On the famous development zone highway of W City, a young couple was whispering sweet nothings inside the car, while the husband occasionally glanced at his wife's belly.
Today is the weekend, and the couple has planned to go to a village under Tao County in W City. Zhou Jiao's parents are celebrating their 60th birthday tomorrow.
Yesterday, the couple bought gifts and filled the car's trunk. Although Zhou Jiao is the second child and receives little parental love, she completed her junior high education through compulsory education, later finishing her studies thanks to part-time jobs and scholarships. After graduating from a top university, she stayed on as an instructor. This achievement is unique among the three siblings, but in the eyes of her parents, only the eldest daughter and the third son matter.
The second child is neither here nor there. When the eldest was born, Father Zhou and his wife were newlyweds, just promoted to parents, and were delighted to have a girl for the first child, hoping for a boy with the second for an ideal pair.
But the result was another "liability," naturally leading to disappointment and neglect. Helplessly, Father Zhou and Mrs. Zhou choose to ignore her existence. Years passed, they finally conceived again, but were met with the one-child policy, paying a significant fine and losing jobs. However, they got what they wished.
—This time a big, healthy boy to carry the family name.
No matter how shallow the parental bond seemed, Zhou Jiao still fulfilled her filial duties, viewing it as paying for peace. Similarly, Zhang Guoqing, her husband, who grew up in a welfare institute, found nothing wrong with caring for parents.
He was abandoned at the welfare institute soon after birth, coincidentally on National Day. The head of the institute was surnamed Zhang, thus naming him Zhang Guoqing. Unlike other children there, the healthy and well-developing Zhang Guoqing, about a month old, puzzled the welfare staff for being abandoned, yet they were pleased by his arrival.
Perhaps fortune favored him, as he grew up healthily under the care of the institute director, whom he considered his mother. She passed away during his sophomore year, leaving him her 50-square-meter home.
In truth, except for lacking biological parents, he was luckier than Zhou Jiao, who had all six relatives alive. After two years of knowing and loving each other, his dream came true; they agreed to marry as graduation approached. They have been married for two years, soon welcoming a new family member. For Zhang Guoqing, his current life is satisfying and blissful.
"Jiao Jiao, adjust your seat back a bit, take a rest, and I'll call you when we reach the county. Be good, listen."
Zhou Jiao gently said, "No, you drive carefully. I'll keep you company, so you won't get sleepy."
Zhang Guoqing smiled, appreciating his wife's concern, and softly said, "Then rest if you're tired! In two months, our baby will be born. Have you thought of a name yet?"
"You haven't thought of one? From my suggestions, pick one?"
"But I want to come up with a name representing our relationship's memories. I don't even know if it's a girl? If it is, I'll definitely name her Zhang Xinyue, as my heart delights in you, haha."
"Haha, you're so cheesy, but I like it. What about a boy?"
.......................
Throughout the journey, their laughter filled the car. Summer just passed, and trees along the road were somewhat yellowish, while the fields appeared vacant, as the rice had been harvested.
Rice husks were left everywhere in the fields; perhaps one could still find some river snails, loach, and eel, yet pollution has become so severe nowadays. Memories of seeing these frequently in childhood now seem rare.
As the car drove on, dust flew everywhere. As the sun set, approaching the county meant more people and congested roads, forcing them to drive slowly.
Reaching Tao County, the couple fell silent for a moment. Then Zhou Jiao said, frustrated, "Brother, I don't want to go back. Normally, calls are always about money. Even though the little brother is married, he still doesn't work and relies on mom and dad.
I suppose they'll want us and elder sister to help buy a house in the county this time. If it's like last time and they don't let us stay without giving money, we'll leave. We agreed to give what's necessary and not open our wallets where we shouldn't; my parents just see you as easy to talk to."
"I know. Don't be mad; you're pregnant. I'm sure brother-in-law will speak up, I'll go along with him. Speaking of sister, she's had a hard time, her family isn't well-off. Xiao Kang is going to elementary school and the fee to enter a key school is fifty thousand. We've only been working a few years; besides the house Mrs. Zhang gave us, we have just over a hundred thousand in savings. But don't worry, wife, my salary will increase after the New Year, and a promotion is likely."