CHAPTER 418: CHAPTER 315: DEPARTURE

In the waiting hall.

Old Mrs. Cheng was accompanied by a doctor, a guard, and a nanny, followed by a pile of luggage. After a while, Cheng Ruzhu came in from the entrance with luggage.

Zhou Jiao looked at her family beside her, surprised with her mouth agape.

"What? Don’t you want me to come along and accompany you?"

"No, no. I’m just worried about delaying your work, Aunt."

After Cheng Ruzhu sat down, she pulled out a piece of paper from her backpack and handed it to her with a laugh, winking, "Look! I have a mission, Aunt."

Glancing at it, Zhou Jiao handed it back to her. It turned out Cheng Ruzhu worked at the commercial bureau. She had never asked anyone, but now she knew. "That’s great. It’s lively with more people."

Zhou Jiao knew that Cheng Ruzhu was most likely coming along this time due to concerns over their group’s safety—"specifically going for negotiations," what nonsense was that? And the headquarters discussing with the branch?

Soon, Zhou Jiao stopped bothering with these insignificant matters.

Because staff members specially came over to invite their group to board the train first.

They took a special passage direct to the platform and boarded the soft sleeper compartment.

The series of hospitality procedures and high standards made the solemn atmosphere apparent.

The layout of the soft sleeper compartment was different from the one they had traveled in from the Northeast.

Zhou Jiao and Zhang Guoqing exchanged glances, somewhat puzzled about Old Mrs. Cheng’s identity. However, when she looked at her father, Zhou Xiaozheng, she saw he wasn’t surprised at all. Obviously, he was well aware of everything long beforehand, so she paid no more attention to these details. Regardless of Old Mrs. Cheng’s identity, she was now a retired elder. No matter her contributions to the country, she was still her grand-aunt in front of her.

Zhou Xiaozheng patted his daughter, advising Zhou Jiao not to hesitate to ask for help from elders if she needed anything while away. This time, she should not worry about anything or be afraid to spend money; the main thing was to enjoy herself.

Finally, he shot a meaningful look at his son-in-law, instructing him to stay by Zhou Jiao’s side and pay attention to safety while outside.

Zhang Guoqing smiled and slightly nodded to him. He knew his father-in-law was worried Zhou Jiao might reveal secrets while outside, making sure he kept an eye on her. Seeing his father-in-law’s concern in his eyes, if not for special circumstances, he would have set off together a while ago.

As the station broadcast sounded, passengers gradually boarded from the platform behind them.

When it was time to part, Zhang Guoqing stepped back a few paces and turned to chat with Old Mrs. Cheng and her group, making space for father and daughter to have a private conversation.

Saying goodbye, albeit sending one a thousand miles away, must end somewhere. Time passed quickly.

"Woo, woo..." The sound of the train whistle resounded, and Zhou Xiaozheng and the others leaving the train stood on the platform smiling, waving goodbye, and shouting for them to stay safe.

Waving goodbye to Zhou Xiaozheng, the train slowly started moving. Zhou Jiao leaned out, looking at the familiar figure in the crowd, and tears involuntarily streamed down her face.

Zhang Guoqing, startled, held her tightly, pulling her back into the carriage, hugging her back in. At this moment, he broke out in a sweat. This father and daughter were so dramatic.

Every time he was tormented by their melodramatic farewell, put through quite an ordeal. Just now, he noticed his father-in-law’s right leg itching to move. Was it necessary when they’d be back in a few days?

Lin Lishan, unable to see her husband’s expression through the window, could hear him shouting. Seeing her daughter return to the compartment, she couldn’t help but laugh, teasing her daughter, "Didn’t your dad come on board with you?"

Upon saying this, Old Mrs. Cheng and Gu Mingzhu, who watched the lively scene, burst into laughter.

Zhou Jiao took the towel Zhang Guoqing handed her to wipe her face, turned tears into laughter, and gave her mother a playful glare, "My dad’s someone who achieves great things; how would he get on the train?"

After speaking, seeing everyone looking at her with playful gazes, she laughed, "I just thought about our whole family leaving, and my dad left alone at home seems so pitiful, and I felt a bit sad."

Old Mrs. Cheng looked at everyone with a smile, "Our Jiao Jiao is the best, always caring for her dad. Come, Xiao Wu, sit down and have a cup of water with Jiao Jiao."

To prevent Zhou Jiao from getting upset thinking about her dad, Old Mrs. Cheng went all out.

