Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 346 - 265: Receiving the News and Paying Respects (Part 2)

"...Jiao Jiao, there’s a telegram for you. It’s from your dad."

Mother Zhang’s voice was exceptionally loud, startling Zhou Jiao into running outside without even grabbing a coat. Her mother had mentioned that the paperwork had already been submitted and now they were just waiting for results. It seemed the matter was settled, and her dad was informing her of the news.

Zhang Guoqing watched as she dashed out, grabbing a coat in one hand and a towel in the other as he hurried after her. As for their son lying in the room, the two had completely forgotten about him.

Zhou Jiao, hair disheveled, burst into the main room. Without greeting anyone, she took the telegram from Lin Lishan’s hand. Upon opening it, it read, "Double the joy, the two elders have been posthumously recognized and honored as revolution/aries, father is well, all is smooth, don’t worry, details in the letter."

Zhou Jiao tightly pressed her lips together, repeatedly ** the handwriting above. After a moment, she let out a long breath and gradually broke into a smile. It seemed her father’s job wasn’t affected, and everything turned out as they anticipated. The father and daughter had agreed beforehand—if everything was smooth, then there was no issue with his job. If things went well, it meant a positive job transfer. If things fell apart, that was bad news—it would mean the authorities didn’t trust him, resulting in a lateral transfer.

Thinking about receiving the letter in a few days made Zhou Jiao even more excited. She could mostly guess from the content that the recognition meant that there was documentation in the archives, and written proof was sent down. But in the letter, her dad would definitely detail everything thoroughly for her. She now particularly wished to see the coded message on the letter.

Lin Liyin winked at her sister-in-law, avoiding the crowd. Seeing Zhou Jiao beaming with smiles and behaving so gracefully today, she almost forgot the old master’s evaluation of her. The stern look on Zhou Jiao’s face had startled her; she resembled Zhou Xiaozheng a lot. That was probably the real Zhou Jiao.

Watching Zhou Jiao’s radiant smile, her face blushing with excitement yet controlling her emotions, and responding calmly, just as the old master had said, there were no other girls in the family who could compare to Zhou Jiao. Not just in demeanor and conduct, but even in appearance, Zhou Jiao surpassed her several cousins by leaps and bounds. No wonder the old master said Zhou Jiao was Zhou Xiaozheng’s lifeblood. With her resembling her biological mother in looks and taking after Zhou Xiaozheng in temperament, how could she not be treasured?

Zhou Jiao sat with everyone for a while before leaving in a hurry with the excuse of caring for the child. She had prepared the offerings and intended to sneak up to the North Mountain with Zhang Guoqing to pay respects to the grandparents and parents from their past lives, informing them that their child had reached the full month today. Now, she could deliver the joyful news to her own grandparents, telling them they were now recognized and lived up to the Zhang Family’s ancestors. She believed that her grandparents would be very busy tonight. She believed that her father was surely also mourning the elders with all his heart.

Seeing Zhou Jiao leave, Zhang Guoqing took the opportunity to pull Mother Zhang back into the west wing, intending for her to help take care of the child.

Mother Zhang followed him into the room, only to see Zhou Jiao already dressed in her coat, holding a hat in her hand, anxiously waiting for them.

"Where are you two planning to go? It’s just the full moon, and you’re going out at night? Can’t it wait till tomorrow?" Mother Zhang saw the determination and still couldn’t help but persuade them worriedly.

Zhang Guoqing put on his coat while explaining, "We’ve made arrangements with others. We have some things to deal with. We’ll be back soon. Mom, please watch Ping’an for us. If we’re late, remember to make him some formula."

Without waiting for Mother Zhang’s response, he quickly pulled Zhou Jiao out. He really feared Mother Zhang would demand details. Only the couple should know about the night’s secret ritual.

Mother Zhang stood by the house watching them walk away, secretly wondering what was so urgent for Xiao Wu to disregard Zhou Jiao’s health and run out. Considering they wouldn’t go to the Old Zhou Family, today Zhou Jiao had someone deliver gifts to Mrs. Zhou, which was agreed upon with her. Going out at night and bringing along Zhou Jiao, perhaps there was indeed an important matter, not just boredom driving them out for air?

Zhang Guoqing and Zhou Jiao emerged from the courtyard gates with a flashlight, circled the village, and took a detour to North Mountain. Late at night, walking uphill from North Mountain Foot, the cold wind made the trees rustle, and sometimes the wind’s howl sounded like a wail. Zhou Jiao nervously clung to Zhang Guoqing, pulling him along with a hesitant gait, searching for a secluded spot to pay homage.

Finally, Zhao Guoqing found a small hollow facing away from the village. After the couple cleared a wind-exposed patch of ground, Zhou Jiao retrieved the pre-carved tablets prepared by Zhang Guoqing from her space, arranging them in order.

Once the offerings were set, the couple knelt on military blankets, burning paper money in the fire pit. Zhang Guoqing quietly recounted the unexpected events that brought them here, informing them that the child had been born. He worried about who would visit their graves in the other world after they passed. Speaking of his longing for them, he shed tears multiple times, silently praying for the family in another world to reunite.

After paying respects to the Zhang grandparents, in-laws, and parents, Zhou Jiao alone touched the tablets of Zhou Jinyu and Gu Mingzhu, quietly recounting Zhou Xiaozheng’s journey through life and death, discovering his true identity after seventeen years, her aunt’s forty years of searching, the Old Zhou Family’s malicious concealment, the Gu Family’s side house, and many other things. She spoke of wherever her thoughts led.

She hoped the two elders in heaven would watch over Zhou Xiaozheng, granting her father a lifetime of peace and ensuring that the Zhou Family soon had successors, with the primary house inheriting the ancestral line.

The couple knelt in silence, burning the paper money, and then silently mourned for a while, supporting each other to stand. After some time, they packed up the things, Zhang Guoqing ensured there were no traces left, and led Zhou Jiao down the mountain.

After the ritual, Zhang Guoqing and Zhou Jiao circled the village once more, waiting until their eyes were no longer red and swollen, their spirits not as somber, and their longing eased before slowly heading home, holding each other tightly.

When the couple returned home and hadn’t yet entered the west wing, Mother Zhang was already craning her neck, pacing outside, waiting for them to appear. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Seeing them, Mother Zhang hurriedly pulled Zhou Jiao into the house. She muttered about how Zhou Jiao shouldn’t be outside catching the wind right after the confinement period and that everything should be taken slowly. She scolded Zhang Guoqing for taking Zhou Jiao out for some unknown crucial matter, accusing him of not knowing how to prioritize and indulging his wife’s every whim without advising her.

Listening to Mother Zhang’s rant, Zhang Guoqing and Zhou Jiao exchanged amused glances. How wonderful, they still had family by their side.