After the banquet, the sky had already turned dark. Zhou Xiaozheng and Zhang Guoqing declined the drunken Zhao Dashan's offer to see them off, and the two made their way through the village using a flashlight to navigate in the dark.
The weather had been fine during the day, but at night the temperature dropped sharply. On the way back to Zhang Family Village from the county town, there was no one in sight. The two underestimated the night's chill. Wearing military coats and braving the strong northern wind, they walked quickly, too cold to speak. The wind cut their faces like a knife, but their physical fitness had always been excellent, so their pace was unaffected.
Reaching the village entrance, they both breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing they were nearly home, Zhang Guoqing finally asked him, "Dad, are we going to see Grandma tonight?"
"Yes, we must go; I reckon the old couple is waiting for news from me tonight. You don't have to come; I'll take your mom with me."
