Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space

Chapter 1059 - 932: Do You Believe That Nonsense?

"Dad, where’s Xiao Wu?""Why are you all back? Do you not have work tomorrow morning?"

"Going back a bit later won’t delay anything. Why didn’t Xiao Wu stay in the city for a while? I only found out they were back when the driver told me this morning."

Outside the yard, a burst of noise mingled with the voices of Mr. Zhang and Zhang Meili’s discussion.

Inside, Mother Zhang furrowed her brows and said, "Look at this ruckus."

Zhang Guoqing was amused by his mother’s expression and tone, laughing. He stepped outside and saw that all his siblings were back.

"Xiao Wu, where’s Jiao Jiao?"

Zhang Guoqing greeted everyone and smiled at Zhang Meili, "Taking the kids out for a stroll. Why come over so late at night? In a couple of days, I would have gone to the city anyway."

"Who knows how many days off you have this time? Will it be like last time when you left straight from here?" Zhang Meili teased while looking at her brother, "You haven’t lost weight and still look energetic."

Zhang Guoqing chuckled and invited everyone to sit down first.

"Won’t you get bored in the village? Let’s go back. The few of us brothers can sit and chat often. Uncle Dashan doesn’t even know you’re back. He would blame you for not visiting him first if he knew."

Mr. Zhang glanced at Zhang the Second, "Nonsense, your Uncle Dashan isn’t like that. How can the village be boring? Your brother spent the whole day playing and only came back when it was getting dark. Our village can’t be worse than the city, right?"

"Oh, went to play, did you go up the mountain?" Zhang the Second realized he had touched a nerve. What was the rule? No one could speak ill of the hometown. He immediately changed the subject, "This season is perfect for the mountain. I bet Xiao Wu got some game. Dad, how much did you drink tonight?"

Mr. Zhang chuckled, "Quite a bit, a chicken and a rabbit."

"Xiao Wu?"

Zhang Guoqing imitated his father, chuckling twice, "Haven’t been up the mountain for a long time, my skills have gotten rusty."

Zhang Meili clapped her hands happily at this, "Good, it’s good they’re rusty. It’s best not to go up the mountain anymore. What’s so great about running up there? It’s dangerous."

Zhang Guofu nodded in agreement, "It’s not like we can’t live without it. Every time he goes up the mountain, mom stands in the yard looking at the mountain. It’s better they got rusty."

Zhang Guoqing confirmed internally that these were indeed his parents, his real ones. He took the opportunity to observe the expressions of those who weren’t from the same parents, thanks to the cover of the moonlight.

"Big brother, do you believe that nonsense?" Zhang the Second laughed at his older brother, "He’s been in the military, not enjoying life in Beijing. I reckon he can take down ten people all by himself now."

Mr. Zhang ignored this supposedly clever son. His youngest said his skills were rusty, so they were rusty. Otherwise, wouldn’t the villagers have pressured him to go up the mountain?

"Kids’ mother, prepare some dishes for drinking. I’ll have a drink with the two sons-in-law." After instructing Mother Zhang, Mr. Zhang turned to Zhang Chunming, "Have you been to your parents’ place? Should we bring the in-laws over first?"

"Mom, don’t trouble yourself, we just ate," Zhang Chunming quickly waved, "Dad, I’ll greet them on the way home."

Mr. Zhang didn’t really intend to invite Accountant Zhang. He pointed towards the kitchen and smiled at his wife, "That works too. Don’t be afraid to go empty-handed, spend more time talking with the elders."

"Alright. Dad, when are you going back? Aunt Wang met the kids’ mother yesterday and mentioned there’s an event next week in the streets. She wanted us to tell you if we saw you."

Mr. Zhang nodded.

Seeing her mother and two sisters-in-law head to the kitchen, Zhang Meili looked towards the back door, stood up, "I’m going to find Jiao Jiao. Little sister, want to come along?"

"Big sister, we’ll go together to find little aunt."

Watching the two sisters lead the kids out, Zhang Guoqing reminded, "Older sister, go check at Second Aunt’s place, the one who delivered babies at the end of the village."

"Our Jiao Jiao is really thoughtful, taking the kids to express gratitude. Such a smart kid deserves to sincerely thank people."

That goes without saying. For those who had shown kindness to his family, they made sure the kids remembered, like Zhao Dashan, like Zuo Lin, and like Uncle Ye and the others...

Unfortunately, some people don’t know how to appreciate blessings. Just like... never mind, as he mentioned to his mother earlier, the times the whole family comes back will be countable on one hand. Everything feels nicer from afar compared to up close.

After preparing the drinking snacks, Mr. Zhang led the men to the living room first.

Zhang Guoqing planned to take Ping’an and Liu Yi up the mountain early the next morning for training, stopped when Zhang the Second poured half a bowl of wine.

Zhang the Second glared, "What’s this? Dare not drink when your second brother pours for you?"

Zhang Guoqing laughed, "We’re family, and you still play this game with me? I haven’t really been drinking the past couple of years, afraid I’ll get drunk."

Zhang the Second was skeptical about his younger brother’s explanation, "Really? I heard Uncle Zuo say that the dinner invitations for you could be lined up from the beginning to the end of the year."

"He’s just blowing smoke, is that possible? Who isn’t lying low nowadays? Even Maotai at the service station isn’t selling well, and there are no gatherings waiting for me."

"You’ve had it hard."

Zhang Guoqing couldn’t stand the complicated gaze of his older brother, "Big brother, you’re overthinking. Where’s the time for socializing with work every day?"

"Really? You never wanted to be in the military... Now I understand why you went from college to the army. Those words ’military family’ really are a solid protection for our family."

"It’s not as complicated as you think. Come on, drink." Zhang Guoqing sighed inwardly, was it because his son joined the army that he felt this strongly?

Zhang the Second noticed the heavy atmosphere, pursed his lips. What’s being said? Didn’t notice his father glaring at him unhappily.

This blabbering mouth always says the wrong thing, "Dad, didn’t the village have a good harvest this year? How come I heard Brother Qingshan applied to the commune to open up new land?"

Mr. Zhang nodded, "That’s true. I heard some educated youths are coming. With more people, less land. Besides opening up land, the team also wants to apply to buy a tractor."

Is this an attempt to combine mechanical labor? Zhang Guoqing didn’t expect the team to be doing so well.

"Impressive, if we succeed, it would be the first in our commune," Zhang the Second shook his head, "Unlike Third Grandpa, who always comes up with ideas to distribute all the team’s money to the clan."

Mr. Zhang gave him an amused side glance, "Only you know!"

"Dad, tell us more."

"Now the brigade is full of young cadres. I think he plans to step down soon. Young people, their thinking is always a bit different."

Zhang the Second opened his mouth, then closed it, looking at his younger brother. Seeing him focus on eating, he secretly rolled his eyes; he couldn’t believe Xiao Wu didn’t catch the drift.

"Does the team have so much money?"

This question from Chen Xiaobin was best answered by Zhang Guofu, "A few years ago, there was lax management over grain levies, so many brigades changed to cash crops of their own accord."

Chen Xiaobin nodded thoughtfully. Indeed, not to mention anything else, the cotton they bought didn’t require cotton tickets.