yournovel Chapter 1065 - 938: Out of Toilet Paper, Help!
Chapter 1065 - 938: Out of Toilet Paper, Help!
Returning the carriage, Zhang Guoqing was just heading home when he heard May 1st shouting for help, scaring him into sprinting inside. As soon as he entered the backyard, he froze.——Zhou Jiao was holding back laughter with their two sons.
"What happened?"
Without needing their answer, Zhang Guoqing heard a voice from the direction of the outhouse: "I’m out of paper, help!"
"You’re really being careless, your legs will go numb."
"Dad, May 1st just went in, he squats over the spittoon, not scared. Mom told him to be in the front yard, but he felt embarrassed and took it over there by himself."
Zhang Guoqing fumbled in his pocket; he had used it up today. "Didn’t I keep putting toilet paper in the outhouse? Wait a moment, Dad will be right there."
This last sentence was shouted to the trapped youngest son.
Liu Yi blinked his eyes, "Grandma said it doesn’t look good having paper, everyone in the village uses sticks to scrape."
"Is it really necessary?"
"Dad, you forgot you put good paper these last two days; Grandma said it’s whiter than our brother’s notebooks! She mentioned it could be used for writing letters later. She said you’re really wasting good stuff."
Zhang Guoqing was taken aback, "So what are you three brothers using to wipe?"
"Yellow maize husks, it hurts to wipe with them."
Now that was really his oversight! His own family has always been using real toilet paper, and Zhang Guoqing frowned in heartache; how did it not occur to him when the sons came back.
At this moment, he disregarded that issue, running to the bedroom and grabbing a big handful of toilet paper to rush to the youngest son.
"Dad..." May 1st saw him and grimaced pitifully.
Zhang Guoqing amusingly ruffled his son’s hair, "Next time, remember to bring paper out from the room. If there’s no one at home, won’t you have to scrape with a clump of dirt?"
After May 1st cleaned up and came out, he stared tightly at Zhou Jiao, "Mom, I heard your footsteps with Brother’s, you deliberately kept quiet."
Zhou Jiao nodded seriously, "Do you know why now?"
"You don’t love me anymore."
Zhou Jiao smiled knowingly at him, "Baby, being naughty isn’t a good kid behavior."
May 1st sulkily glanced at her, lowered his head, "I shouldn’t have ignored Mom’s advice and should’ve checked if there was paper first."
"You’re a good child. Mistakes corrected are good to go. Mom often says to think thrice before doing anything, that’s what it means. Not only May 1st, but Liu Yi should remember too."
As soon as Zhang Guoqing heard her finish talking, he held one younger son in each hand, "What Mom says should be remembered, see, your brothers didn’t shout for help?"
"It’s also important not to jeopardize your lives, you can’t just scream those words lightly. Remember the story of ’The Boy Who Cried Wolf’? Just now, Dad’s almost scared to faint; if you encounter danger again, I’d subconsciously think you’re playing with me, and miss the first chance to save you."
After saying this, seeing the two sons nod obediently, he didn’t want to overly blame them anymore. In the end, it was the influence of daily habits; if it were him without grass paper, he’d probably shout for help too.
After washing clean water, all the way to the living room, May 1st didn’t utter any complaints about his grandma taking away the toilet paper, which made Zhang Guoqing feel quite relieved.
With that good mood, he started recalling amusing things.
"Have you seen sticks before?"
Liu Yi and May 1st looked at each other strangely, "Dad, the old courtyard has them. Grandma says they’re free; saving a penny is gaining a penny which all adds up to savings."
"Hmm hmm, Brother Stone and the others say not to let Grandma see, try to use old exercise books and waste newspaper to scrape at home."
Zhou Jiao couldn’t hold back any longer and burst into laughter.
"Mom, what’s so funny? We’re not kidding, really."
"Darlings, haven’t you noticed your tight-fisted nature follows Grandma?"
