was going to be a disaster. *I was wrong, I admit I was wrong, is that okay? * This phrasing made the intention to force an apology very obvious. Zhou Zhigang was a stubborn person to begin with, and he was already dissatisfied, so how could it be good if she forced him to submit?

Zhou Zhigang let out a long breath and didn't pay any attention to her.

"Why are you patting me? Isn't it right for me to admit I was wrong?" Zhou Rong glared at Cai Xiaoguang beside her, turned her head back, and continued to look at her father: "Dad, that's enough. I'm already such a big person, can't I make my own decisions? I argued with Feng Huacheng for so many years, even the best feelings would be argued away. The divorce was proposed by him, and I didn't object. The two of us weren't on the same page, it was like forcing a cow to drink water, it wouldn't be good to continue together. Now he's traveling and carefree, and Cai Xiaoguang and I are doing quite well, so everyone is happy. I just don't understand, why do you keep holding on? Can't you consider my feelings?"

"I keep holding on? I don't consider your feelings? What kind of attitude is that? Is that how you talk to your father?" Zhou Zhigang stood up abruptly, briefly adapted to the discomfort in his body, pointed at Zhou Rong, and shouted loudly: "You tell me, back then you secretly ran to the mountains of Qian Province and married Feng Huacheng, a person who was labeled as counter-revolutionary and was ten years older than you. Your mom almost cried her eyes blind, who were you thinking of? Did you consider our feelings?"

"Now, you say divorce and you divorce, you say you won't live together and you don't. Then why did you make such a scene back then? And you said if I didn't agree, you would run away from home and not enter the Zhou family's door. Why can't you live together now? Whose problem is it? Why exactly? Why do you always argue? It's normal for a couple to argue, why is it that you two argue every day? I know, I've heard, you started arguing after you brought Yueyue to Beijing in '78. Why was that?"

"Let's talk about Cai Xiaoguang again. I know him, he liked you since high school. After all that tossing and turning, you finally married him. You tell me, what have you been tossing about all these years? Huh? When you married Cai Xiaoguang, did you tell anyone in advance? Does your mom know? Do I know? You didn't say a word and brought him home, did you consider our feelings? Huh?"

Zhou Rong's eyes had long since turned red, and she looked at her father in disbelief, because in her impression, her father had never been so angry at her. She choked with sobs and shouted: "Dad, how can you say that about me? The marriage is already divorced, and I'm already married to Cai Xiaoguang, and I'm pregnant, things have come to this, what's the use of saying so much? Is it useful? Anyway, it's like this now, if you don't forgive me, then I can't help it, I'll leave, is it okay if I leave?"

Cai Xiaoguang stopped Zhou Rong, who was about to turn and leave: "Don't be impulsive, absolutely don't be impulsive."

Li Suhua also hurriedly stepped forward two steps: "His father, don't be angry, the child is grown up, we can't manage it, children and grandchildren have their own blessings, and she's heavily pregnant, why are you saying so much?"

Zhou Zhigang's temper also flared up, he didn't care about that at all, waved his hand and said: "Isn't she going to leave? Leave then, what are you waiting for?"

Zhou Rong opened her eyes wide, looked back at her father, and seeing her father's anger burning, her own anger also flared up, and she shouted shrilly: "Leave then..." After saying that, she turned and left without stopping.

Cai Xiaoguang sighed and said: "Dad, calm down, Mom, Bingkun, Wang Yan, we'll leave first, you guys keep an eye on Dad."

Watching the two leave, Li Suhua looked at Zhou Zhigang, who was trembling with anger, and reached out to pat his back: "Look at you, it's already like this, why are you still losing such a big temper? Little Yan, hurry up and take a look, is it okay?"

Wang Yan shook his head, stood up and said: "He needs to recuperate for a while, come, Great-uncle, let's go inside, I'll give you a massage to soothe your anger."

