Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 330 - 256: Returning to the Village

Zhou Jiao gently lifted the curtain and looked at the approaching Zhang Family Village, feeling extremely excited. She realized she already considered this place her home.

Thinking about Grandma Zhou in Zhou Family Village next door, she paused. Unknowingly, she had grown attached to so many people.

The child in her arms leaned against her uncomfortably with the jolting of the carriage, moving slightly. Zhou Jiao straightened her posture, holding him securely, and hummed a little tune softly.

Zhang Guoqing watched her holding their son, smiling as she hummed a tune, a scene he had imagined countless times, and gradually a happy smile appeared on his face.

The family of three snuggled together, quietly enjoying this warm moment.

"Whoa..." As the carriage slowed down, they arrived at the Zhang Family’s entrance.

The family was still the same, yet upon returning, it felt extraordinarily intimate. Zhou Jiao stepped on the high steps, feeling extremely joyful. She turned her head to look at the newly built yard. She wanted to decorate it well; this land and the family here made her feel attached, just as Zhang Guoqing had described it, this was their root. Since they came here, this is their root.

Stepping on the muddy ground of the yard, moving towards her room in the west wing, Zhou Jiao gradually beamed with smiles. The heated kang bed, coal stove, the laughter of her beloved family, children playing around. This was the life she had always wanted.

Mother Zhang noticed Zhou Jiao walking faster, with a brighter smile on her face. She was very pleased with the joy Zhou Jiao expressed upon returning home. Her little daughter-in-law was still her intimate padded jacket.

"How is it? I warm the bed every day. I just aired the quilt yesterday. Knowing you were coming back, I lit the stove and went to the county town."

"Mother, you are so wonderful. I love you so much. Don’t even think of getting rid of us in the future. What would I do without you?"

Mother Zhang laughed heartily, gently patting her, muttering, "Silly girl."

The two entered the bedroom, Zhou Jiao gently laid Ping’an on the kang bed, then lay down herself, exclaiming, "How comfortable, finally home."

Mother Zhang laughed heartily again, checked what hadn’t been tidied up, and suddenly noticed the phonograph was still in her room, "Jiao Jiao, your phonograph is still in mom’s room. I’ll bring it over."

Zhou Jiao quickly got up and shouted, "Don’t bring it over. You use it first. Mother, come over here quickly."

"What’s wrong? I can bring it over quickly. Something wrong?" Mother Zhang hurriedly turned around and came into the inner room.

"Nothing, just there are batteries in the cabinet, you can take them later. Mother, do you think I can go out now? Look, I’ve gained weight. My face is getting rounder. My health is better, can I go out with you?"

Mother Zhang looked closely at her face, cast a suspicious glance at her, "Not gaining weight. But you are indeed fairer and rosier. My family’s Jiao Jiao is getting lovelier. Still needs more rest. Don’t think of going out. Stay calm and complete the postpartum recovery."

After finishing, hearing Zhang Guoqing’s voice, she whispered again, telling him not to indulge her and to ensure she completes the full postpartum recovery.

Zhou Jiao touched her face, thought of the doorway, reached for a mirror, and looked closely in it. She had gained weight, not obvious. Touching her supple face, she finally felt a bit comforted.

"Who is this? Getting prettier and prettier? Oh, really looks rosier." Then, Zhang Guoqing held her face and kissed her hard. Looking at the red mark after the kiss, he quickly snatched the mirror, deliberately looked at his own face, "Not bad. Quite handsome." He secretly put the mirror in the drawer.

Zhou Jiao didn’t notice his little trick. This time, distracted by him, she focused entirely on him. That night, even as she fell asleep, she didn’t notice anything unusual about herself. Seeing the two sisters-in-law laughing at her, she laughed along, thinking everyone was happy she was back. Just like this, her embarrassing moment was covered up, bringing endless laughter from their mouths years later.

Zhou Jiao fed the baby well, cleaned him up, changed his diaper. She organized the clothes she brought back and put them in the wardrobe. After tidying up, she took out her notebook, making additions. There was still much to discuss with Zhang Guoqing.

As she contemplated, she felt a bit sleepy, put away the paper and pen, moved next to her son, closed her eyes, and soon fell asleep.