Along the way, whenever they passed through any town, the old lady would cite historical stories on the spot. With many anecdotes of famous people in her mouth, and combining them with the sights along the road, Zhou Jiao was reluctant to leave her side.

Not to mention the well-known intriguing stories, coming out of Old Mrs. Cheng’s mouth, which made people feel amused and break into a smile.

This trip was much more relaxed and pleasant than the previous one. Everyone talked about various interesting stories, and laughter never stopped. By the end, even the staff on the train came over to listen during their breaks.

Upon reaching the terminal station, S City, an officer had already been waiting on the platform with personnel for a long time.

The forty-something middle-aged officer, upon seeing Old Mrs. Cheng in the crowd, became extremely excited and rushed forward, calling her old leader.

After being reprimanded by Old Mrs. Cheng to change his address, this burly man still acted like a child, stubbornly staying by her side in silence, just smiling foolishly.

After Old Mrs. Cheng introduced everyone to each other, it was known that the other party’s surname was also Cheng.

After everyone greeted Uncle Cheng, Zhou Jiao specifically paid attention to her little aunt Cheng Ruzhu. She noticed that her little aunt was meeting this person for the first time. She understood more or less that the person was probably not from Old Mrs. Cheng’s in-laws, but likely an old subordinate of hers.

Old Mrs. Cheng declined the offer to stay at the military district’s guesthouse. She repeatedly asked him to find a guesthouse near Huaihai Road for her. She strictly prohibited announcing her arrival in S City to anyone. To her, business and personal matters were never to be mixed. She came this time for personal matters and didn’t intend to exploit public resources.

Two military vehicles took their group to the Peace Hotel on Nanjing Road. Formerly praised as the "First Building in the Far East," the Hualin Restaurant, which opened to the public in 1956, is now renamed the Peace Hotel.

Standing in front of the car, Old Mrs. Cheng smiled slightly and said nothing more as she pointed out to the other party.

However, she still immediately whispered to the staff beside her to take money and go with Old Cheng’s guards to personally book a regular room. She knew that once she entered here, news of her being in S City would not be hidden.

Zhang Guoqing and Zhou Jiao exchanged glances, both feeling each other’s surprise and concern. They came to deal with future troubles, but things seemed to have deviated from their expectations.

Lowering her head, Zhou Jiao pondered whether she should contact Wang Dong. Then thinking about the old lady’s hidden capabilities, her heart relaxed a little. Since she was here, she might as well adapt to the situation.

Ascending the stairs with Old Mrs. Cheng, hearing Lin Lishan introducing the hotel, Zhang Guoqing observed his surroundings and found most of the people were foreigners. There he stood, amidst the melodious music, familiar foreign languages, and well-dressed attire, making him somewhat dazed, as if he had traveled back in time.

Returning to their room to settle their luggage, they went to the Chinese restaurant accompanied by Old Cheng.

After lunch, seeing that Old Cheng had privately paid for the meal, Old Mrs. Cheng smiled and shook her head, dismissing Old Cheng, telling him to focus on his work and assuring him she would notify him before leaving.

Returning to the room, it was already after two in the afternoon.

Old Mrs. Cheng began altering their itinerary, deciding to stay at this hotel for no more than three nights, as she worried about too many visitors coming to see her. Having retired for a long time, she was just a layman and did not want to delay others’ business.

After speaking, Old Mrs. Cheng noticed Zhou Jiao and her husband’s smiling nod in agreement with her three-day time frame. She knew it would be sufficient time for the couple to handle their affairs.

Considering the presence of outsiders, Old Mrs. Cheng emphasized heading to Hang City first for sightseeing, then returning to S City for two days before heading back to Beijing.

Pondering it in her mind, along with the last two days spent in S City, it should provide ample time for the young couple to handle their affairs. She did not ask what business the couple had to manage—she guessed it was likely related to her nephew.

After speaking, Old Mrs. Cheng urged Zhou Jiao to leave breast milk. She happened to have the children rest. While the children slept, Zhou Jiao and Zhang Guoqing should hurry to explore the Bund.

Finally, being worried, she also asked Cheng Ruzhu and Lin Lishan to first shop at the department store together.

Zhou Jiao didn’t hesitate to delay. With time pressing, once visitors came to visit, she and Zhang Guoqing would draw attention. She rushed inside to extract milk, jokingly said goodbye to everyone, and left with Zhang Guoqing with a smile.