Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 745 - 620: Uncle Zhang’s Family

Zhang Guoqing looked around and didn’t find the old couple at home. Seeing his son following his cousins to the old yard, he instructed a few safety precautions.

He turned around, pulled Zhou Jiao into the main bedroom, glanced around, and said softly, "I’ll go find Captain Uncle to inquire about what’s going on at home. Don’t start tidying up until I come back."

Zhou Jiao nodded, "The minimum condition is that they can move in, but they can’t pass away or have a funeral here. There’s no room for negotiation on this. If it’s not possible, we’ll help them repair the old house."

"I know what to do. I’ll head over first. Once I’ve handled things, I won’t come back; I’ll go up the mountain to take a look."

Zhou Jiao followed him out the door, and reminded him worriedly, "Remember to place the medicinal powder where it’s easy to reach. Make sure to be safe and don’t act recklessly."

Zhang Guoqing smiled and nodded, then quickly stepped out the door.

Walking along the field embankment, Zhang Guoqing wore a big smile, greeting and chatting with the villagers along the way. As he walked and observed, he realized it was another bumper harvest year, but wondered how much public grain they would have to pay; otherwise, this year might feel less strained.

"When did you come back? I thought you’d forgotten about your hometown."

Zhang Guoqing stepped forward and smiled, "Third Grandpa, you’ve wronged me with that. This is my root; how could I forget it? Out there, things are beyond my control. I think about Daqing Mountain every day, and hope to stay here when I’m old and not go anywhere else."

After he finished speaking, he smiled at Uncle Zhang nearby and greeted him.

Call him petty if you want. He said those words specifically for his uncle to hear. The other party is smart enough to understand what he means.

The Old Captain laughed, "Do you really think that way? I thought you had spread your wings to fly, and we couldn’t keep you here."

Zhang Guoqing said modestly, "That’s because you always thought highly of me. Out there, I’m just earning a living; there’s no place more comfortable than our village."

The Old Captain glanced sideways at him, laughed, "Your eloquence is getting smoother and smoother. How many days will you stay this time?"

How many days? Zhang Guoqing couldn’t let people misunderstand. He laughed, "This time I brought my children back with me, planning to stay until school starts."

The Old Captain exclaimed, "You’re doing the right thing. Let the children interact more with the clan, so they won’t forget their roots in the future." After speaking, he furrowed his brows slightly, "Help out this afternoon; while the weather is good, help Old Yao and the two of them move. It won’t be convenient after winter."

Uncle Zhang asked from the side, "Are they going to live in the ancestral hall or their old house?"

The Old Captain waved his hand, "They’ll stay in the ancestral hall; they don’t have much money to repair the old house."

"Why not let them continue staying at Xiao Wu’s place? Anyway, Xiao Wu and his family aren’t home."

Zhang Guoqing glanced at Uncle Zhang and smiled without saying a word.

The Old Captain, being old and wise, understood Zhang Guoqing’s meaning and continued, "Forget it, they’re both nearly eighty years old. If they pass away someday..."

He didn’t finish his sentence, but everyone understood the implication. Zhang Guoqing’s courtyard is new, and who would want to hold a funeral for distant elders there?

Uncle Zhang glanced at Zhang Guoqing, "Then what do you think?"

Think yourself! Zhang Guoqing realized he couldn’t even scold his grandmother. He intentionally twisted Uncle Zhang’s words, "Alright, I’ll lend a hand this afternoon."

Zhang Guoqing completely gave up on talking further with the other party. If it wasn’t for acknowledging his father’s status, he wouldn’t even bother to smile.

He saw the Old Captain leisurely walking forward and immediately followed him.

"Did you bring any alcohol back this time?"

"Both bottles are with my father. You guys can gather tonight."

The Old Captain glanced back at him, "You rascal, why did you give them all to your dad? Forget it, ask your dad to prepare good dishes; I’ll come over tonight."

Zhang Guoqing smiled and nodded, "Okay. I’ll head back to tell him."

The Old Captain waved at him with a smile, and continued walking.

After Zhang Guoqing left, he made a round and then went up the mountain. Bringing the kids to the mountain was the main goal this time; if it was truly dangerous, he’d have to find another place.

Over there, Uncle Zhang, after finishing his work, walked back home with his hands behind his back. As he passed by Mr. Zhang’s old house and saw the front gate open, he hesitated but did not enter, and went straight back home.

Once inside the yard, Aunt Zhang had already prepared water for him to wash his face. He quickly wiped his face, threw down the towel in his hand, went into the main room, picked up the long tobacco pipe, packed some tobacco, lit it with a fire rope, and took a deep puff.

Aunt Zhang called her daughter-in-law to start the meal from the yard, then went inside to lean on the kang to rest for a moment. A whole day’s work had worn her out, and she wondered what she would do when the farming season arrived.

With Aunt Zhang’s loud call, Zhang Qingshan’s three sons and two daughters rushed into the main room, sitting on stools waiting for the meal.

Aunt Zhang glanced at her two granddaughters, "Go help your mother serve the meal."

Her eldest granddaughter whined, "Grandma, I’m exhausted. Let me catch my breath first."

Her young grandson snickered, "Acting as if you did some heavy work."

"I did more than you. I cut two baskets of pigweed this morning. What about you? You must have gone to play."

"Little girl, so annoying. Can’t you learn from Mai Miao?"

"Why don’t you learn from big brother? He even helped me carry the basket."

Aunt Zhang sat up, frowned, and shouted, "Each and every one of you is idle. Go help your mother."

Her eldest granddaughter glanced at her grandpa and found that he didn’t bother, tugged her sister who refused to move, and muttered as they walked, "Favoring sons over daughters..."

"Sis, you can go alone. Why drag me?"

In the kitchen, Qingshan’s wife glanced at the two sisters, scolded, "Coming back and not even starting on the meal but just making noise. Starve you all to death! Look at those big girls in the village; isn’t every one of them helping with house chores at home?"

"Hmph, I’m not idle."

The younger daughter watched her mom get angry, shrunk her neck, and the seven-year-old girl eagerly grabbed bowls and chopsticks, carefully walked out.

"Why still standing there? Go help your sister. If you break a bowl, see if I don’t spank you."

"Always scold me. Must be I picked up from somewhere."

"Yes, and I’m your stepmother." Qingshan’s wife finished speaking, glanced at her eldest daughter, grabbed two bowls of dishes, and quickly walked towards the main room.

Once the meal was set, Zhang Qingshan just came in, washed his hands, sat down, and took the chopsticks his wife passed him, just as his eldest son said, "Dad, Xi Zi and the others are back. I don’t want to work this afternoon."

Zhang Qingshan nodded, "Okay, you all take a couple of days off." As soon as he finished, he felt his wife tug at him, glanced at her, and explained, "Anyway, they can’t earn many work points."

Zhang Qingshan’s eldest son, whose nickname was Tie Dan, Zhang Mingjiang, immediately said, "Mom, it’s not just playing. Xi Zi said they’re going to look for herbs in the next few days, and we plan to earn some tuition fees ourselves."

Zhang Qingshan’s wife sneered, "You can recognize herbs? If there were any nearby, your cousin would’ve picked them clean long ago, leaving nothing now."

"Xi Zi plans to ask Fifth Aunt to take us to search."

Zhang Qingshan quickly said, "Don’t go too far; it’s too dangerous."

Zhang Mingjiang laughed, "Dad, did you forget? If Fifth Aunt goes out, would Fifth Uncle be relieved? We’ve calculated already; as long as one of them goes, another will definitely follow. We might even get to eat some meat."

The family inside the room burst into laughter at his words.