Zhang Guoqing came in and saw his son with big eyes looking around. Zhou Jiao lay there asleep, her face flushed red, not far from her hand was her notebook. He looked at Zhou Jiao frowning slightly, wondering what difficult issues she had in her dreams?

Zhang Guoqing teased his son, leaned on the kang bed, and opened the journal. It clearly listed the preparations for their son’s full-month celebration — no gifts, right. Worried about the menu, what’s there to worry about? Just follow the trend.

If it really gets rowdy, he wouldn’t have good days ahead. According to his idea, having a nice meal to celebrate with the family and taking the baby for a photo shoot would suffice. He flipped open to earlier pages, all numbers, codes. A brief thought revealed this was their family’s assets.

He hurriedly stood up, took out bills and tickets from his pocket. He often forgot the current purchasing power of one yuan. Just supplementing for elder sister’s warm room, excluding the gift, cost almost ten yuan. He remembered last time at Master Fatty’s place organizing two tables for a feast, drinks at will, only cost a bit over ten yuan. Hosting at home is more troublesome, really forced by the circumstances.

Zhang Guoqing realized that with his extravagant spending, his monthly salary really couldn’t support Zhou Jiao and the child. He’d truly become a freeloader!

After tidying up, Zhang Guoqing held the baby close, kissed his chubby little face a few times, "Son, dad will never let you eat just steamed buns with pickles."

Main bedroom. Mother Zhang gave instructions to her daughter-in-law, returned to her room, and saw her husband lounging at the kang bed, humming an opera tune. Seeing her come in, he glanced over, smiling warmly at her.

Mother Zhang massaged her shoulders, took off her shoes, climbed onto the kang bed, "All arranged. I’ve really enjoyed having more daughters-in-law."

"Haha...happy now? Out of my three brothers, it’s our daughters-in-law who are the most filial. Not boasting, even the second one’s family now is the best."

Mother Zhang poured cold water on him, "That’s because our second one is now eating from the public table. What is there not to be satisfied about? She won’t smile and be filial to us properly. Would Xiao Wu help her?"

Mr. Zhang put down his leg, curiously looked at her, "Wise indeed. I’m happy with our Xiao Wu and Jiao Jiao. Today they really made me proud. Haha...today Xiao Wu organized everything for the warm room feast, who has such a brother? Both in-laws praised him constantly. Xiao Wu cared for his older sister, didn’t forget his second sister. Everything is perfect. Jiao Jiao, more considerate than a daughter, look at those old guys in the village, who doesn’t praise our Jiao Jiao?

As for the second daughter-in-law, having Jiao Jiao around, she’ll only be more filial to us. She has an older sister-in-law above, younger siblings below, she’ll know how things are. People just fear comparison, you compare her with my brother’s daughter-in-law, isn’t she the best? Look, does she still steal things to supplement her family?

As for you, turn a blind eye. They are all born of a father and mother, she eats her fill and doesn’t forget her parents, showing that she has a good heart. If you can’t bear it, just think the second one isn’t muddle-headed. What is our second one’s nature?"

Mr. Zhang’s words of light and importance reassured Mother Zhang a lot. Indeed, she couldn’t compare the elder daughter-in-law’s capable and virtuous nature, nor compare the youngest one’s sweet and thoughtful. The second one’s, besides the worrisome family, really couldn’t be considered bad. Now also doesn’t socialize widely, the little daughter is also clean and tidy. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Mr. Zhang saw his wife figured it out, smiling at her pleasingly. Having been married his whole life, doesn’t he know his wife? Among the five in-laws, she probably found the second one’s mother-in-law most annoying, and consequently, never liked the second daughter-in-law. In his view, that kid was quite good, smart, sensed the situation, naturally filial. Suitably matched his second son, only regrettably wasn’t well-educated.

Mr. Zhang thought of literacy, turned to his eldest child. After seeing more of the world with his youngest son for a few days, he increasingly felt the old clan leader had great wisdom. Unfortunately, his descendants weren’t promising; if they listened to the elder, how could they not prosper?

The eldest one, just lacked a diploma. He thought of Xiao Wu’s plan for the eldest to attend night school in the provincial city, to earn a degree and study accounting. He decided to heed the youngest’s advice. His Xiao Wu might be young, but he’s the best at judging people, has the greatest ability, even as a father he’s impressed. Since he says it will help, it must help.