As soon as she said this, even Ping’an didn’t agree, "We’re frugally moderate, not stingy with grass paper. Though indeed, toilet paper is too expensive; our family can just use the cheapest kind in the future."
"Brother, Xiao Chong’s aunt is a manager at the paper factory, he said she can help our family buy waste paper, super cheap."
"Is it that Xiao Chong from the Big Courtyard?"
"Yes, it’s him."
Ping’an shook his head, "His family’s cheap could be sticky business. His aunt is asking Grandmother to help get into the Art Troupe."
"No wonder, I’m just afraid of ulterior motives being non-vendor like."
May 1st waved his small hand generously, "Never mind, I won’t ask him; I’ll find other buddies who are very obedient."
Liu Yi tilted his small head and his eyes suddenly lit up, "Let’s ask Hei Mei; her grandma works at the department store. She said their family can buy flawed goods."
"It’s a pity it’s too far away; if only we could make paper here in the village."
Seeing his brother said so, Liu Yi immediately shook his head in opposition: "It’s a hassle, you still gotta spend money to buy."
Zhang Guoqing looked at the three sons and then at Zhou Jiao, immediately raising his hand to express, "Wife, I truly didn’t teach the kids these things."
Zhou Jiao amusedly gave him a side glance, "Any thoughts?"
"Being a dad should retire now."
Zhou Jiao teased, "Shouldn’t you collaborate to find good buddies, so the sons’ wishes can be fulfilled later?"
"I’m old, no enthusiasm left. I got a juice factory, arranged the packaging manufacturer and sales channels for them, yet all these years, they’ve still been reluctant to buy machines. What’s the point of suggesting further?"
The three brothers who had been in conversation halted, quietly sitting and watching Zhang Guoqing.
"The entire village has so little land, still wants a tractor?" Zhang Guoqing shook his head, "What an opportunity! This is a collective factory, once expanded to scale, which aspect wouldn’t be better than this petty business? Still want to open wastelands? Where to open them? The wild boars and wolf packs on the mountain are endless; be grateful just to protect existing crops from damage."
"I originally thought Zhang Qingshan would bring up the juice factory when returning, but you have no idea—last night he was all about his son’s marriage and trivial matters. Zhang Family Village...can no longer find old captains like the Third Grandpa who genuinely care for the whole village."
The more Zhang Guoqing spoke, the more knitted his eyebrows became, looking at Zhou Jiao, "Also, one crucial point—they used the cash on the team’s books, which is the juice workshop’s income every six months, for applying to buy a tractor."
Zhou Jiao rolled her eyes to the heavens, puzzled at what he was mad about, what’s there to get angry over? If the Old Captain disagrees, if the villagers disagree, who dares buy a tractor?
Why bother to manage whether villagers buy a tractor to haul manure in town or go on a collective outing—it’s got nothing to do with you? You’ve not resided here for centuries; it’s truly a case of a dog chasing a rat!
"Dad, ’not on its position, not concerned for its politics’." Ping’an interjected lightly to remind.
Zhang Guoqing smiled upon hearing it and nodded, "That’s the point, hence I told your mom, no longer meddling in these trivial matters. In the future, when conditions are right, I’ll spend my own money to play on my own."
May 1st quickly waved his hand, "Don’t play! Can’t play! I don’t want to be a watchdog and don’t want you to be PI-beaten."
Liu Yi grabbed his hand, "Don’t fear, Dad just said to wait until conditions are right. If anyone dares mess with our family, without Grandpa, I’ll shoot him with my slingshot."
"Good! Beat the bad guy, Brother joins in."
Ping’an extended his hand and grabbed his two brothers’ hands, "United as brothers..."
"Nothing stands in our way."
Zhang Guoqing felt speechless watching the three children embracing, "Sons, can’t you play properly?"
"You go play with Mom."
Was this disdain?
Zhou Jiao laughed heartily and patted him reassuringly. How did this topic make such a sharp turn? She didn’t understand either—it’s better to go along and play with her husband.