Zhou Zhigang was truly angry, his face was purple with rage. He was sixty-two this year, and he was an old man with old arms and legs. This time he was really hurt. Moreover, what he said to Zhou Rong just now seemed to show he knew quite a bit. Wang Yan suspected that Feng Huacheng might have visited Zhou Zhigang in Shancheng and told him about the rights and wrongs of his life with Zhou Rong over the years.

Given Feng Huacheng's character, it probably wasn't to disgust Zhou Rong; it was highly likely that he felt guilty toward Zhou Zhigang. After all, back then Zhou Zhigang went to Qian Province to find them and gave Feng Huacheng full affirmation. Not being able to walk to the end with Zhou Rong, he felt sorry for Zhou Zhigang's trust. So what he said should be relatively objective. And Zhou Zhigang wasn't stupid; he could still distinguish truth from falsehood. After all, by asking Li Suhua, Zhou Bingkun, and the others, and combining the two, he would know.

And Zhou Rong and Feng Huacheng's divorce certainly had faults on both sides, but Feng Huacheng's fault was his lack of achievement, while Zhou Rong's fault was her high demands; it was Zhou Rong who had changed. Zhou Zhigang, as a bystander, naturally saw it more clearly, and his personality was straightforward, so he naturally didn't like that his daughter had become like this.

"Just now I watched Zhou Rong..." At this moment, Zhou Bingyi brought his wife and child in, lifted the curtain, and saw his father being supported by Wang Yan: "This Zhou Rong, she really doesn't let people worry. I advised her earlier, don't be too stubborn, talk properly. Dad, don't worry, I'll go talk to her and make her apologize to you."

Zhou Zhigang let out a cold snort: "Don't bother with her, don't indulge her bad habits. From now on, I don't have this daughter, you don't have this younger sister, our family doesn't have this person."

Li Suhua gave her stubborn old partner a slap on the mouth, turned to look at her eldest son: "Let's talk about it in a while, it's good for both of them to calm down. Alright, alright, everyone is here, hurry up and cook, everyone is hungry."

Watching Li Suhua follow Wang Yan into the room, Zhou Bingyi found his younger brother, who was sitting on the side without speaking: "Bingkun, what's going on? How exactly did it happen, to make Dad so angry?"

After recounting the short events that happened when Zhou Rong entered the door, Zhou Bingkun sighed: "Is that how she talks? Eldest brother, she's already thirty-eight, is she still throwing a tantrum? Does everyone owe her? Huh, if she's wrong, she must be forgiven? Let's not even talk about the long term, just talk about the years after she divorced Feng Huacheng, how many times has she contacted Dad? I heard it was only three letters, the first two were about the divorce, and the last one was after she married Cai Xiaoguang. Is there any difference from when she secretly ran to the mountains of Qian Province back then? She keeps saying consider her feelings, has she considered Dad and Mom's feelings? You say, can Dad not be angry?"

"This Zhou Rong, sigh..." Zhou Bingyi sighed: "She's also stubborn, and Dad's temper is also sharp, the two of them clashed, how could it be good? No, why didn't you guys stop them? At least advise them."

"How to stop them? I don't know about you, anyway, I've written letters to Dad these years, my words, Mom's words, all told Dad, and I wasn't at ease so I went to Shancheng, you're not unaware. What should have been said was said, what else to advise? Besides, both of them were at the peak of their anger, and the words were already out, how to stop them?" Zhou Bingkun let out a long breath and stood up: "Alright, don't talk about it, hurry up and cook."

---Author's Note---

Thanks to (No1 Wuliang Tianzun) for the 100-coin tip.

Thanks to (Tang Song Yuan), (Lianshang,), (Chen Ge 1982), (Brave Lazy Cat) for their continued support.

Daily thanks to the good brothers who voted with monthly tickets.

Thanks to all the brothers who voted with recommendation tickets.

Thanks to the brothers who read silently. ===== CHAPTER 401 =====