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

Chapter 1061 - 934: Out of Practice

"Xiao Wu, what are you up to today? Why haven’t we seen your whole family?"Zhang Guoqing smiled, "What else can we do? Just taking the kids for a walk nearby, visiting some elders."

"We thought you might have taken your son up the mountain for hunting. Ping’an is so grown up now, aren’t you going to teach him?"

Zhang Guoqing glanced at the brothers present and shook his head with a smile, "I haven’t been active these past few years, I’m out of practice myself, so let’s forget about it."

"That’s a shame, brother was hoping you could take a few of us up the mountain. The team is currently in need of some meat during the busy farming season, and you could also stock some at home for later."

Zhang Guoqing knew something was coming. Zhang Qingfeng is straightforward, and in front of family, he says whatever’s on his mind.

Next to him, Zhang Qingshan glanced at Zhang Guoqing, explaining similarly, "Yesterday, Grandfather Third mentioned it to me. I figured the next month will be busier, and with you leading, the young ones going up the mountain would be safer."

Zhang Guoqing shook his head with a smile, not responding, and took a sip of his drink.

Zhang the Second, seeing his cousin, lost any intention of helping out. Did they really think his younger brother was such a fool to be ordered around by them?

Want some meat? Ha, even without Xiao Wu, haven’t you all been eating well?

Now he understands why his brother Xiao Wu claims to be out of practice. That’s exactly how it should be!

Zhang Guofu shook his head with a smile, "You want Xiao Wu to go up the mountain? It’s not like the county hasn’t heard he and Jiao Jiao came back. The two of them don’t even have time."

"Oh..."

Zhang Guofu and Zhang the Second exchanged a look and smiled, changing the subject. Some things are worth pondering, because his brother Xiao Wu, like their father, is too easygoing.

"A man’s reputation is like the shadow of a tree."

The Zhang Family Village production team has been somewhat protected by Zhou Jiao and Zhang Guoqing. The villagers understand this, and so do the educated youths who were sent down.

After leaving Aunt Zhang’s house, Zhou Jiao, holding her sons’ hands, hadn’t walked far before they ran into a group of teenagers about seventeen or eighteen years old.

After those three days in Beidahuang, Zhou Jiao’s impression of these educated youths had improved significantly. Maybe some of them harbored their own thoughts, but who doesn’t have a little selfishness?

"Comrade Zhou, Comrade Zhou."

Zhou Jiao, seeing the somewhat restrained youths in front of her, gave a gentle smile and nodded at them, "Hello."

Seeing her genuinely friendly attitude, just as rumors said, everyone relaxed. The young woman leading the group smiled and said, "Are you heading back?"

"Yes, are you heading out?"

"Hehe, a few of us want to go to the riverbank."

Zhou Jiao nodded knowingly and said with a double meaning, "Be careful."

Everyone knew what she was hinting at being careful about, but they didn’t expect her kindly reminder, which made them linger a bit longer than planned.

"Ping’an, would you like to join us?"

"We’ll pass. Brothers and sisters, don’t stray too far from the village. If something happens, just shout, and someone at the entrance will come out to help."

"Are you heading back to Beijing soon?"

"In a few days. My grandparents will still often visit the village."

As they left, Zhou Jiao pensively looked at her three sons. She hadn’t expected the kids to get along so well with these youths.

"Mom, you find it strange?"

"A bit."

"Actually, they’re pretty good. Some can’t do heavy work but still try hard to keep up. They even tell stories to the kids in the team whenever they have time."

"I noticed they’re pretty friendly to us three brothers, but there’s little difference in how they treat other kids in the village. They’re smart, and smart people are good!"

Indeed, smart people understand boundaries.

In terms of conditions, those who came here for reeducation compared to young people from Beidahuang are quite fortunate. The Old Captain isn’t a strict person, and Zhang Qingshan is honest.

It’s said that every year after the autumn harvest when things get busy, the educated youths send parcels to the city. This indicates they’ve come to the right place.

As the mother and three sons walked back, they were constantly greeted by villagers taking a break, which took up quite a bit of time. Ping’an quickly noticed one thing.

— Across the river at Zhou Family Village, not only the adults but even the children hadn’t crossed the bridge this evening.

Ping’an’s eyes flickered as he looked up at his mother, who was exchanging greetings with the village elders under the night sky. Her smile was too familiar, respectful with a touch of formality.

Ping’an squeezed his little brother’s hand.

May 1st immediately shouted, "Mom, there’s a mosquito bite, it’s itchy."

Ping’an looked at his brother in disbelief, thinking about all the possible excuses.

"Great-aunt, I’ll head back now. You should rest early too."

"Okay, okay, quickly take the kids back."

After walking a bit further, seeing Aunt Zhang waving and calling from a group of people cooling off, she smiled wryly, "Now you understand why Mom doesn’t like going out? You mustn’t learn this from me, it’s not good."

The three brothers chuckled nonstop.

Socializing, avoiding trouble, and disliking gossip make their mother get headaches.

"Did you run into Meili and them?"

Zhou Jiao felt a bit pleased, "No, are my elder sister and the others back?"

"Not just your elder sister. I saw earlier, everyone who should be back is back."

"Oh, is that so. Well, you all have a chat; I’ll take the kids back first." This made Zhou Jiao happy, as for who is supposed to be back, does it really matter?

No, she’s sure her mother-in-law would be thrilled.

"Great-grandmother, Third-grandmother, Aunt, Third-grandmother, Aunt Ye, Aunt Hua... see you tomorrow." The three brothers called out greetings to each in turn.

The women were eager to pull the three brothers aside for a chat, but even the small arms and legs of the twins ran away quickly.

When Zhou Jiao got home with the kids, apart from Zhang Guoqing’s cousins who had moved to the courtyard from the living room, Mother Zhang was nowhere to be found, let alone Zhang Meili and the others.

After greeting everyone, Zhou Jiao first took the kids to wash up and go to bed. Though the day had been physically light, going up and down the mountain was still quite tiring.

For tomorrow’s activity, the three brothers didn’t even think about playing with the other kids and soon fell asleep after lying on the kang.

At this moment, Zhou Jiao realized deeply that her sons inherited her cool demeanor to the bone, perhaps also due in no small part to their father’s educational influence.

She recalled how May 1st and Liu Yi quietly complained to Zhang Guoqing about each of their grievances, and she was lost in thought watching her sons sleep.

No matter how genuine the expressions, these little ones still have their own selfish thoughts. Is this good or bad? She didn’t know.

"Did someone upset you and the kids?"

Zhou Jiao was startled by the sudden voice, turning to see Zhang Guoqing’s furrowed brow. She shook her head with a laugh, "We still have guests. What are you doing coming in?"

Zhang Guoqing raised an eyebrow, "You were the one who said they are guests. Whether I go in or out, it doesn’t prevent them from being guests. What were you thinking about so deeply?"

"The kids!"

"What’s wrong with my sons? Are they so troubling that you’re pondering them? Those little guys are smart; they won’t suffer losses. I feel I’m not as clever as my sons."